Little Bird (Caged #1) (12 page)

Fuck. 

"I really don't think this is a conversation for young ears, Megs." I try to muster up a grin but it falls flat. "I'd love a sandwich though. My stomach's pretty damn empty." I pat my stomach and attempt to smile again but it doesn't work. I think my charm has officially been ruined. 

Shit. 

With her arms folded across her chest she walks toward me looking like she might pull a knife.

"You were going to kill him, Lucas, now you're worried he shouldn't hear our conversation?" she says quietly. "You on anything?" She aggressively pulls at my belt loop to see my bandaged hip then looks into my eyes. "Pain pills? I have stuff."

"I'm fine," I grit.

I was fine, at least until she pulled on my pants and sent searing pain into my side.

"I don't need pain pills." 

"Well aren't you tough?" Her eyes roll. "If you want, I can take a look at it? Stitch you up? Just come in."

"I said I'm fine, dammit. I'm a pro at stitching shit up. If you haven't noticed, your neck isn't scarring near as bad as—" I stop myself before mentioning any of her other scars because judging by her expression, that was the wrong thing to say.

Her hand instinctively goes to the scar on her cheek she has covered in makeup and she clears her throat turning her head.

"Yeah, okay. Thanks again."

She's so self-conscious about that scar; each time I see it I wonder if Jasper gave it to her. I'm sure he did, and I'm sure she'll never tell me, but I can't help but try. 

"So sword fight? Light saber battle? How'd you get that anyway?" Apparently I haven't lost the charm as a small smirk hits her lips and she shakes her head, not answering my question.

I reach out and touch her cheek, right along the jagged ridge, and fury starts building inside me over the fact that he did this to her.

"It doesn't define you. Whoever did this to you... that doesn't mean you deserved it." 

"I wear my scars with honor." The smile that makes her look like a twenty-something year old girl is gone, replaced by the hardness that makes her look like a tired, empty woman. "If they make you uncomfortable, by all means, stick to the models you're used to." 

I bark out a harsh laugh. "You really know nothing about me, do you, Megan? I'm kind of hurt you think that a little scar would turn me away from how beautiful you are. You should see this nasty scar I'm going to have from this badass chick. Hurts like a bitch, but the scar is going to be fucking amazing. That turn you off?" 

She wants to smile, it's there, but she just looks so damn tired today.

"I know what I need to know about you, Lucas." She steps toward me and lowering her voice says, "How well you perform in bed and that you're a piece of shit working for Jasper. That's all I need to know about you." She turns immediately and starts heading back toward her house, but she doesn't make it far before my hand wraps around her forearm.

The force of my hand twists her so I can pull her straight back to me, her face so close I can feel her breath on my chin as she glares up at me. 

"I thought I told you that you know nothing about me? Why don't you give me a chance, Megan? This could be perfect between us." With her body pushed to mine, I tuck a stray hair behind her ear and stare into those pale blue eyes as she glares at me, probably planning my murder. "I'm giving the cold hearted she-devil a chance. Why not give this suave sexy fucker a chance?" Before I let her respond, I slam my lips to hers, bringing my hand to the back of her head and holding her there, deepening the kiss when her body melts to mine.

When a moan slips, she pushes me back and frantically glances around. "Are you insane? Do you even know who you work for? Do you realize what I am to him? You want a fucking chance? I don't have chances to give. You don't want to tell me what the fuck you're doing for Jasper, I will never give a chance to someone I don't trust. I haven't trusted someone since I was eighteen, Luke. A long fucking time ago. And that ended with this." She points to her cheek.

"Birdie!" Bronson screams from the front door and she quickly spins seeing he's holding her bird.

She gasps and runs for the thing like it's irreplaceable. Fucking birds. Any woman that loves birds like she does should send up a red flag she's nuts. But I can't seem to care.

I follow her in, watching her fawn over this damn bird. Bronson is no better either. It's like these people were raised to think of birds like... Like a fucking god. I wonder if they've ever seen a cat? Maybe I should get her a cat then see what happens to that poor little bird. Probably not though. I'm allergic to cats. I think at least. Every time I'm around one I want to murder it. That's a good enough allergic reaction, right? 

"So you've been letting this thing out of his cage more?" I smile a fucking genuine smile at this innocent kid playing with the bird on the floor. A real goddamned smile.

How the fuck can I not get one for Megan but that motherfucker just creeps up when watching an innocent kid play without a worry in the world. 

"It's a girl, Luke." She huffs like I'm a stupid motherfucker for not knowing the sex of this stupid bird. "Oh, and..." Her eyes narrow and my vision shoots to her hands, waiting for her to throw a knife at me or something. "Come look at this." She stomps to her bedroom and I glance at the kid then toward her room, then the kid again. I guess if she can be quiet... When I walk in, she's pointing to her wall where I inserted my fist the day before. "You're fucking fixing it," she growls, severely pissed about the broken plaster, and slams into me as she heads for the exit.

Blocking her way, I smile when her anger rises from not being let out. 

"Are you ever going to stop hating me?" I grin, still on edge and unable to let my guard down even though I know of about four different places in this room that she's hiding murder weapons.

I probably shouldn't let my guard down around her even if she didn't hate me. She is psycho. 

"Are you ever going to tell me what the fuck you're doing for Jasper?" Her eyes narrow and I open my mouth but only inhale a breath before looking away. "And this is another reason on the long list of why I can't stand you."

"You of all people should know it's not as cut and dry like that, Megs. Jasper isn't like a typical employer." What am I going to tell her? The truth about all of this? The who, why, and how I'm here isn't an option.

