Kept (Bound Book 1)

by Leona Keyoko Pink

  “That’s because you are! Don’t you get it? I don’t care how you wine and dine me. I’m not a fucking object to be had, or a pet to be cared for. I’m a person, Cage, and you’re hurting me! You’re cruel! You’re sadistic and ruthless. You’re a monster! All you do is hurt and destroy. How many people died today because of you and what you do? How many lives have you destroyed?”

  Cage's hands tightened. His fingers turned white as his arms shook. His mouth turned like he was about to speak. But after a moment he exhaled violently and carefully unclenched his hands. Then he sighed and rubbed his forehead. He waved for Autumn to leave. “Enough. You’re boring me. Go now, or I’ll find something constructive for your mouth to do.”

  Autumn glared at Cage. She wanted to snap at him again, but in the end she realized there had been enough violence for one day. With a heavy sigh she turned from Cage, clenching her fists. As she left the room she couldn’t help but think he’d ruined two birthdays in a row.

  She made her way to her room. She wanted to forget all about today. She wanted to curl up in bed and cry herself to sleep, just as she had last year. But when she got to her room she found Penna sitting on her bed with tears in her eyes. Autumn paused for a moment, wondering what had happened.

  She saw the envelope Cage had given Penna. She wondered if he’d done something to upset her. Autumn stumbled forward and went to ask what had happened, but before she could speak Penna shot up from the bed. She quickly rushed over to Autumn, shouting, “OH AUTUMN! OH AUTUMN!”

  Before Autumn could react Penna wrapped her arms around her, lifting her up. She spun Autumn around the room, cheering. “THANK YOU! Thank you so much! Whatever you said or did, thank you!”

  When Penna put Autumn down, she realized Penna’s tears were tears of joy. She had no idea why Penna was thanking her and looked at her, puzzled. “What?”

  Penna smiled at Autumn, hugging her again before she pulled back. She held up the envelope Cage had given her and took out what was inside as she said, “Cage gave me the time off to go see Byron at his graduation!”

  “Oh…really?” said Autumn, surprised. The last time she’d asked Cage if Penna could have the time off, he’d still adamantly said no.

  “Yes! And he gave me a full week off instead of the two days I asked for. He’s also paying for my flight and hotel stay!”

  “Really? Wow.” said Autumn.

  “That’s not all.” said Penna, getting really excited. Her face turned red and she began to jump up and down. “He got Byron a graduation gift! I thought my gift might be the only one. You know, how you helped me pick out that watch? And I wished I could get him something more. Well Cage… Cage…paid Byron’s tuition!”

  “What?” said Autumn, shocked. She knew how much tuition could cost. She had gone to a community college for two years and knew it was going to take her at least decade or two to pay it back. Autumn could only imagine how much it cost to be a doctor, especially at a prestigious school like the one Byron had gotten into.

  “Yes, and he didn’t just pay some of it. He paid it all. All eight years. Byron is now debt free and he’s going to have his doctor's degree. Can you believe it!”

  Penna handed Autumn the envelope Cage had given her before she began to jump and dance around the room. All of it was still sinking in for her as she cheered over and over again. Autumn opened the envelope. She saw the plane tickets in Penna’s name, along with a brochure to an expensive hotel near Byron’s college. There was also a letter showing that Byron’s tuition had been paid. Lastly, Autumn saw a letter in Cage’s personal stationary explaining it all.

  Penna,

  I am grateful for your hard work and service. Please take the following week of Byron’s graduation off. I have purchased two first class tickets to take you there and back, along with a week's stay at the Brenmore Suites. Please wish Byron well, and let him know that his tuition has been paid in full.

  Cage

  Autumn read the letter twice before she put everything back in the envelope. Penna continued to dance for several more minutes before she came back over to Autumn. She hugged her once more before saying calmly, “Thank you so much, Autumn. You have no idea how much this means to Byron and me. Thank you.”

