Chapter
Nine
When Trixie didn’t come down to meet him for lunch, Cayden went looking for her. He knew she had been working in her office, so he checked there first. After verifying that she wasn’t in the showroom or bay, Cayden asked Jeff and Joey if they had seen her. Neither claimed they had. He checked that her Firebird was in its parking spot. Where the hell was she? He didn’t want to call her over the radio and alert the others to her disappearance, but she wasn’t picking up her phone. Cayden decided to check her apartment before trying the radio.
It was so dark, he almost missed her. The reflection of the hallway light on her hair was what caught his attention.
Trixie was sitting on the floor of her apartment in the far corner. Her head was down on her knees with her arms wrapped around her legs.
Cayden ran to her. “Trix? Baby, what’s wrong?”
As soon as she heard his voice, she leaped forward onto his lap. Cayden cradled her against him as she sobbed. It broke his heart. He didn’t know what had happened or what was wrong. The employees downstairs had all been acting normally, so he didn’t think it was work related. Was it the Wynns?
Or was it something more personal? God, was she pregnant? Cayden doubted it. He always wore a condom and she’d just had her period. Plus, the selfish part of him hoped this torn up response would not be her reaction to finding out she was having his baby.
Not knowing what else to do, Cayden held her. He sent a quick message off to Jeff that he had found her and asked them not to be bothered. He didn’t state a reason because he didn’t have one. Jeff looked at Trixie through a paternal filter and would be up here in a heartbeat if Cayden told him how upset she was. Cayden needed to find out first what was happening before he subjected her to an audience.
Jeff’s reply was a simple one-letter acknowledgement.
After a while, Cayden stopped encouraging her to talk to him. She would when she was ready and, clearly, she was not ready yet. He had to move them to her bed because his legs were falling asleep on the floor. He winced at the pins pricking into his thighs as he stood but bore her weight and carried her over.
Cayden laid them down on the comforter, placing one of her throws over them. He held her to his chest and let her continue to cry. He started to catch single words through her tears but nothing that made sense. The name “AJ” stood out to him. He recalled the name from Mrs. Wynn’s guilt trip when she’d convinced Trixie to give Cayden a chance and hire him, but Cayden had never asked who AJ was. He suspected he was her last brother, the one she’d never told him about. Eventually, she drifted off to a restless sleep. Cayden wiped the tears from her face, feeling helpless as he watched her twitch and moan. He carefully detached himself from her so he could use the bathroom. Then he slipped out into the hall.
He was grateful Mr. Wynn picked up versus Mrs. Wynn. Like Jeff, Mrs. Wynn would have dropped everything and run to Trixie’s rescue if Cayden told her what was going on. “Mr. Wynn, it’s Cayden.”
The man’s response was amused, “I have caller ID, son. What’s up?”
“Look, I know you’re supposed to pick me up at five-thirty, but I need to stay later. I’ll sign whatever I need to or give up my weekend if that’s what it takes, but I need to stay.”
He heard the suspicion in his voice. “Tell me what’s going on, and then we’ll discuss your options.”
Cayden ran a hand down his face. He needed to be honest with the house’s owner, but it also felt like was tattling on Trixie. “I’m not sure. Trixie’s upset. I haven’t gotten out of her what happened yet, but I think it has to do with AJ.”
The cursed response was colorful to say the least. “Put her on the phone.”
“No,” Cayden said quickly. “I finally got her settled enough to sleep. She needs it and I need to stay. I can’t leave her right now. Please,” his voice cracked, “don’t make me leave her right now.”
“Is she okay?”
Cayden nodded though the man couldn’t see it. “She’s upset. She’s been crying for hours and I don’t know why or how to help her. Is AJ her brother?”
Mr. Wynn paused. “Yes. What has she told you about him?”
“Nothing. Frankly, I guessed that he was her brother. She told me about Lee and Marco, but she’s been tightlipped about her last brother.”
“For good reason,” was the curt response. “Look, I’ll be by at eight-thirty to pick you up. She’ll need to sign a special pass form. That’s supposed to be for four hours, but you still have to be back for the nine o’clock midweek curfew so eight-thirty is the best I can do.”
