Page 82 of Fight for Me

“I’m tired of sitting on my hands.” Blane’s voice was a low rasp. He didn’t want to think how much this absence from Anne was affecting him. “Anne means more than my career.” He looked at Kade. “I’ll find out who it was. Tell your team that I’ll be on site tonight. And take care of the alarm system.” He had to see her. He already knew he’d be turned away at the door, so things required a workaround.

“Are you sure?” Kade didn’t seem to approve of Blane’s plans, which was odd. He usually always went for the hard and dangerous path.

Blane leveled a look at him. “What wouldn’t you do for Kathleen?”

This was a touchy subject, even after nearly ten years. They’d both fallen for the same woman, and Kade had won her.

Kade sat back in his chair, his blue eyes turning to ice. “Touché, brother.”

“Then it’s settled.”

* * *

Anne tossed and turned in bed as much as her cast would let her. She just couldn’t sleep. Her dad had been normal at dinner, not giving away anything she’d told him. Her mom had eased off somewhat, though Juanita was still making every favorite dish of Anne’s. Though Anne wasn’t going to complain about it. She’d almost forgotten how wonderful it was to have others care for her.

Moonlight streamed in through the window. She had blackout curtains, but it was a full moon and the light was comforting. Anne turned towards the window and let out a sigh. Closing her eyes, she tried to drift off.

A crack in the window caused her to sit bolt upright in bed. The window slid upwards. Anne didn’t scream. She took a knife from under her pillow and slid off the bed to meet the intruder. She was done being the victim.

The intruder was large, obviously a man. Anne wished she was wearing pajama shorts instead of a gown. She’d have easier freedom of movement.

“I see you,” she hissed. “Get out.” She brandished her knife, trying to look as threatening as a hundred-ten pound woman could be, whilst crippled with a cast.

“It’s me.”

Blane’s voice made her heart stutter in her chest.

“You’re here.” She had nothing else to say. Shock and surprise made her knees buckle.

Blane caught her before she hit the floor.

“Of course I’m here,” he said gently. “I’ll never leave you.”

Anne ignored that. “How did you get past the guards?”

“No one is going to keep me away from you.”

“You can’t just come into my home, my room,” she protested.

He grinned. “You bet I can. I just did.”

“Are you in pain?” he asked, helping her back to the bed. He sat next to her on the edge.

“I’m fine,” she said stiffly. “Why did you come?”

“Because I can’t live without you,” he answered simply.

She was stunned into silence.

Anne squirmed away from where Blane sat, her temper rising. “You can’t do this,” she said. “You can’t just come into my house. Didn’t you get the hint that I don’t want to see you?”

Anne didn’t want to be on the bed with Blane. It brought back the memories. She managed to get to the edge of the bed and grabbed her crutches. Standing, she faced Blane.

“You lied to me,” she accused. “I want you to leave. Now. Or else I’ll scream. Can you imagine the stories the papers will write?” Her voice was derisive. “You say all these things, but I can’t trust you.”

Blane’s face was an emotionless mask. “Kade didn’t kill your brother.”

Anne laughed and the sound was bitter. “Sure, he didn’t. Get out, Blane. And don’t come back.”

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