Page 112 of Kade

So. Fucking. Cool.

“Maddy,” my dad murmured.

I danced around him, knowing he’d be fine in a second. I was the switch. He could never stay mad when I was around.Especially not when I’d reverted back to my ballerina days. Pirouette here. Arch my back. Extend my arm. And then I switched into another pirouette.

I couldn’t stop moving.

He sighed. His hand closed around my arm.

“Mason.” My mom drew in a sharp breath.

“What do you think I’m going to do?” he asked. “She’s my daughter.”

“No. I know. It’s not that. She’s…” She moved closer. “She’s on something.”

He snorted, pulling me to his front so I was forced to stop dancing. I’d been in the middle of a fouetté and gave him an annoyed frown. “Rude much? That was the best form of my life.”

“See?” Dad said to Mom.

Mom huffed, rolling her eyes. “Mads, you quit ballet in third grade. You said the other dancers were too delicate for your vibe.”

“I would never say that. I loved ballet.”

She said dryly, “You threatened to burn your leotard.”

I frowned. “I did?”

“And the leotards of every single girl in your class.”

“Ah. Yeah. That sounds like me.” I grinned. “I was funny back then, huh?”

My dad put a hand on Mom’s back. “That’s a conversation for later.”

I didn’t think he was referring to my ballet days. His gaze returned to the cage. The body was still laying there.

My mom snapped to attention, scanning the room. She looked closely at Axel and Steele, then swallowed when she looked past them to where the big dude was holding Traine. That was Stevie’s uncle.

Traine was not looking good.

My mom clapped her hands, taking charge. “Okay. I’m not sure what we missed before we got in, but we are leavingnow.”

I recognized that tone and that look in her eyes.

General Mom was back.

42

SAMANTHA

This was an all-hands-on-deck situation.

Maddy was safe. She was physically fine. That had been my first concern, but she and Max were both fine. They’d showed up late to whatever had been happening in that warehouse, thank God. I’d seen enough to have my stomach curdling and my mama instincts coming out strong.

These boys needed to feel safe, and whatever they’d gone through, it was not going to happen again. Not on my watch.

So until I could make sure they were safe, we were taking in three teenage boys. Thank goodness that Nash and Nolan had gone to David and Malinda’s for the weekend, but if these boys stayed longer…I’d have to talk through it with the twins. Make sure they understood.

For now, though, I had these boys in my house.

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