CAGE’S RUIN

by Elise , Simone

  So I took his hand, and got led to the dark side of the Cartel society.

  * * *

  Waking up, my eyes fluttered open to the beam of light coming through the curtains. My hand going to my head. I knew I couldn’t blame the alcohol. I knew I couldn’t even blame the drugs that I had sampled last night.

  No as I looked around Ash’s bed. I knew this was fully on my shoulders. I had slept with Ash, because I wanted to feel something and as a result—felt nothing.

  My eyes dropped to my wrist, seeing the faded scar; and in this moment. I wished I hadn’t survived it. And that very thought scared me. Was I slipping back into a grave that my consequences was digging?

  CAGE

  A lonely man makes a lot of bad decisions. A cold man doesn’t have the heart to see the consequences of his actions. But a desperate and a shell of a man, makes no decision worth following. Which is how I felt now.

  Every time I saw Autumn walk out that clubhouse door, dressed in designer clothes. Every time I saw her laughing with one of the boys. Every time I saw that smile on her face, when she looked at her phone—messages surely from him. I couldn’t stop myself from slipping backwards. I tried to grab on to something, anything, to stop the feelings from suffocating me. Whether that be the bottle or a woman.

  However nothing seemed to be working. My mind flashed back to the last time I felt like this. It was when Autumn was sentenced. I found out through the news. Knowing I wasn’t going to see the woman I loved for a year—sent me on a downward spiral.

  I was destructive, went on a bender that resulted in Hawk stepping in telling me to pull my head in.

  His words being, she’d be out in a year, so be the man she’s need then, now.

  Little did Hawk know that Autumn wouldn’t need me. No all she wanted when she got out was that million dollar son of a bitch named Ashley.

  I stopped having her watched. She deserved privacy.

  Vod snapping at me, brought me back to the moment.

  “What?” I barked at the table. Sure. It was a church meeting and I was meant to be leading it but my mind was elsewhere. On a beautiful blonde.

  “New meth has flooded the streets Prez. To the point it’s taking business from our cocaine.” Vod spoke up.

  Lit nodded his head. “Sampled the shit myself, I can see why customers are attracted to it.”

  I scorched him with my eyes. Testing the competitions shit? I scoffed. “Well do we know who is dealing it? How is it being moved at a cheaper rate then the cocaine?”

  “Volume. They have a batch system in place. The amount they cook, let’s them undercut our product.” Vod explained.

  I cursed, this was the last thing I needed to deal with. “Well who is dealing it? Severed Sons? South Gangsters? Who?” I looked for answers, only for them to be silent.

  “They call them The Cook. No one knows where their setup is. No one knows who is the direct head. It’s just flooded the dealers on the streets.” Lit edged forward, clearly he was still using it. “If we don’t shut them down, we are looking at taking a big hit.”

  “Then let’s hunt The Cook down. Shut them down. Get back to business as usual.” I said, and brought the hammer down on the meeting.

  9

  Autumn

  Ash was furious, and a glass being thrown across the room, caused me to jump.

  “This is bullshit. They were two of my finest dealers that those bikers killed!” Ash roared. “Do they think we won’t answer this?”

  “Ash. What are you going to do, go to war against the bikers?” I looked at him. He looked back at me. And my eyes widened. That was exactly what he was thinking. I realized now in this moment, I can’t keep a foot in each world.

  Ash was going to war against the bikers. I have the money now. Nothing is keeping me cooking apart from my loyalty to Lydia.

  Ash pointed a finger at me. “Count my words Autumn. Those Vultures will get what’s coming to them.” He then walked out, picking up his suit jacket from the back of the chair.

  “Ash, the Cartel is already at war against Hade’s Horsemen is it wise to take on The Vultures as well?” I pointed out. I wasn’t a business person but going up against two one percent motorcycle clubs, made no sense to. He just stared back at me.

  I didn’t know it then. But I had just witnessed the beginning of something bigger than I.