Cayden let out a sigh of relief. “Thank you.”
“I won’t break the house rules, not even for her,” Mr. Wynn warned. “You can’t stay overnight and she can’t come here. I’ll be there at eight-thirty.”
“I understand.” It sucked, but at least he’d gained an extra three hours. “Thank you.”
“Do you need me to send the missus over?”
Cayden shook his head. “No. I think she needs rest and privacy.” Then he added because he knew how concerned Mr. Wynn likely was, “I’ll call you if she does.”
“I’d appreciate it. See you at eight-thirty.”
Cayden ended the call. He hesitated and then called Jeff to ask the head mechanic to lock up on his way out. All Cayden said was that Trixie wasn’t feeling well, which wasn’t a total lie. Jeff said he’d take care of the shop and leave Cayden to take care of her.
He turned towards her apartment door, mentally bracing himself for what he might face within. Mr. Wynn had confirmed that AJ was her brother. Present tense, which meant he was still alive. Or as far as Mr. Wynn knew. What if something bad had happened to AJ? God, he hoped she didn’t have to go to another funeral for another brother.
Whatever it was, though, whatever had happened, he would be at her side for it. He only had five weeks left on parole. He’d make it work, fill out whatever forms and give whatever excuses he had to so he could remain with her as long as possible. It would have to be enough. At least for another five weeks.
Trixie looked over at him when he opened the door. He rushed to her side, kneeling by the bed. Cayden took her hand. “I’m sorry, I stepped out to make a phone call, so I didn’t disturb you.” She shrugged. He frowned, not liking the defeated look in her eyes. “Baby, will you tell me what happened? Is AJ okay?”
Her gasp told him she had not been expecting him to say her brother’s name. The trembling of her jaw gave him his answer.
“I’m not sure I should tell you.”
Cayden frowned. What the hell did that mean? “Why not?”
She looked away, turning her face into her pillow. “I don’t want it to bring up bad memories for you.”
Bad memories? He didn’t know anything about AJ to know how their lives related. Was he in a gang, a rival MC? “Tell me anyway.”
Trixie burrowed further into the pillow, like she wanted to crawl her way inside for protection. “AJ’s serving a life sentence.”
Cayden’s eyes widened. Her brother was in jail? Suddenly the conversation he’d overheard between Trixie and Mrs. Wynn made a lot more sense, as well as what bad memories Trixie was trying to protect him from.
Trixie rolled so she was lying on her back. She stared at the ceiling as she said, “Lee’s too unreliable so I’m listed as AJ’s next of kin. There was a riot. AJ was stabbed.”
Oh God. Thankfully Cayden had been in solitary during the only riot that had occurred during his term, not that he would have participated had he not been. Solitary, though, had been guaranteed protection from the chaos, as well as the punishment.
“How bad?” She’d said he’d been stabbed, not that he’d been killed.
Trixie made a noncommittal shrug. “They say he’ll be fine. They have to keep him in the infirmary for a day or so.”
Cayden nodded. “I’m sorry.”
Her jaw tightened. “Not your fault.”
He scowled. He hadn’t said sorry because he thought it was. He’d said it because she was hurting and he didn’t know how to help her. “Do you want me to stay? Jeff’s going to close up downstairs for you. I’ve already called Mr. Wynn, and he said you just need to sign a special event form that’ll give me a few extra hours here tonight. He’s picking me up at eight-thirty.” It killed him to offer, but he didn’t want to force his company on her. “Would you rather be alone? Or I can call Mrs. Wynn? Mr. Wynn had said she was willing to come by.”
Trixie was shaking her head the entire time he was talking. She squeezed her hand still gripped in his. “I don’t want to talk.” She paused. “Can you just hold me?”
Hell yeah, he could do that. He removed his boots and then hers before stripping out of his coveralls. Then he climbed up onto the bed, pulled her to his chest, and wrapped the throw around them.
