By the time we pull into the parking lot I’m ready to kill. I don’t know how long they’ve had her or what they’re doing to her. God help him if he messes with Georgie.
I’m about to open my door when my phone rings. Looking down I see Georgie’s number and immediately answer. “Baby, where are you?”
“Oh Jayden, I’m at the hospital.” I hear a sob escape her mouth and fuck does it kill me.
“What the hell did he do to you? We’re on the way Sunshine.” I shut my door, start the engine and head in the direction of the hospital.
“I’m fine, just a few bruises.” I sigh in relief before my whole worlds turned on its axis.
“Jayden… it’s Kyle.”
***
Motherfucker, I couldn’t get a whole bunch more out of Georgie because she was sobbing and I couldn’t understand her. I hung up after telling her I’d get there as soon as I could.
As we walk through the entrance to the Emergency Room a million emotions are running through my mind. If anything happens to Kyle, I’ll never forgive myself. We reach the front desk and Josh mentions his name. The nurse cringes, I swear I saw her cringe. What the fuck kind of nurse is she, aren’t they taught in college to have a poker face? What the fuck happened to my baby brother?
“Right this way. Your sister’s already in there with him.”
“Sister?” I hear Josh question.
“Georgie.”
We’re halted half way down the hall when we hear Zander yelling for us. Josh called him straight away and told him to meet us here.
“What the fuck happened?”
“We don’t know yet, we’re on the way to his room now.”
The closer we get to his room the harder my heart races until I feel like I’m about to pass out. I need to get my shit together, god knows what I’m walking into. Georgie needs me to be strong and so does Kyle.
As the nurse pulls back the curtain I immediately take in my surroundings. Georgie’s in a chair next to a hospital bed holding someone’s hand. I follow the arm and meet the eyes of my baby brother. My severely bruised baby brother. One eye is completely swollen shut, the other has a cut high up on the cheek bone and his lip is split down the middle.
I halt unable to move. “What the fuck happened?” I choke out.
Georgie’s head pops up from where it was resting on the bed when she hears my voice. “Jayden.” Tears form in her eyes before they start to cascade down her face. She places Kyle’s hand on the bed and runs to me. When her body crashes to mine I hold her so fucking tight.
Pulling her at arm’s length I survey her face. It takes everything in me to remain calm when I see a cut on her cheekbone. That motherfucker really did hit her.
I pull her back to me. “I’m here baby and I’m so fucking sorry. It’s my fault, this is all my fault.”
“No…” I cut her off by placing my finger over her lips.
“Don’t argue because you know it’s true. I missed the fucking call.”
Wrapping my arm around her shoulders I direct her towards the bed and take the seat next to it pulling her onto my lap. Josh is sitting in a chair on the other side of the bed as Zander occupies the edge of the hospital bed by Kyle’s feet.
“Ky, what happened?” I’m praying to whoever’s listening that he tells me this is in no way related to missing my fight tonight.
“I was leaving the library and halfway back to my dorm I got jumped by three guys. They blindsided me, slammed me in the back of the head with a fucking rock. Before I could fight through the haze they got a few good hits on me. Once I realized what was happening I fought back. Campus security showed up and they all fled. But not before one of them told me to relay a message to you.”
I close my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose trying to calm down my emotions waging war in my head. “What’d they say?”
He looks away, then looks back at me. “He said to tell you Serge isn’t an understanding man. If you miss the fight again…” He looks away without finishing his sentence.
“What?”
“It doesn’t matter. I’m not scared of a couple thugs. I can handle my own as you can see.”
“Fuck me. Kyle, I’m so sorry you got dragged into this.” I lose control as tears form in my eyes. This is my baby brother. He’s lying in a hospital bed because of my carelessness right now.
“What the hell’s going on Jay? And I want the truth. None of this baby of the family shit. I’m not too young to know why I was jumped by three fucking guys.”
