Page 20

Chapter Twenty

Cade

Cade would call it an incredible night. Dancing with the group because one of the primary dancers hadn’t shown up or bothered to call in and give an explanation or apology for his absence was annoying.

Exhibiting his dancing skills once again, Cade was riding a performance high. It had been a wildly fun experience, but not something he wanted to repeat.

Much like a guest spot on a television show, Cade was happy to have participated. He was equally happy to never do it again.

Cade was in the dressing room preparing to change into his street clothes when Branford stormed in. Soft music played as Cade took off the makeup Griff had insisted upon to enhance the luminescent look of the dancers so as not to lose the effects of the beauty of the bubbles.

“Are you pissed?” Cade’s question was rhetorical. Based on the look on the blond’s face, he was beyond pissed.

Cade hadn’t clued his lovers into what the routine would entail to keep it a surprise. He definitely hadn’t notified them he’d be dancing when Avery hadn’t shown. At the time, he felt like it might just be better to beg forgiveness rather than ask permission. He and Griff had worked hard on the routine with the dancers, and Kincade wouldn’t apologize for jumping in at the last minute.

There was a slow shuffling sound, which brought his gaze from Ford’s angry face to the big grin of Jax’s. Cade glanced down, seeing a plastic and Velcro brace on his lower leg and a handsome walking stick in his left hand, which reminded him that Jax had his cast off that day. Cade had been so caught up in getting ready for the performance, Jax’s appointment had slipped his mind.

“Hey, you got your cast off. How long with the brace?” Cade was trying to change the subject before Ford had a chance to go into a tirade.

“Just a couple of weeks until I start rehab. I don’t have to wear it at night, thank god, so Daddy’s ready to get back in the saddle again.” Jax teased with a wink and a wiggle of his hips, causing Cade to giggle. The man was in a great mood which made Kincade happy. Maybe Jax could help get their boyfriend into a good mood?

Ford glanced down at the towel around Cade’s waist and seemed to calm a little. “I appreciate you stepping in when we were a man down, but next time, sweetheart, maybe you could make the costume a bit less revealing? Every man out there knows you’re circumcised, even with the iridescent bubbles sewn on that scrap of fabric.” Ford’s voice was eerily calm.

Jax laughed. “Hey, they can eat their fuckin’ hearts out. He’s got two hot studs to take care of his needs, which I wouldn’t mind doin’ at home in about fifteen minutes, chére.”

Cade was surprised when Ford reached up to smack Jax on the back of the head. “You’re just horny. This is serious, Jackson. Kincade, you’re an attractive man. I understand the costumes used tonight were part of the ambiance of the party, and I also realize the whole effect was meant to stimulate blood flow among the guests, but I’d appreciate it if the only people you tried to stimulate blood flow in were your two lovers. You were remarkable up there, as was Griff and all the dancers. I don’t know how Cleveland can allow Griff to put himself on exhibition in such a fashion night after night.” Ford wasn’t shutting up.

Cade’s eyes grew to the size of silver dollars at the statement made by one of the men he loved. “Oh, shit,” Jax remarked quietly as he moved to take a seat on a director’s chair by the wall.

Cade rose from the stool and adjusted the towel around his waist so it wouldn’t fall. His point would be made more effectively if his dick was covered. “What do you mean by the word allow ? Does it mean you have control over my actions such that I must run them by you for approval or permission before I do things?”

Jackson stood. “Of course, he doesn’t mean anything of the sort, do you, Branford?” Jax returned the smack to the back of Ford’s head. Cade had to work hard not to laugh.

“Hey! Stop it! What I meant was I love you, Kincade, and I don’t appreciate our customers leering over the men I love. When one of them chooses to put himself on display as you chose to do tonight, I have every right to voice my distaste because you belong to me—and Jackson, of course.” Ford donned a smug look.

“ Whoa! Babe, I love you with all my heart but don’t drag me under this L-train with you. I thought Cade looked sexy as hell up there, and I was grinnin’ to beat the band at all those poor fuckers lusting after the man I love and get to go to bed with tonight.” Jax kept his eyes on Ford.

Ford glared at him, eyebrow cocked, which had Jax taking his seat again without another word. Ford returned his gaze to Cade, the look of outrage still present.

