Page 15 of Kade

So, I needed him.

I shrugged, moving around him. “They’re just our way in. Don’t worry. We’ll ditch them when we get there.”

He groaned. “This is not a good idea, Maddy.”

I just grinned. I was going. And if I was going, he’d go too. Seeing the set expression on my face, Beltraine and Axel both straightened from their car. They were the cool guys at my school. Hot. Wealthy. Assholes. Both were tall, lean. Beltraine had dark shaggy hair. Axel had the same hair style, but with dirty blond hair. They were white, came from old money, and were beyond privileged. They both knew it too.

They were smug. They smirked at us, but neither said anything else. They didn’t dare. Because while these guys were the top of the top, they weren’t what Max and I were.

I was a Kade, and he was a Monroe, andno onefucked with our families.

“Boys,” I greeted, almost coyly.

Beltraine went to the driver’s side.

Axel opened the passenger door and stepped back. “After you.”

I climbed in, going to the back.

Max hadn’t moved. He stood glowering at the car.

Beltraine got in. “Are we leaving your buddy?”

I rolled my eyes, folded my arms over my chest, and slid down in my seat, getting comfortable. “No. He just needs a minute. He’ll come.”

Axel leaned down, poking his head into the car. “We can leave him.”

“No,” I said. “If he doesn’t go, I don’t either.”

The guys shared a look, but in the next moment, it didn’t matter.

“Fuuuuuuuck!” Max yelled, his head falling back as he let out another shout. He glared, his hands in fists, and stormed over to climb in next to me. His shoulder nudged against mine as he sat. He hissed under his breath, “You so fucking owe me.”

At this point, I’d owe him all the way until it was our coffin at our wake one day. Until then, I was planning on living it up and forcing Max along for the ride. He’d thank me when we were old and had to wear diapers again. You know, when we were fifty.

As we pulled out of the lot, the engine purring fantastically, we went past a line of people going into the funeral home for the wake.

A girl stopped on the sidewalk, watching us drive past. I recognized her. She went by a different last name, but I knew who she really was.

She was a Broudou.

Then we drove past, and it was as if she never existed.

7

MASON

“Do you know where your daughter is?” Samantha sidled up to my side.

The wake was over. We’d left the funeral home and congregated across the road, to the patio of a bar. The owner invited us personally. I’d just sat down, after going inside to shake hands with the owner and the staff. They hadn’t asked for pictures or autographs, which I was thankful about considering what I’d just left.

Logan, Nate, and Matteo were sitting at a table. Channing was in the back, standing with a bunch of his crew members. They worked as bounty hunters with his company but were still his crew. It was an old system from their school in Roussou, but that dynamic was strong. Catching my glance, he tipped his chin up in question. I texted.

Me: You know where your son is?

Wherever Max was, Maddy would be. They were joined at the hip, and I didn’t want to think about them fucking. Though maybe I should. Maddy was seventeen. I’d been having sex for years by the time I got to her age, and for fuck’s sake, her momand I were like rabbits. I didn’t want to think of any of that with my little girl. Not with Max. Not with anyone.

Though, once again, I was certain my kid would be the one to push it. Max had every part of Heather and Channing within him. He had an edge, some darkness. I’d witnessed a rough side of him, but for the most part, he had a good head on his shoulders. He liked getting along, which to him meant not getting in trouble. He didn’t like disappointing his parents. I couldn’t understand why. Channing was still a hellion. He was barely legal with the things he did with his job. He was able to indulge in all things violence and gore.

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