Kade POVI swallow hard, my fingers drumming against the table. “Today, seeing Harlow talking about her routine, about what she does every morning, made me realize something.” I shake my head, the weight of it sinking in. “I’m never fucking home. And I hate it.”Rook watches me, his expression unreadable for a moment. Then, finally, he nods. “Then don’t let it happen again.”I let out a sharp breath, nodding back.Rook exhales, running a hand through his hair before leaning back with a smirk. “Good. That’s one fucking issue solved.”I raise a brow. “Yeah?”“Yeah,” he nods. “Now can we fix the issue of you sitting on the opposite side of the fucking table?” He tilts his head. “Or is this some weird power move I’m not getting?”I chuckle, shaking my head before pushing up from my seat. “Fine, princess.”Rook rolls his eyes, muttering under his breath as I move around to sit beside him.“See?” I smirk, leaning back against the chair. “Nice and close now. Happy?”Rook scoffs. “I guess,” h
Rook POVI’m pissed. No, I’m more than pissed. Kade has me pinned to the chair, one hand firm against my chest while his other casually scrolls through his phone like nothing is fucking happening.Meanwhile, the guy? He’s still standing at the bar, smirking, like he didn’t just say the dumbest shit of his life.“Let me go,” I snap.“No,” Kade mutters, not even looking up. “Because I don’t trust you.”I laugh, it’s sharp and humorless. “You don’t trust me? You’re over here playing it fucking calm on your phone while I’m stuck in this chair when I could be over there putting my fist through his mouth.”Kade finally does look at me, and the moment his eyes meet mine, my whole body goes cold.There’s something calculated in them, something sharp and fucking lethal. I pause, my anger still simmering, but suddenly it doesn’t feel so fucking urgent.Kade tilts his head slightly, watching me.I huff out a breath
Rook POVThe guy in the chair watches Kade, and I can still see some of that smug confidence lingering, like he actually thinks the rules are going to protect him from what’s coming.Then, the call connects.My dad answers. “Yeah?”Kade doesn’t hesitate. “Got an issue,” he mutters, his tone calm. “This guy here seems to think I need your permission to touch him just because he couldn’t keep his mouth shut.”There’s a brief pause before my dad sighs. “Who?”Kade doesn’t respond immediately. Instead, he shifts in his chair, turns the phone, and tilts the screen so my father can see the guy’s face.My dad studies him for a moment before letting out a sharp breath. “Jesus Christ,” he mutters. “How the hell did you end up tied to a chair with my son’s husband ready to hurt you?”The guy’s breath stutters as his body locks up, then his eyes flick to me. He really looks at me for the first time, and I see it hit him all at once.
Rook POVKade barely acknowledges it, he simply picks up another spike.The fifth one goes in just as smoothly, and by the time he presses the final spike under the last fingernail, the guy is barely even screaming anymore.His throat is shredded, his sobs ragged, his body completely limp except for the occasional twitch of his fingers.Kade steps back slightly, inspecting his work, the six wooden spikes now buried deep under the guy’s nails. The man is barely making noise anymore, his throat shredded from screaming, his body trembling violently. His fingers twitch involuntarily, his mind and nerves still trying to process the agony.Kade watches him for a moment before exhaling slowly. He rolls his shoulders like this is just another task to check off a list. Then, with that same cold detachment, he mutters,“Now let’s see how deep that burns.”I feel something twist in my gut, not because I pity the guy. He deserved this, maybe even
Kade POVA nudge pulls me from sleep, and I groan, barely registering the fingers trailing down my spine. When they stroke lower, I thrash slightly, trying to shake them off.“Rook, behave,” I grumble, voice still thick with sleep.Instead of listening, he climbs onto me, his chest pressing against my back, his warmth seeping into my skin. “No can do,” he mutters. “Time to wake up. You slept through the whole damn day, it’s nearly dinner.”“Shit.” I slept that long? I try to push up, but he shoves me back down, pinning me.“I’m bored,” he mumbles against my neck, his teeth scraping before he bites.Sighing, I try again to roll over, but he keeps me pinned. “Then go play with yourself. I slept in,” I mutter.His fingers trace slow, teasing lines down my sides, sending a shudder through me.“I’d much rather play with you,” he whispers.“Of course you would. For fuck’s sake, Rook, I’ve barely even got my ey
Kade POVI tilt my head back into him instinctively, surrendering just enough for him to notice, because beneath the bickering and banter, lies an undeniable connection that binds us tighter than any words could capture.His hold on me tightens, and I push back more, my ass rubbing against his cock. Groaning, he bites at my neck, his hips bucking.“You realise all that time you spent bickering and refusing could have been spent in pleasure, right had you just accepted you were going to give in sooner?”I groan and nod. “I didn’t plan to give in, you wore me down. Now shut up and fuck me,” I mumble.“You don’t need to tell me twice,” he whispers and I feel his cock pushing against my ass. The sensation of him pushing in slightly has me groan. I squirm beneath him, trying to force him to do it quicker, but he remains slow.“Rook,” I warn, my voice low and needy. His name is a plea on my lips, a desperate call for him to quicken his pace.
