Corrupted Chaos: An Enemies to Lovers Forced Proximity Romance (Tarnished Empire)

“Where are we going?”

Cade had somehow managed to get me to sleep in after showering and then fucking all night. And in that time, he’d had a suitcase of my belongings—including spray paint—sent over. I searched the bag and was able to pick out a pink T-shirt with Coolio on it and shorts. If my whole wardrobe wasn’t a tribute to the nineties outside of work, I didn’t want it.

He’d hurried me into his Tesla and told me nothing else until he murmured, looking out the window, “To your family’s.”

“Um . . .” I stuttered. “That’s not a good idea. My brothers will—”

“Be happy to see me?” He chuckled and then cracked his knuckles. “I’m aware no one wants to see me right now.”

Everyone knew the situation because Dante had told them. They’d all been texting me this morning. Gossip in my family traveled like wildfire. Dom was probably the most persistent, only because he was the oldest, and Lilah was already married to someone in the mob, so she’d given our family a good enough scare before.

Declan: I’m at Mom and Dad’s. I flew in. You’d better get here now.

Me: Please don’t start. We’re already on the way.

Declan: We? No.

Declan: Don’t bring him here. You need to rest and heal.

Me: I am. I’m with Cade and safe.

Declan: That’s not possible if you’re with him. What the fuck is wrong with you and Lilah? Pick normal men. Not the mob.

Me: Oh shut up.

I shoved the phone into the cup holder. “I don’t need to go to my family’s.”

“I’m going to be gone for a few days for work,” Cade explained, but his voice was stilted, distant, not at all how it had sounded last night. “I don’t want you to be by yourself, and you can’t work, but the election is days away.”

The reminder perked me up. “We need to get back to work. Not go to my parents’.”

“You’re on leave until further notice.”

“Leave?” I leaned forward, and when he didn’t respond, I snapped my fingers in front of his face to at least get him to glance my way. “I can’t be on leave during the election, Cade. JUNIPER is my baby and—”

“You taught everyone everything they need to know. I’ve gotta be in DC, and then I’m heading out for work. You’ll be back in the office in no time. Take a little—”

“I don’t want time off work.”

“Too damn bad.” He slammed his hand on the steering wheel. “You’re tired, Izzy. You work yourself to the ground. And you need rest. The fact that I’m not taking you to the damn hospital to get checked after a fucking kidnapping speaks volumes.”

“Well, considering I slept with you all of last night, that probably proves I’m fine.” I scoffed and tried not to smile at our bickering. Yet, this was what I was used to. We both enjoyed riling each other.

When we stopped at a red light, though, Cade looked at me, and his eyes were cavernous, full of regret. He took in my arms, legs, and neck. Every part of me that was exposed had some mark. Last night, he’d even left a bruises along my neck and bite marks across my chest. It was like he was trying to compete with the marks the Albanians had left there.

“Yes,” he murmured. “You’re going to be fine soon.”

His comment made no sense, but I sighed and let him have it. “You know I’m fine now.” I shrugged and stared out the window as my parents’ home came into view. I saw the firepit out back and my niece’s baby swing set up on a blanket, which meant Delilah and Dante must have been near.

We weren’t going to get a chance to see them right away, though, because Declan sat out on the porch, a hat turned backward on his head. That look meant business, and so right when Cade parked, I swung open the door and got out in front of the situation.

“Declan Hardy in the flesh. You shouldn’t have flown in for me.”

He swooped me into his arms and pretty much swallowed me in a hug. My big brother was at least twice my size. He worked out way more than was needed and took his NFL career seriously. To most men, he would have been intimidating. Especially considering I knew he’d been one to fight off friends of his who’d tried to ask me out on dates. He was overprotective, but it was always out of love.

So when Cade walked my suitcase over and stood in front of us, I tried to step between them.

“Cade Armanelli,” Declan ground out, not extending a hand or any sort of warm greeting. “The reformed businessman in the flesh . . . or should I say reformed Mafia.”

“We’re businessmen,” Cade corrected, narrowing his eyes.

“Either way, you come here to get your ass beat or to get your ass beat?” Declan asked and crossed his arms over his chest.

“Declan, get real.” I patted his shoulder. “Everything’s fine.”

“From what I hear, everything’s not fine. You got mixed up with this guy and almost died.”

“Now, that’s not—”

Cade cut me off. “That’s correct. It’s why I’m here. I already spoke to your parents.” As if on cue, my parents stepped outside and waved at Cade. “Mr. and Mrs. Hardy, I appreciate this. Izzy needs a place to stay while I get an apartment squared away for her. I assure you she’s safe now.”

My mom squinted at him like she knew something we all didn’t. “Cade, why don’t you help Izzy up to her room. It’ll be a good place for you to have a moment.” She passed him the suitcase.

“A moment for what?” Declan growled. “They don’t need a damn moment, Ma.”

But Cade was already walking me to the door. He opened it and waited for me to step in, never meeting my eyes. I strode through and tried to call my cat over, but she was trotting toward my dad like she had a new best friend. I rolled my eyes and went to my bedroom, ushering Cade in. “Sorry about my brother. They all might be a bit weird for a while.”

“Not weird. They’re what you need.” He set my suitcase on my bed and then took my face in his hands. “They’re what you need, and I’m not, Izzy.”

I froze. “What?”

“Lucas woke up, and he’s coming here too. You’re going to have all the people you need surrounding you.”

“Surrounding me for what?”

“I’m leaving, dollface. You don’t need me right now. You need them.” He encircled my wrist and brought a key from his pocket. He unlocked the bracelet and put it in his pocket.

I didn’t understand what he was saying or doing. “Sure I need them. I need you too. You’re leaving for a few days, but you’ll be back, right?”

He stared at me in silence, and then he took two steps back, away from me, and it might as well have been two fucking miles.

“You’ll be back, right, Cade?” Why did my voice sound desperate?

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

My heart stuttered, then it cracked, then it exploded into smithereens. “What?” I murmured.

“I think you’ll be better off without me.”

“Better off? Better off?” How could he possibly think that anyone could accept and love my shit show the way he did? “You just killed a man for me. I think you are the only thing I need in my life right now.”

He fisted his hands. “All the more reason for me to leave you.”

“What are you talking about?” I shook my head in disbelief.

“You’re going to see the news in a few minutes. The country is breaking alliances with Albania. The world is going to feel the tsunami wave of chaos I just caused. I can’t be involved with you right now, Izzy.”

“You’re leaving me?” The tears didn’t even hesitate to fall from my cheeks almost immediately. Then I whispered what I couldn’t hold onto anymore, “But I love you, Cade. And it’s more than I ever thought I could love again.”

“Baby doll, give it some time, okay?”

“Time?” I screeched. “You think time is going to heal me from losing you? I can barely fucking breathe with what you’re telling me.”

He shook his head and started backstepping away from me, out of my room, out of my life. “I’m leaving now, before I take you on your bed for doing something crazy like throwing something at me.”

He was damn right. I lunged for the spray paint, but he was out the door before I chucked it.