Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 221 - Chapitre 230

Kade POVI grab a clean shirt from the basket and pull it on as I head upstairs. I should’ve known Harlow would run straight to Rook, that kid is easily bribed.“Wait for me,” Rook mutters behind me, and I glance back. He’s already pulling off his damp shirt, digging through his things. “I need dry clothes, then I’m coming. Someone has to help Harlow kick your ass at the games,” he shrugs before walking past me.By the time I reach the room, Harlow is grinning, sitting beside Rose with a tablet in her lap, scrolling through dolls online.“A doll?” I raise a brow, looking between them.“Apparently, being refused a new one made her agree quickly,” Nikolai chuckles, arms crossed as he leans against the desk. “Girl’s got a brain on her, I’ll give her that, didn’t even hesitate to take the bribe.”Yeah, she also didn’t hesitate to throw me under the bus. I ruffle her hair, smirking as she swats at my hand. “We’ll leave soon,” I tell her. She barely acknowledges me, too busy pointing at som

Rook POVBy the time we get back, Harlow is rubbing at her eyes, her sugar rush finally wearing off. She tries to fight it, but the second she yawns, I know she’s done for.Kade stretches, glancing at her. “I got her,” he says, but before he can take a step, Nikolai’s voice cuts through the house.“Kade,” my father calls. “I need a word.”I glance at Kade, and for a second, his jaw tightens, so slight that no one but me would catch it.Harlow tugs at his hand. “You said you’d tuck me in,” she mumbles sleepily.Kade runs a hand over her hair, his voice softer now. “Daddy Rook’s got you, princess. I’ll come see you in a bit.”She pouts but doesn’t argue when I scoop her up. “Alright, kid, let’s get you to bed before you start snoring on me.”“I don’t snore,” she mutters against my shoulder.“Uh-huh,” I say, carrying her toward her room.She’s nearly asleep by the time I set her down, but she still makes a sleepy grab for my hand when I go to pull the blankets over her. I pause, letting

Rook POVI wake up alone, the space beside me empty and already cooling. A frown pulls at my brows as I sit up, rubbing a hand over my face.Kade never mentioned leaving early.Pushing the thought aside for now, I get up, shower quickly, and throw on some clothes before heading downstairs.Rose is sitting with Harlow, who’s sprawled out on the floor, fully focused on whatever toy she’s currently making fight for its life.I scoop her up, pressing a kiss to the top of her messy curls. She giggles but immediately starts squirming, swatting at me.“Daddy Rook!” she whines. “I’m busy!”I smirk, tightening my hold for a second just to annoy her before setting her back down. “Yeah, yeah. Where’s Daddy Mercer?”“Grandad said he had to work,” she says, already back to her game like it’s not a big deal.My frown deepens. Work?“They were meeting someone,” Rose adds, watching me carefully. “I can’t remember who, but he mentioned The Blackwood and the meeting room there.”That pulls me up short.

Rook POVThe drinks keep coming, the conversation flowing, and everything is just easy. The tension that’s been riding me all night dulls under the whiskey, sinking into something looser, something that doesn’t feel like it’s pressing against my ribs, demanding to be dealt with.Tyler’s an asshole, but he’s a funny asshole, and the more we drink, the more we lean into each other, shoving, laughing, shoulders bumping.At some point, he mutters something about how I probably skate slow as hell since I’ve only been playing part-time. I scoff, reaching out and shoving his face away with my palm, making him nearly choke on his drink.He sputters, grinning as he grabs my wrist, dragging my hand down. “Cheap shot, Rook.”“Like you wouldn’t take one,” I fire back, knocking his arm off mine.He chuckles, shaking his head as he takes another sip of his drink. “You’re lucky I like you.”I smirk, grabbing my glass. “That makes one of us.”He laughs, and before I know it, we’re leaning into each o

Kade POV“He’s too unpredictable right?” I let out a sharp laugh. “Unpredictable is what keeps this family from getting wiped off the fucking map. You know why hardly no one’s dared to make a move against him? Because they don’t know what the hell he’s going to do next. And in this world, that’s power. You don’t see it because you’ve been sitting in this room too long, playing it safe.”Nikolai’s jaw tightens, but he doesn’t interrupt me.“He doesn’t know how to lead?” I continue, my voice turning colder. “Then explain why people follow him anyway. Explain why, even when he’s not trying, people stand behind him. Why they trust him. He doesn’t lead because of his name. He doesn’t lead because someone told them to follow. They do it because they believe in him.”I lean forward now, my hands pressing against the table, my voice lower but no less sharp.“You want to talk about how he doesn’t play the game? That he doesn’t ‘understand’ the politics of it all?” I shake my head. “Maybe that’