Kade POVI’m late, and I can’t afford to stay in bed with Rook any longer. “I need to move,” I murmur, pressing a quick kiss to his lips before slipping out of bed and heading straight for the shower. I hear him moving around the room, and moments later, he joins me.“When I said I’m late, I meant I need to get going,” I say, turning to face him.Rook just shrugs like it’s nothing. “You’re fine. My dad said he’d keep things moving and let you sleep.” His gaze locks onto mine, waiting for me to argue. “So slow the hell down and actually spend time with me. Or is this just going to be a case of you fucking me and running off after like always?”I tilt my head, frowning. “You know that’s bullshit.” The words come out firm, meant to be the truth, but even I know there’s some weight to what he’s saying. More often than not, I barely stick around for five minutes after.Rook leans into me, a teasing smirk playing on his lips. “So, what’s
Kade POVRook smirks as he flips another pancake onto the growing stack. “You look like you’re plotting something.”I set my coffee down, crossing my arms. “Yeah, I’m thinking about throwing you out of your own damn house.”He bursts out laughing, and it's loud, like I just told the best joke he’s ever heard. He tilts his head, still grinning. “You think that would stop me?”I arch a brow. “Pretty sure it would.”He scoffs. “Kade, come on. I know this place better than you do. There are secret ways in. I could be in here before you even realize it. You’d go to bed thinking you’re safe, and then…” He leans in slightly, lowering his voice. “Bam. There I am, watching you and waiting.”I stare at him. “You do realize how creepy that sounds, right?”Rook shrugs, completely unbothered. “Yeah, but that just makes it better.”I shake my head, picking up a pancake from the plate and taking a bite straight from it. “You really don’t have
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
Rook POVOnce everything is plated, I pour a cup of coffee and grab the tray, balancing it as I make my way back upstairs. Kade’s still in bed when I step inside, but I can tell by the way his eyes flick open that he’s been drifting in and out.His gaze shifts to the tray in my hands, then back to me. “What’s this?”“Breakfast,” I say simply, setting it down on the nightstand.He smirks, pushing himself up against the pillows with a wince. “You bring me breakfast in bed now? What happened to calling me a stubborn asshole and telling me to get up?”I cross my arms, giving him a look. “You’re on bed rest today.”Kade raises a brow. “Excuse me?”“You heard me,” I say, grabbing the tray and setting it in front of him. “Eat. Then go back to sleep, watch a game, whatever. But you’re not getting out of that bed today.”Kade scoffs, picking up a piece of toast. “That’s cute. You really think you can keep me in bed all day?”“Yea
Rook POVI watch as Kade walks around the back of the building to go through the back ways so Harlow won’t see him. I didn’t expect that. Him saying we’re going somewhere alone.Honestly, I was expecting to get back and for things to be the exact same. Still, I’m trying not to expect things to be different because if they aren’t, and I gave myself hope, that would destroy me more than just expecting him to do what he did before.Pushing back the issues, I walk inside, and the moment I step through the living room doors, I hear Harlow.“Daddy Rook!” she screams and runs at me. Leaning down, I catch her, and she hugs me, crying.“I’m sorry, princess,” I whisper. Watching her cry for me while Rose dragged her out was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. She looks at me, then behind me.“Where’s Daddy Mercer?” She continues to look around.“You know how Daddy Rook sometimes forgets things?” I ask.She nod
Kade POVRook helps me up despite my protests, and soon, we’re in the car, the quiet hum of the engine filling the space as we pull away from the runway.Rook glances at me, eyebrows raised. “So, we're heading straight home and through the back.”I shake my head. “Not yet.”He frowns. “What do you mean, not yet? You just got drugged into sleep, and you still look like shit.”I lean in slightly, lowering my voice so only he hears. “I want to go somewhere. Just us.”His brows knit together. “Where?”I let a slow smirk tug at my lips. “We never got the final moments of our holiday together.”Something flickers in his gaze, surprise, then understanding. He exhales, running a hand through his hair before shaking his head with a small, exasperated smile.“You really are a stubborn asshole,” he mutters.I shrug. “So, we going