All too soon his phone beeped that Mr. Wynn was downstairs. Cayden replied so Mr. Wynn didn’t think anything suspicious. Trixie was passed out on his chest. She’d been dead to the world for the past three hours. Cayden hated to have to leave, but he couldn’t risk the consequences of staying.
He slipped out from under her. She didn’t so much as twitch. Cayden went to her small fridge and pulled out a water bottle. He placed it on her nightstand next to a note. While he refrained from writing I love you, he did sign it love, Cayden. It was as close as he was willing to get without risking upsetting her. She’d given him the silent treatment when she thought he was going to propose. He couldn’t risk worse if he professed his love to her. Not until he was sure she reciprocated.
Cayden grabbed his boots and his coveralls, taking them outside her apartment before slipping back into his shoes. He put his coveralls in his locker and grabbed his wallet. He made sure to deactivate and then reactivate the alarms as he left the building. Mr. Wynn was sitting in his truck, looking displeased.
Mr. Wynn held out a piece of paper as Cayden hopped into the passenger seat. “She needs to sign this form—”
“She’s asleep,” Cayden told him shortly. “I’ll get her to sign it tomorrow.”
Mr. Wynn scowled. “That’s not how this works, son.”
Cayden rounded on him. “Do you really want me to go up there and wake her up just so she can sign a fucking form?” He snatched the paper out of Mr. Wynn’s hand. “Because I swear to you, I’d rather go back to jail right now than go back up there and wake her.”
Mr. Wynn, frowning, was quiet for a moment before saying, “What happened? Is it AJ?”
Cayden rested his arm against the door, his head against his hand. “He was stabbed in a riot. He’s in the infirmary, but they say he’ll pull through.”
“Shit.” Mr. Wynn glanced towards the building where Trixie lay asleep. “I hate to leave her alone.”
“You and me both.”
Mr. Wynn rubbed his hand down his face, looking older than Cayden had ever seen him. “We can’t stay, I have to get you back. But,” he paused, “she can sign the form tomorrow. Just…don’t tell anyone I did this for you. Ever. Not even Mrs. Wynn.”
Cayden glanced over at the man. “Thank you,” he said finally. “And, uh, sorry about the cursing.”
Mr. Wynn shrugged it off. “We won’t tell Mrs. Wynn about that either.”
A small, tired smile appeared on his face. “Yes, sir.”
Though Trixie hadn’t touched alcohol in years, she woke up feeling hung over. It took her some time to figure out why she was still dressed in work clothes and on top of her comforter instead of under it. Then the memory of her phone call with the prison doctor came back to her. She felt her eyes well up again, but she fought to keep control this time. She’d cried so much the day before it was a wonder she had any tears left.
She owed Cayden a thank you. He hadn’t pressured her to talk more or even spoken himself. He’d done exactly as she needed him to and simply held her.
The staleness in her mouth forced her to consider getting out of bed. She sat up. She hadn’t expected to find Cayden in her room, but disappointment still swelled when she saw she was alone. It would have been nice if he could have stayed. She vaguely recalled him saying she needed to sign a form so that he could stay as long as he had and wondered how out of it she had been that she couldn’t recall signing it.
She noticed a water bottle next to a folded piece of paper on her nightstand. She reached for the note first, knowing it was from Cayden.
I’m sorry I have to go. I wish I could have held you all night. Get some rest and I’ll come up to see you when I get to work in the morning. Don’t worry about coming down to work. Jeff and I will take care of the shop. Concentrate on taking care of you.
Love, Cayden
She reread the note before gripping the piece of paper to her chest lovingly. She wished he could have held her all night too.
Trixie downed the whole water bottle before journeying to her bathroom. Her stomach was in knots, and not just because of how crappy she felt. She’d missed lunch and dinner the day before. Mind, she didn’t think she’d have been able to keep food down if she’d tried to eat anyway.
She was in the shower when she heard the apartment door open and close. He walked into the bathroom without invitation and pulled back the shower curtain. His mismatched eyes blazed with concern. Trixie nearly lost the tentative hold she had on her control and collapsed back into his arms. He was wearing jeans and a button-up, which got soaked as he reached for her.
