Chapter Sixteen
Keely scooped the spoon into her ice cream, shoving a large amount into her mouth and staring at the TV. She’d been holed up on the couch for two days. Forty-eight hours.
“Going to work today?” Caite asked.
“Nope.”
“Second day in a row.”
Look at my smart roommate who can count.
“Yep.”
“Aren’t you worried they’ll fire you?”
Keely licked her spoon, glancing over at Caite. “Nope.”
Caite tip-toed into the room, heading toward the recliner. Keely knew what she was doing, and any other time, she’d appreciate her roommate trying to be a friend. Not today. All she wanted was to be left alone.
“Don’t.”
Caite stilled, peeking over her shoulder.
“I know what you’re trying to do, and as much as I appreciate it” —Keely shook her head— “I don’t want it.”
“How do you know what I’m going to say?”
“Because it’s the same speech I’d give you if the roles were reversed.
” Keely scraped the inside of the ice cream carton.
“He’s an asshole. You’re too good for him.
He’ll never find someone as great as you.
I bet he’s regretting everything at this very moment.
” Keely forced a smile. “Does that pretty much cover everything?”
Caite’s shoulders sagged. “Yeah.”
Keely turned her attention back to the television. She was on her third binge watch of the show. Caite stood in the room for another minute then started toward the hallway.
“I’m just going to say one thing, then I promise to leave you alone.
I’m always available to trash him on social media, pictures and all.
I’m even willing to kick it old school and key his car.
Just let me know.” Caite paused and sighed.
“And my grandparents own a farm upstate. Perfect place to bury a body, just sayin’. ”
Keely smirked. She wasn’t especially close to any of her roommates, but Caite was proving to be the ultimate girls’ girl.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Keely kept her gaze on the screen. Caite walked into the kitchen and rustled in the cabinet.
Keely didn’t pay too much attention until she emerged with a bag of chips.
Caite tossed them on the coffee table. They may have shared an apartment, but none of the roommates, including Keely, ever shared food.
Especially their favorites. But Caite was doing just that.
The last thing she needed was more junk food, but she appreciated the offer.
“Thanks,” Keely muttered.
“Got to go but if you need anything, text me.” Caite grabbed her jacket and headed down the short hallway. When the door opened, she heard a faint greeting. It was probably another of her roommates. The door closed, and she heard footsteps walking closer.
“You look like shit.”
It was not a roommate. She shifted her eyes to Jared standing at the edge of the room.
Fuck! She’d done her best to avoid any and all human contact in the last two days.
Keely had even gone as far as shutting off her phone.
Eventually, she’d return calls and messages when she was ready. But she hadn’t expected an ambush.
“Thanks, Jay.”
“You missed dinner at your parents’ house. Called out sick twice. Kill wanted to come over and check on you, but he’s got a shift, and unlike you, he actually showed up.”
She ignored the dig and shoveled a large spoonful of ice cream in her mouth. “I’m sick!”
He scanned the table of empty ice cream tubs and wrappers. “I can see why.”
The last thing she needed was a lecture.
Keely scowled. “Why are you here?”
“I wanted to make sure you were okay.”
Keely should’ve known he or her brother would stop by and check on her.
“Well” —she raised her brows mockingly— “As you can see, I’m just fine, so if you don’t mind” —She pointed her spoon at the TV screen— “I’m kind of in the middle of something.”
She was making her intentions clear. But Jared did the opposite and walked through the room, taking a seat on the recliner. He dropped his elbows to his knees. “This have anything to do with Caine?”
The last thing she wanted to do was talk about Caine. And the last person she’d want to do it with would be Jared. He’d made his disapproval known when he suspected something. If she had just heeded his initial warning, she wouldn’t be in her current position.
“You can deny it all you want, but I’m not blind. I know there’s something going on between you two.”
“Was,” she mumbled, scraping the bottom of the container.
There was a long stretch of silence.
“What happened?” he asked.
He made me fall for him. He let me think I was getting in with him, closer on another level.
He made me think that I actually meant something to him.
That he wanted to be with me. And then he ripped out my fucking heart, slammed it on the ground, and stomped on it until there was nothing left. That’s what happened, Jay.
