Boxed Set: Traitorous Heart Volumes 1-6 (The Traitorous Heart Series)

by Wilde, Breena

  “He talked and cried about how much he missed Katie, about how he wanted her back and that his life wouldn’t be the same without her.”

  I snorted again. From the bits I’d dug up on him one thing was certain, my life would’ve been jacked up with him as my husband. And if we’d added children into the mix? Good god. It killed me to think about it.

  “I listened for a long time and then excused myself to the bathroom,” Birdy was saying.

  Cage picked up his pen. “And how long were you in the bathroom?”

  CHAPTER 5

  Katie

  Birdy shrugged. “I don’t know. I peed, washed my hands, checked my makeup in the mirror, and may have snooped a little.”

  Cage lifted an eyebrow. “What? Like opening cupboards and drawers?”

  “Yep, exactly that,” Birdy admitted, having the good sense to blush.

  “And did you find anything interesting?”

  It dawned on me that never once had I snooped. In fact, I rarely went up to his apartment. We mostly met at restaurants or my place.

  She shrugged. “The usual. Shaving stuff. Razors. Condoms.”

  That surprised me. Hurt, too. It was obvious he was having sex. It just wasn’t with me. Maybe there was something wrong with me.

  “I see.” Cage jotted something on his paper.

  Birdy went on. “I thought I heard a thud, like he’d fallen off the bed or something. He’d been drinking, so—”

  “Wait, he’d been drinking,” Cage interrupted. “This is the first I’m hearing about it. How much had he had to drink? Were you drinking?”

  “He was drinking beer. I don’t know how many he’d had, but while I was there he drank three.”

  “Okay. And you, how many did you drink?”

  Birdy wrinkled her nose. “I don’t like beer. Plus I intended to go out after Reid and I talked. I didn’t drink anything.”

  Cage wrote on his pad: Birdy sober. Reid drinking (at least three beers). Then he looked up. “So you heard a thud?”

  She nodded and I could tell she was upset by what she’d seen. “I also heard his doorbell ring and footsteps. I figured Reid got up and went to the door. When I came out of the bathroom Reid was gone. I walked out of the bedroom and called his name. ’Reid? Who’s at the door?’ When I rounded the corner I saw Brian kneeling over Reid.” She let out a sob. “Reid was on the floor.”

  “Who the fu—Who’s Brian?”

  I didn’t say anything, knowing Brian was Crushed Velvet’s drummer.

  Birdy glanced at me.

  “Go on. Tell him,” I said.

  “Brian is this guy I met… actually knew from high school, even though I didn’t recognize him at first.”

  She pressed her hand against the glass. “I hadn’t seen him or Griffin in eight years. I swear I didn’t know who they were at first.”

  I placed my hand against the glass where hers was. Her fingers were longer. “I figured. It’s okay. Don’t worry about me. Tell Cage everything so we can get you out of here. We’ll talk another time.”

  She smiled sadly. “’Kay.”

  Cage let out a heavy breath. “Brian?”

  “He’s a guy I met at The Attic the other night.. We’ve been seeing each other a couple of weeks.”

  “But you knew him in high school?”

  “Yeah, I knew him and Reid in high school.”

  “And this guy, Griffin?” Cage glanced at me when he said his name. I forced myself to keep a straight face, but swallowed hard. I didn’t know how to answer the question. I felt more in the dark than ever.

  Birdy answered. “I also knew him in high school. We hung in the same circle of friends.”

  “And he and Griffin were at The Attic the other night.” Cage took a roll of Wint-O-Green lifesavers from his suit pocket and popped one in his mouth. He offered one to me, but I shook my head.

  “Yes, and Reid,” Birdy said.

  Cage shook his head. “Anyone else?”

  “I was there too,” I chimed in.

  “Fuck,” Cage whispered, scratching out something on his pad. “This is going to take a while and it might be better if you weren’t here for the rest of it.”

  “No, don’t send Katie away. I-I need her.”

  Cage shook his head. “Right now you need me.” He scowled. “I’m the one who’s handling your case, unless you’d rather Dandelion here instead.” He rubbed the back of his neck, his features contorted like he’d just swallowed something nasty.