Trixie held on and never wanted to let go.
AJ’s injury had been upsetting, but it had brought back all the pain and memories of everyone else she’d lost in her life. The idea of losing him too… Lee, Peggy, and Greg insisted that AJ was already lost to them, but Trixie couldn’t believe that. She couldn’t believe it. But his injury, regardless of how insistent the doctor was that he would be fine, had been too close a call. AJ did not deserve all he’d suffered.
Cayden got her out of the shower and dried her off. Then he got her dressed, though she did notice he put her in lounge pants and a tee instead of her work clothes. He truly intended on her taking today off. Trixie knew she had things to do, people to call. She just didn’t think taking time off work was good either. She had a business to run.
Her protests went in one ear and out the other, though. He plopped her back in bed then sat behind her to comb her hair. Trixie had to admit it did feel good to be cared for so. Cayden informed her that Jeff and the staff believed that she was sick. He didn’t think she wanted anyone to know about AJ and he didn’t want to speak out of turn. He said he told Mr. Wynn the truth because he couldn’t risk being dishonest with the halfway-house owner. Trixie didn’t mind Greg knowing; she was going to have to call Peggy and Greg later, anyway.
After placing a breakfast bar, water bottle, and her phone next to the bed, he told her to get some more rest and he would check in on her around lunch. Trixie leaned up for his kiss and then did as she was told.
She woke back up when she heard him reenter. He had a paper plate in each hand with sandwiches and fixings from the deli. They’d shared enough lunch hours for him to know what she liked and didn’t like.
Cayden scolded her for not drinking the water he’d left for her. Trixie quickly gulped it down. They ate in relative silence on her bed. Cayden seemed to be waiting for her to say something and Trixie wasn’t sure what to say. She knew she couldn’t risk falling back to sleep after lunch, so she got up when he did to walk him to her door. She’d signed the form she should have signed the night before to allow him to stay with her past working hours. She hoped he didn’t get in trouble for turning it in a day late. She made a mental note to tell Greg it was her fault the form was late.
Once she was alone again, Trixie picked up her phone. She called the prison to check on AJ. He was still sedated and wasn’t coherent enough to speak on the phone, so she spoke with his doctor. She asked about having him transferred to a real hospital but was informed his injuries were not “life threatening enough” to warrant that. Trixie was not happy with that answer. Did they want him at death’s door before they were willing to transfer him? She asked the doctor to have AJ call her as soon as he was awake enough to do so.
Next, she called Lee. As expected, she got his voicemail. She left a recording with what she knew of AJ’s condition. She didn’t expect him to call her back. Lee never did in regard to AJ. Wherever he was and whatever he was doing always seemed to be more important to Lee than their incarcerated brother.
Addy picked up on the second ring. Trixie had honestly been hoping she wouldn’t. It was difficult to talk to AJ’s ex without feeling a mixture of pity, hatred, and guilt. Addy was clearly upset and asked to be kept apprised of AJ’s condition. Trixie told her she would text her. It was cowardly, but easier than calling Addy back. Trixie didn’t know how to talk to Addy anymore. Their once close friendship had been destroyed the day AJ was arrested. The only reason Trixie had even called Addy was because, if their positions were reversed, Trixie knew Addy would have called her.
Finally, she called the Wynns. She didn’t know if either or both would be home this time of day, but she had to at least say she tried. Peggy picked up. Trixie told Peggy everything, from the doctor’s phone call to her reaction and how Cayden had cared for her all the way through to the call she’d just had with Addy. Peggy was understanding and kind, though she scolded Trixie for not being nicer to Addy. Peggy had always had a soft spot for Addy, long before AJ’s arrest.
Trixie turned down Peggy’s offer to come for a visit. As upset as she was, Trixie didn’t think she could handle the maternal attention.
Trixie then texted Jeff to come up to her apartment, with the promise that she wasn’t contagious. When Jeff arrived, she explained that she wasn’t sick, and Cayden had lied to protect her from having to explain the situation to her staff. Jeff, who’d been around for as much of AJ’s childhood as he had Trixie’s, found the news very disturbing. He too requested to be kept informed of AJ’s progress.
