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Cade
I WAS IN the middle of a cutthroat game of pool with Devon when Connor walked out from the mouth of the hallway, a shit eating grin on his face, and made his way over to me.
“You look like you just stole some kid’s lunch money,” I observed as Devon took his shot.
Hatch crossed his arms and grinned wider. “Had an interesting convo with your woman.”
I frowned. “Say what now?”
“She’s a fuckin’ rockstar, brother. Sorry I ever gave you shit about your feelings for her.”
I relaxed. “You never gave me shit about my feelings for her.”
“I didn’t acknowledge the seriousness of them, though, Cade and I should have.”
“I appreciate that.” I smiled. “And, yeah, she is a fuckin’ rockstar.”
“Now I wish I’d let you do more damage to that unfrosted pop tart of a human,” he admitted.
I laughed. “Me too.”
“Your turn, Dad,” Devon said.
“How much does your dad owe you so far?” Connor asked Devon.
Devon grinned big, puffing out his chest. “Fifty bucks.”
Connor pulled him in for a side hug. “I taught you well.”
“You created a damn shark is what you did,” I grumbled, taking my next shot.
I sank my ball, then Devon won the game, and I handed him a hundred. I headed to the bar with Connor for a drink, vowing to never play with my kid for money again.
“Did you have a reason you needed to talk to Navy?” I asked, grabbing a beer.
“Train called while he was checking the house because she wanted to cook for them, and he was feelin’ itchy about it.”
I smiled. “She was going to offer them a bed and her sofa as well.”
He chuckled. “She disclosed.”
“I told her there was no way in hell.”
“She also told me that.”
I raised an eyebrow. “You two apparently got quite chatty.”
He filled me in on their conversation and my heart twisted in my chest. Jesus, I loved her. More than I could put into words. And knowing that she loved me back more than I deserved, nearly sent me to my knees.
“Fuck,” I rasped.
“Happy for you, brother.”
“Thanks, Con.”
“It’s my two favorite people in one place,” Cricket squealed, pushing her body between us, and looping her arms around our necks.
“Hey, sissy,” I said, giving her a squeeze. “When did you get here?”
“Just now. What are we drinking?”
Christina, or Cricket as everyone called her, was the only blonde among us four dark haired ruffians. Although all five of us had blue eyes, she was the only one with blonde hair, taking after our mother.
“We’re drinkin’ beer,” Connor said. “You can help yourself to whatever you want.”
“Patrón it is.” She released us and stepped behind the bar to grab the bottle.
“Are you stayin’?” Connor asked. “Because you’re not drivin’ home.”
“Yes, of course I’m staying. I know the rules.”
He relaxed. “You can have my room.”
She gave him a sassy grin. “I also know that.”
“Cricket!”
We turned to see her best friend, Katie, waving at her from the kitchen doorway.
“Duty calls,” Cricket said, grabbing the tequila and walking away.
“Do you think we fucked up with her and Jase?” I asked Connor.
“Where the fuck did that come from?”
“Where do you think?”
“You don’t know the whole story, Cade,” Connor said. “Just drop it.”
“Jesus, brother, you probably don’t know everything either. She’s still not the same after all that went down.”
“Did the asshole come back? Did he fight for her?” he challenged. “No, he did not. He’s not fuckin’ worthy of our sister, so drop it.”
Connor stormed off and I sighed. He was right about one thing. I didn’t know the whole story. But that was because I wasn’t part of the club. Jase, the ‘love of Cricket’s life’ had been part of a rival club and he’d been exiled, which is all I knew. I think it’s all Cricket knew as well. And it was all Connor was willing to share.
My sister put on a brave face because that’s who she was, but she was a little bit broken, and she was a lotta bit sad. Ever since I found Navy, I had a deeper understanding of exactly how she felt, and I hated that for my sister.
“Dad!” Devon called, interrupting my thoughts.
“Yeah, bud?”
“Come play pinball.”
“Okay, but I’m not giving you another penny.”
He laughed. “That’s fair.”
For the rest of the night, I spent quality time with my family and communed with Hatch’s brethren. It was almost a perfect night.
* * *
Navy
Sunday morning, I got a ring notification that Cade was at my front door with a cup holder and paper bag in his hands.
I rushed to disarm the alarm then pulled open the door, throwing my arms around his neck before he could even walk inside. “Oh my god, Lumpy, I’ve missed you.”
