Caged (Bound by Cage Book 1)

by Brittany Crowley

  Looking over to Zander I can’t tell if he’s ready to burst out laughing or run. I don’t really blame him if he chose to run. My dad is currently in the middle of his ring looking like the product of a love child between Katniss Everdeen and Jean-Claude Van Damme.

  I clear my throat to get my dad’s attention. “Dad, can you back off a little please so I can explain to you what happened?”

  Looking back at Zander he says sternly, “Listen here Shithead… I was in Nam. I’ve ripped grown men’s heads clear off their bodies with my bare hands. Think about that until I get back,” staring him down for an obscene amount of time before he leaves the cage and walks over to me has Zander holding back a laugh as soon as my dad turns his back.

  As he gets to me he pulls me into a hug and says, “Savvy you ruined all my fun, he was about ready to shit his pants.”

  I start laughing. “Dad, you look very intimidating,” I say patting his shoulder reassuringly. “That bit about being in Nam and ripping heads off was a nice addition to your speech. But, we just worked everything out before you got here. Just know it was a misunderstanding, that he would never publicly hurt me or embarrass me on purpose. His opponent would have exploited me if he found out we were dating. We need to keep our relationship to ourselves until his fight is over, I don’t want to be in the public eye just yet.”

  He looks at me thoughtfully. “Thank Christ. I did not want to kick his ass unless I had to. Putting him in the hospital so close to his fight would have killed me. That Alvarez is a real piece of shit, I understand where Hitman is coming from,” he looks back at Zander and motions him over as I once again, try not to die of laughter.

  “Son, I am under the impression from Savvy here that there may have been a misunderstanding.”

  “Yes sir. Savvy means a lot to me, I would never purposely hurt her. I assume she explained the situation. I don’t know if you follow the fights or fighters at all, but-”, my dad cuts him off.

  “I have seen every single fight you have ever been in Hitman. I don’t want to toot my own horn, but back in the day I went a few rounds in the old boxing ring with my buddies,” I have to turn away so he can’t see me laughing. “They used to call me ‘Jumping Jack Jenks’,” he puffs out his chest as he says it while jumping around on his feet. I literally can’t stop the laughter from spilling out of my mouth causing my dad to glare at me.

  “You’re going to have your hands full son. She swears like a sailor and belches like a man. Don’t even get me started on her cooking skills…”

  “DAD!” I yell. “Can you at least give me a fighting chance before you start giving out all my secrets?” both guys start to laugh at me.

  “I need to get back to work now that this crisis has been averted. Dad I’ll walk you to your truck.”

  “Actually babe,” Zander stops me, “I was just going to offer to let your dad watch me train. Maybe he can give me some pointers?” he winks at me then looks at my dad.

  “I, well, um,” he clears his throat, “fucking right I’ll stay! Savvy have fun at work,” he gives me a hug and goes to the side of the room to unload his bow and arrows.

  Zander walks me to the door with his arm around my shoulders and I turn to look up at him. “I am so sorry Zander. He used to do this to all of my dates when I was living at home. When I found out from Ashlyn what he had planned I tried to stop him,” my face heats up with embarrassment.

  “Can’t say anything like this has ever happened to me before, but I’m thankful that you have someone looking out for you, even if it’s a little unconventional,” he leans down giving me a chaste kiss due to the fact my dad was watching.

  “Have fun with your fangirl over there. You have no idea what you just got yourself into,” I yell as I’m walking out the door.

  CHAPTER 9

  It’s Thursday night and I am currently behind the bar with Erin, one of our other bartenders. Thursday’s tend to be a busy night for us. There is a college nearby, so we really capitalize on Thirsty Thursday with great drink deals and a live band. I’m pouring a customer a beer when I see a group of guys take a seat at the bar.

  I walk over to them, pass out a couple menus, and ask what they would like to drink. Looking them over, they’re all pretty handsome. There’s a set of twins who look around my age and the third one looks about 18.

