CAGE’S FALL: The Vulture’s MC Page 10

  “So you let her visit you?” Autumn’s words, caused my back to stiffen as I slowly turned to look at her. Autumn’s expression told me she was hurt.

  “Yeah well, some stupid bitch got him locked up.” Holly muttered but Autumn heard it, and her face said it all— if we didn’t separate these two, there was going to be major fucking issues.

  “Want a drink?” Aaron said to Autumn. “I’m empty. Need a refill. Perhaps the bottle,” He winked “You coming?” He said and placed his empty glass down.

  Autumn nodded her head, and slid out Aaron’s side, leaving— heading for the bar.

  “What the fuck was that Holly?” I hissed at her, keeping my eyes on Autumn at the bar with Aaron.

  “Nothing,” she said. “Just told the truth.”

  I gripped her hand. “Don’t fucking lie to me. What’s going on?”

  Her expression tightened, and then tears welled in her eyes. “Everything is falling apart and I don’t know what to do.”

  I wanted to groan. I had come to her, for her to give Autumn some guiding light. Instead, she was fucking dealing with her own shit.

  Perhaps if I helped her, get past whatever it was upsetting her then she could help Autumn. If Autumn didn’t get into a fight with Holly.

  “Tell me about it,” I said turning to face her fully. “Tell me what is falling apart.”

  Autumn

  I watched him turn to face her in the booth. Their conversation not drying up when Aaron and I left. I pulled a stool out going to sit down.

  “You and I need to talk,” Aaron said causing me to frown.

  “Isn’t that what we are doing?” I said, taking the beer from the prospect at the bar.

  Aaron shook his head, “First I want to piss Cage off, then you and I need to have a conversation.”

  “Or a discussion, as she said.” I gestured my head back to her and Aaron stepped towards me, his hand going to my cheek.

  “Just stay still.” He whispered, and the man that was fucking Aaron Crow, made a move on me. His hand spreading on my cheek, as he leant in, his lips landing on mine. It wasn’t soft, or gentle. Nor were there feelings behind it.

  He just kissed me to piss Cage off. It should annoy me. But it didn’t. Aaron pulled back.

  “Think I pissed him off perfectly. Now let’s go.” He put his hand out, and I placed my hand in his. God why did I feel like I was making a life fucking choice right now?

  I snuck a glance at Cage, to see him glaring at Aaron, and Holly, well she was crying. What I didn't know was she looked as furious as Cage was.

  Then Aaron and I disappeared around the corner, heading out the back.

  Chapter Twenty Three

  Autumn

  I wiped the tears off my cheeks. Looking at the video, I then looked back at Aaron.

  “Has everyone seen this?” Shame, embarrassment didn’t even cut what I was feeling.

  Aaron looked at me sternly. “I’m telling you because their pussy footing around it. Hawk won’t go to the cops, because it could link back to Cage—”

  “Cage, what do you mean Cage?” I cut him off.

  “Cage took care of the man that did that.” Aaron informed me, and more shame went through my body.

  “I knew they were keeping something from me.” I didn’t know what else to say. “So they can’t take the video down without Cage being looked at by the cops?”

  Aaron nodded his head. “Cage has been doing some reckless shit. Like how he took care of the man that attacked you. I ain’t never seen Cage like this. It’s almost like he has lost the reason to keep living.”

  I remained silent.

  “Autumn I need you to have a word with Cage, cause the clubs have a strong feeling he is going to hand himself in, to get this video pulled.”

  “WHAT!” Shock was slowly wearing off. “He’ll get the injection. He’ll die if he hands himself in. Is he mad?”

  “You don’t want me to answer that,” Aaron muttered.

  “So everyone gets to see me get raped.” I couldn’t believe I had just said that sentence. “That doesn’t mean I want Cage to pay for it with his life just to get the video down.” I went to go. I had to talk to Cage. But Aaron’s hand wrapped around my bicep.

  “He won’t take you knowing well.”

