Kade POVShe crosses her arms tighter. “So, what? You’re keeping tabs on him now? Dragging him around wherever you want? What happens when you get bored, huh?”Rook’s expression shifts just slightly. Not much, but I catch it. He exhales, his smirk softening into something almost unreadable. “I’m not leaving him,” he says simply.Mom’s jaw tenses. “That’s not what I asked.”I grit my teeth. “Mom—”“No, Kade.” She turns to me, her voice firm. “You told me what he did. You told me what his family did. You told me everything, and now you’re standing in front of me like it doesn’t matter anymore.”I don’t respond. I can’t, because she’s right. It should matter.But it doesn’t, at least, not in the way it did before.Mom’s gaze flicks between us again, her lips pressing into a thin line. She’s seeing something, I don’t know what, but it’s making her more on edge, not less.She exhales sharply. “I want to talk to my son alone.”Rook glances at me, waiting. He’s not going to leave unless I te
Kade POVHe glances at me for half a second before turning back to her, his voice lower when he speaks.“Because I’m not leaving him,” he says simply.The words hit harder than they should. I shift, staring down at my drink, pretending like that didn’t just mess with my head.Mom, however, isn’t buying it. “And what happens when your father doesn’t give you a choice? When the next time you need to prove your loyalty, it’s Kade who gets caught in the crossfire?”Rook doesn’t flinch. He just watches her, unreadable, before he says, “That’s not gonna happen.”She scoffs. “You sound real sure of that for someone whose family could end all of this in a second.”Rook’s jaw tightens slightly, but his smirk stays in place. “Then I guess I’ll just have to make sure that doesn’t happen.”Mom shakes her head, looking like she wants to argue, but I cut in before she can. “It’s late. If you want to fight, can we do it in the morning?”She exhales, rubbing her temple. “Fine. But this isn’t over.”I
Rook’s POVThe room is still dark when I wake. The faint glow from the window tells me it’s early, probably around 5:30, but I don’t need to check to know I won’t be falling back asleep.Kade is still curled up against me, his body warm, his breathing slow and even. He’s completely relaxed, something I don’t think I’ve ever seen when he’s awake.I let myself look at him for a moment longer than I should. Then, carefully, I shift away, moving slow enough not to wake him.I climb out of bed, stretching out the stiffness in my limbs before grabbing my clothes from where I tossed them the night before. I pull on my jeans, then my shirt, running a hand through my hair before stepping toward the door.The second I step out of the bedroom, I freeze.Kade’s mom is already awake.She stands in the small kitchen, a cup of coffee in hand, her gaze locking onto me the moment I enter the room.And she glares. The kind of glare that says she’s already been thinking about what she wants to say to me
Rook POVI shake my head, forcing out a breath. “My whole life, I’ve been surrounded by people who only take what’s useful, who only keep what benefits them. People who don’t give a single fuck about anything that doesn’t serve their own goddamn purpose.” My gaze meets hers, my throat tight. “And then there’s him.”Her expression doesn’t change, but something in the air shifts.I huff out a breath, shaking my head. “He’s the only one who doesn’t treat me like I’m some fucking legacy waiting to happen. Who doesn’t care about my name, my family, my power, he only cares about me. He fights me like he means it. Pushes back when I go too far, calls me out on my shit because he actually gives a damn.“And somehow, with him and when I’m around him, I don’t have to be Rook fucking Volkov, heir to a goddamn empire. I can just be. No expectations, no pretending, no need to prove anything.“He doesn’t want anything from me. Not money, not power, not protection.“But he chooses me. Again and agai
Rook’s POVKade sleeps perfectly fucking fine, but I can’t. Not just because I never go back to sleep once I wake up, but because of what he said.Lying here with my arms around him, I’m actually comfortable. Comfortable enough that if my mind would shut the hell up, I might even fall back asleep.But it won’t. The weight of his words keeps pressing into my skull, dragging me under in a way exhaustion never could.Carefully, I slide out of bed, moving quietly as I step out of the room. The trailer is silent except for the faint hum of appliances, the world outside still dark.I drop onto the couch in the small living space, pulling out my phone and scrolling to the name I need. I hesitate for half a second, then press call.It barely rings twice before the familiar voice answers.“Rook? Everything good?”“Yeah,” I mutter, keeping my voice low. “I need you to do something.”There’s a pause, then a quiet chuckle. “What now? I already got you days off.”I sigh, rubbing a hand down my fac
