Little Bird (Caged #1) (5 page)

He sighs and leans back in his chair. "We've been through a lot, right? You wouldn't be pulling something behind my back, would you? You remember that night our parents died? You remember the way we sliced that man's flesh off? We're in this together, Ace."

My eyes narrow and I feel the memories start to come back but push them down where they belong. There's no use reliving the past. 

  "Stop." I grind the word out, trying to ignore the look he's giving me.

He wasn't wrong about them. He knew they wouldn't make it long in the business at the rate they were going. He knew something else was up... it just ended a whole lot differently than either of us could have imagined at such a young age. 

  "Just, don't start ignoring leads because it's taking longer than you're used to." 

  "I'm not ignoring them, I just don't like having to babysit a spoiled brat." I roll my eyes at the thought of having to keep watching her mundane life play out like the worst soap opera. 

  "She's not spoiled, Lucas. How much do you know about her past and how she got to where she is?"

  "I guess I don't. Again, assumptions. She's been pretty cold to me. Why? Do you know more shit about her than you're letting on?"

He stands abruptly and is in my face within milliseconds, his fists tight on the arms of the chair I'm sitting in. 

  "This shit isn't going to work." His breath is hot on my face but I don't budge. "Lucas Acey," he says coolly, standing up and pulling a knife from his pocket. "Let this be known as the time he couldn't finish the job." He chuckles lightly and narrows his eyes at me, knowing that was just enough to get a reaction from me. 

  "I will finish the fucking job."

Fuck that noise. I'll find out every little piece of dirt on this bitch then I'll fuck her right before I kill her lying ass.

Not once in my entire life has Jasper ever questioned my ability to perform my job. I won't have it start with her.

He stands and glances out the window. "I need to leave."

  "Next time, how about you call before you just show up here? You could have just ruined everything, Jasper." I walk him to the door, still confused as hell as to why he's just randomly showed up here like that. Unsure where our lines crossed.

I know she's not stealing from him... I've been in this business long enough to know shady people and she's not one of them. I can't for certain tell if she's planning something bigger than he and I together can see. There's something off about her... something she's hiding... but I don't think it's money or drugs. I'll play this game though. Last time I ignored a lead on something it ended very badly. I don't have time for that drama again.

  "Just don't forget the grand scheme of things, Ace." He winks then pats me on the shoulder and leaves me standing in the foyer dumbfounded that he just had balls to do that. The foyer where I killed the Milkeys less than a month ago just to get in to this old people community and get closer to Ms. Porter. 

Time to get through the walls that Miss Priss has set up and figure out what the fuck she's really up to. I'm about done with this old folks' community.

As I smother peanut butter on the only bread I have, whole wheat and rosemary, I inwardly curse at the waste, because I know it won't be eaten. Pretty Bird keeps squawking and calling out "Little Bird" over and over and I know she just wants me to save her, but she'll live.

"I can picture this as our future," a voice says in my ear as a hand slides around my waist.

I almost shove a butter knife through Jasper's thigh because he effectively snuck up on me after apparently breaking into my locked house.

"What the hell are you doing here? How'd you get in?" I quietly snap as his grip on my wrist that stopped the knife loosens.

"I can show up where and when I want, Little Bird. And I've taught you everything, but you will forever be lesser than me and not understand what I'm capable of." His mouth latches onto my neck and I quickly push him back, backing up against the cupboard.

The rage on his face makes me prepare for a blow but Bronson runs out of the bedroom and to the living room chasing Pretty Bird and draws Jasper's surprised attention. He may be stealthy and capable of slipping inside a locked home, but he's an unobservant bastard if he didn't realize the kid was here.

"Whose child is that?" he asks as if I'm trying to convince him it's his.

"An employee's. She's working over a client around the block and she'll be back to get him shortly." 

I don't fucking like it either but what was I supposed to do when she showed up in tears because her sister left the kid at school and refused to pick him up? She's just over at Ron Clurik's giving him a blowjob. I said the kid could play with Pretty Bird for forty minutes.

"You're a fucking babysitter now?" he seethes and I sigh going back to making this child a snack he insists he needs, wasting my food I know a child won't eat.

"Jasper, she's the highest paid prostitute—"

"I fucking loathe that side business," he growls and I spin to face him.

"But it brings you that much more money," I sternly tell him for the thousandth time.

In a quick move he grabs my face, biting his fingers into my flesh. "And how much of that do you keep without telling me?"

My brows furrow and if he were any other man, he would be dead for accusing me of stealing.