  “Yeah, well I don't like the thought of him and every other person seeing that video but guess what. I’ll get over it.” And with that said I stormed back into the clubhouse, weaving through the crowd. My eyes going to the booth Cage had been in. But he wasn’t there.

  Where would he go? Why wasn’t he here! What if that stupid Holly woman had said something to spark him to do something stupid!

  I quickly pulled my phone out calling his number. Only to get the voice messaging machine.

  I scanned the club again, couldn’t fucking see him. Only Cage would bring me here, to ditch me. Though I did ditch him first. I sighed. Where would he go? Then it occurred to me. Where ever he was Holly would know.

  “Aaron!” I walked back to him, he was now at the bar. “I need you to call that awful woman named Holly.”

  Aaron scoffed. “Not happening.”

  “Don’t act like you don’t have her number. I saw the way you looked at her.”

  Aaron sighed turning around to face me. “What do I get if I do?”

  I stepped closer to him, raising up on my feet. “You don’t get bitch slapped by me.”

  He smirked.

  “That’s all you had to say.” And he pulled his phone out ringing that woman named Holly.

  Chapter Twenty Four

  CAGE

  “Cage!”

  “Cage!”

  Holly gripped my arm, pulling me to a stop. “Just stop will you!”

  “Like hell I will Holly!” I snatched my arm from her grasp. “Why the hell hasn’t Aaron done something about this? You’re considered club family!” I turned to face her fully, seeing her face go blank.

  “He knows doesn’t he?” I questioned her.

  She nodded her head.

  “And he hasn’t done shit about it?”

  “It’s not that easy Cage. I have to marry Brex, there is no way out of it,” Holly spoke. Accepting her death sentence to a heartless marriage.

  “There is nothing I can do.”

  “Fuck off, there is too.” Starting with my gun at this man’s head.

  Her phone started ringing.

  “Is that him?” I jumped down her throat.

  “Tell me his address?” I’d fucking scare the shit out of this man, he’d be questioning whether to keep breathing or not. She was staring at the phone.

  “It’s Aaron.” She muttered and answered it.

  Aaron had disappeared with Autumn. Assumed they had history which they were picking back up on. Did it anger me? Did I want to knock him out? Yes. But Holly threw this arranged marriage curveball at me before I could react about Aaron disappearing with Autumn.

  “We’re in the lot,” she said and hung up.

  “I’m just going to take a stab in the dark, and say you’re going to be distracted in a minute by your woman.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Autumn. You clearly like her,” she said with a smile.. “I’m happy you are finally letting a woman in Cage. Don’t screw it up.”

  I scoffed. “Autumn and I aren’t anything. Barely even friends.”

  She nodded her head with a grin on her face.

  “Well, you keep thinking that she is nothing to you, cause I can see her storming towards us.” She winked at me. “Might end up in that fight after all.”

  “Like hell you’ll touch her!”

  “CAGE!”

  I gritted my teeth, and turned around seeing Autumn, clearly upset

  “Autumn you alright?” I said and met her halfway, away from Holly.

  “What’s wrong?” I cupped her cheek, only to have her hand whip across my cheek. “What the fuck was that for!” I hissed at her. Turning my head back to
face her. My cheek stinging.

  “That’s for thinking about it.” Then she slapped me again. “That’s for keeping it from me and this,” she then planted a kiss on my cheek, “is for caring so much.”

  I looked at her, like she was a madwoman.

  “Have you fucking lost it?” I didn’t know what else to say, she had slapped me twice and kissed me once. What the hell had gotten into her!

  “Start fucking explaining what the hell that was all about?” I hissed at her. The fact she kissed my cheek was the only way I was keeping shit reeled in.

  “I know.” She blew out, and her emerald eyes were locked with mine. “And you should have been the one to tell me.”

  “Know what?”

  “About the video,” Aaron said as he stepped into view. “Needed someone with balls, to tell her the truth.”

  He. Is. Fucking. Dead.

