Total pages in book: 127
Estimated words: 120186 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 601(@200wpm)___ 481(@250wpm)___ 401(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120186 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 601(@200wpm)___ 481(@250wpm)___ 401(@300wpm)
Kade: Don’t forget. She can’t know.
I’ll leave it there. I don’t want to say too much where it could be read later by the wrong people. I can take care of that later—it’s part of my plan for the day.
First, I need to have an uncomfortable conversation. After checking to make sure Calder isn’t up at the main house, I drive out to the house he shares with Saint on Bishop land. Their idyllic little bubble away from Roman’s cage.
I used to laugh about them playing house. Now? All I want is to wake up again with Allie in my arms in a home I can call my own. Ours. Is that how my brother felt when he fell for Saint?
I hear his footsteps once I pound against the door. He opens it looking the same as he always does in a rumpled flannel and jeans, carrying a mug in his other hand. “What the hell are you doing here this early?” he asks, checking over my shoulder like he’s expecting an ambush.
“Sorry if I interrupted your coffee,” I reply. “I wanted to talk to you, one-on-one.”
He backs away from the door with a wary look, which I guess is my invitation to come in. “About what?” he asks as he heads for the kitchen.
He won’t make it easy, not that I expected him to. He’ll twist my balls as painfully as he can before he finally decides to listen. It’s a good thing I have so much experience. Otherwise, I might not be able to handle it. “It wasn’t that long ago you were the one asking us to understand the choices you made. Do you remember that?”
He reaches the kitchen counter and looks down into his mug. “If that’s where this is going, I need more coffee.”
“I’m only asking if you remember. Do you?” I ask, sitting at the kitchen table, where a small bouquet sits in the center. More domesticity. There are touches of Saint everywhere.
“You know I do.” Folding his arms, he jerks his chin. “And?”
“I was on your side when it came to Saint. Do you remember that? I had doubts, but I stuck by you.”
He pours a second mug and leaves it in front of me without asking whether I want any. “Is that what you’re here for? You want to throw that in my face?”
“No.” The coffee is strong. I need it. Anything to keep me sharp.
He lifts his eyebrows. “Then what?”
“I didn’t understand why you were doing what you did, but I trusted you. I knew you believed you were doing the right thing, and I backed you up, even when it could’ve blown up the family.”
“I know.”
“I need that now. I need you to trust me.”
“With what?” He sighs. “What is the endgame? I wasn’t driven by vengeance.”
“Neither am I.”
He lowers his brow and gives me a look I can read easily.
“I was, sure. I’m not anymore.”
“Thank you for at least being honest about that.” He scrubs a hand over his cheek before sighing, then looks toward the window. It’s a bright, sunny day, meaning the glare from the snow still clinging to life is damn near blinding. “So what are you trying to do?”
“All I’m saying is, there’s a bigger plan in play. You’ll understand everything soon.”
He lets his head fall back to stare at the ceiling. “You understand how that doesn’t give me a lot of confidence, right?”
“I trusted you. I didn’t like it, but I trusted you. I’m asking you to trust me and back me up if it comes to that.” The words come close to getting lodged in my throat. Asking for help doesn’t come naturally. It takes picturing Allie’s sleepy face in my head to force me through it. She’s the one true thing I have to hold on to.
“How do I know you won’t make me regret this?”
I hate that he has to ask. It sets my teeth on edge, but more is at stake now than my pride. I’m focused. For the first time in forever, I know exactly what I need to do. “You’ll have to take my word.”
“I feel so much better.” Yet he sets down his mug and gives me a firm nod before holding out his hand to shake. “Done.”
But as soon as I place my hand in his, his grip tightens. “Burn me on this and kiss your ass goodbye.”
“Don’t worry.” Once he releases me, I pick up the mug and drain the contents, relishing the heat. “I like my ass where it is.”
It’s fucking freezing out. I crank up the heat in the truck and look around in all directions. She’s supposed to meet me here, where we’ve met so many times before. The lake is frozen over, the trees bare of anything but the snow that’s falling once again. It’s light, drifting, swirling in the air.