The Forever Rule (The Cage Family #1)

Chapter 1

Chapter One

ASTON

Me:

Wait. Why did we make a group chat? I thought we already had a group chat? One with a name and everything.

Flynn:

We had to make a new one because somebody ruined the last one.

Dorian:

I feel like there was a little sarcasm in your pointed tone.

Hudson:

How do you hear tone in a text message?

Theo:

Oh, we read tone.

Ford:

Seriously though, why the new group chat? Do you understand how many group chats I have?

Flynn:

It’s not our fault that you decided to marry two people who had large families.

Hudson:

Greer’s is a large family with three brothers and a bunch of spouses. Noah’s family? Calling the Montgomerys large is like saying the earth is part of the solar system.

Dorian:

That wasn’t even a good analogy. You should have said something like water is wet.

Theo:

Oh, so are we making fun of Hudson’s bad analogy here? Because I’m here for it.

Me:

I still want to know why we have a new group chat. Why we’re even starting with the group chat.

Flynn:

Because Dorian added his ex to the previous group chat, and I didn’t know how to quietly remove her without notifying her.

Me:

Are you serious? She was in there the whole time.

Hudson:

You don’t just add someone to the group chat. You make a separate group chat.

Theo:

That’s the whole rule of group chats. What is said in group chat, stays in group chat.

Hudson:

Until you take a screenshot of your chat and then you put it in the other chat hoping that the person that you’re talking shit about doesn’t actually see it. And now I’ve confused myself.

Me:

I hate all of you.

Ford:

You love us. Seriously though, do not add spouses to the family group chat. Or parents. We have a family group chat with the parents, and then a family group chat with just Mom, and then one with just Dad. Hence why I’m very confused why we continue to have more of them. We need to name this one.

Me:

Let’s just call it the Cages.

Flynn:

Yes, because we don’t have anything called the Cages in the Cage family group chat. You’re the CEO of this family, what the hell’s wrong with you?

Hudson:

He’s the president of Cage Enterprises. Not the CEO of the family.

Flynn:

For a man that doesn’t work with the company, you do sound a little testy.

Dorian:

Those sound like fighting words to me.

James:

I have been in a meeting this entire time. Are we seriously just going to have a fifty-message long group chat about the efficacies and rules of group chat? This isn’t Fight Club.

Theo:

All the more reason to actually speak about the group chat, as we’re allowed to talk about it. Like you said, this isn’t Fight Club.

Ford:

I thought we weren’t supposed to talk about fight club.

Hudson:

That movie came out what, fifty years ago at this point?

Flynn:

Let’s not let Hudson do math anymore.

Me:

Seriously. Now that we know we have a new group chat, we can come up with a name later.

Flynn:

Fine by me. Did you start this discourse for a reason, eldest brother of ours?

Me:

I wanted to ensure we were all ready for family dinner on Friday. You know, our favorite thing to do.

Hudson:

Groan.

Dorian:

I’m busy.

James:

New phone, who’s this?

Theo:

Yes, because that totally works, James. Wait. Does it work? I need to know. For reasons.

Ford:

I will probably have dinner with the Montgomerys. In fact, I’ll make sure I’ll have dinner with the Montgomerys.

Me:

Dad won’t be there. He’s on a work trip.

Theo:

I’m in.

Hudson:

Friday night at six again?

Dorian:

I might not make it until six thirty.

James:

I’ll be there. We can hitch a ride together, Flynn.

Flynn:

What if I have a date?

Dorian:

You guys, I can’t laugh so hard that I pee myself in public. Flynn. A date.

Flynn:

Your urinary tract problems aren’t my problems.

Ford:

I might have a Montgomery dinner, but I’m going to try to make it.

Me:

Dinner is at seven. Drinks begin at six. I suppose it’s my turn to host. Unless we’d like to go to The Teal Door?

Theo:

Do not ruin my restaurant with a family dinner that will surely be loud and rowdy.

James:

We are elite businessmen. We are not rowdy.

Dorian:

I’d rather go to the restaurant.

Theo:

You are not allowed to date any more of my waitresses. One quit already.

Me:

Dorian, what the hell did you do?

Dorian:

I didn’t do anything. Laura said she was moving to be near her mom because she got sick. I may like women, but I don’t fuck with them.

Hudson:

Sure, Dorian. Whatever you say.

Dorian:

I’m offended.

Theo:

You really aren’t.

James:

You really, really aren’t.

Me:

We’ll pick the place soon. But Theo, is it okay if we use your place instead? I’d rather not have to deal with a caterer. I could cook, but I don’t have time.