  * * *

  Arriving back at the clubhouse. I scanned the clubhouse, it was basically empty. Apart from Cage drinking by himself at the bar.

  The cut on his back, his sleeves rolled up, showing his tattoos—and his hand wrapped around a whiskey glass, with his signature rings on.

  I sighed. Do I or don’t I? He hadn’t spotted me.

  Then I took two steps, and I don’t know if it was my heels or what but he glanced over his shoulder. His eyes hollow, then ran up and down looking me in the eye, I saw lust and a mixture of regret.

  I didn’t even realize I was walking towards him, till I pulled out the stool beside him.

  His eyes were on my cleavage that this red dress flaunted. I ran a hand through my blonde hair, and he looked at me—like I was sent from the gods or something just to tempt him.

  “Hey,” I forced out, and his eyes jumped from my breasts to my eyes.

  “Hi darling.” He then threw back his drink, as if those two words had broken his willpower or something.

  “How have you been?” I asked, my hand itching to go to his cigarette packet but I paused. Not helping myself to his cigarettes.

  He glanced at me, a tint of anger in his jet black eyes. “Fine.” His clipped response told me he was anything but fine. He grabbed his cigarette packet, pulling one out, and lighting it up. “How’s that boyfriend of yours?”

  “Not my boyfriend.” I then took the burning cigarette from his fingers. Needing a hit.

  He exhaled a mouthful of smoke, and looked at me. Like I was some sort of puzzle or something.

  Staring into his jet black eyes. I was reminded of the reasons why I loved this man. “I’ve missed you.” The words just came out, like word vomit. And I clamped my mouth shut after saying it. “I mean. I missed—” I stopped even trying to form a sentence.

  His lips twitched up dimly. “Yeah darling. I understand,” His eyes still locked with mine. “You been alright?”

  I nodded my head. Just cooking Meth and hanging out with a Cartel gangster. I kept that sentence to myself.

  His hand went over my twitching ones in my lap. “You know I can tell when you are lying?” He spoke so calmly and I looked him in his eyes. “You’re stressed.” He stated a fact—and it was true.

  “Yeah I have been.” I wasn’t going to lie. “I feel… it doesn’t matter.” I shrugged it off. I wasn’t his problem anymore. Nor where my problems his. I forced a smile. Opening my mouth to tell him good night. When his club woman came up to us.

  “Cage, baby, bed?” She purred in his ear, and he shrugged her off his back. His eyes still on me.

  I looked down at the ground. Okay. This was to be expected. I looked back up, and forced the biggest, happiest smile I could muster. “You two have a good night.” I said with a smile on my face.

  The girl whose name I didn’t know, looked at me. But it was Cage’s eyes scorching mine—as if he wanted me to lay claim.

  I got up, a rumbling engine getting louder, and then one moment I was standing, the next I was on the ground. With Cage’s body over mine, the clubhouse being flooded with bullets.

  I was dizzy from the sudden impact. The gunfire stopped and Cage was shouting at members to go after them. He gave me a once over, making sure I was okay, before taking off himself.

  I knew then as I went to sit up. Ash was behind that drive by. He could have killed someone I loved! Anger flooded my body. I knew then, I had to pick which side I was on. But loyalty to Lydia had me cooking now.

  The motorcycles roar disappeared in the distance and the thought kept going through my head. He could have killed someone I lo
ved.

  * * *

  Barging into Ash’s study after letting myself in to his house—knowing where the spare key is. I scan his study. Spotting him in his armchair.

  “What the hell was that!” I yelled at him. He had just shot up my home. Where people I loved lived.

  Ash raised up to his feet, pointing a finger at me. “You need to pick a fucking side. Them or us.”

  So this was his angle? To force me to pick between my family and money? I stood tall, not going to give into his pressure.

  “I’ll cook for you but my loyalty is to the bikers.” I kept my eyes locked with his furious ones. “And you should remember that.” With those words said I turned and left. Having no idea what I had just started.

