Chapter Eighteen #2
Caine had spent the last hour in Rogue’s office breaking down Inez’s plan coming up.
It should’ve only taken fifteen minutes.
This was Inez’s deal, and she wasn’t open to suggestions.
It didn’t stop Rogue from continuously interrupting, giving his thoughts on every detail.
Even Trey seemed fed up by the end of the meeting.
When Rogue dismissed them, Caine didn’t hesitate. He turned and walked out with Ridge and Cyrus. They were halfway down the hall when Caine heard heavy boots approaching. He glanced over his shoulder. Jared came toward them with a sharp glare aimed at him.
“Need to talk to you,” Jared said.
Caine stopped, slowly turning. It was easy to read Jared’s expression. This wasn’t going to be a friendly, casual conversation. Not that he’d ever engaged in one with Trey and Rogue’s head of security.
“He looks pissed, Caine,” Cyrus muttered under his breath.
Yeah, he does.
Jared stopped a foot away. He was a few inches shorter than Caine and not as muscular. Still a worthy opponent physically. But it wouldn’t come to that. Even baited, Caine wouldn’t lose control.
“You couldn’t just fucking leave her alone.”
Fuck! Caine steeled his features, giving no response. His relationship with Keely wasn’t up for discussion with anyone, especially the man standing in front of him. But clearly, Jared knew more than most.
“I wanna know what the fuck happened,” Jared snapped.
Apparently, Jared had some information, but not all. He’d get nothing from Caine.
He squared his jaw. “Ask her .”
Jared stepped up, only inches separating them. “I’m asking you.”
Caine’s muscles tightened. It wasn’t often anyone stepped up to him in challenge. They know better.
“I don’t answer to you, motherfucker.”
Jared’s nostrils flared. “Stay the fuck away from her.”
That statement had him teetering on the edge. Keely made it clear she didn’t want to talk to or hear from him. Caine was respecting her wishes, for now. But he wasn’t ready to let go of Keely. And no one was going to stand between him and his woman.
“I don’t take orders from you either.” Caine started to turn when he felt a hand on his shoulder. No one touched him without permission. Caine jerked around, shot out his arm, wrapped his hand around Jared’s throat, and shoved him against the wall.
The reaction was instant from his men. Ridge and Cyrus flanked his sides.
“Let him go, Caine.” Ridge grabbed his arm, trying to yank him away, muttering, “Fuck!”
Caine tightened his hold and leaned closer. “Only she gets to decide if I stay away.”
Rogue came between them, shouting in Caine’s face. “Stand the fuck down!”
He tightened his grip briefly before following the order. Caine stepped back, rolling his shoulders but kept Jared in his sights.
“What the fuck is going on here?” Rogue shifted his gaze between Caine and Jared, but neither man spoke.
Ridge shoulder nudged Caine and stepped in front of him, putting distance between them.
“A minor disagreement, sir.”
“It didn’t look fucking minor!” Rogue shouted.
“It’s settled now, sir.” Ridge sounded convincing, but Caine knew better.
It’s not even close to fucking settled. Caine kept his glare locked on Jared, who hadn’t looked away through any of the commotion.
“You three,” Rogue snapped. “Get the fuck out of here.”
Ridge turned, gripped Caine’s shoulder, and pushed him toward the elevators. Caine could’ve put up a fight. Even on his best day, Ridge was no match for him. None of them were. But this had already become bigger than Caine had intended. It was best to walk away and let it go.
For now.
*
No one said a word through the entire ride back to the X-Lounge. They took the elevator upstairs and moved through the balcony. Caine would’ve been na?ve to think the altercation wouldn’t eventually get back to Nash. However, it happened much quicker than anticipated.
Nash stood at the end of the hall as they approached. It was common practice to report to Nash after every meeting, but he usually wasn’t waiting for them.
“Caine,” Nash said and motioned for him to follow, leading Caine into his office. “Close the door.”
