by Smith, Maren
I needed to know where my car was, if my job had called for me, and what exactly had happened seventy-two hours ago. I pressed a hand to my forehead. My thoughts swam a bit when I tried to think. I clenched the sheets closer to my body with my other hand. What a mess I’d gotten myself into.
The man returned a few minutes later and motioned for me to sit up. In his hand, he held a bottle of Tylenol and a fresh bottle of water. “Couldn’t give you anything while you were out. This should help bring the fever the rest of the way down.” Shaking the bottle upside down, he handed me three pills and watched as I took them. Then he grabbed the pile of clothes he had brought earlier, and without a word, he assisted me into soft navy flannel pants and a light gray t-shirt since my head refused to allow me to do anything on my own.
“Thank you for scraping me off the sidewalk, Kade,” I said, trying again to express appreciation to this kind but odd stranger. For a short moment, my heart rejoiced at his kindness, but then my usual paranoia sank back into my brain. He could be nursing me back to health just to sell me on the streets. “I’m sure in that part of town I wouldn’t have lasted long.”
“I swear my intentions are pure, though you don’t know me any more than I know you.”
“I think you know me just a bit better,” I quipped, since he had not only stripped me naked, but stuck a thermometer in my ass, at least twice.
He didn’t react to my argument. “We need to get some food in your system, before we get into all the particulars of the other night,” he said off-handedly.” I came up to check on you, but I was about to make dinner. I can bring you up a plate or we can get you downstairs. Which do you prefer?”
“Will you please carry me to the food?”
“That is the strangest question anyone has ever asked me.” He shook his head, but lifted me up into his arms.
Chapter 4
Caitlyn
I hated how easily I melted against his chest, and the strange fluttery sensations from before increased and flew through my body. I shifted with my hand pressed against him to force distance, but he groaned and I glanced up in horror. “Did I hurt you?”
“A little. With your newfound strength, you could break one of my ribs if you push that hard again.”
“Shit, I’m sorry. Do you think I’m stronger than Popeye now?”
Kade exhaled, but he didn’t sound annoyed. I couldn’t quite figure out where his mood was though. If he had spent the past seventy-something hours taking care of me, either all by himself or with a little assistance from his sister, then he was probably tired. How could I repay him for that? He seemed to have the patience of a saint.
“I don’t know, but from what I just experienced, you pack a bigger punch than you ever did before. Eventually, you’ll figure out your limits.”
Kade adjusted me against him, and then walked us down the last few stairs and into the kitchen. It was literally the kitchen I’d dreamed of as a little girl. Gorgeous dark cherrywood cabinets. An island in the middle. Huge stainless-steel fridge with double doors.
“Wow.” I saw myself cooking and baking in this perfect space. I wasn’t sure where the odd vision came from, but so many other things were so odd, it was the least of my problems.
Kade sat me on the cushioned chair by the island, grabbed a new bottle of water from the fridge and handed it to me before rummaging through his shelves and cupboards.
I said nothing about the fact that he was handing me a new bottle of water every fifteen minutes or so, and instead drank it quickly. I was still parched beyond belief, I assumed from the fever.
Oil sizzled in the pan. Within a few minutes, the smell of garlic, ginger, and other spices permeated the air and my mouth watered. The delicious aromas wafted through the kitchen and I realized how hungry I was.
“Do you like teriyaki chicken?”
“I’d eat dog food if that’s all you had to offer me,” I said as my stomach rumbled, “but whatever you’re cooking smells delicious. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I know you are anxious to talk about what happened.” His voice had a weary tone to it as he moved around the kitchen, intent on whatever culinary masterpiece he was whipping together. “Before you start with a million questions, tell me the last thing you remember.” Kade moved around the stove and kitchen with such grace, that I sort of zoned out as I watched him. “Focus.” He snapped his fingers twice, and I startled.
“Sorry,” I replied sheepishly. “My brain is a little fuzzy.”
