Logan Kade (Fallen Crest #5.5)

I leaned forward. “Do they know how my mom died?”

A sudden hush came over the car, followed by a slight wave of tension, and I knew why. It plagued me for the last nine months, but I hadn’t talked about it. No one asked, and I never offered. A counselor had asked my feelings once, but I spent the entire hour in silence. My friends never questioned me. They knew better. I’d talk when I wanted to. The last and only time I spoke on the subject was my statement to the police—until now.

Claire shifted in her seat. “Uh…no,” she murmured. “It was kept out of the papers, and I’ve never heard any word about it on campus.”

“No one talks about it on my campus either,” Jason added.

I was relieved to hear it, and as quick as I brought it up, I shoved it to the back of my mind. Seeing lights from a house growing brighter and brighter as we approached, I said the only other thing I wanted to do that night.

“Good,” I told my friends. “Now let’s get drunk.”





MOTHER F&CKER LOGAN KADE





TAYLOR


The house party had spilled out into the backyard. A river, down from the backyard’s slope, was lit up by floating candles anchored in place. It was beautiful. It gave the entire scene an almost magical feeling. My last college had parties—for the short time that I’d been there—but they were distinctly different from this. They were about beer, wine, rum, and deep conversation. I’d gotten into a few philosophical debates about religion and society’s selfishness, with Eric, the boyfriend, at my side.

He’d been at my side in high school, too. Those years had been about pretending to be mature while people hooked up, got drunk on whatever they could score, and kept one eye out for the cops. No one was running around naked tonight. A few were making out, but all in all, this Cain U party seemed tame. People were drinking and talking. Those who were swimming were doing just that: swimming. A few guys were pretending to dunk some girls, but that was the closest to shrieking anyone came.

Claire headed off to find her friends, and when she came back, I took the drink she offered. Gesturing with it around us, I asked, “Why couldn’t we have parties like this in high school?”

“We were too busy pretending to be cool?”

“Oh, yeah.”

Jason came over then, a scowl on his face. “I couldn’t get one. You were wrong, Claire. They do remember me.”

She almost choked. “You’re kidding.”

He rolled his eyes, and took the one she was holding. “Nope, sweet chickadee. They remember me. This is Blaze’s party. I didn’t know this house was his. He moved. He was closer to Cain campus last year.”

Claire held her hands up. “Chill, okay. I’ll get you a drink, and stop worrying. If they were going to throw you out, you wouldn’t have been allowed back here.”

“Mmm-hmmm.” He glowered at her retreating back over the drink he still held. “She’s off to get her own self a drink.” He raised the glass to me. “And I’m no idiot. They’re waiting for Logan Kade to get here. Then they’ll see what he wants to do with me.”

“Okay.” I shifted closer to him. “What happened, and who is Logan Kade? His name sounds familiar.”

“His name’s familiar because his brother is a football god around these parts: Mason Kade. I’m sure your dad’s mentioned him.”

I scratched at the corner of my mouth. Was that where I’d heard that name before?

“So his brother is a big football guy. What does that have to do with Logan and whoever this Park guy is? How were you involved?”

“Mason Kade hated Sebastian Park last year, so that meant his brother hated him, too. I don’t know the reason why. There are rumors, of course,” Jason said, fluttering his hands through the air. “But who really knows? What I do know is that I took bets on some fights for Park last year. Logan Kade wanted me to open it up to his buddies at a party, and I wouldn’t do it. It was a conflict of interest. I owed Sebastian. Everyone knew about the beef between the two. I was protecting myself.”

He ran a hand over his face. “Since then, I’ve not been invited to any Cain University party. Park basically got run out of town, and the Kades took over, kind of. I mean, a lot of people have no clue about the rivalry, but everyone who matters knows, and they paid attention. Once Kade gets here, they’re going to throw me out…” His voice trailed off as his gaze fixed on something over my shoulder.

He suddenly resembled an owl. His eyes got big, and his chest rose as he sucked in a quick breath of air.

Someone new had arrived at the party, and turning around, I assumed it was Logan Kade. I could only see the back of him. He was talking to a group of guys right outside the back door, and someone motioned in our direction.

Jason groaned.