A little after five, Cayden came back up to her apartment. He’d ordered dinner for her from an Italian mom-and-pop diner down the street that Jeff had gone out to pick up. He asked her to at least eat half. She promised him she would try.
Watching him leave, even with the promise that he’d call her later that night, she felt an uncomfortable pressure in her chest. She decided to take a bath to see if she could soothe it. When that didn’t work, Trixie walked down to her personal restoration projects. She hadn’t spent much time with her babies since Cayden had come into her life. Unfortunately, even these exotics couldn’t cure what ailed her.
Though it was after dark, Trixie grabbed her car keys and left the shop.
Cayden was relieved to find Mrs. Wynn alone in the kitchen. Not wanting to startle her, he gave her a small greeting as he approached the counter and started to chop the veggies on the cutting board. He’d been trying to help her out more in the kitchen, wanting to keep his take-out bills down when he no longer lived under her roof.
“Will you tell me about AJ?”
Mrs. Wynn stopped kneading the bread dough under her hands. “What has Trixie told you about him?”
“Not much,” he said honestly. “I don’t think she will. She says it’ll bring up bad memories for me.”
Mrs. Wynn scowled at that. “More like for her.”
Cayden stopped chopping. “What do you mean?”
“AJ is Trixie’s youngest older brother. They are four years apart, so she was closer to him than she was to Marco or Lee. Lee was deployed for most of Trix’s childhood and Marco… Well, not to speak ill of the dead, but let’s say Marco had other priorities than his baby sister.” Mrs. Wynn shook her head, “Wasn’t right, what happened to AJ.” She made a gesture out of the kitchen doorway. “I take in a lot of boys here. I try to help them. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t. I resigned myself years ago that I cannot be responsible for their mistakes. But AJ?” She sighed. “I don’t think that boy ever learned that lesson.”
Veggies forgotten, Cayden asked, “What happened?”
“Modern day Romeo and Juliet. Poor Latino boy falls in love with the rich white businessman’s daughter.” Mrs. Wynn turned her attention back to the dough. “Addy Wilson’s her name. They were star-crossed lovers from day one. No matter what her parents did to keep them separated, they always found a way to be together. AJ never gave up on her. After they graduated high school—mind you, it was different schools because her parents transferred her out when their relationship was discovered—she was sent to college across the country. AJ followed her. Her parents even got a restraining order against him. It was hopeless.”
Mrs. Wynn let out a long sigh. “It will be eight years this Christmas. They were going to leave, run away together. AJ had saved up every penny he had and bought her a ring. She was going to drop out of college, leave everything behind just to be with him. I guess she wanted one last Christmas with her parents. Who could blame the girl? Parents are supposed to be supportive and kind. But her parents were… Well, they were strict to say the least. AJ was not of their social class, race, or standards. They saw him as a lowlife Latino punk who was going nowhere with his life and would drag their high-class daughter down with him.
“Anyway, it was Christmas Day. Addy left her parents’ house to meet up with AJ. I don’t recall now what excuse she said she gave them to get away that night. Regardless, her father followed her and found them together. Her father, he was drunk. Really, really drunk. He attacked Addy, started punching and strangling her. Of course, AJ came to her defense. They scuffled and her father hit his head.” She winced. “He died on the way to the hospital.”
Bile rose in his throat. “Why wasn’t it ruled self-defense?”
“Because no one believed the Latino boy who already had a restraining order against the man’s daughter. Because no one, not even AJ, could deny he was in violation of the restraining order. Witnesses came forward saying they heard AJ threatening her father’s life. Also, Addy was too hurt to come to his defense right away. No matter how many times AJ and Addy claimed that she was there of her own freewill, the jury still believed he’d kidnapped her, and her father had come to her defense. Made him out to be a local hero.
