Kadence (Rockstar Book 7)

  "Have you actually seen her?" I ask, more than a little curious and a whole lot weirded out.

  "I have, but never when I'm awake. I've seen some funky shit, Jace. Lucy too. I'm not going to go into it because you'll freak out and you've got enough to deal with," she tells me.

  "Yeah. I think I've got enough going on."

  "Let's get out of here," Cage instructs.

  "We need to stop off at Sydney's and get—"

  "Damian, Ernesto, and a couple other guys are already taking care of it," Cage interrupts.

  I lift my brows. "No shit? Thanks, man. I'm not sure how I would have dealt with that."

  He just nods.

  We get into the black SUV and I rest Kadence next to me, securely belting her into the booster seat they thought to get. I wouldn't have even known she needed one of those. Hell, when I was that age, I was sitting on the seat and, sometimes, never even wore my seatbelt. Thank God for Sera and Cage.

  "Thanks for picking that up for her. I wouldn't have…" I trail off, shaking my head, more afraid of my own ignorance than I care to admit.

  "No worries, Jace. We'll figure this all out together," Sera says.

  "I need to make a stop," I tell Cage and he lifts a brow. I rattle off the address and he nods once.

  It takes a few short minutes to get there. I bend down and kiss the top of Kadi's head.

  "I'll be right back," I say to no one in particular.

  "Do you want me to go with you?" Sera asks.

  "Nah, but thanks. This is something I need to do alone," I answer, then close the SUV door.

  I start up the walkway leading to the front door and the porch light comes on.

  It's almost like they were expecting me. I narrow my eyes as my mind wanders around all the possibilities.

  When the door swings open, I know. Son of a bitch!

  "Jace," my mom calls out.

  I merely nod as I climb the steps. My temper spikes at the thought of them knowing Sydney's dead. That means they knew just how sick she was and didn't bother telling me. Motherfucker!

  I stand in the foyer and wait. I'm not going to find my old man. Not this time.

  I tuck my hands in my jeans pockets and look around. Nothing's changed. A life of wealth and privilege—one that's somehow made them think it's okay to play God with everyone's lives.

  "Jace, my boy," my dad says, walking into the room. He'd probably been hiding out in his office as he always does.

  My mom stands next to me looking neat and put together, her expression blank and empty—just like her heart.

  My dad holds out his hand and I look at it in disgust.

  I meet my dad's gaze and tilt my head. "Are you fucking kidding me right now?"

  "Jace," my mother scolds.

  "Fuck that, Mom. I'll use whatever language I want. I'm a grown-ass man," I bite out.

  "Obviously this isn't a social call," my dad says, sarcasm heavy in his words.

  "Nah. I don't socialize with people like you."

  My mom gasps and I cut her a look that says, "Cut the shit, lady."

  "You want to explain to me why you didn't tell me about Sydney? Or about Kadence? If you knew about Sydney—which you clearly did by Mom's melodramatic gasp—you surely knew about Kadence," I question.

  "What was there to tell you, Jace?" my dad asks. "That girl made her decision when she left you years ago."

  "That girl was the love of my life, old man!" I shout, getting in his face. "Who the fuck are you to keep my daughter a secret?"

  "How do you even know she's yours?" he mutters, and I lose my shit.

  I pull my arm back, fist flying straight for his jaw. It hurts like a motherfucker but I welcome the pain. I grab the front of his shirt, my mother gasps and stands there like the Stepford wife she is.

  "How fucking dare you! You know that girl is mine—both of them are mine! And you knew. You knew and you let her fucking suffer. You let the woman who held my heart suffer! I might not have been able to save her, but I could have made it easier for her! I would have made it easier for her!" I shout in his face, giving him a shove back, watching him stumble, but right himself before he falls on his ass.

  "Jace!" my mother scolds.

  "What, Mom?" I ask with loathing. "You know what she means to me. You know I'd have given everything up for her and my daughter. You kept them from me. How long have you known about Kadi?" I ask her. Her expression shutters, guilt evident, and I sneer. "How fucking long!?" I yell at her.

