Page 13 of Cage's Downfall

“I’m not innocent Autumn.” I never would say I was. I played a part in keeping that secret from her.

Her eyes hardened on me.

“I love you.” I cupped her cheek. Knew it was taking everything in her not to push me away. “The clubs actions aren’t my actions. I did that with the cop before I realized how much it would affect you.”

She was inhaling sharply and exhaling sharply. Had to take it as a sign, that she hadn’t left yet.

“Club life isn’t black and white, you know that darling.”

“You want me to accept the fact you killed my father.”

“I didn’t fucking kill him.”

She waved a hand at my chest. “You ride, will protect and die for the people that did!”

“What do you expect me to say?” I tilted my head, wondering what were the magic words to be said, for her not to give up on us.

“I don’t expect you to say anything. I expect you to let me go.”

I chuckled. “Darling, I ain’t letting you go.”

“Kidnapping me?”

I took a dominant step towards her, and she went to take one back away from me, when my hand landed on her back, forcing her to stand still.

“You saying you don’t love me?” I challenged her. “You saying that you’d rather walk out that door and never see me again. Forget what the club did. That shit ain’t on me. This is you and me, and I need to hear you say you love me. Because that will influence my next decision.”

I lived a period without her, managed to end up fucked up with The Severed Sons. She had no idea the power she had over my life.

Her hand went to my cheek. Feeling her touching me sent delight across my skin. She had to know that I wouldn’t let anything happen to her. I thought her hand on my cheek was a good sign, but then I looked into her eyes and I realized – I lost her.

TWO MONTHS LATER

Autumn

I lit up a cigarette while I thought about life. Some decisions you make. Some decisions make you. I watched Nate unload the truck at the back of the gym with my latest shipment of ‘gym equipment.’ Which Fate and I were going to spend a good few hours pulling apart to get the drugs out.

Fate stood to my side.

I knew what was happening.

But I couldn’t stop it.

I was beginning to see grey. The business I ran, I knew two gym members had overdosed from the cocaine. But my care factor was at zero.

In some ways finding out that the club had killed my father, had numbed me. If not killed the person I was, and now I had risen from the ashes.

“Wanna explain the new quantity amount?” Fate asked, before stomping out a cigarette.

I didn’t trust anybody with my plans, blowing out a mouthful of smoke, I looked at my cousin. Knowing blood could be trusted. “I’m expanding gyms. Bought one on the other side of town. Planning on renovating it.”

“How you afford that?”

I cracked a smile. “Got smart and realized the bank likes to use titles to give out money. This one is in my name, so I used it to back me.”

Fate shook his head. “The club owns this Autumn.”

“The club won’t come near it.”