  “Hey gorgeous,” the twin on the left says, “Can I persuade you to have a shot with me?” He is waggling his eyebrows like that will somehow convince me. This isn’t the first time I’ve gotten the offer of a customer to buy me a drink. But this is my bar and my rule is no drinking while tending the bar.

  “That’s a kind offer, but I’ll have to pass because I’m working. What can I get for you?”

  They all order a beer. I look over to the clearly underage guy with narrowed eyes. “You say you want a beer boy wonder, show me your license,” I reach out my hand waiting for it.

  His cheeks immediately redden as he looks at me. “I’ll have a water please.”

  “That’s what I thought,” I say on a laugh as I go to get their drink order.

  As I’m walking their drinks over to them, I notice Zander making his way through the crowd. He spots me and gets a big goofy grin on his face. The past few days we have been spending the night at his house when I work the day shift. I told him it’s not fair to him or his training to be waking up in the middle of the night to pick me up from work. He doesn’t like it, saying he doesn’t sleep as well without me there and knowing that I’m walking home, but he hasn’t pushed the issue yet. I’m sure it will be a different story when the fight is over with.

  As he walks up to the bar he notices the three guys in front of me. Walking up to them he starts ruffling their hair and slapping their backs. I look at him confused.

  “I was hoping I’d make it here before these assholes. Savvy, these are my little brother’s I was telling you about. The twins here are Jayden and Josh, and this youngster over here,” he says as he puts him in a head lock, “is Kyle.” I can tell from there interactions they are very close. I always wished I had siblings, but with my mom dying when I was so young, they didn’t have a chance to have any more kids.

  I stick out my hand shaking theirs. “Nice to meet you guys. Zander has told me a lot about you.” When I finish shaking hands, Zander leans over the bar and meets me half way for a kiss. I start to hear gagging noises as we pull away and I giggle.

  I look to the wonder twins. “Tell me how people tell you apart otherwise you guys will keep getting called the wrong name,” I laugh.

  One of them points to a scar just above his eyebrow. “I’m Josh and most people use this scar to tell us apart.”

  “As you get to know them you won’t even need to look for the scar,” Kyle says.

  I smile at Kyle and look toward Zander. “This little youngin’ over here tried to order a beer from me. Does he really think he looks older than 12?”

  Zander smacks his brother on the back of his head. “Shithead, I told you to be on your best behavior.”

  I start laughing. “No harm, no foul.” I go over to the cooler and grab Zander a water and give it to him.

  We spend the night talking and laughing in between me taking care of customers. I feel comfortable right away with Zander’s brothers. They are spitting images of him personality wise, well, except for Jay. He is definitely his own brand of crazy.

  I walk over to Zander and wrap my arms around his waist, putting my head on his chest.

  “Tonight has been great baby. I told you my brothers would like you as much as I do and they love the fact that you don’t put up with my shit,” I squeeze him tighter.

  I gaze up into his amazingly blue eyes. “They are hilarious. Your poor mom obviously had her hands full with you four. I don’t even want to think of what she went through when you guys started noticing girls,” he starts to laugh.

  “I wasn’t that bad, Jayden was the worst. You would have thought his dick was made of gold the way he s
trutted around the house and the fact that he doesn’t have a filter makes it worse.”

  “Did I hear my name and golden dick in the same sentence?” Jayden asks walking over to us.

  “I was just telling her how much you overshared when you were a teenager. Remember that time mom dragged you by your ear all the way down to Mrs. Stanley’s house because she overheard you talking about her daughter. She made you apologize for your crude language and less than wholesome intentions. I thought you were going to piss your pants!” Zander and his brothers are now hunched over laughing, trying to catch their breath. “At least it got you to sensor yourself in front of mom.”

  I hear the swinging door to the kitchen open and I look up at Ashlyn walking out of the back towards us. I look over to Josh whose mouth is currently wide open, a look of awe in his eyes.

  “What up my little sex kitten? Why are there still so many people here?”

  “Zander’s brothers just moved up here from Texas. They stayed and kept me company on my shift all night and decided to help me clean up after we closed.”