“Look, I know I sound like a raving, possessive prick, but I don’t want anything to happen to you. You run the place some nights when Jax and I do things together, and now I’m going to have to worry about some other jackoff trying to cart you off like that fucker, Marcus Drury. That reminds me, I need to call Detective Del Torro to see if he can find out if that jackoff is out of jail.”

Cade’s face was still drawn in anger, so Ford took a deep breath. “We—” he turned to look at Jax and motioned his head for the man to walk closer, which he did without hesitation, “love you, and if something were to happen to you, Kincade, we’d be devastated. We know, for a fact, we don’t function well without you in our lives so please, don’t put yourself in harm’s way.”

Ford’s face paled as if he’d just repeated the words to himself and could hear they weren’t enough to get him out of the doghouse. “Look, I’m sorry if I said it wrong, but I just meant to convey how much we love you and want to keep you safe.

“Look, Fiona Porter is out there. She wants to talk to you, and I have some things I need to tell the two of you, too. You can be angry with me for my previous statements, but don’t fault me for the love and concern I feel for both of you. I don’t know what I would do without either of you.” Ford’s eyes teared up.

Of course, it put out the fire building in Cade’s belly about Ford’s asinine statements regarding Cade being allowed to do anything. It was a discussion to be had when calmer heads were present.

“Wait—Fiona’s out there? What does she want?” Cade’s mind suddenly took a left onto another train of thought.

“I’m not sure, but I believe it has to do with your father. Why don’t you get dressed and come out? We can go up to the office so you can speak with her.” Ford hadn’t apologized, but Cade had already forgiven him. His curiosity regarding the woman he’d known for about fifteen minutes the summer before got the best of him.

“Fine. I’ll be up in a few minutes after I get this goop off me.”

Ford glanced at Jax, who grinned. “I’ll stay here and keep an eye on him. Go ahead. Also, ask Cleve for a couple of beers. Cade, you want something?”

“I’ll have a White Russian, please?”

Ford walked over and kissed him gently on the lips. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. We’ll talk about it at home. I bought a frozen-drink maker, so do you want something more tropical?”

Cade giggled. “Pina colada, please.”

One day, Cade had mentioned he loved frozen drinks, so why he was surprised Ford had purchased the equipment was ridiculous. He knew the man loved him and Jackson to the point of laying down his own life for them.

The heat of the moment had brought Ford’s protectiveness to the surface. While it wasn’t something Cade wanted to deal with on a regular basis, it was endearing at the time.

However, it wouldn’t go unchecked. Cade wasn’t a pushover, and he didn’t need anyone fighting his battles.

After Ford left, he turned to Jax. “Why do you think you need to stay here and keep an eye on me?” It was definitely a challenge. When the brawny football player chuckled, it took the wind out of Cade’s quickly blustering sails.

“I’m staying to keep an eye on ya so maybe I can see your pretty ass. I’m not stupid. You were sexy as hell out there, though I, too, wish it had been limited to the privacy of our home. You stepped in to help Ford, whether he’s thought about that or not, and I know he’ll appreciate it once he gets over being a braying jackass. Now, what’s under the towel?” Jax waggled his eyebrows, causing Cade to erupt in a fit of giggles. He did love his men.

Cade and Jax took the stairs to the office, knocking and entering. Fiona Porter was sitting in a leather chair drinking a glass of white wine, Cade guessed. Ford was drinking something out of a clear plastic cup with a lid which was odd, and he was sitting behind his desk, seeming to want distance between himself and Fiona.

Before the door closed, a foot pushed in. It was Tao, the bar-back and backup bartender, and he carried a tray.

There was a large frozen drink with an umbrella skewered through a piece of pineapple and a long straw, along with a bucket containing a few beers on ice. “Here ya go, Mr. Thomas. Call down if you need anything else. Cleve’s on his dinner break right now, but Brady and I have things under control.” Tao grinned as he placed the tray on the table.

Cade glanced at the clock to see it was eleven thirty, which was late for Cleveland to be taking a dinner break. “Where’s Griff?”

The Amerasian guy chuckled. “Last I saw, our choreographer was over Cleveland’s shoulder as they left the premises. By the way, that dance was hot as hell.”

