The Fall and Rise of Kade Hart: A Hart Brothers Novel

by A. M. Hargrove

  The Seven

  “Explain? Explain! There is nothing to explain. They went to the airport, got on the plane, and left for fuck’s sake. With Judgment Day! Without protection! And now they’re on a private jet, going WhoTheFuckKnowsWhere! It’s going to take a hell of a lot more work to track them,” Sabin grits out. He picks up a chair and it splinters as it hits the wall.

  Edge speaks out and says, “Well, sir, we were tailing them but by the time we got there, the door to their aircraft was closed, so it wasn’t possible for us to get on board. And she doesn’t exactly know she has Judgment Day.”

  Wrong thing to say.

  Another chair flies at Edge and he has to duck in order to keep his head from getting creamed.

  “The fuck? What the hell was I supposed to tell her? That she carries one of the activators to Paradox? Are you fucking nuts?”

  Another chair zooms by Edge’s head and he deflects it with his forearm this time.

  “No! But perhaps you could’ve told her something.”

  Rafe takes his finger and slices it across his neck, indicating that Edge needs to shut the hell up. Too late.

  Sabin shoots a look at Edge that would wither the steeliest of men. “Do you value your balls, Edge?”

  “My balls, sir?”

  “Yes. Your testicles. Gonads. Whatever the hell you refer to them as?”

  “Uh, yeah. Yes, I value them, sir.”

  “Then you’d better keep your mouth shut or I’ll cram them so far up your ass, you’ll be squeaking like a soprano.”

  Edge immediately grabs his balls, covering them up just in case.

  “Okay, everyone, let’s calm down. Nothing’s happened,” Rafe says.

  “Yet,” Sabin clips.

  Rafe calls out, “Drey, Helios, track that flight right now. I don’t care how many sites you have to hack. Do it and keep your goddamn footprints covered. You’re the best at this. Failure is not an option. I want anything you can get. I’d start with the FAA. There has to be a flight plan filed somewhere. Verus, get on it with your tracer. See if you can pick up an traces of Judgment Day.”

  “On it,” they all say.

  That leaves Edge, Andros, Sabin, and Rafe. Rafe looks at Edge and says, “You two, go to their house. Get into their computer and see what you come up with. Don’t come back here until you have something for us. I don’t care if you have to go through every single byte on their hard drive.”

  “Got it,” Edge says and they both leave.

  Sabin casts a weary glance at Rafe. “This is bad and I have a very bad feeling about this.”

  “Don’t. Not yet anyway. We know his brother’s wife was due to have a baby. Maybe that’s where they went.”

  “I don’t know.”

  “You need sleep. Go. Now.”

  “Fuck you, Rafe.”

  Rafe gets into Sabin’s face. “Listen to me and listen good. If this damn thing goes south and you’re called down for it, do you want to explain this situation looking the way you do? When was the last time you slept?”

  Sabin shrugs.

  “Go now or I’m exercising my right of duty and pulling you off this mission.”

  “You wouldn’t dare.”

  “Watch me.”

  “You son of a bitch.”

  “Fine. But I’m the son of a bitch who always has your back, has saved your ass a time or two and who’s gonna keep saving your ass. You have two hours. Go!”

  Sabin stomps out and rips another door off its hinges.

  Exactly three hours later, Edge and Andros return with information on Kade and Juliette’s whereabouts. At approximately the same time, Drey, Verus, and Helios come in with their findings.

  “Before you begin, let me get Sabin,” Rafe says.

  When they’re all assembled, the men take turns.

  Drey starts. “Tortola, the British Virgin Islands was the destination of the flight.”

  “Good work,” Rafe says. “Edge?”

  “All their computer records were erased so it took awhile …”

  Sabin interrupts. “We don’t give a fuck. Did you find anything?”

  “The brother has a boat docked in Tortola. A sailboat.”

  Sabin announces. “Gear up. We’re going to Tortola, boys. You’d better pray we get there before our other friends do.”

  “Do you really think they’re fast enough to beat us there?” Edge asks.

