Rook POVDo I know I come first? If I do, surely he will leave Mercer alone? “Then let him go. Stop making him throw games,” I say, watching him carefully, waiting for the usual excuses, the same cold justifications he always gives.He stares at me for a long moment before finally speaking. “You prove to me this is serious, and I will.”I laugh, sharp and humorless. “So it’s serious enough to make him fight for his fucking life, to make him kill men, but not enough for you to stop using him?”“There’s a difference between attachment and a real relationship, Rook. You’re obsessed, and that’s dangerous. But if you ever figure out how to build something real, ask me again.” He turns, walking back to his desk, his focus already shifting. “Until then, sit. You can help me with the next issue.”I don’t move at first, still thinking, still turning over his words, still wondering what fucked-up test he’ll put Mercer through next just to prove a point. Would Mercer agree if he knew it would g
Rook POVThis guy was fucked the moment he stepped through that door. My father leans back slightly, fingers tapping lazily against the desk. “We’re not unreasonable men, Vasquez. You’ll get your week.”Vasquez exhales sharply, relief crashing through him like a damn tidal wave. His whole body slumps, the tension pouring out of him as he reaches for the cash on the desk like it still belongs to him. “You have no idea how much this means, thank you, I swear, I’ll get the rest,” he turns to walk out, voice shaking, eyes practically glossy with gratitude.Pathetic.I don’t even look at Vasquez anymore. I’m watching my father, waiting for the tell, and there it is, that small, knowing smirk. The one that always means very bad things for the idiot in front of him.My father barely tilts his chin, and the men standing by the door move instantly. “Take him.”Vasquez freezes. “W-wait, what?”The guards are on him in seconds, gripping his arms, yanking him up from the chair before he can even
Rook POVKade’s place is empty, not a single sign that he’s even been back. The frustration is building, tightening in my chest because he’s not supposed to be out there alone, not after everything. I already know where I’m going next to Tyler. His team has to know where he is.I pull up outside his place and knock. No answer. Grinding my teeth, I knock again, harder this time. I hear movement inside, a muffled curse, then the door swings open, and Tyler stands there, looking like he’s seconds from slamming it shut again.“The fuck do you want?” His glare is sharp, his stance rigid, and I almost laugh at the audacity of it.“Looking for Kade. Where is he?”His shoulders tense, and I can already see it, that fucking lie forming, the hesitation in his expression.“Don’t fucking lie to me, Taylor,” I snap, my patience gone. His jaw tightens, and then he exhales, rubbing the back of his neck before finally nodding.“What happened to him?” His voice drops, his suspicion evident. “He claims
Rook POVHis gaze meets mine, and there’s something dark there, something wrecked and spiraling, something that makes my fucking chest tighten.I keep my hand at his throat, but softer now, my thumb brushing over his jaw instead of holding him in place.“You think this fixes it?” I ask, my voice quieter now, the edge fading. “Letting some stranger touch you like you’re nothing?”He laughs, but there’s no humor in it. “Maybe I needed to feel like nothing.”That’s it. That’s the fucking truth of it, the thing he’s been chasing, the thing that’s been eating away at him since the second he walked out of that fight alive.He doesn’t want to feel powerful. He doesn’t want to feel like a survivor. He wants to feel like he’s not even fucking there.I don’t think. I just react.My hand slides from his throat, moving into his hair as I grip it tight and pull his head back, forcing his mouth against mine.It’s not soft, not careful, not any of the things it should be. It’s a claim, a fucking bra
Rook POVHis fingers tighten around my wrists, not pushing me away, not pulling me closer, just holding on. Like he’s waiting for something, like he doesn’t know whether to fight or just let go completely.I study his face, the tension in his jaw, the way his chest is still rising and falling too fast, like he’s barely breathing through it. His skin is too pale, his lips still parted from the force of our kiss, and I don’t know if I want to shake him or fucking kiss him again.“You’re coming with me,” I say, my voice low but firm.His fingers twitch against my skin. “No.”I exhale slowly, forcing myself to stay calm even though I’m on the edge of grabbing him and throwing him over my damn shoulder. “Mercer.”His jaw tenses further, and his grip on me tightens. “I don’t need a fucking babysitter, Rook,” he mutters, and I scoff, shaking my head.“No, what you need is a leash and a goddamn tracking device, because if I leave you alone for five minutes, you’re either fighting for your lif