He nodded and continued working. A few minutes later, plates were fixed, and he sat down on the other side of the table across from me and poured himself a glass of Pinot Grigio from the bottle of wine on the table. He didn’t offer me any, but considering how sick I’d been, it was better to stick to water.
“Tell me about your night,” he prompted. “Everything you remember.”
“My boss took an order for Devil’s Park and said I would lose my job if I didn’t deliver it,” I began. “So, I delivered the pizza and was heading back to my car when this woman named Sheila jumped out of a moving vehicle followed by her boyfriend. We exchanged some unpleasant words and he pulled a gun on me. I crushed it, but I thought it was a child’s toy because of how malleable it seemed in my hand. I kicked him in the balls, he got pissed and tried to hit me, and then I threw him. He flew to the other side of the road and got knocked out somehow. Maybe from the impact? Sheila told me to get out of there. Things went blurry afterward and I saw some guy in a mask, or at least I thought he had a mask on.”
“Hm.” Kade set his fork down. “Do you remember anything else?”
“No, not really. I wasn’t feeling so great.”
Kade nodded thoughtfully, took a heaping bite of his food, and chewed slowly before answering. “All right, short version. I’ve been told the woman who jumped out of the car is Sheila Delgado. Her father owns–”
“Half of this city!” I interjected, recognizing the name immediately. “Shit, yeah. I know who she is. Wait, I saved Sheila Delgado’s life?”
“One thing at a time. Yes, it was her, but it’s debatable about the outcome. The man she was with was Antonio Morelli. He’s got absurdly deep pockets and a knack for faces. I’d bet you’re already at the top of his most-wanted list. He must have managed to convince Sheila to go with him at some point, and now she’s probably locked away in one of her father’s mansions under a protection detail.” Kade ate several mouthfuls of the teriyaki chicken, then washed it down with a sip of wine. “So, your effort might have been in vain.”
“Great.” So much for trying to help someone.
“What were you doing there?” I implored him for more information. “Were you wearing a mask when you collected me? How do you know Sheila and Antonio? Do you work for him?”
“Jesus.” He sipped from his glass and forced a pause. “You’re demanding a lot of information. Let’s see. I’m not sure what you mean about a mask. I do have a personal beef with Antonio, but I’m not discussing the details of it with you. Just saying his name out loud is asking for some sort of repercussions around this city.” He took another sip of wine.
“If you’re really the man who saved me the other night, then I’m sure you had a mask on.” Lifting my legs underneath the table, I grabbed his thigh between my feet and squeezed. The action probably hurt a lot more than it normally would. “I’m excellent at reading between the lines, and I don’t care for liars.” I cocked an eyebrow and glared suspiciously, but so much of the night blurred in my mind. Had my vision blurred as well? No. I was right about the masked man. I tried to remember what had happened immediately afterward, but failed.
“If you don’t loosen your grip,” Kade spat between gritted teeth, “I’m going to show you what else I do to women in my care, who suddenly think they’ve got the upper hand after being shown nothing but kindness. I won’t tolerate your attitude, not after all I’ve done the past few days.”
“I have spent the past twenty-four years all
by myself. I don’t need some sort of hero swooping in and rescuing me!”
“Release my leg.”
I squeezed a bit tighter. Kade clasped my ankles and pressed on a point on each one which caused pain to flare up like a bad muscle cramp. I jerked my feet away from his thigh. What had gotten into me?
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that, but you’re lying. Tell me the truth.”
“When you’ve proven yourself trustworthy, I will share more details, but for now I can’t get into the particulars.”
“That’s not really a good answer.”
“I don’t wish for any harm to come to you, the less you know the better at this point.” He abandoned his spot at the table and came around to my chair. He picked up my right foot and massaged the spot where he had pressed. Kade repeated the action with my left. “I’ve got a feeling that’s not going to be enough for you, though. You seem to have a listening problem.”
My head fell back on my shoulders. “If your secret tactic to get me to listen is your incredible hands, then I’m done for,” I muttered.
