Free Acceptance (Club X Book 5) by K.M. Scott Page A

my heart I knew he wouldn’t, but my insecurities had gotten the better of me.
    “I knew you weren’t telling me the truth. When you lie to protect me, I can’t help it. I think it’s because you’re doing things with someone else.”
    He looked at me in that pained way that showed how much he hated hurting me and kissed me again. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to make you doubt me. I just didn’t want to bring him into our lives until I found out if he was really our brother and I knew he was the kind of person I want around the woman I love and my children.”
    I laid my head on his shoulder, loving the strength he offered just by being there to protect me. “For nearly seven years, I’ve tried to show you that I can handle being with you. You deserve a wife who you can tell things to, not some delicate soul you always feel like you have to watch over and protect. I’m not that girl I was when you met me anymore. I love that you want to keep me and the kids safe, but I’d love it even more if you included me in things like this.”
    I knew I was asking him to be different than he naturally was. I also knew he’d never truly be like Cash was with Olivia. It simply wasn’t who he was.
    Kane swallowed hard and looked down at the bed. “I hide things so you don’t get hurt, but even more, so you aren’t in danger. I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you, angel.”
    “You aren’t going to lose me. I found the best man in the world, Kane. I’m not going to let this life we have go for anything.”
    He smiled at me and nodded. “From now on, when my brothers and I get together to talk about this, I’d like you to be there. I should mention that it might mean Shay will be around because Stefan told her everything.”
    A tiny lick of jealousy flared inside me every time Kane even said her name. I knew it was stupid and irrational because they’d both sworn nothing ever happened between them, but that had never been the problem. She’d been the one to convince him to be there for me and Annalea, not me.
    I wasn’t jealous that he cared for her. I was jealous still all these years later that my words hadn’t been enough but hers had.
    Forcing a smile, I kissed him. “That’s fine. What about Olivia and Cash?”
    Kane shrugged. “So far they don’t want any part of this new brother thing. I guess I don’t blame them. If Cash had seen him tonight, I don’t think that would have helped either. He seems to be nothing more than a fall down drunken kid of twenty-six.”
    “Well, whatever he is, if he’s your brother, you’re going to have to decide how much you want to do with him.”
    Bringing my hand to his mouth, Kane kissed my wedding band and smiled. “We’re going to have to decide.”
    It wasn’t a huge step, but it was a step, nonetheless. Knowing Kane, that word we’re meant the world to me.

Chapter Eight
    Cassian
    M y phone buzzed as I pulled my car into my parking spot behind CK. Looking down at where it sat in the console, I saw it was Stefan. To get a call from that brother before noon was like seeing snow for the Fourth of July, so I quickly answered it, curious as to what had gotten him out of bed so early.
    “Hey, Stef. What’s up?”
    “Have you talked to Kane yet today?” he asked hurriedly, like he hoped I hadn’t so he could tell me what he had to say.
    Turning the engine off, I slid out of the driver’s seat and slammed the door. “No, why?”
    “You missed a good time last night. Well, not the first few hours, but the last one was much better.”
    Struck by how unlikely those words were coming from Stef about a night out with Kane, I stopped dead at the back door to the building. “You two went out last night? Really?”
    Stefan’s laughter at even the suggestion came through loud and clear. “Uh, no. We might not hate each other, but Kane and I have completely different ideas of what constitutes a good time. No, we went on a stakeout. Well, sort of a stakeout.”
    I