I feel Georgie shake before she starts talking. “Kyle, this is all my fault. Don’t listen to Jayden, he’s in this mess because of me.” Then she proceeds to tell him every last gory detail of this cluster fuck of a situation. Even about the pact she made to give Skid her virginity. I hold her through all the tears as she explains herself.
“Jayden. Hey, will you look at me?” Kyle yells.
I hesitantly meet his stare. “Don’t beat yourself up over this. Does it suck? Hell yes, but we’ll make it through. Just know you now have yourself a gym buddy. I’m gonna help you train. Hell, that’s what saved my ass tonight. I don’t think they anticipated baby Cage, their words not mine, to be able to defend himself. They foolishly underestimated me.”
“Damn straight bro. No more baby shit, I promise. You’re Kyle, the bad ass Cage.” And we all laugh.
“What are we looking at? Any internal?” Josh asks.
“Nope just an ugly mug and a bruised rib.” Kyle smiles.
“You kind of look like Sloth from The Goonies.” Georgie says.
“Oh, she has jokes.” Kyle retorts. “Alright, which one of you gets to be the lucky one?”
“What do you mean?” Josh questions.
“Who gets to call mom and break the news that her sweet baby boy was jumped?”
“Not it!” Josh and I yell at the same time.
“Fine, I’ll fucking do it. Only because I’m the reason you’re in that bed and also, we know I’m moms favorite.”
I exit the room to my brothers yelling profanities at me.
Tonight could have ended very differently. I should be the one in the hospital recovering from my fight but instead there lays my baby bro.
I will not miss another call. That fucker better be ready for me.
CHAPTER 14
Jayden
“Son of a bitch!”
“Are you gonna cry big brother?” Kyle taunts.
“No, but I know that’s gonna leave a mark douchebag. Easy on my face, it’s my prized piece. Besides my cock, of course.”
That earns me another blow to the side of my torso. Gritting my teeth, I endure it. It’s crazy to say, but Kyle has been kicking my ass. Not just when we spar, but also when he plans our workouts. Since the attack, he’s taken his training and my own crazy serious. If I come out on top of my fight it’s because of him. I suppose Zander and Josh should get a little credit, even though we mostly workout on opposite schedules.
They try to make my workouts at least 3-4 times a week. Their lives are crazy and I completely get that. Savvy popped out little Danny a month ago and Mia is crawling her ass all around the house.
Whoosh
And I’m on my back on the mat. Damn that’s gonna hurt tomorrow.
“Get out of your head Jay, you need to focus!”
“I’m trying but there are things on my mind. I can’t just leave it at the door.”
“Sit down.”
“Huh?” He doesn’t answer me. Ky is now sitting with his legs crossed on the floor.
I sigh and jump down on the floor with him. “Is this some new leg hold or something?”
“Nope, we’re meditating.” He places his hands on his knees and takes a few deep breaths.
“Oh, what the hell. I could use a little woosa in my life.” In the same stance as Ky, a few cleansing breaths I feel fucking great. I’m channeling the earth and all that shit until Georgie pops into my head. Guess she’s my happy place.
&
nbsp; Georgie was a mess after the attack and I don’t blame her. Having a man smack her around isn’t something I would forget anytime soon. That motherfucker, now my bloods boiling and I wanna kick the shit out of something.
When I open my eyes, the punching bags in my sights. Perfect.
As I look over at Ky, I make the decision to let him continue on his spiritual journey or whatever he’s hoping to get from this random meditation.
After my first couple hits Kyle shows up behind the bag holding it steady as throw punch after punch. “I take it you didn’t clear your mind?” He laughs.
“That motherfucker was clear, then I started thinking about my girl. Then that led to me thinking about Skid and him putting his dirty fucking paws on my woman so here I am.”
“I’m not going to try and understand how you’re feeling. I’ve never been there, I don’t know. If you need to hit a punching bag, crush the shit out of it.”
I nod my head in understanding and continue pounding away. The anger inside my mind starts to recede and calmness starts taking over my body again. When I’m panting hard and can barely swing my arms I know it’s time to quit for the day.