The realization of the shithole I've dug for myself almost knocks the wind out of me. It's going to come down to why I'm here and I'm going to have to get rid of her. Somehow. If she's fucking over the business, I shouldn't have a problem ending her. If she's not, and Vince was just fucking with us, he's the dead man. But I think Megan already knows too much, even if she doesn't realize it. 

Shit. 

"I know you were sent for me, Luke," she whispers and her hands gently rest on my chest. Narrowing my eyes I look into her face unable to tell if she's trying to play me. "If it were for the Milkeys, I would have known Jasper had an issue with them. What does he want from me?"

"Sweetheart." I chuckle. "If I were sent for you, you'd be dead already. I don't waste any time finishing my jobs." My eyes narrow at her, still trying to decide if she's bluffing or not. 

"Did you see my body? When we fucked, did you see the scars covering my body?"

I glance away in confusion but simply nod because I don't know where this setup is going.

"If Jasper only wanted me dead, he would have done it a long time ago. I've figured out you're his hit man in this area, I just can't figure out why he's having you babysit me. Whatever he's making you look for, Lucas." She shrugs and removes her hands from my chest, taking a step back. "There's nothing you'll find. I'm as honest as you can be in this business. That boy out there is the first thing I've done to betray Jasper and only because he doesn't have a reason for that kill."

"I know. That's why that boy is sitting in your living room and not in the—" She holds up her hand, stopping me in my tracks. 

"Don't. I don't need the fucking details." 

"All I'm saying is that I think we both know Jasper in a different light than each other. Obviously your personally close to him, and I respect that. I, on the other hand, do my job and go home at the end of the night. That's it. It's just a job to a very powerful man." And anything else I say to her will be too much. 

Biting her bottom lip she chuckles and drops her eyes. "You're good at this." She nods before looking me in the eyes. "You find a way to get around every direct accusation or question. Don't think for a second I don't realize you're avoiding the truth. And don't think for a second I trust you. Also." She steps closer. "Don't believe a word Jasper tells you about me. The monster you know is a weak man I'll break." She walks around me and out of the bedroom.

I hate hearing those words. She can't get to Jasper. And even if she did, he's twice her size. She'll never make it when put up against him or any of the men that he keeps around him for protection. I sincerely hope she's not planning this, because fuck me, that puts me in a bad spot. It puts everything at risk... and it means I'd have to choose between brother or lover. 

I'd rather not have to do that.

"Megan, wait," I yell after her but she's already in the living room with the kid, playing with that damn bird again. 

My phone rings and I look down to see it's Jasper.  

"Hey, Megs, I have to go. I'll bring back the drywall shit tomorrow to fix that hole for ya." I wave goodbye to Bronson, but before I make it to the door he's latched onto my leg, squeezing as tight as he can. 

"Thanks for bringing me to play with Birdie, Mr. Luke." His big brown eyes look up at me and for a moment I feel bad for the kid.

Megan's hand comes to his shoulder and she tells him to go put La Petite back in her cage. 

I didn't think she'd follow me out to the car, but for someone who hates me so much she sure is pretty clingy. And I'm okay with that. The more time I get around her the more time I can break down these walls and maybe find the truth behind the accusations.

When I pull open the car door, she grabs my arm and looks me dead in the eyes. "I will kill you before he gives you the order to kill me," she calmly, almost seductively says.

I want to laugh at the threat, but I know that'll just piss her off even more.

"Hey, Megan!" a voice calls from behind us and she plasters on that fake smile as she waves, while I stare into her face, believing every damn word she says. "It's so nice to see you and Luke dating. I saw you two earlier. I'm not being nosey!" The old cackle makes me cringe.

When her face almost falls, she catches herself and manages to grin wider.

"He's a great guy!" she calls back to whoever is standing at my back, but I'm not taking my eyes off her. "Now hug me and get the fuck out of here," she whispers in a growl.

"I can do more than that, sweets." I pull her to me and push her up against the car, twisting my hands in her hair as I slam my mouth to hers.

She tastes so fucking perfect. Her body reacts to mine so damn well. We fit together and she needs to stop denying that shit. If that old bitch across the street wasn't watching I'd fuck her over the damn hood of this car. 

Nosey fucker. 

She moans, bringing her hands to my face, an act I thought of as erotic until she starts squeezing. "Get the fuck off me," she growls.

I chuckle, enjoying how fun it is to anger her, then back up and grin, not even worrying about hiding the erection she always seems to bring out of me. Every fucking time. That attitude from her makes me harder than any woman's antics. 

By the time I make it home I'm starving. She never fed me, but I couldn't stay there longer. I was starting to look at that kid being there as something that could possibly happen, but he can't stay. She needs to make him disappear before Jasper gets back from Venezuela. Simple as that. 

What started off as me trying to find every piece of dirt on Megan has turned into a mission to make sure there's nothing she's hiding. I don't want to have to murder the only woman... the only human ever... that I've ever felt this strongly about. That pisses me off. I don't need these feelings and emotions clouding up my judgment.

***

I spend the next week watching her from afar. Each time I call she ignores it, and each knock at the door it's like there's no one home. I've gotten deeper into her bank records and still found nothing. I've talked to some of her employees and nothing. They all were very willing to talk the minute the gun came to their head, and I know for a fact word won't get back to her that someone's looking into her, but still nothing. I don't know where the original word came from that she was up to something, but I have a feeling I've been on a wild goose chase this entire time. 

One fucking week. How can you live so close to someone but not hear from, see them, or notice any movement in their house for an entire damn week? The car hasn't moved, the blinds haven't been open. She's not a fucking vampire, I know she's in there. She's in there, and I really fucking miss her. Fucking her. I miss fucking her. I miss those fucking tits and the way they bounce when she rides me. I miss her ass. I miss her goddamned evil mouth spouting out all her hatred towards me as I slam into her.