Page 1 of Dirty Play

Prologue: Cade

Ten Years Ago

Beep. Beep. Beep.

That’s all I can hear among the chaos. That and the screams, but I couldn’t tell you where they’re coming from. The smell of antiseptic mixed with hand soap and desperation hangs thick in the air, clinging to my nose. An unwelcome reminder of why I hate this place.

Nurses and doctors are moving around the room at a speed I can’t follow, as I stand here staring at her, like somehow my presence will make this all go away. Like somehow I’d be able to go back and change the past—fix this.

I vaguely notice someone’s hand gripping me, trying to move me.

I don’t move, though. I don’t do anything except stare. My whole body is heavy as the feelings of anguish and heartbreak hit me like a freight train, slamming into me like a blindside collision on ice. They warned me I should be bracing for this, preparing myself for the worst.

I refused to accept it—refused to believe I couldn’t fix this.

I promised her I would always take care of her—that she’d be okay. I told her I would keep her safe and protect her, always. She even made me pinky promise, saying that was the most important part.

Obviously not, when I haven’t held my end of the deal.

Everything around me starts moving at lightning speed, more medical staff rushing in and people moving in every direction. Suddenly I’m being pulled back, and I hear my dad’s voice whispering in my ear. But I can’t concentrate on anything, overwhelmed by the realization my entire world is crumbling around me.

Standing outside the hospital room, knowing that in just inside, I’m losing my best friend. It has to be the worst feeling in the world.

I’m wrong.

The moment the noises get louder, just before the beeping flat lines, everything stops. I know what’s happening even before the doctor walks out of the room, a look of grief on his face as he approaches us.

I feel myself slide to the floor, my bad arm still held in a sling as my dad moves to stand by my mom and help console my little sister, Kylie. Vince, my brother, sits in the corner with tears sliding down his cheeks, but he doesn’t say anything. My father keeps looking between Vince and me, his eyes solemn, almost urging me to come to him as he wraps his arms around my mom and sister like he can protect them from this—protect them from what’s about to happen.

Which is why I don’t move.

It’s why I can’t.

They all deserve so much better. They deserve each other, without my poison. I don’t deserve their hugs, their words of affirmation, or their comfort.

Because at the end of the day, it doesn’t change our reality.

She’s dead.

My sister is dead, and it’s all my fault.

Chapter 1

Cade

“Would you get your ass out of my face? I’m busy,” Miles grumbles to Harris, who decided to do squats as close to Miles's face as possible, the little shit starter.

You can tell Harris is a younger brother. He loves to push people's buttons and is overjoyed when he gets the reaction he’s hoping for.

Reminds me of the way my younger brother and I used to be when we were growing up. It drove me crazy—his incessant poking and prodding, all to get a reaction out of me. But as we grew older and got closer, I started to enjoy that side of Vince.

It took a long time after I left to stop missing it so much.

“You could at least say thank you. I mean, I have an incredible ass. But if being this close to my perfect behind makes you uncomfortable, I guess I can move,” Harris says with a smirk, walking over to where the squat rack is actually set up. Turning back, he looks over at Miles who’s currently flexing in the mirror instead of starting another round of bench press. “Besides, Miles, I wouldn’t exactly classify you sending sweaty thirst traps to your flavor of the week as being ‘busy’.”

“Fuck off or I’ll send one to your mom.”

“Tell her I say hi.” Harris winks before starting another set of squats. He may be a shit starter, but Harris works his ass off—it just takes him a while to get started.

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