Kade POV
The clock on the wall reads just past two in the morning, but neither of us has moved from our seats. The only sound in the room is the faint hum of the security system and the occasional click as Nikolai skips through the footage frame by frame.
I lean forward, elbows on my knees, staring at the screen. We have been at this for hours, combing through every angle, every possible lead, trying to figure out who the hell took the shipment.
“Pause it,” Nikolai says suddenly, his voice sharp. My eyes snap to him as he leans in. “Zoom in on that.”
One of the men in the frame shifts slightly, turning just enough for the camera to catch his profile. The image is grainy, but it is enough.
Nikolai exhales through his nose, his expression unreadable. “That'ss Declan Voss.”
I recognize the name the second he says it.
Declan doesn't live here. He is from out of town, from another city and doesn't come h
Kade POVI glance between the men, weighing my options. Who can pull this off? Who can get close without looking like exactly what they are?Before I decide, Nikolai sighs and gestures toward them. “They all look too much like capos to do it.”He is right. None of them blend in. They all carry themselves like what they are, dangerous men who make people nervous when they walk into a room. I need someone who can pass as harmless. Someone she won't see coming.“Rook could work,” Nikolai glances at me.“I’m not getting him involved in this.” It’s too much of a risk.“Plus, you have to remember, Declan knows Rook, so his daughter will as well.” Jaxon looks at us.Good, because I didn’t want Rook in the center of this. “I’ll do it,” I say, and Nikolai stares at me. “No one knows me yet, not enough to know who I am, which was proved by your friend and
Kade POVAfter a while, she grabs my hand and tugs me toward the edge of the dance floor. “Come on, let’s sit. I need a drink, and you need to tell me why I’ve never seen you before.”I let her lead me toward one of the small lounge areas near the bar, keeping my expression relaxed even though I don’t like the way her fingers press against my wrist. It’s light, barely there, but I still feel it, a reminder that I don’t like being touched by anyone book Rook. I don’t let it show.She slides into the seat first, crossing her legs as she leans back, completely at ease. I follow, keeping enough space between us to make it look natural but not enough for her to think I’m uncomfortable.“So,” she drawls, reaching for her drink. “Are you going to tell me your name, or am I going to have to keep calling you mystery man?”I smirk, taking a sip of my own drink before answering. &ld
Kade POVThe taxi ride to the club feels strange. It has been years since I have needed to take one, but showing up in my usual car would be a mistake. I keep my hood up, staring out of the window as the city moves past in a blur. Titan is not my kind of place, loud and packed with people trying too hard to impress each other, but for now, it is where I need to be.When the taxi stops, I step out and pay the driver before heading toward the entrance. The bouncer barely glances at me as I walk inside, the heavy bass of the music vibrating through the floor beneath my feet. The scent of alcohol and sweat lingers in the air, neon lights flickering overhead.I move to the bar, keeping my steps casual, blending in. Sitting down, I glance around, scanning the crowd for her.It doesn't take long to find her. She's near the VIP section, sitting with two other women, laughing as she sips her drink. She doesn't look concerned, doesn't look like someone hiding a sto
Kade POVShe keeps flirting, keeps finding excuses to touch me. A hand on my knee when she laughs, a brush of her fingers when she reaches for her drink. I play along, giving just enough to keep her engaged, but every touch makes my skin crawl. I don’t let it show.Her phone buzzes, and she glances at it, sighing before muttering under her breath.I take a sip of my drink, watching her. “You good?”She rolls her eyes. “Just my dad being an asshole.”Bingo.I let out a short laugh, shaking my head. “Yeah, I get that.” I exhale, swirling the drink in my glass before muttering, “Mine went and got himself killed.”She pauses, her fingers still resting against the stem of her glass as her eyes flick back to me. “Shit. How?”I shrug, keeping my expression neutral. “Got involved with the wrong people. The Volkovs. Thought he could play their game, but he wasn&rsqu
Kade POV“What about you?” I ask, shifting the topic slightly. “What would you do if you weren’t working with him?”She tilts her head, considering. “I don’t know. Maybe run something legitimate, something with actual structure. My own thing, away from all the crap he’s dragged me into.”I keep my attention on her, letting her talk. She wants to prove herself, wants to be seen as more than just someone working under her father. That might be useful.She leans in, smiling at me. “But enough about that. Let’s talk about you now.”Before I can respond, her hand slides over my thigh, fingers trailing higher. I laugh, catching her wrist before she can go further. “Calm down, we’re in public.”She pouts playfully but doesn’t pull away immediately. “You afraid of a little attention?”I smirk, keeping my grip loose but firm. “Not a fan of giving everyone a show.”She sighs dramatically, finally pulling her hand back. “Fine. I’ll behave. For now."I chuckle, taking another sip of my drink. “Tha