“Told you to stay away from him for a reason, Keely. He’s not a good guy.”
She turned back to the TV and sighed, whispering, “No, he’s not, and I got to see that firsthand. So no need to worry, Jay, it’s over.”
Jared didn’t leave immediately. He stayed for another half hour and occasionally pushed for more information about her and Caine. She gave him nothing.
Nothing.
Because that was all that was left of their relationship.
Fucking nothing.
****
“You look down at that phone one more goddamn time, I will set it on fire.”
Fuck!
Caine slowly lifted his gaze, meeting Inez’s irate stare. He should’ve known better, and in the past he had. Caine never let anything interfere with his job in the Underground. Most people in the organization would use him as an example of the perfect soldier.
He was failing at the moment. It had been a few days since the altercation at the bar with Keely.
It was a clusterfuck. He’d hurt her again.
He’d called twice, but it went straight to voicemail.
There was a part of his mind trying to convince himself this was his way out.
Anything with her couldn’t go much further. Walk the fuck away and be done.
He couldn’t. The woman plagued his mind and had invaded all his thoughts.
Caine shoved his phone in his pocket, turning his attention where it belonged. The meeting at Inez’s apartment.
“What is it with you fuckers and your phones?” She took a strong pull from her cigarette, eyeing Caine suspiciously.
“Won’t happen again.”
Inez scoffed. “Yeah, it fucking will, but it better not be you again.”
Caine gave a curt nod, knowing better than to argue with her. There was already tension brewing at the meeting. Once again, Jared was unavailable . That added to Inez’s already enraged attitude.
Inez lifted her chin. “Anders suspect anything?”
“No,” Caine said. “As predicted, he showboated most of the time, outlining his accolades and took credit for the deal going through.”
Ace laughed, taking a drag from his cigarette. “That’s gonna make this all the more satisfying.”
Inez smirked, slowly nodding. She’d get her revenge.
“Spoke to Nash. We’re putting this into play next Thursday.
We’ll have them meet you at the warehouse at ten.
By that time, the area should be cleared out.
You’ll make the exchange. When you got the keys in hand, you take them out.
I’m sending a few brothers for clean up, so you get on the road immediately. ” Ace scanned the room. “We clear?”
“Yeah,” Caine said and saw the others nod in agreement.
“And I want Jessie on lead,” Inez said.
Caine looked over at Inez. That hadn’t been part of the plan, and it wasn’t how they’d strategized this deal until now.
“It should be Caine,” Ace countered.
Inez furrowed her brows. “I didn’t ask for your fucking opinion.”
Ace shrugged. “I’m giving it anyway.”
He’d always found the dynamic between Inez and the MC fascinating. It was public knowledge they worked under her and had for years. They were extremely loyal. Caine had gotten the impression Inez called all the shots without pushback. He was seeing it differently now.
Inez laughed, grabbed her cigarette, and took a strong pull, looking over at Jessie.
“These bastards don’t think you’re good enough to handle that prick.”
Ace shook his head. “That’s not what I said, Inez.”
She waved her hand, silencing him, and kept her eyes on Jessie.
“What do you think?”
Jessie smirked. “I think Ace is right, and Caine should take the lead. Anders is a misogynist asshole pig. He’ll take issue with me leading.
The last thing he’ll do is take orders. If I had to guess, he’ll purposely fight against the plan solely because I’m a woman.
If you want this to run smoothly without any issues, Caine takes the lead when dealing with Anders. ”
Inez blew out the smoke, the corner of her mouth perking up.
“I hope all you motherfuckers paid close attention to this.” Inez pointed to Jessie. “No ego with this one. Always putting the greater good of the organization ahead of herself.”
There was a sense of pride when Inez talked about Jessie. There was a history between the two that went deeper. But Caine didn’t know it.
Inez looked over at him. “You want the fucking butler to walk you to the door? Get the fuck out!”
Always a pleasure, Inez.
Caine was the last in line to walk out of the apartment. It was a purposeful move. Cyrus and Ridge were already closing in on the elevators. He pulled out his phone. He had a few missed calls and a handful of messages. But none from her.
Fuck.
This left him no other choice.
When they reached the elevator, he turned to Ridge. “You and Cy head back to the club. I got something I need to handle.”