52. Chapter 52 - Cade
The text notification rouses me from the tangle of Rosalyn’s limbs. Her thigh frames mine even as she lets out a tiny sigh when I stir, then settles back into the pillows.
Shit.
It wasn’t just one message.
Wade’s sent close to twenty.
Peeling myself away from the hot press of her skin feels like treason to tiptoe into the living room and call him.
“Cade, I could really use another set of hands.” He doesn’t even say ‘hi’.
“I wasn’t planning on being there. If my brothers catch me there, they’ll tan my hide before I can explain.” Rubbing my temples, I find myself pacing the small space as the anxiety starts to build.
“We haven’t found anything but the damn trucks are starting to roll in.
Without knowing what in the hell I’m even looking for, it’s turning into a needle in a fucking stack of needles.
” He muffles his end to bark orders to someone in the background, then comes back to the line.
“I just don’t want to shut shit down based on an invoice from December when we don’t know if this is even the target. ”
My teeth grit. It might not have been before but I doubt Eli or John will let this opportunity pass after it was announced. There’s gonna be thousands of people and my gut says there’s a serious threat.
When the bedroom door opens slowly, I catch Rosalyn’s grim set of her mouth.
“I’ll let you know in a few minutes,” I mutter into my cell.
“Cade. I need your help.” Wade’s voice cracks. “They’re my family too.”
I look directly into Rosalyn’s eyes. “My wife is the most important thing to me. I’ll let you know what we decide.”
Her tears well as she watches me hang up the phone. “Is it funny that it feels more real when you say it to other people?”
“Baby—” I meet her halfway, wrapping her naked body against mine.
“—I’ll shout it from the mountaintops.” I kiss the top of her head, enjoying the press of her warm skin.
“And you get a say in what happens today.” I pull back enough to look down at her.
“Wade needs my help at the rodeo grounds. Between all the vendors and the people, they’re losing ground. ”
That damn lip rolls, one of her tells that it stresses her. “I heard. Would you know what to look for?”
Letting out a sigh of resignation, I nod. “I’ve had explosives training and how to pinpoint critical target areas.” I grimace as I admit it. “I’m probably better qualified than most of his crew.”
Surprisingly, she smiles. “I knew you would be. I’m married to a superhero.”
Now that makes me snort. “Hardly, baby.” Then I can feel my mouth drop. “But we need to decide so I can tell Wade.”
“What happens if you don’t go?” Her big blue eyes blink like she’s struggling to stay neutral.
“Either nothing or a bomb goes off.” I squint over her head to see the early sun breaking through the trees.
“And if you do?” she whispers.
“Well, the first two options and add in I get caught by one of my brothers. Maybe I get the snot beat out of me by Dixon because he’s an ornery son of a bitch.” I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve seen that man actually look happy.
It won’t be if he sees me at Sophia’s wedding without an invite. Especially since they all likely still think I’m the fucking villain.
“Or…” She drags out the word. “You find the explosive and save everyone. Then they all welcome you back with open arms.” Her smile doesn’t quite reach her sapphire irises.
“Or…” I mimic her iteration with a smirk. “I take you back to bed and we try again to put a baby in that tight little pussy.” I reach down and cup between her thighs, making her giggle.
There’s that laugh that I fucking covet.
She falls quiet too quickly. “Cade, we can do that when we get home. Tonight. After you save the day.” Her palms flatten on my chest. “I just want to be there too—”“Absolutely not,” I growl. “I’m not letting you get anywhere near the fairgrounds. I can’t watch you and do my job.”
Her chin trembles but her jaw clenches. “And I don’t want to be here wondering how many pieces you’re in the whole time.”
There’s that ribbon of steel I love. But damn it.
That’s the trade off. I don’t want to leave her alone to spiral.
Yet there’s so much of me that wants to do anything I can to save my family, even if they hate me.
I know if anything did happen and I wasn’t there, I’d blame myself.
By the look in Rosalyn’s gaze, I’d say she knows that too.
“Just promise me, whatever I tell you to do, you’ll do it immediately.” I use that deep tone I know gets her to listen when her own head is spinning.
“I will.”