Autumn was surprised Cage still wanted to take her to lunch after the fight they'd had. True, they'd had worse fights in the past, but for some reason he seemed more tired than usually today. Autumn herself just wanted to go back to bed. She longed to bury herself under the blankets and just forget about everything as she drifted away.
Yet she had a schedule to keep. Once she finished breakfast Penna came to collect her. Together they went to play table tennis, more commonly known as ping pong, in the workout room. Autumn had been surprised when she'd first gotten this as a class. She'd played some ping pong in school a few times but had never really played it beyond that.
She'd always thought ping pong was such a simple game but discovered it could be quite complex. In her first lesson she and her trainer just went over the rules and the different moves that could be done. It took her a few classes before they finally played a game and after that she spent each class sharpening her skills.
Autumn was never left alone with any of her teachers or trainers. Penna was always there, along with a guard. Each of her trainers had all been told what they could and could not do. Male teachers, for instance, could not physically touch her. If they needed to show her how to do something they either had to use Penna or another frame of reference. Like Penna, her teachers and trainers could not help her escape or get a message out to the real world. If they were caught doing so the guard within the room would take them straight to Cage or Fredric, where they would be dealt with.
For the most part, Autumn kept to herself. She listened to her teachers but once she learned how to do something she liked to do it on her own. She had to admit it was fun if not challenging sometimes to do something with another person, but for ping pong Autumn liked the rhythm of playing by herself. She liked the sound the ball would make when it bounced off the wall, and paddled as it moved back and forth.
Autumn asked Penna to play with her a few times but Penna didn't much care for it. Penna preferred to watch. On rare occasions Cage would show up and play against her. Sometimes he'd even have them play a game after dinner. Autumn would decline but, like most things, Cage would insist.
He was actually rather good at it to the point where she wondered why he even wanted to play with her. She could go a few rounds with him at best, but for the most part she wasn't a challenge. Thankfully they would never play long. Maybe one or two games before he had to go, or he'd switch to playing Fredric. At least a dozen times Autumn had seen the two go head to head. Some games could even last for hours.
Autumn had to admit she was a little impressed. Once when she was in a good mood she even asked Cage when and how he'd learned to be so good. Cage told her he'd been home schooled as a child and that ping pong was one of the few games he got to play and would often do so for hours. He told her he found a certain peace to the rhythm of the game.
Autumn always found it strange when he shared something personal with her. It was a rare moment indeed. Usually Cage was cold and calculating. He didn't often let his guard down, and he didn't often share personal information. Sometimes when she would learn something about his personality or past it would make him almost seem human, but Autumn knew he was a monster.
After table tennis she was allowed a half hour break. She chose to climb back into bed and was nearly asleep when Penna told her it was time for pottery lessons. Her classroom had a pottery kiln along with a wheel. Autumn wasn't sure how she felt about pottery class. Sometimes it could be cool, but there were a few times where she would make a big mess with nothing to show in turn. She liked the feel of the clay in her hands as she spun the wheel but she didn't understand how people could make such perfect pots.
Her teacher would always make pots like it was nothing. Autumn would watch her and do exactly as she did, but her pot would usually sink in on itself or turn out wobbly. Her teacher told her it was all about pressure and experience. She said that in time Autumn would get better. Autumn wasn't sure if she would, but gave her teacher the benefit of the doubt.
She made a few mugs, jugs, and bowls, but for the most part Autumn liked making flower pots. She had a little area in her bedroom where she would put them. She asked Penna for some dirt and flower seeds, and made her own little garden. Once she had woken in the middle of the night to see Cage looking at them. She had about eight pots at the time and he told her she had enough. That she shouldn't clutter her room with them.
Out of spite, Autumn made more and more pots, and had about two dozen of them now with all sorts of flowers and herbs growing in them. She would water and tend to them daily. It gave her something to do and sometimes she would pretend she was in a park, or her own garden. She wished she could grow her own trees and grass. Of course, none of her flowers and plants lasted long. They would often die after a few weeks, and she would plant new ones in their place.
