The Exception(93)
His forehead was wrinkled and a small sheen of sweat broke out across it.
“Cane—” I began before his fingertips touched me lightly on the lips, effectively hushing me.
“Jada,” he said, taking a deep breath. “I love you.”
Each word was clear, crisp, as if he wanted to make sure I didn’t misunderstand that he was saying it, not just the words, but the meaning behind it.
I smiled through my nerves, my heart bursting with joy. My chest shook as I suppressed a giggle that was awfully timed. “You don’t have to say that.”
He shook his head, his eyes wary. “Damn it, woman. If you don’t say it back in about two seconds, I am going to lose my shit.”
I let the laugh escape. I loved him. It was really that simple. “I love you, too.”
His face broke out, mirroring mine, before he grabbed the back of my head and crashed his mouth to mine.
CANE
Who would have fucking thought I’d be so happy after telling someone I loved them?
I shook my head.
Who would have thought I would ever even consider that I loved someone at all?
I worked my way through the streets of Tempe on my way to my office, a dopey smile on my face.
I need to figure out how to look like a normal person before I see Max. I need to get pissed off about something.
I laughed at my thoughts, at the insanity of the morning … at how fucking happy I was.
Who knew?
I hooked a right onto the freeway as my phone went off. BLOCKED was flashing across the screen.
What the fuck?
“Hello?” I said into the line, curiosity getting the best of me.
“Hey, Cane.” The tone was crisp, cool, and full of complete bullshit.
My blood ran cold.
“Simon Powers.” I scanned for a spot on the freeway to pull over. I couldn’t drive with any sense and deal with this motherfucker. “How’s that leg treating you?”
“Better now with this wad of cash I got from some copper I came across. Money makes everything feel better. But I know you know all about that.”
I pulled over to the side of the road. I needed to concentrate.
“You really are the scum of the earth.”
Simon laughed maniacally over the phone. “Just getting a little back from what you took from me.”
“I didn’t take jack shit from you.”
“I’m about to take everything that fucking matters from you.”
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”
“How’s that girlfriend of yours? What’s her name? June? Jenna? Hot little piece, I’ll say that for ya.”
“You motherfucker!” I seethed. “Don’t you fucking say her name! I will find you, fuck the law. Fuck everything. Do you fucking hear me?”
“Cane, Cane, Cane,” Simon laughed. “You are like taking candy from a baby. Just tell that baby of yours not to wear that tie-dyed shirt when she goes for a walk. Makes it too easy to spot her. At least make me work for it.”
The line went dead.
I replayed his words again as I fumbled with the screen and dialed Jada. I felt like I had walked into a freezer, my entire body chilled.
“Hey, baby!” her melodic voice rang out.
“Jada,” I said hurriedly, “do you have a tie-dyed shirt?”
“What?” she asked, obviously confused.
“Do you have a tie-dyed shirt? Just answer me.” I scanned the inside of the car for something to focus on, something to help me calm the fuck down.
“I … yeah, Cane, I do. How would you even know that?”
“FUCK!”
CANE
“Parker.”
“Nick, it’s me.” I swerved through the traffic, heading to my office but not sure that is where I should be.
Where do I go?
I slammed my hand against the steering wheel.
I’ve gotten her involved in this! This is why I don’t fucking get involved!
“I was just getting ready to call you,” he said in his typical calm voice.
“Look, I just got a call from Powers,” I rushed out.
Nick cleared his throat. “That’s interesting. That was why I was going to call you.”
I took the exit I needed and flew up the ramp. “He’s watching Jada, Nick. He made a comment to me about a certain shirt she was wearing when she was walking.”
“And you checked to make sure she has a shirt like that?”
“Of course. I’m not worried about the fucking shirt, Nick.”
He sighed. “I realize that. Calm down.”
“Don’t tell me to calm down!”
“Cane,” he said, his voice stern. “I was going to call you because no one has seen Simon in a few days. He’s not been showing up to work, he’s not been at home. Seems like he has fallen off the grid.”