Page 118 of Caged

I’ll figure it out on the way.I needed to see her, and even though I knew she was well enough to go home I still needed to make sure she was okay, and maybe tell her I fell in love with her.And probably beg her not to leave.

It was a simple plan, but not an easy one.Now to figure out how to say it all without sounding like an idiot.

“Jay?” My father stopped my runaway train of thought. “Can I give you some fatherly advice?”

I could use some right about now.“Sure.” My nonchalant answer convinced no one.

“Get your head out of your ass and tell her you love her.” My eyes rounded. I hadn’t told anyone I loved her. I’d barely admitted it to myself.

“Right, can I borrow your phone? I haven't ordered a new one yet."

"You're new phone will be here later." He said before handed me his phone and some cash.

When I raised an eyebrow—it’d been a long time since I’d taken money from my dad—he said, “You’ll need it until your replacement cards come in.”

Right, Roman torched my wallet along with my phone and truck.

Not everything.I opened my drawer and pulled out my bank card and military ID. “Actually, he didn’t burn them all.” Handing back the cash, I said, “Thanks.”

“Be careful. Your mother will kill me if you get in a car wreck.”

I hugged him on my way out, finally understanding just how incredibly lucky I was to have such an amazing family.

I waved my dad’s phone toward the reception desk, where Jack was talking to Meg, “I have Dad’s phone.”

Channeling my inner Nascar driver, I raced to Cate’s. During the drive, a million and one questions raced through my mind, turning my fear into anger. What was she thinking, running away? Had our time together, the bond we shared, meant nothing to her? How dare she run away without talking to me.

This bullshit was exactly why I’d sworn off relationships. It was a thousand times better to be alone than with someone I couldn’t trust.

Was that fair to Cate?Maybe. Maybe not. But leaving without saying goodbye felt like a knife to my heart. And people who stuck knives in your heart couldn’t be trusted.

I started doubting my feelings. Were they real or did I have Stockholm Syndrome? Did I think I was in love with herbecause of the ordeal we suffered through? It wasn’t unheard of.

By the time I pulled into the small parking lot at Cate’s apartment, I’d worked myself into a confusion-fueled state of anger.

A quick glance was all I needed to know Cate’s car wasn’t there. Not a big deal, I told myself; her father probably ran out. No reason to freak out.

No one answered when I rang her bell, or pounded on her door. My call went straight to voicemail, pissing me off.

Dumbass. Roman burned her phone, too.

Where is she? Did she already leave?What the actual fuck? How had she planned it so quickly? I couldn’t believe she’d rather run away and hide than talk to me.

The old voice in my head, the one that still believed I was a mistake, told me I meant nothing to her. Locking away my feelings, I cursed myself for letting another woman hurt me.

As I stomped to the sedan, I searched for General Maxwell in my dad’s contact list. Before I found it, a car pulling in distracted me.

Cate.

Relief rushed through my system, almost buckling my knees.She’s still here.I stared the car down as it pulled into a parking spot and the engine cut off. Anger and relief warred for top billing.

Catelyn eased herself out of the passenger side, the effort making her wince. She clutched the door to support herself, her teeth clenched against the pain.

Why the hell isn’t she taking pain medication?Her father should be forcing her to take it. I almost laughed, like anyone could force her to do anything.

“Jaden?”

The anger won as I watched her step slowly towards me. Her face was mottled with shades of blue and purple, and her right arm was in a sling, keeping her shoulder still while her bullet wounds healed. I’d put money on her ribs being wrapped, just like mine. I wanted to kill Roman and Franks for what they’d done.

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