Autumn didn't know if they died from her not tending to them properly, or if it was because they lacked natural sunlight. She would always feel bad whenever a flower or plant died as they were the closest thing she had to escaping. She longed to one day be free enough to plant them outside but, alas, like her, they would never get out of the tower alive.
Autumn thought she would make another flower pot today but it turned out more like a vase or a pencil holder when she was done. Since they were going out to lunch she had to cut her class short. Taken back to her room, she washed up and changed into some outdoor clothes. When she was within the tower all of her clothes were sheer. Outside they were thicker, sometimes ever layered.
Today she was given a black dress with red roses on it. The sleeves went to her elbows and the dress fell to her ankles. She was also given black tights, small ankle boots that had been polished and a small black clutch that held breath mints and tissues inside.
As Autumn put on a long black coat she couldn't help but feel like a doll. Cage's doll, to be dressed up and used as he saw fit. When she was all ready Penna took Autumn to the elevators. Cage came over a minute or two later with Lane and Fredric.
Fredric pressed his thumb to the scanner panel and the elevator showed up a few seconds later. Both Fredric and Cage had their fingerprints and eyes scanned so they never had to use a card. Cage didn't even look at Autumn as he stepped into the elevator. She nodded goodbye to Penna before she got inside with him. She wished Penna could come with them so she could have someone to talk to, but when she was with Cage, Penna was not needed.
As close as she and Penna were, it was hard sometimes for Autumn to remember she was just a job for Penna. Lane joined her and Cage in the elevator, followed by Fredric. When all four were in the elevator, Fredric scanned his eye and selected the floor they wanted. Lane texted on her phone as Fredric whispered several code words into the radio on his sleeve.
When the elevator stopped in the parking garage a large town car pulled up. It was a lot like a limo, with two seats up front and two sets of seats facing each other in the back, but it was much smaller. The driver of the car was a bodyguard, and quickly got out.
Fredric got into the driver's seat. For the most part he liked to drive Cage whenever he went out. On the day Autumn had been taken, Fredric had been inside with Cage when the other driver, another bodyguard, had been shot. Autumn wondered for a moment whether Fredric would have taken them all down had he been driving or if he would have been shot.
Fredric adjusted the driver's side seat to his height as the guard opened the passenger door for them to get in. Lane was first to get in, barely looking away from her phone as she ducked inside. Autumn followed after her, sitting next to her on the leather seat, but had to move when Cage got in. He sat across from Lane and snapped at Autumn. She reluctantly sat next to him and buckled herself in. Lane and Cage also buckled themselves in. The bodyguard shut the door before running around the car to the sit next to Fredric up front.
There would be a car in front of them and a car behind them with more bodyguards. It was always like this. Sometimes Cage might have them take a limo, or change things up if he wanted to avoid detection. Once Autumn had been with him when he'd had six limos go out in different directions. They had been in a taxi cab and eluded whoever had followed them to go to some sort of meeting.
Autumn looked out the window as they made their way out of the parking garage and onto the street. Fredric turned on some classical music and Autumn listened to it as the Cage took out his cell phone. Both Lane and Cage texted for several minutes. Autumn sighed, wishing she had her own cell phone. She was allowed to have some electronics but nothing that wasn't child locked or constantly monitored, and nothing that could easily access the outside world. Everything was controlled.
The only time she was allowed to make a call was if Cage was with her and let her. Once or twice a year he let her call her family, and only a select few of them. She was told what she could and couldn't say and warned that if she went off script she would never talk to them again. It was hard for Autufmn to talk to her family. While she loved hearing from them, it was difficult knowing she was probably never going to see them again.
They seemed to think she was a lab technician in a foreign country. That she and Curtis were still engaged. They wanted to know when the wedding was, and it almost always brought her to tears. She'd say a few words about being busy, and apologize for not being able to talk for long. Then she'd tell them she just wanted them to know she was okay. But Autumn would never be okay again.
The calls never lasted long and when it was over Autumn would often stay in her room for the rest of the day, schedule or no schedule. Autumn sighed as she thought about it and then moved on. She knew there was nothing she could do. After a bit Autumn looked out the window.