Kade POVI don’t know how to breathe anymore. Every inhale feels like it gets stuck somewhere in my chest, too shallow, too tight, like there’s not enough space inside me for oxygen anymore. My hands are in my hair, pressing against my scalp, trying to ground myself, but it’s not working.Rook is next to me. Not speaking, not touching me, he's just there. And it pisses me off because I don’t know what I want. I don’t know what I need. I feel like I’m fucking drowning.“You gonna sit there all night?” His voice is softer than I expect, and that’s worse. I don’t need soft. I need something to hurt.I let out a breath, finally dropping my hands, forcing myself to sit up. My body still feels off, heavy with exhaustion and alcohol and something darker I don’t want to name.“I should go home,” I mutter, but even I don’t believe the words as they come out of my mouth.Rook snorts, shaking his head. “Yeah? And then what? Drink yourself into a blackout? Find another guy to pin you against a wal
Kade POVI don’t know what the fuck I’m doing here. I don’t know how I ended up like this, tangled in this fucked-up, messy, confusing thing with him, but I do know that for the first time since everything went to hell, I don’t feel like I’m suffocating.“Are you actually asleep, or are you just ignoring me?” His voice is quiet, but there’s something in his tone is teasing and familiar.I sigh, not opening my eyes. “If I was asleep, you’d be waking me up just to be an asshole, wouldn’t you?”He chuckles, and I feel him shift, rolling onto his side to face me. “You know me so well.”“Unfortunately.”“You’re lucky I have a soft spot for you, Mercer. Otherwise, I’d kick your ungrateful ass out of my bed.”I finally roll onto my back, turning my head to look at him. He’s grinning like he’s got me exactly where he wants me. Fucking bastard.“You don’t have a soft spot for me,” I mutter, shaking my head.“Mm, no? Then why the fuck are you still here?”I open my mouth, then close it. Good qu
Kade POVHe leans in, his nose brushing mine, his lips just barely touching. “You like this,” he murmurs, rocking his hips just enough to make me curse under my breath. “You like being under me.”I don’t...but I also fucking do. God, I don’t fucking know anymore.His hand moves between us, fingers sliding under my waistband, and I should stop this, but I don’t. His touch is firm, skilled, too fucking good, and my brain shuts off completely.“Say it,” he whispers, dragging his lips down my throat. “Say you want this.”I hate him, and I hate myself but I don’t stop him and when he grips me, stroking slow, teasing, I groan, my head falling back.He smirks against my skin. “That’s what I thought.”I lose myself completely. I should stop this. I should push him off. I should be stronger, should have the willpower to shove him away and walk the fuck out. But my body betrays me, my mind betrays me.I’m fucking weak. His fingers move with expert precision, teasing and dragging just enough to
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 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 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 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 POVThe 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
Rook POV“Is there anything I can do?”He shrugs slightly. “Until we get a name of who took the shipment, nothing can be done. Then it is up to Kade.”I roll my eyes.“Are you really not going to ask him?” He leans back and laughs.“No.” I will not ask Kade if there is anything I can do.“Why?”“Because I told him if he needs me, he should ask, and I will be there instantly. So me asking if there is anything I can do to help him is unnecessary. It also makes it sound like I am checking in on him or trying to say he cannot handle it alone.”He laughs and lifts his glass. “You are delusional if that is what you really think.”“Maybe he would not, but that is how I feel.” I rub my face, feeling exhaustion pull at me.“Look, I am going to see him. Go to bed and get some sleep.”I watch him stand and grab his jacket. “Why are you going? You do not need to.”“Because you are worried about him and will not
Rook’s POVI don’t usually worry about Kade when he’s working. Okay, I do, because I know how quickly things can change. But today? It feels different. There is something heavier about it, something I do not like. He has done his usual thing of messaging me every few hours with an I’m alive! like he thinks it is a joke.Still, the time between those messages? Torture. Normally, my dad is around, so I can ask him for updates, and he has them. But even he is gone today.I place the box down, and Rose smiles at me. “He will love it,” she says.I am not so sure. Buying for Kade is hard. He is weird. His only real interests are hockey and work. Outside of that, he has no hobbies.He is not picky when it comes to gifts, but every time I ask what he wants, or at least for an idea, I get the same response. I do not want anything.That response caused an argument last month. I told him if he really did not care enou
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 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