Cain's Darkness by Jenika Snow Read Free Book Online Page B

was still unmoving for a few seconds after she spoke, and then he leaned back and exhaled. He covered his eyes with an arm, cursed something low and fierce, and then he looked at her again.
    “I am not the man you need, Violet, and not the man you deserve, that’s for fucking sure.”
    “This isn’t how I saw this conversation going.”
    Cain leaned forward and braced his forearms on his thighs, and stared at her. “I am in my forties, Violet, far too old for you. You’re just starting off your life. Being with me will only complicate things. I am rough and coarse, and crude on the best of days. You know this just as well as anyone else.”
    “Cain, please. Don’t say shit like that.”
    “You don’t love me like that. You see a man that has watched over you for a long time.”
    She curled her hands into fists. “Don’t tell me what I feel, Cain. I know what it means to love someone. I have never felt what I feel for you with any other man, and I know I won’t, ever.”
    “Fuck, Violet.” He scrubbed a hand over his eyes.
    “I love you, am in love with you, and I won’t apologize for that, Cain.”
    He stood so fast that his leg hit the coffee table and the cups fell on their side, brown liquid spilling across the wood. “Shit, I’m sorry, Violet.” He turned, and she knew that he wasn’t apologizing for spilling the coffee. This man, this brutal male that wasn’t afraid of killing or death, and who never apologized for anything, was looking at her like he was pained. “I would only bring you down, make your life dark when it should be light.”
    And then he was striding toward the front door. She stood, her hands shaking, her eyes filling with tears. He stopped and looked at her.
    “I killed him for you and Fallina, Violet. I made that bastard pay for what he did.” He took a huge breath and said, “You don’t have to be afraid to close your eyes anymore. That’s why I came here tonight.”
    And then he was gone, just like that.

Chapter Six
     
    She didn’t know how long she stood there after Cain left, but then she realized she was calling Fallina. Her friend surely had seen her father since he had been out. Violet closed her eyes as she listened to the phone ring.
    “Violet?” Fallina said in a sleepy voice.
    It wasn’t that late, but Fallina worked as a schoolteacher and got up early. Violet felt bad for calling her friend, but she needed to get Cain’s phone number, and Fallina would be the one she could contact for an updated one.
    “Hello?”
    “I’m sorry to wake you, but you wouldn’t happen to have Cain’s number, do you?” There was the sound of shuffling, like Fallina was shifting on the bed, and the other woman cleared her throat.
    There was a moment of silence, and then Fallina spoke again. “My dad’s number?”
    “Yeah. I’d like to talk to him, know he’s out, and thought maybe if anyone had his updated number you would.”
    “Sure, I have it, but he hasn’t contacted you yet, hasn’t given you his number? I know he wants to make sure you’re okay, but he has been asking about how everything is with you.”
    Violet knew that, and although Fallina was her best friend she had never been brave enough to tell her that Violet was in love with Cain. But she did think there had been times the thought had crossed Fallina’s mind, especially when Violet had gone to see Cain, and written him for all those years. She had even called him on occasion, before he had cut all contact with her.
    “I’ve talked to him, actually, but the exchange of numbers hasn’t actually happened.” The look Fallina had given her on a few occasions told Violet that her friend probably thought there was something in the emotion department going on, but Fallina never said anything. After she got the number and hung up the phone she stared at that piece of paper. Her heart thundered, even just the thought of calling him making her nervous. It was a ludicrous feeling since she had just seen