Page 15 of Cage

6

CAGE

Rylan and Koda are waiting for us when we arrive at our meeting spot. And just like we’ve already done a couple of times, I move Ember from the SUV into the one my brothers brought. One of our contracted people who arrived with them takes my vehicle and drives in a different direction to throw off anyone who might be trying to follow us.

Koda doesn’t say anything, but Rylan decides to be Rylan, sending a prickle of irritation down my spine.

“You must be Ember.” He flashes his bright white smile at her. “I’m Rylan. This big guy over here is Koda, but you can ignore him. You should probably ignore Cage, too. I hear we’re going on a road trip. We’re going to have a blast.”

Ember giggles and reaches out to shake his hand. Meanwhile, I’m shooting daggers at my brother, trying to decide whether to annihilate him now or wait until later when he’s sleeping and least expecting it. Because he sure as fuck can tell it’s coming based on the smirk that he gives me as Ember climbs into the back seat.

“She’s cute,” he mouths.

I shake my head and drag my finger across my throat as if I’m slitting it, which will happen to him if he doesn’t keep his eyes and thoughts to himself.

“She’s a client,” I snap after I shut her into the car.

“Uh-huh. Weird, considering we’re not bodyguards,” Rylan replies with a shrug before he rounds the hood to the passenger side and gets in.

Almost as soon as he does, he says something that makes Ember laugh again. Fucking asshole.

I don’t know why I care that he’s making her smile and laugh. It doesn’t matter. It’s not my job to get her to like me. I’m here to protect her. To keep her alive and safe.

Normally, people find me so damn likable, and for whatever reason, she hates me. I still don’t fucking know why she had such a problem with me following her into the bathroom. Maybe I should ask Rowie. She might be able to explain it to me in a way I’ll understand. Although, I’m pretty sure Ember was the unreasonable one. Not me.

As soon as I get into the SUV next to her, Ember’s smile falls, and she stops talking. Yeah, I don’t like that.

“We need food,” I tell Koda.

He nods, and twenty minutes later, we’re in a drive-thru line.

“What do you want?” I ask her.

Ember glances out to the menu. “A burger with no lettuce or pickles or mustard. Fries. Oh, and a Mountain Dew.”

“Koda,” I murmur. “Sprite.”

“Got it,” he replies, then turns toward the speaker. “Need a number one with no lettuce, pickles, or mustard. And a Sprite.”

“Mountain Dew,” Ember hisses, tapping Koda on the shoulder.

“A small Sprite,” I add.

Koda repeats my order before he pulls forward.

“I wanted Mountain Dew,” Ember snaps, glaring at me.

I shrug and lean my head against the seat. “That’s full of caffeine. You’re having Sprite.”

She scoffs and scrunches her nose.

Something settles inside me, but I’m not sure what it is. She might not realize she’s a Little, though I’m almost positive she is. It’s possible she doesn’t even know about Age Play. Lots of Littles have no clue about it until they finally discover what it is and begin to understand their true selves. Whatever the case, it’s not up to me to expose her to what she might be. Maybe being around Rowie will open her eyes.

“I don’t like Sprite.”

“You may have Sprite, water, or juice,” I reply firmly.

The corner of Koda’s mouth twitches, but he doesn’t say anything. Meanwhile, my other asshole of a brother twists around to look at Ember.

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