Caine grabbed the knob, doing as he was told. When he turned back, Nash was standing in front of him only a few feet away.
“I’ve always respected your privacy. Yours more than others. Given you a lot more leeway when it comes to your personal space.” Nash narrowed his gaze. “I specifically asked you of your involvement with Keely, and you said there was none.”
“Trey called you?”
“No.” Nash arched his brow. “Rogue called Oz. From what I gather, he doesn’t know the background of the reason Oz’s head of security went after his.
Apparently, Jared is quite tight-lipped.
I’m sure Trey stepped in when Rogue was pushing for details.
He got him to back off.” Nash paused. “You will not have that luxury with Oz.” Nash lifted his chin. “He’s waiting for you in his office.”
Fuck. He expected to deal with Nash but not Oz.
In all the years he’d worked under the King, he’d never had any type of infraction.
Caine was a model soldier in the Underground security.
It was the reason he’d been moved up to lead after Camille’s departure.
Hell, she’d even suggested Caine replace her.
Caine drew in a breath and walked into Oz’s office, followed by Nash. Oz gestured for him to move toward the seating area. Caine stopped in front of the opening between the couch and chair. He clasped his hand over his wrist behind his back and waited.
Oz stared at him. It was impossible to read his thoughts or gauge his mood. Oz had a way of putting people on edge through silence. The ultimate mindfuck.
“Care to explain.” Oz drew his glass to his lips and sipped his drink.
“We had a disagreement, sir. It won’t happen again.”
“A disagreement.” Oz nodded with a low hum. “Over Inez’s deal?”
“A personal matter.”
“I wasn’t aware you had a personal connection to Jared.”
“I don’t.”
Oz narrowed his gaze. “It seems you do, Caine. And had you kept it personal ” —Oz spread out his hands— “we wouldn’t be here.”
As Nash had said, there was no getting out of answering for what he’d done and more specifically why.
“I was involved with someone he considers family.”
“Was?” Oz cocked his brow. “I take it things didn’t end on the best of terms?”
In Caine’s mind, it hadn’t ended at all. But he’d keep that piece of information close to his chest.
“Jared didn’t think so,” Caine said.
He was being vague, and Oz wouldn’t allow it.
Oz raised his brow. “Name?”
Fuck. The last thing he wanted was to have her on Oz’s radar.
“Keely.” He purposely left out her last name, but from the way the corner of his mouth spiked, Oz knew who she was.
“The one Rogue is so fond of?” His tone was laced in sarcasm.
Nash cleared his throat, which seemed odd timing as he’d remained silent since they’d walked in the room. “Elle is quite fond of her too, sir.”
Oz shifted his gaze to Nash, who moved in closer, standing beside Caine.
“This was an unfortunate but isolated incident. I’m sure both men will make it a point for this to never happen again.”
“You seem to have a lot of faith in Rogue’s guy.”
“Jared won’t say anything. He’s been with Rogue a very long time.
He knows how he operates. If Rogue finds out Keely is the catalyst for the incident, he won’t hesitate to get rid of her permanently.
Rogue would probably go as far as firing Killian, her brother, and Jared’s partner. Jared won’t risk that.”
Oz slowly nodded. “Exactly how much does she know?”
“As far as I know, it’s limited. She has no knowledge beyond thinking Rogue and Trey are club owners and Jared is their security. She believes my role is to oversee our club, and Caine works under me.”
“Caine?” Oz said, wanting confirmation from him.
“I’ve told her nothing, sir.”
“And will that change?”
The only reason it would is if Keely became a bigger, more permanent part of his life. As it stood, Keely wasn’t even willing to see him. For now. Caine chose to keep that to himself and go with the safest answer.
“We’re no longer involved.” Caine flattened his lips, steeling his features.
There was a long stretch of silence.
“Go home, Caine.” Oz ordered.
He straightened his back. “Sir?”
“Go. Home.”
It was ironic the one phrase that got this whole fiasco rolling were those two words. Now he was on the receiving end.