Page 44 of Cage's Fall

“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.

---