  Autumn was quick to block my path to him. “Stop Cage. It’s okay.” She gripped my shirt, and her other hand went to my cheek which would be red. “I needed to know.”

  “Like hell you did. I was sorting it!”

  “By going to the chair to get the injection?” her words were wrapped with anger. “Why the hell would you even think that was okay?!”

  “I’m going to die someday, might as well be for a reason.” I said, but my words insulted her, sending grief across her face.

  “Yeah. And how was that meant to make me feel? That everyone around me dies!” She shoved me back. “I’ve lost both my parents. The last thing I want, or need is for you to be taken from me.”

  “You’d get over it,” I said off handed.

  She looked at me, like I was the fucking love of her life or something and losing me would ruin her life. Her eyes went glassy. “I need to go home. I need to see my dad.” And then she went to walk away.

  “Autumn stop.” I pinched out. “I’m sorry.” Her face didn’t alter. “Sometimes I can be an asshole. I’m sorry.”

  She looked into my eyes and I knew then, right in that moment, the hope mixed with love that she had looked at me with was gone. I knew I had fucked things up. Grief was in her eyes.

  “I need to go home Cage. I can take a train.”

  My eyes went to my hand that was wrapped around her arm. Then I looked back at her beautiful face. God did she know how breathtaking she was. Men would go to war for her. “Let me take you home darling.”

  “You sure you are done here?” She looked at Holly, then me. She was right, I wasn’t done here.

  “Yeah. Aaron is sorting it out.” I looked at Aaron. “Aren’t you?”

  Aaron’s face soured. “If the stubborn woman listens to me. Then yeah maybe.” I could see Holly wanting to get into a fight about it.

  Guess now was the best time to leave. So Autumn and I walked back to my bike.

  “Autumn?” I paused beside the bike. “You and Aaron over?” I couldn’t even fucking look her in the eye, instead I kept busy and mounted my bike.

  Holding the bike as she climbed on, she hadn’t said anything to my question. I was about to turn the engine on when she spoke.

  “We, never started.” She said into my ear, and I let out a steady breath knowing that. Starting the bike and heading for home.

  Chapter Twenty Five

  Autumn

  I just had to pretend that everything was fine, that I was fine with this. When really I was freaking the fuck out. I couldn’t look a member in the eye. I told Hawk I’d be okay and right now I was trying to keep that promise, as my hands clenched the basin of my ensuite.

  I couldn’t look myself in the eyes. To think I was going to have to live with this for the rest of my life… My eyes dropped to the razor.

  I knew I shouldn’t.

  Knew it wasn’t going to help. But I was like an addict trying to distract my mind but instead of pills or drugs, I gripped the razor. I just had to check I could still feel because I felt numb.

  I felt cold.

  I felt distant.

  And I didn’t know then, I had a more serious problem coming to light.

  CAGE

  “Women! Fucking women!” Jacob walked into the garage ranting about women, by the sounds of it. His loudmouth running. I was under a car, barely listening to his problem. Then he kicked my boot. “Oi you even listening!”

  “Nope.” I grunted back, and then he gripped my leg, pulling me out from underneath on the wheeler.

  “I’m busy Jacob,” I gritted out sitting up. And then I saw her walking towards the garage. Shorts, a high waisted top, I didn’t know she had her belly button pierced.

  “Oh now I see who has your attention.” Jacob muttered and then added ‘typical’ to the end of his sentence. I got up, and wiped my greasy hands on my jeans.

  “Morning boys.” Autumn grinned, and her eyes flickered from Jacob who was making gagging noises, and she arched her eyebrows looking at me. “Okay, so he’s in a mood,” she said when he walked off, leaving the shed.

  “What has you so happy?” I asked her, walking towards her.

  “One life to live and all that jazz.” She was grinning and considering she had been staying out of clubs eyes, and her door was always locked. A lock which she had brought and put on.

  Hawk was worried about her. He was under the impression she wasn’t coping with what happened and so was I.

  She snuck a glance around, and then took a step towards me. “Can I ask a favor?”