  Autumn didn’t really know what to say. This was beyond what she had asked for, and beyond what she thought Cage was capable of at this point. Here, Autumn had just chewed him out for being a monster. She didn’t know what to say or think about him, so she didn’t.

  Penna put the envelope in her pocket before looking at Autumn. Autumn still had some stuff in her hair, and scuff marks on her skin that had been missed. Penna suggested Autumn have some tea and take a nice bath before laying down. Autumn was too tired to argue with her. She let Penna order her some tea and run a hot bath for her.

  She was sore getting in, and quiet as she drank her tea in the tub. Penna scrubbed her back and washed her hair before helping her dry off. Autumn changed into a pink night gown. The sun had gone down already. She had no idea what time it was as she crawled into bed. She only knew that she was exhausted.

  Today had been a rollercoaster of emotions. So many things had happened in the span of one day, and so many people had lost their lives. Penna turned on some light music before she shut off all the lights. She wished Autumn well and left for her room, which was only a few doors away.

  Autumn laid awake in bed for several minutes thinking about all that had happened. When she closed her eyes she couldn’t help but see the people who had died, and she swore she could still hear screams and gunshots ringing in her ears. She tossed and turned, wrestling with her blankets. She couldn’t help but think that today she was another year older when some would never be.

  Chapter Six

  Things were a bit awkward after that. Autumn realized she should probably say something to Cage about what he’d done for Penna. She considered saying she was sorry, but Autumn didn’t want to apologize to him. Just because he did a few good things every now and then didn’t make up for all the bad things he’d done. She figured she’d say something else, but first she wanted to make sure he kept his promise to Penna.

  Over the next few days Autumn found it hard to sleep at night. She kept having nightmares about the shooting. She tossed and turned as she attempted to come to terms with it. She knew it wasn’t her fault, that there was nothing she could have done. She hadn’t known about her party. She hadn’t known there were people who would want to shoot at her and the others. Yet Autumn felt responsible because it was her birthday party and they had all been caught off guard watching her blow out the candles on her cake.

  Cage ended up having a doctor look her over. He gave her a few sleeping pills and after a few days she was able to get back to her normal routine. The week leading up to Penna leaving was sad. Every day Penna talked about how excited she was and Autumn did her best not to show how depressed she was. She wanted to be happy for her friend and didn’t want to be selfish. She told herself it was only going to be a week and a week was no time at all.

  Still, every time Penna talked about it Autumn couldn’t help but feel more and more sad. A few days before Penna left she showed Autumn the watch she had bought Byron. Months ago the two had picked it out of a magazine. It was a pocket watch. While it was rather fancy, it wasn't too expensive. Penna told Autumn she was going to give Byron the watch before she told him his loans were paid off. She knew once she told him he was debt free nothing else was going to matter.

  The day before Penna left she told Autumn she spoke to Byron on the phone and he told her he’d been accepted at the hospital he wanted to do his residency at. It reminded Autumn of Curtis. She had told Penna about Curtis, but she hadn’t told her he’d been a doctor, or that right before he died he too had chosen a residency. It made Autumn really sad and she was on the verge of tears but she held it in.

  She held it in as Penna packed and wished her a good night. She held it in as Penna went to the elevators and left for her flig
ht. But once Penna was gone she let it all go. She went to her room and collapsed in her bed. She cried herself to sleep as she thought about Curtis and being without Penna for an entire week.

  The next morning she was woken by one of the bodyguards. He knocked on the door and told her breakfast was in ten minutes. Autumn wanted to stay in bed. She wanted to refuse to do anything. But she had made a promise. She had told Cage she would be good while Penna was away. So she got up and got dressed. She did what she was supposed to.

  The first few days weren’t fun but she got through them. For each of her classes the bodyguard that was usually with her and Penna came to get her. She did her best to focus on what she was learning and wondered if Penna was having a good time. Cage was busy, and gone from the tower for a few days. She ate her meals alone and couldn’t help but feel lonely.