As we’re walking to the locker rooms I throw my arm around my baby bro. “Sorry Ky, that meditation shit just isn’t for me. Using my fists has always been my brand of therapy.”
“Eh, it was on the cover of a magazine at the grocery store. Thought we’d give it a go and see if we got any good results. I couldn’t keep my shit out of my head either. The Cages apparently are ragey motherfuckers.” We both laugh.
“Not my sweet boy. Mom would flip her lid if she knew her baby boy was having ragey thoughts.” He rolls his eyes as we make our way to the showers. When he turns his back towards me I see some ink along his right rib cage as he’s turning.
“No fucking way! Say it isn’t so Ky Ky. You were supposed to be ink free out of solidarity to me and my fear of needles! Now you’re making me look like a pussy.”
“You are a pussy.” He chuckles. “It’s not that bad, your fear makes no sense for a grown man.”
“Fuck you. You know, I wonder if I can get a fresh bowl of bait at the local gas station?” I sit there pondering as Kyles face falls.
“You wouldn’t! Worms are creepy as shit Jay, don’t even joke about them. My actions would not be my fault and I sure as hell would be in deep shit with mom after you tattle tale.”
“She likes to know her favorite son isn’t getting mauled by his psycho brothers. She knows how you guys are.”
“Mama’s boyyyy.” He sings.
“Yeah, yeah and proud of it!”
***
Talking about my mom has me walking through her front door not even an hour later with a bag full of Chinese food. Just before I called Georgie to let her know what I was up to and that I’d be by later. It was more for my own peace of mind. Lately I find myself checking in with her more throughout the day. A repeat of that horrific night is not likely to happen again. So, I’ll continue to keep tabs on her until my debts are paid to Skid.
At least twice a week I try to pop in and check on her and Granny. Who am I kidding? I practically live here. But it’s been few and far between lately because I’ve been spending most of my spare time with Georgie. It’s not much and my feet always lead me to her doorstep.
That’s a first for me. No one has ever mattered to me in life as much as my mom. I love my sisters-in-law, but they aren’t Mama Cage. Hmmm… what was that? Sounds like something just fell down in the kitchen. I bet she’s whipping up one of her famous baking concoctions. Damn I hope it’s her triple fudge brownies. All this gym time has left me insatiable.
As I round the corner to the kitchen, something stops me dead in my tracks. A fucking dude moaning. Abort mission! I’ve made it 26 years without catching my parents in the act. My mom hasn’t dated since my dad died so I never assumed something like this would be a possibility. Damn it, she’s my mom! She doesn’t have sex!
Then the unthinkable happens, my cell phone starts to ring loudly in my pocket. I try to will the motherfucker to stop its music but it keeps going and going like the god damn energizer bunny.
There’s hushed whispers and the clear sound of people scurrying around and clothes whipping through the air. Slowly, my feet start to back me down the hallway until I’m at the front door. Home free thank Christ. When my hands on the door knob I hear a throat clear and hang my head in shame. Busted!
As I turn to face the new man in my mom’s life I’m startled to be staring at Billy. Oh, you don’t know who Billy is? He’s the manager at the gym and Zander’s new coach. He must see something in my face because his hands come up as if trying to calm down a bucking bronco.
“Jay, this isn’t what it looks like.”
“Are you saying you’re not banging my mom?”
“Um…”
“Jayden Carlisle knock it off this second!” Mom comes rushing into the room with her clothes askew.
“You got your buttons wrong for crying out loud. I’m not supposed to know you have S-E-X, I’m scarred for life!” I throw my hands in the air and sink into the couch.
“You can’t say sex around your mother but you can call me a cockblocker?”
I look up at her in disbelief. “Don’t say that! You’re supposed to say mom words like penis stopper.”
“Bill, I’ll call you later. I need to deal with my two-year-old.”