Kade POVSuddenly she moves fast. One second, she’s grinning at me, and the next, she’s leaning in, her lips pressing against mine without hesitation.I push her back instantly, shifting away as smoothly as I can without making it obvious how much I don’t want this. She blinks, surprised for half a second before smirking like this is all some kind of game.Laughing it off, I force down the frustration curling in my chest. “You’re a bit forward, aren’t you?”She tilts her head, her fingers tapping against the table. “And you’re a bit slow at taking hints.”“Do you want to do something?” I shake my head, pretending I'm amused instead of irritated. She watches me for a moment before sighing and stretching her arms out.“Like what?”She leans in slightly, eyes glinting with mischief. “Come with me. I know there’s some really good whiskey in these crates. We could take a few bottles and get drunk.”That catches my interest.I sit back, considering. Here, I’ve got an easy excuse to shut her
Kade POVI take another slow step toward the far side of the warehouse, letting my eyes sweep the space. “What’s in the other rooms?” I ask, keeping my tone light, like I’m just making conversation.She shrugs, finishing another drink before wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. “Nothing. Just old storage spaces, I think.”“Isn’t it a bit foolish not to check? What if someone else is here?”That makes her pause. Her head tilts slightly as she glances around, like the thought only just occurred to her. “Yeah… maybe we should check.” She smirks, nudging me with her elbow. “But you go first.”“Figures.” I let out a short laugh, shaking my head.Making my way toward the first door, I place my hand on the rusted handle before pushing it open. The room inside is small, half-empty, and useless. The window on the far wall lets in too much light, an
Rook’s POVWhen I wake, I’m alone. I glance at my phone, but there’s nothing from Kade. Sighing, I get up and get ready. When I head downstairs, I see Harlow sitting with Rose.Kade’s mother is in a separate room with the capo at the door. I’m glad they did that since I don’t want her anywhere near Harlow. Rubbing my face, I walk to the office, but no one is there.“Where are they?” I ask.“Your dad mentioned he was going to meet Lucas,” Damon shrugs.“Yeah, I know him. He does that often, just decides to go visit him without notice,” I laugh. “And Kade?”“From what I hear, he hasn’t left the warehouse.”Sighing, I nod and head to the kitchen to grab a coffee. Walking back through, I sit with Harlow and Rose.“You and Mercer are playing today, right?” Rose smiles.“No, it’s tomorr
Kade POVA lump forms in my throat. “I’m sorry you didn’t feel like you could say them on our wedding day. But why now? Why were you going to give them to me on our anniversary when I had gotten worse, not better?”“Part of me hoped it would make you realize. The other part of me was ready to not give it to you at all and hide it for another five years. Honestly? I probably wouldn’t have given it to you. I just told myself I would.”I roll the ring between my fingers, the weight of it sinking into my palm like a stone. It’s not just a ring. It’s everything I missed, everything I ignored, everything Rook held onto when I didn’t even realize he was waiting for me to catch up.I swallow hard. “You really thought you’d have to hide this for another five years?”He watches me, and there's something heavy in his eyes. “I didn’t just think it, Kade. I knew it. I told myself I’d give it to you on our anniversary, but deep down, I knew I wouldn’t. Because y
Kade POVNow what do I do? I stare at the ceiling, watching time pass by. It’s been an hour, maybe two. I don’t fucking know because I refuse to check my phone because then I'll be tempted to do business from it. The temptation is there, but I made a promise, and I’m actually trying this time.I sit up, then lay back down. I flip onto my side, then my stomach, then back again. I’m going fucking insane.My fingers itch for something to do. I’ve already looked around the room, checked every inch like I was in a damn prison cell. Nothing, there's nothing to help distract me.Getting up and I pace the floor, stopping at the window to look outside. It’s not like I can go out there. I’m not meant to be seen by Harlow yet. That was the rule, and for once, I’m actually following it.Sighing, I flop back onto the bed. I should have asked for a book or something. How the fuck do people sit in a room and do nothing? This is torture.I run a hand throug
Kade POVWorking wasn’t me running. It was me trying not to go crazy sitting in this room alone. I get that Harlow can’t see me yet, but being locked up in a bedroom is making me lose my mind.Still, I agreed to three hours. Just three hours of work. Which means I need to figure out how to make this room feel less like a prison cell. It’s not like I can go anywhere else, not when they play hide and seek and every room is fair game except the bedrooms people are sleeping in.“How’s Harlow?” I ask, sitting down on the bed.“She was safe the entire time,” Rook says.“That doesn’t answer the question, Rook.”Sighing, he sits down beside me. “She was scared, obviously. We had to put a vest on her. Mostly, though, she was mad at me for sending her away with Rose instead of letting her stay.”I nod, smirking. “Which is why you look like a princess.”He nods slowly. “I’ve never made her cry before, and I did that. Then
