Page 149 of Wild Blades

She continues, “Miranda Collins was cut from a different cloth. But you, my boy, were cut from something finer. You were born for greatness. You have Edwards’ genes. Which you’ll accept with time. Your grandfather, Marcus’s father, was a legend. Faithful, loyal. Unlikeyourfather.” She squeezes my hand. “That’s his guilt he’s burdened with, not mine. Or yours.”

I know who Roy Edwards was. Both him and Nicki’s father, Arthur Burns, made the Eagles what they are today.

“I know you think this is all a bit of a mess, Wade, but I would like to offer my hand to you and welcome you to the family. I can’t promise it will be easy, because it won’t. We have a mountain of emotional damage to scale. But we can all do that together.”

“Together?”

I follow her gaze to the decking and standing there are Lola, Marcus, and Zane.

“I won’t let you go through this alone. We are your family.”

“Are you not humiliated by what Marcus and Miranda did?” I’m finding it hard to get over.

“No. I did nothing wrong, and neither did you. Me, you, Lola, Zane, we’re all innocent. As is Kali. Who, by the way, refused to take any more money from Marcus to work with you the minute she discovered the truth.”

“She didn’t take any money?”

“No, she’s been working for free since she found out.”

“But she didn’t tell me about Marcus as soon as she found out.”

“Did you not listen to a single word she said? God, you really are a stubborn old mule. You’re just like your father. Definitely an Edwards.” Nicki pushes her feet under her and stands to herfull height, then starts to walk back in the direction of the house. “Get up then,” she calls back.

“Can I ask you something first?”

“Anything.”

I clamber to my feet and slowly walk over to her. “Did he create a place on the team for me?”

“No.”

I’m not sure if I believe her. “I made the team myself?”

“It was all you.”

I narrow my gaze, looking for any sign that she’s covering for him. “You sure?”

“One thing I am not, Wade, is a liar. You were drafted because you are talented. As is your brother.”

Brother. Ouch, that’s going to take some getting used to.

She adds, “He has also been a bit of a dick and is as stubborn as a mule. You two clash and fight like brothers. I don’t know why I didn’t see it before now. Whatever did I do to deserve three stubborn Edwards’ boys, huh?” she drawls as if talking to herself. “It’s lucky I inherited Lola to balance you out.”

She holds her arm out like the handle of a teapot for me to loop mine through. “Let’s make the family great again. And you might just inherit yourself a hockey team, Wade Edwards. Or Collins. Whatever you want to call yourself is fine by us.”

Wade Edwards.

That doesn’t sound quite right.

I scoff as she pulls me in tight to her side. A warm feeling in my chest I haven’t experienced in weeks floods my heart at the way Nicki is treating me like I’m already her son, the same way Gretchen did. She’s a lot like her. Her hand is on my bicep as if making sure I don’t run away. Which I won’t. It’s time to face my fears and speak to my new family I can’t believe I am about to be part of. I belong to something. Someone.

“First thing we are doing is getting your father’s name on that birth certificate, Wade. Keep your surname, or change it, you decide. But you come from great stock and I’m about to make sure you get everything you deserve. What is rightfully yours, and right their wrongs. They denied you a family and a childhood. You deserved better. You may have lost your childhood, but I’m going to give you the best adult years of your life, years full of happiness and love, with the best support to help you, and us, get through this together. Stick with me, soldier. I’ve got you.”

I can’t help but smile at her, warmed by her protective words. “We had a prenuptial agreement,” she says through the side of her mouth as we get closer to the three people I’ve been dreading facing. “My father and his father owned the Eagles together. Which means I own half. I've got him squirming and by the balls.” Confidence bounces off of her. “I’ve been a silent partner for far too long, and I’ve held my tongue for even longer. I’m taking back control, and we’re going to be one of the best teams with the strongest family bonds the NHL has ever seen.”

Her assertiveness makes me feel slightly better than I have in weeks.

“It’s time to officially meet your brother, your sister, and your father.”

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