“And you loved being the fucking hero, but you’re calling me a pussy?”
More wrestling.
Growling.
Wheezing and panting.
“Enough!” I screamed at my wits end.
They finally did. Through a deep exaggerated breath, Adrian staggered off Cade.
It was only then I realized this wasn’t over.
It was far from over.
“What did that solve other than fuel your fucking egos?” I disappointingly shook my head at both of them. “You want to know the problem between you two! I’ll tell you! You don’t know how to share! I can be both of yours, dickwads!”
Adrian
“You would take his side,” I stated, nodding toward him. “You’ve always taken his side. It shouldn’t surprise me.”
“Adrian, did you even hear what I said?” She stepped in between us. “I’m not taking either of your sides. I’m fucking Switzerland!”
I didn’t pay her any mind. “You want to know what your problem is, Cade?” I adamantly pointed at her. “You loved having her at your beck and call. Even if it meant she had put her life on hold for you. You didn’t give a shit. As long as she obeyed you like a fucking dog.”
“That’s not true.”
“Where’s your wife, Cade? Huh?” I viciously spewed, done with him. Spitting blood on the floor, I stirred the pot. “When’s the last time you spoke to her? Come to think of it, why are you still standing in front of me with your bullshit? Why aren’t you calling her?”
Cade was about to reply, but he stubbornly listened. Grabbing his phone off the counter, he called her.
It went straight to voicemail.
“Awfully convenient,” I added in an eerie tone for good measure.
He placed his hand out in front of him in a surrendering gesture. “Listen, okay?” Hesitating for a moment, he added, “She works in pharmaceutical sales and it’s her busiest time of year. She travels a lot. It’s not unusual for her phone to do that. You know how hotels are. Especially those banquet halls. It’s shitty reception.”
“Where are your kids?”
“With Mom and Dad.”
“Then you better get your story straight. You got till morning to get your wife on the phone.”
I hated that I was giving him that much time, but what other choice did I have. We were talking about his wife. I never had any problems with Hayley.
If she were the one after Paige, why? What was her motive?
Despite being pissed as fuck, I had to give her the benefit of the doubt. It was the only way of putting an end to this.
We slowly backed away from each other and then I made my way over to Charlie to get debriefed. To see if they found any more evidence. When they didn’t have any other leads, I didn’t hesitate to get my ass to the gym. Praying they would have a gym bag. It was the only way I wasn’t going to beat my brother’s face in.
Thank fuck they did.
Throwing off my suit jacket, I slid the sleeves of my collared shirt up my arms. With just my knuckles, I pounded on that bag for I don’t know how long.
Until my hands were sore.
Bloody.
And I couldn’t see straight.
The day flew by with no update from Hayley. Before I knew it, I was laying on the bed, blankly staring at the ceiling of our suite.
Paige soft voice filled the room. “You okay?”
“Define okay?”
I heard the sound of the door shut, followed by her footsteps. Seconds later, the bed dipped beside me. We locked eyes, it was only then I noticed she was holding a first aid kit.
Waving her off, I informed, “I’m fine.”
“Yeah, your hands and face look great. You’ve never looked better.”
“You think right now is the best time to fuck with me, Paige?”
“I haven’t seen you all day. Where were you?”
“I think my knuckles answer that question for you, don’t they?”
She swallowed hard, reluctantly setting the kit on the nightstand.
Gazing back up at the ceiling, I couldn’t help myself and mocked, “I’m surprised you realized I wasn’t around.”
“Wow. So this is how you’re going to play it right now? By pushing me away?”
“You would know. You’re the queen of it.”
She abruptly stood. “That’s not fair.”
I sat up. “You want to talk about what’s not fair? I’ll tell you what’s not fucking fair. The fact that I lost ten years with you for him. That’s what’s not fair, Paige.”
“That was your decision, Adrian.”
“What else was I supposed to do? He’s my brother. I fucking love him. It was you or him. I tried to do the right thing. And look how far that’s gotten me? I’m still fighting for your attention.”
“You think this is easy for me? None of this is simple for me either. I feel like it’s either you or him. I’m back to that nineteen-year-old girl again. I’m reliving this too, Adrian. You think it’s easy for me to hear he thinks I was just one of your whores? When I know that I wasn’t.”