I find myself on my feet, screaming out for Xander, the same way the rest of the crowd is.
“Holy shit,” Izzy gasps from beside me. She’s been to a few fights with me, but not many, so it still shocks her to see the amount of violence involved in this shit. For me, it’s just thrilling.
Xander’s opponent tries to get a knee up, but Xander is too quick and shoots forward with a kick of his own, the guy goes down and Xander moves forward and nails him a few more times. The referee gets in between them and calls the round before Xander can do too much damage.
The crowd roars for Xander and I watch as Caden and Cole fly to the side of the ring.
The rest of the fight goes like this and it’s not long before Xander is standing in the middle of the ring with his hands above his head being declared the undefeated heavyweight champion.
Just as expected, we all end up at The Dark Room and the night gets seriously messy. Drinks are passed around and for just tonight, there’s not a worry in the world.
I dance with all the girls while the guys sit at our massive table, probably discussing the fight like they usually do. There’s a smile on everyone’s faces and it’s honestly the best night I’ve had in ages. I’ve really needed this after all the Caden stuff and even though all that shit is far from being resolved, for tonight, I can pretend it doesn’t exist.
That is until I’m walking out of the bathroom and he’s heading the opposite direction. We pass side by side and it feels odd not to speak a word. Our eyes connect as we pass and a feeling of relief comes over me as his arm snakes out and he presses me up against the wall.
My eyes close at the feeling of his body pressed to mine. He runs his nose up the length of my neck and I moan as the satisfaction is almost unbearable. I need him to kiss me, only he doesn’t. He pulls back and his eyes bore into mine.
I tilt my chin up and all it would take is for him to close the distance and press his lips to mine. I see the longing in his eyes and I’m sure it’s similar to the need within mine.
A familiar stern voice is cleared in the hallway beside us as and we look over to see a very pissed off Cole watching our performance. Without a word, Caden drops his hands from my body and walks away.
I watch as he disappears from the hallway before letting my head fall back against the wall. Cole lets out an annoyed huff but thankfully doesn’t say anything before he steps around me and also walks away.
I take a minute to myself before heading over to the bar and ordering a drink for myself and Izzy. I find her a moment later and hand her the drink. “You alright?” she questions. “You were gone a while.”
“Yeah,” I smile. “I’m fine.”
I dance with her until our feet get sore and we collapse into the table. I squish in between Cole and Cami while Izzy slides in beside Caden on the opposite side of the table. Eventually, everyone finds their way back to the table and we all celebrate with Xander after another great win.
A plate of chips is placed down on the table and I dig in while chatting away with Cami and ignoring my cranky ass brother who sits at my back.
A phone ringing in the center of the table grabs my attention and I watch as Jace reaches forward and grabs his. He looks at the caller ID before quickly answering it and bringing to his ear.
“Hello,” Jace says into the phone before listening for a while. I swear, he almost looks sick as he talks to the person on the other end. I watch as Cami glances up and takes it in. She spots me watching and her eyebrows crease in question.
I shrug my shoulders and we look on as Jace uses his other hand to try and block out the sound of the club before getting up from the table and disappearing out the door. “What was that about?” Cami questions.
“I don’t know,” I say as my eyes cross to the door to see if he’s there.
A strange, hesitant look crosses her face as she looks to the door and back at me. “Do you think I should go after him?”
“I don’t know,” I say. “From the look on his face, that call wasn’t good.”
“I know,” she murmurs before deciding to stay put.
We try to get back to the party and I try not to notice the way Caden’s knee keeps knocking into mine under the table every time someone jostles either one of us, but it’s too real. He’s right there and all I want to do is take him home and feel his body on mine.
All I need is just one more night with him and I’ll be good. Shit. I can’t even lie to myself. I need him all over me again and again and again. One night is never going to be enough to satisfy this need within me.
Why does it have to be Caden who makes me feel like this? Why can’t it be some random guy I meet in a café or some stranger who’s never met my brother before? Why does it have to be him?
Cami’s back straightens beside me and I look across to her. A worried look is plastered on her face and I follow her gaze across to the door where Jace is walking in with a haunted expression in his eyes, it’s filled with pain and torture and puts an unease into the pit of my stomach.
I nudge Cole on my other side and before Jace has even made it back to the table, he has everyone’s full attention. Cami reaches out and takes Jace’s hand in hers. “What’s wrong?” she questions.
Jace’s eyes flick down to hers and something tells me he’s grateful for her presence. He squeezes her hand before looking back at the table. “That was a friend of mine from the military,” he starts, making my stomach squeeze. “Luke’s team was sent in on a mission. There’s isn’t much information on the situation just yet, but reports say that they walked straight into an ambush. Most of his team made it out, but Luke and two others were taken. They don’t know much more than that.”
“Fuck,” Cole grunts from beside me as Cami shoots out of her seat and wraps herself around Jace. He holds onto her for dear life, taking every ounce of comfort out of her as he worries over his best friend.
“He’ll be ok,” I say mostly to myself. We need to stay positive and if I know anything about Luke, it’s that he is one of the strongest men I know.
