Page 52 of The Broken Note

“Will it make a difference?”

“She’s better at controlling him than we are.”

Finn goes quiet. “Why is dad going so hard on Zane?”

“Do you want your kingdom to crumble?”I think about our exchange in the classroom and wince. “I told him to come at us.”

“So he made another cheap shot,” Finn hisses.

“He can’t go too far. We know too much of what he’s done.” I hear someone shuffling toward me and turn around. Cadence is approaching the living room, the bag of money on her shoulder and a frown on her lips. “I’ll be there soon, Finn.”

“Hurry. I’ll meet you at the house.”

I hang up. “I have to go.”

“Here.” She sticks the bag out at me.

“Why are you giving this to me?”

“Some of the money is still there. I’ll find a way to pay you back for the rest.”

“You don’t have to—”

“Take it.” She shoves the bag harder.

My phone buzzes again.

Zane.

He’s probably going to tell me the same thing Finn did.

The urge to help my brothers is strong, but I don’t feel right about leaving Cadence alone.

Wrapping my fingers around her wrist, I push her arm into her stomach so she can’t force the bag on me. Voice low and stern, I tell her, “Call your friend over. The little blonde one.”

“Breeze?”

I nod.

“I was planning on doing that anyway,” she grumbles. And then she tries to push the bag at me. “Dutch, take it.”

I step back and keep walking away. “I’m not going to ask you to tell me who pawned the ring. And I’m not going to ask you to admit you have feelings for me either.” I stop at the door. “The only thing I’m going to demand is that you call me if you’re in danger.”

“I’m not in danger.”

“Call me if you want to fight then.”

“You’re not funny.”

“If anything happens, you pick up your phone and you dial my number.”

“Dutch…”

“Callme.” I open the door and memorize her face for a second before I let it slam behind me.

CHAPTERTHIRTEEN

CADENCE