I avoided his gaze while telling him the entire situation from beginning to end. Waiting for Ella at the party, getting accosted by one masked man who roofied my drink, going to my room under the impression of meeting Ella…When I got to the part where Darla and my crew saved me before the four masked men could drag me away, Uncle Vance looked seconds from exploding.
“Soon enough, Dr. Smith arrived and handled the situation discreetly, away from the prying eyes of those attending the party. Thankfully, I had already vomited most of the drug. After my treatment, he instructed me to rest as much as possible. The next day, Josh and I went through the security footage. None of the four individuals could be identified,” I concluded. “The only people who know about this situation are my friends and Josh, who swore that he wouldn’t tell you or Aunt Julia until I was ready to talk.”
The silence after my words was packed with tension.
“My first question to you,” Uncle Vance finally started in a menacing tone, piercing me with his blue eyes that were identical to mine. “Is why the fuck did you not tell me this before?”
My head hung in shame. “I was embarrassed at what happened to me. It was perhaps the most humiliating moment of my life. I didn’t want you to know unless it was necessary.”
And with what happened at Initiation Night, I knew the elephant in the room couldn’t be ignored any longer.
I expected Uncle Vance to yell at me.
Instead, something close to sorrow blanketed his features.
“Don’t,” I pleaded. “I don’t want your pity.”
Uncle Vance shook his head. He stood up and came to sit in the chair next to mine. I hated the way he was looking at me—like I was that same broken teenage boy confined to a hospital bed. Even though I wasn’t anymore.
For three years, I morphed myself into the version I was today. A loyal soldier. A powerful fighter. An heir fitting of ruling his kingdom in the underworld.
I was tougher, stronger, and more resilient than ever.
I felt untouchable and invincible for so long, reigning alongside my family in the South Side, that being outnumbered and defenseless stripped away a part of my armour—my identity—as the fixer.
What happened the night of the party emasculated me.
Uncle Vance squeezed my shoulder. “Cade, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about. What happened to you was not your fault. You were a victim.”
“That’s what I hate,” I choked out. “I’ve never been a victim. Not since…”
Not since I lost the fight against Julius. It was the last time I succumbed to another’s will. It was a shitty feeling and I wasn’t fond of relieving anything remotely similar.
“I don’t have many regrets, Cade, but I do regret not taking you in the moment Vera and Ronan passed away,” he said gravely. I’d always suspected that was the case, but hearing it aloud fortified it. “Your mom wanted you to have a normal life. Julia and I thought it was best to honour her wish. We figured you’d be safe living with Julius, away from our violent world. But had we known the sick fuck would do what he did, I’d have never allowed you or Olivia to live with him. Not for a single second.”
“I know, and I understand your reasoning. I don’t fault you for it.” I cleared my throat. “Thank you for listening to me.”
“Thank you for feeling brave enough to tell me. Though I wish you’d come to me sooner so I could’ve helped you.” He cupped the side of my head in a fatherly gesture before tugging me into his arms. I hesitantly rested my forehead against his shoulder. We weren’t huggers, therefore it felt awkward at first. But with every passing second, I relaxed, finding comfort in his strength. The last person I hugged like this was my own dad. “Do you know what I see when I look at you?”
I smiled. “A failure?”
He kissed my head and his arms trembled slightly, like the emotions in his frame were too much to contain. “I see my younger self. A little arrogant, a little cocky, a little guarded, but loyal to a fault. The world has a hard time understandingindividuals like us. You’re soft with the right people, tough with the rest, and do not take anyone’s shit. You act like nothing fazes you, but that’s the furthest thing from the truth, isn’t it? When you allow yourself to feel and self-reflect, every flaw and wound hurts too much. So you hide it until it doesn’t hurt. One thing I’ve learned as I’ve grown older? It’s okay to seek help and depend on your loved ones. It doesn’t make you weak or pathetic. There’s no judgement here, Cade. Even the strongest people can crumble. It’s not about how many times you break down. It’s about how you build yourself back up from those broken pieces.”
He was right. It’s better I learned this lesson now rather than later. If I allowed myself the grace to acknowledge my pain, I’d be able to power through and rebuild myself stronger than before.
“I appreciate it, Uncle Vance. I needed to hear that.”
“Promise you’ll come to me in the future when you have problems. I swore to protect you and Olivia from the minute I brought you both into my home. I need to know what’s going on in order to keep you safe. You’re my son, too.” His Adam’s apple rifled up and down with a rough swallow. “I know you haven’t always had it easy, but you have people who love you—people you can depend on. You don’t need to hide your pain anymore. Let Julia and I be there for you. It’s what Vera and Ronan would have wanted, too.”
“I promise,” I said hoarsely. “I will.”
“Good.” He stood up and adjusted his diamond cufflinks. “Now let me talk to Josh and run through this security footage. I also want to question every guard who was on duty that night and figure out what the fuck they were up to when this whole thing transpired.”
“All three guards who were supposed to be at the gates were found with syringes in their necks,” I said. “They were madeindisposed at the right time.”
“Fuck,” Vance muttered. “Regardless, we’re going to find the men who did this to you and make them pay.”
I stood up, too. “I have a request.”
