34

34

KADE

Stacey takes my hand in hers as we descend the staircase, and she squeals as I lift her at the bottom and press her to the wall to steal a quick kiss.

She’s wearing my cotton shorts and another black top that’s far too big for her, her hair pulled into a ponytail, fresh-faced from our shower. She smells like me after using my shower gel. She smells like mine. She is mine.

The quick kiss turns heavy as her hands tug at my hair and my tongue moves with hers, and then she’s grinding against me, making me hard again as a moan slips from her lips.

Fuck, I’ll never get enough of her.

“Stop,” she says, laughing. “Someone will see.”

I shake my head. “No one comes to my side of the manor.”

“Cameras, Kade. Cameras.”

I huff and let her down. “After breakfast, we’re finishing what we started.”

She raises a brow as I take her hand in mine, revelling in the energy zipping between our palms. “Really?”

I hum a yes and drag her down the lobby before wrapping my arms around her from behind and walking forward a few steps. I whisper against her ear, “Unprotected. Hard. Fast. Slow. Long. Gentle.” I bite her neck and make her shriek. “Loud. Take your pick, Freckles.”

She elbows me and settles her head against my arm as we walk to the main dining area. I stop when I hear multiple voices, and Stacey halts her steps too. We frown at each other before walking into the kitchen.

Mum has made a huge breakfast spread. The dining table is filled with different foods: cereal, fry-up food, tea and coffee jugs, and loads of different kinds of omelette.

Dez and Tylar are here, sitting beside Luciella, Mum and Ewan. He must’ve saw the footage and decided to leave the hotel he was staying at. He needed space, to breathe and think.

Ewan’s arm is resting on the back of Mum’s chair as they talk about one of the times we all went to America. My mother offers food to the workers. Two guys from my team are sitting at the table too, devouring fruit.

Mum looks up at me and rises from her chair. “Oh, you’re both awake. Come. Eat.”

Tylar jumps up and pulls Stacey into her arms, hugging her and asking if she’s okay, and Dez nods at me, patting my shoulder. “It seems we have a lot to catch up on.”

“A lot is an understatement.”

“Fuck, man.”

“Language,” Mum scolds Dez. “Don’t let your toast get cold, Desmond.”

We settle into seats, my hand on Stacey’s thigh as we dig in, filling our starved bodies until we’re both full, thankful I’m able to hold food down now. I pour her a tea, and she passes me a bowl of grapes while Dez and Tylar tell us about their travels.

I welcome the subject, since no one wants to talk about the elephant in the room, or the fact that I ripped Archie’s body to shreds last night and his remains are in buckets in the walk-in freezer. I’ll use them to taunt Bernadette.

Stacey rests her head on my shoulder and smiles at Luciella as she returns the smile despite the circumstances, glancing between the two of us. I guess she isn’t pissed at us. Not that I give a fuck.

Ewan whispers into Mum’s ear, and she lowers her head. “Kade, have you seen the news or… looked outside the main gates?”

I shake my head, my brows knitting together. “No. We’ve kept our phones off, and I haven’t checked my laptop. I kind of expected a raid hours ago.”

“There will be no raid, I don’t think.”

I tilt my head in confusion, and Ewan grabs the remote, turning on the TV that’s on the wall opposite the table. I rise from my chair when I see the crowds at our main gate – members of the public all standing with linked arms, placards held aloft, chanting.

“What the fuck?”

Stacey leans her elbows on the table, watching it with me.

Luciella speaks next. “There’s been a huge social-media outpouring – reports of corruption in both the police and armed forces from the file you released. Victims have come forward and given evidence. Everyone is backing you, Kade. And I mean everyone.”

She pulls up something on her phone and shows me.

“Four petitions to have whatever charges they hand you dropped and Bernadette removed from her position. Over ten million on one petition alone in just six hours.”

I gulp, looking around the room, then at my mother. “But I’m not the good guy.”

She smiles weakly. “Yes you are, sweetheart.”

I should have been arrested hours ago, but by the looks of the screen, an army is preventing the police from entering.

I walk over to the patio door and open it, and low and behold, two helicopters are hovering over the manor. One is Barry’s, and the other belongs to the police. But I also notice the chain of people, loads of them, stretching around the manor grounds, only stopping at the loch.

Stacey stays beside me as we follow my mum out into the front entranceway of the manor, into the grounds, and down the cobbled path to the locked gates.

