25 | Addison
“We found her.”
Spinning around, Skye on my hip, spatula in hand, I meet Cade’s gaze as he walks through the front door.
“What?” I whisper, placing the spatula down and walking toward him. “Cade, are you serious?”
“Goat found her location, wasn’t hard. She’s livin’ an entire life as Mary Theodore. She is in Florida, married, two kids.”
“Hear that,” I smile, bouncing Skye. “You have cousins!”
“Tomorrow, I’m goin’ to see if she’ll talk to me. I won’t bother askin’ if you want to come, I know you will.”
I’m trying to keep in my excitement, but I can see the hesitation in his eyes. He’s scared, and I know this is a big deal for him. Turning, I place Skye down with her toys and walk over to him, placing a hand on his chest. “You’re worried.”
“She might not want her entire world turned upside down.”
“You’re right, she might not. We’re not there to upend it, baby, we’re there to let her know that if she wants us in her life, she can have us. We’re making sure she is okay, and that the past is healed. If she doesn’t want to see us after that, then we won’t push her. That is her choice.”
He nods. “Fuck. I never thought I’d see her again.”
“We’ll do it together. Florida is a big trip, are we flying?”
He nods. “I’ve already booked the tickets. I got her place of work, don’t know her address. We’ll just have to hope we can track her down.”
Squeezing his arm, I turn and go back to the stove, stirring the pasta sauce I’m making for dinner. My mind is going a million miles an hour. I didn’t think we’d be here, and that we’d finally have answers as to where Clara is. I thought for sure she had been shipped away, sold and sent into a horrible life, but all along she was living under a different name. I can only hope her life went as well as she had hoped. I pray she is loved and taken care of because I know that’s all Cade wants.
“I heard the good news.”
Ciara’s voice fills the kitchen as she comes bounding through the front door, Spike by her side, Danny on her hip. Spike cradles Mercy in his big arms, and it’s the sweetest damn thing.
“No come on in, you’re right.” Cade mutters.
Ciara shoots him a look. “This is my home, too. How dare you.”
He winks at her, and she grins.
“Okay, what are you so happy about?” I ask, narrowing my eyes. “You’re not pregnant again are you because woman, I am not ready for that.”
She laughs. “Jesus no. No way. It’s better.”
“Well go on,” Cade reaches out, taking Danny from Ciara. “Spit it out.”
“I’m going to university!”
Cade’s brows go up at the same time mine do.
“Say what?” I say, confused.
“I am going to a special university for nurses. I’m so fucking excited. It’s only two days a week, but I’m going to become a nurse!”
“You’re good with this?” Cade asks Spike.
Spike grunts. “Not a fan of not havin’ her by my side, but I’m alright with the nurse outfits.”
“Animal,” I laugh, then turn towards Ciara. “I’m so happy for you! This is wonderful.”
“I’m so excited, it’s in the city so only a two-hour drive. I will stay for two nights at a place nearby campus and do two days, then return home for the remainder of the week. Spike is going to take care of the kids. I won’t start until Mercy is six months old, but I’m so damned happy. I always wanted something to challenge my mind.”
“This is awesome, I can come to the city for girls’ nights,” I say, grinning.
“Like fuck,” Cade mutters.
I shoot him a grin. “We both know I’m going to win that one.”
He grins. “No college boy is puttin’ his hands all over my woman.”
“You’re not threatened by them pin dicked, pimple faced boys are you brother?” Spike teases.
“Shut the fuck up.” Cade throws in his direction.
I giggle.
“Well, I’m so happy for you, Ciara. Seriously. This is awesome news.”
“I can’t wait. It’s going to be weird, being without the kids for a few nights, but I’m just so ready.”
“Better not go fallin’ in love with some professor or somethin’,” Spike teases, lightly. “I’m tryin’ to better myself and not commit murder.”
“I’ll try. But you know, they’re apparently pretty hot in that school...”
“Careful, tomcat,” He warns. “I can come with you and make sure you behave.”
“Calm down, Danny,” She grins. “I’m not about to fall in love. You’re enough hard work. Why would I want another one.”
He grins, devilish and cheeky.
God, I love these two.
“We should celebrate!” I say. “Bar tomorrow night?”
“You women need to stop drinkin’ and start doin’ more cookin’ or something,” Spike chimes in.
“Take your sexist ass and kick it for me,” I say to him. “We’re not house slaves.”
Spike chuckles. “Love it when you get feisty, precious.”
“We might be besties, Spike, but that doesn’t mean I can’t take you down.”
“Enough you two,” Cade cuts in. “You bicker like little fuckin’ children.”
“Come on,” I say to Ciara. “Come and tell me all about this new venture.”
I’m so damn happy for her.
So damn happy.
~*~*~*~*~
TAKING CADE’S HAND, I know it won’t make a single ounce of difference for what we’re about to do. Standing at the reception desk of the place where Clara is meant to be working, we have no idea if we’re on the right track or if we’re about to run into a wall. I hope we’ve been given information, and that all the hard work the club did in tracking Clara down was the right thing.
My chest feels heavy, like a weight is laying down over it.