  She looks down, taking a shuddering breath. "Since she was three."

  "Three years. Three fucking years. Three. Fucking. Years," I mutter, my hands threading through my hair and tugging. It's all I can do not to strike out at her—woman or not, mom or not. "How could you do that? You know what she is to me and what finding out about Kadence would mean."

  "That's exactly why we didn't tell you!" my mom announces and I flinch. Hitting me wouldn't have hurt as much.

  "What?" I ask, calmly, quietly, meeting her gaze. Fear floods her—I can see it. I relish it. She should be very, very afraid.

  "She made her choice. She left you. She destroyed you. How could I allow her back into your life knowing what she's capable of?" my mother asks, hatred lacing her tone.

  "How could you allow her back in my life? Allow? You? It's not your fucking choice! It's mine!" I yell, my fist hitting my chest with each word, punctuating my vehemence. I let out a sad laugh. "Do you even know what love is?"

  "Love is why we made this choice for you," my father bellows.

  "Love isn't making choices for people. Love is trusting the people in your life to know what's best for themselves and being there if they make a mistake. It's telling them about the woman they've loved since they were a fucking kid. It's telling them they're a father! I would never have let Sydney struggle. I would never have let Kadence witness something like that daily. Can you imagine what my little girl went through?" Neither of them answers. That's unacceptable. "Can you!?" I shout.

  My mother's lips quiver.

  "I have to stand here and scold you about the proper way to love your kid. Who's the fucking parent here?" I question, derision evident.

  "You will watch what you say," my dad tells me, finding his backbone now that I've backed off.

  "I won't do any such fucking thing. You tried to force me to forget her but it didn't work. Then you wouldn't let me go after her. The best part was when you used my weakness against me, when I got into trouble because I couldn't see her, and you forced me to work for your shitty company knowing I hated every fucking minute of it." I laugh mirthlessly. "No more. No fucking more," I tell them, looking directly at them. "You no longer have a son."

  My mother gasps and I roll my eyes. Fucking Lucy and her habits rubbing off on me.

  "You definitely don't have a granddaughter. You didn't want her then, you don't get to pretend you do now. I married that girl today. I made her my wife and then I watched her finally give in to the pain and let go. I kissed her lips as she breathed her last breath into me. At least I had today—no thanks to you. I don't know how you can live with yourselves knowing she was suffering and so god damn sick and you did nothing. Not one fucking thing to help her. Hell, you wouldn't have had to. You just needed to make the call. Simple as that. Then let me choose. My. Choice. Mine. I will always, even in death, choose her over you. She loved me with every breath she took. You just wanted to control me. Those days are over. Don't call, don't write, don't visit. You're no longer a welcomed part of my life. Take care of each other. You're all you've got left," I tell them, then walk out the door, anger vibrating from my every pore.

  "Jace!" I hear my mom call out as the door slams. There was no shame on either of their faces. Nothing to show me they were sorry for what they'd done. If there had been, I might have considered giving them a chance to redeem themselves. But seeing the same old look of superiority on my dad's face when I walked out, sealed their fate. I'm done with them.

  I stop at th
e end of the walk, a good ten feet from where the SUV is parked at the curb, and take a deep breath. I rest my hands on my hips and look heavenward.

  "I'm sorry, Syd. I can't make it right—what they did, but I can make sure they never hurt our baby girl again," I whisper, my voice cracking as I think of everything Sydney's been through and how one phone call could have made her illness easier to manage somehow. I could have been there with her so she didn't have to go through this alone. Friends or not, she was alone.

  I take one more deep calming breath and get into the SUV.

  "Okay?" Cage asks.

  I nod. "Yeah, man. Just tying up loose ends."

  I tuck Kadi's hand back into mine then kiss the top of her head. She's my light.

  "Your parents are fucking assholes," Sera grits out.

  I snort out a laugh. Leave it to Sera to pull no punches.

  "And now they know it without a doubt. They're dead to me," I mutter, numb to their bullshit.

  Sera nods. "I expected no less from you Jace-y pee pants."

  I chuckle. "Do not teach my daughter that shit."

  She laughs. "Where's the fun in that?"