I look across to Caden to find his eyes already on mine. With Cole busily soothing Rylee, I use his distraction to check on Caden ‘You ok?’ I mouth across to him.
He shakes his head ever so slightly and the therapist in me wants to talk, but the woman inside of me wants to throw herself across the table and tell him over and over again that Luke will come back to us. He always does.
Jace finally goes on to tell us that he was promised more information as it came in, but for now, we’re all left wondering, so, it’s no surprise that nobody feels like celebrating much after that. Cami walks out the door with Jace and everyone else follows.
Izzy slides her arms through mine and we walk in silence as we hail down a taxi. I know Cole would probably insist that he comes with us but he’s not thinking right now. I look over at Caden and the need to go to him is there again, but he’s already in his truck, peeling out of the parking lot.
“Come on,” Izzy murmurs. “Let’s go home.”
I couldn’t agree more.
Chapter 18
Caden
I sit at home feeling like absolute shit.
The second those words came out of Jace’s mouth last night, my whole world came crashing down. I mean, fuck. Luke’s been taken and there’s not a damn thing we can do about it. We don’t even know where the fuck he is, let alone if he’s still breathing.
I just need to know that he’s alright. I need to know that I’ll see him again. I need him to come home so I can tell him what a fucking idiot he was that he left.
Damn it. Why the fuck did he have to go back? He was out. He’d done his time and he was happy.
He just had to go and be a fucking hero. I mean, I’d feel it if he was gone, right. I feel it right down in my soul, and right now, my soul is telling me that he’s being the toughest mother fucker known to man. Those bastards would be regretting the day they decided to take Luke Hayes.
Just like
so many other men and women, they have that need and desire to fight for their country, and I completely respect it. It’s one of the most honorable things someone could possibly do for their home, and unfortunately, this is just one of the many risks of the job.
I just… I feel so fucking helpless.
I sit at home drowning in a sea of devastation. I would have been able to handle the news of Luke a lot better had it come at a different time. If everything else in my life wasn’t so fucked up, I would have been able to be stronger for him. Only I’m not. I’m a fucking mess because I haven’t spoken to my woman in nearly three weeks and my best friend insists on hating me right now.
I’ll never forget the look in his eyes when he saw me with Imogen at the club. I wasn’t even going to kiss her, but I needed to touch her. That alone had the betrayal rising high for him.
I can’t take it anymore.
Before I know it, my keys are in my hand and I’m backing out of my driveway. I’m nearly at his place when it hits me. What the hell am I supposed to say to him? Hey dude, can I have your permission to keep fucking your baby sister? Yeah right. He’s going to really knock me out this time.
I get to his door and I’m still thinking hard when I knock on the hardwood. I raise both my hands to the door frame as I wait and hang my head. I take a deep breath and slowly blow it out. It must be nearly the middle of the night which is probably a little fact I should have looked over before I left my home.
The door is ripped open and I straighten myself out.
Cole stands before me and with one look at me, he knows exactly why I’m here. “Shit,” he groans as he steps out the door and pulls it closed behind him so we don’t wake Rylee. “You better not be here for the reason I think you’re here.”
I lean back against the railing and look him firmly in the eye as I don’t want him to miss a single word I say. “I’m in love with her,” I tell him. His eyes close briefly as if what I’d said had physically hurt him. “I’m coming to you as my best friend,” I say. “I’ve been in love with her since we were thirteen and every fucking day I stayed away from her, but I can’t do it anymore.”
“So, what are you here for then? Are you looking for my permission, my blessing?” he scoffs. “There was a time to come looking for that and it was over a year ago.”
“I know,” I tell him. “I fucked up. We both did, but I’m here now and waiting for you to come around is killing me.”
He runs his fingers through his hair before letting out a frustrated groan. “You know, it all makes so much fucking sense now. All the times you went chasing after her, making sure she was safe. All the protective bullshit. How you hated every one of her boyfriends. I should have fucking seen it. It was right in front of my face.”
I want to agree with him, but I keep my mouth shut. Pointing it out isn’t going to do me any favors right now. “I should have been honest with you.”
“Yeah,” he scoffs. “There’s a lot of that going around.”
“I’m going to tell her,” I say. “It’s about time she knew.”
“I’m not sure she’s going to take it so well,” he grunts. “And for my sake, I hope she doesn’t.”
“I know,” I say with a cringe. “There’s a good chance she’ll shut me down, but it’s a risk I’m willing to take.” Over and over again until she eventually gives in.
Cole takes a deep breath and looks at me. “You know I don’t like it and I’m still fucking pissed off about the whole situation, but if she had to be with anyone, I’d be happy for it to be you. I know you’ll treat her right.”
Fuck, did he just… no. I’ve got to be imagining this. I couldn’t possibly have his ok to go after her.
“You’re serious?” I question as I search his eyes. “You’re ok with me and Imogen together?”
“No,” he grunts. “I’m ok with the possibility of you and Imogen together. She hasn’t agreed to shit yet and I’m holding on to that hope.”
I nod my head. I take it for what it is. He’s coming around to the idea even though he hates it. He’s just being a stubborn prick about it in the process. “That means a lot coming from you.”
“You and me, though,” he warns.
