Page 17 of Stolen to Forever
“Before you came into my life I was in the middle of trying to take down some very bad men.”
“What the fuck?”Vaughn mutters.
“Let me talk,” Kade cuts him off.“I’d gotten into a new business deal that looked like it could be very profitable.Then I started to see it would be a little too profitable.I knew something wasn't right.Red flags were popping up everywhere and I could see very early on everything wasn't on the up and up with these men.They were clearly in the mob.”
Lula lets out a gasp but Kade keeps going.
“I was pissed I hadn't picked up on it earlier.I was going to turn it all over to the FBI and wipe my hands of it.I figured it would be easy enough after I told them I wasn't interested in working with them on the new development they were building.”He gives a small shrug.“Then the FBI asked for my help.They told me how bad these men were and that I could help put them away for a long time.I knew it was risky but I thought I was only putting myself on the line so I agreed to the plan.I helped the feds and I thought it was the right thing to do at the time.”
“It was the right thing to do.If they were bad men they should be put away.There’s nothing wrong with doing the right thing,” I agree.
“But then I had everything to lose.”His hands move to my hips as he grips me tightly.
“Me?”I smile.It warms me so deep that I mean everything to him.It makes me feel special in ways I know I’ll never feel with anyone else.
“I guess we’re just chopped liver,” Vaughn teases, but then his voice gets serious for once.“That’s why you sent us out of the country for our last projects?”
Kade nods, keeping his eyes on mine.“I was going to get us out of town next.They found out about you and then the accident happened.”He pulls me closer to him and touches his lips to mine, reassuring himself I’m fine.
“It sent everyone running back home,” X says in understanding.Of course his brothers would come running to his side if he’d been in an accident.“You were fine, but suddenly you had a wife with you.”
“She’s your sister now,” Kade corrects, reminding him that we’re family.
“That’s not what I’m pissed about.Of course she’s our sister now.The problem is you shouldn't have sent us away.You should have told us what was going on.”
“Don’t,” Vaughn cuts in on X.“You know Kade.He’s our older brother and he stepped up when we lost Mom and Dad.I’m not going to fault him for doing something we’ve been letting him do all along.”X closes his eyes and his head drops.I can tell just watching them these three men fight as hard as they love.“I’m pissed too but I’m not going to take it out on him.”
“You’re right,” X agrees.I think it shocks us all.“He’s got a wife to do that for us now.”
The room goes completely quiet and the seconds tick by.“Did he crack a joke?”my sister finally asks.
Vaughn lets out a small laugh.“For X.Yeah, that’s the most you’re going to get from him.”He chuckles.
We all start laughing and the mood shifts in the room.“So we all stay put,” Kade says after a beat.“The feds are working shit out and no one knows we’re here.They know of you, love, but they don’t know where we are.If I’d known you had a sister I would have sent for her from the start to make sure she was safe too.”
“It was going to be a surprise,” I tell him.I don’t want Kade to think I was trying to keep something from him.
“Trust me.I was surprised,” Berkley says.“A giant showed up at my door demanding I come with him.”
“I was only half kidnapping you,” Vaughn defends, and my sister rolls her eyes but I know she’s fighting a smirk.
“I was kind of surprised you never asked about my sister,” I admit.There were pictures of her at my apartment.Well, there were, but Kade told me when we got married he was moving my stuff.
“I just assumed when you told me you’d lost your parents that you were an only child.”Both of us losing our parents was one of the things that bonded us together.
“There were pictures of her all over my place.”Okay, maybe not everywhere but there were a good handful.
“I know you’re going to think I’m full of shit but I’m pretty sure I haven’t noticed other women since you dropped into my life.”
Both Lula and Berkley let out anawwsound.It’s a little cheesy but I don't care.I think his brothers are going to make some jab about his sweet comment but they both stay quiet.I kiss Kade and he stands up, lifting me in his arms.
“Don’t bother us,” he says when he pulls his mouth from mine before marching out of the infirmary.He puts me into one of the carts before taking off toward our house.I have to fight a laugh at how slow he drives even though I can tell he wants to go faster.
“I don’t think another toucan is going to pop out on us.”
“I can’t chance it.If one more thing happens to you I’m going to lose my fucking mind.”His grip on the steering wheel tightens, making his knuckles white.
“That’s not the kind of fucking I had in mind.”I bite my lip, a little surprised I said it, but Kade presses harder on the gas.