She admired all the different buildings and people they passed, enjoying the drive as they made their way to the restaurant. When they got there, they pulled up at the front entrance. Fredric got out and gave the other bodyguard the car keys. He opened the passenger door and Cage got out, followed by Autumn and then Lane. Autumn realized then that Lane would be joining them for lunch. Sometimes she came with them but stayed in the car, or switched cars depending on what Cage needed. The four made their way down a red carpet and under an overhang. Two bodyguard's opened the restaurant's double doors as they approached.
They went right in and to their table. They never had to wait at Granule. The owner knew and always had a table set aside for him. Inside the Granule the lights were slightly dimmed with candlelight lighting. Soft classical music filled the air. A quartet of musicians were quietly playing in the corner. The tables were all set up with a fresh bouquets of flowers and nicely decorated tablecloths. Napkins were folded in different designs on expensive plates. The silverware was real silver and the wine glasses were sparking crystal.
The food was always ready when they got there, just waiting to be served. Cage always had their meals ordered in advance. Autumn never knew what she was eating until it was served to her. She often wondered what would happen if Cage changed what he wanted to eat at the last minute. Would they cook him up something new on the spot or have it delivered, seeing as Cage was a very busy man and often had a schedule to keep?
When they got to their booth in the far corner of the room, Cage reached for Autumn's coat. He took it off and hung it on a mobile coat rack next to the table. Lane also took her coat off and put it on the coat rack. Cage and Fredric kept theirs on. Autumn was first to sit in the booth, sliding to the middle. Lane came to sit on her right and Fredric sat next to Lane. Cage sat on Autumn's left as the food was brought out on platters. They were placed on the large table in front of the person they were meant for.
Autumn watched with mild interest as the platters lids were lifted. She saw her lunch first and smiled for a second. It was a grilled cheese sandwich with an assortment of cheeses, handmade French fries and a large, cold, sour pickle. It was a simple dish for a fancy place, but Autumn loved grilled cheese sandwiches. She'd had it here once or twice before and knew it was amazing. A large glass of chocolate milk was also put down before her.
Autumn reached out, taking it in her hand. She drank some of the foam off the top before looking at what the others got. Lane got a small salad with carrots, lettuce, and eggs. For a drink she had some sort of iced fruit drink that had bits of fruit in it. Cage had stewed curry with asparagus, and a white wine to drink. Fredric had rocky mountain oysters with pasta and several servings of garlic bread.
Once the waiters left they all began to eat. Autumn hadn't finished her breakfast so she found herself hungry once more. She quickly, picked up a fry, popping it in her mouth. She enjoyed the fresh salty taste of it before she picked up the grilled cheese sandwich and bit into it. Several strings of cheese pulled from the sandwich as she took it into her mouth.
While they were eating their meals a couple of detectives came over. One was tall and thin, while the other was fat and short. The tall one was named Stills and the short one was named Carter. Autumn didn't know their first names but she'd seen them enough times in the last year or so to know them on sight.
Every so often while they were out they would run into these two detectives. Autumn didn't think it was by coincidence. She was pretty sure they were following Cage, perhaps staking him out, though she didn't know why they made their presence known to him or even talked to him. Maybe they thought if they showed him they were always around, watching, it might detour Cage from his various criminal acts. Yet Autumn knew for a fact that it hadn't.
"Well, look who we got here! If it isn't Cage Zisgani. Funny running into you here. We heard this place has a good risotto. What about you? What are you eating?" asked Detective Carter with a big friendly grin on his face.
Cage smiled to himself as he finished chewing the food in his mouth. He sipped some wine, swallowing it down before he lifted his napkin. He dabbed his mouth, wiping it off before he simply said, "Lunch."
"Is it any good?" asked Detective Stills, looking at what Cage was eating.
"If you'd ever eaten here you'd know everything is. But I guess this place is a bit taxing for a standard detectives salary."
Stills glared at Cage. "Well, not all of us can make our money illegally."