The sight has me frowning.

Justice for Jason!

Justice for Tobias!

End corrupt cops!

Arrest the real murderers!

Keep Kade free!

We stand with the Mitchells!

The signs and banners are dotted around the crowds outside the gates, hundreds of them – when they spot me, they all cheer and clap, and I forget how to breathe. Stacey covers her mouth on a happy sob, but I’m blank, staring at them all. All these strangers are here for me.

“Is that her?” one asks the other, staring at Stacey. “Wow, she’s so beautiful in real life.”

Am I in an alternate reality, or am I fucking dreaming?

There are people of almost every age in the crowd too – from teenagers all the way up to seventy plus – all rallying around the manor to protect me.

A hand slides into mine, and I curl my fingers. “I think we should turn our phones on.”

“Yeah. That’s probably a good idea.”

A police car is sitting in the distance – a news reporter too, filming the scene.

Some of the people have their phones out, recording me and Stacey and calling out to my mother. I pull Stacey to me when I feel an overwhelming crack in my gut – I need her to be here with me. Her back to my chest, I wrap my arms around her and rest my chin on her shoulder.

We watch everyone fight for us.

Luciella comes up beside me. “I’m proud of you, Kade.”

“Why?”

She glances up at me, her eyes watering. “You survived.”

She cuddles into our mum, and Stacey kisses my cheek. “I told you, didn’t I? You aren’t alone. Not now, not ever.”

I kiss her back then wave to the ones grabbing the walls for dear life while the guards warn them to stay on their side of the fence. The bodyguards are wearing bulletproof vests and helmets, guns strapped to them, all lining the perimeter to make sure no one gets in.

As happy and supportive as they all seem to be, someone in among them could be a spy or against us. Maybe even part of one of the empires I threw under the bus.

If I’m marked for assassination, they could all be in danger.

“Come on,” I say to my mum and Stacey, Luciella trailing behind. I lower my head and turn around. My heart is racing, and my blinking is getting a little out of control. I think it’s the overwhelming feeling of having so much support. “I need to get back inside before they see me freak out.”

Stacey is watching me as I walk back in. She looks tired, so I take her hand and direct us back to my side of the manor while thanking my mum for breakfast.

One of my men stops me before we enter my wing.

“Sir, Barry has passed on word that Bernadette Sawyer is being transferred to a hospital in Edinburgh. She’s due to be discharged in the next few days. He’s also keeping an eye on police reports, and so far, they only want you taken in for questioning. No listed charges.”

Fuck, what does this mean?

“Right. Anything else?”

“Sebastian Prince will be arriving in two days. He couldn’t cancel his wedding to come sooner.”

I was hoping he’d be here as soon as possible.

He straightens and smooths down his tie. “He’ll also bring a squad of soldiers to keep the manor protected. You have… quite the bounty on your head, sir.”

I expected as much. “Thanks. Tell Barry to stay where he is. Why are you and everyone else still here? I told you all that you could leave.”

“As much as we appreciate the offer, our loyalty remains with you, Mr Mitchell. No one’s left; nor do they plan to. We will protect you and your family and” – he glances at Stacey – “your partner with our lives.”

I pat his shoulder. “Thank you. Really.”

He lowers his head to Stacey then strides towards the dining room. I blow out a breath and take Stacey’s hand again.

“No charges?”

“No idea. It might take a while to show on the system, or it’s all being conducted under the table like the corrupted pricks they are.”

“Where are we going?” she asks.

“I’m taking you to bed.”

“Oh.”

I glance at her – she’s blushing. “To nap,” I clarify.

“Can we do that?” she questions, trying to keep up with me. “Shouldn’t we figure out what happens next?”

“I think the crowds outside have bought us a few more hours. Hopefully the Russians arrive before trouble does, and Barry will keep track of Bernadette and the police movement. We’re going to bed, and we’re going to cuddle and sleep and talk then cuddle some more.”

“We can watch The Greatest Showman again and eat junk food all day?”

I laugh and let go of her hand, grabbing the backs of her thighs and lifting her as we reach my spiral staircase. She wraps her legs around my waist, slides her arms around my neck and grins down at me. We make it four more steps before I’m pressing her against the railing and kissing her until our mouths hurt.

“If that’s what you want,” I whisper against her lips.