Harper’s POV
Cade gets caught up in the fragile, quiet moment between us. He reaches out, his bruised knuckles brushing softly against my cheek as he gently pushes a stray lock of loose hair behind my ear. We stand there on the dimly lit sidewalk, just gazing into each other’s eyes, the chaotic terror of the night fading into the background.
“Thank you for helping us, Cade.”
My dad steps up, pulling Cade out of the magnetic pull of the moment. Cade’s hand drops from my stomach, his posture instantly stiffening into that of a guarded, dangerous mob boss.
Dad is visibly shaking, his hands held together tightly in a prayer formation. “I’ll do whatever it takes to pay you back. I swear it.”
“You want to pay me back?” Cade asks, his voice dropping into a low, challenging pitch.
Dad nods v
