Chapter 11
Wynter
“Ineed to take care of some shit. You go on to bed, and I’ll be in later.”
He stalks off toward the bar, going straight over to Shayna and takes a seat.
She pulls out a glass and pours him a drink.
It must be nice being able to chill and shoot the shit with his friend.
Meanwhile, I’ve been sent to bed like a little kid.
He didn’t even invite me to come and hang out for a bit. Get to know his brothers better.
He gives her a smile, and my stomach twists in a knot.
I can’t watch this. I know he said she belonged to Link, but I have yet to see the two of them together.
And by the look on the man’s face, I don’t think Link’s a fan of how close she and Vale are either.
Instead of heading down the hall to the room, I turn and head out the front door, in need of a smoke.
“I’m shocked that brother of yours let you out of his sight.” That smooth voice is back.
Cage steps up to my side and his presence consumes all the fresh air.
There’s something dominant and dark about him.
He flicks his lighter, offering it to me before he lights his own.
The first inhale is always the best. It goes in deep and slow, and the calm seeps in like a slow breeze against my nerves.
I shut my eyes and savor the moment. Feeling a little less panicked for the first time tonight.
Ever since the near kiss with Vale, I’ve been on edge.
I’m confused as to why he almost kissed me.
Then I wonder why he didn’t. I wonder if he even knew what he was doing.
He did say he was feeling lightheaded and about to pass out from lack of food.
God, I wanted it. I wanted his lips to press against mine. It was such a strange moment, and it kind of freaked me out.
“Wow. Never seen a brain churn that hard before. What you thinkin’ about?”
I take another drag, releasing it slow, trying to come up with an answer to that question.
“Just wondering why life has to be so complicated.”
“It doesn’t have to be. It can be pretty simple. But you have to be willing to let the past go.”
And what if you can’t do that?
“But what if the past haunts you? How do you let it go if you can’t forget?”
Maybe if I suffered from amnesia, life would be easier, but every memory is burned in deep and it never eases up.
He takes another drag, looking thoughtful. Blowing it out slowly before he answers.
“Then you find a way to kill your demons.” Another drag.
Another slow exhale, and now his mind looks to be churning hard.
“We can’t change our past, doll, but we sure as hell can stop letting it control us.
Sometimes, just talking about it can set us free.
And sometimes, we need to face it head on.
Feeding it our fear and anger only makes it grow stronger. ”
I take another drag, trying to fight back the tears.
“Sounds like you’re speaking from experience.”
He smirks, snubbing out his butt and flicking it across the lawn.
“I fed my demons for years. Let my anger control me until I didn’t even recognize myself.
Then I met King, the Prez of this club. He told me I had a choice: relinquish the past and use my anger to fight for the life I wanted, or let my dad win.
I chose to look forward and stopped letting the pain carve my path. ”
I swallow hard, digesting every single one of his words. I wonder what his dad did, but I don’t feel like it’s right to ask. Maybe if I shared my past, he’d be willing to share his.
“My dad’s locked up behind bars in a different state, but he still holds all the power.” I’ve never told anyone that before. Not even Vale. “I hear his voice every day. Inside here.” I tap the side of my head.
“You’re nothing but a whore. You’re as ugly as she is.
Too bad you got your brains from that stupid cunt.
You’re a deceitful little liar. You turned me into the cops.
You told them I caused the bruises on your neck, but you’re the one to blame.
Did you tell them what you did? Huh? Did you tell them you poured all my alcohol down the drain and filled the bottles with water?
You didn’t, did you? You’re a manipulative little brat. And now I’m being sent away.”
“Wynter?” The memory fades as Cage comes back into focus. I’d gotten trapped in my past, held in the vise of his grip. “You okay?”
“Yeah, why?”
His finger comes out, swiping up my cheek, wiping away tears I hadn’t realized had fallen. I quickly tuck my face into my shirt, using it to clear the rest.
“The smoke must be stinging my eyes. It’s getting late. I better get to bed.”
I go to turn, but he grabs my arm and pulls me into his chest. He hugs me so tight, I almost start crying harder. “You ever need me to kill those demons for you, doll, I will. You don’t have to face them alone.”
More tears threaten to break free.
“Thanks, Cage.”
“Wynter? What the fuck? Thought I told you to get to bed.”
Vale’s bitterness breaks the moment. I pull out of Cage’s arms and turn, looking up at my glaring stepbrother.
“I’m not a child, Vale. I don’t need to be told when my bedtime is. Next time you want to get rid of me, just ask. I’ll make myself scarce so you can flirt with your ‘friend.’” I turn toward Cage. “Thanks for the talk, Cage. I needed it.”