  CAGE

  Back at the club, empty fucking handed—I was furious. Some bastards thought they could shoot my clubhouse up and get away with it?

  Lit, Vod and I split up eventually going after them, only to lose the car. Fucking common street gangsters.

  I was responsible to keep this place safe. Autumn could have been shot, and that sent my rage up a level.

  “Cage, calm down, we’ll track it down. They won’t remain quiet. They’ll brag about it. That’s when we will get them,” Vod gripped my arm, trying to stop me from waking every member that was sleeping and starting a manhunt. “We’ll track them down Cage.” He reassured me.

  “Get some sleep brother.” Lit added. “Nearly lost ya tonight to the road.”

  He was referring to when I nearly got the car—only to have to slow down to a corner. Which I nearly lost control of the bike.

  I stormed off, frustrated. As if I was going to sleep this worked up. Fucking bastards had shot up my clubhouse!

  Pausing at my door, I saw Autumn’s light still on, casting light under the door.

  She looked okay when I left? But I had slammed her to the ground. Perhaps I should check on her.

  Then the door cracked open. Autumn’s blonde hair was up in a bun, and her vivid emerald eyes were locked on me.

  “Thank god you’re back and okay.” She let the door fling fully open. “I was worried. It’s been hours.” She added, and my eyes ran over her, those tanned slim legs, her tight small waist, her stomach on display with the piercing in her belly button I was happy to see back in.

  I snapped out of the mode of just staring at her, and blinked. Okay. I had completely spaced, checking her out.

  “Cage?” She said my name.

  I blinked again, my eyes just locked on the beauty that is Autumn.

  “You okay?” She asked again.

  I snapped back into the moment. “Fine darling.” I said stepping towards her, my knuckles going to her cheek, which had a graze on it. “Are you okay?” My fingers resting against her cheek. As I stared into her eyes. “Darling?”

  She blinked and it had me thinking—her mind had wandered off on her as well.

  Then her eyes were locked on my lips. Couldn’t help but smirk. Her reaction made me think that I had the same effect on her—that she did me.

  Those vivid emerald eyes still locked on my lips. Finally her teeth sunk into her bottom lip and her eyes bounced off my lips and locked with my eyes.

  I couldn’t tell what she was thinking—I wish I could, because then I’d know if I should kiss her or pull away from her altogether.

  “I was worried about you.” I didn’t lie to her, and keep my knuckles on her cheek. It was the fucking truth—it was the reason I was a madman tonight because she could have gotten hurt. I refused for her to get hurt on my watch.

  It was within these walls I knew she was safe and I wouldn’t have some street gangsters take her from me.

  Her hand went to my chest and my other hand went to the door frame, blocking her in her doorway. The tension between us couldn’t be ignored. She had to know I hadn’t had a good lay since her. She was the woman I needed, no woman came close to her in the bedroom. She knew what I needed, just like I knew what she needed.

  Then her hand clenched my leather cut, and she pulled me into her room. I closed the door behind me, only for my hand to spread across her cheek, while my other hand went to her hip, pulling her into me.

  “Fuck darling, I’ve missed you.” I blew out before crashing my lips on hers. My desperate need to get her naked had never been stronger.

  Our kisses were never sweet, they were driven by passion and right now my passion was needing Autumn naked and under me.

  But at the same time, with this being our first time being back together since our spilt. I didn’t want a quick fuck. I wanted to worship her—prove to her that I’m better than her millionaire boyfriend.

  He might have crisp suits and can give her a lifestyle away from crime. But I was going to give her the mind-blowing orgasms—ones that would ruin her boyfriend's attempt at trying to reach my level.

  I knew Autumn’s body. I knew what she needed. I knew that I could ruin other men for her.

  Her hands went to push my vest off and she paused. Knowing it was disrespectful. Fuck she really was the perfect woman. I took my hands off her, and slipped the vest off dropping it on the bed. Then her hands went to my holsters. If there was one thing Autumn knew, it was how to take holsters off.

  Taking the guns out, clicking the safety’s back on. I placed them on the bedside table.

