Page 51 of 1 Last Shot

"Damnit," I hear Hailey mutter. More shouting in the background, and this time Kane's voice is distinct, and clearly panicked. “You’re the only one any of us have ever seen talk to Kane, so I thought you might know something. And I know you’re his neighbor. But I guess it was a long shot.”

I blink in confusion. Because yes, I’ve heard people at the gym say Kane doesn’t talk to them, but right now is when it really hits me thatI’m the only person Kane talks to. That Hailey calledmeto help Kane.

It only takes me half a second to make a decision.

"I'm coming over there," I say hurriedly, standing up and tossing my things in my gym bag. "I'll be there in five minutes."

I make it in two.

I'm still breathing hard when I skitter to a stop at the gym entrance, as I throw the door open and rush inside.

But the sight that greets me stops me in my tracks.

In a way, it directly mimics the first time I met Kane. He's shirtless and drenched in sweat, and he's straddling a heavy bag on the edge of the mat and raining punches down on it.

The only difference is the first time I saw him, he stopped when he saw me. Now, he's so lost in his thoughts that he doesn't stop when I walk in. He doesn't stop when Tristan and Jax each latch onto an arm and try to pull him off the bag that he's beaten into exploding, clothes and sand littering the mat all around him.

He's blind to everything and everyone. He just continues to punch what's left of the bag, the power with which he's throwing clearly coming from a place of pain and desperation.

I'm stunned into silence at the sight. I always knew Kane was capable of violence—even without seeing him fight, it would only take one look at him to know that fact—but this… this is something I never could’ve pictured. And it breaks my heart to see it.

A deep desire to help him grips me. Not because he did the same for me after the mugging, but because I want to helphim.

"Kane," I call out, but my voice is quiet and a little breathless. I clear my throat and try again, this time louder. "Kane, stop."

He doesn't hear me. The only reaction I get is Tristan and Jax jerking their gazes toward me, but it's only for a split second, because they have to go right back to trying to restrain Kane. So, I grit my teeth and move toward him instead.

"Isabella," Jax says nervously. "I don't think you should be—"

“I don’t care," I say, never taking my eyes off Kane. I step in front of him and reach forward to place a hand on his shoulder, feeling his muscles ripple as he throws his punches. "Kane, look at me," I say softly.

He stills instantly. His chest heaving, he slowly raises his head to meet my gaze.

I suck in a breath at the sight of pain—so much pain—in his eyes. Suddenly, I'm not looking at an angry, grown man, but a sad, broken boy. One so lost in a memory that he’s not aware of his actions. Of his current reality.

"Kane," I breathe. But it says everything.

I step closer and move my hand from his shoulder to the side of his face.

"It's okay," I say in a whisper. I hold his gaze, letting him see the truth in my words and urging him to let me in. "You're okay. Everything's okay."

He swallows roughly at the words, and I see a little more of him settle back into the present moment.

I drop my hand from his face and reach for one of his hands, undoing the Velcro around his wrist and gently tugging the glove off his hand. Then I do the other one. And when I'm done, I fold his hand in mine and meet his eyes.

"Let's get out of here," I say quietly.

His nod comes without any hesitation.

I turn and start to pull him in the direction of the exit, but suddenly become aware of the fact that everyone in the gym is gaping at us. Tristan and Jax look completely shell-shocked, and even Hailey—who is obviously the most aware of my connection with Kane—is wide-eyed and silent.

I debate saying something—a joke, an apology for the mess, something—but realize it doesn't actually matter. Kane is all that matters. So, I don't say anything, I just pull him over to his bag so he can grab what he needs, and then I hustle him into the locker rooms.

When he returns after his shower, he looks calmer. Everyone else has returned to their workouts, clearly trying to return to normalcy despite the interruption. They can't help sneaking glances at us, though.

Kane ignores them and grabs my hand. Then he's pulling me out of the gym and onto the back of his bike.

After he confirms that the extra helmet is snug on my head, he swings his leg over the bike and revs the engine. "Where are we going?" His voice is rough, though I’m not sure if it’s from disuse or lots of yelling.

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