Theo:

Fine. However, just know I’m going to charge you out the ass.

Me:

Charge the company.

Dorian:

Wait, you’re not even going to cook for us, Aston?

Me:

I’m not in the mood to search for a middle finger emoji.

Flynn:

My God, how old are you?

James:

We don’t ask those types of questions.

Unknown Number:

Hello? Do you know how to exit a group chat? Not that this hasn’t been enlightening, but I don’t think I’m supposed to be here.

I leaned back and stared at my phone as if it were a snake ready to strike. I did not recognize the number. It wasn’t Dorian’s ex. And now I was wondering why we had a complete stranger in our family group chat. Damn it. I picked up the phone as soon as it rang, Flynn’s name appearing on the screen.

“Do you know who that is?” Flynn asked, his voice sounding slightly panicked.

“Is it weird that I hope it’s someone that Dorian met and accidentally put her number in?” Because having it be a complete stranger would be worse. At least we hadn’t shared company and family issues within the chat. So far.

“We don’t know if it’s a her .”

That was true. We didn’t know if it was a her . And here I was, acting as if it could be. Weird.

“Hell, no one else is texting, so they’re probably waiting for me to handle it?” I ask, pinching the bridge of my nose.

“Sounds about right. But you are the big brother. It’s what you’re used to. Handle it.”

“At least we didn’t discuss company secrets.”

“No, we just said our names often enough that now someone has our numbers. Hopefully it’s not the press. Or a rival. Fuck.”

I could practically see Flynn pace his office. We weren’t working in the same building today. Flynn was off in the small town that we had purchased over two generations ago, while I was in our high-rise in the city of Denver. I liked running Cage Enterprises. Our grandfather, and later our father, had built it from the ground up, and while they had made some questionable business choices along the way, we had changed the game. We worked with gaining financing and worked with ethical and environmentally friendly building. Hence why we worked with Ford’s family, the Montgomerys so often. We worked with real estate development, small business backers, and environmental research. Meaning we had way too many NDAs to begin with, and people were constantly trying to reach us.

And now, we were adding random people to group chats.

Again, the group chat went completely silent, and I copied the person’s number before starting a new chat.

Me:

Sorry about that. Wrong number I assume?

The three little dots flared for a moment, before they went away, and I had to hope that that was for the best.

Unknown number:

I wouldn’t know. You’re the one now texting me outside the group chat. Where did you get my number?

I studied the number, then quickly went through my contacts, and cursed under my breath. It was one away from Dorian’s. Meaning, when Flynn had made the group chat, he had somehow typed in Dorian’s number. Which didn’t make any sense to me because you could just go through the contact list. I quickly called up Flynn again.

“How did you make the group chat?”

“My phone was giving me problems, so I just typed in everyone’s numbers. I have them all memorized.”

I rolled my eyes. “Of course you do. But you added one more you shouldn’t have.”

Flynn cursed under his breath. “Apparently I was tired. ”

“Apparently I have to clean up your messes.”

“It’s a chat. We’ll delete it. Breathe.”

I rolled my eyes at the fact that it was Flynn telling me to calm down now. That was rich. “You were the one panicking before. Because now this person has our numbers, our names, and where we’ll be on Friday.”

“Yes. Because she could be a sniper. We’ve just alerted our own demise where we’ll be. It’ll make it easy for them. But hopefully I’ll have wine beforehand.”

“I hate when you get all quick-witted after you’re done panicking because you know I’ll handle it.”

“It’s like you know me. Got to go. Meeting’s starting.”

I sighed, then gestured for James to come in as he walked across my office and set down a stack of papers. He raised a brow, and I sighed, gesturing toward the phone.

“I’ll handle it.”

“It’s not anything to handle. But I’ll see you soon.”

“Yeah. You will.”

I liked the fact that James and Flynn worked with me. I didn’t feel like I was constantly searching to find my large family. I had way too many brothers to count. Okay, I had six brothers. With Flynn and Hudson as twins, Ford was the youngest, and I was the oldest. And yet Ford was the one who was married and happy and settling in his life. The rest of us were figuring out what we wanted. That was fine though, it wasn’t as if my end of days were here. But I was busy with work, far too busy to deal with something like a relationship. Flynn and James worked hours just as long as I did .

And I knew Theo as a chef and a restaurant owner worked off hours, to the point that we rarely got to see him. Dorian was on the same hours as Theo since he owned a bar and grill that went for high class clientele even though the place was called The Cage of all things. I rolled my eyes at that.

