48. KADENCE

KADENCE

“ K ade, sweetheart, what are you doing?” Marlowe’s voice echoes from behind me in the doorway of the small kitchen.

I spin around, sighing. “I was trying to make dinner for the guys but I’m failing pretty hard right now.” I’m trying to make my father’s chili. Something I haven’t had since I was a kid and something I’m trying to make from memory. A feeling of defeat washes over me as Marlowe steps into the kitchen, wrapping an arm around my waist.

“I’m sure whatever you’re going to make them, they’ll eat just fine.” She smiles. “Do you mind me asking why you decided to do this?”

“I wanted to give them something in return for taking care of me.” I sound like a child when I say it. I’ve never had anyone do as much as the club has for me and it’s a weird feeling to finally feel cared for. My hand slides over my stomach, a soft smile playing on my lips as I think about the child growing within me.

“You know they’d do it even without the chili.” Marlowe laughs softly, picking up the wooden spoon I’m cooking with and stirs the pot once more before taking a taste. I watch her with a quiet nervousness hoping it doesn’t taste nearly as bad as I think it does. “Needs some more cumin and it’ll be perfect,” she finally says after a moment and it makes me smile.

“I knew it,” I laugh softly searching the pile of spices I’ve collected.

Marlowe leans against the counter next to the stove, watching me. My stomach flips as I add a few dashes of cumin to the chili again. Both of us are silent as I work. Other than Blake, no one else knows about the pregnancy and I’m not sure if I’m going to tell anyone other than Blake until Holden gets back. There's a lingering sense of dread that fills me every time I think about telling him. I have no idea how he's going to react. We promised everything to each other, and even though we're moving at the speed of a freight train, this feels too soon. Despite that, I already called the doctor who saw me at the hospital to make an appointment once Holden is home. I want to experience those first moments with him. The ultrasounds, the check-ups, all of it. Knowing how much he cares about me is the only thing keeping me grounded and able to sleep at night.

“You’re good for them,” Marlowe finally says after a few moments. “Holden and Cole,” she clarifies.

“That’s what I keep hearing,” I say softly looking over at her. “I don’t want to be a wedge between them but they’re both probably two of the most stubborn men I’ve ever met.”

Marlowe laughs. “You should have seen them when they were boys.” A warm smile passes over her features as if she’s remembering something from their past.

“How long have you known them?” I glance over at Marlowe, stirring the chili again.

“Most of their lives. Cole came to Tony and me when he was four, but Tony knew Holden’s father from the club. Came up in the military together, started the club together.” Marlowe sighs, “It was a different lifetime then.”

“Cole came to you?” I ask, setting down the spoon.

Marlowe nods softly. “I couldn’t have children. Tony and I adopted Cole when he turned five. No one really knows what happened to his parents.”

“Did you know his parents?”

“Sort of? They were a couple who had moved into town, a little cabin not far from my home. One day Cole wandered into our backyard. Tony found him huddled up in the gazebo and when we tried to take him back home his parents were…” Her voice trails off and she shakes her head as if to rid herself of the memory. “We took him in after that. No one really questioned it, no one really wanted the responsibility of a child, but Cole and Holden made quick friends and the fact that we practically fell in love with him, it was an easy decision to make.”

I realize that’s the reason Cole calls her ‘Ma’.

A twinge of pain aches through my heart. The idea of a small Cole scared and alone wrenches at my heartstrings. “That must have been horrible for him.”

“It helped that he was so young when it all happened. For a while he didn’t understand that his parents had passed, but pretty soon he latched onto us.” She smiles again, glancing over at me.

“Holden hasn’t really talked a whole lot about his family. Other than Becca,” I say softly, wrapping my arms around myself.

“I can’t imagine why he would. His father, although a great club member, wasn’t the best father. We were all relieved when that bastard died.” Marlowe says.

“That’s a little harsh, don’t you think?”

“If you knew half of the things he put Holden and Becca through, you wouldn’t think that.” Marlowe shakes her head again and moves to taste the chili. I get the feeling that the conversation is over as soon as the spoon hits Marlowe’s lips and she smiles. “It’s perfect.”

I nod, but it’s sullen.

“He’ll tell you everything when he’s ready, sweetheart. Some of those wounds are still fresh,” she says, setting down the spoon. “I have to say, I’m happy he’s found love in you. I didn’t think he’d ever settle down with someone.”

My eyes land on Marlowe. “What do you mean?”

“He just never seemed interested in settling down, marriage, kids, all of that.” She shrugs as if the last thing she said isn’t a straight arrow through my heart.

“I don’t know what to say to that,” I say softly. The doubts I shooed away at every sharp turn the two of us encountered slowly start to creep back in.