  “I think she’d do an excellent—”

  I shook my head. She needed someone other than me. I’d just graduated.

  “Why did my father send you?” Birdy asked, changing the subject.

  “He figured he was too close to the case, but I’ll be going over everything with him.”

  “Always the professional,” she spat.

  “Exactly,” Cage agreed. “He wants you free as soon as possible and so do I, but the evidence doesn’t help.” He shot another lethal glare my direction. “So I need you to stop worrying about those on this side of the glass.” He slammed his open hand against his yellow pad of paper. Birdy and I jumped. “And start thinking about yourself.”

  “Fine. Yeah, okay. But Katie has to stay, too.”

  Cage’s jaw flexed as he ground his teeth together. “Fine. Continue.”

  “I told Brian I was going to Reid’s. I didn’t realize he knew where Reid lived.” She shook her head. “He was leaning over Reid. A gun on the floor beside him and Reid. There was blood everywhere. I asked Brian what he’d done.” She let out a ragged breath before continuing. “He said he’d found Reid, that he hadn’t touched him. There was a pillow over Reid’s head. Without thinking, I knelt beside Reid and moved the pillow.” Her mouth opened like she was going to say more or let out a scream but nothing came.

  Cage’s eyes softened. “Go on.”

  “There was a hole between his eyes. They were open. Staring blankly at nothing.” She covered her face with her hands and kept talking, her words muffled but understandable. “Brian came over and hugged me. He asked if I’d done it. I told him no. He said we needed to call the police. He pulled out his phone and dialed. I didn’t move, just stared at Reid while Brian spoke. When he hung up, I noticed some of Reid’s blood was touching my knees.” She let out a sob. “His blood was on me.” She looked up, her eyes in my direction, but she didn’t see me. Her eyes were haunted, faraway, as she remembered.

  I wanted to reach out and hug Birdy. There was horror on her face. Terror. Her fear permeated the glass and hit me hard.

  “Birdy, I’m so sorry,” I whispered.

  Cage glanced over. “I know this is hard, but I need as many details as you can remember.”

  “I jumped up, my only thought was to get his blood off me. I ran to the kitchen, took a towel, and tried to rub it off, but some got on my hands.” Birdy shook as the sobs racked her body. “It wouldn’t come off.” She crossed her hands over her chest and rocked back and forth. “The next thing I remember is that the police are there and they’re asking me questions. I hear them asking Brian questions, too. They were going to book him until they called in the serial number on the gun and found out it was registered to me. They let Brian go and arrested me.” Her troubled eyes come back to the present. “But I didn’t do it. I swear.”

  Cage wrote furiously, trying to keep up. “I believe you,” he said.

  “I believe you too,” I whispered.

  “Why do you have a gun?” Cage asked.

  “My father gave it to me for high school graduation.” She took a deep breath and wiped her eyes, leaving a streak of mascara on her cheek. “Most kids get a car. I got a gun.”

  Cage shook his head. “Most kids are lucky if they get a hundred bucks, but whatever.”

  “Anyway, my dad thought it would be a good idea. He made me take a class on gun safety and made me promise to go to the shooting range at least once a week. He figured he was keeping me safe…” Her words trailed
off. “I used it, but only at the shooting range.“

  “And when was the last time you used the gun?”

  “A few days ago.” She shrugged. “I’m sure there’s a record. I have to check in.”

  “What’s the name of the shooting range?”

  “Woodhills on 20th.”

  He nodded. “I know the place.” He wrote down the name. I mentally did as well.

  “Anything else you want to tell me?” Cage glanced at his watch.

  “I don’t think so,” Birdy said, shaking her head.

  “’Kay, I’m going to get the police report, follow up on a few things on my end, and I’ll see you at the arraignment tomorrow morning.” He shoved the paper and pen in his briefcase, snapped it shut, and stood.

  I stood too. “That’s it?”

  “For now. Are you going to get her some clothes for tomorrow, or should I send someone to do it?”

  “I’ll handle it, of course.” You son-of-a-bitch.

