Page 16 of Uncaged Obsessions

I don’t want to do this. Almost as much as I don’t want to hear the words meant to be coming from them pass through Carson’s lips. But I start to move, closing my eyes, and let the music flow through me. It takes me back to how it used to be. This isn’t like the dancing I did back in Seaside where I was finding my love for it again. This is the dancing I was trained to do.

Each move was beat into me by my ballet teachers. I was forced to repeat them over and over until I’d perfected it. The music is ingrained in my bones, but the way my body is moving is rehearsed and fluid.

Carson’s voice breaks through my haze, making me stumble as I listen to what he says, “Adam asked ‘where are you?’”

I stumble slightly, but refuse to open my eyes. I don’t want him to see my raw reaction. Especially as he continues.

“Adam says to tell him you’re okay. I should show him what you look like right now so he knows how okay you are. Or maybe I’ll send him a video of me fucking you later, then he can see howokayyou are.”

I turn, attempting to hide my flinch. I may play nice, but I will not let him fucking touch me ever again.

“He says, ‘if you ran, you know we’ll always find you.’ And ‘come back to us.’ Aw, how should we break it to him that you’ll never be coming back?”

I continue moving my body, not feeding into what he’s saying. He can’t know how badly this is hurting me.

“Caine calls you ‘killer’ a lot. He says he’s going to find you and when he does you’re going to pay for leaving them. Sounds like quite the threat. Guess I’m keeping you safe away from these maniacs after all, aren’t I?”

“You’re the maniac,” I murmur, just quiet enough that he can’t hear me.

“Hm, Drew just said for you to say something, anything. And he misses you,” he scoffs.

I bite my tongue to keep from saying anything that I’m going to regret. I taste copper as I make myself bleed from how hard I’m having to bite down. Luckily, the song ends, and I stop moving as soon as the last notes ring out.

“Fuck, I’ve missed you.” Carson’s voice is gravely and I open my eyes to see that he’s finished the glass of alcohol. I recognize that tone, and the look in his eyes. The one that tells me he thinks he’s going to do whatever he wants with me.

“I haven’t.”

He laughs, throwing his head back and I know he’s buzzed from that action alone. “Guess I should remind you how badly you’ve missed me.”

“If you so much as touch me, Iwillkill you,” I threaten seriously because I will. Either he’s going to die or I will before any part of him touches any part of me.

He stands up, stepping toward me, and I stand up straighter, ready for whatever confrontation is about to happen. I don’t cower this time. I don’t step back, even when he closes in, only inches between our chests.

“You’re going to beg me to touch you again, wifey. But right now I don’t want to fuck other men’s whore. You still have their teeth marks on your fucking skin, but don’t worry I’ll get you all fixed up and ready for our marriage.”

“Go to hell.”

“See you there.”

CHAPTER 9

CAINE

Danner has information for us. It better be good because I’m losing my patience. Some would say I haven’t had any for awhile—or ever—which might be true, but it’s really gone now. I pull up to Adam's house and know that Drew is already here, based on the fact that there are already two bikes outside.

I go in and it looks like they’re talking in the kitchen. Truly, I don’t care what it’s about, unless it has to do with Max.

“Either of you heard from her?” I ask, even though I already know the answer.

It’s confirmed when they both shake their heads. I want to be even more pissed, but at this point I don’t even think that’s possible.

“When’s Danner supposed to be here?”

“Any minute,” Adam answers easily, just as there’s a sound of a car pulling up outside.

He lets Danner in and she’s carrying a folder that doesn’t look as full as I would like it to be. She sets it down on the counter, and I want to snatch it from her to look through it but I clench my fist instead.

“What did you find?” I demand.

---