Kade POV
“I’m never letting you go,” he says, the teasing moment gone, replaced by something heavier, something real. “You know that, right?”
I nod, tugging him closer, brushing my lips against his. “Good. Because you’re stuck with me now, forever.”
His grip tightens around me as he grins. “Forever, huh? Bold claim. I don’t know, Mercer, that’s a long-ass time.”
I smirk, running my fingers along the nape of his neck. “Too late, you already signed the papers.”
“Shit. Should’ve read the fine print.” His laugh is warm against my skin before he presses his forehead to mine. “So,” he murmurs, tilting his head. “Was that worth waiting for?”
A quiet chuckle escapes me as I press a lazy kiss to his shoulder. “Definitely. Though I wouldn’t have minded if we’d gotten here sooner.”
He groans dramat
Rook POVI wake to Kade muttering, his voice tense. Day one, and I haven’t even got my eyes open before he’s already stomping around the damn hotel room like the world’s about to end.Sitting up, I blink at him as he holds my phone to his ear.“What the fuck?” My voice is rough from sleep, and he barely spares me a glance before tossing his phone at me.“Check it,” he mutters, still focused on his call.Not a great start to the morning. With a sigh, I rub my face and glance at the screen. My body locks up instantly.My head snaps to the side, eyes narrowing at him. “Got it already,” Kade snaps at me, holding up a camera I hadn’t even noticed he was gripping. Then he goes back to talking like this is a normal fucking morning.“Hello?” I shout at him. “Why the fuck wouldn’t you wake me and let me know?” I snap, gripping his phone tightly.“You were asleep, didn’t want to wake you.” His tone is too casual for the shit I’m seeing.I hold out my hand. “Give me the phone. Let me talk to my
Rook POVHe’s serious. He really isn’t phased by this. If anything, he’s more annoyed that I’m pressing the issue than the fact the whole world thinks they know what happens between us.Shaking my head, I release him and sit back on his lap, letting my hands drop to his chest. “Unbelievable,” I mutter. “All this time I thought I was the reckless one.”Kade smirks, rubbing his hands over my thighs. “You are the reckless one. I just don’t see the point in flipping over something I can’t change.”I huff, rolling my eyes. “Right. You can’t change it. But you sure as hell can make sure it never happens again.”He leans back, stretching his arms behind his head. “Already handled. Your father’s men are on it. Whoever put the cameras there is already regretting it, trust me.”That makes me feel slightly better. But only slightly. I still don’t like that someone thought they could invade our space like that. Our wedding night. It doesn’t matter that Kade’s indifferent about the pictures. That’
Rook POVI want to tell him to stop, to walk away, to never get further involved in this life. But I can’t. It’s his choice. And the fact that he’d drop it for me? That’s a dangerous kind of devotion.“Now I feel like an asshole for asking,” I mutter.“Do you want me to?” he asks again, searching my face.“No,” I admit, shaking my head. “I just wanted to know if you would.”Kade watches me for a beat, then lifts a brow. “Let me ask you this, Rook, if I asked you not to take over for your father when it’s time, would you refuse?”I scoff immediately. “What kind of dumb fucking question is that? If you told me not to, I wouldn’t.”“Oh, so when I ask, it’s a dumb question, but not when you ask?” He tilts his head, stepping closer, backing me up against the cool tile.I shrug. “Well, I am obsessed with you, so yeah, clearly it’s dumb of you to ask. You should know by now I’d do anything you fucking asked.”His smirk returns, slow and dangerous. “Is that so?”I nod, but something about the
Kade POVStepping into the house, my eyes immediately find Harlow. She’s sitting on the floor with Rose, surrounded by toys, her little hands grasping at them in fascination. I walk over and lower myself onto the floor beside them, scooping her into my arms.“How was she?” I ask, brushing my fingers over her warm cheeks. They’re flushed, a sign she’s been teething.“Fussy, but not too bad. She’s been settled for a few hours now,” Rose says, offering me a small smile.I glance around, noticing the quiet. “Where are Amelia and Louise?”“Nikolai had someone drive Louise home. She has school in the morning. Amelia went to the apartment to get settled in, she wasn’t comfortable around Harlow.”I nod, absorbing that. It’s my fault. I got caught up with Rook, lost track of time, and spent the entire day at the hotel. I should’ve been here, should’ve seen them off, but I let myself get too distracted.Rose watches me for a moment before offering, “I can get her ready for bed if you want?”I s
