Page 24 of Cage's Downfall

Then I saw one of the boys walk up to the counter where Autumn was standing. Leaning over her he grabbed a menu, and his hand was on her hip. I saw her go still. Fuck was the Lord trying to test me tonight?

Because I didn’t have a grip on my temper and I couldn’t keep it under grips when it came to men hitting on my woman.

Then, I saw him strike a conversation with her. Autumn gave him an uneasy smile. Knew then- I was going to lose my self-control.

Throwing my cigarette to the ground I stomped on it. I watched him chat with her. His friends we’re all in the corner, all smirking. This boy properly thought he could charm her with those smirks.

The bell chimed as I walked in. Hearing the boy ask if Autumn was new to town.

I hovered back- didn’t want to get involved if she didn’t need me. Then again, my pride was doing crazy things to me when it came to her. I had this need to prove to her and the fucking world I was good enough for her.

Then again, was a serial killer really good enough for her? I had killed three men all for her now.

She didn’t even know it.

I had spaced out on that fact until I saw the guy’s hand move from her hip to her ass. Snapping me back into the moment after seeing that.

“Babe you need a hand?” I kept control over my temper for the first time tonight. Watching him take a step away from her, his eyes ran over me, and he removed his hand.

Just the look of me- scared this man to back off.

Autumn smiled. “Yeah babe, the orders are placed and they are delivering them to the clubhouse.” She looked at the guy. “Nice to meet you.” And then she walked straight to me- that’s my girl.

I opened the door for her, and she walked out.

“I’m proud of you,” she said, coming to a stop at my bike.

“How so?”

“You managed to scare a man off by looking at you instead of using your fists.” She suppressed her smirk. “Have you calmed down now?”

“No and yes.” I mounted the bike- holding it still for her as she climbed on.

She kissed my cheek before getting on. For some reason that sent a calmness through my body.

She always knew what to do- when to do it- how the fuck was that possible?

The bike roared to life and for the first time tonight I felt calm. Feeling Autumn’s arms wrapped around me- my cheek still buzzing from her touch. How was it so easy to sin and so hard to be a saint? Because I felt like I needed to be a saint to have her, but I needed to do sinner things to keep her.

I knew as I pulled away from the curb- that one day- my blurs between what she needed and what I could give, would in the end, be our downfall.

Chapter 15

CAGE

Iused to say I’d changed. I used to be under this illusion that I could be forgiven for the life I led. That the actions I did- didn’t fall solely on my shoulders. I did it in the name of the club. In the silence I heard the sounds of my mind ticking- thinking everything I touched turned to stone.

The club was barely surviving, and I couldn’t connect me being back at it as a result for it failing. It was so fucking easy to sin, so hard to be a saint that I needed to be to keep her and this club.

Autumn rolled over on my arm, her head on my chest and I couldn’t help but think somewhere, along the line, I lost my soul- and now most of it was gone. I didn’t know what was driving me. The club or Autumn? Or the temper that consumed me lately?

I’d pray to God for help if I believed. But I had lived so long unhealthy that there was no way I could be forgiven. The men dead. The crimes done. The blood on my hands. Nothing could take that away.

Not a prayer to upstairs.

Not a president telling me that everything happens for a reason.

No wise words.

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