Fredric had been eating as he listened to the conversation being exchanged but he paused when he heard Stills' comment. Even Lane looked up from her phone. They both stared at Stills like they had been offended by his insinuation. Autumn looked at Fredric and Lane, wondering if they were going to say something, but it was Cage that spoke. He was friendly and charismatic, with a snide tone to his voice. "Oh, I'm sorry detective, are you charging me with something or just slandering me? I'd hate to have to get my lawyer involved."
"I bet you would." said Stills. He was close to the table and looked like he really wanted to haul Cage in right then and there.
Carter stepped in then, smacking his hand down on his partner's shoulder. He squeezed it tightly, pulling Stills back a few steps from the table before he said, "You'll have to forgive Stills here. He's cranky from dealing with busted pipes all night. Waste flooded his entire basement. He's not used to dealing with shits, like I am."
Autumn ate a french fry. She was pretty sure Carter was inferring that Cage was a shit. She looked at Cage and he sighed deeply before saying, "Ah, I'm sorry to hear that. I know a good plumber if you need help taking care of shit. I know a good cleaner too."
Stills grimaced as Cage looked directly at Carter. He smiled at him asking, "How is that boy of yours doing?" Detective Carter didn't say anything, flinching for a second at the mention of his son. Cage continued on. "I heard he's won the Adimir Badge for climbing. Congratulations."
"How did you hear about that?" asked Carter quietly. He let out a nervous laugh. His body language seemed tense.
"I have my ways." said Cage.
Autumn had a feeling Cage was threatening Carters' son. Carter looked at Cage for a second and the two gave each other intimidating looks like they were challenging each other. Carter slowly said, "I'll just bet you do."
It was Stills turn to step in now. He tapped Carter's elbow and said, "Come on, let's get out of here. This place is starting to stink worse than my basement."
"I don't think it's the food." said Carter now, glaring at Cage.
Stills turned and started to leave. Carter stared for a moment longer before he followed after him. As the two detectives left Cage called out, "Say hi to Holly and the kids for me."
"Right." said Carter uneasily.
Cage looked to Fredric once they were out of sight. The two nodded to each other before going back to their meals. Lane texted on her phone once more. Autumn finished eating her meal before everyone else. She was surprised to be the first one done. Usually it was Fredric or Lane. Fredric often ate fast and had seconds, sometimes thirds. Lane usually only picked at her food, barely eating it before she was finished. Today she seemed to be drinking her fruit juice in between sucking on baby carrots from her salad.
When Cage noticed Autumn was done he teased her. "Would the victim prefer a cinnamon roll or ice cream for dessert?"
Autumn scowled at him and he chuckled at her before snapping his fingers. When the waiter came over Cage ordered her a chocolate Sunday with extra peanuts. Autumn doubted she'd eat it. When the Sunday arrived Cage excused himself from the table, getting up to use the restroom.
Fredric was quick to stand up to follow him but Cage waved him off. He went to the restroom by himself. It was common for two women to go to the restroom together, but Autumn found it a little funny that two men would go together. She knew it was for protection, but she couldn't help imagine Cage and Fredric gossiping in the front of the mirrors or giving each other fashion tips.
Fredric sat back down, ordering a second plate of rocky mountain oysters. They already had it ready for him and it was delivered within seconds. Autumn looked at her ice cream for a moment before she took a spoonful in her mouth. It tasted good as the salty peanuts mixed with the chocolate and cool vanilla ice cream. She decided to have some more after all, taking a few spoonfuls here or there.
After the fifth spoonful Lane looked up at Autumn, watching her eat. She looked like she longed to have some and Autumn offered to share hers. Lane quickly shook her head before she turned to look away. Fredric noticed this and laughed at the fact that Autumn had offered her some. Lane was always on a constant diet. Autumn knew Lane didn't eat a lot and figured she could be dieting, but she didn't think it hurt to offer. After all, if Autumn ate like Lane she thought she'd be starving all the time.
Lane drank some of her fruit juice, mixing the straw around before she started up a conversation. "The other day I was at a nature park in the Martols. I saw the most beautiful birds. Robins, I think, because they had beautiful red breasts that were just wonderful in the sunlight."
