Page 13 of Cage's Fall

To top off my financial ruining. I now had sole custody of a seventeen-year-old girl, who hated me. Acorn hadn’t said a word to me since the burial.

She didn’t throw a tantrum when I told her we had lost the house. Instead, she continued to give me the silent treatment.

I rose from my chair, walking out of the church boardroom and into the community lounge which was quieter than normal and then I looked up to see Acorn standing there with a brown box and a bag on her shoulder.

I saw the few members around, and how they were eyeing her down. Her legs were on display, and now that she was going to be living here, she wouldn’t be allowed to walk around the clubhouse wearing shorts like that.

I walked towards her, and took the box from her. “Come on. I’ll show you your room.”

I gestured with my head for her to keep moving. She gave me a dry expression and walked past me.

“Down the hall.” I said to her, and then saw the members with their eyes on her ass.

I stomped my foot. Their eyes snapped away from her and over to me. Shooting them a glare, I knew I was going to be in over my head trying to keep the members off my daughter.

I was quick to catch up to her, and she was stopped in the hallway, looking at all the doors.

“Keep going, to the right.” I said, and she started walking again. “Number Nineteen.” I said, and she stopped at the door.

I placed the box down. “I know that this dorm room ain’t great. But it’s temporary. I’ll get you a house again Acorn.”

She pushed her sunglasses up, giving me a look her mother once gave me. When she knew I was lying.

“Don’t call me Acorn. And don’t worry. It will be temporary because I’m leaving for college in a year.” It wasn’t her words that had my heart clenching, no it was her tone.

I unlocked the door and it swung open. I had personally painted it and styled it for her. Made sure she knew that she wasn’t just living in a dorm room, like all the other members.

She placed the bag down on the bed, and I saw her eyes go glassy.

“I’ll go.” I didn’t want to hover and make this worse for her. She was already facing her worst nightmare living here.

I closed the door behind me and it hit me to the core. Autumn was never going to forgive me for what happened.

Chapter Five

Autumn

One Week Later

Istared out the window that had bars across it. My heart was aching. I couldn’t cry anymore even if I wanted to. I was still aimlessly unpacking my belongings around the room. Finally, I realised I couldn’t go another day without eating.

So I wandered out into the hall, walking in autopilot mode to the kitchen. I heard the dull roar of laughter as I got closer to the community lounge and pub.

I walked out in the mildly packed pub, and lounge area. Men were playing pool, drinking, laughing, the television had the latest football game playing. The air smelled like weed and spilled liquor.

I was heading to the kitchen when my eyes landed on Hawk. He was in the corner booth. A woman I didn’t know was sitting with him, he had dim smile on his face. But it was her hand on his arm, that had me snapping.

Fuck this.

I was not staying here, watching him move on from my mother.

It had been just over a month!

I pushed open the clubhouse door and stormed out. I needed to get out of here. I needed… god… my heart clenched. Panic began to raise through my body. God— I did not need to have a panic attack right now. I clenched my eyes, my hands going out for the wall of the clubhouse.

Okay breathe Autumn. Just breathe.

My hands were shaking. My body was shaking. I could barely breathe. I felt like I was suffocating.

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