Caged

by Shanna Ehrlich

  “That’s not what I was proposing,” he squeezed her hand. “I know you better than that. I’ve been thinking about something for a while and I know you’re not going to be up for it right now, but I just want to throw it out there to keep in the back of your mind somewhere.”

  “Okay. What?”

  “Come work for me. For the Emmo.”

  “You’re kidding right?

  “Not even close. My guys can’t go see a shrink, not like they would admit to needing one, but even if they wanted to, they couldn’t. It’s too risky. Courts can subpoena that kind of information. But you could work for us. You could do everything under the table. There would be no paper trail.”

  “What makes you think your men would want to talk to me? Most people don’t want to talk about private issues in their lives to their bosses’,” she paused to think of the right word. “Whatever we are.”

  “Consort. That’s the word you’re looking for. And my men are different than most. They do what I tell them to do. If they just tortured a person to death and I think it’s necessary they talk to someone about it, that’s what they’re going to do. I can’t have anyone turn into a fucking psycho and still do Emmo work. It’s dangerous for everyone, but happens more often than I’d like.”

  “So what, you want me to do a psych eval, clearing them to go back on duty?”

  “Exactly. You want to know about the Emmo. What we do, who we are, how we think. I’m offering that to you.”

  What he was offering was ludicrous, another way to get her to leave everything behind and move to New York, but she had to admit, the idea was intriguing. Some might say it was the opportunity of a lifetime; being welcomed in to an underground criminal organization, learning the ins and outs of how they think. “I don’t know Brax.”

  “That’s fine. I don’t need an answer right now. I just wanted to put it on the table. You’re not out of options here. And if you don’t want to work for the Emmo that’s okay too. You don’t have to. You can do whatever you want. Anything in the world you want to do I can help you get there. Whatever you need, just tell me and I’ll give it to you. You want to start writing books again? I’ll drop however much it costs to make sure they’re printed and in every book store in North America. You want to become an idolized psychologist like your weird as fuck Freud? I’ll open up a science lab for you to research all sorts of psychological theories. Anything you want. Your world’s not over. I think it’s just beginning.”

  “I think that’s the sweetest thing you’ve ever said to me.”

  “Yeah? Does it make up for everything I said to you at your office the other day?”

  “Don’t you dare bring that up again. You’re not off the hook for that yet. I’m still just thinking of a way to make you pay for it.”

  “You going to give me a spanking?” he smiled toward her.

  “No. You’d like that too much. I’ll think of something though. Don’t you worry.”

  “I’ll take whatever punishment you dish out. I can admit when I’m wrong B. It doesn’t happen very often, but that night, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have treated you like that.”

  “Careful Cage. That’s sounding awfully close to an apology.”

  “You’re the only person I’d apologize to.”

  “Well don’t. I sort of like you domineering and pigheaded. Just don’t do it again.”

  Brax agreed and continued driving, moving his hand from hers and let it rest on her upper thigh instead. Annie rolled down the window again and lit another cigarette, letting her mind imagine a scenario where Brax had his way. He and her together in New York. He’d continue to play the upstanding businessman and she would act as his trophy, on his arm at all times. At least that’s how society would see them, but when no one was watching they’d take on their real roles. It would be the best of both worlds. If it wasn’t for Keith, she’d fly home with him right then. Even still, the idea was enticing. Her relationship with Keith had taken a downward spiral ever since the baby. Deep down she blamed him, but logically there was nothing he did wrong. Things like this just happen, that’s what the doctor told them. Your body recognizes something is wrong and just stops the process.

  “What are you thinking about?” Brax interrupted her thoughts.

  “Nothing. Do you know where we’re going yet?”

  “Looks like Flagstaff,” he pointed toward a sign showing the city thirty miles away. “Want to look up a place to stay?”

  Annie unlocked her phone and began searching, struggling to find a hotel without the word Inn or Lodge in the name. She knew Brax wouldn’t be caught dead in a place like that.

  “Stop looking so hard. Just call any place and reserve the presidential.”

  “Fine. Let me go ahead and call the Budget Lodge or the Sampton Inn and ask about their presidentials. That’ll get me a laugh. People don’t go to Flagstaff for their luxury hotels Brax. If you haven’t noticed, it’s like a hundred degrees cooler up here. They come to get out of the hotels.”

  “Okay. Just book that inn place then. I don’t care where we go.”

  “Ew. No.”

  “Damn it woman just pick a place. I don’t want to be driving around all night.”

  She continued searching on her phone, finding a couple hotels that might work, but then got a better idea and pulled up her VRBO app. She entered her search criteria and was rewarded with a secluded house, nestled in the woods with a porch, fireplace and a jacuzzi. It was perfect. She called the number listed and the man who answered told her he’d meet them there in an hour to give them the keys. There was a three night minimum and Annie knew they wouldn’t be staying for three nights, she had to get home sometime, but the house was too good to pass up.

  They exited the freeway and Brax followed her directions toward the house. They still had a good forty-five minutes to kill and stopped at a nearby Target to pick up a change of close and toiletries for the morning. Annie didn’t know what they’d be doing the next day, but rolling around in dirty underwear and unbrushed teeth was not in the cards. Brax of course paid for everything. He had a wad of cash in his wallet that rivalled most people’s bank accounts.

