Page 26 of At the Edge of Surrender

Ignore my sister’s wishes.

I know you don’t understand, but I need you to trust me.I could almost hear her voice from the words she’d penned, and I wanted to shun that, too, but how could I?

We made it to the end of the long drive where it passed by a massive old church that had been converted into a nightclub.

Kane’s.

Unease curled through my spirit.

Why had he been at that dive bar last night? He should have been right there, behind those imposing walls, in the strobing lights and the disorder a place like that always invoked.

This man I’d already decided had no place in the life of this little girl.

Not sitting at that booth, stealing my breath with the bare glimpses I’d caught. Not picking me up from the floor when I’d been at my most vulnerable and carrying me into an office.

Hisoffice.

At least, that’s what I’d assumed.

I pressed trembling fingertips to my temple to try to soothe the headache I’d woken with that had only grown worse.

A stabbing that pierced behind my left eye.

Apparently, Kane’s wasn’t the only bar he owned.

I’d just been so caught up with the vile image I created of him that I hadn’t allowed myself to consider that picture might extend beyond the boundaries I envisioned.

A picture I’d built in my mind, considering I hadn’t been able to find an actual picture of him online, which had also left a sour taste in my mouth.

It had seemed shady. Like this unknown man I’d learned about in the worst way was trying to keep secrets.

Not even close to being a good man. I’m not the dragon slayer you think I am. I’m the dragon.

The low growl of his voice skated through my memories.

What he’d claimed and the peril he’d radiated.

I’d known it.

Known he was dangerous, but at the time, I’d wanted it.

The risk and the hazard and the thrill of energy he’d elicited in me.

But now…?

I sucked for the oxygen that had become scarce.

This was Maci’s father.

This menacing, terrifying man who spent his nights at bars doing God knew what.

I nearly scoffed at myself.

After last night, I was pretty sure I knewexactlywhat that was.

More than that? My gut told me it went so much deeper.

Corruption seeded in those beautiful, magnificent hands.

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