  “I worry about you sometimes with these questions you ask, Edge,” Sabin says as he grimaces.

  “Sabin, what if we can’t persuade her to come back here?” Rafe asks.

  “Persuade? Who said anything about persuasion? This isn’t a game, Rafe.” He walks away, leaving everyone watching.

  Twenty-Five

  Kade

  Watching her gaze at me makes me want to give her the world. Given the chance, I will do exactly that. Her smile is better than any sunrise or sunset. Holding her hand is better than any dip in the sea. Her kisses … nothing comes close, and if I knew I could never have one again, I would trade my life for it. When you find that one, that person who singularly insinuates herself into your life and makes it worth waking up for every day, there is nothing, nothing you wouldn’t do for her. If she asks me why I love her, I wouldn’t be able to tell her a single reason. Because there isn’t one. There are dozens. All wrapped and merged together to create my special love for her. I’ve often heard the phrase, “She stole my heart.” Something can’t be stolen which is freely given, and I have not only given her mine, I have laid it at her feet.

  Her hand reaches for mine. “What are you thinking of with your beautiful eyes, so blue and expressive?”

  “That I am so in love with you. If you asked for the world, I would find a way to bring it to you.”

  “Oh, Kade, you’ve given me more than the world. You’ve given me yourself.”

  “Come stand with me here.” I put her in front of me as I navigate the boat out into the open water. “I need you close to me.” She leans against me and I love the way her body molds to mine. Even though we are unmatched in height, we fit. Even though she’s a tiny thing and I’m pretty large, we fit. I rest my chin on her head and inhale her vanilla scent.

  “Are you warm?”

  “Just a little.”

  “Why don’t you go put on some shorts and when you’re finished, I’ll put some on.”

  She’s back and I go down, telling her just to stay the course. We’re in deep water now, so she’ll be fine.

  When I find the perfect cove, I stop, release the anchor, and ask her if she’s up for a swim. No one is anywhere near us, we’re about a half mile out, not far, but far enough.

  “We can swim for a bit and maybe see a sunset.”

  “I’d love that.”

  She starts to head down below. “Where you going?”

  “I have to put on my bathing suit.”

  “No need. No one will see you. We’ll leave some towels on the platform in the back of the boat.”

  She’s skeptical. “Yeah?”

  “Yeah. Do you see anyone around?”

  “No, but what if they come?”

  “They won’t. And we won’t be out there forever.”

  “Sunscreen?” she asks.

  “It’s going to be dark soon. You’re fine.”

  I start to strip and she follows. I jump in and so does she.

  “It’s so warm,” she says.

  I don’t give her much time before I grab her. “Sorry, I can’t keep these hands off your naked body.”

  “I don’t want you to.”

  I pull her close and she wraps her legs around me. My dick is so fucking hard I want to push it into her.

  Her mouth sucks on my neck and it’s making my dick even harder. I kick us over to steps that are in the back of the boat and lean on them.

  “I wanna fuck you in the water, Juliette. You’ve made me so damn hard. But I don’t have a condom, so I’ll have to pull out.”

  Her han
d encircles my dick, and squeezes it, pumping it.

  “No, don’t. I want that to be you … your body. Not your hand.” I reach between her legs, and slide a finger in her, finding her slick and ready for me.

  “Hold my arms.” Then I push her legs open wide for me. “Sit on me, Jules.” She takes my dick and guides it into her. She’s hot, slick, wet. “You’re so tight around me. You don’t know how good you feel.”

  “Oh, I think I do.” Her words come out all raspy. I tilt my hips, thrusting upwards. I have to hold her legs down to keep her from floating off. Then I get an idea. I flip us, putting her ass on the steps.

  “Wrap your legs around me and hold onto me.” I feel her heels pressing, digging. Now I can do my thing.

  “Jules, are you good?”

  “Yes. Oh. Great. Right there.” I keep up the thrust as I hold us on the steps. Her hand clutches my shoulder, fingers dig into my muscles, and her head is turned. I can feel her mouth against my skin, hot air blowing across my skin, scorching me. But I feel her teeth scrape me at first, then bite me. Not hard, but not soft. Soon her hand nudges between us and I can feel her seeking out her spot, pushing herself to the edge.