"Really?" said Autumn, deciding she'd had enough ice cream. "I didn't know you were into birds." To be fair, Autumn didn't know if Lane was into anything.
"Well, I like them some of the time. I used to watch them with my dad when I was a little girl." She smiled wistfully. "Are there any birds that you like? I always liked doves, croons, and swans."
"I used to like woodpeckers when I was a kid. I like blue birds too. They seem magical to me."
"Hmm... I don't know if I've ever seen a woodpecker in the park. I think I saw some blue birds. There were tons of flowers there. I think they even had hummingbirds."
"Hummingbirds? Really?" said Autumn, "Those are amazing, but I've never seen one in person. They're so fast. I've seen some pictures and videos though, and they remind me of fairies."
"I could see how they would. The park I went to had these feeders and they would all gather around them."
"Wow." said Autumn.
"Yes, it was a really lovely park with all sort of birds, flowers, and trees. They had these roses and daffodils that were just beautiful." Lane looked down into her drink. "I just loved the roses there. What kind of flowers do you like?"
"Oh, I love daisies." said Autumn. For a moment she was silent as she remembered the ones that used to grow near her house as a child and how she used to keep some in her apartment. "I really love the different colored ones. The purple ones were my favorite."
"I don't think I saw any of those. Maybe the white ones, but not the purple. They had some growing on a tree, I think."
"Really?" said Autumn. "I didn't think flowers could grow on trees. I mean, I know like fruit trees and stuff. Like, I love the flowers on the cherry blossom tree. But I didn't think daisies could grow on trees."
"Well, they were mostly around the roots. I think it was an oak tree or birch. I can't be sure."
"Hmm," said Autumn as Cage came back to the table and sat down. One of Lane's phones rang and she answered it, ending her conversation with Autumn. Cage started to eat his meal once more and Autumn felt sad. She messed with her ice cream a bit, watching it melt as she thought about the conversation she'd just had.
She wished she could have seen the park Lane was talking about. She missed being able to just go to one and sit in it. She used to love reading books on a sunny day. How the breeze would feel on her skin. When she was a kid her father would take her to feed the ducks in the park near their house. Now she didn't know when she would ever get to enjoy a sunny day at the park again. Or if she would ever get to feed ducks again. She couldn't help but glare at Cage as she thought of all the things he'd never let her do.
After a few minutes, he finished off his wine then wiped his mouth. He turned to Autumn, drawing a finger across her cheek. Pulling some hair behind her ear, he asked. "How was lunch?"
"Like you care." said Autumn, moving what was left of her ice cream around. "You don't care about anything I want."
Cage sighed letting out a low groan before he said, "Not again, Autumn. I believe we already had this conversation. I told you, I'm not in the mood today."
"Not in the mood? You're never in the mood when it comes to what I want. And what I have to say. I hate you. I hate that you're forcing me to be with you and that you won't listen to me!"
"I listen to you." said Cage. "I listen to every damn word that comes out of your mouth, and it's never any good. You can never say anything nice, like thank you for saving my life the other day and thank you for lunch."
"This again." said Autumn, rolling her eyes.
"Yes. If you can bitch, so can I. But this isn't the time or the place." said Cage as he looked to Fredric. The two nodded to each other. Fredric spoke into the sleeve of his suit, asking for the car to be brought around. Cage scooted out of the booth and grabbed Autumn's coat before he pulled her to him. She pulled free of his grasp, accidentally knocking over several glasses.
Water, leftover ice cream, and fruit juice spilled all over the table as Autumn yelled, "No, I want to talk now! I want to tell you how I feel! I don't care if this isn't the time or place! I hate you and I want you to let me go. You keep me trapped in that tower like a prisoner and I'm sick of it! I'm sick of you, and I want to be free. I want to be able to go where I want whenever I want! I'm a person, damn it, AN…!"
Cage got in Autumn's face before she could finish. He tangled his fingers in her hair and pulled her in dangerously close. Without a word of warning he kissed her. It was deep and long, taking her breath away. When he was done he let go of her head and grasped her hand. He pulled her away from the booth while she was still stunned. Lane quickly grabbed her coat and followed shortly after them.