Cade wished Tao had kept his thoughts to himself, especially when Ford’s arms crossed over his chest and a grave expression overtook his very handsome face.

Cade took his drink, drawing a long pull from the straw. It was delicious. “So, Fiona, what do you want? The last time I saw you, you were racing out of my old apartment. I lost track of you and then I never heard anything about Clary Radcliffe’s case.”

Fiona glanced at Ford with a cocked eyebrow. “I’ll explain the other bullshit to him. You stick to the facts, Abigail.” There was a surprising bite in his voice.

“ Fine! ” The woman reached into her purse and pulled out a midsize leather folio, opening it and showing it to Cade and Jax. Inside was a shiny badge with a number on it, along with an impressive looking seal. Next to the badge was a window compartment displaying the credentials identifying the woman as Abigail Mellon, Senior Special Agent with the FBI.

Cade took the leather folio to examine it, shock settling into the pit of his stomach. There was her picture along with a badge number that corresponded to the shiny piece of metal on the other side of the folio.

He handed it off to Jax, who examined it and tossed it back to her, rattling her. “So, you’re the bitch who was supposed to marry our Branford?”

That was news to Cade. He looked at her, hoping Jax was wrong.

“That was a lifetime and several plastic surgeries ago, okay? Yes, our parents thought we would marry and become the next up-and-coming power couple in New York, but that wasn’t ever in the cards, was it, Mr. Delacroix? You came along and swept Bran off his feet, didn’t you? I didn’t have the right parts to sweep him off his feet.” Her tone was a bit snappy for Cade’s tastes.

“Fiona… Abigail, what does this have to do with me? I’d just met Jax and Ford when I started working for Triad, and you couldn’t have known where I’d move, right?” Cade wasn’t exactly sure what was happening.

“No, I didn’t, Kincade. Bellamy Radcliffe came to our offices in New York after she left Clary. She had a forensic accounting firm combing Clary’s books, and they found a hidden account under an alias. It was in the Cayman Islands, a haven for crooks, and they won’t honor our requests for information or subpoenas. Bellamy faked Clary’s signature for us so we could get the history of the account, and we discovered the bribes he’d paid over the years. It gave us the basis for expanding our investigation, but we needed the insider information regarding who benefitted from those bribes. That was why I took the job at Triad in the first place.”

She adjusted her position in the chair and took a sip of wine before continuing. “When you came in for an interview, I tried to talk Clary out of hiring you. You were a nice young guy who didn’t need to get caught up in the bullshit about to hit the fan, but Radcliffe said it was a favor for his ex-wife to keep her off his back about his alimony payments. He said your mother and the former Mrs. Radcliffe were good friends, and he had a relationship with your father, Hudson Hayes, whose name I’d seen on the wire-transfer log for monies going in and out of the Cayman account.” That caught Cade’s attention.

“Okay. Go on.” He encouraged her to continue.

“At first, I thought you were a plant by Hudson to learn proprietary information, which was why I dogged you over everything regarding your employment. When I figured out it was an unfortunate coincidence, I pulled the plug on the operation and had Clary Radcliffe arrested to keep you from further involvement.”

“Why?” Cade didn’t know her from a stump.

The woman shrugged. “You were too sweet a guy to be collateral damage, so we moved forward with the raid and got you out of harm’s way.”

Cade continued to sip his exotic cocktail. When he sucked air, he turned to Ford and cocked an eyebrow. Ford winked and picked up the phone, calling downstairs.

Cade returned his attention to the woman and considered what she’d said. Finally, he had a salient question. “My mother won’t get in any trouble over this, will she? Hudson’s been arrested for bigamy, but he’s out on bail. It only carries a—”

“I know,” the woman interrupted. “It’s a class four felony and only carries a one-to-three-year bid with a fine. Trust me, Cade, your father is going away for much longer than three years. He was invested in a criminal conspiracy with Clarence Radcliffe, and between your mother and Bellamy, we have enough evidence to lock the two men up for a very long time.” To Cade, Fiona looked confident. He wasn’t so sure.

“What about Cheryl? She thought she was marrying a man who’d been divorced years ago. She had no idea what a louse my father would turn out to be. She won’t be charged, will she?”