“Yeah, my hands have something to do with it for sure,” he mumbled with a chuckle, “but there are more important things to discuss. Are you going to quit poking at me now?”
“Why are you being so nice to me, anyway?” I questioned, throwing another question at him. I slowly tipped my head up and caught his stare. “You could have just left me to my own devices on that sidewalk.”
“One point at a time. Are you going to stop pushing or not?”
“Yes, I suppose.” I rolled my eyes. Kade released my foot, then went to the sink, washed his hands and returned to the table. We resumed eating dinner and I enjoyed the food in silence for a while, before I thought of new questions to ask him. “Do you have my car and my phone?”
“Your car was picked all the way down to its little steel bones, but you didn’t have insurance on it. Not a bright thing to do.” He leaned forward and his eyes locked on mine. “I have your physical phone, but I destroyed the sim card. You can’t just waltz back to your old life like nothing has happened. Everything has changed. Do you understand?”
I finished my bottle of water while I racked my brain for some clarity. “Nothing has changed,” I insisted, crumpling my brow in confusion. “Except, if it’s been three days, I might have gotten fired from my job. I have rent due in four days!” He wasn’t making any sense. Of course, I could waltz back to my old life. What choice did I have? “I can’t just rub my hands together and manifest a new apartment, clothes, a job, etcetera. Perhaps you can wave a magic wand and instantly have a new life, Mr. Fancy-pants, but I cannot.”
He ignored my jab and argued without reacting. “Antonio Morelli is bad news, and your life is in danger,” he repeated. “When are you going to get that? If you strut right back to your job, back around people you know, your family or whatever–you’re putting their lives in danger just as much as your own.”
I held a hand to my stomach and Joe’s words from the other night played back in my head. No one would miss you.
No. I knew it was a lie, and even if it weren’t, I refused to allow this rich pretty-boy with a god complex to order me about, even if he was handsome as sin, and had amazing massage hands.
“Thanks for what you’ve done,” I said, pulling myself to standing, “but I need to go. Please give me my phone and I’ll be on my way.”
I was ridiculously proud of myself for not falling over this time, and I was sure my face reflected that. Apparently, the food and copious amounts of water had helped immensely.
“You’re wearing my clothes,” Kade deadpanned.
Fuck. It was hard to make a dramatic exit when you needed to remove your outfit, put on another one, find your shoes, your keys, and then storm through someone else’s large townhome and leave. Not to mention I was already starting to feel dizzy again. I twisted a piece of hair around my pointer finger while I stared at him. “Whatever.”
“Finish eating,” he commanded, pointing at my plate. “Your body needs the protein.”
I inhaled sharply, but he was correct. I had been unconscious for so many hours that I had no fuel left in me, and though I might feel slightly better, the little bit I had eaten wasn’t enough to get me changed and out of here. Sinking back into my chair, I stabbed several pieces of chicken and ate them.
“I don’t mean to be difficult,” I said, trying a different tactic, “and I appreciate what you’ve done for me, but I’ve got to get back into my daily routine.”
“Your routine needs to change, or you’ll find yourself dead,” he responded firmly.
I wanted to argue, that Antonio and his gun had been no match for me the first time, but I stayed silent. It felt nice to know that someone cared about my safety, even if that someone was a very odd and bossy stranger.
We ate in silence.
I didn’t want to think about this stupid Antonio guy, but I had to. How could one man have so much power? Why would this seemingly well-to-do man concern himself with me anyhow? And when would he deem it safe enough for me to leave?
I ate the rest of the meal and realized it was the first meal I’d enjoyed in a long time. I usually grabbed a slice of pizza or a plate of spaghetti from the restaurant and deducted the cost from my tips, but Kade’s cooking was delicious. I sat there lost in my thoughts as I ate, and I didn’t even notice I had finished, until I reached for another bite, and my fork hit the now empty plate.
“That was delicious. Thank you.” It was suddenly very important to me that Kade not think I was some sort of rude, classless ingrate.