  “Excellent.” He stuck out his hand. “It was nice meeting you, Dandelion. I have a feeling I’ll be seeing you a lot more over the next few weeks.”

  “You got that right.”

  Cage smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Pam—er, Birdy, I’ll see you tomorrow.” He opened the door and walked out.

  “I’ll be back later with your clothes, ’kay?” Birdy stood. “Love you,” I said.

  “Love you too.”

  CHAPTER 6

  Katie

  After I got my driver’s license back from the plump policeman, I ran after Cage. It was a crisp October morning; the air was chilly, especially in the shade, and smelled like fresh-baked bread and cigarette smoke.

  Cage was a little ways down the street on his cell. A long black limo turned onto 21st and pulled up in front of Cage. He didn’t wait for the driver to open the door, just got in.

  I wasn’t done talking to Cage. The man was cold-hearted and rude. He needed to be more considerate of Birdy’s feelings and I was just the woman to set him straight. I made a rash decision.

  I ran over to the limo, pulled on the door handle, and slid inside.

  “What the hell?”

  I faced Cage. “Listen, you need to not be so rude to Birdy. She’s sweet, tender-hearted, caring, and—”

  “I get it.” He hung up his phone and slid it into his pocket. I noticed he seemed more relaxed. He flipped down the TV screen and used a remote to flip the channel to Sports Center. “You ever seen a Rangers game?”

  “No.” I shook my head. “But listen. Birdy didn’t kill Reid.” Even though I didn’t have any kind of proof and she looked guilty, none of that mattered. I knew Birdy and if she said she didn’t do it, then she didn’t do it.

  “Of course not,” he uttered, placing ice in a glass.

  Drinking? Already? It wasn’t even ten in the morning. “Seriously?” I asked.

  He smirked, opening the small refrigerator and pulling out a container of orange juice. I still wasn’t convinced. He could be adding vodka or schnapps. It wasn’t unheard of. Hell, I’d seen Birdy’s dad drink vodka straight right before he was due in court.

  But Cage didn’t. He filled his glass with only orange juice, put the container back, and took a drink. “Where do you get off judging me?” he asked when the glass was half empty.

  I shrugged.

  “Take me to 3 Gramercy Park West,” Cage told the driver.

  “That’s Reid’s apartment.”

  “I know. I have the police report and Birdy’s information. Now I want to see the apartment for myself.”

  “Is that something you normally do?” I stared out the window, watching as we turned off 21st and into traffic.

  “It’s something I normally do, yes. Most lawyers don’t, but then I’m not most lawyers.”

  “So you like to get down and dirty.”

  He gave me a sultry look.

  I blushed, realizing what I’d just said.

  Cage chuckled. “Yes, I suppose I do.”

  There was an awkward silence. A cheer came from the TV screen. I glanced at it. Some guy stood up on the ice. His face was covered in blood. “Nash. Bout time you started doing your job.” Cage took another sip of orange juice.

  “Hockey, huh?”

  “Is there anything else?”

  “Let’s see. There’s football, basketball, baseball… yeah, a few other things.” I smirked.

  He chuckled, polished off his juice, then pulled the rest out of the fridge. I hadn’t eaten yet this morning and my stomach growled in complaint.

  “You hungry?”

  I crossed my hands over my stomach. “A little.” The thing was, I was hungry but I didn’t think I could eat. I was too worried about Birdy, my stomach in knots over what happened to Reid.

  Cage pressed a button.

  “Yes, Mr. Devereux?”

  “Can you stop at Gaston’s Bakery?”

  “Of course, Mr. Devereux.”

  Cage released the button. “There. We’ll get you fed.”

  “That’s not necessary. Although I would like to go into Reid’s apartment with you, if that’s all right?”

  He regarded me a few moments until I started to squirm. “What are you doing?”

  The twelve year old in me wanted to say, Take a picture it lasts longer, but I resisted.

  “You seem to really care about Birdy. And I’ve read your file. I know you graduated top of your class from Harvard. Why don’t you have a job yet?”

  Well wasn’t that the two million dollar question. “I haven’t found the right place yet,” I finally replied.