Autumn went to protest again but this time as she began to speak Cage turned to her and gave her the look. He didn't hit her, but he might as well have. His icy cold stare pierced deep within her and she cringed back as he warned, "Not… another… word."
Autumn didn't say anything then. She knew he was serious. It didn't matter if they were in public. It didn't matter who saw. Because if Autumn didn't listen to him, he would punish her. And Autumn knew just how cruel Cage could be. Defeated, Autumn began to whimper. She wanted to cry but stifled her tears as she was dragged out of the restaurant.
When the four got outside, the town car was waiting for them. Fredric quickly switched places with the bodyguard that was driving. Cage didn't wait for the bodyguard to open his door. He quickly opened it and dragged Autumn towards the car. He practically threw her in as he forced her inside. Once Autumn was inside, she scooted towards the other door. Cage sat down beside her and Lane got in. The bodyguard shut the door and then ran around to the passenger seat next to Fredric. A moment later they pulled away from the restaurant.
She was sure Cage was going to continue the conversation or even yell at her but he didn't. He just rubbed his forehead, looking even more tired than he had this morning. His phone rang a few seconds later. He dug into his trench coat to get it. He checked the number briefly before answering. "Yes?"
Someone that Autumn couldn't hear spoke to him. Cage seemed to tighten his grip on the phone before he said, "I understand."
He hung up the phone a second later, slowly putting it away as he was deep in thought. He was silent for a few minutes before he looked to Lane and said, "A time and place has been set."
Lane pulled away from her phone and nodded. "What do you need?"
"We'll discuss it in my office." said Cage, before growing silent once more.
He didn't say another word the rest of the way back. He seemed distracted as he rested his elbow on his armrest and his chin in his hand. Autumn wrapped her arms around herself as they pulled into the underground parking lot. Fredric pulled up to the elevators before getting out. He quickly opened the car door and Cage got out.
Cage didn't wait for Autumn to get out like he normally did. He quickly gave Fredric several orders. Autumn and Lane got out of the car and nearly missed the elevator as Cage pushed the buttons to go up. The elevator doors nearly closed on Lane. The ride up was tense. Everyone was quiet. Autumn had the feeling something big was going on, but she had no idea what it was about. In the end she didn't care. All Autumn cared about right now was getting away from Cage.
When the elevator stopped on the top floor Cage was the first person out. He went straight to his office. Fredric followed only a few seconds behind, and Lane had to practically run to keep up with them. For a moment Autumn really did wonder what was going on. Then she saw Penna.
Penna asked her how lunch went and Autumn only had to look at her to convey just how miserable it was. Penna wrapped an arm around her and together the two walked to the library. They each picked out a book to read and spent nearly an hour reading. Autumn found it hard to concentrate as she moved in her seat, frustrated by everything.
She felt powerless, and trapped. More than anything she wanted to break free but she knew there was nothing she could do. She knew in the long run it was better if she settled down and accepted things as they were. Yet being kidnapped had been a break in her routine. It had brought her back into the world. She had seen that Cage couldn't control everything, that he was not the master of all, and that had given her hope. And now it was as if the fire inside her were reignited once more and she wanted to fight.
Cage sat at a steel table, waiting. The table had been brought to this warehouse specifically for him and another to sit at. Cage was eager to get some answers. He'd been tense ever since he'd learned all of his investment buildings had been bombed. Somehow, someone had caught him off guard. Someone had invaded his territory, attacked his business, and killed his people. And now it was time for him to learn just who this someone was so he could crush them.
He was tempted to look at his watch, though he knew what the time was. He resisted the impulse. He also wanted to double-check the positions of his guards. But he knew they'd be standing quietly in their corners. Slowly he began to tap his fingers on the table, acting bored, when the truth was he was furious. He was like a volcano, ready to erupt, but he refused to let it show. Instead of angrily pounding his fists on the table or giving his guards the order to open fire on anything that moved, he simply waited, waited…for his answers.
