Page 79 of The Broken Note

“What do you know then?” Finn inquires, his eyes flitting over me.

“I know that I want dad to lose something after what he’s done to us.”

Zane turns away, a vein bulging in his neck.

“I know that the moment I get married to Cadence, that’s it for me. I’m married for life.”

Zane looks surprised by that.

Finn doesn’t.

“I know that she’s important enough to me that I’d die for her. And I know that when I’m with her I feel…” I inhale deeply. “I feel like that first time I stepped on stage with my guitar. Lightheaded. Eager. Alive.”

Finn turns to me. His eyes burn. “I’m in.”

My eyebrows shoot up.

“Let’s make Cadence your wife.”

Zane reluctantly walks over. “And let’s hope we’re more successful this time than when we tried to kick her out of Redwood.”

CHAPTERNINETEEN

CADENCE

Sitting with The Kings at lunch feels like taking a walk down main street naked. Everyone is staring at us. I’m pretty sure they’ve been staring all day too. Other things I’ve noticed this morning: the entire back row during algebra was free. Teachers avoided my eyes in the hallway. Someone accidentally slapped me in the shoulder with their backpack as I was coming to the cafeteria and they ran away in tears before I could tell them I was fine.

I’d forgotten that the Kings are more than just the rock gods of Redwood Prep.

They’re ruthless rulers.

I got too close to them, so close that I was out of touch with reality. I failed to see what most of the students at Redwood see when they look at them.

Threats wrapped in tattoos and vengeance.

It’s why I followed orders and dragged myself to the cafeteria. I’m fighting too many battles these days, and I don’t care to add another one.

Not today at least.

Dutch Cross can win this round while I recover my strength.

“You want something else?” Dutch asks. His voice is a low hush in my ear. A shiver runs down my spine when he adds in a coarse whisper, “Or do you need me to feed you again?”

I glare at him. “Try it and I’ll bite your hand off.”

Finn unleashes one of his sexy ghost smiles.

Sol just shakes his head, looking annoyed.

Zane snorts. “Damn, Dutch. Give my sister-in-law some room. How is she supposed to eat with you breathing down her neck like that?”

Dutch looks pleased as he straightens away from me.

But my eyes widen in horror. “What did you just call me?”

Dutch cuts his brother off before he can answer. “I got another call from Bex Dane this morning. Since the Halloween Bash was a success, his people want us to play for the Christmas tour.”

My eyes widen at the name drop. Bex Dane is one of the hottest solo punk-rock artists out right now. If Jarod Cross is a legend, Bex Dane is the dark horse gunning for his spot at number one.