  Kyle starts choking on his water. “The fuck you talking about girl? I don’t clean, sorry.”

  “That sounds like a great idea,” Ashlyn says clapping her hands. “Who wants to help me clean the kitchen?

  I hear a banging and I look over towards Josh who jumped up off his seat so fast it fell to the floor. He clears his throat trying to maintain his dignity, “Uh, hey, yeah I can help you clean the kitchen!” Zander busts out laughing when he hears how enthusiastic he is.

  “I bet you want to clean all right. I’m sure you’ll be real thorough washing her dishes, cleaning her pots…” Zander smacks Jayden upside the back of his head.

  “Ash the boy child over here is Kyle,” I walk over to Jayden, “this highly inappropriate twin is Jayden,” then I point over towards her, “and this eager beaver over here is Josh. Close your mouth Josh, I think I see drool.” Kyle walks over to me and give me a high five and whispers, “Can we stop with the little boy business, I’m a bad ass, you’re killing my street cred.” He’s so cute, like a little puppy. I pat him on his head then begin to sweep the floors.

  Half an hour later we’re locking up the bar. We’re staying at our own houses tonight because Zander has to settle his brothers in seeing as their staying with him until they find places of their own. He offers to give us a ride home which I eagerly accept. More time with him is always a yes from me. Ashlyn gets in the car and Josh jumps in behind her. Zander looks at him puzzled.

  “What? I thought I would check out where the girls lived then I can keep you company on your ride home.”

  “Right, you’re coming to keep me company,” he shoots his brother a knowing look.

  Josh shuts the door as Zander opens mine. He helps me up into his truck then leans in for a quick kiss. The quick ride is full of Ashlyn’s jokes and crude remarks. I’m starting to think she is the female version of Jay, except for the fact that she knows how to sensor herself.

  When we get to our house, Zander walks me to the door. I can’t help but overhear Josh saying good bye to Ash and that he’ll see her tomorrow. Well, well, well…I guess her dating ban is no longer in effect.

  I’m about to walk in the house when Zander grabs my hand stopping me. “Savvy I have something I want to ask you,” he looks really nervous. “I want you to come with me to Vegas for my fight in two weeks.”

  My heart is beating so fast. I can’t believe he wants me to go to the biggest fight of his life. To be truthful I don’t know how I will react when I see him getting hurt, but I know that he wouldn’t ask me to come unless it was important to him. I keep saying in my head over and over that we barely know each other, that we’re moving too fast. I need to throw caution to the wind and jump into this head first.

  “I don’t think I heard a question in there,” I laugh, “I would love nothing more than to be at your fight rooting you on.”

  Reaching up on my tippy toes I meet his lips with mine. Bringing his hands up he grabs a fist full of my hair, then pulls it back, angling my face the way he wants it. The kiss starts to get deeper, hotter. I moan when his tongue enters my mouth dueling with my own. What the hell? The front porch light starts flashing off and on fast. We pull back and I let out a deep sigh.

  “Fuck off Ashlyn!” I yell.

  “It’s okay, I have to get home to let my brothers in anyways. I’ll see you tomorrow, sweet dreams baby,” leaning in he gives me one last kiss that ends all too soon before he walks back to his truck.

  I walk in through the front door and slam it shut out of frustration and shoot a glare at Ashlyn. “Just because you’re not getting any doesn’t mean I can’t!” I stomp over to the couch and sit down crossing my arms. When did I start throwing temper tantrums? Uncrossing my arms I gesture for her to take a seat next to me.

  “I know, I know okay. I’m sorry. But I have a crisis on my hands! Josh asked me out…and I said no,” she buries her face in a pillow.

  “Well, then why did I hear him say he’d see you tomorrow?”

  “I told him we can hang out as friends and see if it goes somewhere. I swore off men because they have led to nothing but heartache for me. This is my turn to sit back and focus on myself, be happy with who I am before I add someone else to the equation. You know how badly it ended with Liam, I need to learn to trust myself again as well as other men.”

