“If you need a sounding board, Cage, you know I’m here.”
I tip my head, and Shayna moves on down to serve the others. Thankfully the place is somewhat quiet tonight. Don’t think I could handle the rowdiness with all the noise in my head.
“Yo! Someone get the fucking door.” I hear Dagger bark in the background. Don’t know why he doesn’t get off his ass and get it. Though, I probably do. He’s probably got that stepsister of his curled up in his lap. Honest, loyal Wynter. Lucky son of a bitch.
“Cage, it’s for you!” Raid calls. For me? No fucking way. I’m not interested in seeing that girl. Don’t need to hear some bullshit excuse for why she failed to mention the fact that she was a claimed woman.
“Tell her to fuck off,” I state, bringing the bottle back up to my lips.
I’m suddenly jerked back by the back of my hair. “What the fuck?!” I sputter, placing the bottle down and wiping the bit dribbling down my chin.
“Don’t you dare speak to her like that. Now, turn around and fucking talk to the girl.”
It’s Scar growling at me and glaring me down like a madman. He looks like he wants to slit my throat. The scar across his face looking angrier than usual as it heats under the tension.
“Go ahead, angel.” His head turns and he softens his voice. “Tell him what you need to say.”
I look to his right, but it’s not Payton standing by his side, it’s her sister. The one who never speaks. Yet, she’s here wanting to speak to me.
I shift on my seat to face her, noticing the sheer fear in her eyes. The nervousness creeping into all of her features. She swallows hard, looking like she’s struggling to get the words out. After me yelling at her, I can understand why.
“I apologize for barking at you. I’m sorry. Go ahead. I’m listening.”
I know she’s here about her sister. But what’s going on between me and Payton doesn’t need to be taken out on her.
“She was afraid.” Her voice is a faint whisper. I’ve never heard it before. She actually has a pretty voice. “She didn’t want to lose you.” Had that been the case, she should’ve been up front with me about what was going on. “He won’t let her go. She’s been trying to get him to sign the papers for over a year, but he won’t do it. And my dad doesn’t want him to.”
Makes me feel a little bit better that the sheets of her bed weren’t still warm while I was in them. But still. The fact that you’re a married isn’t something you leave out of the conversation. Maybe for the first few dates. But two months? We were together nearly every day.
“She loves you. You were her choice. Payton has always done what was expected of her. What my parents wanted. She’s always worked so hard to be perfect. But I could see it. She was never happy. With you…” She swallows nervously, like she’s still trying to get used to using her vocal cords. Scar pulls her into his side, as if he’s protecting her, and then she speaks again. “I’ve never seen her so alive. You make her happy. And I know that’s why she was waiting until the papers were signed to tell you. She wasn’t trying to hurt you. She just didn’t want to get hurt.”
Then why couldn’t she come and tell me this herself? Why is her sister here pleading her case and not her?
“Did she put you up to this? Did she ask you to come?”
She shakes her head. “She was crying so hard. Chassie finally had to give her something and now she’s asleep.”
The look that crosses her face sends a shooting pain in the left side of my chest. I don’t like hearing that my girl was suffering like that. Her friend had to give her something to calm her down. Fuck. That shit don’t sit right with me.
“What was he doing there today?”
“He told her he wouldn’t sign the papers unless she met with him.”
“Do you know why she left him?” These are all questions I should be asking my girl. These are things she should’ve shared with me. Now, I’m having to drill her baby sister for the information.
“He cheated on her.”
Motherfucker. A stupid shit is what he is. He had the most incredible woman, and he fucked that up.
“So, why is he refusing to give her the divorce?” If he found someone else, why the hell doesn’t he just move on?
“Because it’s Callum. Nobody walks away from that man. He locked her out of all their bank accounts and that’s why she hasn’t taken him to court. She can’t afford the legal fees. She’s not even asking for anything. All she wants is out.”
Ahh, so the motherfucker was trying to strangle her financially, so she’d be forced to take him back. It’s better than the shit that was brewing inside my head earlier. I was thinking she may have still had feelings for him and was on the fence about reconciling. I figured that was the reason she withheld the truth from me. But fear is what held her back. Still don’t make it right that she kept it from me, but I get it.
“Sounds like he needs to be paid a visit,” I state, looking toward Scar. He tips his chin in agreement. “Do you know where he is?”
She nods, swallowing nervously. “He’s at my house.” So, he’s still cozying on up with his in-laws in hopes of forcing Payton to stay with him. “He told them about you. He told my dad what she’s been up to, and now my dad is furious. I don’t know what he’ll do to her.”
