“Yes,” he says. “Wedowant to know that. Please, Cade.”
A low hum cuts in from the distance, quickly growing louder. My heart thumps and my lips twitch as I picture dark eyes and leather.
Of fucking course… he was already in Moncton.
“You want to know who I’m fucking?” I ask.
“Cade,” Mom snaps, turning her head to me.
All eyes shift to the driveway as a motorcycle rolls in and slows beside my car. Chrome catches the light, and the rumble dies as Alder kills the engine. The silence that follows is almost deafening, as everyone seems to hold their breath while he removes his helmet and swings a leg over the seat.
“Who’s that?” Sophie asks from the lawn, and Claire immediately places a hand on her and Hunter’s shoulders, pulling them behind her.
Dad and Darren both rise as Alder climbs the steps, unhurried and as confident as ever. His boots thumping on the wood steps are the only sound filling the space around us, and I can tell his eyes are on me even through his sunglasses.
I stay seated as I watch him approach, and with every footfall, something inside me shifts. The closer he gets, the harder my heart thumps, and the straighter I sit. And by the time he reaches me, I’m on my feet.
He stops in front of me, takes off his sunglasses, and looks into my eyes. “Hey, baby.”
A smirk pulls at the corner of my mouth as I stare into his dark eyes, and see the amusement hiding behind his intensity. He fucking knew what this moment needed, and walked straight into it like it was his stage.
Then he leans in and kisses me, wrapping an arm around my back and pulling me close as he takes what he wants, right in front of my family. And I give it right back.
When he pulls back, I shift my gaze to take in the shocked faces of my family. Mom has a hand pressed to her chest with wide eyes, Dad’s mouth is half-open, and Darren’s eyes bounce between me and Alder like he’s trying desperately to make sense of what he’s seeing.
“This is Alder,” I say, gesturing to him.
Darren’s eyes drop to the crest stitched into Alder’s cut, and his gaze lingers a second longer than necessary, taking in theBasin Kings Vice Presidentpatch. Then he looks into Alder’s eyes, and his posture stiffens as his gaze hardens.
And Alder just watches him thoughtfully.
Darren draws his shoulders back and lifts his chin. “What are you?—”
“What’s your favourite tree?”
My eyes flick to Alder as I furrow my brow. He’s watching Darren with curious interest, like the answer to that matters more than anything else that could be said right now.
I look between them as they face each other, like two versions of something that should never be asked to co-exist. On one side is something rough and dark, clad in black, worn leather and covered in ink. And on the other is something neat, clean, and put together, in athletic shorts and a perfect haircut. They’re built from different materials… yet have the same goal.
Protection.
Darren’s brows draw together as he stares back at Alder. “What?”
“What’s your favourite tree?” Alder repeats, stepping closer as he tilts his head, assessing my older brother. He’s looking for something…and that makes me a bit nervous.
Because I know what this is.
It’s how Alder sees people. And whatever he’s about to find in Darren… I’m not sure I’m ready for it if he doesn’t like it.
Dad moves closer to Mom, standing between her and whatever this is turning into. But Darren holds his ground, and just stares back at Alder.
And just when I think he won’t answer, Darren speaks.
“Karri tree.”
Something in Alder shifts as his shoulders seem to relax, and his jaw softens. He continues to look at Darren for another moment before he nods softly, then turns to me.
“Want to get out of here, baby?”
