Page 46 of Kade

“You could make a call to Kansas City.”

“I don’t know if that’s the right call. I can’t edge into this world blindly. If I make one wrong move, someone could get dead. I can’t mess up.”

I waited. She was still thinking.

And then, she gave in. She didn’t look any different, but I felt it. The air lightened around us. The pressure on my chest eased. She traced her hand over my leg. “You and Logan struggle when you’re here.”

“What?”

“What you said…that you noticed how you and Logan are different than Nate is. Nate doesn’t have the darkness in him that you and Logan do.” She hesitated before adding, “I have it too. Heather and Channing, they have it in them as well. But you’re right. Nate doesn’t. That doesn’t mean anything’s wrong with you or with him. It’s just a difference. He’s one of your best friends. He’s family. He’ll always be family.”

“I hadn’t realized that until tonight. I didn’t have a lot of insight when I was young, you know? And then we were out of here. We were normal, like him.”

“You and me. Logan too. We’re able to be here, but we can be not here too. Heather and Channing aren’t like that.”

I nodded. I knew what she meant.

“This whole area—Fallen Crest, Roussou—it’s too much in their blood. They wouldn’t be able to function anywhere else.”

A tenderness came over me. She understood it so seamlessly. She understood me. “I really love you.”

A coy grin tugged at her mouth. “Really?” She chewed on her bottom lip. “Ireallywant to ride you, but you went and got yourself all fucked up.”

She lifted her hand away from my leg, but I caught it. “I’m always up for an offer like that.”

“Mason.” She shook her head.

I leaned into her, closing my eyes, and nuzzled her neck and shoulder. “I was in a couple fights, not a car wreck. Climb me, baby.” Feeling her shiver, hearing her breath quicken, I didn’t wait. Ignoring the pain, I lifted her on top of me and fit her right where she belonged. On my dick. My hands went to her hips, beginning to knead them. Her body melted on top of mine, settling in, but when she didn’t touch me, I moved my head back. “What’s wrong? I’m fine. I’ve been worse and we’ve fucked.”

“I don’t know about that, if you’ve been worse before.” She snorted. “But that’s not…” She was back to biting her bottom lip.

I groaned. “I don’t like how you keep chewing that mouth of yours. It’s mine to chew.”

She stopped, blinking as if she hadn’t realized.

I nudged her gently. “What is it?”

She swallowed, her eyes lowering, and she looked away.

I caught her face, bringing her back to me. “Same page, Sam.”

She flushed before closing her eyes, but I caught the flash of pain there. Her hands curled into fists on my lap. I felt her pain before she even said a word. “I thought he would’ve called. I sent him a message.”

He.

Shit.

I caught one of her hands in mine and laced our fingers. “Your dad?”

“Garrett, yeah.”

I tugged her down and curled my hand around her, anchoring her to me. “I’m sorry.”

Her body shuddered. She twisted her fingers into my shirt and tugged hard. “It’s stupid. It’s so fucking stupid. He—he decided he didn’t want to be part of my life after all. I thought…” She turned away, her chin trembling. Her voice grew hoarse. “I don’t need him. I know that. And I know what he said, that he needed to prioritize his family and then he’d be in touch, but it’s bullshit. Yes, I had Analise. Yes, I have David and Malinda. But fuck.Fuck. He’s my dad. He was starting to actually become like a dad to me. I have room for two dads. Why couldn’t he have room for two daughters?” She whispered the last sentence.

He’d broken her heart.

“Sam,” I murmured, sliding my hand up into her hair. I angled her head to meet my eyes. She resisted, closing her eyes, but when I didn’t let go, she groaned and relented. Her eyes opened.

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