Page 45 of The Fight For Survival
We say goodbye, and I put on my blinker, turning right towards the grocery store. Guess I'm going shopping.
Cade
"Youthinkthisguycan really help?" I ask Braylon as I end my call with Kane. To say I was surprised that he invited us for Christmas was an understatement. While he was just starting out with therapy, Mia and I agreed to keep our distance with the hope that he may reach out to us first. Still, it was a shock when he did. There was a softness to his voice that hadn't been heard in a long ass time, and my mouth lifts.
Mia is off getting her nails done with Zoe, and Jake is running the shop for me, giving me the time to come with Braylon and Damon to Noxious to see Braylons friend, that can apparently track down the men that hurt Kane. Two weeks ago, Braylon had given him the only name we had, Jason, and he called Braylon to tell him he had some news. "Yes, Matt is... well, I don't want to tell you too much about his job but believe me when I tell you he will find these guys."
"Holy shit, does he work for the CIA?" Damon blurts, face serious. I eyeball him, eyebrows furrowed. "What part of the conversation gave you that idea?"
Shrugging his shoulders, "you know, the secrecy of his job," Damon replies like that explanation makes all the sense in the world. Braylon snorts, "I can assure you he definitely does not work for the CIA."
"That's what he wants you to believe," Damon smirks, making me shake my head in suppressed frustration at his antics. "Let's focus, guys. We need a real plan. What the hell are we going to do when we find these men?" I inquire.
When Braylon and Damon told me they planned on finding those sick bastards, we didn't discuss what would happen when we found them. "Hand them over to the police?" Damon suggests. "With what evidence? Kane can't know about this. I promised him I wouldn't go after these guys, and there is no way he will come forward to get them put away." I clarify. I'm starting to think this is a bad idea.
Pulling up to Noxious and putting the car in park, Braylon turns to face me. "Do you trust me?" He asks eyes flicker with uncertainty of my answer.
"Of course I fucking trust you."
He nods slowly, watching me. "Good, then leave the details to me. You should know as little information as possible about this. The hairs on the back of my neck rise, and a feeling of dread runs through me. "Bray," I warn, suspicion creeping in. "No, Cade. You said you trusted me, so prove it. I know what I'm doing." He gets out of the car, walking towards Noxious.
Damon turns to me. "I have a bad feeling about this plan," his usually playful face is now filled with apprehension. "Me too," I mumble, getting out and following Braylon. Damon reaches out a hand and grips my wrist, causing my eyebrows to rise.
"That was Kane on the phone?"
I stare him down and notice him biting the inside of his bottom lip. Huh, I've never seen him do that before. "Yeah, he invited Mia and me to Christmas. Why?" I assess him as he shuffles from side to side. "No-no reason," he stutters. I put my hands on his shoulders to stop his movements, ensuring I had his full attention.
"Do you have a problem with me going?"
Looking down at his feet, I bring a finger under his chin to guide his eyes back to mine. His cheeks redden, and he refuses to answer me.
"Do you feel threatened by my relationship with Kane?" His eyes flash, and I know I'm on the right line of thinking. Taking one of my hands from his shoulder, I tenderly graze it down his face. He shivers, and I hum, "you don't have to worry, Damon. You've come to meansomethingto me. I don't know what that is yet. But I promise you it's significant."
My heart pulls when his eyes mist over, and I pull him into me. He wraps his arms around my waist as I bury my face into his neck, smelling his now familiar earthly scent. "Come with us," I blurt out suddenly.
"Yeah? Are you sure?" Damon checks, distress still in his eyes. "Yes, I want you to. I don't think Braylon would let me take Mia without him either, so we should all just go." I know I made the right call when his face lights up.
Fuck this man.
Inside Noxious, the bar is busy, with people drinking and watching the ring as some fighters spar with each other. Braylon has already found the person he is looking for, standing at the side of the ring. He's standing close, whispering to him, ensuring they are not heard.
The man Braylon is talking to looks scary as fuck. He is as tall as Braylon making him 6 foot 4. His build is intimidating. Strong, defined muscles straining against his black t-shirt and shorts. Tattoos cover his legs, arms, and neck. The lip ring going through his bottom lip and the bar through his right eyebrow give him a stay the fuck away look. His ebony hair is a wild mess of curls on his head, making his overall appearance look feral.
Damon makes an appreciative noise next to me as he studies the man. "Hey, man whore. Eyes off," I growl in warning. I'm becoming possessive of Damon, and my feelings are a little scary. I want to go over there and punch that man just because Damon was staring.
What is he doing to me?
Damon has the decency to look apologetic, which tames my jealousy for now. Braylon nods, leaving the man by the ringside and making his way over to us. "Right, Matt already has Jason's last name. He told me that's all he's got so far. It's not a lot to go on, but he will let me know when he has tracked him down," Rubbing his beard, "hopefully, Jason leads him to the other three."
"Just like that? Your guy wants nothing in return for this?" I ask, worried that there will be some sort of repercussions for involving someone on the outside.
"I trust him," is all he says before walking back towards the exit. "I get the feeling I've moved in with someone who has more to their past than they are sharing," Damons says suspiciously. Normally I would be quick to defend my best friend, but I'm starting to wonder myself.
Mia
"DoesKaneevenknowthe two of you have tagged along?" I ask Damon and Braylon in amusement while we wait for Cade to collect the keys to our rental car. Damon replies, "no, but my name is still on half the lease, so technically, I'm just going home for Christmas, and I have invited my friend," he shrugs his shoulders. Something tells me Kane won't see it that way. From what I've heard, the two of them haven't spoken since Damon came to live in Seattle.
Cade makes his way over to us, spinning the car key around his finger. There's been a spring in his step as of late. He was ecstatic when Kane invited us to Christmas, but his newfound happiness started before that. I watch Damon as he studies Cade, a longing in his eyes.