Rook POVThe warehouse smells like sweat and blood, the thick scent clinging to the air as I step into the center of the makeshift training ring. The men stand in a loose circle, shifting on their feet, their faces a mix of eagerness and nerves. They’re new, fresh recruits who think a few street fights and a decent right hook make them ready for this life. They don’t know shit.I roll my shoulders, flexing my fingers as I let my gaze sweep over them. “You think you know how to fight,” I say, my voice cutting through the quiet. “But what you’ve done before now? It’s not enough. A soldier doesn’t fight to win a round, he fights to put his opponent down. Fast. Clean. No hesitation.”A few of them nod like they understand, but they don’t. Not yet. They will soon.I step back and jerk my chin at one of them, a broad guy with a cocky smirk and the stance of someone who relies on his size more than his skill. “You. In the ring.”He steps forward, rolling his shoulders like this is a warm-up
Kade POVThe morning light filters through the curtains, casting a soft glow over the room. Rook is still asleep, his breathing slow and steady, his arm draped loosely over my waist. Harlow is nestled between us, curled up against his chest, her tiny fingers gripping onto his shirt even in sleep.Standing I watch them for a moment, taking it in.Today is Rook’s birthday.I don’t know if he cares about it, I don’t even know if he’s the kind of person who celebrates, but I do. And for the first time in a long time, I want to make sure he knows that he’s important, that he’s more than just the man people fear or the player his teammates depend on.He’s mine. And he’s Harlow’s.Moving, I carefully slip out of bed, making sure not to wake either of them, and head downstairs to the kitchen. I’m not exactly a chef, but I know enough to make something decent. Pancakes. Bacon. Coffee. Simple, but something just for him.By the time I’m carrying the tray back upstairs, I hear Harlow’s little no
5 years later!Rook POVI drop my phone onto the desk, leaning back in my chair just as my father steps in and braces himself against the doorframe. His expression is the usual mix of exasperation and mild amusement.“He’s back,” he announces.I nod, pushing myself to my feet. “Good.”Heading upstairs, I make my way to our bedroom, and the sound of running water draws me toward the bathroom. Pushing the door open, I find Kade at the sink, washing his hands like some guy fresh off a crime scene. Which, knowing him, isn’t far from the truth.“So, are you going to explain?” I ask, stepping closer.“Explain what?” He flicks a glance at me through the mirror, ever the picture of innocence.“You know what,” I laugh, pressing into him, my gaze dropping to his hands. Red stains swirl down the drain, and I arch a brow. “Kade, you do realize Jonathan has been working with my father for years, right?”“He’s alive,” he mutters, like that should earn him some kind of award.I snort. “Bravo. Bonus
Rook POVI stare at him, my brain taking an extra second to process that last part.“He knew?” My voice is calm. Too calm.Kade nods. “Heard the whispers. Knew someone had fucked with your car. Decided to keep his mouth shut and see if you’d end up as a smear on the highway.”A slow, simmering rage settles in my chest. Not the kind that burns hot and fast, but the kind that lingers, waiting for the right moment to be unleashed.“Right,” I say, rolling my shoulders. “So you hit him?”Kade snorts. “Hit him? No, Rook, I fucking wrecked him.”That makes me feel slightly better, but only slightly. My fingers twitch at my sides. “Is he still breathing?”“Barely,” Kade says, eyes watching me carefully. “Your father gave the go-ahead, but I figured you might want to decide how this ends.”I exhale through my nose, willing the fury to settle before I do something reckless.Jonathan. That spineless piece of shit. Not only did he know, but he waited to see if I’d die. And now Kade has given me a
Kade’s POVRook stands here, his hands clenched at his sides, his whole body radiating with frustration. I know him well enough to see the way his anger isn’t just about today. It’s about everything that came before it, about every time I put business first without meaning to, about the way I always assume he will be there no matter how much shit I pile on top of him.I want to tell him I didn’t mean to forget. That it wasn’t on purpose, that today spiraled into something bigger than I expected. But none of that matters because the fact remains the same. I still forgot.I step closer, but he doesn’t move, doesn’t react. He just stares at me, his jaw tight, waiting for something.“Tell me how to fix it,” I say, my voice lower now.He scoffs. “You can’t.”“I can if you let me,” I push, watching for any sign that I can still salvage this.“You shoul