  “Why so much cash? Did you lose your debit card or something?”

  “No. I didn’t take it with me. It’s still in New York. It’s the easiest way to be tracked.”

  “Who’s trying to track you?”

  “No one. Everyone. I didn’t know what was going to happen with Cole. That sly motherfucker might have lived and if he did he could have found me here. You too. I didn’t want to take that chance. He would have killed us both. I didn’t even want to chance bringing it with me.”

  “Is that why you have the new phone number too?”

  “Yes. Benny is the only one from the Emmo who knows that number.”

  “You trust Benny that much?”

  “No. I told you before. I don’t trust anyone.” He wasn’t saying it as insult to her, but it still hurt like he did. She used to be someone he could trust.

  “I know I lied to you, but you can still trust me. You know that, right?”

  He stopped the cart by the truck and gathered the bags before placing a quick peck on her lips. He never answered her. Just moved on to putting the bags in the back seat of the truck like she hadn’t asked him the question.

  “You hungry? I’m starving. We should grab some food before we get there.”

  “Sure. I could eat. Are you in the mood for anything?” she scanned the parking lot as she asked, looking for some fast food. “Ohh Taco Bell. It’s been years since I’ve eaten there.”

  “I’ve never had it.”

  “What? How is that possible? That’s where we’re going then.”

  They pulled up to the drive-thru and Annie’s mouth began salivating at the thought. Quesadilla, Mexican pizza, chicken taco.

  “What’s good?” Brax asked.

  “Everything. Like literally everything. I mean it’s all processed and you feel like shit after e
ating it, but it’s amazing going down.”

  “Wow. What a great endorsement,” he deadpanned. A voice came through the box, asking for their order and he responded just as she said. “We’ll take everything. Two of everything on your menu.”

  The voice coming through the box wasn’t sure what to make of the order and asked him to repeat himself.

  “Every single item you have listed on this menu in front of me,” he began reading down through some of the menu items. “We’ll take two of them all.”

  It was way too much food, but Annie couldn’t hide her excitement and laughed and clapped as the screen started filling up with all they had to offer. Twenty minutes and four hundred dollars later, the back seat of the truck was filled with bags and bags of Taco Bell. Brax even tipped the young kid working the drive-thru, told him to share it with the other employees, but he likely kept it all for himself.

  The house they rented was in a beautiful gated neighborhood and they drove down the private street for over two miles until pulling up in front of the large home nestled up against the heavily treed woods.

  Annie worked on getting the food inside while Brax paid the owner who stood waiting on the front porch. The home was immaculate, just as the pictures showed. It had an open plan living room with a leather sectional and a separate dining room with a table big enough for twenty. Taking the food out of the bags she laid it out on the table. It covered every surface.

  Brax sat at the head of the table and picked up the wrapped item in front of him, some sort of burrito. Annie sat next to him and helped herself to a quesadilla. She ate one fourth and then moved on to the Mexican pizza and then to a taco. It was like heaven in her mouth.

  “It’s pretty good,” Brax told her, a pile of wrappers in his wake.

  “Pretty good? It’s amazing. I hope you don’t mind my ass getting bigger. I probably just gained five pounds.”

  “Babe, there’s nothing you could do to make me not like your ass. Get up. Let me see it.” She stood and turned for him and he reached out a hand, squeezing the flesh beneath her tight back pants. “Yep. Still love it.”

  Smiling she sat back down, but was too full to keep eating. Brax on the other hand devoured almost half the table, doing what she did and sampling one thing after the other.

  “Do you need to call him?” he asked out of nowhere. “I don’t want him interrupting us, so figure something out.”

  “What should I tell him?” She knew exactly who he was referring to.

  “I don’t know. Tell him you’re with Trevor or one of your other girlfriends. Or that you went up north alone to get away. Let him know you’ll be home Sunday.”

  “I can’t stay two days up here Brax. He’s going to freak out.”

  “I just went four days without you. He can go two. I need you to do this for me B. I want time with you too. Please.”

  It was the please that did it for her. Every time he asked politely he suddenly seemed so breakable. She hated seeing him like that.

  “Okay.”

  Annie walked over to her purse hanging on the rack by the door, but was too intimidated to call and sent a text instead. After a few minutes she checked for a response, even though her phone never beeped. There was no new message, but hers had a read receipt underneath. He’d seen it, just opted not to reply. Not a good sign.

  After dinner Braxton and Annie scoped out the house. It was by no means up to his standards, but was still nice in a country sort of way. The patio wrapped around the house was beautiful, lit up with small dangling lights, illuminating not only the outdoor seating, but the woods as well.

  Braxton found two bottles of wine stashed in one of the kitchen cabinets and he and B went out back to enjoy the peaceful ambiance. A plush sun bathing chair big enough for two took up a quarter of the patio. She took a seat while he lit the outdoor fireplace and then sidled up next to her. They continued to sit side by side enjoying the wine and the quiet evening sounds of the forest. It was perfect. Too perfect. They’d been together for almost four hours and hadn’t had one fight. It was almost too good to be true.