  Five days after Penna had been gone Cage returned and they had dinner together. Autumn was surprised by how nice she found it to eat with someone. The staff were often around but they weren’t allowed to talk to her casually. While Cage wasn’t the best company, he was still company that could talk to her.

  She figured she could also thank him for Penna and get it over with. While they were eating their stir fry, Autumn broke the silence of the room. She cleared her throat and simply said, “Thank you.”

  “Hmm?” said Cage. He seemed to be lost in thought. That, or maybe he just wanted to hear her say it again. In the end it didn’t matter if she had to say it a few dozen times. It would be worth it after everything he’d done.

  Autumn cleared her throat once more before she spoke louder. “Thank you for Penna.”

  Cage paused for a moment, pulling back from the table. He chewed his food and looked at her as if he was surprised she was capable of saying thank you. When he finished chewing his food, he swallowed. He drank some wine and then he cleared his throat and said, “You’re welcome.”

  Cage went back to eating his food. Autumn watched him for a few minutes. She couldn’t help but wonder what kind of man he was. She knew what kind of monster he was, but she knew so little about who he really was. When he wasn’t leading a criminal organization or being her prison warden, just who was Cage Zisgani?

  She wondered how he had been raised. How he had become what he’d become? She did her best to humanize him. Maybe if he had some tragic background, some secret past that made him a monster, she could find some depth to him. Some pity for his soul. She decided to take a moment to actually get to know him and asked, “What was your childhood like?”

  Cage didn’t answer and several minutes passed as he ate. Autumn bit her lip and wondered if he hadn’t heard her, but before she asked again he said, “Like any other.”

  Autumn didn’t think that was much of an answer. He picked up his wine and the candlelight glinted off his rings. He seemed to wear a few on each hand. One on his thumb, and one on every other finger. He had a rather ornate one on his ringer finger and she had wondered once or twice if it was a wedding ring. Surely not. Surely if he was married he wouldn't be messing around with her, or the other women she’d heard about. But she thought to ask anyway. “Are you married?”

  “Does it matter?” asked Cage. He took a moment to pick something out of his teeth and Autumn took a sip of her wine before she said.“It does. I mean if you are…you shouldn’t be…well, you know.”

  “Maybe I just like rings.” said Cage. “And I wear a lot of them because I like the marks they leave on faces.”

  “Oh.” said Autumn. She picked at her food for a bit and ate some more before she thought of what other questions to ask but it usually always came back to the same one. “Why did you have to kill him?”

  Cage sighed. He'd been expecting this. Whenever they talked civilly long enough, it always came back to why Cage had killed Curtis. Cage finished off his wine before pouring himself another glass. When it was full once more he said, “Why do you always have to ask so many damn questions?”

  “I ask because I want to know why! I need to know why!”

  “I’m eating my dinner, Autumn. If you’re not eating then sit silently or retire for the evening.” said Cage with an expressionless face.

  Autumn sighed and had some wine. As she sat at the table she thought about walking away and doing something else, but she stayed. She knew there was nowhere else to go. There was never anywhere else to go to but her rooms. If only she could leave this place, if only she could go somewhere, even if it was just for a little while…

  Autumn took a moment to think about it. She wondered what would happen if she asked to go out every now and then. Would he let her? After all, she’d asked if Penna could have some time off and he gave it to her. Maybe if she asked really nicely for other places to go, he'd consider it. Maybe he'd let her go outside the tower every now and then. Even if it was only for a little while, it was still something.

  Autumn bit her lower lip and stared at Cage for a few minutes before she asked, “If there was something I wanted, something I needed, could I ask?”

  Cage groaned, dropping his fork. He broke some bread and said, “What! What do you want now?”

  “I would like to go out.”

  “Out.” repeated Cage.

  “Yes, like my birthday. When Penna and I got to go through the park. Before…the gunfire. I…I liked that. I liked getting to go out with her.”

  “I take you places.” said Cage, annoyed.