Rook POVSighing, I look at him“I’m sorry. I just found it funny that they did this big scheme to get to me, thinking I was taking over, when all along, you were working to fuck up their plan.”He nods slowly. “After I saw the messages on his phone, I had to drive from place to place to find the men he had stationed around, waiting for a sign of you. They weren’t going to hold back. They were willing to do it in public.”Kade exhales, rubbing a hand down his face. “I haven’t had my phone. It died, and the one I had on me stopped being tracked at some point, but I didn’t realize it. I sorted out the men involved, got back to the warehouse, and saw Nikolai stressed out, which is when I realized no one knew I was okay.” He shakes his head slightly. “I grabbed my ring, got my phone, and came straight home.”I watch him carefully, my jaw tightening. “So, you just went off the
Rook POVI stab my fork into my food, pretending like I actually have an appetite, pretending like I’m not one second away from losing my mind. I just need a call, a text, or something. I get it though, depending what he's doing, messaging me? That could be a fucking disaster and lead whoever it is back here. But as the hours drag on and the sun starts to set, and still I get nothing, I worry even more.“Shall I get her in bed?” Rose looks at me. “She’s bathed and dressed.”“No, I will,” I reply and walk upstairs.I find Harlow sitting in her bedroom, her small hands gripping the hairdryer. She smiles as I walk in and holds it out.“Help,” she says, waving it at me.“That’s exactly why I’m up here,” I reply, taking it from her.Standing behind her, I switch it on and start drying her hair, listening as she chatters on about her dolls. She talks nonstop, barely pausing for breath as she explains something about a royal wedding gone wro
Rook’s POVToday is a fucking disaster, just like last year.We lost by one damn point because I spent five fucking minutes on the bench.By the time I get home, I storm inside, my pulse still hammering from the game and the frustration burning beneath my skin.“Where the fuck is he?” I snap, my voice cutting through the silence.Damon steps forward, his expression careful. “He wasn’t at the warehouse when I went.”I stop dead, turning to stare at him. “You said he was there.”“Well, his phone was, so we assumed he was there. No one would tell us where he was. Apparently, only a few people were told to ensure it was safe.”I want to be angry, to throw something, to blame him for not knowing, but the fact that so few people even know where Kade is means this isn’t something small.I take a slow breath, forcing myself to stay in control. &ld
Kade POVDeclan? He just keeps running his fucking mouth.“You know, I used to wonder why Nikolai kept him around,” he continues, spitting blood onto the floor. “A sniveling, weak little bitch with a name he didn’t fucking deserve. Always throwing tantrums, always being coddled, always needing someone to clean up after him, “pathetic." But then I realized it.” His lips curl, a cruel glint in his eye.“Rook’s not here because he’s strong. He’s here because people like you keep spreading his legs for him. He’s never fought for a damn thing in his life, never had to work for it, never had to be worth shit, just sat there and let men like his daddy, men like you pick up the pieces when he breaks like the fragile little cum-dumpster he is."My breathing is steady. My heart rate doesn’t spike.But my fingers twitch.Declan leans in slightly, smirking
Kade POVAs soon as he's got the door open his daughtersteps out fast and slaps him across the face. “This is your fault!” she yells.“To be fair, it’s also on you,” I cut in, smirking when she whips around to face me. “You told me everything.”Her glare sharpens, but I don’t flinch. “You can leave now.”She hesitates, looking between me and her father.Declan sighs, pulling her in for a hug. “Go, princess. I’ll be fine.”I scoff. “Debatable.”She turns her fury on me, storming forward. “If you hurt him—”“You’ll what?” I ask, stepping closer.She falters, stepping back slightly.“Exactly,” I say lowly. “Nothing. Now get out.”She spins and storms off, her heels echoing across the concrete floor.Declan watches her leave before turning to me, conf
Rook POVBy the time I pull up to the rink two hours later, my frustration is boiling over. Neither Kade nor my dad have answered my calls. I tried both of them multiple times, but nothing. Not a damn response.Gripping the wheel for a moment, I exhale slowly before getting out of the car. I grab my bag and Kade’s, heading inside without bothering to check my phone again. If he was coming, he’d be here already.As I step into the rink, the usual pre-game energy is buzzing around, but I barely register it. I spot Taylor on my way past and shove Kade’s bag into his hands without stopping.“He’s late,” I mutter, not waiting for a response before continuing toward the locker room.The second I step inside, I can feel eyes on me. The tension in the room is thick, unspoken. The guys glance at me, some shifting awkwardly, but no one says anything outright.I force myself to focus, setting my bag down and pulling
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 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