“You don’t have to say anything,” Marlowe says. “He’s different with you. He may not have been thinking of it then, but I can tell he is now. He told Cole he wants to clean up Becca’s house.”

“He did?” My brows furrow slightly.

“Cole asked if I could help him. He wants to make a life for himself, and that’s more than I’ve seen from him in a long time.”

Once again my hands fall to my belly, holding it as I absentmindedly run my right index finger over my left ring finger. He wants to be better, he wants a life for the two of us, and he’s willing to face one of the hardest things he’s had to go through head-on for me. A smile forms on my face as the doubts crawl back into their dark corners.

“What are you two doing in here?” Dex steps into the kitchen heading straight for the pot of stewing liquid. He leans over the stove, closing his eyes as he takes in the smell. For the first time in a long time I see a smile form on his face. “You cook this?” He glances over at me as I nod.

“Figured y’all would like to eat something other than the same burgers and fries you’ve had for the past week.” A sly grin forms over my face as he picks up a new spoon and takes a bite. He groans the second he tastes it and drops his head.

“Fuck that’s good.” He chuckles. “Thanks, Kade.”

“It’s about done if you want to gather the guys,” I say, moving to grab a stack of bowls from the cupboard.

“I’ll do it, Dexter.” Marlowe smiles. “They tend to listen to me when the feeding bell has rung more than they do the guys.”

“That’s cause they know if they don’t come now, they won’t eat,” Dex chuckles, pecking her cheek as she moves past to leave. Marlowe flashes a smile at us before she leaves. Dex turns back to me, folding his arms across his chest. “How are you doing?”

“Are we going to ignore the fact that she just called you Dexter?” I grin.

Wolfe shoots me a look that could kill but immediately softens. “Yes, we are.” He nudges me gently. “Seriously, how are you?”

I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Honestly? I’m okay, terrified because I haven’t heard from Holden or Cole yet, but I have to trust they’re okay.”

“They are.” He nods. “Cole sent word this morning the drop was successful.”

I can’t help but feel relieved. “So they’re on their way back?”

“They’ll be here tomorrow morning.” He grins. “Why? Missing him already?”

“Am I that transparent?” I laugh.

“No,” he says quietly, a soft smile on his face. “Just in love.”

I’m taken by surprise at his words. We haven’t really spoken all that much after my fall, just pleasant hellos, and I feel like Dex has pulled away from the relationship we were building especially after Holden saw us together in the club.

“Are we okay?” I ask nudging him with my elbow.

Dex glances at me again and after a moment he smiles. “Yeah. We’re good.”

“You’d tell me if we weren’t?” I raise a brow at him.

“You bet.” He nods, taking a deep breath. “Need any help with this?” Dex jerks his head towards the bowls and the chili.

I grab the stack of bowls and a handful of spoons. “Grab the pot if you don’t mind?” I say, not quite believing him that we’re fine, but deciding to leave it be when he nods and grabs it from the stove with pot holders. We make our way into the main room of the clubhouse, setting up a little area for everyone to gather around and grab food.

Wyatt storms through the swinging door of the clubhouse, Blake on his heels. “We have an issue,” he says out of breath, pointing at the CCTV above the bar.

“What is it?” I ask, glancing towards the monitors.

“Stokes and Watson,” Blake says, moving to my side.

“Shit,” Dex curses as we watch a group of deputies in tactical gear storm past the gates, shoving members to the ground as Stokes makes his way to the door to the clubhouse with three officers on his flank, Watson following closely behind.

My stomach drops as I watch the men in Tac gear parade through the compound. A glimpse of Marlowe lying on the ground with a deputy straddling her from behind, holding her arms behind her back, doesn’t do anything to quell the bile growing in my throat. Falcone is in the same position next to her. “What the hell do we do?”

Dex is as still as stone while his eyes are glued to the CCTV. A dark look passes over his features and his hands clench into fists at his side. “Do as he says.” The words come out rough and strained as his jaw tightens.

“Dex,” I hiss under my breath. “He can’t just walk in–”

The door swings open, and Stokes steps inside with a shit-eating grin on his face. The air in the room goes deathly still as we all stare at each other. Blake’s hand tightens around mine, and it gives me a miniscule of comfort to know I’m not alone.

“Do as he says,” Dex repeats, this time quiet enough for only us to hear. He pins his shoulders back, lifting his chin as he stares at the man hell bent on ruining their lives. “What do you want, Stokes?”

My eyes land on Watson as he steps through the doorway. A menacing shadow to Stokes’s pudgy face. My heart almost stops as soon as his beady eyes land on mine and a wicked grin spreads across his face.

