Kade’s POVI step out of my room, rubbing a hand down my face, still half-asleep. My head’s not fully caught up with being awake yet, but the moment my eyes adjust, I realize something’s off.Paul is here, he's sitting in my fucking living room. And across from him, sitting way too relaxed in the chair, is Rook.What the hell is going on? I blink, my brain sluggish as I try to make sense of it. Paul’s standing now, moving toward me, his expression easy, familiar, like this is normal. Like I’m supposed to expect this.But it’s not normal. “What the fuck is this?” I mutter, my voice rough with sleep.Paul gives me a small grin. “Didn’t mean to wake you.”I stare at him, my mind still catching up. I don’t get it. Why the hell is he here? Why is he with Rook? What the hell could they have possibly been talking about?Before I can string together a question, Paul closes the distance, his arms lifting, wrapping around me like this is some kind of reunion.I barely have time to react before
Kade POV“What do you mean there’s nothing to pick up?” His voice is sharper now, his expression twisting in confusion.I exhale slowly, already feeling my patience wearing thin. “I mean exactly what I said. Whatever you thought this was, it isn’t.”Paul scoffs, shaking his head. “Kade, come on. We always do this.” He gestures vaguely between us. “You disappear, do your thing, and then you come back, and we go back to us.”“There is no us, Paul. I told you that last time I came,” I say, my voice flat.His jaw tightens. “Since when?”I don’t answer immediately. I can feel Rook beside me, silent, unmoving, but there. I glance at him briefly, and he’s just watching, waiting.Paul notices the glance. His eyes flick to Rook, then back to me, his expression darkening.“What’s changed?” Paul presses. “Because this?” He gestures between us again. “This was never a problem before. So what the hell is different?”Rook steps forward before I can answer.“What’s different?” Rook drawls, tilting h
Kade POVExhaling slowly, I shake my head. “You really think this is funny?”Rook smirks. “Oh, I know it’s funny. Watching that idiot talk himself in circles like he actually had a chance? Yeah, that was entertaining as hell.”I scoff, leaning back against the counter. “You’re such an asshole.”His smirk doesn’t waver. “And yet, here you are.”I roll my eyes, but I don’t argue. Because the truth is, I’m still here. I didn’t push him away, didn’t throw him out, didn’t even really get pissed at him for manhandling Paul.Because deep down? I didn’t hate it.I didn’t hate the way Rook didn’t hesitate to make it clear to Paul that whatever he thought we had was done. I didn’t hate the way he threw him back into the chair before I even had a chance to react. And I sure as hell don’t hate the way he’s looking at me now, like he’s still wired from it, like there’s something unfinished between us.His gaze drops slightly, flicking over my lips before coming back to my eyes.I swallow, heat cree
Kade POVLouise lets out another exaggerated sigh, still shaking her head like she’s personally disappointed in my life choices. “You know he’s never gonna let this go, right?”Amelia nods, smirking. “Oh yeah. Rook seems like the kind of guy who’s gonna bring this up at every opportunity.”Rook grins. “You have no idea.”I roll my eyes, but before I can tell them all to fuck off, Louise squints at Rook. “I still don’t get it. What exactly is it about Kade that made you decide to ruin your life like this?”Rook hums, pretending to think. “Well, he’s stubborn as hell, fights me on everything, constantly tries to act like he doesn’t want me, and he’s got a terrible attitude.”I narrow my eyes. “You do realise those aren’t compliments, right?”Rook smirks. “Oh, I know. That’s what makes it fun.”Amelia fake-gags again. “Ugh. You two are insufferable.”Louise still looks personally offended. “And you” she points at me, “have been keeping this a secret?”I shrug. “Yeah, for obvious reasons.”
Rook’s POVI hadn’t meant to say it.That doesn’t mean it isn’t true, but fuck, if there was ever a worst time to admit how I felt, this was it. Right in front of his mom. Right in front of his nosy-ass sisters. Right when he wasn’t expecting it, when I wasn’t expecting it.And now? There’s no taking it back. Not that I would, but still.Kade hasn’t said a word. He’s just standing there, looking lost as hell, his body tense, like he’s bracing for something. It makes something twist in my chest, something I don’t fucking like. Because I didn’t mean to put him on the spot, and I didn’t mean to make him feel like he had an audience waiting for his reaction.I shift my gaze to his mom, who hasn’t stopped staring at me since the words left my mouth. Her expression is unreadable, but her eyes are sharp, calculating, like she’s trying to pick apart what I just said, trying to figure out what my game is.Except there isn’t one. There was never a game, not when it came to Kade.The only thing I
Rook POVHe exhales sharply, shaking his head, his jaw clenching like he’s trying to find a way to argue against something he knows is the truth. “You don’t get to just say that and act like it’s no big deal.” His voice is quieter now, but still edged with frustration. “Like it’s something casual, like it’s just another one of your fucking games.”I grip his wrist a little tighter, not enough to hurt, just enough to ground him, to keep him from spiraling into whatever thoughts are racing through his head right now. “I never said it was casual,” I murmur, my voice steady, unwavering. “I never fucking said this was a game.”Kade scoffs, but there’s no real heat behind it, just exhaustion. His free hand scrubs over his face before he looks at me again, expression guarded but slipping in places. “You act like it is. You always push, always fucking test me like you’re waiting for me to break. And now, now you just say it out of nowhere, like it’s not a big fucking deal? Like it’s not somet
Rook POVI don’t stop him when he shoves me back against the porch railing, his grip tight, his breathing ragged against my lips. He kisses me like he’s making up for lost time, like he’s trying to erase every second he spent pretending this wasn’t happening, and fuck if I don’t let him.Because I’ve waited for this, and now that I have him right where I want him? I’m not letting him go, he doesn’t pull away, not this time.Instead, his hands fist into my shirt, gripping tight like he’s grounding himself, like he’s making damn sure I don’t move, don’t leave, don’t take back anything I’ve said. His lips are rough against mine, every push and pull filled with frustration, tension, and something deeper, something neither of us have been willing to name until now.I feel the exact second he lets go, the second he stops fighting whatever the hell this is, stops pretending it doesn’t matter. His body presses into mine, his breathing ragged against my lips, and for once, he’s not running.I
Kade’s POVBreakfast was loud, too fucking loud, and I barely paid attention to half of what was being said. My mind kept circling around one thing, why was my mom back? I hadn’t even thought about it when she walked in, but she shouldn’t be here yet. She should still be at work.Then again, it’s the weekend. Maybe she actually stopped working so much on weekends?I glance up just in time to see her leading Louise and Amelia away, no doubt telling them to stay out of the way while she talks to me, to us. My stomach tightens slightly, and I watch her go, still trying to figure out why she’s home.“Are you okay?” Rook’s voice pulls me back, and I feel him lean into me slightly, his presence solid, grounding.I let out a slow breath, shaking my head. “I’m sure she should still be at work.” My voice is low, just for him.“It’s Sunday,” Rook says, like that explains everything.“Yeah, I know, it just… feels like she came back for something.” I rub a hand down my face, trying to make sense
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