Jorje nodded. “All right, if you’re sure you don’t need any more help…”
“I don’t.” Cade said and pushed open the door. “You head on home…and don’t worry about coming in tomorrow if it’s still coming down like this. I’ll call you if we need you.”
He hopped out of the truck and slammed the door behind him.
Jorje did the same, then climbed into his truck, backed up, and turned for the drive. “Adiós,” he shouted as he drove away, his hand waving from the half-open driver’s side window.
Cade returned the wave. “Hasta luego!”
When he turned away, the smile dropped from his face and the tension in his shoulder grew. He didn’t want to go inside. Didn’t want to face what he might find. Didn’t want to deal with anger that was, even now, burning inside him.
But this was his home and he wasn’t going to have his backstabbing brother run him off this time.
But what if Addie figured out what Jenny had? That Cade wasn’t worth the love she had to give? What if she found Cord more interesting, more…desirable?
A growl rumbled up from his chest. No! Not this time. He would not give Addie up without a fight. He would not let his brother win a second time. Last time, he’d been too shocked, hurt, and devastated to do anything but run. This time, he would stand his ground. Addie belonged with him. His brother, whatever his business here, would have to go.
With long, purposeful strides, Cade headed for the front door, not caring that he was wet and his boots were covered in snow. He would not give any advantage in this battle. This war, he intended to win.
Chapter 26
Addie’s sparkling laughter was the first thing Cade heard as he reached for the doorknob. His heart clenched and then fury rushed through him, heating his skin as if he was on fire. How could she sit and laugh with Cord after what I’ve told her? How could she betray him like that?
Turning the knob and pushing the door open with more force that necessary, Cade stormed into the room, ready to fight. Addie sat on one end of the couch, a mug of coffee in her hand. Cord sat on the loveseat a few feet away, sipping from his own mug.
Pain lanced through Cade’s chest seeing them together, and Addie’s wide-eyed expression said that he wasn’t doing a very good job of hiding his feelings. A welcoming smile lit up her face, but he wasn’t ready to hear what she would say. He’d deal with her later.
He turned to his brother, his eyes narrowing. Staring into the face that looked so much like his own, Cade felt the familiar sting of disappointment. At one time, Cord had been his best friend, the one person he could always count on, who understood him better than anyone else ever could—his other half.
Now, Cord’s was the face of his worst enemy.
“How did you find me?” he growled, uncaring that he sounded aggressive.
Cord swallowed the coffee he’d just sipped and then set the mug on the coffee table. He stood and faced Cade. A muscle in Cord’s jaw twitched and determination filled his expression. Then he uttered one word, “Zack.”
Cade cursed. “I knew I should’ve told him to keep his big yap shut.”
Cord frowned. “Don’t blame him. You could’ve picked up a phone.”
“For what?” Cade shouted, his whole body shaking with rage. “To hear how my ex-fiancée and my brother are getting on? Like I’d want to know.”
His brother recoiled, but straightened his shoulders and his determined look returned. “That’s why I came.”
Cade barked a derisive laugh. “Why? To rub it in?”
Cord shook his head and his shoulders drooped. “No.”
“Then why are you here?”
“To explain…about Jenny.”
Another bitter laugh bubbled up from Cade’s aching chest. “There’s nothing to explain. It’s over…and good riddance. You two deserve each other.”
Pain filled his brother’s blue eyes. “You don’t understand—”
“What’s to understand?” Cade asked, ignoring the hurt on his brother’s face. “You fucked her and she left me for you.”
Cord sighed and shook his head. “No…I didn’t.”
“You should listen to him, Cade,” Addie said, breaking the heavy silence.
Her soft voice came as a surprise. For a moment, he’d forgotten she was there. Her eyes pleaded with him and he almost caved. His gaze darted between them and then renewed fury hardened his heart as suspicion weighed on his chest.
“You too?” His voice cracked.
Sadness and worry filled her beautiful eyes. “No, I—”
“Forget it,” Cade said harshly, unable to stomach what she would say. He’d heard it before. He wasn’t worth it. He wasn’t enough. He’d known it would come, but it wasn’t until now that he realized how much he’d hoped to be wrong.
Unable to face either of them without losing the meager control he had on his anger, Cade turned and walked out.
“Cade…wait!” Cord said as he grabbed Cade’s arm.
Unthinking or caring what happened, Cade tightened his fist and turned, putting all his weight behind a right cross that sent his brother flying back to the couch.
“Cade!” Addie shouted as she stepped over to check on Cord.
His chest tightened again as she placed a hand on his brother’s shoulder and asked if he was okay. Another wave of raging heat swept through Cade and he spoke out of anger and heartache. “Do you want to sleep with him, too? You want to compare the twins in bed, like everyone else?”
Addie straightened and slowly turned to face him. Anger filled her eyes, but there was pain there, too. “You have no right to say something