  I was interested now, and smirked. “Darling, you know whatever it is, I’ll do it.” I then made an advance on her. My hands going to her hips. “Including ones that doesn’t involve clothes,” I whispered in her ear.

  She giggled. “I was more hoping to borrow the car.” But then her hand ran over my chest.

  “But now the whole no clothes deal, has given me other ideas.”

  I was dancing with fucking fire being this close to her. I moved her backwards, till her ass hit my work bench, gripping her legs I lifted her up. My hands now on her sides, the fact she was wearing a top, where half of it was missing— sparked my need to explore her.

  I nipped her neck before I kissed her lips. Fuck she was so fucking perfect.

  A voice clearing scored her attention.

  “Fuck off.” I said over my shoulder and went back to kissing her neck.

  “Um Cage. We should stop,” Autumn said. And I cursed, ready to throttle the bastard that had walked in. I looked over my shoulder seeing Lit.

  “What do you want?” I barked at him.

  “Autumn.”

  “Well clearly she’s busy!”

  His eyes narrowed on me. “Didn’t know you two were a thing?”

  Autumn pushed me off and slid off the bench. “Um Lit. I’ve been meaning to talk to you about—”

  “You fucking another club brother? Yeah I just got the memo Autumn. Thanks.” Lit hissed at her.

  “No.” She frowned, and looked shocked. “Cage and I aren’t sleeping together. I’m not with anyone. I was meaning to tell you your sister is trying to chase you down. We both assumed you had broken your phone again.”

  Lit was forever throwing his phone against walls, the road, anything that would fuck it up.

  Lit looked at her—like just stared at her. “Have you been trying to get a hold of me?”

  She nodded her head and that was a punch to my guts. So she still was seeing him?

  “I’ve got to go into town.” Autumn crossed her arms. “I’m not waiting anymore Lit.” She looked up. “I know about every second that night. I know we weren’t ever exclusive but our last conversation, or screaming match, I can’t forget it.”

  Perhaps I should leave?

  “If we were exclusive Autumn, I wouldn’t be needing the other women.” He went to argue with her, in front of me! The bastard had something coming, if he thought he could yell at her with me here. I had heard the way he had spoken to her, the last time I had seen them together.

  “Need I remind you of what you said?” She locked eyes wi
th him, like a predator does it’s prey. “You said, club, the lifestyle, then me.” She counted them on her fingers. “You said that the lifestyle comes first and the lifestyle is you sleeping with other women!”

  “Come off it Autumn! As if Hawk would let me!”

  She scoffed. “So it wouldn’t be that you don’t want to. It would be because my father wouldn’t allow it?” God he really threw himself under the bus with that one.

  “And you think Cage is going to be faithful to you? That it?” Lit hissed, and shot a glare at me, then scoffed. “That man goes through more women than me! Plus he is a fucking serial killer!”

  She rolled her eyes, putting her hands up. “I’m done. I’ve got somewhere I need to be.”

  Her and Lit might be over. But Lit and my fight had just begun. “Here darling take the pick up.” I placed the keys in her hands. And kissed her cheek. “Go.”

  She basically walked from the garage like she was on fire. “You and me tonight,” I said to Lit. “Or you too much of a coward to go one on one?”

  Well the boys had been pestering me for a fight. Now they were going to get one.

  Autumn

  Club party meant one thing, drugs and a hell of a lot of women half dressed. I learned that when I first moved into the club but tonight was a reminder that the club had this side.

  There was a crowd outside in the lot, a lot of cheering and booing. I didn’t know who it was. But I assumed two of the boys were fighting. Sometimes they were barbarians. This was a prime example.

  I weaved through the club, only to spot Lit’s back piece. He was one of the men fighting. Then he dropped to the ground. And standing there, like the beast he is was, was Cage.

  A glint in his eyes as we watched Lit get to his feet. Clearly Lit wasn’t giving up yet. My eyes ran over Cage, his tattoo collection had grown. With a chest and two side pieces being added to it since I last saw him topless.