Rook POVHe leans back, stretching his arm across the back of the couch, settling in like he owns the place.“We just get each other,” he continues. “We have this thing where no matter how much time passes, it’s like nothing changed when we see each other again. We just pick up where we left off.”I hum, my smirk widening. “That so?”Paul nods. “Yeah. It’s not something you find often, you know?” He grins, his eyes flickering toward Kade’s room before settling back on me. “But I guess you wouldn’t know much about that.”I chuckle, keeping my expression easy, relaxed, while my patience thins by the fucking second.“Sounds like you two had something real special,” I say, my voice light, taunting.Paul smiles, like he’s pleased with himself. “Yeah, we do. Kade’s not the kind of guy to settle down, but he always comes back.”I nod slowly, watching him like I’m actually considering his words.I’m not.I’m watching the way his shoulders straighten slightly, the way his confidence builds the
Kade’s POVI step out of my room, rubbing a hand down my face, still half-asleep. My head’s not fully caught up with being awake yet, but the moment my eyes adjust, I realize something’s off.Paul is here, he's sitting in my fucking living room. And across from him, sitting way too relaxed in the chair, is Rook.What the hell is going on? I blink, my brain sluggish as I try to make sense of it. Paul’s standing now, moving toward me, his expression easy, familiar, like this is normal. Like I’m supposed to expect this.But it’s not normal. “What the fuck is this?” I mutter, my voice rough with sleep.Paul gives me a small grin. “Didn’t mean to wake you.”I stare at him, my mind still catching up. I don’t get it. Why the hell is he here? Why is he with Rook? What the hell could they have possibly been talking about?Before I can string together a question, Paul closes the distance, his arms lifting, wrapping around me like this is some kind of reunion.I barely have time to react before
Kade POV“What do you mean there’s nothing to pick up?” His voice is sharper now, his expression twisting in confusion.I exhale slowly, already feeling my patience wearing thin. “I mean exactly what I said. Whatever you thought this was, it isn’t.”Paul scoffs, shaking his head. “Kade, come on. We always do this.” He gestures vaguely between us. “You disappear, do your thing, and then you come back, and we go back to us.”“There is no us, Paul. I told you that last time I came,” I say, my voice flat.His jaw tightens. “Since when?”I don’t answer immediately. I can feel Rook beside me, silent, unmoving, but there. I glance at him briefly, and he’s just watching, waiting.Paul notices the glance. His eyes flick to Rook, then back to me, his expression darkening.“What’s changed?” Paul presses. “Because this?” He gestures between us again. “This was never a problem before. So what the hell is different?”Rook steps forward before I can answer.“What’s different?” Rook drawls, tilting h
Kade POVI let out a frustrated groan, gripping his jersey tighter. “You tripped over your own fucking skates! I swear to god, Rook, it wasn’t even convincing!”“It was fast! People will think I hit a rough patch of ice or something.”“There was no rough patch! We play on pro-maintained ice!”“Well, then I guess I’m just that clumsy,” he deadpans.I stare at him, my entire body vibrating with frustration. “You are so fucking lucky I love you, because I swear to god—”He smirks again. “Oh, I know.”I groan again, pressing my forehead against his chest for a moment before shoving myself off him. “Unbelievable,” I mutter as I pull him up with me.“You’re welcome,” he says, still grinning, and I glare at him.“You are never pulling that shit again.”“Well this was the last game, so
Kade POVMy body aches, exhaustion creeping in with every shift. Rook wasn’t wrong, I’m not as good as I used to be. And somehow, he’s gotten better. No matter how much I push, how hard I skate, he’s always a step ahead, like he’s been waiting for this exact moment to turn the tables on me.Now I get how he fucking felt all those years.I glance across the ice at him. He’s muttering something under his breath, probably chirping me from the penalty box. I can’t hear him over the crowd, but I know it’s about me slacking off. Maybe because I winked at him, knowing it would throw him off just enough to make him lose his focus.Except he didn’t lose it.We’re not winning this.I was so sure I could beat Rook like I always did, so sure I could just show up and still take him down. I didn’t even try to train these past few days. That was my mistake.The whistl
Rook POVThe last few days have been good. Kade has barely worked, giving himself real time to heal. I’ve purposely gone to train, making sure he has time alone with Harlow.He needs it. So every now and then, I fake that I have to train and head to the rink. Sure, I train, but not every single day. This is about giving him time with her, time they both need.“Have you decided?” My dad walks in, looking between us.“Does it really make a difference?” I ask. To me, it doesn’t matter whether Kade and I arrive together or not.“You’ve got to consider it. Are you going there together, as partners? Or are you showing up separately, like the rivals you’ve always been?”Kade smirks. “Maybe separate cars. Something tells me Rook won’t handle losing well.”He has no fucking idea.“Plus, I’m not sure I’ll want to sit in a car
