Kade POVI don’t know why the hell Rook is here. I don’t know why he’s looking at me like I’m supposed to hand him every detail of what happened, like he actually gives a shit beyond how it affects him. I know what I am to him, an object, a piece on the board, something he enjoys controlling. So why the fuck is he acting like this is personal?“I need everything, Mercer.”“Everything?” I ask, my voice hoarse, my body still aching in ways I haven’t even fully processed yet. When he nods, I let out a slow breath, watching the tension in his jaw tighten before I speak again. “Axel showed up that morning after I climbed out of the window. He heard enough to know your father has something on me. Heard enough to know I let you fuck me.”I watch as his hands fist at his sides, as his entire body coils with something dark, but I don’t stop. He wanted the truth? He’s getting it.“Later that evening, I was walking home when he grabbed me, slammed me against a wall, and felt me up, talking about
Kade POV **Warning this contains scenes of attempted r*pe**The tension lingers in the room for a while after Rook leaves, thick and heavy, but it doesn’t take long before the guys start filling the space with their usual bullshit. At first, it’s just them hovering, asking the same questions the doctors already answered, making sure I can still talk, move, see straight. It’s their way of checking in without making it obvious they give a shit.Then the mood starts to shift. The heavy silence lifts, giving way to jokes, laughter, the kind of easy banter that’s second nature to us. Tyler starts it, shaking his head as he grins down at me.“Damn, Mercer, I knew you liked attention, but this is a bit dramatic, don’t you think?”“Yeah,” someone else chimes in. “You didn’t have to nearly die just to get a night off.”The laughter spreads through the group, and before I know it, they’re cracking jokes about the hit, exaggerating every detail.“Dude, I swear, when you hit the ice, I thought yo
Rook POVLeaving the hospital, I head straight home, my mind locked on one thing. Axel has overstepped. And now, I can finally deal with him without my father’s disapproval hanging over my head. He won’t like it, he never likes when I make decisions without his permission, but I don’t give a shit. It’s not like Axel can help him anymore. The news has already spread. After that hit on Mercer, no team will touch him. He’s done.I step onto the estate, moving through the halls toward my father’s office. The second I walk in, he lets out an exasperated sigh, already knowing why I’m here.“Rook, you’re obsessed with him, and it’s clouding your judgment,” he says, his voice firm, warning. “Leave Axel alone.”I laugh, shaking my head as I lean against his desk. “Unlucky for Axel, Mercer told me everything."My father watches me closely, his expression shifting slightly, but he still looks unbothered.“What? Was Axel taunting him?” He scoffs, smirking like this is some minor inconvenience, li
Rook POVI spin on my heel, shoving past the nurse, already making my way back toward the exit. “We need to get to Kade’s. Now.”My father doesn’t argue. We’re moving again, back in the car, the driver pushing the speed limit as we cut through the city. I watch the roads flash by and it feels too slow, the tension is growing thick and suffocating.“I thought Axel was smarter than this,” my father mutters, staring out the window.“When you make someone sabotage their own career, what the fuck do they have left to lose?” I snap, barely keeping my anger contained. I knew Axel wouldn’t go quietly, but I didn’t expect him to be this fucking reckless.The car skids to a stop outside Mercer’s building, and I’m already out before the tires fully still, my father and the others close behind. I don’t wait for them. I take the stairs two at a time, my heartbeat a violent rhythm in my ears as I reach his door.The handle turns too easily, the door isn’t locked. I push it open, stepping inside, my
Kade POVI’m not sure what’s going on. There’s a lot of noise, and voices in the background, but it takes a while to fully wake up. My head fucking kills. It had dulled down to an ache before, but now it feels like someone is slamming into it over and over again.“Right, sit up,” Rook’s voice cuts through the haze, firm but not harsh. I groan as I push myself up, my entire body protesting the movement. I hate this. If I had been well, I would have stopped Axel myself. But no, instead, I look weak as fuck.“You need to go to the hospital,” Rook says, throwing some clothes at me. I blink, trying to focus on the room as everything still tilts around me.“I’m not fucking going back there,” I grit out. There’s no way I’m spending another minute in that damn hospital. I was fine before, I’ll be fine now.“Then get dressed. You’re coming back with us,” he orders.I let out a dry laugh, shaking my head. “I’m fine here.”