Page 48 of Desecrated Saints
“Lazlo treated my mother a long time ago,” I finally say.
Kade stills. “Professor Lazlo? In Blackwood?”
“She had her first admission after giving birth to my brother, then another when we were young.”
“Fuck, Brooke. Why didn’t you tell us?”
I squeeze my eyes shut. “He broke her, Kade. Blackwood is the reason she lost her mind. That’s why she murdered Logan and crashed the car. Incendia is the reason my entire family is dead.”
Kade’s soft fingertips glide over my cheeks, wiping the traitorous moisture away. Beneath the shampoo, I can smell his familiar, squeaky-clean scent. Everything about him is solid, steadying. I can trust him with this secret.
“We’ll make them pay,” Kade proclaims. “I swear on my life, they will all burn for what they’ve done to us. We won’t rest until Incendia is dead and buried in the ground.”
“It won’t bring them back,” I whisper roughly.
“Open your eyes, Brooke.”
I shake my head. “I can’t.”
“It’s just us. Let me see those beautiful eyes.”
Forcing myself to obey, I meet Kade’s kind, loving gaze. Even after all the pain he’s endured for us, goodness still shines within him. He replaces his glasses, his expression steeling with determination.
“Nothing will bring your family back. But the family you have now? Nobody will ever take it away from you.”
“You promise?”
“I promise. Always and forever.”
I roll my eyes. “Did Hudson give you that line?”
“What? It’s probably the most poetic shit he’s ever come out with.”
My mouth is magnetised back to his. I drink in the pure, unshakeable essence of Kade. Our protector and leader, the man who secured our family’s freedom from those who tore us apart. As long as we have him by our side, I know we’ll always be safe. I can’t protect those I love from the demons of this world alone.
“Are we ready for tonight?” I sigh.
“As ready as we'll ever be. The contact wants to meet us at ten o’clock. I’ve got the location scouted out. Once we’ve exchanged information, we’ll get out of here. I still owe you that breakfast date.”
The thought of our warm, cosy cottage in the middle of nowhere makes my heart sigh with happiness. It was a slice of peace and calm amongst the carnage of our lives. I’m ready to run away all over again.
“I’ll hold you to it, mister.”
His smile is infectious, warming the fabric of my dead soul. “You got it, love. I’m a man of my word. When the dust settles and Incendia is no more, I intend to spend every second of my life proving that to you.”
“I think I can live with that.”
Sharing another lingering kiss that leaves me breathless, we break apart when Sadie and Theo emerge from the locker room. They slept there for the night, and I definitely heard them hooking up when they thought we were all asleep. Her cheeks are flushed, their hands linked as they enter the kitchen.
“Morning campers,” she chirps.
I climb off Kade’s lap. “Ouch, Clearview flashback.”
Sadie sticks her tongue out at me. “I was an excellent counsellor. I have no idea what you mean. No one else let you raid the vending machine before group therapy.”
“To buy our cooperation, I’m sure.”
“It worked though, didn’t it?”