  Cage chuckles as we pull away from the curb.

  It's hard to believe it's only been one day. How can one day contain such a huge load of shit? I let out a sigh.

  "Let's go get some sleep," Cage murmurs. "We'll head home in the morning."

  "What time?" I ask through a yawn.

  "Whenever the little one is ready," he tells me.

  She's been sleeping most of the day. My poor baby is exhausted. I can't even imagine what she's been through the past few days—or weeks.

  "Sounds good, man. And thanks," I reply.

  "None needed. It's what Famiglia does," he says simply.

  There is nothing simple about Famiglia.

  6

  Kadence

  I wake up and I'm scared. I don't know where I am and my mommy isn't here. She's with the angels now. I wish she were here.

  I look around the room and see my daddy sleeping in a chair. He's silly. This is a big, big bed. Does my daddy not want to sleep with me? Maybe he's scared of me. Mommy said he might be for a bit. He doesn't know anything about kids. Mommy told me I have to teach him.

  I don't want to right now. I have to go potty. I clutch Rainbow, my stuffed unicorn, close to my chest and walk into the room with the sink. I close the door when I see the potty and do my "business", as mommy always said.

  I flush and wash my hands. When I open the door, Daddy's snoring. I cover my mouth with my hand and giggle. He's tired and I know I can get my own breakfast. I hope there's something good.

  I open the door and peek out, looking one way and then the other. I don't see anyone but I hear voices. I step into the hall, hugging Rainbow tighter. When I get to the end of the hall, there's a big room with a couch and TV. On the other side is a man in a suit sitting at a table. I see milk and my tummy rumbles. Shh tummy!

  The man looks at me and I hide my face behind Rainbow. He smiles as he walks toward me. He's very tall. Like a giant. His hair is short and brown. I take a deep breath and look at him and he's looking at me. His eyes are kind. Mommy told me to always look at people's eyes. They tell everything.

  The big man kneels down. "Hi, Kadence."

  My eyes widen. He knows my name.

  "My name is Cage. I'm a friend of Jace's—your daddy."

  His smile is nice.

  "Hi," I whisper.

  "Are you hungry? I ordered some breakfast for us," he tells me.

  I nod and he holds out a hand. I squeeze my eyes shut and find my brave like Mommy tells me to. I put my hand in his and he smiles.

  We walk to the table and he helps me sit on a chair.

  "Do you like pancakes?"

  I nod.

  "What about bacon?"

  I nod faster. I love bacon.

  "How about eggs?"

  I scrunch up my face. "I'm 'lergic."

  He nods. "That's good to know. No eggs for you. Do you like syrup?" he asks.

  I nod.

  "Butter?"

  I nod again.

  He takes a pancake and sets it on the plate. It's almost as big as the plate!

  "That's a big one," I tell him and giggle.

  He chuckles. "Very big. Do you think you can eat all of it?"

  "I don't know."

  He cuts the pancake into bites for me then pours syrup over it.

  "More?"

  I nod my head.

  "Just a little bit."

  He puts the plate in front of me with a fork.

  "Oh boy," I whisper.

  "Do you like milk?"

  I nod and poke a piece of pancake with my fork. I put it in my mouth and chew. My tummy rumbles again, this time I think it's thanking me for the food.

  "Good?" he asks and I nod.

  "Good. Here's some milk," he says and sets a cup in front of me.

  I pick it up and take a drink then lick my lips.

  "Would you like anything else? Some fruit?"

  I shake my head and bite a piece of bacon.

  Then I remember my manners.

  "Thank you," I tell him.

  He smiles big. I like when he smiles.

  "You're most welcome, young lady."

  I can't help it. I giggle. No one's every called me "lady" before.

  Cage smiles at me then puts on his glasses. He picks up a newspaper and starts to read.

  "Do you like to read, Mr. Cage?" I ask.

  He looks at me and smiles. "Yes, I do. Do you like to read, little bit?"

  My tummy gets warm and fluttery like there are a bazillion butterflies in there. I like him calling me that.

