Page 93 of Wilde and Deadly

“Your credentials were used to breach our system. Either you’re the mole, or you’re so sloppy you let someone waltz through your firewalls with your access codes.”

“Watch your tone.”

“I vouched for you, Cade. Told them you wouldn’t betray us.”

“And yet, here we are.”

Davey’s temper snapped, and he slammed his palm on the table. Nova startled, making a small squeak of alarm, and Cade instantly, automatically soothed her. He rubbed gentle circles on her back, but his eyes had gone downright arctic. “Scare her again. I dare you.”

Fuck.

He looked at the baby, who had burrowed into her dad’s side. Her dark blue eyes—Cade’s eyes—watched him warily as she stuck her thumb in her mouth.

Jesus. He needed to get a hold of himself.

He wasn’t usually the kind of guy to lose control like that. Especially not around a baby. “Sorry,” he said, feeling awkward as hell. “I used to be good with kids.”

Cade huffed. “Yeah. Back before you turned into an uptight hardass.”

It wasn’t sharp. It wasn’t even sarcastic.

It was just true.

For a moment—just a flicker of a second—it almost felt like old times. Like they were two dumbass kids sneaking beers on the fire escape, arguing over which pizza place was the best in the city, knowing damn well they’d end up at the same hole-in-the-wall they always did. Like summers spent weaving their bikes through Central Park at full speed, trying to see who could cut the sharpest corners without wiping out. Like that one year they both had black eyes at the same time—Cade’s from a fight, Davey’s from an ill-advised attempt to do a backflip off the playground swings.

Like before.

And then it was gone.

Cade’s expression smoothed over, his posture locking back into cold, unreadable calculation. Nova gave a soft whimper, still watching Davey with those same blue eyes he and Cade had both inherited from their grandfather.

Davey pulled out a chair and took a seat, inhaling deeply before he spoke again. “I have a hit out on me,” he said finally, keeping his voice low, controlled. “Elliot nearly died. My team—our family—is compromised. And if you’re involved, I swear to God?—”

Cade’s eyes flashed dangerously. “You’ll do what, exactly? Take me out? Arrest me?”

“If I have to.”

“You’d try.”

Davey gritted his teeth. “Just tell me I didn’t make a mistake vouching for you.”

Nova whimpered softly.

Cade immediately softened, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. “Shh, it’s okay, sweetheart. Daddy’s got you.”

Davey watched the transformation, torn between disbelief and a grudging admiration. The cold, ruthless operative melting into a tender, protective father in an instant. It was jarring to witness.

Cade reached into the diaper bag at his feet, pulling out a small stuffed elephant. Nova grabbed it eagerly, immediately shoving one of its ears into her mouth.

Only then did Cade’s gaze snap up, ice-cold once more.

“You think I’d put my daughter in danger?” His voice was quiet. Flat. Deadly. “You think I’d sit here, feeding her fucking toast, if I had anything to do with this?”

“I don’t know, Cade.” Davey’s voice was quiet now, too. But it was just as dangerous. “You’ve made it clear how much you resent me.”

That got a reaction.

“Resentment doesn’t make me a traitor. If it did, I would’ve betrayed you a long time ago.” Cade laughed once, sharp and bitter. “You never trusted me after Belgrade, did you?”

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