Chapter 27
KADENCE
It felt amazing being back in the club, wearing my skimpy lingerie and feeling like a bad bitch.
Blaize had to leave to meet with someone, so I would be alone tonight when I got off unless she finished early.
We still had work to do, but Blaize was trying.
I didn’t know where she would take me tomorrow, but I hoped it would help us.
There were a few more things that needed to mend us, but the fractured parts of us were slowly being healed.
Someone wanted Blaize to hurt me. It was the only thing I could piece together.
Blaize had enemies, even if they were hidden in the shadows.
Part of me believed it was the man in the alleyway who talked to me, but I had nothing on him other than the bad vibe he gave me.
Blaize knew about him since she had the picture, but it was planned.
What would have happened if Blaize killed me?
I shuddered at the thought. The last thing I wanted to think about was Blaize killing me, and then the regret that would gnaw at her when she learned I had nothing to do with it.
Happy thoughts, Kadence. Happy thoughts.
Blaize wouldn’t hurt me again. Not in that way, anyway.
I wanted her to hurt me, but I wanted the pain mixed with pleasure.
I needed her to come home.
Now I needed to find someone else to bug, and my eyes found the moody blonde at the front door. Hunter smirked at me, perching her elbows on her podium desk. “What are you doing, princess?”
I lifted my brow with a smile. “Now you know Blaize might not like you calling me that.”
She shrugged. “Ehh. I can call you something else, but I only use certain pet names in the bedroom.”
“Uh huh, and what name would that be?”
“You like being a brat, huh?”
“Yep.”
Hunter stepped away from her desk and grabbed my jaw. “Just wait, princess. There’s a way I keep mouthy brats quiet.”
Shit. Holy gay panic. “Mmm, so much talk. I don’t think you can do it.”
Her jaw tensed. “I’ll make sure Blaize punishes you for me, now what did you want?”
“Blaize had to leave, so I wanted to bug someone. And you are the lucky winner.”
“I’m working.”
I shrugged. “Okay, then multitask. Have a drink with me?”
“You’re going to get me in trouble.”
I took her hand and dragged her to the bar. Jax beamed when he saw me, and pulled me into a tight bear hug. “Oh, girl! I thought you were gone forever.”
“No, just out of commission for a few weeks. I’ll be back with you soon if you miss me that much.” I liked bartending, but I think I wanted to dance again. Tonight I was just here walking around and helping where I was needed. “One sex on the beaches, babe.”
“This one is on the house, sweet thang.” He made the drink and slid it to me as he gave Hunter two shots of Patron. Hunter cocked her brow, smirking at Jax. “I’m trying to get lucky tonight, babe.” Jax winked at her.
Hunter rolled her eyes. “One day, your sweet talkin’ will pay off.” Hunter poured the shot back before looking at me. “How are you feeling?”
“I don’t know yet. I’m alive. Someone wants to kill me…again, and my past is still out there.”
“If it makes you feel any better, the only person looking for you is your dad.”
I laughed bitterly. “I don’t know if I should be grateful or not.
My dad was a controlling asshole. I think I’d rather deal with Liam again than him.
” I winced. How fucked up did I have to be to deal with my rapist instead of my father?
One night broke me, but I had twenty-two years of neglect and abuse with my father.
“Gotta love shitty fathers,” she mumbled, taking the second shot. “You’re safe here. You have a new name and—” she reached into her bralette, “—your new identity is written. Kadence Hayes. Twenty-three. Born and raised in Westhaven.”
I took the driver’s license from her, my hand trembling slightly. She used the picture I took here for my file, but it was me. Hunter gave me my identity. There was no more pretending. This was who I finally got to be. Kadence Hayes finally had a future because of Hunter.
“H-how?”
“I’m a techy, Kadence. When everything happened, I decided to help you. You said Kadence Hayes doesn’t exist? Well, she does now. If this is who you want to be, then who are we to stop you? You write your own story.”
My own story.
My own life.
Caden can finally be put to rest, and I can live my life.
“You sound like you talk from experience.”
“You have no idea.”
I pulled Hunter into my arms, and she tensed, like she didn’t know how to respond to a hug. When she finally put her arms around me, she was still frigid, but not as tense. “Thank you.”
“Of course. Now, if you want me to ruin your father’s life, just give me the go ahead.”
I shook my head. “No. He'll never find me, and now I can finally let Caden go. If he finds me, Blaize might kill him.”
“Hell, I’ll kill him, too. You’re too pretty to let him put those shadows in your eyes.”
I smiled softly. “I don’t have to worry about him ever again. Do you want to spar one day?”
Hunter arched her brow. “Are you trying to get me hot and sweaty?”
I laughed. “I mean, we still have an unfinished night to work on.” I winked at her. Maybe flirting wasn’t the best thing to do, especially if I was trying to fix things with Blaize.
“Mmm, now you want to get me in trouble. I’ll rock your world one day, princess, only this time I’ll have to ask permission.”
Hunter and I chit chat for a little while longer when Everly skipped towards us, taking a seat on Hunter’s lap. They both said they weren’t dating, but they acted like a couple. Hunter grasped her thigh as she kissed her, and then Everly looked at me with a bright smile.
“I am so glad you’re okay!” Everly beamed. Did everyone know what happened to me? “I put two-and-two together, and it wasn't that hard especially after Hawke dragged you out of here.”
“I am alive, thankfully. I’ll be dancing again in no time.”
“Make sure we have one together!”