  I nod. "I love to read. My mommy reads to me every day. She says it's 'portant and will help make me brilliant!" I giggle and cover my mouth with my hand.

  He laughs with me. "Your mommy's correct. Reading is very important."

  "Looks like you two are getting along nicely," a lady with very long hair says. She's pretty—like a princess. She gives Cage a kiss. I wonder if she's the giant's princess.

  "Fee," he says to her and touches her face.

  "Hello, Kadence," the princess says. She knows my name. "My name is Sera."

  She comes to sit next to me and gives me a hug. I hug her back. She smells like flowers. My mommy smells like flowers.

  "Are you the giant's princess?" I ask, then put my hand over my mouth, my eyes going wide. I didn't mean to ask that.

  She looks at me and laughs. Her laugh is pretty, like her. It sounds like music. Maybe she's a magical princess.

  "Indeed, I am, Kadence. I am the giant's princess," she answers, then looks at Cage with a twinkle in her eye. "You're not scared of the giant?"

  "No. He has kind eyes. My mommy says anyone with kind eyes is a good person." I put another piece of pancake in my mouth. Princess Sera's eyes get sad. I don't want her to be sad.

  "There you are," my daddy says, rushing toward me. His hair is sticking up everywhere.

  I giggle and he smiles.

  "What's so funny?" he asks.

  I point to his hair. "You need to brush your hair."

  His hands go through his hair but it doesn't fix it.

  "Better?" he asks.

  I shake my head. "Nope."

  He tries again.

  "Now?"

  "Nope."

  Then my daddy does something very silly. He takes his hair in his fingers and pulls it so it stands straight up.

  I giggle. "You're silly, Daddy."

  He smiles and his eyes get wet before he bends down and hugs me tight. I drop my fork and hug him back.

  "I love you, Kadi," he tells me.

  I lean back and take his face in my hands then kiss his lips. "I love you too, Daddy."

  Sera gasps and when I look, she's crying.

  "Don't be sad, Princess Sera."

  "Okay," she says with a smile as she wipes her tears.

  I look back to my daddy and
giggle again. "Daddy?" I whisper.

  He leans closer.

  "I got syrup on your face," I whisper and giggle.

  He wipes his face with his fingers and then licks them. "Yummy. Pancakes it is!" He sits in a chair next to me and we eat our breakfast together.

  I wish Mommy were here.

  7

  Jace

  When I woke up to find an empty bed, I panicked. I don't know what's going to happen. I don't know if Sydney's dad is going to try to sue for custody. I'm sure if Karen wanted to, she could challenge me as well. She's been around Kadence a hell of a lot longer than I have.

  I close my eyes and take a calming breath. Christ. This is so fucked up.

  Cage's phone rings. "Nichols. Yes. Good. We'll be in the air within an hour. Good."

  He hangs up. Just like that.

  "All of Princess Kadence's items are now in California and on their way to CFD. By the time we get there, everything should be unpacked and ready for her," Cage tells me.

  "Thanks, man." One less thing to worry about.

  "Lucy had the guys get a suite set up for you both. Anything you need, I'm sure she's handled it," Sera informs me.

  "You hear that, Kadi? Your room at my house is all ready for you."

  Kadi nods. "Is it pink?"

  "Do you like pink?" I ask.

  "Yep. Pink and purple."

  I smile. Typical girly girl response. "What else do you like?"

  "I like dolls. I like to draw and color," she tells me then finishes the last of her milk.

  "When we get there, if something you love is missing, just let me know. We'll go shopping," I tell her and tap my finger lightly on her nose.

  She giggles.

  "Kadence, today we're going to go on an airplane," Cage informs her with a wink.

  Her eyes get wide. "I've never been on an airplane."

  "We'll be able to fly like Superman," Sera tells her and Kadi's eyes grow even wider.

  "Fun!" Kadi squeals and claps her hands.

  I can't help but laugh. My little girl is fearless. Something her mother taught her, no doubt.

  "Daddy?"

  "Yeah, pumpkin?" I ask.

  "Mommy can't come because she's with the angels but I know she'd have fun flying like Superman if she could. She says Superman is a hottie."