  "None," I snarl then notice Bronson standing by the island staring at us and I quickly push Jasper's hand off my face turning my back.

His hand grips my hair and he yanks my head back to get his lips to my ear. "I'll be back in an hour, if the kid isn't gone, I will permanently get rid of him."

When he walks around Bronson, the little boy says "Hi" four times but Jasper ignores him. I look over my shoulder and withhold my sigh but see Jasper snatch Pretty Bird by the neck and I gasp, almost taking off in a run to get to her because I know the outcome will be devastating. Opening the front door, Jasper throws her to the sky then walks to his car, cruel as ever, and drives away.

"Pretty Bird!" I call out but she's gone. Her wings are clipped so she can't go far, but she went far enough I can't see her bright blue feathers anywhere, and if I don't find her, she'll be dead unless someone grabs her. "Pretty Bird!" I scream again as the emotion filling me makes me want to break something.

Sadness is not an emotion I will allow to consume me.

"Why'd that man do that?" Bronson repeats over and over from the porch.

"Go into the house," I snap at him while he helps me pointlessly look for her.

"Lose something?"

I spin around and see Luke Milkey jogging my way. I don't need this right now.

  "My bird. Pretty Bird!" I yell and look up into the low trees.

"You named your bird Pretty Bird?" He quirks his eyebrow and grins at me and I don't even know why I gave him the satisfaction of a glance. 

"It's a bird, it doesn't need a name. She just responds to Pretty Bird." My eyes peruse his bare chest too long and he swipes at the sweat, obviously noticing I was staring.

"Just out for a run," he says, then stretches enough to display cut hip bones from his shorts. "Need help looking for this bird of yours?"

The sexy ones are always stupid and I want to slap sense into his head while screaming 'obviously!'.

"She's blue. A big blue Macaw. You really can't miss her. And her wings are clipped so she can't fly far. But." I sigh and take a minute as panic starts to guide my voice and actions. I need to pull my shit together. "But, I don't know which way she went."

"Well there aren't many big blue Macaws in this neighborhood. I'm sure you'll find it." He takes a breath and clears his throat. "Pretty Bird can't have gone too far. With an owner as sexy as you, I wouldn't go that far either." 

I almost gasp at his idiotic comment. I'm used to men with more couth. A man that would at least act like he gives a shit about my missing pet before running his ignorant mouth.

"I think you've helped enough," I mutter walking around to the side of the house and Bronson starts crawling through the bushes. "Bronson, stop."

"Damn, a lost bird and babysitting. What a day..." He eyes Bronson then looks at me, his eyes narrowing as he stretches his calves. "I should probably leave you to all your duties. Don't want a lost kid on top of it."

"Yes. Thank you," I mumble, not bothering to look at him again, mainly because that body is distracting, but the man is obnoxious.

"I'll keep an eye out for your Pretty Bird on my run." He waves at Bronson and directs that damn smile at me again. "Have a good day, Megs." 

Megs!? Megs!? I don't even have time to correct him. And if he's willing to keep an eye out for Pretty Bird, I don't want to piss him off.

  "Luke," I blurt and he looks back. "If you find her, she won't bite you. She's a sweet bird and if you put your hand out and call her name, she'll land." God, I'm too desperate for this bird. "Thanks."

"Anything for a friend." He grins and winks at me before jogging off. 

A friend.

I roll my eyes and get back to circling the house. After fifteen minutes it's useless and I need to focus on getting ahold of Regina before more than my bird ends up dead.

"Birdie, I'm hungry," Bronson tells me yet again as I shut and lock the front door behind us.

First babysitting duties - which I've never done, mind you - then Jasper unexpectedly showing up and releasing my bird, and now Luke's appealing yet loathsome visit. I'm ready for several Xanax and a hot bath before I sleep the remainder of the day and night away. But Jasper will be back and ignoring him isn't an option. It's never an option.

Calling Regina, I get her voicemail but I have to get Bronson out of here before Jasper returns. All hell will break lose if I don't, because I will not let him hurt this little boy. This child has seen and been through hell in his already four short years, and with a mother like Regina, he has many years of it left. I will not aid in the scarring of a helpless child, but Jasper would kill me before I stopped him from killing the boy.

Sending Regina a quick text, I then rush to my office to find Ron Clurik's phone number, hoping the old bastard will answer because if not, I'll have to get Mrs. Clurik involved.

"Yes? Hello? Yes?" he pants into the phone and I cringe.

