Page 424 of Power Play

“Less of one.”

His hand remained against the back of my neck. For a moment, we only looked at each other.

“I hope you know what you mean to me,” I said.

Cade’s expression shifted.

“I know I don’t say that shit. I know I act like showing up should be enough for you to understand everything I don’t know how to put into words.”

“It is enough.”

“No, let me say it.”

He nodded.

“You found me when I had nothing, Cade. You knew I was sleeping wherever I could find a place, and you never made me feel like the homeless kid you had to rescue. You treated me like your equal. You gave me a place beside you before I understood what it meant to belong anywhere.”

His jaw tightened.

“You brought me to Kimball Falls. Every person at this table is in my life because you told me to come with you so I wouldn’t be alone.” My voice roughened, but I forced the words through it. “You were the first person after my mother died that I trusted to have my back without wanting anything from me except friendship.”

“Brotherhood,” Cade corrected.

“Yeah.” I gripped his shoulder. “I hope I’ve been as loyal to you as you’ve always been to me.”

Cade’s face broke, tears in his eyes and shock in his voice. “You saved my life,” he said.

I went still.

“You stayed with me when I was dying. You kept me breathing while you talked to 911, and you refused to let me go even when I was sure I was finished.” His hand tightened against my neck. “You didn’t leave until you knew I would be here today. Don’t ever stand in front of me and wonder if you’ve been loyal enough.”

My eyes burned.

“You’ve been more than loyal, brother. You’ve been my family since before either of us understood how badly we needed one.”

I pulled him into me.

We held on without pounding each other’s backs or turning it into one of those quick embraces men used when they were afraid affection might expose something. His face pressed against my shoulder, and my good hand closed around the back of his jacket.

“I don’t know who I would’ve become if you hadn’t found me,” I admitted.

“You would’ve survived.”

“That isn’t the same as living.”

“No.” Cade’s voice broke near my ear. “It isn’t.”

When we separated, he kept one hand on my neck.

“I’ll see you next weekend,” he said.

I nodded.

“Next weekend, Ryan. That means you answer the door when we show up.”

“I heard you.”

“You’re my brother.” His eyes held mine without letting me escape what the words meant. “Milwaukee won’t change that. Charm won’t change it. You can’t cut us out, no matter how hard your ass tries.”