Chapter 35
CADE
The Pit – Northvale University
Bella’s in the ring. One hand gripped around Lex’s wrist, raising it high in the air declaring him the winner like she’s been living in that ring her whole life. The Pit is losing its mind—screaming, chanting, stomping.
But those two? It’s like none of it exists. Not the blood still on Lex’s jaw. Not Cal groaning on the mat. Not the hundreds of Titans and Wolves going absolutely batshit crazy.
Just Bella and Lex.
Locked in this electric, breathless stare that looks more like foreplay than a post-fight celebration. They’re not smiling. Not talking. Not moving. Just watching each other like they’re trying to memorize every scar, every look, every untold truth between them.
I know that look. I’ve felt that look. And I know that they’re both about ten seconds away from tearing each other’s clothes off in front of all of Northvale before Rez breaks it.
He jogs into the ring, laughing, wild with adrenaline, and throws an arm around Lex’s shoulder. Lex drops his arm from Bella’s grip and leans into his cousin, soaking in the chaos like it fuels him. The Hollow Kings are loving this moment and Lex totally earned it.
Bella takes a step back. Just one. And then she turns her head, eyes scanning through the blur of people and color until they land on me. Her face softens instantly.
That smile, the one that only ever really belongs to me, pulls at her lips. Like she’s grounding herself, reminding herself I’m here. That we are still us, even with Lex standing half-naked and victorious beside her.
And fuck, if that doesn’t level me. The damn problem is her stupid phone. She handed it to me before the dance. Just tossed it in my lap like it wasn’t a ticking goddamn time bomb.
But the more I read from @LucaWasHere, the more my stomach knots. He’s probably just a creep. A sick one, yeah. Definitely not the first loser to obsess over a girl like Bella. She’s visible, online, gorgeous, and powerful. That draws attention.
But if that wasn’t bad enough, a new message popped up. Not Instagram. A text from some guy named Nate.
NATE: All set for tonight. Be ready by midnight. We’ll be there to pick you up.
I stared at it like it was in a different language. But then another one came in right under it.
NATE: Lineup for tonight: Knox and I in the van. Tex in the sky. And don’t shoot me, but Laing and you are on ground. I’m not comfortable sending you solo if Krolek shows for the buy.
Laing? Krolek? A buy? What the hell is she wrapped up in? My heart is pounding. I don’t even know if I’m more confused, furious, or just fucking worried.
The ring is flooded with Hollow Kings now. Rez is still hyping Lex up, yelling something in Russian as a few more of their boys jump the ropes, hands slapping backs, throwing fists in the air. Celebration mode. The Pit is a madhouse, flashing lights and roaring voices.
In the middle of it all is Lex, shirtless and bloodied, looking like a goddamn gladiator. But he’s not looking at Rez or the chaos surrounding him. He’s looking at her.
Bella steps out of the ring, boots hitting the floor like she’s still in full command of the entire arena. Her eyes find his and he moves toward her instinctively, like gravity. But the Kings grab him and pull him back to the center of the ring.
He jerks his chin, trying to keep her in sight. She gives him the smallest smile and keeps walking. Right to me.
I put her phone in my back pocket right before her body hits mine with no hesitation, arms locking around my neck. I catch her waist and pull her in close as she tips up to kiss me.
“You,” I rasp against her lips, “just made history.”
She grins up at me, breathless, that fire still dancing in those storm-colored eyes. “You like it?”
I laugh, low and full of every ounce of pride I’ve got in me. “Sweetheart, I loved it.”
“Oh yeah?” Bella tilts her head, eyes twinkling under the lights.
“You all were perfect,” I say, brushing her hair off her cheek. “And the shirt? Rico did incredible work with this one.”
“I know. He’s the best.”
I shake my head, still grinning. “You should’ve seen Madison’s face.”
“That bad?”
“Oh, sweetheart, it was priceless.” I lean in, lips brushing her ear. “And when you licked Lex?” I pull back just enough to raise a brow. “I’ll admit. I got a little jealous.”
“And a little hard?”
I groan. “Don’t start.”
Then I pull her in and kiss her slow and deep, my hands gripping her waist like I might never let go. I press my forehead to hers, breathing in her cherry-vanilla scent. My heart is still thumping out of my chest.
