Page 34 of Deep in Her Marrow

The huge smile on her face the first time she drove her little compact SUV lit up the entire world. I have never seen anyone so happy to have their own car. I couldn’t even be sad that I wouldn’t get to drive her everywhere anymore her happiness was contagious. Even if I do miss lowering her down the entire length of my body when I would help her from the truck. But hopefully soon, I’ll be able to get her on the back of my bike; it’ll be a nice consolation prize having her wrapped around me during a ride.

I go over a few more things and check in with my crew before I decide I’m done for the day. Cadie pretty much consumes all of my thoughts, and I might as well give into my obsession and go see her. Although, she might still be a little pissed at me. Jameson and I worked her pretty hard at the gym yesterday, and if looks could kill, we both would’ve been dead. But judging from the pride shining in his eyes when he saw that look aimed at us, he wouldn’t have minded. Her spark burns so bright some days that it makes me even more determined to find the fucker who tried to extinguish it.

Not that she knows anything about that.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve set up a few more video chats with her parents for her. A couple have been at my house, so that she could show them around the place. I figured it would be good for them to see where she’s been spending the majority of her time. Her parents looked happy, especially when she started grumbling about myridiculously over the top, boarding on paranoidsecurity system. I just shook my head and chuckled because she doesn’t even know the half of it. I showed her the safe room I have built into one of the walls, but I may have forgotten to mention that I have steel that closes over the windows and doors, securely hidden away until they’re needed. I also may have set up her biometrics into the system as well. The only people who can open it back up are me, her, and Edge, just in case I’m not around. Though she did seem to think it was pretty cool when I showed her the finger print and retinal scanners.

When she excused herself for a bathroom break, I may have asked her parents a few questions about a certain pissant, as her father likes to say. Honestly, I thought it would be harder to get information from them, but they seemed more than willing to answer every question that I asked. They were even smart enough not to ask any questions as to why I wanted the information. The look of rage in her father’s eyes let me know that he doesn’t give a shit what I do to this fucker. Truthfully, I’m pretty sure he’d even lie his ass off to give me an alibi.

With the information from her parents, I have been doing some digging into him while I’m at my office. I don’t want Cadie to accidentally walk in catching me doing it. I’m not sure how she would react, plus if something doeshappento him, the less she knows the better. She can’t lie to save her fucking life. I’ve even called an old military buddy of mine who’s better with computers than I am. The man has never met a firewall that he couldn’t bypass. I’m just waiting for his call to see what he’s dug up and how I can use it to my advantage. Edge’s planning skills will come in handy at some point in the near future.

I want to make sure that Sprite can live her life without constantly looking over her shoulder. And the only way that’s going to happen is if he’s gone from the picture, one way or another.

I shut everything down and lock up my office, leaving the common area open to my guys in case they need anything. I walk through the garage and chuckle at the sight in front of me. Xander has some rich looking cougar wearing a huge-ass rock on her left hand groping the shit out of him. I smirk and shake my head as he tries to evade her wandering hands.

Movement from the back catches my eye, and I see Jax watching in amusement, doing nothing to help his brother at all. He looks over at me with a look of pure glee, and I just shake my head as I walk outside. If his own brother won’t help him, Xander is on his own; I’m not stepping into that mess.

I straddle my bike and start her up. Feeling the vibrations rattle through my body makes me smile, and I have been riding more often since Cadie got her SUV. I put on my helmet as my girl continues to purr under me. I lift the kickstand with my boot and shoot from the parking lot, my only mission to go see the woman who owns me.

Thankfully, the ride is short since it’s still pretty early. I park my baby and remove my helmet, rubbing a hand over my bald skull. I step off and walk to the front of the shop. I walk inside and see almost everyone sitting at the counter, trying to act like they’re not scheming up somethin’.

I smirk and shake my head. “What are you all doin’?” I ask all the guilty faces in front of me.

I slap Blaze on the shoulder as I walk past, earning a chin lift. I settle between Mel and JT, both who look overly excited. “Edge and Cadie are interviewing a new girl for the receptionist position.” JT rubs his hands together. “We might not have to actually do this shit ourselves anymore.”

Mel nods her head and groans. “It’s taken forever to finally find someone.” She eyes all of the guys with a look of distain. “Well, to find someone who didn’t just want to climb you idiots like a tree.”

“How many times do we have to tell you that it’s not our fault?” Blaze hisses. “We can’t help that we attract the opposite sex like flies to honey.”

We all chuckle at her disgusted look. It’s been good having Blaze back; I’ve missed the shithead. I’m sure Edge has enjoyed having all of his strays in one place again. And I’m guessing he’ll be adding on another.

All of them, including Draven are giving me hopeful looks, making the hair on the back of my neck stand. Blaze, Mel, and JT can’t help themselves when it comes to getting into trouble, and usually it’s pretty entertaining. But the fact that even Drav seems to be conspiring with this, making me uncomfortable. “What?” I ask cautiously, knowing damn well that they’re gonna try to get me to do their bidding.

Mel looks at me and bats her lashes. “Hey, Marrow, I’m so glad you stopped by today.” Her voice is sugary sweet as she continues to flutter her lashes.

I smirk and cross my arms over my chest. I lift my chin in her direction. “You got somethin’ in your eye?”

The guys chuckle and she drops the useless act. I’ve known her too long to fall for that shit. She purses her lips at me and tilts her head in the direction of Edge’s/Cadie’s office. “Wanna do us all a favor and go in and see how it’s going? We’re dying out here,” she moans pitifully. “You’re the only one Edge won’t get pissy with.” I raise my eyebrow and she amends, “You’re the only who doesn’t have to put up with his shit.”

“Pleeeeeeaaaaase,” JT chimes in like a toddler. You would never guess the shit he’s been through in his life the way he acts. Truthfully, you would expect him to act more like Draven, but JT really is one of kind. The kid doesn’t have a mean bone in his body.

I look over at Blaze and Drav to see their matching pleading looks. I let out a long, suffering sigh. “Fine,” I growl. “I wanted to see Cadie anyway.”

“No shit.” Mel snorts while giving me an unabashed look. It’s times like this that I completely understand why Edge bitches so damn much. I would too if I had to deal with these fuckers all day, every day.

I give her a glare that just makes her smile widen. She knows me well enough to not even be a little afraid of it. “It’s times like this that I feel real sorry for Axel having to put up with your ass.”

“Will you just go in there and see your woman,” she scoffs. “We all know why you’re here; just use it for something other than selfish reasons, will ya?”

I scrub a hand down my face, while possibly pointing my middle finger in the direction of a certain pain in the ass. “Anything I should know before goin’ in there?”

They all know what I’m really asking. Is this new girl going to freak out seeing me the way Cadie used to.

Draven is the one speaks up, not surprisingly. He’s more observant than most people will ever realize. He was aware of Cadie’s triggers from the beginning and always respected her boundaries which earned my respect and her trust. “She’s fragile.” I know he doesn’t mean looks wise. “I wouldn’t go barging in there. Knock and keep close to the wall.”

I nod my head and begin walking to the back. All those nosey fuckers turn in my direction watching until I’m no longer in sight.

The door to Edge’s office is open, not surprising me. He left it that way to make sure she didn’t feel like she couldn’t escape. I knock on the doorframe causing the woman I’ve never met to jump, making me feel guilty.

---