Page 178 of Unorthodox
I bite my cheek, close my eyes tight as I feel pressure building behind them.
Did Mamie get that card? Did Max?
Before I can think more about it, there’s a sharp rap against my window.
I jump, biting back a scream as I turn.
The door opens before I can get a look at who it is, then someone’s hand is clamped around my wrist, hauling me out of my seat.
“Danik?” The whispered word slips from my mouth before I get a good look at the person beneath the black hood, pulling me away from the car, the pavement warm under my bare feet.
I hear a deep laugh, and the hairs on the back of my arms stand on end.
The man runs a hand over his hood, smoothing it back, off of his head.
My mouth goes dry, hot fear coating my veins as my eyes meet two dark green ones.
I know those eyes.
I’ll never forget them.
“I wanted the both of you,” my uncle says with a smile. He shrugs, his shoulders shifting beneath the tight black hoodie, “but Danik is holed up in your father’s compound, scrambling to buy you off of Max Bennett before I could give him back his brother.”
His brother?
My stomach convulses, and even though it can’t be real, the scent of pine assaults my senses. My mind.
I can’t move.
I can’t think.
I can’t fucking breathe.
“Max sent your photos around,” Cade says conversationally, jerking me closer to him, his grip bruising. I smell the warmth of his cologne, the same as it was when he helped me and Danik out of our clothes when we were kids. Before he showed us how to touch each other. Before he touched himself. “I was really going to let you go, Addison, but…” He trails off, whistling as his eyes rake over my body. “My old pet died, and I really, really need a new one.”
“H-his brother?” My mind is stuck on the words, trying to grasp one thing at a time. Max had a brother?
And did he know?
Did he know this was myuncle?
Cade blows out a breath, and my body starts to work again, adrenaline coursing through my blood. I try to jerk away from him at the same time I raise my fist to hit him, but he shoves me against the car, spins me around, pinning me to the door with his body.
His hands come over mine, trapping them to the glass window.
“I was worried Max might want to keep you, beautiful as you are,” Cade says against my ear, his breath hot as my body trembles beneath him. “And five weeks has been a long time to wait.”
I can feel his erection against my back, and bile works its way up my throat.
“Having his housekeeper as a backup plan was a stroke of genius. Keeping tabs on his friend, Luca, having him in my fucking pocket, not too bad either.” He leans closer. “Did you know Max’s own guard tried to save you? You must be magic, Addison.”
“Get away from me.” My voice is low, barely more than a whisper. “Get away from me, Cade, or—”
He threads his fingers through my hair, jerking my head back.“UncleCade,” he says against my ear. “Although nowadays I tend to go by my middle name. Had to drop our shared last name, too, after a run-in with the DEA.” He huffs a laugh as I try to yank out of his grip, his only tightening. “I guess Max didn’t teach you any fucking manners,” he mutters.
His free hand leaves my own, and I try to push off of the car door, but he grinds his hips against me, keeping me in place.
Then something cold is against my neck.