Kade smiled, and nodded, then lifted his glass to his lips, swirled the wine once, and drained the rest of it. He stood, gathered up the empty plates and then washed the dishes without replying to me.
Frustrated and confused, I joined him at the sink, intent on gaining some sort of understanding about the situation I was now in. My feet and head stayed planted. No awful dizziness. One point for Caitlyn.
Chapter 5
Caitlyn
“Do you think I’m some sort of freak?” I asked, surprising myself with the first question that came out of my mouth. “Sheila called me a freak when she watched me manhandle her boyfriend.”
“Sheila and Antonio are most definitely not a couple.” He paused in his task and turned to face me completely. “And you’re not a freak, Caitlyn. Something incredible happened the other night. You saved a woman’s life—or at least saved her from an unsavory arrangement with the Morelli family—and that means something. You have a gift. Don’t ever let someone make you feel odd for it. You are not a freak,” he repeated.
“A gift? More like a curse,” I sniffled, hating how hard his words hit, and the ball of hope that had ignited under the surface when he said something even remotely nice about me. As much as I wanted to believe him, I couldn’t. He didn’t know me. And he had no idea how badly this so-called gift had fucked up my already meager life. I dropped my chin. Kade lifted it up in his hand so I had to fix my eyes on him. “I have no car, and most likely no job. From the looks of your home, you wouldn’t understand my plight.”
His light blue eyes darkened as they took in the insult hidden beneath my words. He was some fancy-schmancy goody-two-shoes.
How could he possibly understand how I was feeling or what I was going through?
“You think my paycheck influences my personality?” he scoffed. “You really believe one glance at my kitchen and my guest room somehow tells you my whole story?”
“No, I guess not.” My cheeks heated at my own presumption, but I continued. “But like I said before, no one has ever cared about me. Not my mother. Not my father, even before he left my mom. Not my grandparents, aunts, uncles… I’m not even sure how many I have. You don’t have to pretend to be any different. “I’ll be out of your life soon, and you’ll go on like nothing’s ever changed.”
I don’t matter.
Shit. How the fuck did he pull all of that out of me?
I barely opened up to a trained professional, stuck on me from mandatory counseling a year ago after I got accused of punching out a woman in a retail store. The whole thing had been a setup, but of course, I had been labeled a violent offender even though I never actually touched her. She had cleverly tricked the cameras and brought stage makeup with her, serious cinematic products—so it appeared like I hit her. It didn’t matter how much evidence I presented in court. She got away scot-free, and I got saddled with mandatory counseling. The judge, like everyone else, hadn’t cared about me. Because I don’t matter.
“Antonio is a monstrous, wicked man with a sense of entitlement and a rich family backing him. You need to stay low on the radar or he will kill you. You do matter, Caitlyn,” Kade said, interrupting my spiraling thoughts and bringing me back to the matter at hand.
“Uh, well, I don’t.” I cocked my head to the side, a bit freaked out from his incredible insight. I hadn’t said anything out loud. “Besides, do you really believe Antonio is that much of a pussy that he needs to go after some chick for throwing him around? Really?”
“No, that part is secondary. Pay attention to what I’m about to say. If Antonio marries Sheila Delgado, he will no doubt have her father killed, and then he’ll own the entire city. He’s almost untouchable now, but with her power and affluence combined with her real estate, there will be no stopping Antonio. You threw a monkey wrench right in the middle of whatever he’s got going on. I guarantee you that Shelia’s under lock and key somewhere and you should follow suit.”
“I’ve got things to take care of and, unlike Sheila Delgado, I don’t have a rich parent who can pull me out of a bad situation.” I tugged out of his reach, jutted a hip out and placed a hand on it. “I can’t rely on Daddy’s money like some spoiled little brat and expect him to make it all better.”
“You are acting like quite the brat tonight. So, is that the heart of the matter, Caity-bug? Do you need a Daddy to take care of you?”
