White Lies (Blood Brothers MC Book 1) by Amy Love Page A

sounds, saw a familiar figure racing its way across the horizon.
     
    “Angie?” Brent said. “Hold up.”
     
    Ignoring her father, she stepped farther and farther away from her home and held her breath. Trying hard not to blink, she held her breath as Kane rode into view.
     
    “Hey,” he said, stalling his bike as he spoke.
     
    Angeline had no words as he finally climbed off and moved to her side. She swooned at the nearness of him, and her mind swirled with questions.
     
    “How…?”
     
    It was all she could get out as Kane stood before her. Battered and bruised.
     
    “Oh!” she cried. “What the hell happened—?”
     
    Angeline tried to touch his face as Kane flinched back.
     
    “Nothing,” he said. “It… it doesn’t matter.”
     
    This was what she had feared he had suffered in prison, because of her. But those were just dark dreams. This was real.
     
    “Noel,” Angeline stated plainly.
     
    Kane’s eyes fell with a mirthless laugh.
     
    “You should see the shape he’s in,” Kane said. “I—”
     
    He suddenly stopped, and Angeline turned as she felt a shadow falling over her back.
     
    “Dad!”
     
    Brent was shuffling, nearly at her side. Still using the cane, he was actually walking. And in spite of everything, a small smile formed on Angeline’s face. She took hold of his arm, her eyes filling with pride. But Brent was not looking at her.
     
    His stare was only for Kane.
     
    “Uh… hello, Mr. Wilkins,” he said.
     
    Kane tried to smooth away his stubble, wincing as his hands touched his face. Angeline felt his pain and wanted nothing more than to bring him inside, lay him down.
     
    Bathe his face with a cool, damp cloth.
     
    “So you’re back,” Brent said. “Bound to be trouble.”
     
    Kane tried to answer, but it came out as an unintelligible grunt. Not wanting anymore pain for him, not one more bruise on his face for his heart, Angeline pressed her hands to her hips and tilted her head to her father.
     
    “You know what he did for us… for me, Dad,” Angeline started. “He sacrificed everything. How can you be so—?”
     
    She stopped when Brent gripped his cane tighter. For a second, she wondered if he would use it on Kane, on his bike. But to her surprise, he simply limped closer to Kane.
     
    “Thing is,” Brent continued, “I’ve gotten used to her company. Night after night.”
     
    Brent sadly glanced back at his daughter.
     
    “But I guess… no.”
     
    He took Angeline’s shoulders and softly kissed her cheek.
     
    “Her sentence is over, too.”
     
    Angeline relaxed at the realization that he was not about to give their savior a hard time and stretched to tips of her toes to hug him, to whisper into his ear.
     
    “You were never a prison, Dad,” she said. “And I don’t even know why he’s here.”
     
    Brent pushed back with a laugh.
     
    “I do,” he said. Extending his hand, Kane took it slowly. After a single shake, he looked at the bike.
     
    “Just be careful,” Brent said. “Both of you.”
     
    They stood in silence as Brent limped back to the house. Once the door was closed, Angeline was hesitant to face him. What lies had Noel spun now? Would he hate her for coming between them? Still, this might be another chance to explain.
     
    “Kane, I—”
     
    “No.”
     
    That word felt like a death sentence.
     
    “Not here,” he said. “Let’s take a ride.”
     
    She recalled the first time on the back of his chopper , trembling as he hoisted her to the back. It was the night when he had brought her into his world, and she wanted to ride the air again, feel the wind in her face.
     
    And hold him.
     
    “You remember what to do?” Kane asked.
     
    Easy as riding a bike…
     
    Wrapping her arms around him, she felt the motor pulsing around her thighs and held on tighter as he sped off into the night for parts unknown.
     
    As they rode, Angeline dared to rest her head against his back. He wouldn’t be here if he