I'll get him to listen to me. And if he throws a punch I can handle him. Just because I didn't grow up in a difficult neighborhood doesn't mean I don't know how to defend myself."
Nibbling her bottom lip nervously she reached up and ran her fingers through her tangled wild mass of hair. She didn't want to argue with me. I could see it in her worried expression. I stood up then bent over and slipped my finger under her chin tilting her face up to look at me.
"Trust me," I pleaded then pressed my lips against hers before straightening up and leaving the room. Hopefully she'd be in the shower when Cage got home. I'd prefer her not to be here when I talked to him.
Willow
I desperately needed a shower but I needed to be dressed and ready when Cage walked in the door. Picking up my phone to check the time I knew he'd be here soon. Cage wasn't one to hang around the morning after.
Opening my suitcase I grabbed a pair of shorts and my vintage Guns & Roses 1987 Banned Rape t-shirt. I had a thing for vintage concert t-shirts. Whenever I came across one at a thrift store I'd get all giddy. This one wasn't a thrift store find though. It was one Cage had bought for me off Ebay for my birthday last year. I wanted to help ease his anger. I figured my wearing this shirt might help. I quickly brushed my hair then pulled it to the side and braided it.
Until I could wash it, this would have to do.
The moment I opened the bedroom door I heard the key jingle in the lock. My nerves hit an all time high as the door swung open and in sauntered Cage looking incredibly hung over. His eyes met mine and he started to grin but the grin fell almost immediately. I was standing in Marcus's doorway. It wasn't a detail Cage had missed.
"Good morning Cage," I said forcing a smile. His bloodshot eyes shifted from me and found Marcus walking out of the kitchen with my cup of coffee.
"Morning," Marcus nodded to Cage as he passed him and brought me my coffee. I quickly took it from his hands, for fear Cage may suddenly lung at Marcus and burn him with my coffee. I kept my eyes on Cage. If he made any sudden moves I was going to stop him.
"Low, what the f**k?"
I cringed at the angry growl in his tone.
Stepping past Marcus I placed myself in front of him knowing Cage wouldn't hurt me to get to him.
"Cage you and I need to talk. Please, don't do anything drastic. I'll leave if you force me to." The hurt that flashed in his blue eyes stung. I didn't like hurting him. Other than Larissa, Cage was the only other person I'd ever loved. Hurting Cage was like hurting myself.
His throat constricted and his angry glare flashed at Marcus.
"You couldn't stay out of her damn panties could you Marcus? I warned you she was mine."
Marcus tensed behind me and started to move and I followed him. I was not letting him get near Cage without me as a buffer. His hands clasped my shoulders. I waited for him to try to move me but he didn't.
"I haven't been in her panties Cage. You know Low better than that. Watch what you say."
Cage took a step toward us and his fist clenched and unclenched reflexively his eyes never leaving Marcus.
"You don't f**king KNOW her! You're a damn pretty boy with his daddy's money. You'll use her and walk away. She can't handle that. Why couldn't you have just backed the helloff like I warned you?"
Marcus moved me to the side this time.
"You know nothing about me. From the moment I graduated from high school I haven't used one red cent of my father's money. I make my own way. And I would never hurt her. You expect her to sit by and wait on you to stop screwing your way through the damn State of Alabama. That's insane and selfish Cage. If you care about her at all you'll let her make her own choices."
Marcus never yelled but his voice was hard and at times lethal sounding. I sat my cup down on the table and prepared to jump between them if Cage made any sudden moves.
"I take care of her. Ask her! I've never let her down. I'm the one who has dried her tears and picked up the pieces when her sorry ass sister continues to break her heart.
Since she was a little girl it has been ME whose helped her through everything. So don't tell me how to show her I love her. Don't you dare tell me I'm f**king selfish." Marcus sighed and shook his head. I knew he didn't understand Cage's perspective. But I did.
"I get that you've always been the one there for her. I do. But you have a life Cage. You go out with girls all the time. Why do you expect Low to just sit and wait on you? Why can't she make her own choices?"
Cage's angry glare finally left Marcus and his focus shifted to me. The betrayal in his eyes almost undid me. The snarl left his face and a concerned frown took its place.
"Is this what you want baby?"
I nodded feeling the tears fill my eyes.
"Okay. If you want to do this thing with Marcus then fine. I'll take it and deal with it. But when he hurts you. When he lets you down, I'll be here. My arms are always open for you to run into. I want you happy and if you think this ass**le will make you happy then fine. You need to live a little too. I can't protect you from everything," his gaze shifted back to Marcus, "but I can be here to hold you when he breaks your heart."
Marcus may not like it but I didn't care. Cage was going to accept this. He really would do anything to make me happy.
I went to him and hugged him tightly.
"Thank you," I whispered in his ear.
His forehead touched my shoulder and he squeezed me tightly. "If he hurts you I'll kill him," his words were for my ears only. I didn't doubt him but I knew Marcus would never hurt me. He was one of the good guys.
"He won't," I assured him.
Cage let out a sigh and kissed my temple, "Yes baby, he will."