Page 111 of Caged

Present Day

“Fuck off,” I shout again at the insufferable asswipe banging at my bedroom door.

“Kieren, it’s a fucking emergency!”

I roll onto my back, uncertain of the time. My morning wood threatens to burst through my black cotton boxer briefs, even though I suspect it’s no longer morning. I unlock my door to find Jace looking anxious as fuck.

“What time is it?” I mumble, rubbing sleep from my eyes.

“Have you not checked your phone today?” Jace quips.

“Buddy, I’m in no fucking mood, just tell me what’s going on.” A searing pain throbs at my temples, no doubt the result of last night’s alcohol and cocaine cocktail.

“Barrett’s in the fucking hospital getting a blood transfusion.”

“Shit,” I stumble, physically and mentally taken aback. “Why? What happened?”

“I don’t know. Some hikers found him in the woods bleeding out. You know how he runs every morning.”

“Bleeding out?” I interject. “Was that fucking idiot running off the trail? I swear to fuck, I always knew that guy was missing a few brain cells.”

“Kieren,” Jace hisses in a low and serious tone. “I have a bad feeling about this. I think someone knows.”

Immediately I think of Monroe, but how could this be her if she’s not here?

My fingers tingle like they’re charged with electricity.

She’s back.

She must be back.

“It’s Monroe,” I say, certain I’m right.Needingto be right.

“How could it be fucking Monroe?” Jace wails. “No one has seen or heard from her since April. She’s not here! Besides, Barrett is a big guy. To overtake him would require size and speed. Enough with your paranoia about Monroe, Kieren. We need to think through other options.”

“Maybe we should cancel next week’s Full Moon Ceremony,” Jace states, clearly trying his best to sound neutral to the outcome, but I know his bitch ass is secretly begging I’ll agree.No fucking chance, Jacey.

“Or, maybe it’s a jealous ex-boyfriend,” I offer to spite him. “Is Barrett conscious?”

“I don’t know, he’s in the hospital. Get your fucking clothes on so we can go talk to him,” Jace barks, irked I didn’t take the bait.

“Maybe it’s Gabi,” I jeer, annoyed Jace has yet to deal with his problem. “She’s been poking around. I told you to bring her to Sigma so we can cage her, yet you continue to disobey my orders.”

“There is no way that was Gabi. She hates nature. She’s never been hiking a day in her life.”

“There you go again, defending her.”

“I’m not defending her, I’m using common fucking sense! I told you, I don’t give a fuck about that girl. If you want me to bring her here to appease this theory of yours, then fine, I will. The only reason I haven’t is because I fuckinghate herand I don’t think I can stomach that degree of physical proximity.”

Jace can lie to himself all he wants, but I’m getting really fucking sick of hearing him lie to my face.

“Give me ten minutes. I’ll meet you downstairs,” I huff. My brain is going to explode if I don’t take some pain medication immediately.

Jace shuts my door and I glance longingly at the space where her dog cage once sat.You’ve come home to me, haven’t you puppy?My cock twitches at the thought of seeing Monroe again in the flesh, pinning her under me while she fruitlessly squirms to get away. Would I have to tell anyone that she’s back? X wouldn’t need to know. Maybe, I don’t have to kill her after all.

That’s a joke.

Of course I do.