He chuckled. “Okay, this. This is how I want to be greeted every time I see you.”
He kissed me gently, then walked inside, doing his best to avoid stepping on Pickles who was jumping up and down, barking excitedly at him.
I bent down to pick her up, closing and locking the door, then following him into the kitchen where he set everything on the counter before taking Pickles from me to greet her properly. That’s when I noticed his bruised up knuckles and gasped. “What happened to your hand?”
He sighed, setting Pickles on the floor, ignoring my question, and opening the bag with the bagels in it.
“Cade,” I pressed.
“Think very hard about whether or not you want me to answer, baby, because we don’t lie to one another.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
He raised his head and met my eyes. “Navy, I’m fucking serious. Do you want to know, or do you want plausible deniability?”
I swallowed. “I want to know.”
“Your ex hired a PI to find you. My brother’s club tracked down that PI. We had a meeting with him yesterday and he won’t bother you again.”
“What kind of meeting causes busted up knuckles?”
“The kind where my fist met his face.”
I blinked back tears. “John hired a PI?”
“He did.”
My heart raced. “That’s how he knew where I lived?”
“Yes.”
“And you found this PI and beat the shit out of him?”
“I did.”
“Why?”
“Why did I find him or why did I beat the shit out of him?” he asked.
“Both,” I clarified.
“Because he put you in danger.”
“He was doing his job.”
Cade scowled. “He didn’t think to find out if doing his job would put you in danger. He’s lucky I only gave him a broken nose and a couple of bruises. I shoulda let my brother shoot his dick off as well. But I didn’t.”
I bit my lip. “You broke his nose?”
He nodded.
“And you did all of that for me? To keep me safe?”
“Baby, I’d set the fucking world on fire just to see the flames dance in your eyes.”
I practically threw myself at him, wrapping my arms around his waist and burying my face in his chest. “I love you so, so hard, Cade Wallace.”
He stroked my back. “I love you, too, beautiful.”
I met his eyes. “Does that mean the danger’s over, and we can go back to regular life?”
“No.”
“What? Why?”
“Because your ex knows where you live. Until we know what the fuck he intends to do with that information, we need to be careful.”
“John Shetner,” I spat out. “He’s like a cockroach. Dirty and hard to get rid of.”
“For now, let’s forget about him and have breakfast. You wanna take a drive down to the Falls or hang out here and fuck?”
I shivered. “Can we do the Falls, then come back and fuck?”
“Hell yeah we can.”
“What about Devon?”
“He’s at the club. Big group of the older kids are doing a hang day. He’s covered.”
I nodded. “Please don’t ever choose me over him, okay?”
“How about this,” he said, wrapping his arms around my waist. “You and I take him out to pizza this week so you two can meet. It’s time. You two can get to know each other and figure out how to fit into each other’s lives. Sound good?”
I nodded. “As long as he’s good with that.”
“I’ll ask him.”
“Good.”
“Let’s eat.”
I nodded and carried everything to the table.
* * *
Wednesday evening, I tripped over a pair of boots in my closet trying to get to a different pair of boots that were also strewn about the floor of said closet because I’d strewn them there twenty minutes ago. I’d decided they were all wrong with what I was wearing, but now I thought they might work due to the fact I’d changed my shirt.
Again.
It was shirt number four.
I was meeting Devon tonight and I was more nervous than I’d ever been in my life. I had to make a good impression, or I could run the risk of losing Cade all over again.
My phone buzzed on my nightstand, and I grabbed it, answering it when I saw it was Cade calling. “Hi, Lumpy.”
“Hey, baby. Just letting you know, we’re five minutes out.”
“What?” I squeaked. “You’re early. I’m not ready.”
“Are you naked?”
“No, of course not.”
“Then, you’re fine.”
“Cade,” I growled. “I’m not ready.”
“See you soon.”
He hung up and I let out a feral squeal before rushing to finish throwing on the rest of my clothes.
Cade rang my doorbell five minutes later and I pulled open the door, relieved to see he was alone. “Where’s Devon.”
“He’s waiting in the truck,” he said, stepping inside to kiss me, closing the door behind him. “I figured you might need a minute since you were freaking out before.”
“I changed sixty-two times, Lumpy. Maybe sixty-three.”
He chuckled. “Why, baby? It’s just pizza.”
“It’s pizza with Devon.”
“He doesn’t care what you wear, Navy.”
