Page 164 of The Obvious Check

He's not wrong. But first, I need to get this thing to Matty and finish what we started.

For Savannah. For the life she deserves. For the family we're building.

Time to watch Luke's empire burn.

Chapter 38

I drag my hand across my face, leaving Cade to his phone call as I make my way toward the kitchen. It’s only when I open the door and see what’s going on that I freeze.

“Morning!” Madison chirps, plating breakfast for Dash and Henry. Scrambled eggs, whole-grain toast, fresh fruit and Greek yoghurt. Looks like she raided my fridge this morning.

Dash clears his throat. “Sorry for coming so early. Henry said he needed a final-check up with Cade before the game tonight, and we felt like he needed to be monitored.”

Henry rolls his eyes. “They act like I’m some toddler who can’t cross the street alone.”

“No. We act like you’re the idiot who broke my girlfriend’s heart once,” Dash growls. “So yeah, you need a leash and a fucking muzzle for that crime.”

“Please,” Henry scoffs as he stabs the eggs that Madison gave him. “I hardly broke her heart. Do you know how many times she talked about you when we were together?Dash got a new mask today. What color is Dash’s foam roller? Do you think Dash got hurt by the puck after last night’s game? I wonder if Dash is ever going to break up with his girlfriend.”

“Henry!” Madison shrieks, wide-eyed and embarrassed.

He glances between them and lets out a low chortle. “Oh, come on. Everyone in a fifty-mile radius knew you were pining over Dash but too chickenshit to tell your brother.”

“Doesn’t mean I want him knowing that fact.”

“I already knew,” Dash replies with a little smirk on his face.

“Still can’t believe Cade didn’t notice,” Henry says. “Speaking of, where is he? I need to make sure the swelling has gone down completely.

“He’s just on a call,” I say softly because it’s only a half-truth. The whole truth? He’s in the bedroom strategizing with either Jeremy or Matty as they dismantle Luke’s shitty empire piece by piece. The asshole who’s been pulling everyone’s strings is about to become the puppet, and if it means Jeremy walks free and Cade will never fight again? I’ll happily let him scheme in the bedroom. “He’ll be out in a sec.”

“Oh, is he talking to our parents about their visit next week?”

The question sounds harmless enough, but the moment Madison says it, my stomach nosedives.

“No,” I say quickly, a little too tightly. “They’ve already talked.”

Let’s just say Cade’s parents weren’t exactly throwing confetti when they found out we eloped. Shocked? Yes. Disappointed? Definitely. Thrilled that their son announced his marriage via a half-assed text and then ghosted them under the excuse of ‘a spontaneous honeymoon with spotty service’? Not so much.

He couldn’t even FaceTime them. Couldn’t look them in the eye and tell them the truth, and I get it, but still. It’s not the strongest opening chapter with the in-laws of the man I’m supposed to spend forever with.

“Don’t worry about them,” Madison says casually, reaching for Dash’s hand. “They hated the idea of me dating Dash until they realized how serious we were.” She exchanges a look with her boyfriend. “Plus, he’s a way better option than Henry.”

“Hey! That’s uncalled for,” Henry adds.

“We might’ve accepted you in our lives, Newman, but that doesn’t mean we forget easily,” Dash says.

“But what if that’s how they feel about me? Will your parents hate me because they think I rushed Cade into this?”

“Oh, please,” Madison scoffs. “We all know you can’tmakeCade do anything. That guy does what he wants when he wants.” She loops her arm around my shoulders and yanks me into her side. “Besides, I already know they’re going to love you. How could they not? You’ve made Cade the happiest I’ve ever seen him.”

The happiest she’s ever seen him? I feel like that’s a stretch since after we got married, he took a beating for me, but I guess I’ll take it as a compliment. “If you’re really worried,” Madison grins mischievously, “I could always tell them that Dash got me pregnant to distract them.”

Dash immediately spits his coffee across the table, hitting Henry.

“MADISON!” Dash chokes out.

“I'm joking, Big D,” Madison laughs. “Relax.”

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