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She beamed. “I can’t wait to get started. Sounds like we all need to sit down and make some solid plans very soon.”
His phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out to find a message from Matthew.
I’m in town. Can meet you at the office in ten minutes?
Ready or not, it was time to confront his business partner. He just hoped when all was said and done, he’d get answers and still have his best friend.
A whirlwindof emotions had Laura’s head spinning as she climbed out of Cade’s truck. The last couple hours had brought terror, confusion, and excitement. Her mind couldn’t comprehend how it was possible to ping pong between so many different feelings.
And now that she was steps away from seeing her brother, she could add anxiety to the mix.
Cade hurried around the front bumper. He fell into step beside her and rested a hand on the small of her back. “You ready?”
“I think so.”
He opened the door, waiting for her to step inside before following. The blast of cool air beat back the heat of the day and sent goosebumps skittering over her bare arms.
“Matthew?” she called out to the empty reception area.
Shattering glass from down the hall was the only response.
Heart racing, she turned wide eyes to Cade. “What was that?”
“Sounds like it came from one of the offices.” He maneuvered her to stand behind him and took a few steps down the hall. “Matthew? Is that you?”
“Back here!”
Her pulse slowed and she followed Cade to Matthew’s office. The file she’d left on the corner of his desk laid open, papers scattered all over. The framed picture of Matthew and Brandon was across the room. The glass shattered on the ground.
Matthew’s sandy blond hair stood out like he’d been running his hands through it all day. His navy-blue t-shirt was wrinkled with stains trickling down the front. The stubble over his normally smooth face made him look disheveled and unkempt.
She let out a small gasp and slipped her hand in Cade’s. “What in the world?”
Matthew zeroed in on their joined hands. “What that hell is that?” He spat out the words on a wave of fury and slashed his finger through the air before aiming it in their direction.
Lifting his chin, Cade tightened his grip. “I’ll answer whatever questions you have about me and Laura as soon as you explain why you’re trashing your office and look like death.”
Mathew glared. “So there’s ayou and Laura? What the hell, man. You didn’t even want her here and now you’re a thing? Areyou nuts? That’s my baby sister. You’ve known her since she was a kid.”
The well-aimed arrow landed straight in the middle of her chest. She flinched and swallowed the reaction sitting on the tip of her tongue.
Cade swung their palms up and kissed her knuckles before pressing his lips to her temple. “I’m here for Laura any way she wants me. But that’s not the issue right now.”
“Oh really? Then what’s the issue?”
The anger radiating off her brother stole her senses for a moment. The way he yelled, the tight lines on his face, reminded her so much of her father.
But this wasn’t her dad. This was Matthew, and something really major must be happening to turn him into this disaster in front of her.
“Matthew, stop,” she said, keeping her voice as calm and steady as she could despite the tremors shaking her insides. “We need to talk about everything that’s happened.”
Concern wrinkled his brow, transforming him back to the brother she loved. “Shit. Yeah. I’m so sorry about the break-in. I wish to hell you wouldn’t have gotten caught up in that.”
“That’s just the beginning, man.” Cade tugged her forward and ushered her into a chair. He stood behind her and crossed his arms over his chest. “I had a break-in at my house last night, too.”
“What? Dude, why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t feel like I could.”
