Page 33 of Cage's Fall

Spent nearly two fucking years sitting in a cell thinking about her. Wondering if she had left the lifestyle. And those words she had just sprayed at me, saying I’d never be good enough, were like a fucking knife to my cold heart.

I scoffed coming to the bar. I didn’t have a fucking heart. A man with a heart would have told her that Lit was sleeping with Amy every second night.

I grabbed a shot glass, and the spirits.

“You getting on the piss?” Jacob walked in, frowning. “Thought you were tired?”

I looked up, my jet black eyes telling him to stay the fuck away from me and not ask questions. He rose his hands. “Well pour another one will ya, I just had a one on one with Wild.”

I poured him a drink and at the time I didn’t see getting on the piss with Jacob as a bad thing. But if I had known what would have come out of it as a result. I would have put the fucking cap back on the bottle.

Chapter Nineteen

Autumn

All my life I was given everything I had. I had never had to work for anything. I was given a private school education, from my mother. Then Hawk continued to pay it for the last year when she passed.

Never had to have a part time job to pay for anything. Not when the Mother Chapter President was your step dad. Nope. Your bank account never got below the ten grand mark.

Though I was responsible with my money, well the money Hawk gave me. I never went and spent it on things I didn’t need.

But now I was back at his club house, a part of me was furious with Jacob and Hawk for putting me back in this position. But I knew that I didn’t have independence. I wasn’t living on my own independently. So I made myself a goal. When this lockdown ended. So did me being a leech on Hawk.

I was going to earn my way. Starting right now.

Walking down into the pub, I scanned the members looking for the President.

Then knowing there was only one other place he would be I walked to the church doors. Knocking once.

“You don’t want to go in there girly.”

I turned seeing Wild.

“Why?” I asked.

“Bad night with the boys. He’s in a foul mood—” Wild went to explain further when a‘What’was barked out behind the doors. Well I couldn’t not just go in now.

I opened the door and walked in. Seeing him at his chair, cigarette in hand-first I saw surprise, but then his expression turned sour.

“Sorry to bother you.” I was quick to say before he threw me out. God knows I deserve it.

“What is it you want Autumn?” He kept his tone semi friendly, or at least held back on his temper.

“I wanted to know if you need a bartender, or a waitress, or something.”

“Got club girls.” His eyes narrowed on me. “Suddenly got a career interest in bartending, waitressing or something?” He arched his eyebrows at me.

Okay. How do I approach this, without him thinking the worst of me. Or me insulting him? “I want to work for the money you give me. I’m not a charity case. I want to earn the roof over my head.”

“You don’t have to.”

“I do.”

“You’re family. I look after family.”

“We both know I’m not your family.” The words came out, in a way I had not intended. Or intended for them to be so harsh. “I mean,” I quickly corrected myself. “I don’t expect you to care for me. You made no obligation to.”

He reached into his pocket pulling out his wallet. I didn’t know why, till he pulled out a piece of paper, and he held it in the air. “This says different. This says I’m the adopted father of an Autumn Bentley. This,” he rose up, “proves to me, that I’m to care for you.”

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