Hudson and Ford were the only two that really didn’t work for the company anymore. With Ford working for a security company that he owned with his spouse and his spouse’s family, and Hudson painting for a living. It was odd to think that there was even an artist in our family, since it wasn’t something that our father had really subscribed to. But Hudson had always gone his own way. After all, he had done his stint in the Army, spending far too many years overseas where we couldn’t get ahold of him.

But now we were all here, doing something as casual as family dinner.

And apparently had just invited this stranger.

Me:

We’re sorry for bothering you. You can just remove yourself from the group chat by hitting the information button.

Unknown number:

Hmph. I should have thought of that. Sorry it’s been a long day. But you guys sound hilarious. Brothers I take it?

I frowned, wondering why this person wanted the information, and why I wanted to answer.

Me:

Yes. Should I ask your name since you know mine?

Unknown number:

You say that as if I could figure out who was who from the texts. There were a lot of them.

My lips curled into a smile.

Me:

Hazard a guess.

Unknown:

I’m afraid to. But I assume you’re the eldest from the way you’re trying to take care of everything and texted me outside of the chat.

I frowned, wondering how this person could know this.

That was a little too intuitive and it made me uncomfortable.

Me:

And what’s your name?

Me:

It seems only fair to ask.

Unknown Number:

Well, since you haven’t asked for my location yet, I guess I can’t be too worried about you being a serial killer.

Me:

I feel like I should be the one worried.

Unknown number:

Blakely. My name’s Blakely.

Me:

Well, Blakely. It is nice to meet you.

Blakely:

Nice to meet you as well. Although this isn’t how I usually talk to men on phones or even on the internet. I don’t like things like that. In fact, I should probably put my phone down before I realize you’re a scam.

My lips twitch, and I did the one thing I should have done this whole time, I Googled the number.

And because the internet always showed everyone’s secrets unless you knew how to hide them, I found it far too easily.

Blakely Graves.

I didn’t look beyond the first page, but I wanted to make sure that she wasn’t a scammer or anything. But Blakely Graves was a real person. And the photo attached to her profile that came from a job search site made my breath catch.

Gorgeous light eyes, blonde waves falling past her shoulders. And hell. Now I felt like the stalker here. Maybe I was the one asking for too much.

Me:

Anyway, I have to get back to work. But sorry for interrupting your day.

Blakely:

I’ve had a long and tedious day. So thanks for making me laugh. And you should totally cook for them. Not just do catering. At least one time.

I rolled my eyes.

Me:

Did you see how many of them there are? No thanks. Plus I don’t want to poison them.

Blakely:

Good to know. Have a good day and I’ll remove myself.

I looked at the chat and saw the notification that she had indeed removed herself from the chat. I didn’t know why I felt a little sad about it. But I ignored it, and ignored the rest of the group chat as the brothers continued to talk now that they felt a bit safer after she left. Instead, I went back to work, my gaze looking at my phone every once in a while.

I didn’t want her to text back. I didn’t even know this person. I was just a little too tired.

I had been working too many long hours and knew the chaos was because I was trying to clean up a few messes my father had set to the side when he’d decided to retire. He was good at that. Making big promises and working on a few of them so they shone, and then letting everything else fall by the wayside. And I cleaned them up. Along with Flynn and the others, but it was mostly me.

And it wasn’t as if Mom wanted anything to do with the company, or anything that came along with owning the town.

Because the Cages didn’t just work in downtowns and across the world in high rises. No, we owned a whole town.

One in the mountains of Colorado, that was just for the Cages.

I had always thought as a child it was fun to have a town named after us, the one that held our legacy.

I just hadn’t realized how much paperwork came with such an accolade.

Because we were not small town people. At least I didn’t think so. My brothers on the other hand, they fit in a little bit more. Me though? I needed my suit and tie and martini. I wanted my Mercedes, and not the off-roader. I didn’t want to deal with snow where we also had to be the ones who plowed.

I had too many other things on my mind.

Didn’t that make me sound like a pompous ass.

I picked up my phone again, knowing I was distracted.

Me:

So do you think it’s going to snow tomorrow ?

I set down the phone again, wondering why I was even asking. It was ridiculous. But I couldn’t get those eyes out of my head.

Blakely:

Probably. And then it’ll be eighty degrees by the end of the day. It’s Colorado. It’s how we do weather.

Me:

So are you from here then?

I paused, wondering how to word it.

Me:

You have a Colorado number, so I just assumed you were local. But that doesn’t mean anything anymore because we all have cell phones all over the world.