I’m scared for him, but I’ll never let it show.
Deep down, I know he’s terrified, but as always, he keeps a calm and careful exterior.
The receptionist stares at him for a second, her eyes wide. I guess she probably hasn’t seen too many people like him come through these doors and he sure as hell stands out. His large black boots with chains, his ripped denim jeans, the tight black tee and that jacket that can cause more harm than good in the wrong place.
“Ah,” she murmurs, her eyes darting between him and me. “May I help you?”
“We’re here to see Mary Theodore,” Cade murmurs, his voice scarily smooth and husky. “She’s my sister.”
The woman nods, not even questioning his story.
She clearly doesn’t know a great deal about Clara, or she would probably know she has never mentioned a brother before.
Or maybe she has, who am I to assume.
“I’ll call her down. Please, take a seat.”
We move to the waiting chairs and sit down, my eyes don’t stray from the only door that leads to the large offices out the back. It’s some kind of accounting firm, which gives me hope that Clara has done something amazing with her life, and that maybe she came out of this with a happy ending.
The door opening has Cade and I pushing to our feet.
The woman I see coming before us doesn’t look a great deal like the only photo I’ve seen of her, but it’s definitely Clara. That stark resemblance to Cade is impossible to ignore. Her hair is lighter than his, with help from a hair stylist, and the blond locks fall around her shoulders. Her eyes are the same brilliant green and the way she holds her expression is so like his, I can’t help but feel a little warmth inside.
She’s only small and petite, but she looks healthy, she looks well-kept and well put together in her straight skirt, blouse, and flats.
Her eyes lock onto Cade’s, and she pauses, her lips parting, her eyes widening and her hand dropping to her side. For the longest moment, they just stare at one another, and the room feels heavy with so many unspoken words that if someone doesn’t speak soon, I might just run with how uncomfortable it is.
“Cade?”
Her voice comes out as a croaky rasp, her hand raising up to press against her chest as she stares at him.
“Long time, sister,” he murmurs, the emotion in his voice so heavy there is no way he can cover it.
“I need a minute,” Clara says to the person beside her. “Close my calls for the afternoon. This is urgent.”
The woman nods, turning and walking away.
Clara takes a step closer, her face still twisted in disbelief. “H-h-how did you find me?”
“Is there somewhere we can talk?” Cade asks.
She nods, and we walk silently to a back room. When the door is closed and locked, Clara turns to Cade and steps forward, her fingers stretching out as she places her fingertips on his face. Eyes welling with tears, she stares at him for the longest moment, as if in full disbelief. “How are you here?”
He looks at her, confused.
A tear breaks free and rolls down her cheek.
“What do you mean how am I here? You went into hiding and never told me what happened?”
She steps back, shaking her head. “You’re...you’re dead. I thought...”
A loud cry escapes her throat, years of pent-up grief as she leans against the table. I can’t help it, I rush over and take her hand, holding it even though she has no idea who I am. I process her words, just as Cade does. Dead? She thought Cade was dead? How could that be?
“What are you talkin’ about?” Cade murmurs, his voice thick with emotion.
“Is it really you?”
“It’s me.”
She releases my hand and lunges at him, throwing her arms around his neck and pressing her face against his chest. Her sob echoes through the room and I fight with everything to keep mine in. I don’t want to make this moment about me, but it’s so damned hard not to shed a tear watching the two of them. The emotion they’re sharing right now is strong, radiating so heavily through the room.
She loves this man. There is no doubt about it.
“I’m so sorry,” she steps back, wiping her tears.
“Don’t be sorry,” Cade rasps. “Talk to me.”
“I ran, you know why. I was terrified Marshall was going to kill me. At that moment, the only thing I could do was run. After Darth, I was heartbroken, and I was terrified. I didn’t want to stay and risk your life, so I used my new identity and I started again. Years down the track, my past caught up to me. Marshall wanted something I had taken, and he tracked me down. I have never been so scared in my life. I thought I was safe. He promised to let me live my life if I returned it, so I did. It was a diamond Darth had stolen, a rare one.”
“How did that lead to you believing I was dead?”
Clara presses a hand to her chest, no doubt to calm her beating heart. “Just before he left, he told me that I hoped I knew just how much damage I had caused. He told me you were dead, at my hand. That what I had done, came back to you and that he had killed you. He...” she closes her eyes, a tear running down her cheek. “...he told me that I’d never f-f-find your body. Then he left.”
“You never double-checked?” Cade asks, his voice tight.
“I was terrified. He told me if he ever saw me again, he’d kill me. I had nobody to confirm it. I believed him. I had no reason not to. I am so sorry, Cade, oh...”
Her knees buckle, but he catches her before she can fall.
“You’re okay,” he murmurs, holding her up. “It’s all okay.”
“I can’t believe you’re here. Tell me this is a dream.”
“It ain’t a dream. I’m here.”
I decide now is the moment for me to step out of the room and let them have their moment together.
There is plenty of time for introductions.
I can’t help but feel like everything we have been through was worth it all for this moment.
Yeah, definitely worth it.