“Mrs. Wilson pulled in every favor she could to have AJ locked up on every charge she could get away with, and then she had the key thrown away. She tried for the death penalty too, but thankfully that failed. Every time Addy tried to appeal his case, Mrs. Wilson would do something to shut it down. She did a lot press conferences, gained so much public sympathy… There was even a march to demand justice for the brutal death of her beloved husband.”
She hung her head as she said, “I’m ashamed to say that after fighting so hard for him, I stopped. My heart couldn’t take it anymore. Bad circumstances and rotten luck landed that boy where he is. No amount of love is going to break those bars keeping him inside. Addy and Trixie, well, they view his situation differently. Addy blames herself, her upbringing, and her parents. She even put herself through law school so she could try to find a way to legally get him out. But Trixie? She blames herself. She knew of their plans. She knew they were planning on eloping and she didn’t try to stop them. She was sixteen at the time. She only saw their situation through a clouded teenager’s lovesick eyes. Trixie feels she should have done something to try to stop them.”
Cayden closed his eyes, hanging his head as he crossed his arms over his chest. Of course, Trixie blamed herself. “So he’s doing life for a crime he didn’t commit?”
“Oh, he committed it. There’s no doubt that he killed Mr. Wilson, but it was self-defense. That man was trying to kill his own daughter!” Mrs. Wynn wiped her hands on her apron. “I don’t think Zyn or Bobby got over what happened to AJ. In my opinion, Zyn gave up his fight with cancer too soon. I think the man was just too heartbroken to go on.” She shook her head. “Rotten situation all around, but it was the first domino in a series of tragic events in Trixie’s life. First her brother is arrested and sentenced to life in prison, then her father is diagnosed with lung cancer and dies, then she finds her grandfather dead in his sleep, and then her other brother is murdered in cold blood for testifying against a gangbanger.” Mrs. Wynn scoffed, “Just rotten luck, I suppose.”
A lot of rotten luck. If what Mrs. Wynn believed was true, AJ should have never been convicted. The restraining order certainly complicated the situation, but the father had been trying to kill his daughter.
“What happened to Addy?”
“Moved out of state, I think. Works at a law firm. I don’t know the entire story, mind, but I do know that AJ forbade her from coming back to visit him and told her to move on with her life.” She gave a half-heart shrug. “Like I said, modern-day Romeo and Juliet.”
Cayden completely agreed. “Does Trixie visit him?”
Mrs. Wynn shook her head. “No, I don’t think so. She tried, but he wouldn’t see her. After so many refusals, I think she stopped going.”
“What about Lee? Trix said he wasn’t a Marine anymore, but she didn’t tell me what he was doing.”
“Honestly, I don’t know. I haven’t seen or heard from Lee in years, not since Marco’s funeral. That man’s…” She hesitated before deciding on the word, “haunted. He was so thin and weary at the funeral. I got the impression he was homeless, to be honest. Wouldn’t talk to anyone, not even Trixie. He got up in the middle of the service, pressed his hand to the coffin lid, and then walked out. I don’t think anyone has seen him since.”
Fuck. “So she’s virtually alone.”
“Is she?” For the first time since starting this conversation, Mrs. Wynn looked happy. “Trixie told me what you did for her last night.”
Cayden cleared his throat, uncomfortable with her praise. “I wished I could have stayed overnight.”
She patted his cheek. “I know, honey. You’ve got just barely a month left. You must be excited.”
He nodded. “I am. Mind you, I’ll probably starve to death the moment I leave here and your cooking.” To emphasize his point, Cayden picked up a carrot and bit off the end.
Mrs. Wynn giggled, flicking her dish towel in his direction. “I’m really happy for you two. I hope she feels like her luck has changed now that she has you.”
“It’s the other way around,” Cayden told Trixie’s surrogate aunt. “I’m the lucky one. I’ll never take that or her for granted, I swear to you.”
“You’re a good boy, Cayden Russo. Past sins aside, you are still good.” She reached forward and touched her hand to his heart. “Do yourself a favor and tell her you love her. It’ll give you both some peace.”
His eyes narrowed mockingly at her. “How do you know I haven’t already told her?”
