Logan Kade (Fallen Crest #5.5)(86)

LARGE AND IN CHARGE


LOGAN


The elevators pinged my arrival, and the doors opened for me. My dad’s office was large and in charge, just how he was. Two water fountains lined the side of the long hallway. My dad’s receptionist’s desk was at the end and she was behind it, staring at me. I knew the layout was set up that way to impress colleagues, business associates, and whoever else of my dad’s power. He was f*cking James Kade. He owned and operated a shit ton of businesses, but this was me. I’d been there when he brought woman after woman into the house, and that must’ve been years after sleeping with them in his office or at hotels. I’d been there when Mason asked him to come to a little league game and he no-showed. I was there my when mom screamed at him, threatening divorce, and he merely walked out of the room like he hadn’t heard a word. I was there...in that damned empty mansion. Long after my mom left. Long after Mason would go and drink with Nate. Long after my dad was hardly even a roommate. So no, walking down this extensive hallway and seeing some stick-thin woman at the end, sitting there in her tight shirt, the buttons threatening to burst at the seams, a black lacy strap peeking out from one side of her shirt, none of this impressed me.

It only pissed me off, and the fact that I didn’t want to be here when all I wanted to be with was Taylor.

“Logan,” the receptionist greeted warmly and stood up.

She was going to open the door for me. I waved her back down. “I know the way.”

She paused, frowning. “I’ll need to make sure he’s ready for you.”

I grunted. Like I cared about that. Ignoring her, I swept past and was at the door before she could get there first. I didn’t know what to expect inside my dad’s office, but seeing Mason there had me putting on the brakes.

He was standing, glaring at James, but twisted to see me. His face went blank. “What are you doing here?”

I gestured to him. “Probably same as you. What are you doing here?” And why hadn’t he told me?

As if reading my thought, Mason cringed. He shifted back on his feet and slid his hands inside his pockets. “I would’ve told you I was coming here, but a certain someone is always with his girlfriend now.”

I smirked. “You jealous of Taylor? Missing your little brother maybe?”

“I’m starting to feel that you spend more time with my coach than I do.” I grimaced.

I laughed. “You’re jealous of your coach.” I winked. “That’s cute.”

Mason rolled his eyes. “Taylor was attacked a month ago, and you’re basically living over there now.”

“Well,” I corrected. “Not really. I had to meet Broozer first. You know, the official boyfriend/dad of the girl I’m screwing and who I love to screw, that meeting.” I flashed a grin.

“Screwing?”

I shrugged. “Make love, but the mushy stuff is on the down-low. I have a rep to uphold. I’m still a badass.”

“You’re wifed up.”

I hushed him. “Let’s not talk like that.” I zeroed in on our dad, who’d been quiet the entire exchange. Mason and I were standing while he remained in his big leather chair, watching us. I said, “We’ve got a different ‘wifed up’ situation to deal with first.”

Mason turned with me so we were both facing our father. And I knew without looking that we wore matching expressions. Scowls.

James took a breath in, his shoulders lifting up and moving back down in a slow motion. His hand came to the desk, resting there, before he nodded like he came to a decision. He stood then and slid his hands inside his pockets, mirroring Mason. I started to smirk because I knew what would happen next, and it did.

Mason pulled his hands out and crossed them over his chest instead.

James glanced at me, and I raised an eyebrow. “You going to do that, too, now?”

The slight blank mask on his face fell away and exasperation showed. “You two will never completely forgive me, will you?”

Mason asked, “For what, Dad?”

I added, “For being a douchebag father?”

Mason was next. “For all the women you brought into the house?”

Me again. “For not being there, ever, for us?”

Mason. “For leaving Mom and falling in love with someone just like you?”

Me. “Or for deciding to be our father when we really don’t need you anymore?” I leaned forward, placing my hands on the desk. “Too little, too late…Dad.”

He sat back down and leaned forward, folding his hands together on the desk. His eyes went from Mason to me, and back again. In that moment, he gave in. I felt it from him. He sat down while we both towered over him, and we were united. This was how it was supposed to be, and how it would always be. Me and Mase, together, as we were against him.

“Okay.” He gestured to the chairs behind us. “I get it. I do. Please, sit down.”

We remained standing.

He let out a small breath of air, shaking his head. “I told you guys two years ago that I was going to make everything up to you—”

“Yeah.” I nodded. “You left. Thank you.”

He threw me a dark look. “Oh, come on, Logan. Analise is sick, was sick. I went to be by her side. I was doing what a devoted fiancé does for the woman he loves, and I know you both hate her—”