"Mr. Clurik, this is Megan Porter. I hate to bother you but I've been trying to call Jim Avi all morning and he's not answering. I'm sorry to ask, but you know how I worry. Could you be a peach and just pop in next door quickly to see if he's okay?"

"Jim? Uh, yes, Megan, sure."

"Thanks. I'll hold on the line."

"Now? Right this minute?"

"Yes please. I'm worried." I roll my eyes then turn around to see Bronson poking at the sandwich I gave him.

"Sure thing, dear. Just a minute. Let me... Well, just let me, um... go and see."

The sound of a belt clanking then him whispering something makes me cringe again but I stay on the phone and watch Bronson curiously try the sandwich he clearly hates, but he must be hungry because he's eating it. I put the phone on speaker and go about my business while he meanders over to The Clurik's like a sloth. It only takes a few minutes until there's a knock at my door and I open it to Regina.

"Everything okay? I got your text but I was busy."

Hanging up my phone I say, "You have to leave," and pull Bronson off the chair shoving the sandwich into his hand. "He can't be here right now, I'm having company."

"I was in the middle of a job, Birdie!"

"Were you paid?" I hold my hand out, and with protest she puts the money into it. 

Handing her back more than half I tell her, "Go get him a real meal, Regina."

"Bye, Birdie." Bronson waves at me with peanut butter all over his hands and I cringe.

"Goodbye, Bronson." Snatching Regina's arm before she exits I warn, "This cannot happen again. I'm your employer, not babysitter."

"I'm sorry, Birdie, it won't. I promise."

The child wasn't bad, but because of him, I lost the only thing I loved. Pretty Bird.

Taking Xanax before Jasper returns, I start preparing dinner because I know he'll want to eat and he always expects me to cook for him. As I blend the egg mixture I pause and think of what sort of cyanide I have in the house. I could concoct an almond dessert and slip the poison in. But then what would I do with Jasper's body? And cyanide is detectable in the body. I sigh and continue mixing. I'm not going to poison Jasper. The day I overthrow him, I want him alive to watch me crush his pathetic world under my heel before I build a bigger, better kingdom over top of it. 

This time he knocks and it's just as the oven sounds the alarm that the Beef Wellington needs to come out. Jasper can wait because he won't eat a burned meal. As I turn to rush to the door, he's standing with his gun out and now in my face.

  "Who's here?" he demands to know. "Why didn't you answer? Who are you hiding?"

When he gets high, he gets more delusional than he already is, and I really don't feel like dealing with this.

  "I expected you hours ago. I was preparing our meal and it needed to come out of the oven." I gesture to the Wellington.

  "Who are you fucking?" he screams at me and I sigh.

  "What are you on?" I look at his nose and the shiny redness answers my question. 

  "Don't answer my question with a question!" The sting of his slap makes me hold still a moment but I lift my head with pride.

I can take a thousand more to prove to him his abuse will sting but my willpower can burn his whole fucking world down. 

  "I was not fucking anyone. I was making dinner." I stare into the green eyes that used to be vivid, but they lose more life as the years pass. 

  "You're untrustworthy," he seethes walking toward the dining room table. "You're a whore and untrustworthy."

  "I have never betrayed your trust," I firmly respond. 

Lately he's been becoming more and more suspicious of me and I don't understand it because he has no idea what I'm planning, what I've started, what is happening behind his back. There's no way for him to find out because I erase my tracks like I'm a ghost. He may have taught me everything, but he has never had to be as invisible as me.

  "Serve me!" he bellows as if he's been waiting. I bring the tray to the table and when I set a plate in front of him he starts to laugh. "Undress and on your knees. You're my plate tonight."

We lock eyes but before I bring myself more pain, I unzip the side of my dress. My weakness serves a purpose now that I'm older. It's so he doesn't detect my willpower and his walls continue to weaken around me so I will soon be able to punch through his chest and rip out his heart as if he's made of paper. 

Getting on my hands and knees he then drops to the floor and places a slice of the heated meat onto my back, and knowing this is the least of the pain, I don't wince. The cool metal of the fork then knife touch my flesh and I wait as he drops his head and says a prayer. With eyes directed to the floor, I prepare for the barbarian to cut into me as he cuts through his meal. My blood is a delicacy in his mind and he's always enjoyed feasting on it like a vampiric cannibal. As he dips the hot meat onto the wound, I bite my lip and have to close my eyes. He will make sure every cut brings blood and I will be scouring my wounds in hot water and rubbing alcohol to sanitize them.