Kade POVThen, slowly, his expression shifts.Oh, no. “Rook—”He doesn’t let me finish. His hand fists in my shirt harder, and before I can dodge, his mouth is on mine, hot and insistent.I try to pull back, try being the key word, because Rook is stronger right now, and he’s stubborn, and there’s no way in hell he’s letting me escape.I groan against his lips, gripping his shirt as I kiss him back despite my earlier refusal. His other hand slides up, tangling into my hair, keeping me exactly where he wants me.It’s messy. heated and when he finally pulls back, breath heavy, I know my lips are definitely stained red.I stare at him, trying to glare but failing. “I told you—”Rook smirks, swiping a thumb over my lower lip. “Worth it.”I shake my head, but I can’t even be mad, because, yeah. It kinda was.Exhaling, I rub a hand over my face as Rook glares at me, still standing too close, still looking far too smug w
Kade POVDarren is not fucking happy, but I don’t give a shit. He keeps trying to negotiate, like there’s some way to fix this, like he can worm his way back in if he just says the right thing.There’s no coming back. He’s out. He should be grateful Nikolai agreed to keep him, otherwise, he’d have nothing.“Be grateful you have the team,” I tell him flatly. “I wanted to leave you with nothing.”His eyes narrow. “This is fucked up. What’s the point in me working under Nikolai when he won’t be doing this or have power?”“Would you rather have nothing?”He glares at me. “So what, I work under Nikolai and you get all the fucking rewards? All this because I faked wanting to fuck you for a few pictures?”“Are you done?” I ask, barely restraining my patience. This is because Rook won’t let him near me, I’m saving his fucking life.“No. What the fuck is Nikolai thinking? He would never have agreed to this. So because y
Rook POVBy the time she’s done, she has six dresses draped over her arms, all some combination of sparkles, lace, and ridiculous amounts of tulle.Rose laughs. “You really set yourself up for that one.”“I’m aware,” I mutter, watching as Harlow beams at the pile of dresses in her arms before glancing at me again. A thought flickers across her face, and suddenly, I don’t trust her, it’s the same damn look that Mercer gets when he’s planning my demise.“Since you can’t get a dress,” she says sweetly, already walking toward the accessories section, “you have to wear something else!”I stare after her, dread settling in my stomach. “Harlow…”She ignores me completely, grabbing something from the shelf before turning back with an innocent little grin, holding up a bright pink tiara covered in fake gemstones.I blink. “No way.”“Yes way,” she says, walking right up to me and standing on her tiptoes to try and reach my head. Groaning
Rook POVMy nails shine like there are thousands of tiny little diamonds on them. Harlow is chuckling, highly amused as we get out of the car and she drags me into the next place.“You’re really going to do this?” Rose looks at me.“Yeah,” I mutter, looking at Harlow as she climbs onto a chair. “She’s fucking happy. If I say no, that goes.”“Daddy Rook!” Harlow waves her arms, and Rose just smirks.“You realize she’s going to go big and bold, right? No natural tones. You’re going to come out of here looking like a clown.”“Well then, I’m her clown,” I state and walk over, sitting beside Harlow.“What’s the plan?” the woman looks at me.“Ask Rose,” I say, pointing to Rose. The plan is they pretend to put makeup on her. She gets lipstick and eyeshadow and a bit of blush, but everything else is fake. I don’t want her having whatever else on her face.I think Rose mentioned foundation? Maybe it was primer? I’ve got no fuckin
Kade POVI let myself sit for a moment, drumming my fingers against the desk as I think through what Callum just told me. No major problems, nothing burning down, but there’s always something shifting in the background. Always someone watching, waiting to see what I’ll do next.Time to make it clear. I press the intercom again. “Send in the hockey guys. One at a time.”A few minutes later, the door opens, and the first guy steps in. I recognize him immediately, Liam Carter, a defenseman for one of the teams Nikolai had under his thumb. He’s young, early twenties, still wide-eyed but with a layer of arrogance that tells me he thinks he’s untouchable. Dark blonde hair, sharp cheekbones, built like a guy who’s used to throwing his weight around on the ice.He hesitates only slightly before stepping forward. “Mercer,” he says, but there’s a flicker of something in his eyes, the same curiosity I saw in DeLuca’s guy.“Volkov,” I correct, watching him clo
Kade POVStaying in bed is not me. I’m going out of my damn mind, and it’s only been an hour. Getting showered and dressed, I go downstairs, careful not to be seen by Harlow, then go out to the cars.The guys look at me like I’m crazy, but I’m not. I won’t do anything big, just small things. Getting in the car, my head falls back, and just the noise from the car helps. I don’t think it would have been that bad if I wasn’t alone in the room.The moment the car stops, I’m out of it and walking into the building. There’s a lot I need to get sorted. One side is the hockey. Not me giving it up, but the side Nikolai ran.I’m not comfortable using people’s personal shit against them to get what I want. Purely because I know how much it can fuck with your head.Stopping it, though, isn’t ideal. It’s part of the structure that Nikolai built, and I don’t want to be tearing it