  He draped an arm over her mid section and held her close, placing a peck on her shoulder and breathing in her scent. He was waiting for the shoe to drop. Wondering how much time he had before she ran out on him. Again. No amount of time would ever be enough.

  “You feel good,” she told him, snuggling in closer.

  “You sure this isn’t too normal for you?”

  She shook her head.

  “Because I can totally fuck you over that railing and choke you out until you see stars. Different stars. Just say the word.”

  “Tempting Mr. Cage. Maybe later. I happen to like things just the way they are right now.”

  “Me too. It feels surreal to be here. With you. A couple months ago I would have laughed at the idea of settling down and snuggling up with a beautiful woman in the middle of nowhere. Now I can’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be.”

  “I thought you said you’d never be my Prince Charming? That sounded pretty charming to me.”

  “Eh. I’m just being nice right now so you’ll let me put it in your butt later.”

  “You’re funny. That thing’s not going anywhere near my butt.”

  “You want some more wine?” he offered her the bottle. “I seem to remember you making bad decisions the last time I got you drunk.”

  “Very funny,” she played along, but held out her wine glass and he filled it up to the rim. “I seem to remember you being a gentleman the last time you got me drunk.”

  “That was a one-time thing baby. I made a promise and I kept it. I’m not that honorable though. If your friends wouldn’t have come back with us I would have fucked you the minute we got in the SUV. When the sexiest woman you’ve ever seen is literally begging for it there’s only so long you can hold out.”

  “I said one thing,” she defended. “Something about taking me in the bathroom. That’s hardly begging.”

  “You just don’t remember begging. Trust me. There was more than the bathroom comment. That was only the start.”

  “What’d I say then?”

  “You don’t want to know.”

  “No, tell me.”

  “Okay. Honestly? You said what I just asked for.”

  “I did not.”

  “I promise you, you did. You pulled my hair, hard by the way,” he threw her a smile, “straddled my lap, forced me to look up at you, and then told me you wanted me to fuck you in the ass. Those were your exact words. You said you’d never done it before. Asked me if I had. I told you yes. You asked me if it was going to hurt. Again I told you yes. And you know what you said? The same thing you told me before we fucked in my loft. You told me you wanted me to hurt you. You wanted to forget. For one night forget everything and just feel.”

  The realization he was telling the truth sprang to life in her eyes.

  “And then you jumped off my lap and bolted forward for the door, thankfully we were at a stop light, and barely made it out of the SUV before throwing up more than I’ve ever seen come out of a single person.”

  “Oh god,” she groaned into her hands.

  “Don’t be embarrassed. Be thankful. Think of it like a defense mechanism. If you didn’t puke, I would have gone up stairs and shown you exactly what it felt like for me to hurt you.”

  “Instead you gave me your shirt and tucked me into bed. Wow, do I know how to turn a guy off or what?”

  “Hardly. I think I fell in love with you that night.”

  It took her a minute to answer. She swallowed another sip of wine, let it swish in her mouth and finally whispered a response. “I think I did too. I just didn’t realize it then.”

  “When did you realize it?”

  “That night in the park. When he hit you. I lost it. You’ve always been angry with me for shooting him. You thought I did something stupid, and maybe I did, but I shot him because I loved you. Because the idea of anyone remotely coming close to killing
you was too much for me to handle.”

  “That’s funny. I seem to remember you coming close to killing me the night before that.”

  “No,” she sat up. “I told you I knew the gun wasn’t loaded.”

  He rolled his eyes and pulled her on top of him. “Okay babe. Whatever you say.”

  “Give me your gun.”

  “Why? Are you going to try and shoot me again?” he laughed and tugged her forward for a kiss, but she pushed away.

  “Just give me your damn gun.”

  He reached down to the ground, fumbling to find where he set it and handed it to her. She wasted no time releasing the magazine and pulled back the slide to shake out the chambered bullet.

  “This was the exact state of your gun that night. It wasn’t just unloaded, there was no magazine at all. Am I right?”

  Brax was timid to agree. “I had the mag in my pocket.”

  Annie replaced the lone bullet and slid the magazine back into the gun. “And this is what a loaded gun feels like. I should know. I’ve been around guns my entire life. My father’s a Republican and huge supporter of the second amendment. I shot my first gun when I was five.”

  Braxton didn’t know whether to be upset or happy. She just admitted to another lie, but at least she was telling the truth now. “Why’d you let me take you out shooting if you already knew how? Why didn’t you just tell me.”

  “I don’t know. You were so excited to teach me and I loved being the one to make you feel that way. I know I got a little carried away with it all, but every time I missed, you were there wrapping your arms around me to show me how it was done.”

  “You want me to hold you all you have to do is say the words.” He sat up and cradled her close.

  “You’re not mad?”

  “No,” he shook his head while their foreheads rested against each other. “I don’t want to be mad at you anymore. I don’t want to fight with you. It’s actually kind of nice you told me. It’s one thing you admitted on your own that I didn’t already know. I like that I got to hear it from you instead of reading it off of a typed up piece of paper.”