“I have to make a good impression.”
“Or what?”
I bit my lip.
“Baby?” he pressed, sliding a hand around my waist. “What do you think will happen if you don’t ‘make a good impression’?”
“I’ll lose you,” I whispered. “Again.”
“No fucking way.”
“You can’t choose me over your child, Cade.”
He gave me a squeeze. “Baby, no one’s gonna make me choose.”
“I just want him to like me.”
“Everybody likes you.”
I snorted. “Not true.”
“How about we let him inside to meet you and find out, huh?”
“If he doesn’t like me—”
“Stop it.”
“Cade.”
“Yes, baby?”
I wrinkled my nose as I let out a quiet grunt. “Let him in.”
“Excellent choice.”
He kissed me gently, then pulled open the door and waved toward the truck. A young man who looked exactly like Cade jumped out and came ambling toward us. He was tall and lanky, just like Cade was at his age, a little less muscular, but just as handsome. He had an easy smile, and I could tell he used his charm just like his dad did.
“Wow,” I whispered. “Talk about a clone.”
Cade chuckled.
Devon stopped just outside my front door and grinned. “Hi.”
“Hi,” I said, stepping away from Cade. “Come in, sweetie.”
He walked inside and Pickles immediately attacked his ankles. He leaned down and scooped her up. “Hey, little puppy, how you likin’ your new digs?”
“Her name’s Pickles,” I said.
Devon grinned, snuggling Pickles closer. “That’s a really cool name.”
Cade slid his arm around my waist again, but I pulled away and closed the door. “Can I get you something to drink, Devon? A soda or a snack or something?”
“I’m good, Navy, thanks. I always eat enough pizza to almost puke, so I better not risk it.”
“You ready, beautiful?” Cade asked.
“Yes, I just need to grab my purse.”
“You look real pretty, Navy,” Devon said, and I found my whole body relaxing.
“Um, well, thank you, Devon, that’s sweet of you to say.”
“Just speaking the truth.”
I glanced at Cade, feeling my cheeks heat. “I’ll just grab my purse.”
“I’ll lock Pickles in the kitchen,” Cade said.
“Sounds good.”
I headed to my bedroom and did a last-minute fit check before grabbing my purse and joining Cade and Devon again. I arrived back in the foyer to find Cade alone and smiled. “Where’s Devon?”
“He’s in the truck. You and I need to have a little chat before we go.”
I raised an eyebrow. “What about?”
“You can’t keep pulling away every time I touch you, Navy.”
“Then keep your hands to yourself.”
“Not happening.”
I frowned. “Lumpy, your son does not need to be subjected to our public displays of affection. It’s disrespectful to his mother.”
“His mother’s a cunt.”
“Don’t call her that in front of him.”
“I don’t and I never would. I’m saying it to you right now, out of earshot of him.” He slid his arm around my waist and tugged me close. “What’s really going on here?”
“I want him to like me, and I don’t want him to think I’m trying to replace his mum.”
“He doesn’t. We’ve already talked about it.”
“You have.”
“Yeah. Baby, my kid and I talk. A lot. He’s my buddy. And if he doesn’t feel like he can talk to me, he talks to his uncles. And if they fail him, Cricket comes in like a fuckin’ wrecking ball and literally drags it out of him. He’s not shy about sharing, I promise.”
I fiddled with a button on his Henley. “So if he doesn’t like me, he’ll tell you?”
“Yeah, beautiful. And if he doesn’t tell me, he’ll tell Connor.”
I met his eyes. “And Connor will tell you?”
Cade grinned. “No, Connor will tell him to nut up because my brother loves the absolute fuck outta you and anyone who has a different opinion is gonna have a problem.”
“He likes me? Really?”
“Yeah, honey, why does that surprise you?”
“Well, because I was a little bit bossy with him when we spoke.”
“He told me.” Cade chuckled. “Why do you think he adores you? He loves bossy women. Actually, we all love bossy woman. It’s a Wallace trait.”
I took a deep breath and exhaled. “Okay, I’m going to try and not completely freak out with Devon.”
“And?”
I blinked up at him. “And, what?”
“And you’ll let me fuckin’ touch you in front of him.”
“Within reason, yes.”
“Kiss me properly now, then,” he demanded, and I leaned up on my tiptoes to comply.
Once he’d managed to get riled up, he released me, then I set the alarm and locked up the house before following him out to his truck.
