43. Kade
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
KADE
“ T hat went well.” I lean back in my seat with my ankles crossed and swipe my twin’s untouched glass of whiskey.
I down it in one go, hoping the liquor will settle the war waging inside me. On the outside I may seem cool, calm, and collected, but the thought of losing Waverly has the heart I thought was long dead clenching in my chest.
I knew there was a reason I closed off my emotions as a child.
It was safer then, and it would likely be safer now. And yet I can’t make myself walk away.
“You couldn’t just let me break the news to her? You had to insert yourself?” Emmett snaps.
We talked about it this afternoon and then again when we both arrived at the club, and both times we decided I wouldn’t show myself until he’d had the chance to explain, but when the time came, I couldn’t remain in the shadows.
I’ve done too much of that already, and I refuse to live my life like that anymore.
I shrug. “She would have reacted the same way regardless.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I do know that.” I look toward the bar, but Waverly hasn’t reappeared from the back room yet. I don’t think there’s an exit that way that I don’t know about, but I tug my phone from my pocket and open the tracking app just to be sure. “You forget that I’ve been watching her almost as long as you have. I know her, and she always runs at the first sign of trouble.”
“Have you got a tracker on her?” he asks incredulously.
“And you don’t?” I raise a brow. “I knew you were a hypocrite, but fuck me, you’re worse than I thought.”
He sighs and leans back in the booth as dejection fills his features. We knew it was going to be like that. I don’t know why he’s so surprised.
“What now?” he asks, and my brows shoot up in surprise. Is he asking for my opinion?
“We give her a few hours to cool down, and then we make the choice for her.” I shrug.
“Please don’t tell me you’re suggesting kidnapping her.” He scrubs a hand down his face.
“Is kidnapping really that much worse than stalking and murdering for her?” I ask.
Where’s that other waitress? I could really use another drink if I’m not going to follow Waverly into the back room and drag her out where I can see her.
Emmett stares at me for a moment before dropping his gaze. Yeah, I got him there.
I’m not sure how he justifies his actions with the guy upstairs, but to me it seems like he’s crossed just about every line the Bible draws.
Not that I can blame him, or even talk for that matter. The things I’ve done to keep Waverly safe would have her running for the hills.
“Are you going to tell her about your involvement in her father’s death?” I ask.
“I don’t know.”
“I think you should,” I offer. “It might go a ways to making amends.”
“And admit I’ve been following her from city to city for the last ten years? Admit I was the one that got her a new identity and was the reason her handsy landlord in Salt Lake City disappeared mysteriously? Or how I was the one that tore that fucker off her in Portland a few years ago? You think that’s going to help?”
I chuckle. “Sounds to me like you’ve been her guardian angel all these years. What girl doesn’t want someone to burn the world down for her?”
I don’t mention that I’ve done just as many, if not more, questionable things over the years for our girl, things that not even he has seen.
I’ve kept our father off her trail for years with misdirection and false leads. I’ve led him and his men on so many wild goose chases I’m astounded he hasn’t caught on. But why would he when I’ve always been the golden child in his eyes?
Emmett is the one he keeps a close eye on, who he doesn’t trust. I’m the one who will take his throne one day and dismantle it brick by brick if it means keeping Waverly safe.
“You should tell her,” I say. “Maybe leave out some of the stalking, and perhaps play down the murder a little. But explain that you helped her escape that night and felt responsible for her, so you looked out for her over the years. What’s the worst that could happen?” I shrug.
“She could run,” he points out.
“Like she just did?” I nod toward the bar.
He groans. “Why do you have to be right?”
“Because I’m the smart twin.”
A burst of laughter erupts from beside me, and I can’t help but smirk. If my brother thinking he’s smarter than me is what it takes to get him out of his head to help me get our girl back, then I’m happy to make that sacrifice.
In fact, it seems there isn’t much I wouldn’t give up for Waverly.
Now we just have to make her see that.