Page 14 of Past

"Dad is the owner of The Cage. He makes the King brothers fight for him. I'm sorry, but he wants me to run it. I won't, so he is going to make you do it. That's why we have been arguing. I won't kill for him, and neither will you," he mumbles before passing out. I shake him and try slapping him, but it doesn’t work.

"Tristan, what the hell are you going on about?" I ask, knowing he won't answer.

I think about what he said. I know The Cage, everyone around here does. It’s the dirty secret of the town, but it’s not really a secret. If you want to watch a fight and fuck some random person, that’s the place to go. There’s no way my dad has anything to do with it. I have heard at school that the King brothers fight sometimes. I always guessed it was a fun thing they liked to do for a fucked-up hobby or money. I just never put much thought into it. I know Elliot may give me the answers I need. I guess I could call Harley or Seb, but being honest with myself, I know who I want to call.

I ring his phone, and he answers on the second ring.

"Allie?" he questions as an answer. I can hear the rumble of his loud Harley Davidson in the background. I’m sure he can answer calls in his helmet.

"What the hell does my dad have to with The Cage, and you?" I ask, getting straight to the point.

"Where are you?"he asks, I can hear his bike being turned off in the background.

"At my old home, just answer the question, Elliot,"I demand.

"See you in ten," he says before hanging up the phone on me.

"Fucker," I shout into my phone before throwing it down. My mind is running a million miles a minute trying to think of any reason for what Tristan said.

I drink more Jack Daniels as I wait for Elliot, trying to calm my nerves, but it’s not working. Every time I look at my younger brother, I just get angrier.

"Hey, you left the front door open," Elliot says as he walks into the room, holding his helmet under one hand. His new short hair is a little wet and drips onto his leather jacket. He looks so hot in his leather trousers, black top, and leather boots. Man, I must have drank more than I thought.

"Allie, what did your brother say to you?" he asks, glancing at Tristan next to me on the couch.

I get up and walk up to him, standing right in front of him. I glance into his dark-green eyes, which threaten to suck me in. My mind betrays me by looking at his soft lips. I shake my head thinking back to why he is here and that it’s not for my lack of a sex life.

"That my dad owns that fighting place, The Cage," I say, raising my eyebrows at the stupid idea. My dad may be a little cold toward Tristan sometimes, but owning a fighting ring? I actually laugh a little at my thoughts, which makes Elliot take the bottle of Jack Daniels from me.

"It's true, Allie," he says calmly, then takes a long drink from the bottle.I watch as he puts the bottle and his helmet on the coffee table.

"What, no! My dad is kind and quiet. He is not an owner of a place like that,” I say, pacing in front of the old fireplace. We never actually use the fireplace; I can’t remember it ever being used when I was a child.

"Angel, come and sit down.” Elliot stands next to an armchair, and I shake my head at him.

“Fine, your dad was partners with my father years ago. It all changed when my dad tried to kill yours. Your dad killed him for trying,"he tells me.

"What?" I ask slowly, and I drop into the armchair he offers me again with a wave of his arm. Elliot sits on the arm, looking down at me as he speaks.

"Then, your dad made us all fight in The Cage for him, for years. We are nearly done with what we owe him."

"Tristan said he makes you fight, all of you. That's what he meant,” I whisper more to myself, but I see how Elliot tenses when I say that.

"I'm sorry," I whisper as I get the nerve to look up to meet Elliot’s gaze. My eyes feel wet as we stare at each other. Why would my dad do this? Do I even know him? I can’t if he has done this to Elliot and his brothers. It’s not that I don’t believe Elliot, I just love my dad and I’m struggling to believe he is this person.

"Shit, I didn't want to tell you all this," he says, coming to kneel in front of me and wiping my tears away.

Elliot keeps his hands cupping my face as we both stare at each other.

"It's why you hated me so much, isn't it?" I askhim.

"Yes, I thought you knew. I was an angry, stupid teenager who had a crush you. I couldn’t cope with the fact that the man I hated had a daughter as amazing as you. I didn't handle it well,"he admits.

I smile despite everything. "You had a crush on me?" I ask, and he does that typical King smirk I've gotten used to seeing all my life.

Elliot leans in and kisses me. The kiss is anything but gentle as he pushes his tongue into my mouth, making me taste him. That’s the only way to explain Elliot’s kiss, he makes you want him. He takes everything from you with one kiss, and I don’t know how anyone can be strong enough to refuse him.

Holy crap, he tastes amazing. Elliot tastes like mint ice cream with extra chocolate chips, the best one you can get. I run my hands up his chest, moving closer as desire runs through my body, but he pulls away.

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