Tore

thirty-two| you broke my heart

Leigh

There was a l knock on the door, I hesitated for a moment before opening it. It could be a trap.

The note told me to pack for the Seven Mile Beach, but my mind raced with questions. The Cayman Islands?

What was going on?

Was it safe?

I grabbed a few things and went downstairs. As I peaked outside there was already a car waiting for Noa and I.

After a comfortable yet nerve wracking flight, I stepped out of the private jet, and the warm Caribbean breeze brushed against my skin, and—

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. The sun was low on the horizon, casting a golden glow over the palm trees and the turquoise waters beyond. It was surreal—here I was, arriving in the Cayman Islands under cautious circumstances with Noa in tow.

I couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to change drastically.

The car waiting for us was sleek and black, a stark contrast to the laid-back island vibe. I glanced around cautiously before helping Noa into the backseat. The driver, a tall, quiet man with a neutral expression, opened the door for us and gave a slight nod before getting back into the front.

I couldn't help but wonder if this was the safety I'd hoped for—or if it was just another layer of the trap we'd been led into.

As I stepped out onto the beach, there he was—Kaine.

Standing there with my favorite flowers in hand, his face marked with scars and his step a little slower than before. Seeing him took my breath away. It had been two weeks since I last heard from him, and my heart ached with relief and worry.

"Leigh," he said softly, stepping closer, his voice rough and low. "I'm sorry it took me so long to get to you."

Tears welled in my eyes as I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around him. He held me tight, his own arms trembling slightly as he embraced me.

"We need to talk," Kaine said, his voice hoarse. He took a deep breath before continuing. "Nico's dead. Grant helped him find us. He was working with Nico the whole time."

The revelation hit me hard. The betrayal, the danger, the lies—it all made sense now. Kaine explained how we always knew Nico's plan was to use the algorithm as leverage, but Grant had been feeding him information, and watching me struggle with his son from the beginning.

They'd set a trap for us on the Vineyard, but Kaine turned the tables. He made sure Nico and Grant wouldn't get away with it.

"So, where's Grant?"

It got awkwardly silent.

"No."

As we sat on the sandy shore , I couldn't shake the frustration and sadness that had been building inside me. The sight of Noa clutching his stuffed bunny in his lap only made it worse.

I couldn't believe that Grant's betrayal had led to this—his life ending without any chance for redemption. I should have had a say in what happened to him. But Kaine hadn't consulted me, and now Noa was going to grow up without a father. It was unfair to him and it hurt in ways I couldn't fully express.

Kaine noticed my silence and the tension in my posture. He turned to me, his voice soft but laced with frustration.

"Leigh, I had to do it. Grant was dangerous. He put us all at risk."

I met his gaze, my voice trembling with emotion.

"Kaine, I get it, but he was still Noa's father. How could you just have him taken out like that without talkin' to me first?"

Kaine's jaw tightened, his eyes darkening with frustration. "He was working with Nico, Leigh. He betrayed us. I didn't have a choice. He would have put us all in danger again if he stayed."

I shook my head, feeling the weight of the loss pressing down on me. "But now Noa doesn't have a father. How do I explain that to him when he's older? How do I tell him why he's gone? Then tell him you're the reason! What, then? You're gonna tell him!"

"I—

Kaine's voice softened, though there was still a hardness to it. "You don't have to explain anything to him. He's my son too, Leigh. I'll be there for him. I am his father, more than what Grant ever—

"You never gave him the chance! He was trying Kaine—

"—and I'll do whatever it takes to make sure he's taken care of."

I looked away, biting my lip as tears pricked at the corners of my eyes. "It's just... it hurts, Kaine. I never wanted Noa to grow up without a father. And now we're just expected to move on like it doesn't matter?"

Kaine's expression softened, a trace of regret flickering in his eyes. "Leigh, I didn't want this either. But Grant made his choices. We can't change that. All I can do now is focus on protecting you and Noa. That's all that matters to me."

I turned to him, feeling a pang of guilt for how upset I was. I knew he was doing everything he could to keep us safe, but it didn't take away the pain.

Pain for Noa.

"I just wish you'd talked to me first. I didn't want it to end like this. Was it painful?"

Am I actually sad or did I want to exact my own revenge?

Kaine's gaze was level, his voice firm. "I'm sorry, Leigh. I thought I was doing what was best for all of us. But I never meant for you to feel this way."

I nodded, the lump in my throat making it hard to speak. "I just... I don't know if I can get over this. Not right now."

Kaine's hand reached out, brushing a tear from my cheek. "I understand. But we have to move forward. For Noa's sake."

"It's his future I'm worried about, he'll be so confused, and it's all my fault."

"Don't say that. He will be fine Leigh."

I squeezed my eyes shut, feeling the weight of everything we'd lost and the uncertainty of what lay ahead. I knew we had to keep going, but it was hard to let go of the past and accept that our lives had changed so drastically.

We stayed there for a while, just looking at each other, absorbing everything that had happened. Kaine was scarred, but he was still here, still fighting for us.

We decided to head back to LA together, back to LUX, back to the life we had built.

Krissy would be overjoyed to see us.

As we walked along the beach, Kaine took my hand in his. "We're done with Nico and Grant for good," he said, his voice filled with determination. "From now on, it's just us—our family, our future."

I nodded, squeezing his hand. "I'm with you, Kaine. Always."

Is it bad that I'm now scared to death of the man that I once loved?