“Don’t lie to me. I saw you.I saw you!”Kade’s voice broke, he looked away, and the words tumbled out. “I-I thought we were finally,finallyon the same page. That all you needed was a little more time. I was okay with waiting. I was okay. But now this? How could you, Killi?”
“Kade—” Killian took a step forward, hands outstretched because he couldn’t stand the sight of tears welling in Kade’s eyes.
Kade slapped Killian’s hands away. “Don’t fucking touch me! Don’t you dare. Not after what you did.”
Hurt, Killian pulled back. “What are you talking about, Kade? What did I do?”
“You know.”
“Clearly, I fucking don’t,” said Killian. His confusion and hurt causing his temper to flare.“Why don’t you fucking say what you want to say.”
“That’s rich, coming from you.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You always avoid what’s really important. You never,everjust say what you mean. Always keeping secrets. Always hiding. Always a coward.” Kade shook his head, his face twisted. “I’m talking about when you snuck out to fuck yourwhore lieutenant.”
That threw Killian. “Don’t call him that.”
Kade scoffed, his mouth dropping open in absolute disbelief. “You’re joking. That’s what you—” He broke off, laughing dangerously. “If you didn’t want me to call him a whore, you shouldn’t treat him like one. Fucking him…and calling outmyname? Disgusting work. Truly. You’re a fucking bastard.”
Killian felt like he’d just been stabbed, like Kade had slid a knife between his ribs and twisted. “What?”
“Yeah. Killi.I heard you.”
It was over. It was all over.
Killian was caught. He couldn’t talk his way out of this one.
Disgusting. Kade had said.Disgusting.
It was true. Killian couldn’t deny it. He had betrayed Kade’s trust the moment that he looked at him as anything other than a brother.
Disgusting.
It felt like he was dying, the way he despaired.
Killian had been naive to think he’d never get found out. That this wouldn’t be the reaction. He’d just hoped…
He’d just hoped.
Hanging his head in shame, Killian squeezed his eyes shut against the choking emotion that threatened to drown him. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I—”
He heard Kade sigh.
Killian flinched at the cold touch of hands on his cheeks, the brush of Kade’s body stepping close, but Kade held him gently. Softly.
“You still don’t see it, do you? Or do you just not want to?” Kade asked, his voice thick. “Gods, you’re so fucking stupid. Iguess I love that about you, too.”
Eyes flashing open, Killian’s world turned upside down for the second time that hour.
Kade nodded. “I wanted to tell you to wait. To wait for me like I was waiting for you. To talk to me. Just talk to me.” His face scrunched. “We were so close. So close.”
Killian had stopped breathing. “What are you saying?”
“I never thought of you as truly stupid until this moment. Do you truly not get it?”
“I can’t be wrong about this.”