He doesn’t need to say another word. I read it loud and clear. We have some major trust issues to work through. He needs to learn how to trust me and I need to start being upfront and honest. “Enough said,” I tell him with determination. If it’s the last thing I do, my best friend will know that I’ve always got his back. He’ll never have a reason to doubt me again.
He straightens up and looks me hard in the eye with a look that could kill and I know what’s coming. It’s the same speech he’s given to all of her boyfriends over the years. Hell, I’ve done it a few times myself. Though, this time, there’s a look in his eye that makes it much more serious than ever before. “You hurt her,” he says, pausing for effect. “And I’ll fucking kill you.”
I nod my head but he sees the promise in my eyes. “You got my fucking word.”
Cole faces off with me for a moment before deciding he must like what he sees. He walks back toward the door before looking back at me. “Just… it’s the middle of the night, don’t do it now. Let her sleep,” he tells me, knowing my willpower is only going to last so long.
“Got it,” I say.
With that, he disappears through the door and I feel a massive weight lift off my shoulders knowing I have his approval to chase after his little sister. We still have major issues to work through, but for now, it’s a massive step in the right direction.
I let out a breath and take a step down off his porch feeling like a whole new world has opened up to me. I still can’t believe it. After fifteen years of being crazy about my best friend’s little sister, I finally have the chance to go after her.
Knowing that has me desperate to go to her now. Hell, if I hadn’t promised Cole that I’d wait until tomorrow, I’d probably be halfway there by now.
Instead, I take my sorry ass home.
I glance at the time and realize it’s after one in the morning and make a note to apologize to Rylee tomorrow as I have no doubt I would have disturbed her night.
As I pull into my driveway, my headlights roam over the front of my house, only there’s someone there. I slam on the break as I try to make out who the fuck would be standing outside my home in the middle of the fucking night. The person is too short to be Imogen and too small to be one of the guys. In fact, the person is the size of a kid.
As I drive down the driveway it comes starting clear. What the fuck is he doing here?
I practically fly out of my truck in my rush to get to him. “What the fuck, Brandon?” I curse as I reach him. Not even bothering to mask my curse words in front of the eleven-year-old. “What are you doing here? Where’s Katia? Are you ok?”
He looks up at me with a cringe as a cold shiver takes over his body. It’s then I notice the kid is wearing nothing but a pair of shorts and a shirt in the dead of the fucking cold night. “She doesn’t know I’m gone,” he admits.
“Fuck.”
I unlock my front door and usher Brandon in as quickly as I can before grabbing a hoodie for him to pull on. “Sit your ass down,” I demand, pointing to the couch.
He hangs his head and does exactly what he’s told and I don’t doubt he knows he’s in deep shit. Once he’s seated, he looks up at me, patiently waiting for whatever is about to come his way. “Start from the beginning. I want to know why the fuck you’re on my doorstep. How the hell you got here, and why Katia doesn’t know that you’re not under her roof, safely in your bed.”
He swallows back as a million thoughts start occurring. If Katia knows, the police would be involved in a fucking manhunt. They’ll be an amber alert for a missing child and his parents’ place would be ransacked as they search for him.
Shit. How the hell did I get involved in this?
“I… um,” he starts with a cringe.
“Spit it out, Brand
on,” I demand while trying not to sound too aggressive as to not scare him. I want him to see me as someone he can come to, and clearly, he does, seeing as though I found him on my doorstep in the middle of the night, but he also needs to know that I’m the boss here. “Start speaking.”
“I snuck out the window,” he says. “I just… after dad found me at the gym the other week, I haven’t been able to sleep. I don’t feel safe there anymore. Katia is great, but you saw how easily he just knocked her down.” The tears start to well in his eyes. “I want to stay here with you.”
What am I supposed to say to that?
“What happened at Rebels was a one-off. He’s not going to find you. Katia’s details are protected,” I tell him.
His eyes avert and he looks down at the couch. It’s clear what I’m saying isn’t helping his fears. “Am I going to get in trouble?” he asks as he lifts his big eyes to mine.
I press my lips together. I don’t want to lie to him. “Well, yeah,” I tell him. “Can you imagine what’s going through Katia’s mind right now had she realized you weren’t in your bed?”
“I guess,” he sighs.
“How’d you know where I lived, anyway?” I question as the curiosity gets the best of me.
At this, a guilty expression comes over him. “I searched you on the internet. I had to dig for a while but I eventually found it.”
“Jesus,” I groan. I need to look into that shit. If an eleven-year-old kid can find my personal details, then I don’t even want to think about the other kind of people who’d be able to do it.
“You’re not going to take me back, are you?” he says after I’ve been silent for a little too long.
My heart breaks. I’m glad that he feels safe here with me and I wish there was something more I could do for him, but I don’t know enough about the system to know if his little stunt is going to impact his future training with me. I don’t want to risk him staying and then get a black mark against my name. “Yeah, mate,” I tell him. “I have to. We could both get in trouble for this. Katia is going to have to report this and I’m not entirely sure how it all works, but I’m sure Susan will have to make reports.”
Caden: Rebels Advocate (Book 2) Page 13