Cheryl was Ashton’s mother and had proven herself to be a good and decent—albeit horribly na?ve—person. In Cade’s opinion, she didn’t deserve any backlash from the shit his father had perpetrated on her… and the whole family.

“No. That’s a civil matter to be worked out between your mother and Cheryl Glover, so you’ll need to speak with them regarding the disposition of funds, but your father’s going to prison for a long time.” That was reassuring news to Cade.

“Another issue relates to the Chicago Outreach Shelters, Kenneth Shaw, founder. What do you know about working for the organization?” Fiona/Abigail asked.

That part of his life seemed like a lifetime ago, but it had only been a few months. It remained a thorn in Cade’s side.

“He was arrested for breaking into Clark Street Shelter to recover the belongings of displaced residents after it was closed. Can you do anything about that shit?” Ford snapped at the woman, finally breaking his silence.

She turned to look at Ford, a sneer evident on her face. “You’re still a prick, aren’t you?”

Ford looked ready to jump from his chair as the knock came at the door. Jax reached to flip the handle, opening it to find Cleveland with a smile on his swollen lips, along with a puffy eye.

“What happened?” Cade invited the large man in and took the tray from him that held another large pina colada and a plastic cup with a lid for Ford. Jax was still drinking his beer from the ice bucket.

Cleveland chuckled. “I just got engaged. You need anything else, call down.” With that, he left the three men with mouths hanging open. The woman scoffed.

Once Cleve closed the door, Jax turned back to her. “Well, can you? Cade was only trying to get the clothes and food outta that joint so the kids had their own belongings and the food didn’t go to waste. We had five young men at our home who had been displaced and wrongly accused of prostitution. All we were trying—all Cade was trying to do was make things better for those boys.” Jax’s passionate argument on Cade’s behalf made him love the Cajun more.

They watched the woman pull out her phone and type in something. As she scrolled through it again after it pinged, she nodded, before she glanced up.

“Two of those guys were agents of ours. The other three were real sex workers, but we all agreed it was awful, what happened that night. I’ll get the charges dismissed as soon as possible, Cade. You were trying to be kind to those boys, and the locals were a bit zealous about arresting you. I’ll get it sorted out and have it stricken from your record,” Fiona/Abigail said.

“Which two were the agents? Those boys didn’t work at the shelter, Fiona… Abigail… Agent. They were good boys,” Cade said.

She smiled. “I can’t tell you who was undercover because it could compromise them in the future, but when I found out you were working there, I knew they’d be in good hands. Anyway, Kenneth Shaw was a starving artist hired to head up the shelters and bilk funds from unknowing people trying to do a good thing for teens in need. Each shelter had one member of the O’Malley crime family working in it because they were a front for money laundering as well as fraud. What do you know about Samuel Belew?”

“His husband’s my agent. That’s how we found Cade again. Stan’s a great guy. I seriously doubt they’d be involved in anything like that.” Jax’s voice was tense. If the woman pushed, Cade was certain Jax would lash out.

“Okay, that checks out. What about Beverly Singer?”

“She’s innocent. She’s married to a woman named Regina, and they have two boys,” Cade said.

“Have you ever met the two boys and the wife?” The agent was really pushing her luck with Cade.

“Well, no, but she talked about them a lot. She didn’t do the books, Agent. She cooked and worked as the second monitor on the day shift.” Cade watched her quickly typing notes into her phone.

“Okay, well that’s enough for now. I’ll be in touch, okay? I’m not trying to drag you into this any more than I was trying to drag you into the Triad bullshit, but you seem to have a nose for trouble, young Kincade.” She dropped her phone into her handbag.

Cade glanced at Ford, seeing him drinking out of a straw. “What’s that?”

“Scotch. She drugged me last time she stopped in. I don’t trust her.” Ford’s comment brought an ear-splitting cackle from the woman.

Yeah, Cade didn’t trust her either. After her latest revelations, he needed to contact his mother to find out exactly what part she was playing with the FBI. The situation with his father, Clarence Radcliffe, and Kenneth Shaw sounded dangerous, and he didn’t want his mother in danger at all. She was the only parent he had left.