Page 30 of Caution

“And here I am.” He shrugged, dropping to a seat in a plush upholstered chair near the fire. “I was wrapping up a job.”

“I find that hard to believe, considering the smell of pussy on you,” Cassius countered.

Parris smirked. “I never said what kind of job.” He winked at Cassius, then looked back and forth between his brothers again. “Seriously, what’s going on?”

“What do you know about leeches attaching themselves to Ambrosia’s scent?” Elias asked, getting straight to the point. “Cassius has bonded with her, to ensure her protection.”

“So another part of the prophecy has been fulfilled,” Parris grinned, clapping. “Good job, Cash. Ambrosia is fine as fuck. About damn time you claimed her.”

“No,” Elias said. “Actually it's not. It was supposed to be another few years before this happened. This is too soon. Our hands have been forced and you know how I feel about that. Everything in order.”

Parris shrugged. “Exactly,in order.What difference does the timeline make?”

My own curiosity piqued. I wanted to know the same. But from the somewhat flustered look on Elias’s face, I wasn’t sure he would give an answer.

Or… that he evenhadan answer.

“These things shouldn’t be trifled with,” was what he said and Cassius chuckled.

“Meaning… it’s simply outside of what you wanted or planned?” he guessed and Parris nodded.

“That’s exactly what it is. That’s how I knew it wouldn’t be a big deal for me to speed this thing up some.”

Instant confusion swept through the room.

“Speed this up?” Cassius repeated, staring his brother down.

“Yeah.” Parris shrugged. “I needed y’all to handle your shit so I could handle mine.”

Cassius met eyes with Elias.

“Is he saying what I think he’s saying?”

“Handle our shit meaning… fulfill our prophecies?” Elias asked, seeking clarification before his barely-tempered anger boiled over.

Parris smirked. “Why do y’all seem so surprised? Patience hasneverbeen a virtue of mine. And El, this is your fault. You bagged your woman early too, remember? And this shit wasn’t even on my mind until you did that.Youwoke this up.”

Cassius sighed.

I could feel it.

Parris was right.

“Something definitely shifted after you bonded with Celeste,” Cassius admitted as he looked to Elias. “I was already conscious of all this, because that’s just… what I do. But onceyouwere bonded, it was different. There was this…hunger.”

“See?” Parris spoke up. “And I’m not about to be the only one out here starving. I’m ready to stake my claim too.”

Elias shook his head. “So you’re really saying that you… whatdidyou do?” he asked.

“It seemed like Cash needed some incentive to get his girl. So I gave him some.”

“Say more,” Cassius insisted, as a deep, burning rage started building in intensity from somewhere inside him.

Parris—oblivious or indifferent—grinned. “Fear, baby. The best damn motivator, even if it’s a little… tertiary.”

“Parris,” Elias warned.

“Damn, where is your imagination?” He chuckled. “It’s not that complicated. I gave the girl a little scare, which got herandCash moving. What’s the big deal?”

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