but he was awake.
“Hey,” I said, hurrying over to his side.
“Hey.”
“Do you need some water?”
He shook his head.
“You’re going to be okay,” I said, reaching for his hand.
“I was shot,” he said it almost like a question.
“Yeah, outside of Polar.”
“Gonna have a scar,” he said.
“I’m sorry…”
He squeezed my hand. “Street cred, Molly.”
It took me a second before I laughed then cried, dropping my head on his bed. He really was going to be okay.
I wanted to go to the station, but after we left the hospital, Kade had other plans. He took me home. I hadn’t realized how much I had needed to see my parents, until they came hurrying out of the front door, as we pulled up. I was immediately enveloped by both of them.
Kade was helping my mom with the coffee. Dad and I were at the table.
“How’s Ethan?” Dad asked.
“He’s okay. He’s going to be okay,” I said, repeating that to myself, often, because he really was going to be okay.
“Good.” Dad leaned back in his chair and pulled a hand through his hair. “Scary shit.”
Mom and Kade joined us, Kade taking the seat at my side. “This is Kade,” I said. “Not the way I planned on you meeting, but…”
“Kade has been keeping us informed about Ethan,” Mom shared.
My focus shifted to Kade, my heart swelled. I hadn’t known he was doing that but wasn’t surprised. I took his hand, kissed his palm. I didn’t say anything, I didn’t need to, and for a few seconds, it was just the two of us, so much said without words.
The soft sound from my mom turned my focus back on her. “That was beautiful,” she whispered.
I knew we’d moved fast, but after what happened with Ethan, I also knew that it was right and that I’d always be crazy out of my head for this man. I didn’t want to wait, didn’t want to give it time. Life was too short, last night was a reminder of that. “We’re engaged, and I know this is the first time you’re meeting…” I looked up at Kade. “But when it’s right.”
Mom was up, moving around the table hugging me. “Oh, Molly. I’m so happy for you.” She then turned to Kade, who stood when she did, and hugged him. “Welcome to the family.”
“I’d like a few minutes with Kade,” Dad said, walking from the room. Kade touched my chin to lift my mouth for his kiss. “I’ll be right back.” I watched him follow my dad.
“You’re in love,” Mom said, her voice a little dreamy.
I pulled my gaze from Kade. “I am, Mom. It happened so fast, but I do love him."
“Anyone with eyes can see it’s mutual.” Her hand covered mine. “I’m so happy for you both.”
“I’m thinking about giving up the job.”
She didn’t hide her reaction. She loved the idea. “You need to do what’s best for you. You know that.”
“I love the job, but my priorities are shifting.”
“That’s normal.”
It hurt to draw a deep breath, thinking about last night and how it could have been Kade. “Once this case is solved.”
She looked confused before she asked, “Last night wasn’t related to your case, was it?”
“I think, in a sense, it was.” And I suspected the blood bath Vin warned about was coming. What I wasn’t sure of was who’d be behind it.
“Oh dear.”
“Yeah.” We both heard the door before the booming voice. “Where’s my niece?”
I stood, just as Uncle Gavin entered the kitchen. He pulled me into a bear hug. “You good, Sweetheart?”
“Yeah.” Then I saw Kade watching me from the doorway. “I’m good.” And with Kade, I was.
It was late. Kade hadn’t left my side since Ethan was shot, but Carmine had called earlier. Carmine was his family, and they had shit to discuss, and not just our engagement. He wanted to push it off, I told him to invite him over. He’d still be here, and I wasn’t going anywhere. They were now in the study talking, but I was going through Frank’s papers. We were missing something. My cell rang; seeing it was Zac, I answered it.
“Just talked to Jamison from Chadds Ford PD. The party line, an internal miscommunication that had the car on Milton pulled.”
“Sounds suspicious.”
“Yeah, Jamison thought so, too. Likely, Milton paid someone to lose the tail. Jamison is looking into it. Not that it matters.”
“Why?”
“Milton Teller became Milton Teller in the seventies. Before that, he was Randy Drew, who had a juvie record that was sealed. Manslaughter, but he