Page 26 of Dagger's Property
“You sound pissed about that.”
Yeah, I kind of am. “I was just looking forward to getting out of this place for a few hours.”
What I really wanted was to spend quality time with Vale. We haven’t done anything together in years, and I wanted to feel… I don’t know. Like I was special. Like someone wanted to take me out and show me a good time. Wine and dine me for once rather than just have me spread my legs.
“I need to test this baby out and make sure it’s running smooth. You want to go for a ride with me?”
“Yeah, I’d like that.”
The truck rumbles to life, a steady roar to the engine, and Cage tips his lips in what looks like a rare smile. “Damn. Wasn’t sure I’d get this baby to ever run again.”
“It sounds good.”
“Yeah, it does. Let’s see if it gets us to town.” He gives me a wink.
That’s not exactly reassuring.
“And what if it doesn’t?”
“We just call that brother of yours to come pick us up.” His brow wiggles and I crack up laughing. He’s definitely out to push Vale’s buttons. All the more reason for me to hope that we end up stranded on the side of the road.
“So, is this a classic?” I look at the old stereo, which has a cassette player. Do people even own cassettes anymore?
“Yep. It was my grandad’s. He gave it to me when he passed.”
“You two were close?” I got the impression the other day that he may have not had the best upbringing. But it sounds like he revered the man. Enough to fix up his vehicle and keep it as a treasured item.
“He took me in when my life went to shit and he gave me a job on his farm. He did all that he could to try to straightenmy ass out, but I couldn’t get my mind right. Gave that old man more shit than he needed, that’s for damn sure.”
I can hear the regret in his voice. I think him fixing this car is part of the penance he feels he owes.
“Did something happen, or was it a culmination of things that caused you to spin out?”
His eyes glance in my direction. Maybe he doesn’t want me prying, but if he doesn’t want to talk about it, all he has to do is say so. I won’t take offense if he wants to keep things private. “You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.”
“I walked in on my dad and my girlfriend.”
“Geezus, no! Cage, that’s so awful. I can’t even imagine.”
“Tell me about it. She was my high school sweetheart. I had even told my dad I was going to propose as soon as we graduated.”
High school? How young was this girl when his dad started sleeping with her?
“How’d you catch them?” My mind’s running a million different scenarios, none of which I can even fathom.
“My dad had asked me to run to the store and get him something. Then he texted me a whole list of shit to get, trying to buy himself some more time. I wasn’t in the mood to shop, so I ended up getting back too early. ” His hands clench the wheel, and I can see how white his knuckles are. “Caught them in the act.”
Holy fuck that is so fucked up. That’s fucked up on so many different levels.
“What’d they do when you walked in?” I can’t even imagine what was going through his head when he saw them.
“My dad had the fucking nerve to tell me that I’d been depriving my girl, and she needed someone mature to take care of her needs.”
“How did you not kill him?” I would’ve strangled the man if I were him. Then I would’ve kicked the little slut to the curb. Goodness, I hurt for him. Now, what he said the other day all makes sense.
“Oh, I wanted to. I wanted to strangle the life out of my dad. I honestly didn’t even know when the shit between them had started and for how long it’d been goin’ on for. All I saw was him preying on my innocent girl, and I wanted to kill him.”
He shakes his head, as the leather of the steering wheel screeches out a pained sound like it can’t take much more of the tension. I just can’t imagine.