Blakely:

As soon as I typed my response, I realized the same thing. I don’t even know why I replied.

Blakely:

But no, I’m from here. Born and bred. I wouldn’t know where west is if I left. I need the mountains.

As the Rocky Mountains in Denver were always on the west, you always knew where north was. It did help with directions.

Me:

I got lost when I was in Central Pennsylvania once. We were in a valley, and I couldn’t figure out where north was. It didn’t help that it was overcast, and I couldn’t see the sun.

Blakely:

You know our phones have compasses on them. And GPS.

Me:

Yes, but I couldn’t look down when I was driving. And I couldn’t figure out the rental car. It was a thing.

Now I felt embarrassed, like an idiot for even saying anything. I ran a multi-million-dollar corporation and several businesses, and I couldn’t figure out a rental car. Or at least that one day had been a nightmare. I never showed weakness. That’s how people took advantage of you. But apparently it was easy to do so over a single chat where neither of you knew the other in real life.

Blakely:

No it’s okay. I’m the same way. I have to get into a meeting though, okay? Talk to you later?

Blakely:

Or not. Since we’re strangers.

I smiled then, typing right back.

Me:

Talk to you later.

But we didn’t, at least not that night. The next morning I was working, dealing with a thousand meetings and papers on my desk, and when the snow began to fall in earnest, I smiled and picked up my phone.

Me:

Well, it is indeed snowing.

Blakely:

Good thing I dressed in layers. I wonder what the weather will be like later today.

A few hours later, my phone buzzed.

Blakely:

It is 75 degrees outside. I do not understand this weather.

A few days later, I picked up the phone again when it buzzed.

Blakely:

Did you see that score last night?

Me:

Only a few glimpses of it. I didn’t see the last save.

Blakely:

The Avs are my team for a reason.

Me:

Well, brand loyalty helps. Although I used to be a Penguins fan as well.

Blakely:

I can’t believe you just said that. I think I’m going to have to delete your number.

Me:

That would be a horrible reason for you to do that.

Blakely:

Okay true. But tell me you’re at least a Broncos fan.

Me:

I can neither confirm nor deny. But I do like going to the games.

We had box seats for the Avs as well, but I only got to go to those when we had to bring in partners and clients. I rarely got to enjoy myself with things like going to games and having fun. Maybe I did need a weekend out in the town. Cage Lake had a little inn where you could rest and relax—though Flynn was the only one of us who had stayed there as of yet. The Cages owned the resort and many of the buildings in town, but we didn’t tend to live there. We each had homes along the lake though, so I could just head there. Though I knew Flynn was renting his out right now.

Maybe I needed a break. Maybe I needed to go to a game.

The next day, I was the one who texted first.

Me:

Did you see that game?

Blakely:

No I missed it. Deadline.

I didn’t know what she did for a living, nor was I sure she knew that I was Aston Cage. It wasn’t that I was famous or anything, but in certain circles, people knew who our family was. That’s why we were always careful about who we let in. Dorian may have played around, but he was still damn careful.

Hence why a group chat could change things.

Me:

It was a good game. I wish I could have gone.

Blakely:

Maybe someday.

The next day I texted again.

Me:

Let’s meet for coffee.

I hadn’t even realized I was typing it until the bubble exclaimed it was sent and there was no going back.

I just wanted to know who this woman was. I could have Googled more. I could have asked someone to look into her. The information was at my fingertips. But I couldn’t get past my curiosity about the woman who made me laugh with just a few text messages.

Blakely:

I’m still not sure you’re not a serial killer.

I grinned, grateful she was at least a little cautious. I sure as hell wasn’t right then.

Me:

Public place and all. I promise I won’t take you to a secondary location.

I wasn’t sure if that sounded creepy or like a come on, but when she gave me a laughing emoji, my shoulders relaxed.

Blakely:

I shouldn’t.

Me:

We should do it anyway.

Blakely:

Okay, that sounds like a good argument.

I straightened in my chair, my hand tightening around my phone.

Me:

Okay then. Tomorrow? Just coffee. No murder.

Blakely:

Okay. I can do that. Not the murder thing. Although all I know about you is that you live in Colorado. You could be hours away.

Me:

Meet me at Taboo. Do you know that place? It’s downtown.

I could see the chat bubble light up again before she answered.

Blakely:

I know the place. And I work downtown. Coincidence.

Yeah, coincidence. Or maybe she was a serial killer.

I had a date with a wrong number.

And I didn’t want to be wrong about this .