Page 78 of Restitution

“Jason…” I stop and chew the inside of my cheek. Aria said he should know, but I have no idea if he’s in a state to survive it. “He…”

He tilts his head, looking more tired every second as his hand spasms against my cheek. “What?”

I sniffle and drop my head to his chest, at a loss for words. Do I tell him to come downstairs and see the havoc? Do I tell him Jason was hurt but Kade needs to stay in the room? He should know, but I have no idea how to tell him.

Then I need to tell him that the woman who made his life hell now has his father.

The only positives are that Kade’s files are clean and we have Archie. Although I’m sceptical of the former, despite Barry’s checks.

Come on, Stacey.“I’m so, so, so sorry, Kade, but…”

There’s a harrowing sound downstairs as someone weeps louder, and I know it’s Aria. Lu is screaming at someone as wheels crunch over the gravel outside – she’s begging them to stay.

Base. He’s leaving?

He frowns and looks at the door over my shoulder. “What’s going on? Why’s my mum crying? Can you hear crying?”

He doesn’t wait for me to reply as he pushes away and side-steps me.

“Kade, no, wait!” I call after him as he heads to the door.

But when he swings it open, the sobs and wails become more prominent. He freezes for a beat, glances over his shoulder at me then rushes down the corridor.

I barely catch up to him before he’s heading down the stairs, bumping into walls and nearly falling over his feet.

“Kade!”

I almost slam into his back as he stops at the entrance of the sitting room. His brother’s body lies limp in his stepfather’s arms as he struggles to lift him towards the front door with Aria trailing behind, distraught.

All eyes turn to Kade.

“Kade.” I walk around him to see his face, his eyes searching the room. “I’m so, so sorry. I didn’t know how to tell you. I…” I trail off, stumped. “Kade.”

He doesn’t go to Jason’s body. He doesn’t move, blink or speak a word. He’s deadly quiet, his eyes darkening with every passing second.

Aria looks over her shoulder, and her face contorts when she sees him. She reaches her hand out to him. “Oh, sweetheart.”

But instead of walking to her, Kade takes a step back. Then another and another. He’s silent. Emotionless. Like a veil has fallen over his eyes and he can’t see the blood all over the ground or the dead bodies his mother steps over to reach for him.

He flinches away from her.

“Sir,” Barry says as he walks in, a bullet wound in his shoulder. “We need to leave this place. Tobias is gone. We need to leave. Right now. We’re getting the vehicles ready.”

Kade doesn’t acknowledge anyone.

Barry limps towards him. “We have Archie Sawyer. She’ll send her team to collect him. What are your orders?”

Barry is handing Kade back his power, the reins to what he built behind Bernadette’s back. He’s telling him to lead them on their next step. He’s giving him focus. A target. And when Kade eventually looks at him, I see it settling into his blood.

A devastating hunger for revenge.

“What happened to my dad and brother?” His voice is eerily calm.

Bless his soul, Barry doesn’t falter once as he tells him, “Your father made a deal to swap your freedom for his. Your files are wiped. But when they were leaving, Bernadette tried to shoot Stacey. Jason shielded her and took a bullet to the head.”

Kade glances at me and drags his gaze down my bloodied clothes then up again. When his eyes clash with mine, I see nothing but darkness behind them. No emotion except anger.

Any closeness we just had in the room is pushed aside as I watch him think.