Chapter 7
seven
The elevator opened again, and the laughter died.
Elliot turned toward the sound, beer bottle halfway to his lips, and felt the room go cold around him as Cade stepped into the warm light of the common room.
His cousin stood in the doorway with a small wrapped package clutched in one hand, and his baby daughter Nova balanced on his hip, her dark hair flattened under a hat with an adorable little pompom on top.
The little girl looked around with wide, curious eyes, taking in the streamers and the crowd of familiar faces.
Elliot’s chest tightened at the sight of them. It had been weeks since the explosive confrontation with Davey that had ended with Cade’s resignation from WSW and words that couldn’t be taken back.
Silence stretched, thick with tension that even Nova seemed to sense. Her small hand fisted in her father’s shirt.
Elliot set his beer aside and stood, letting a faint smile ease across his face. “Hey, Cade. You gonna come in, or just lurk in the doorway?”
Cade’s gaze swept the room before landing on Elliot. His jaw was tight, shoulders squared like he was bracing for impact, but there was something undeniably vulnerable in his eyes as he stepped forward.
Cade’s shoulders loosened. He stepped forward, crossing the space with measured strides. When he reached Elliot, he pressed the small wrapped box into his palm. His jaw was tight, but his voice was quiet, almost tentative. “Happy birthday.”
The gift had weight despite its small size, and Elliot smiled, already knowing what it was.
Another paperweight. Years ago, Cade had forgotten his birthday and swiped one off their uncle Greer’s desk to cover his ass.
Elliot had kept it, and Cade had never let the joke die.
Every year since, he found a new one, each more ridiculous than the last.
Elliot huffed a laugh and shook his head. “What is it this time? Crystal dolphin? Glow-in-the-dark skull?”
“Something like that.” Cade’s mouth twitched. Not quite a smile, but close enough.
Cade shifted Nova to his other arm, and she babbled something that sounded like “El-lot” while reaching toward him with chubby fingers. Then, with a proud little squeal, she added, “Hap day!”
“Happy birthday, Elliot,” Cade corrected. He’d obviously been coaching her.
“Hap buh-day, El-lot!”
“Thank you, sweetheart,” Elliot said, his voice automatically softening as he reached out to brush a gentle finger against her chubby cheek. She giggled and grabbed for his hand with surprising strength for someone so small.
The sound loosened something in his chest. Leave it to Cade’s little girl to do what no one else could—make this feel like family again.
“Thanks for coming,” he said, meaning it. Despite everything, despite the rift that had torn through their family like a hurricane, Cade was still his cousin. Still blood.
“Wouldn’t miss it.” Cade’s gaze landed on Davey, and the room cooled again, like a weather system changing direction.
Elliot glanced at Davey, watched his brother’s jaw tighten as he set his beer down harder than necessary. Rowan’s hand settled on Davey’s arm in silent support.
Daphne went rigid by the windows, her smile vanishing as she stared at Cade like he’d tracked mud across her clean floors. Her twin, Celeste, ever the peacemaker, swooped in with forced cheer.
“I’m so glad you made it, Cade! We’ve got tons of food left, and I was just telling Rue about the time you and El got stuck in that elevator in Dubai—” Her words tumbled out too quickly, desperate to fill the charged silence.
But it was too late. The damage was done. The warm bubble of celebration had popped, leaving something brittle and dangerous in its place.
Elliot watched it unfold like a slow-motion car crash. Fiona crossed to stand near Daphne, Liam, and Dom, a silent show of solidarity for Team Davey. Weston, Griffin, and Tessa drifted toward Cade. The family was splitting into factions before his eyes.
And he, Celeste, and Bridger were caught in the middle, unwilling to choose sides.
“I’m surprised you’re here,” Davey finally said, his voice carefully neutral but undercut with steel. “Since you were so hell-bent on leaving the family last time we spoke.”
Cade’s smile was sharp enough to draw blood. “I’m still family, even if I’m not on the payroll anymore.”
“That was your choice,” Davey countered.
“Was it?” Cade’s laugh held no humor. “Funny, I remember it differently.”
“Boys.” Mom and Aunt Eva said at the same time in their listen-to-your-mother voices.
“Not tonight,” Mom added. “Please.”
Rue appeared at Elliot’s side, her fingers brushing against his arm in silent support. He hadn’t realized how tense he’d become until her touch loosened the knots in his shoulders.
“Should I grab the fire extinguisher, or is this just how Wilde family gatherings normally go?” she whispered, only half-joking.