  “I know, but I want to go other places. Without you. I…I need more than just this place.” Autumn wanted to say more than just you, but she stopped herself. “I mean, if I have to say here, if I have to be…with you…I need some allowances.”

  Cage laughed. shaking his head. He muttered to himself. “Allowances… allowances…” He drank some wine before he turned to her and said, “What allowances haven’t I given you? I’ve bent over backwards to give you what you want. I’ve changed my entire life and my home to fit your needs. Can’t we ever just have a nice meal where you don’t always want something more?”

  “I’m sorry.” said Autumn, feeling depressed. The last thing she wanted to do was upset him right now. Not after what he‘d done for Penna. “I’ve asked for too much. Just forget about it.”

  Cage sighed deeply but didn’t say anything. The two finished their dinner in silence. When Cage excused Autumn, she left without a word back to her rooms. Cage sat there for a few minutes cleaning his teeth before he got up. He walked around a bit, hearing Autumn play the piano. He listened for a few minutes before he went to his office. He did some work for an hour or two before he poured himself some bourbon.

  He dimmed the lights in his office and sat in the dark. He watched Autumn on the monitors as she slowly got ready for bed. He wrestled with himself over what to do. He knew he couldn’t keep Autumn caged up forever. The classes he had her taking were keeping her mind active and her body healthy, but they alone were not enough.

  He knew she needed more, but there were still so many dangers she was unprepared for. He was still far from being able to trust her to go out and come back on her own. She just didn’t understand yet, not that he could blame her for that. He’d sheltered her from so much. If she did go out she would need others to go with her. Even then, he did not enjoy the thought of her being outside these protective walls. Even if she had a army with her.

  He was still haunted by the time she was taken from him. He had only been gone for a few minutes and that was all it had taken for him to almost lose her forever. The Trigauz mercenary group could have tortured her. They could have killed her and there was nothing he could have done about it. From the moment he’d lost her she was all he could think of until the moment he got her back.

  When he’d gotten her back in his arms, he'd sworn he’d never let anyone hurt her again. But he knew he couldn’t keep that promise. She’d been shot at, at her birthday party. And he knew no one could be protected forever. You lived your life and gave it your all until you didn’t, and that was how things had to be
.

  Since he was a child Cage had known death and destruction. He’d been sworn to obey the laws of his upbringing, and he understood how the world worked. He knew what part those around him played. He knew there were very few certainties in life except that everyone died.

  The thought had always seemed depressing to him. At times everything had seemed pointless, but Autumn had made things matter. In his world that was weakness and he knew it. He knew he should rid himself of her, especially after all the trouble he’d gotten into, but he just couldn’t do it. She had been a beacon of light in his miserable, hard existence. It was true she was a pain in his ass, but she was his pain to have.

  Cage had taken care of the rest of the Trigauz. They would no longer be any harm to her. The Fayngin organization was a problem, but they were being dealt with. Either way, there was always going to be some danger out there. Cage knew he couldn’t keep her locked up forever. He raised his glass and took a sip. He enjoyed the flavor, the sensation of the bourbon. In many ways, Autumn was like a bourbon.

  The longer he kept her locked within his organization, the more she would absorb the flavors of the kind of people who worked for him. And he couldn’t have that happen. No. Of course, he wasn’t going to just let her go anywhere whenever she wanted. Like everything, it would need to be controlled as much as it possibly could. He would need a test run first, to see how she would handle the experience. Cage nodded to himself as he thought trust had to be earned.

  All he needed to do was to decide where to send her. He’d need some place nearby. Some place he owned. Cage tapped his fingers on his desk as he thought it over. Surely she would want to go shopping. What woman didn’t like to shop? Cage smiled as he thought of the small shopping center he owned not far from here. It would be a good distraction for her. He, himself needed some distraction, while she was out. Cage leaned back in his chair. He smiled to himself, finishing his bourbon as he thought of just what forms his distraction would take.