  “You know not all guys are like Liam, they don’t always raise their hands to women. He was a fucking coward that had to bully his girlfriend to feel better about himself. One day you will realize that none of it was your fault and you will find the right person. I just know it.”

  “I know what you’re saying makes sense but I need to get there, and maybe someday I will. When Josh was helping me clean the kitchen, there was just something about him Sav, I can’t even explain it. It was just so easy to talk to him, almost like I’ve known him forever instead of just an hour.”

  “I know exactly what you’re talking about Ash because I feel the same way when I’m with Zander. My advice is to take it as slow as you need to, but don’t throw the idea out. I know about the connection you feel because I have it with Zander and I don’t want you to miss out on it because of an asshole that wasn’t worth your time. What if it leads to heartache again, I will always be here with ice cream and alcohol, sometimes both together. You’ll regret it if you don’t at least give it a fighting shot,” I give her a hug as we talk for a little while longer.

  “All right whore, it’s time for bed, you need your beauty rest before you hang out with your friend tomorrow,” I say waggling my eyebrows up and down. I notice a blush creep up her cheeks which I’d like to stress never happens. That just solidifies the fact that I know she already likes Josh a lot.

  “Bitch I don’t need beauty rest, I wake up like this!” she busts out singing Beyoncé.

  Laughing we walk up the hall arm and arm until we get to my room. I give her a bear hug trying to squeeze the life out of her then wish her a good night.

  I get ready for bed and I shoot off a text to Zander to let him know I’m thinking about him. He sends me one back right away.

  My Sexy Fighter: I miss you baby. Wish you were here instead of my shitty brothers.

  Laying snuggled in my bed I go to sleep with a smile on my face.

  CHAPTER 10

  “Holy shit, this is going to be a disaster!”

  “Calm down Sav, it’s just football Sunday.”

  “Yeah with Zander and his brothers, you know something bad is going to happen, my luck is not that great.”

  It’s Sunday and my boys are ready to take the field heading off against Zander’s team the Texans. My nerves are a little on edge because this is Zander’s first time at my dad’s house. My dad tries to get down to the gym as much as he can during the week to watch Zander train so they have spent quite a bit of time together since they first met. He told me he actually enjoys it because my Dad has some good advice and appar
ently, he knows what he is talking about when it comes to MMA. Saying I was happy they got along is a definite understatement.

  My dad also invited Zander’s brothers. They have been up here for a little over a week now and I am beyond excited that everyone gets along so well.

  Ash made an obscene amount of food for today. I know she is trying to impress Josh with her best stuff and it’s wicked obvious. Who makes macaroons and lobster for a football game? You won’t find me complaining, I love her lobster. I will however be egging her on every chance I get.

  Heading into the living room chips and dip in hand, we place them on the coffee table and head to sit down. Going for the spot next to Zander he surprises me and pulls me down onto his lap. Placing his hand on the back of my head he pulls me towards him while connecting our mouths. Almost immediately we hear a throat clear. Slowly looking over my shoulder I see my Dad glaring at Zander. Faster than I can comprehend I find myself dropped on the couch next to Zander and just like that we have five inches between us.

  “Dad I’m not a teenager. What I can’t even touch my boyfriend around you?”

  “You guys can touch. I don’t mind high fives or handshakes, I can even deal with a quick hug as long as you guys don’t get too handsy. What I don’t like to see is this barbarian mauling my baby girl on the couch, we’ve discussed this before son.” Shooting his glare back to Zander I can hear Ash start to snicker. Wait, they’ve talked about this before? This is news to me.

  “Would you like to accompany us on a chaperoned stroll around the house too Dad? I’m 24 years old for crying out loud.”

  “Sorry sweetie, I would have never guessed from your three-year-old temper tantrum.”

  Reaching over I grab Zander’s hand, interlocking our fingers together and place them on my knee. I hear Zander mutter an “Oh shit,” as I stare back at my dad giving him a “what are you going to do about it” look.