I scoff at her comment as she walks up to him and kisses the hell outta him. Really it’s just a small peck on the lips, but they might as well have just fucked in front of me.
“Watch your back Bill.” I’m feeling very Jack Jenks right now. Now I understand the bow and jumpsuit. I wonder if I can stop for one on my way home. Cornering Billy in the gym would probably scare this little lapse in judgement right out of his system.
“Stop it. Just stop. Follow me.”
Hesitantly, I stand up and follow my mom to the scene of the crime without thinking about it. “Really mom? Take me to the room where you were just all up on your boy toy?”
“Act like an adult for one second Jay.”
“I am an adult.” I mumble.
“Let me ask you this, how long can you… you know? Go without sex.”
“Don’t even ask me that. I’ve been in the longest dry spell of my life.”
“But it was your choice and what you needed to do to be with that sweet girl correct?”
“Yessss.” I don’t know where she’s going with this.
“I haven’t so much as looked at another man since your father passed away. Not one.”
“You’re a mom. I always just assumed it didn’t matter.” I shrug my shoulders.
“Oh sweet boy, it does matter. I’ve known Bill for years. Since he first started working with Zander.”
This is true. Even though he’s Z’s new coach he’s been on the Cage team for quite some time. Thinking on it, he’s a decent guy and I should be happy she’s not like some of those women out there cougar-ing it up around town with a kid younger than me.
“Okay, I see your point. But, a warning would have been nice. Jay, I’m seeing a nice man and I’d knock before entering my house from now on would have been real beneficial right about now.”
“Point taken. We’ll have a nice family dinner so we can all get to know each other.”
“We already know him.”
“You know what I mean. Get to know him as my new man.” She walks up to me and pats my cheeks. “He makes me happy baby, try to understand.”
“You know I love you the most no matter what.” I laugh.
“Really? I’m under the impression that Georgie has surpassed me in that department, as she should.”
“Don’t start with the L word, you sound like Josh.”
She laughs and we sit around eating the food I brought and she tells me about what her and Billy have been up to. There’s a glow to her when she talks about him. She’s beaming like the freaking sun and that makes me
okay with it all. My mom’s happiness is always number one for me but I can’t always be around, especially when I start a family.
Whoa, what happened right there? And why am I not freaked the hell out right now? I push that to the back of my mind for another time.
“So, at the gym, you’ll never guess what Ky did to me…”
CHAPTER 15
Georgie
“Give me, give me, give me!” I hold my arms open in waiting.
“Jesus, I can’t even hold my nephew for a second before he’s taken away.” Ashlyn grumbles.
“You have your own, now give me!” I reach over and carefully take the baby into my arms. Baby cuddles are the best cuddles.
“She’s not a baby anymore, she’ll be seven months soon. I’m really starting to get baby fever again.”
“Really Ash? You’re ready to have another before Mia’s one?” Savvy laughs. “Let me remind you, your vagina parts like the red sea and-”
“You just tabled my talk with Josh about baby making for a solid month for that.” She pouts her lips.
“Do you really want to be pregnant for your bachelorette party? Who wants a dry one? I know I don’t. After nine months I’m raring to go!” Savvy plops herself down on the couch next to me.
“I’m surprised your guard dog isn’t sitting at your feet. We never see you without Jay anymore.”
I sigh. “I know. But he feels personally responsible for what happened a few weeks ago. Seeing him so wound up makes the guilt set in about this whole situation.”
“Why would you have guilt? Nobody blames you for all of this.”
Savvy and Ashlyn found out about the gambling and fight the night I was taken. They demanded answers and I gave it to them. I needed them to know the blame wasn’t to be placed on Jayden like he was telling them to. They didn’t stone me like I thought they were going to. These people in my life, my family, they’re always surprising me. I love them so much.
“Stop it, I see the wheels turning in your head.”
“Fine, I won’t say it.” I whine.
Bound By Cage Box Set (Complete Series Books 1-4) : MMA Romance Page 52