Kade POVRook walks beside me, his hands are shoved in his pockets, and he has that smug little smirk still on his face. “You really thought they wouldn’t bring up our marriage?” he teases.I huff. “I don’t know why they care so much. It’s not like you’re some fucking trophy wife.”He gasps dramatically. “Excuse you, I am a fucking prize.”I roll my eyes, but I don’t fight the grin tugging at my lips.As we reach the doors leading to the ice rink, I hear the sound of skates carving into the ice. Laughter echoes, followed by Rose’s voice giving encouragement. I step inside, and my eyes immediately find Harlow.She’s on the ice, her tiny form skating with ease, stick in hand, guiding the puck forward.I stop walking.Rook keeps going, not noticing until he glances back at me. “What?”I gesture toward the rink. “She’s... ac
Kade POVI walk into the stadium, Rook right beside me. We brought Harlow along, and she and Rose are going to skate for a bit. It gives her something to do, and afterward, we can join her as well.“So, no punching people, right?” Rook glances at me.“You are telling me?” I scoff. “I am pretty sure you would be the one to punch a reporter, not me.”His head tilts slightly, a smirk playing on his lips. “I don’t know. You have always hated them, but now you can punch them, and it doesn’t even matter. You’re quitting, what are they going to do? Force you to play more as punishment?”Rolling my eyes, I shove him, but he barely moves. Instead, he wraps his arms around me, pulling me in tight.“I’m offended, Mercer. Look at you, shoving me,” he teases, his grip tightening. “You should be glad the cameras didn’t catch it... Abuse. Damn,
Rook POVI lean back, pulling him with me until we’re both lying down, my arm wrapped around him, his head resting against my chest.“She doesn’t deserve you,” I whisper.“I know,” he murmurs.“But you still won’t let her die alone. You love her, she's your mom, that doesn't change.”He doesn’t answer, but he doesn’t have to. I already know.The sound of muffled giggling pulls me from sleep, followed by the unmistakable rustling of movement on the bed. I blink my eyes open, groggy and disoriented, only to find two pairs of eyes staring right at me, one mischievous, the other excited.Harlow is sitting cross-legged at the foot of the bed, balancing a plate on her lap, while Kade leans back against the pillows with a tray in front of him, looking way too pleased with himself for this early in the morning.I glance between them, rubbing a hand over my face. “W
Rook POVI don’t say anything, I just reach for his wrist and guide him toward our room. He doesn’t fight me or try to pull away. His breathing is steady, but I can feel the tension in the way he moves, in the way his fingers flex like he’s trying to keep control of himself.The second we step inside, I shut the door behind us, locking out the rest of the world. Kade stands there for a moment, staring at nothing, clearly lost in his own head.I walk over to him and place my hands on his shoulders. He still doesn’t move, so I squeeze lightly, grounding him. “You did the right thing,” I say quietly.He lets out a breath, a slow, shaky one that tells me just how much this is weighing on him. “I don’t know if it was the right thing,” he mutters. “I just know sending her away wouldn’t have changed anything.”Nodding, I step closer. “That’s the right thin
Kade POVI let out a sharp laugh. “What’s there to deal with? She didn't care, she used me for money and tried to gain more. She made her choices. She doesn’t get to come back now just because she’s running out of time.”“You don’t have to forgive her,” he says, leaning forward against the desk. “But you’re going to regret it if you don’t talk to her before it’s too late.”I scoff, shaking my head. “No, I won’t.”“You will.”The certainty in his tone pisses me off more than anything else. “You don’t know that.”“I do, because I’ve seen it before,” he counters, voice sharp now. “I’ve watched men in this life lose people they swore they didn’t care about, and then I’ve watched them drown in the weight of it after they were gone.”I shake my head, refusing to listen.
Kade POVHarlow is relentless. She’s covering me in pink plasters, wrapping me in bandages, and holding ice directly against my skin. Not an ice pack, not wrapped in a towel, literal chunks of ice.Rook, of course, is grinning like this is the best thing he’s ever seen.I don’t complain, though. At least I get to see her, spend time with her, even if it means enduring her questionable medical care. She sticks another plaster onto my arm, nowhere near the actual injuries, and I can’t help but wonder why.“Daddy Rook,” she nudges him, her little voice full of authority. “Daddy Mercer needs ice cream.”Oh, this is good. I lean back more, smirking. “Yeah, Daddy Rook, I need ice cream.”Rook glares at me before turning back to her. “We don’t have any, princess. You finished it before we left.”She gasps dramatically. “No! Not our ice cream, Gelato Heave