Page 4 of Cage
I don’t say any of this out loud, of course. Even though I want to shout and ask him to be a loving parent for once. To be present and involved in my life instead of sending me away for someone else to deal with me.
He studies me silently for a moment before he reaches into his pocket. “When you get back, things are going to be different, Ember. I know I haven’t been the best dad, and it might be too late to rebuild our relationship, but if you’re up for it, I’d like to try.”
My mouth drops open. Did I hear him correctly? It feels like my mind is playing tricks on me. Then he pulls a necklace from his pocket, the silver twinkling under the foyer lights.
“I’ve got this for you. It’s a compass with the coordinates for our house engraved on it. A reminder that, no matter what, this is your home, Ember.” His voice is rough, like he’s having a hard time speaking.
“Dad,” I say tightly, trying to keep from bursting into a ball of sobs.
“I have a lot of making up to do and this is just the beginning. This will all be over in no time, and then we’ll be able to start over. What do you think?”
As I stare up at him, my heart squeezing with a mix of uncertainty and hope, I hate that I can’t tell if he’s genuine or not. He’s so good at getting people to believe him. Is this a ploy to get me out of his hair to agree to go with this bodyguard? It sucks not to know, and it sucks even more that every part of me hopes that he’s telling the truth. That he really wants to have a relationship with me. Even though he hasn’t been a great parent, he’s still my dad.
“Okay.” I swipe at my cheeks and nod. “I’d like that.”
He smiles and fumbles with the clasp of the necklace. “Turn around, I’ll put it on you. It’s an expensive necklace, so make sure not to take it off until you’re back home. I’d be devastated if you lost it. It’s so special.”
Bringing my fingers to the dime-sized compass, I blink several times, a watery smile on my lips. “I won’t take it off, Dad. Thank you. This… It means a lot to me.”
When he takes a step back, I let go of my hair and turn to face him, trying to put on a brave face. “Okay. I’m ready.”
2
CAGE
“Stop wiggling.”
“But you’re not doing it right!”
I can wire a bomb with meticulous accuracy, but for the life of me, I can’t do a Little girl’s hair. At least not in her opinion. I think it looks fine.
“They’re uneven,” Rowie whines as she tugs one of the pigtails.
Somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed today—I’m not quite sure if it’s her or me. Some days, Rowena is an angel, and some days, she truly tests our patience. Today, I happen to be the lucky one she’s testing.
“Sweetheart, they’re even. They’re in the same spot on each side of your head.”
When she twists to look up at me from where she’s sitting on the floor, she scrunches her face. “Nuh-uh. They don’tfeeleven.”
I stare at her, my eye twitching slightly. Arguing with her will get me nowhere on days like today. The best I can hope for is that when she wakes up from her afternoon nap, she’ll be less cranky.
“If you don’t like them, you can pull them out, but I don’t have time to start all over again. I have a meeting to get to.”
She sighs, long and dramatic. “Theo always gets them right.”
“Well, Theo isn’t here, and if you don’t stop complaining, I’m going to take away one of your Good Girl Points.”
Rowie’s face drops into disbelief. “That’s so mean, Cage. I think I should take away one of your Good Boy Points for being so grumpy this morning.”
Jesus.
“I don’t have points because I’m in charge and you’re the Little girl. Now, go find Cassian and tell him you need breakfast.” And make his life a living hell for the next hour or so instead of me. I don’t say that, of course.
Even though my palm is tingling and I’m already drained from Rowie running circles around me, I still love her to pieces. I couldn’t imagine how mundane and lonely our lives would be without her in them.The innocence and peace she brings balance us out. She’s the bright light to our darkness, and she loves us despite who we are and what we do.
I hold out my hand to help her up. When she’s on her feet, I pull her in for a hug. “I love you, Little one. I’ll be home tonight. Be good, okay? You’re so close to having enough points to get the dolly you want.”
She wraps her thin arms around me and snuggles into my chest. It feels like yesterday, instead of twelve years ago, that she was too afraid of us to speak. It took a long time to gain her trust. Even then, it took years for her to come out of her terrified shell. Now, we can barely get her to be quiet. I wouldn’t have it any other way.She’s the sister none of us ever had.