Chapter 13 Kaden
Kaden
Iwake up before dawn, careful not to disturb Ashleigh. We must’ve fallen back to sleep. It’s been an exhausting twenty-four hours.
She’s curled on her side, her face peaceful in sleep. I let myself watch her for a silent minute, then slide out of bed, boots in hand.
I have shit to do.
I promised my Ash that I would take care of her, protect her from her father. And that’s exactly what I’m going to do, right now.
Outside, the cold bites but I lock the cabin, jump in the car and start my way to HQ. If I’m going to do this, I’ll be smart about it, and that means some back up.
I meet inside with Lee, Cassian and Gabe - whoever was free and game to jump on board.
We do a quick run-through of our plan. It’s simple, everyone has comms and guns.
Lee will enter the estate with me, Cass and Gabe will hang back at the gates with their long-range rifles.
The guys will hide in the shadows, part of their speciality, in the event that things go south.
I doubt Marcus is stupid enough to make a move against me but desperation can cause people to do the craziest things. I’ve seen it before.
My breath fogs as I check my gear: sidearm, backup piece, comms in my ear. My team’s already in position, waiting for word. This isn’t a job I can walk into blind.
I slide into the car, phone in hand, fingers steady despite the adrenaline. I dial Marcus Burke’s number. He picks up on the second ring, voice rough—half threat, half curiosity.
“Marcus. It’s Kaden. I’m coming to you.”
A pause—then the faintest, dangerous chuckle. “You sure about that?”
“I want a ceasefire. Let’s talk. Face to face.”
I hear him breathe, weigh the offer. “Ok.”
I end the call, double-check my weapon. My backup team’s on standby, just out of sight. This could go sideways fast, but there’s no other play.
Lee and I drive through the gates and onto enemy territory. As we pull up the long drive, I spot Marcus and his right hand, Felix, on the grand porch steps. I know he’ll have every guard on his payroll standing by too.
Lee stays in the car but I step out and wait at the bottom of the steps. Marcus comes down to meet me, hands shoved in his coat pockets, jaw clenched. He gives me a long, suspicious look. “You alone?”
“No, I’m not a fool. I have backup. As for Ashleigh, she’s safe far far away from here.”
He sneers. “You better have something good, Kaden. I don’t have time for—”
I cut him off. “Ashleigh’s not marrying Owen. The arrangement is over, dead.”
Marcus’s face twists, a vein throbbing at his temple. “You think you can just call it off? That’s my deal. What makes you think—”
I hold my ground. “I’m marrying her. She’s mine.”
He explodes into a sputtering mess, absolutely outraged. “You-you what?! You arrogant—! You think you can just waltz in and—”
I let him rage. I’m guessing he wasn’t expecting that.
When he’s out of breath, I speak, low and deadly.
“If you make one move against us, every file I have on all of your operations, past and present, will go straight to the police and the FBI. I have dates, bank transfers and someone willing to testify. You’ll go down, hard, Marcus. ”
His eyes flash, fury and fear tangled together. “You don’t have the guts.”
I step closer, voice hard as steel. “Try me.”
Silence stretches between us, dangerous and charged. Finally, Marcus spits on the ground, glaring. “Get out of my sight.”
I start to turn away when my heart stops. A shout rings out from my right, “No!”