“Just doing my job as Sheriff,” he says wrapping his fingers around his belt loops. “I’d really like it if you’d make my job easy and get on the floor, hands behind your head.” His eyes travel along the four of us standing there. When none of us move, his eyes narrow briefly. A flicker in the mask he so desperately tries to hide behind. “ Now. ”

A calloused hand wraps around my arm and instantly I know it’s Dex, without even looking down. We all slowly lower to the ground, following his instructions. Even in doing so, I can feel the anger vibrating off of Wolfe next to me. It’s overwhelming and I know that he’s a ticking time bomb right now. My heart hammers in my chest as I lay against the cold ground. The wood smells of stale beer and cigarette smoke. Something I didn’t notice until now and it only eggs on the nausea building within me.

“You know.” Stokes doesn’t move but his lackeys spread out from his flank, tossing tables over, kicking chairs and smashing glasses behind the bar. “This all could have been avoided if O’Neil would have just stayed on his own course. Followed orders like a good little soldier,” he mocks, pulling out a chair and sliding his slimy body into it as Watson’s eyes stay glued to me. “He’s made things quite difficult for me and I’m starting to feel like I don’t have the support of the Hounds anymore.”

The man has the nerve to tsk in Dex’s direction forcing a low growl out of him. “You never had the support of the Hounds,” Dex says in a dangerous tone that sends chills up my spine.

“Is that so?” Stokes’s brow raises as he glances over between Blake and me. “Well, I might have to start branching out then.” He looks over Blake briefly before his eyes finally land on me. “Maybe different states might offer their… support for my cause.”

As if my stomach wasn’t sinking before, I feel it in my toes now. A sickening feeling washes over me as the realization hits.

“Ms. Andrews, right?” Stokes grins. “I’ve heard quite a lot about you in the past few weeks. Watson’s been…obsessed, is one word.” He rubs his hands over his thighs before folding them in his lap. “I wonder what would happen if Miami-Dade County found out their biggest missing person’s case was right here in my own backyard.”

“You son of a bitch ,” Dex curses, moving to get up off of the floor but Watson is quicker. Moving faster than I can register before a large boot lands on the back of Dex’s neck digging him into the dirty floor.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Watson hisses. “You’d just give me one good reason to finally get rid of you, Wolfe.” His head cocks to the side. “On second thought, maybe I’ll just remove my foot and give you a fighting chance.”

“Time and fucking place,” Dex growls again.

Tears prick at the corners of my eyes. I can feel Blake’s hand find mine, entangling our fingers as the entire room is destroyed around us. Glass is shattered everywhere. The pot of still-steaming chili lands on a wall somewhere behind us as the deputies turn into a swarm of tornadoes, wreaking havoc over the clubhouse.

“Now, now, gentlemen,” Stokes says as he stands, kicking over the chair he was just in. “You two will have your chance but for now, I think I’ve made my point.”

“And what’s that?” I snap, surprising myself.

“Oh! She speaks!” Stokes claps his hands together in mock enjoyment. “My point is that O’Neil’s little club wouldn’t be anything without me. This club will die at my hands if he doesn’t fall back into line.” He kneels down in front of me, pushing the tendrils of hair out of my face with his fingertips until his hand wraps around my jaw tightly. “Because if he doesn’t, I won’t just destroy his clubhouse next time. I will take down every goddamn member myself until he is the only one left standing.” Stokes leans his face in closer, heated breath fanning across my face and forcing me to swallow back bile again from the smell of it. “And then I will destroy him.”

There’s a pause, a moment where I forget that I need to breathe before he stands up again. With a snap of his fingers, the deputies file out of the door leaving Watson and himself last. “Tell your fearless leader I want to meet with him.”

Stokes turns to leave but Watson remains still and I can hear the sole of his boot straining against the back of Dex’s neck.

“Jake, quit playing with your food,” Stokes snaps. In an instant his boot is gone and I see Dex take a subtle breath in. “Till next time, Wolfe.”

As soon as the door to the clubhouse slams closed and the four of us are left, Dex is on his feet again. His face red with a look of pure malice I’ve never seen from him before plastered over his features. He reaches down to help me and Blake off of the floor as West stands, surveying the room.

“You okay?” Dex’s voice is low as he stares at me. My hands rest over my lower stomach as worry and fear sets deep into my bones. I know I have to be strong, not only for myself now but for Holden and our baby. With a steeled breath in, I nod.

He finally takes a deep breath and I feel Blake’s arms wrap around me from the side. My eyes meet hers and I can tell she wants to ask me again if I’m fine. Her golden eyes flicker down to my stomach and all I can do to answer her is squeeze her arm in reassurance that we’re fine. Marlowe and a few of the other members file their way in, all of them freezing as soon as the chaos of the room comes into view.

Moments pass where everyone is silent and the only thing that’s clear when my eyes land on Dex’s is that we’re fucked.