  “Yes, yes, harder, there.” But when I hear my name, I wait a little longer, then pull out and come all over her. Her hand covers mine and she helps me finish it off. She rubs my cum over her breasts and nipples, pinching and twisting them, while watching me watch her. It’s the biggest turn on; I think I could get hard again.

  “Fuck, Jules.” I grab her chin and plunge my tongue into her mouth, tasting every bit of her. The kiss is hot, wet, and deep, and it lasts until we are both desperate for air.

  “Can you stop being so sexy?” I ask.

  “I can go back to acting like a nun,” she laughs.

  “No! Don’t you dare. I was kidding, anyway. Sexy, sensuous, Juliette is far more appealing to me. I loved you before, but damn, you’re going to kill me like this.”

  “I wouldn’t do that.” She smirks at me.

  I pull her under water and rub the remnants of our lovemaking off of her.

  “Hey, a little warning would’ve been nice,” she says when she comes up.

  “Get up there so we can eat,” I say. I smack her on her bare ass, making her jump. She tosses me a look over her shoulder and I want to pull her back into the water and have a replay. I don’t. Instead, I follow her into the boat and we make dinner. When we finish, we talk about the necklace.

  “Have you made a decision?”

  “Yeah. I want to get rid of it. What’s the point of keeping it if it will only get us killed?”

  “When do you want to do it?” I ask.

  “The sooner the better.”

  “Tonight?”

  “I see no reason why not.”

  “Then let’s do it.”

  We go up top, I pull up the anchor, start the engine, and we get underway. “I want you to toss it out there as we move, and then I’ll find us another place to anchor for the night. I don’t want to spend the night next to where we throw it. You know, just in case.”

  “Good idea.”

  As we drift along the peaceful sea, I say, “You can throw it whenever you want.”

  “How deep is the water here?”

  I check the depth finder and it reads between forty-five and fifty feet, so I tell her.

  She lifts it off her neck, puts it in her palm and says, “Here goes.” Then she lets it fly. As I watch, I think maybe I should’ve thrown it. It would’ve traveled a greater distance. But no matter. I give the throttle a shove, and off we go.

  Forty-five minutes later I cut the engine and drop anchor again. It’s a beautiful night. The sky is dotted with a million stars, their pinpricks of light barely leaving any sky untouched. The moon is huge, a yellow glow blazing the sea in a silvery path, almost like it’s paving the way somewhere.

  “Oh, Kade, what a glorious night.”

  “I was thinking the same thing. I think it agrees with our decision.”

  “I hope so.”

  We both lean over the railing of the boat, satisfied that the necklace has found its true owner, the sea.

  “Maybe the necklace belonged to Atlantis,” Juliette says. “Maybe that’s why the sea is glowing. It’s happy to be returned home.”

  “Perhaps. I’m just happy I have my love with me to share this with.”

  This is not what I planned on doing. I have not prepared for anything. But this is so special, the two of us here, that I have to speak.

  I face her and take her hands. “I never thought you would happen, Juliette. And don’t laugh, because this is spur of the moment, but sometimes the best things that happen are the ones that aren’t planned. I want us to spend the rest of our lives together. Will you say yes?”

  “Kade, are you asking what I think you’re asking?”

  My head drops, and I nod. “I know we said go slow. But I know here,” I bang my chest, “that this is true. It’s right. And it’s not going to get any better than this. And if you say yes, it doesn’t have to mean tomorrow or next month. I only want you to know that I am committed to you for the rest of my life.”

  “Yes. On one condition.”

  “Condition?”

  “You say the words. Ask me, Kade.”

  “Juliette Bressan, will you marry me? I’m no hero, but I’ll be by your side, for better or worse, and I’ll love you with all that I can give you.”