“Listen to him,” Nikolai cuts in, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Kade POVI’ve barely stepped inside when a man is already waiting. He's older, professional, and dressed clean but simple, the doctor.“Sit,” he says, gesturing toward a chair. He doesn’t waste time, grabbing supplies as he steps forward.The alcohol stings as he cleans the wound, and I grit my teeth as the needle pushes through my skin, pulling the torn flesh back together. Rook leans against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching the whole thing like he’s enjoying the show.“You’re lucky you didn’t crack your skull open,” he mutters.I huff out a laugh. “Yeah, I’m real fucking lucky.”The doctor finishes a few minutes later, taping over the stitches before stepping back. “You need to take it easy. No sudden movements, no stress on the head, and definitely no getting hit again.”I scoff. “Yeah, I’ll be sure to avoid that.”Rook pushes off the wall, moving toward me. “Come on, you need sleep.”I look at him, narrowing my eyes slightly. “Where the hell am I even sleeping?”“In my bed,”
Rook POV I walk down the stairs, trusting that Mercer will stay put, for now. But it’s Mercer. He pushes, and tests boundaries, even when it puts him at risk. Like leaving the damn hospital when he knew Axel was still out there. If he’d stayed, Axel wouldn’t have had the chance to get near him.Rubbing the back of my neck, I make it to the front door, only for a hand to catch my arm before I can step outside.“I’m coming,” my father says, his voice firm, already making it clear this isn’t up for discussion.I sigh, but I don’t argue. “Fine with me,” I say with a shrug before heading out to the car.Sliding into the seat, I lean back, letting my head rest against the cushion as I wait. I already know where we’re going, and so does Axel. The second he sees where he’s been taken, he’ll know exactly what’s coming.The drive is quiet, tension settling thick between us, but it’s not uncomfortable. My father isn’t the type to fill silences with unnecessary conversation. He only speaks when
Rook POV **This chapter contains torture**Letting out a low chuckle, I tap my fingers against his knee. “Now, see, that’s interesting. The others? They weren’t getting to you. The ones on your shirt, your arms, even the ones near your throat. But this?” I nod toward his hand, where a faint red mark is already starting to bloom. “That one actually got a reaction.”Axel breathes hard, his fingers twitching again, and I know exactly what’s happening. His brain is desperate to believe that if he moves the right way, if he angles his hands just so, he can maybe get free.He won’t, but I like that he’s still holding onto that sliver of hope.It makes this even more fun. I reach into my pocket again, pulling out a zippo lighter this time instead of another match. I flick it open, and let the small blue flame flicker higher.Axel stiffens, his whole body going rigid, and I tilt my head slightly, watching him. “You know what’s coming, don’t you?”His jaw locks, his breath sharp. “Rook, listen
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
Rook POVFacing her, I decide to ease into it. “So, I spoke to Daddy Mercer,” I say, watching as her eyes light up instantly.“Is he having fun with Aunt Amelia?” she asks, tilting her head.“He was,” I say, dragging out the word before shaking my head like I’m disappointed.Her little brows furrow. “What did Daddy Mercer do now?” she exclaims, throwing her hands up like she already knows it’s going to be something ridiculous.I sigh dramatically. “Well, he went to play hockey.”She blinks at me. “That’s not stupid. Daddy Mercer does stupid stuff.”Snorting, I nod. “True, but him trying to check someone and instead tripping over his own feet, slamming into the ice, and smashing his face definitely was.”She gasps before bursting into laughter, her giggles so loud even the soldiers and capo glance over. She clutches her stomach, barely able to catch her breath. “He fell?” she wheezes between laughs.“Flat on his
Rook POVWhen I wake, I’m still in bed with Rook wrapped around me. My eyes fall on the ring, and I’m glad I gave it to him. Even if the whole thing was hard. We need something so that I don’t have to stay locked in this bedroom, avoiding Harlow.If I’m going to be home resting, I should get to spend time with her. But I also know I have no idea my mom is still here. Courtesy of my father. Not today. For today, I can stay in the bedroom, and Rook will figure out something to tell Harlow to explain the bruises and broken fingers.Sliding out of bed, I go downstairs, and she’s already in the kitchen with Rose.“Let me guess, pancakes?”“No!” Harlow smiles at me.“Wait, no? You can’t go changing the routine, I want pancakes!” I joke, and she laughs.“She’s discovered the waffle maker.”Oh... “Well, I’m on board with waffles as well.”Standing here, we make waffles, and she talks away. After, I grab a plate and take them up