Page 26 of Cade

Hanna gets up, and I get up and follow behind her and Tucker. “You get the coffee going, beautiful, and I’ll let him out and get his food.” Hanna nods and moves to the kitchen while I get to the back door and let him out. Within minutes, he’s back inside eating his breakfast as we enjoy the first cups of coffee. I’m about to ask Hanna a question when Tucker barks like crazy and runs to the front door. He’s only done this one other time, and it was the second day he was here. In fact, that was the last day that I got a weird package delivered. I’ve had two more notes at the clubhouse, but neither of them was as bad as the one threatening Hanna.

I look through the peephole and only see our regular delivery driver pulling out of the driveway. I see a box sitting on the welcome mat, and I pick it up, but the address label makes me pause.

Cade and the future Mrs. Evanich

There’s been no public announcement about our engagement. Our family, friends, and most of my teammates know, so who the hell is leaving this shit? It’s not some random stranger, and that makes it even creepier.

I bring the box inside, and Tucker follows me. I let him sniff it, not sure what that will do, but he just checks it out and goes back to his food bowl. I set it on the table. Hanna moves next to me, looks at the package, and then back up to me. “You think it’s from the creep who keeps leaving things and notes for you, don’t you?”

I shrug my shoulders. “I dunno, but I feel like if it was someone who wanted us to know who it was, there would be a return address label. Again, like the others, this one doesn’t have it, but I’m gonna open it and see what’s inside.”

I open the box and look inside. There’s a note, a rugby ball, a pair of blue lace panties, and artificial black rose petals strewn about the bottom of the box. Hanna voices my exact thoughts. “What the hell? Who the hell are those? Wait...” She pulls them out and studies the panties, and her face loses its color. She looks up at me.

“These are mine. Kierstie got me and Kinsley some when she got married. She said they would be for our something blue when we one day got married. I’ve never worn them, but that means someone was in our home. They were in here.” I feel a combination of rage and worry I’ve never felt before. Someone was in our home. We could have been home. Hell, Hanna could’ve been home alone when some fucker was in here.

I open the note to see what it says before I lose my shit completely.

Maybe you need to marry the woman who knows how to be a player’s wife instead of a fat bitch who can’t see and will only bring you down. The one you’ve been looking at all along is the one who’s meant for you. Get rid of the pig, or I’ll have to help you see the error of your ways.

The note is typed and has no signature or any indication as to who it could be. This shit is enough. I feel Hanna start shaking next to me. I quickly pull her into my arms and hug her to me. “No one is going to hurt you. This ends now. Time to take care of shit.” I pull out my phone, take a pic of the note and the package. I set the phone on the table, hit the speaker button, and make a call while keeping Hanna in my arms.

The phone rings once before it’s answered, and Ethan’s voice comes over the speaker. “Little early this morning for a call, Evanich. You aren’t calling out sick, are you?” I don’t even answer his question but go straight to the reason for my call.

“I just got another fucking weird package at the door, but they put a note in it threatening Hanna.”

Hanna, not one to be quiet, adds more information for Ethan to absorb. “They’ve been in our house. They included a pair of my panties, which means they came in and took them.”

I’m pretty sure there was a growl on the other end of the phone, then Ethan spoke with the kind of voice that could put fear into someone and have a submissive on their knees in seconds.

“I’m going to call the cops and try and get the one who took the first report to come out to your place. This shit has crossed a line that’s not okay. I know you have connections with your club. Call them, get the tech guys on this, and beef up your security system. I’m gonna make a couple of calls to some contacts I have. Between them all, we’re gonna get to the bottom of this as soon as possible because I won’t stand by and let you be scared in your own home, you get me, darlin’?”

Hanna nods and answers Ethan, “I get you. We were gonna go up to my parents’ after today’s match to do some wedding planning, and maybe we’ll come back with some of the brothers so they can put up more cameras.” She pauses. Even with the fear of what’s going on, my girl can’t help herself, and she smiles. “Never thought I’d hear your Dom voice, Ethan. I can see why you’ve got guys dying to be on their knees in front of you.”

Experiencing hot coffee up my nose was not something I needed. Then again, hearing my wife talk about another man’s dominant voice wasn’t something I needed to hear either, let alone thefact that she knows he might be one. That will be a discussion for another moment, most definitely. But if it’s possible to hear someone blush over the phone, I think that’s what happens as Ethan sputters, trying to find words to respond to Hanna.

“Girl, you are horrible. Now, back to the matter at hand. I’m going to make some calls. You call your people and bring Hanna when you come to the stadium. I know it will be early, but we want her safe. She can hang out with me ‘til the match starts.” We both agree and hang up.

Hanna looks at me, and I see her gather her strength. She takes a sip of coffee. She raises an eyebrow as she looks at me. “You know who you need to call?” I feel like this is a test of which names I remember.

“Well, my gut says your parents, but I think that needs to be after we call Logan. He’s one of your club’s techy guys, isn’t he?” Hanna nods.

“Yeah, he is, and he can get Juan and Samson to help him if he needs it. I would bet what’s left of my vision that Logan, Asher, Mayson, and probably Dad and Pops will all want to come down and make sure everything is as secure and safe as it can be. Will Miss Matson have a problem with us putting up more cameras?”

I scoff. “Baby, really? Miss Matson absolutely loves you. She would beat my ass if I didn’t do everything I needed to in orderto keep you safe. You’ve found yourself a new grandma in her. She keeps your favorite tea, makes your favorite cookies all the time,andhas a jar of biscuits for Tucker. I think we’re good on that front. Now let’s make those calls. Since you and Tucker are coming with me earlier than normal, that means we should pack our overnight bags too so we can just leave for your parents’ straight from the stadium.” A cold nose bumps my knee and pushes between me and Hanna. I look down and he’s rubbing on her. I think he’s more than a seeing-eye dog. He’s so in tune with her in just this short time.

Hanna

The second half of the match is about to start in a couple of minutes. We’re leading by two tries, and the other team has looked sloppy all match. Tucker is asleep at my feet. It’s been lightly raining most of the match, but I’m living high today. Watching the game from Ethan’s box, I’ve stayed dry, and he’s got the game on a big monitor, so I’ve kept up easily.

Dad and Pops were ready to drive down and pick me up this morning, but between Mom and me, we were able to convince them I would be safe since I was going to the stadium with Cade and wouldn’t be alone. Then we’d be coming up their way as soon as Cade could leave. One of the first questions Dad askedwas if we’d called Logan to look into it. When Cade told him he already had and that Ethan had the Norse Rebels tech guy looking into it too, I think he and Pops calmed down a little.

My phone dings with an incoming text. I’m thankful, even though my vision is getting worse, I can still read up close, so I don’t have to switch to text-to-speech out in public just yet. I use it at home because it’s just easier half the time to listen to, but I like that I can still read it.

Mom: Are you really okay, or are you freaking out?

Me: I freaked out at first, but I know Cade will do everything in his power to keep me safe. He’s got help from both our family and Ethan’s connections. Besides, I have a feeling I won’t be home alone for a bit. Tucker’s also good protection. He alerted and sniffed all over the package before he stepped back to let Cade take it.

Mom: I’m gonna have to make two steak dinners at this rate. Cade for knowing who to call and how to make things safer for you, and to Tucker for being so good for you.