“That was one hell of a dance, Bella. I mean it. You stole the whole damn night.”
“That was the point, Cade.”
“And as much as I loved it. Sweetheart, we need to talk.”
Bella stiffens. “Not now.”
“Then when?” I step back just enough to look her in the eye. “Bella, you got more messages during the dance.”
Her face falls. “From Luca?”
I shake my head. “No, sweetheart. Wanna share who the hell Nate is?”
Her entire body stills. Eyes wide. Color draining. She looks like she might faint. And right then—perfect fucking timing—Lex slides up behind her, one arm casually wrapping around her waist pulling her toward him.
“Well…” he drawls, glancing between us with that cocky grin I love so much. “That was one way to meet.”
The color rushes back to Bella’s face in a slow wave, like she’s remembering how to breathe. She takes a small step toward me, fingers tugging at the hem of her shorts nervously.
“Yeah,” she says lightly, voice threading the tension. “Sorry about that. The Trifecta and The Revenants rivalry runs pretty deep.”
“No worries, baby.” He says nonchalantly, brushing his fingers down her arm. “I thoroughly enjoyed the show.” Then he leans over and kisses me.
When he pulls back, he gives us a wink. “I’m gonna hit the showers. You two stay here. I’ll be right back.”
As soon as Lex disappears down the hallway, I turn to her. “Okay, sweetheart,” I say, my voice lower now, steadier. “Who is Nate?”
Bella’s jaw tightens. Her eyes flick away from mine. “Cade, please. Can we just drop it?”
“No,” I snap, firmer than I mean to. “We cannot just drop it.”
Her lips press together.
“You’ve got a stalker, Bella,” I say, my voice rising with each word. “Someone who’s clearly obsessed with you. And now I’m seeing texts from some guy talking about a ‘buy’ and picking you up at midnight?”
My jaw locks. “You expect me to just sit with that?”
I take a step closer, keeping my voice just between us. “Bella, is this about drugs or something?”
Her eyes shoot up, wide. “What? No. No, Cade, it’s not—” she cuts herself off and takes a deep breath.
“It’s not drugs, Cade,” Bella snaps, but there’s something fragile under the edge in her voice.
Before I can press again, her phone starts ringing. She looks down at the screen.
NATE.
Her throat bobs as she swallows, then she lifts her eyes to mine, pleading and desperate. “Please trust me,” she whispers. “I have to take this.”
She kisses my cheek and turns on her heel and walks off. I stand there staring after her, fists clenched at my sides. Torn between wanting to follow her and knowing if I do, I might lose my damn mind.
She’s pacing and talking with her hands. Clearly frustrated. Every movement sharp and tense. She runs a hand through her hair like the world is crashing around her and she’s still pretending it’s all under control.
Still the most beautiful thing I’ve ever fucking seen. Still keeping secrets.
Lex jogs up beside me, towel around his neck, hair damp from the shower. “Who’s she talking to?” he asks, drying off his face.
I don’t take my eyes off her. “We’re about to find out.”
We stride over, slow and steady, just in time to hear her hiss into the phone, “That’s fine. Just bring me a change of clothes. I’ll be at Northvale.”
My blood runs cold as I stop right behind her. “Bella,” I say quietly. “What the hell is going on?”
She turns around slowly, phone still clutched in one hand, her other hand trembling slightly at her side. Bella looks between us. Eyes wide. Chest rising and falling like she’s running out of air.
“Cade, no,” she says softly, looking at Lex. “Not right now.”
I shake my head. “Bella, there are no secrets in this. It can’t work if there are.”
Lex glances between the two of us, his brows pulling together. “What am I missing here?”
Her eyes flick to his, and I swear I see it, the crack in her armor. The fear. The guilt. The weight of whatever the hell she’s been carrying on her own for way too long.
But I can’t let it go. Not now. Not anymore.
“Bella?” Lex steps closer. His voice is quieter now. Gentler. “Talk to us.”
She closes her eyes for a beat. Like she’s praying for the right words, or praying for us to drop it.
“Sweetheart,” I say, stepping in grabbing her trembling hands in mine. “Just tell us.”
She bites her lip. And I realize that whatever this is, it’s not just a secret. It’s a huge storm about to break.