  My hands going back to her. Gripping her body, and pushing that loose shirt up and off her. Fuck me. I inhaled sharply seeing Autumn topless. Then my eyes went to that tattoo in the center of her breasts. It had healed.

  “Who did that?” I asked, seeing the tattoo. It was a mandala.

  “Jye did.” She replied smoothly and my eyes shot to hers.

  “You better have kept ya fucking bra on while he did it.”

  She smirked. “Upset that someone else has seen me topless Cage?”

  “Were you topless?” I growled.

  “How else do you think it got in that spot?”

  Annoyance and the thought that she was mine, and not to be seen by other men—thoughts like that flooded my mind. Making me grip her shorts and pushing them down.

  “No more tattoos by males.” I bit her bottom lip before she said anything, causing her to grasp. Then my hands ran down her sides. Lifting her up, and her legs wrapping around me—fuck me, god I had missed this.

  Lowering her down to the bed, I sat up on my knees, taking in the sight that was Autumn Watson.

  “Cage?”

  “Mm darling?”

  “Fuck me like you love me.” Her emerald eyes were locked with mine, as she said those words.

  She wanted to have sex like how we used to. Had she missed me as much as I miss her?

  I leant forward, my lips hovering over hers. “I never stopped loving you darling,” And I had never meant a sentence more than that one. The truth was when it came to Autumn, she was a drug I couldn’t stop. Fuck she didn’t have a touch on the cocaine, weed, or meth—she was my physical addiction, only I could never get enough of her.

  10

  Ash

  I needed to change Autumn’s decision. If she realized that she wasn’t safe with them, then she would automatically side with us. She had to know that I would protect her, fuck I was falling in love with her.

  I need her to keep cooking the product. I can’t have her one foot in one foot out. I needed her fully committed.

  So I gave a tip off of the cook house. Knowing that the bikers would target it. Then I’d come in to save the day—she would realize I was the only one she could count on. So I sent the biker a tip off—and then Autumn a message to get a new batch ready asap. I just hoped the two aligned.

  CAGE

  The cook was driving money out of the clubs pocket. Their drugs were severely undercutting us. Resulting in us having this meeting. Things were getting desperate. I didn’t have the normal weekly pays for the books. Instead all I had was bad news. We were going broke.

  The rebirthing businesses were keeping our businesses afloat, but eve
rything aside from that. It wasn’t happening.

  Pays. Liquor for the bar. Fuck—even food. We didn’t have the money to cover our expenses, and these were daily expenses.

  “We need to shut this Cook down.” I muttered, the boys nodding their head in agreeance, after being told they weren’t being paid.

  “Got an address for one of their rumored cook houses.” Vod speaks up with a cigarette in his mouth. “Don’t know if it is their main one. But it’s worth a drive by.”

  “Fuck that.” I snapped. “We’re blowing it up.

  I then looked at Jacob, who had ridden in the early hours of this morning. How he expected to just take a year break from the club and still deserve a seat. I didn’t know. But I wasn’t in a position to kick him off the table either. I was acting president. Not the President.

  “You were always good with explosives.” I looked at him. Jacob knew I was about to test him. He had to seriously pull his weight at the club.

  He nodded his head. “I’ll do it. Vod can drive.” Jacob spoke like it was a matter of fact. He was a different man to the one I knew years ago.

  I closed the meeting, the table emptying. It was sorted Jacob was blowing the meth lab up. At least I hoped it was one of their meth labs—and main earners.

  “You spoken to your sister?” I asked Jacob, wondering how Autumn had taken his sudden appearance.

  “Haven’t seen her.” He said off handed. Then locked eyes with me. “How far you want me to take this job?”

  I leant back in my chair. “Execution shots Jacob. That’s how far I expect you to take it. Anyone comes running out of that Meth Lab not hurt—I expect them to be executed.”

  I wanted to send a clear message and I had a feeling executing the cooks, perhaps even the cook himself—would result in their operation closing.