Page 77 of Cage
Out of the corner of my eye, I watch Ghost come in from another direction, being the silent monster he is. I just hope to God that Ember doesn’t notice him yet. As long as Ruth’s gun is pointed at me, I can breathe.
As soon as Ghost is close enough, he leaps, grabbing Ember and bringing her to the ground while I bolt forward and disarm Ruth. It only takes seconds before I have her hands zip-tied in front of her.
“You made a big mistake,” I whisper in her ear. “Did you really think you’d be able to pull one over on me,Ruthie?”
She tries to elbow me as I lead her back to the office, where Zeke is restrained to his chair. Dom sits casually on one of the couches, a drink in one hand, his gun in another.
I shove the older woman forward and watch with pleasure as she stumbles to the floor and struggles to get into a sitting position without the use of her hands.
“You won’t get away with this,” Zeke tells me.
Dom and I look at each other and smirk.
“I don’t think Ruth told you exactly who we are.” I tuck my gun into my waistband holster, then rub my chin like I’m thinking hard. “You see, there’s no record of us. Anywhere. In any database. To the world, we don’t exist. We’re ghosts. To our enemies, we’re the worst thing that could ever happen. I actually thought Ruth was brighter than this. She knowsexactlywhat happens to people who cross us.”
Ruth shakes her head. “You piece of shit, we didn’t cross you. We were getting intel on things the CIA should be privy to in the first place.”
Sitting next to Dom, I cross an ankle over my knee. “You think I give a flying fuck about you wanting intel? You should have just asked for it, Ruthie. I probably would have given you what you wanted.
“Then what the hell is the problem?” she shouts, looking completely exasperated.
“The problem is, you used my girl as your pawn. You murdered her mother, the one parent who actually loved her, and you pointed a fucking gun at her head.”
I rise and make my way to the bar and pour myself a drink. As soon as I down the expensive liquid, I throw the glass against the wall, causing it to explode into a million pieces.
“You’re both dead. I hope it was worth it,” I say as I stride toward the door.
There’s no doubt that Ember is safe with my brothers right now, but I need to touch her. To hold her. Comfort her. Love her.
“I’m her father. If you care about her at all, you won’t kill me,” Zeke calls out desperately.
Pausing mid-step, I spin around and stomp across the office to where he is, grabbing him by his hair with painful force. I lean down so he’s forced to look me directly in the eye.
“Let’s be clear on one thing. You might be her father, but I’m her Daddy. I’m going to do whatever it takes to protect her, even if it’s from her own flesh and blood.”
Using his hair as leverage, I shove him backward. His chair crashes to the floor, leaving him stuck without any way to move because his wrists and ankles are tied.
Dom stands and follows me, both of us grinning as we walk outside, only to find my girl arguing with Rylan, of all people.
“I’m about to spank your ass right here and now. You’re not going anywhere,” Rylan barks.
Ember tries to shove him, but he doesn’t budge. When he laughs at her attempt, it pisses her off more.
“What’s going on?” I yell.
Rylan turns his attention to me, but Ember takes off, walking toward a set of garages at the end of the house. Before she can get out of arm’s reach, he grabs her by the wrist and swats her ass three times.
“Owwie!” she yelps, rubbing her bottom.
She scowls at him and tries to pull away from him, but he won’t let go.
“Your Little girl here thinks she’s going to go get in her car and drive away from here to find a place to live,” Rylan tells me. “I explained that she’s coming with us. She doesn’t believe me.”
I narrow my gaze at Ember, who is as red as a tomato now. “That so? You were just going to leave, firefly?”
Her bottom lip quivers as I approach. When she peers up at me, my heart cracks a little.
“Your job is over. You don’t…” She sniffles. “You don’t have to take care of me anymore. You can go home and leave me here. I’ll figure something out. I have my degree and a small amount of savings.”