Page 122 of Kade

“We will read you in when we know everything ourselves. Until then, go to your room.”

They were quiet again, until Maddy began whispering.

“What? No, Mads. Do what he said. I mean—”

She whispered again, more fervently.

Max fell quiet.

She raised her voice, “Okay, Dad! We’re going to my room. We’ll have the door closed so no worries about the loudness of your voices. We won’t hear a thing.” To Max, we could hear her hiss, “Come on! Let’s go.”

He groaned again, but their feet faded, going in the direction of Maddy’s bedroom.

I met Sam’s gaze and saw some dark amusement pooling in them. Some of the stress in me lifted, just slightly. She didn’t know everything. When she did, that amusement would be gone and I didn’t know when it would come back again, but I was grateful to my daughter for putting it there now. Only if it was going to be a short time.

Sam and I shared a look, on the same wavelength. Sam said, “You know she’s going to—”

I nodded, already moving. “Go around to the back end of the house and sneak downstairs, where they can overhear us. Let’s move this to the study.”

I led the way.

The boys followed next with Sam bringing up the rear. She and Steele kept sneaking looks at the other.

Beltraine joked as we went inside, his voice strained, “You guys have a study? And I thought we were rich.”

No one laughed.

He grimaced. “Tough crowd.”

“It’s not fucking funny, Traine. Shit. Are you listening to what’s happening?” Axel exploded, his arm thrust out toward Steele. “Fucking Steele’s been lying to us this whole time.”

Beltraine grimaced again, but this time there was some guilt mixed in. His eyes shot to where Steele had braked.

Axel saw the look. His arm dropped dramatically and he squared up against his friend. “You knew? You fucking knew?”

Beltaine shared another look with Steele before opening his mouth, but nothing came out. He cringed, before closing it back up. He shrugged, admonishing, “I…”

Sam closed the door, but she didn’t move far from it. Her back was to it, and she stood there as if she were barring anyone from leaving or entering. I tried to get a feel on what was goingon with her, but she wasn’t letting me. Her eyes were heavy, some sadness shone out, but that was it. She wasn’t closed off, but she wasn’t meeting my gaze either.

Steele interjected, raspy until he coughed to clear his voice, “He didn’t know the specifics, but he just knew I wasn’t being on the up and up for why I’m here.”

“Why are you here?” Sam asked quickly. Clearly. Her gaze was only on her brother.

“I…” He trailed off, flinching before raking a hand through his hair.

There was a lot of that happening. A lot of people not finishing their statements. A lot of grimacing. A lot of fucking lies that needed to be out, and the sooner the better.

I growled, bringing all attention to me. “Drop the act. You come clean now, or I swear to God, kid, I’ll do it for you. I’ve got a feeling you’ll appreciate if you say the words first. You hear me?”

He paled, the first fucking time showing some fear.

Good.

This kid had no idea the shitstorm coming for him.

I jerked my head toward where the other part of my heart stood outside of my body. “She deserves the truth. You either deliver it, or I will.”

He held my gaze for a moment before everything changed. The rigidness left. His shoulders slackened. The lines around his mouth softened. His eyes grew sad. “You’re right. Fuck. You’re right.” He sank down, taking a seat.

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