  “Yes, Kade Hart, I will marry you and you are my hero.” When her lips touch mine, I’m the happiest man alive. All my insecurities about who and what I am fade, have faded, ever since she found me that day in church. She is my life. Now and forever. My Juliette.

  Dear Reader,

  This is where you have to make a decision. Do you end The Fall and Rise of Kade Hart, accept Kade and Juliette’s Happily Ever After when they return from their trip on the boat, or do you choose to continue on? I must warn you, if you choose to continue, you will learn more about The Seven, Judgment Day, and Paradox. What you uncover will take you out of your comfort zone—your normal contemporary world. Remember, this is your choice. End the book as a Contemporary Romance (click here), or read on and find out what happens next.

  If you choose to continue, I ask two things of you. One, you don’t spoil this ending for others. In other words, be discreet describing it in reviews and please omit it from your spoilers. And two, remember that you chose this path. In either case, I hope you enjoy whichever you choose.

  And The Story Continues …

  Twenty-Six

  Juliette

  Our lips touch, gently at first, but as usual, we get carried away by our passion. “Thank you. For being so kind, for loving me, and for bringing me here. I’ll be more than proud to be your wife.”

  “Well, isn’t this a touching scene?”

  I screech at the sound of the sarcastic words. It comes from a few feet away. It’s dark but light enough to see there are seven figures on the boat. Huge men. The shadows have found me. Shit. Kade sidles in front of me, offering me what little protection he can.

  “You can’t help her, Mr. Hart. It’s pointless to even try.”

  It’s him. The one who saved me. I’d recognize his voice anywhere. It’s … sexy. Hoarse. Throaty. I hate to admit it.

  “How—how did you find us?” I ask.

  “Not a particularly easy thing. But not that difficult either,” he says. Then his voice booms. “What the hell were you thinking? Running off like that? Do you realize how much danger you’re in?”

  Each of his words jolts me like an electric charge.

  “You’re frightening her,” Kade says.

  “Good. That is my intention.”

  He approaches me. He’s massive. A few inches taller than even Kade. Broader across the chest, too. I’m finally getting my first full look at him. And it’s only because of the monstrous moon tonight. I look at Kade then back at him. My shadow is dark to Kade’s light. Black shaggy hair frames his
angular face. And it’s quite a face. Full lips, wide mouth, and strong jawline. Scars. Several. There’s one that’s exceptionally difficult to avoid staring at. It runs from under his left eye to the corner of his mouth. This man has seen his share of fights, and by the looks of him he faces them head on. It’s too dark for me to tell what color his eyes are, but my guess is they are as attention grabbing as the rest of him.

  He stands a foot away and leans into me. In a voice that hovers over the air, sending shivers racing across my skin, he says, “Where is your necklace, Juliette? I don’t see it around your neck.” His tone is clipped, unfriendly. Not the one I’ve become familiar with.

  I’m wearing cutoffs and a tank top. It’s obvious the necklace isn’t on me.

  “I don’t have it anymore.”

  His posture instantly changes. He pushes himself into me, and his steely frame cages mine.

  Kade tries to maneuver himself in front of me, and then roars, “Back away from her!”

  My shadow flicks his head and another shadow grabs Kade and locks him down. “Save the heroics for later, Mr. Hart. You really don’t want to go there with us. Besides, do you really think you stand a chance as we grossly outnumber you?”

  Kade struggles against the shadow who holds him.

  “You son of a bitch! Let her go! If you hurt her, I’ll—”

  “You’ll what?” the shadow that restrains me asks. “I doubt there is very much you are capable of doing right now.” Then my shadow instructs the one who holds Kade to keep him quiet.

  “Juliette!” Kade calls out.

  “Kade, I’m fine,” I say, trying to calm him down. I see anger flash in his eyes.

  “No harm will come to her if you stop interrupting us. Now cease!” His irritation with Kade grows.

  Kade’s eyes still burn with anger, and I mouth, “I’m fine.” When he sees me, his tension and anger dissipate some.

  The shadow holding Kade guides him further away from me. I relax a little when I see Kade allowing himself to be led away, instead of struggling against the shadow who holds him.