Elliot’s chest tightened at the sight of them. It had been weeks since the explosive confrontation with Davey that had ended with Cade’s resignation from WSW and words that couldn’t be taken back.
Silence stretched, thick with tension that even Nova seemed to sense. Her small hand fisted in her father’s shirt.
Elliot set his beer aside and stood, letting a faint smile ease across his face. “Hey, Cade. You gonna come in, or just lurk in the doorway?”
Cade’s gaze swept the room before landing on Elliot. His jaw was tight, shoulders squared like he was bracing for impact, butthere was something undeniably vulnerable in his eyes as he stepped forward.
Cade’s shoulders loosened. He stepped forward, crossing the space with measured strides. When he reached Elliot, he pressed the small wrapped box into his palm. His jaw was tight, but his voice was quiet, almost tentative. “Happy birthday.”
The gift had weight despite its small size, and Elliot smiled, already knowing what it was. Another paperweight. Years ago, Cade had forgotten his birthday and swiped one off their uncle Greer’s desk to cover his ass. Elliot had kept it, and Cade had never let the joke die. Every year since, he found a new one, each more ridiculous than the last.
Elliot huffed a laugh and shook his head. “What is it this time? Crystal dolphin? Glow-in-the-dark skull?”
“Something like that.” Cade’s mouth twitched. Not quite a smile, but close enough.
Cade shifted Nova to his other arm, and she babbled something that sounded like “El-lot” while reaching toward him with chubby fingers. Then, with a proud little squeal, she added, “Hap day!”
“Happy birthday, Elliot,” Cade corrected. He’d obviously been coaching her.
“Hap buh-day, El-lot!”
“Thank you, sweetheart,” Elliot said, his voice automatically softening as he reached out to brush a gentle finger against her chubby cheek. She giggled and grabbed for his hand with surprising strength for someone so small.
The sound loosened something in his chest. Leave it to Cade’s little girl to do what no one else could—make this feel like family again.
“Thanks for coming,” he said, meaning it. Despite everything, despite the rift that had torn through their family like a hurricane, Cade was still his cousin. Still blood.
“Wouldn’t miss it.” Cade’s gaze landed on Davey, and the room cooled again, like a weather system changing direction.
Elliot glanced at Davey, watched his brother’s jaw tighten as he set his beer down harder than necessary. Rowan’s hand settled on Davey’s arm in silent support.
Daphne went rigid by the windows, her smile vanishing as she stared at Cade like he’d tracked mud across her clean floors. Her twin, Celeste, ever the peacemaker, swooped in with forced cheer.
“I’m so glad you made it, Cade! We’ve got tons of food left, and I was just telling Rue about the time you and El got stuck in that elevator in Dubai—” Her words tumbled out too quickly, desperate to fill the charged silence.
But it was too late. The damage was done. The warm bubble of celebration had popped, leaving something brittle and dangerous in its place.
Elliot watched it unfold like a slow-motion car crash. Fiona crossed to stand near Daphne, Liam, and Dom, a silent show of solidarity for Team Davey. Weston, Griffin, and Tessa drifted toward Cade. The family was splitting into factions before his eyes.
And he, Celeste, and Bridger were caught in the middle, unwilling to choose sides.
“I’m surprised you’re here,” Davey finally said, his voice carefully neutral but undercut with steel. “Since you were so hell-bent on leaving the family last time we spoke.”
Cade’s smile was sharp enough to draw blood. “I’m still family, even if I’m not on the payroll anymore.”
“That was your choice,” Davey countered.
“Was it?” Cade’s laugh held no humor. “Funny, I remember it differently.”
“Boys.” Mom and Aunt Eva said at the same time in their listen-to-your-mother voices.
“Not tonight,” Mom added. “Please.”
Rue appeared at Elliot’s side, her fingers brushing against his arm in silent support. He hadn’t realized how tense he’d become until her touch loosened the knots in his shoulders.
“Should I grab the fire extinguisher, or is this just how Wilde family gatherings normally go?” she whispered, only half-joking.
“This is actually mild,” he murmured back, surprised to find his lips quirking despite everything. “Last Christmas, Cade punched Davey, and they knocked over the Christmas tree.” He frowned at the memory. “But the tree falls over every year for one reason or another, so that’s practically a family tradition at this point.”