  “I see. Where have you applied? And excuse my French, but why the fuck haven’t you applied at the firm where I work? You’re obviously tight with Birdy. I’m sure you could get a job there regardless of your credentials.”

  I cleared my throat. I didn’t need to explain myself to him. It was none of his damn business.

  “I’m waiting.” He crossed one leg over the other, the picture of a confident man who always got what he wanted.

  “I don’t want to work for Birdy’s dad. I-I…” I wiped away some nonexistent dust from my pants.

  “You what? Don’t want to be a lawyer?”

  I glared. Upset he was making me voice the truth. “I don’t want to get a job based on who I know. I want a job based on my merit.”

  He snorted. “You’re naïve. There are a thousand hungry lawyers vying for a job right now. Merit doesn’t mean shit. In this business,” he paused and shook his head. “In any business it’s who you know over what you know. It’s a fact. That you know Jonathon Bird is huge. Most guys would give their left nut to have the in you do. Use it, for God’s sake.”

  The limo pulled out of traffic and in front of Gaston’s Bakery. I’d eaten a pastry from here once and still remembered how delicious it was. There was a line outside the store and down the block.

  “Mr. Devereux, did you want me to go in?”

  “No, thank you, Emmett. I’ll do it.” Cage gave me a hard look. “Think about what I’ve said.” He got out. I watched him walk past the line. The smell of sugar and cinnamon permeated the air, making my mouth water. I really was hungry. Griffin and I had burned a lot of calories last night.

  One of Gaston’s employees saw Cage coming and held the door open for him. He patted the kid on the shoulder, obviously thanking him, and walked in.

  Some guy was talking about the Rangers game. I blocked him out and thought about what Cage had said. Would it be better to get a job I didn’t deserve because I knew Birdy’s dad? It seemed unfair, but maybe that wasn’t the way to look at it. I hadn’t sought out Birdy and become friends with her to get ahead. She wasn’t like a sister to me so that I could use her as a means to get to her father. I loved her and always would. It didn’t matter if I never became a lawyer. Maybe I should submit my resume. At least that part of my life plan could continue. Right?

  Cage came out of the bakery holding a white box tied with brown string. Seve
ral of those in line gave him dirty looks. Cage ignored them and got in the limo. The aroma that immediately filled the air nearly made me cry. It smelled so good my mouth began to water.

  He seemed to notice. “Want one?” He opened the box and pulled out a lobster claw. It was covered with a thin layer of sugar.

  “Yes,” I said, taking it from his outstretched hand.

  Cage knocked on the window between the back and front. It came down. “Take one,” Cage insisted.

  “Thank you, Mr. Devereux,” the driver said, pulling a claw from the box.

  “Of course. And as soon as you can, let’s get to that address I gave you.”

  “Right away.” I watched the driver shove half the lobster claw in his mouth. Then he put the limo in drive and eased into traffic. Cage took one for himself, taking a bite.

  I took a bite of mine and nearly cried. The pastry melted in my mouth. It was so soft, yet crisp. Gaston’s really had the best pastries.

  We ate in silence. Cage ate three and offered me another, which I declined. He let the driver have it.

  When we pulled in front of Reid’s apartment building, Cage climbed out first and then stuck out his hand to help me.

  “Thank you,” I said.

  He laughed, wiping a chunk of sugar from the side of my mouth with his thumb.

  “How embarrassing.” I looked away.

  “You mean delicious, don’t you?” He stuck his thumb in his mouth and sucked. It was as though his mouth was elsewhere, and a shot of desire pulsed between my thighs. He walked toward the apartment doors. I stayed behind, taking a deep breath. Fucking lost my mind.

  Flinging my purse onto my shoulder, I followed Cage. He was already speaking to the doorman. The guy in the green and gold suit was a few inches taller than Cage, maybe six foot four but a lot wider. He reminded me of a freezer.

  “Have you seen this woman?” In one hand was a picture of Birdy.

  The doorman took the photo. “You cops?”

  “No,” Cage said. “Worse, I’m this woman’s attorney.” He pointed at the picture. “And this is her best friend, Katie.” Cage indicated me.

  “Hi,” I said, shocked Cage hadn’t called me Dandelion.