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I watched the two of them, limbs overlapping, skin contrasting—Cadence’s golden brown and Gracie’s deep, rich, and warm chocolate. So very different but the two were one in the same. The same hearts, big and ready to be filled with love.
Cadence’s was hidden behind walls that erupted after trusting too freely. Gracie’s wasn’t guarded because she had been covered in love and shielded from all the darkness that existed outside her small little world.
A protectiveness I had never experienced before jolted fast and heavy through my chest. Everything fell away. Nothing existed but the need to be what they both needed and that should have scared the shit out of me but instead of running, I wanted to dig my heels in and stay grounded.
Protect her.
Protect them.
My hand slipped into my pocket and I stepped back into the hallway, leaning my back against the wall while I waited for the call to connect.
It was early as fuck. Just after five. I should have been asleep. Tried to make that happened but came up empty.
“Sol, everything okay?” Drew’s voice was groggy. I felt bad knowing that waking him this early would have him assuming something was wrong.
“Not really but it will be. I need you to do something. A few things actually.”
I heard him shuffling. Likely climbing out of bed and then the sound of a door closing. “I’m listening.”
“Before I tell you want I need, I want you to understand that I’m not asking.”
“Okay…”
Drew had been with me since day one. I considered him family and treated him as such but this would test the bounds of not only our friendship, but our business relationships as well. I was willing to risk that…
For them.
“I’ve never forced your hand before but with this I’m going to have to. You’re not going to like what I’m about to tell you and I don’t really care. I just need you to get it done and as soon as possible. I don’t care what it costs.”
“This about her…”
“Yeah.”
“Sounds like you’re drawing a line in the sand.”
“I am.”
He could try all he wanted. My mind was made up. There was only one way I could see to fix this and still keep my promise to Cadence that no one would ever have access to Gracie but her.
“Are you about to ask me to do something illegal?”
I smirked and shrugged. “Some of it, yes.”
“You love this girl?”
“No, but I will one day if she’ll allow me to.”
Would even if she denied me.
Drew released a sigh. A clear sign that he understood there was no fighting me on what I was about to ask of him. “What do you need?”
And with no hesitation, I made a decision that would change my life and Cadence’s forever and neither of us would ever be able to reverse it once things were set in motion.
eighteen
Cadence.
“Gracie, tell your mother to relax.”