“This is actually mild,” he murmured back, surprised to find his lips quirking despite everything.
“Last Christmas, Cade punched Davey, and they knocked over the Christmas tree.” He frowned at the memory.
“But the tree falls over every year for one reason or another, so that’s practically a family tradition at this point. ”
Rue muffled a laugh against his shoulder, and the warmth of her breath penetrated through his shirt, momentarily distracting him from the tension splitting the room. He found himself leaning slightly toward her.
The party fractured into uneasy clusters—Dom and Celeste trying to keep things light with a group by the food table, Davey holding court near the bar with Liam and Fiona, Cade and Griffin huddled near the windows with Weston.
The easy flow of earlier was gone, replaced by strained conversations and watchful glances.
By the time Elliot’s mom brought out the cake for the official candles and singing, the celebration felt more like an obligation than a party.
Everyone played their parts—singing, clapping, cheering as he blew out the candles—but it was colder in the room than it was outside in the late winter wind.
“Make a wish,” Rue whispered beside him, her smile genuine even as tension crackled around them.
He wished for his family to be whole again. Ha. Fat chance of that.
As the cake was cut and distributed, Elliot noticed Cade checking his watch, Nova’s head drooping against his shoulder. The little girl was fighting sleep, her eyes heavy as she clutched her stuffed bunny.
“I should get her home,” Cade said to no one in particular, though his gaze lingered on Elliot. “She’s got a schedule.”
“Already?” Elliot said. “You just got here, man.”
Cade’s smile was tight. “Some of us have responsibilities outside the family business.”
The barb landed exactly where Cade had intended. Davey’s shoulders stiffened, but he said nothing, just took another pull from his beer.
Like dominoes falling, the gathering began to disperse.
Weston left with Cade. Griffin muttered something about still needing to pack for Chile.
Fiona made an excuse about an early meeting with the legal team.
Daphne dragged her twin out, with Celeste protesting every step of the way.
Liam and Bridger signed to each other—arguing—before Bridger made their excuses, too.
Within twenty minutes, what had been a packed celebration thinned to just immediate family, Rowan, and Rue.
“I should probably head out, too,” Rue said, gathering her purse from the counter. “Early day tomorrow with all the final expedition prep.”
“I’ll drive you,” Elliot said immediately, grateful for the excuse to escape. “Let me grab my keys.”
His mother caught him in a tight hug before he could make it to the door. “Happy birthday, sweetheart,” she said. “Be careful down there, okay? That girl’s got adventure in her blood.”
“I know, Mom.” He returned the hug, breathing in her familiar raspberry scent. “I’ll be careful.”
“And call your father when you get back. He misses you boys.”
Elliot nodded, guilt twinging in his chest. He hadn’t made enough time for family lately—for any of them. Work consumed everything.
“Ready?” Rue asked, appearing at his side.
“Yeah.” He glanced around the room one more time, taking in the scattered remains of his thirtieth birthday party. “Let’s go.”
They headed toward the elevator, but as they passed the door to the terrace, low voices caught his attention. He slowed, recognizing his father’s voice.
“—can’t just sit back and watch them tear each other apart,” Dad was saying. “The boys need us, Greer.”
Elliot paused, hand hovering over the elevator button. Rue looked at him quizzically and opened her mouth, but closed it again without making a sound. She must have just heard the voices, too, because her head tilted slightly.
“My son’s hurting, Greer,” Uncle Cam said, his voice tight with emotion. “Cade’s been practically exiled from the family business, from family gatherings—he only showed up tonight for Elliot.”
“We’re grateful he did,” Dad said. “But this can’t continue. Did you see how everyone split into sides the moment he walked in? It’s tearing the family apart.”
Elliot glanced at Rue, who raised an eyebrow in silent question. He held up a finger, signaling her to wait. He shouldn’t be eavesdropping, but something kept his feet rooted to the spot.
“What exactly do you propose we do, Jude?” Uncle Greer’s voice carried that familiar authoritative tone, the one that had commanded respect since Elliot was a child. “Force Davey to rehire Cade? Make them shake hands and play nice?”
“Something,” Dad insisted. “Anything. This isn’t who we are as a family.”
“They’re grown men,” Uncle Reece pointed out.
“Davey had his reasons,” Uncle Vaughn added. “And Cade made his choice.”
“Cade didn’t have a choice,” Cam shot back, anger simmering beneath his words. “He did his job, and Davey?—”
“Cam.” Greer’s voice cut through the tension. “We’ve been through this. Whatever happened between them is between them.”