At the other end of the room a door opened quietly. A slight, hooded figure dressed in black walked in, followed by two burly men who took position in the empty corners of the room. Cage evaluated and dismissed the guards before focusing his attention on the person now taking a seat across from him.
Cage knew this person was nothing more than a simple messenger. After opening fire on Cage's family, it would be foolish to present him with a high-value target. But among the families, there were formalities, traditions that were necessary to follow.
The person across the table pulled back a hood, revealing fine, sharp features, raven black hair, and a neatly trimmed goatee. He took a moment to draw and light a long cigarette before meeting Cage's eyes.
"As per the formalities, I have been sent to deliver to you a message, and to return with your response." The messenger paused and took a long draw from his cigarette. "You have personally slighted the head of the Fayngin organization. The black card has been drawn in your name."
Cage's mouth tightened. The Fayngin organization was well known for their covert operations. It explained how they'd been able to plan and carry out such a wide-spread plot. He was interested now in how he'd supposedly personally slighted the head of the organization, a man named Gashen Fayngin. As far as Cage could remember, he hadn't had any direct dealings with him or his organization. It was also interesting to note that, while the black card had been drawn, it hadn't been cast yet. That meant there was a chance he could stave off a full-scale war.
"You accuse me of a slight to the head of your organization, Gashen...Fayngin, if I recall. What is the source of the allegation? Just how have I offended him?"
"You don't already know?" asked the messenger, peering at him. "I'm surprised. My understanding was that it was a deliberate, unprovoked attack."
"An attack?" Cage nearly growled. "What did I attack? Where?" He spread his hands. "You must tell me."
The messenger leaned forward slightly thinking before he said. "You shot and killed Gashen Fayngin's nephew, Curtis Knyler. Then you took his woman, Autumn Wrenal, for your own." The messenger's words were cold, emotionless, but they still managed to ignite a memory within Cage. He remembered that night clearly. Her bumping into him, the drinks, the invitation. It had never been about the man. He'd barely even registered in Cage's mind. No, it had been about the woman, Autumn. It still was.
Cage let out a breath as he grasped the situation at hand. "I see." It wouldn't matter to the Fayngin organization that he'd had no idea who the piss ant he'd shot had been. The fact that Curtis Knyler was family, blood, made it personal. It was clear Gashen wanted retribution. "And what does the Gashen require in order to withdraw the black card?"
The messenger leaned back in his chair. Perspiration began to bead on his forehead. "I am instructed now to give you the terms, and to inform you that the Fayngin will not bargain. You may accept them all, or not at all." He drew on his cigarette again, and slowly exhaled. "First, for the next five years your organization will provide ours with a quarter of your earned profit. Second, you will remove yourself as head of the Zisgani organization, and then as a member altogether. They are to be as dead to you as the boss's nephew is to him. Third, the woman you took is to be returned to the Fayngin organization at once. As she was engaged to Curtis Knyler at the time of his death, she is our property. Fourth-"
Cage interrupted as he shot out of his chair. "You can't be serious! You had to know there was no way I'd accept those terms! Step down as the head of the Zisgani?! It was only a nephew! It's not like I walked in and cut the balls off the Gashen himself!"
"The nephew was close to the boss."
Cage stared at him for a moment. "Fine. Go tell your boss he'll be getting a lot closer to his nephew." Cage drew a card from his pocket and tossed it down on the steel table. "This offer is an insult. I, head of the Zisgani organization, cast down the black card on the Fayngin organization. Tonight is your last night of peace. Tomorrow, I start killing you all." Without another word, Cage turned and walked out the door behind him. It would be a long night. He had plans to make.
As he entered his car, his thoughts returned to that night. Everything that he desired had a cost. He'd created this organization himself, built it up piece by piece, until it was an empire fit to rival any other. And now, it was possible he'd lose it all because he'd seen something he wanted, and taken it.
The car pulled away from the meeting site, and headed back towards headquarters. Cage poured himself a glass of wine. He swirled the blood-red liquid in his glass, but he did not drink. Instead, his eyes glinted in the light as he lost himself in thought.
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