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The Billionaire's Pawn 23
STRIKER “You barely said a word throughout the ride. What’s going on in your head?” I sent her up to her room. She wanted to go home to her house, so I didn’t insist since her mood seemed to have shifted tonight. “I’m just tired, I guess.” She threw herself into her bed and stared up at the ceiling with a deep long sigh. “That’s not it, Vanderford. You were chatty at Linden’s earlier and still talked to me even if you were tired.” I went to sit on her bed, taking her shoes off one by one and placing them on the floor. “I’m exhausted, Cade.” She was pissed. I could feel it in her voice. I wondered what I had done wrong. “Okay.” I rose from the bed. “I’ll be swamped with work tomorrow, but I can pick you up afterward.” “Of course, you will be.” “What’s that supposed to mean?” My brows knitted, confused about how she suddenly acted like this, but she chose not to tell me shit. “Why were we really at Linden’s house, Cade?” She sat on the bed. Her eyes narrowed at me. “Beck is al
The Billionaire's Pawn 24
LONDON “So you’re not a jealous type?” I rolled my eyes. “What’s your point, Cade?” “Interesting.” Was he trying to annoy me? Well, then he started to get under my skin. “Will you stop it?” He smirked at me, squeezing my thigh a little. “I kinda like it when you are unbothered, but for guys like us, sometimes, we want to make sure our girls care for us.” “Gee. There are other ways to determine whether we care about you. What might your ex have to say about it?” “I lost my virginity in my junior year?” “Wow.” I stared at him for a while. “In college, Vanderford.” “What?” She looked surprised. “Yeah.” He wasn’t even ashamed to admit it. “You’re kidding, right?” “I wish I was. Remember my picture with Dad?” “You and your braces?” She grinned. “Yes. Well, I still had it until sophomore. Imagine Cade, tall, skinny, and studious with braces, minus the glasses. I was basically a nerd. I only gained muscles when I enlisted myself.” “You? Skinny?” She arched a brow in disbelief
The Billionaire's Pawn 25
STRIKER She was still staring at the ceiling, tugging her bottom lip between her teeth. I leaned in and let her feel the lightest caress of my lips on her exposed flat tummy. Her muscles contracted against the touch. “Really? None?” She shook her head. Okay. Challenge accepted. I swept my tongue onto the belly button. Her body moved, her eyes squeezed shut, and her toes curled. “Come on, baby. Give it to me,” I said as I teased the tip of my tongue on her belly button in a sensual dance that made her pussy wet, and I could see behind the black negligee that her nipples puckered and as hard as pebbles. I moved up, hovering over her body, supporting my elbows, and made sure I wouldn’t crash her with my weight. “You’re unfair, Vanderford.” I planted a kiss on her chin. “You were mean.” “I was not.” I kissed her again. “Let me just make it up to you.” “You always do that while you wouldn’t even let me try.” “I swear, you can do anything you want. You’ll get tired of me.” Wh
The Billionaire's Pawn 26
LONDON Moses Braddson is his father. It kept repeating in my head. Wow. That was the biggest revelation I had in a while, and it was crazy. I mean, come on. Half of Striker Cade’s blood founded the Hover Company, one of the top Aircraft industrial companies in the world, and the Hover subsidiaries such as Hover Defense and Hover Space and Security. Moses owned seventy-five percent and was the Chairperson, CEO, and President. He literally ran the entire Hover and was a total badass. “He is your father?” I asked again to make sure I heard him right the first time. “Moses Braddson, is your father?” He nodded silently. “Does Tate know?” “Yeah. Dad was the one who told me everything.” His eyes were still glued to the tv screen, showing how the firefighters, ambulances, and police cars rushed to the crash site. “Are you okay? Do you wanna sit down?” I rubbed his arms. “Yeah. Thanks.” He sat on the couch while I went to the kitchen to get him something to drink. “Here.” I offered
The Billionaire's Pawn 27
STRIKER “Go ahead. See your father.” It still rang in my ear. Beatreigh, my aunt. It was even strange to meet her face to face. I wondered if her son, Lake knew about my existence. “Striker, wait,” she called me again. “Yeah.” She held me and put something into my palm. “Keep it.” When I checked it, it was a man’s ring. “Is this his?” “Yes.” “I can’t.” I offered it back. “Keep this with you. You can give this to him when he wakes up. I won’t stay long anyway. I leave as soon as I do what I promised to Dad.” “It’s not just a ring. It’s Braddson’s ring. Whether you like it or not, you’re the Braddson heir.” “Well, let me spell it out, Beatreigh. He’s still alive, and I’m just a mistake. I’m not seeing him again after this. So, please, take it.” Beatreigh just gave me a smile with a light nod. “He never took that off, but it had to when he went for MRI. And hate him all you can, but fifty percent of Braddson’s blood is in your veins. He is your father, and I am your aunt. Wher
The Billionaire's Pawn 28
LONDON He was lifting weights when he spoke. “Dad wants me to see Moses again.” Since I’d been staying at his house, he had to share his mini gym with me. I lowered the speed of the treadmill. “What’s your thought about it?” This topic was sensitive for him, so I tried not to suggest anything. “I think I did my part the last time, but at the same time, if Moses wants to see me, I’d give it a try.” “Are you doing this for Tate or for you?” There you go, I just did it. “Sorry.” He sat down, wiping off the sweat on his forehead with his shirt. “I don’t know, Vanderford.” He then linked his fingers together as if he wanted to tell me something, but finding the right words was hard. “Come on, sweetheart. You know I will always have your back, whatever decisions you make. I would never judge you.” His smile was so sweet as he met my gaze. “What’s that smile for?” I couldn’t help but smile back. “You just made me smile.” He came to me, and I had to pause my workout and kiss him on
The Billionaire's Pawn 29
STRIKER “Welcome, sir Striker.” A butler in a white and black uniform welcomed me. “He’s been expecting you.” “Thank you.” I didn’t ask how. I didn’t set an appointment to see Moses, but here I was, walking into the lion’s den. Moses’ estate was like I’d never seen in the neighborhood. A late renaissance-inspired luxurious castle in the middle of the woods, but I had passed with three levels of security. Passing through the longest hallway alone was tiring, but the whole place looked rich in king-inspired interiors. “How many rooms are in this house?” “This one alone, sir, has thirty-three.” “Is that his lucky number or something?” The butler smiled. “So when you say alone, just this side?” “Yes, sir.” I nodded. I didn’t know if I should be amused or amazed. We stopped in front of the elevator. “I’d like to walk if you don’t mind.” “Of course, sir.” We climbed up through the red-carpeted grand staircases. I couldn’t help but admire the whole place. I’d been to palaces, c
The Billionaire's Pawn 30
LONDON “I can’t do this anymore.” My chin trembled as I looked up at the dark sky that seemed to empathize with my situation. “What do you mean?” Linden leaned his elbows against his knees as I got his full attention. “I can’t tell you.” I dropped my gaze and felt so guilty and embarrassed. “I understand. If there’s only one thing I’m sure of, everything’s gonna be okay.” “You don’t know that.” I wiped a single tear that rolled down my cheek. “I know it because we’re here for you. You’re not alone in dealing with it. My buddy will not allow you to mope alone.” “It’s Dad.” My voice cracked. My chest squeezed tight at the thought that I would still push through the wedding because I was selfish and was doing it for myself. “You don’t have to tell me, London, but if you would take my advice, tell Cade everything. A foundation of a strong relationship is trust. Build it with trust, and you both are gonna be okay, even if everything surrounding you seems to start falling apart.” “
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