Mrs. Wynn let out a laugh. “Because that girl would have told me if you had.” She tweaked his nose. “Plus, you look weighted. Just tell her. They’re three little words that can move mountains. She needs to hear them as much as you need to say them.”
Cayden paused, not sure he was talking to the right person but needing some advice. “What if… What if she doesn’t say it back?”
“Then you keep telling her until she does.” Mrs. Wynn turned back to the dough. “But you have nothing to worry about, dear. That girl’s head over heels for you.”
Cayden smiled widely. “Thanks, Mrs. Wynn.”
She waved him off. “Now shoo. If dinner’s late tonight, I’m blaming you.”
Cayden walked out of the kitchen, feeling marginally better. AJ’s story was tragic, but Mrs. Wynn was right. Cayden and AJ had nothing in common except their time in prison. Likely Trixie was keeping AJ’s situation to herself to keep away her own bad memories. He wanted her to share her burden with him, but also understood the pain her brother’s tragedy cost.
When Cayden entered his room, he was surprised to find a rectangular book on his bed. That hadn’t been there an hour ago when he’d left to track down Mrs. Wynn. Cayden glanced around but didn’t find anyone in his room or the hallway.
After closer inspection, Cayden realized it was a scrapbook. The thick brown leather cover was plain with only light gold stitching as decoration.
He flipped it open and saw a newspaper clipping titled.
Local Country Club Owner Brutally Slain
There was a portrait of the man with an American Flag behind it. The dual pages had multiple clippings taped across them. The biggest one was titled Fallen Father a Hero. Most of the pictures accompanying the articles were of Mr. Wilson, some with his family but most on his own at his place of business. Cayden cocked his head when he saw a picture of young Addy. She looked familiar for some reason, but he couldn’t place why. He flipped through the pages until he got to a picture of the courtroom on the day of AJ’s sentencing.
AJ stood tall next to a flustered lawyer. He looked sad, even trounced. But his eyes weren’t facing in the direction of the judge or even the jury. They were on a young woman sitting in the first row. Addy. Even in the single snapshot, the two were clearly drawn to each other.
Cayden spotted a younger Trixie, Mr. and Mrs. Wynn, her father, and grandfather further back in the pews. He wondered if AJ even noticed their presence and support or if his entire attention that day had been on his girl.
At the end of the article, it stated that Antonio Jesus Romero was found guilty of manslaughter, guilty of aggravated assault, guilty of violation of a restraining order, and guilty of kidnapping. He was sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole. His term would be carried out in Buford State Penitentiary.
Cayden had to reread the final paragraph many times for his mind to make sense of it. He brought the courtroom picture up closer to his face. No way!
Prison had changed him, made him gaunter. Cayden couldn’t believe he hadn’t recognized those eyes! AJ, Trixie’s brother, had been Cayden’s cellmate for two years of his sentence.
“What do you mean he called out sick? What does he have?”
Jeff shrugged. “Greg called and said he wasn’t coming in today. I honestly assumed that meant he was sick.”
Greg had called the office instead of calling her? Trixie pursed her lips. It didn’t make sense. If Cayden was sick, why wouldn’t he have called or texted her? Why hadn’t Greg? She didn’t like it, but it also wasn’t like she could leave work to go over to the Wynns’ and demand to see him.
She’d call Peggy. Later.
Trixie lifted her hands to her hair and put it up in a messy bun. She turned her attention to Joey. “Did Mr. Carson drop off their Bentley? Also, has anyone checked the tracking on the ’62 valve?”
“Carson is bringing in the Bentley today,” Joey answered without having to look at his calendar. “The valve was delivered yesterday. I sent you an email.”
She scowled. “You know I don’t check that.”
“Then don’t blame me when you don’t know parts have been delivered.”
Trixie resisted the urge to stick her tongue out at him. “With Cayden out today, we’re going to have to split his tickets amongst the rest of us. Tell the boys. I’ll be down once I refill my coffee.”
Jeff stood. “Is it sad that I wish it was any of the others who had called out? Cayden’s a cocky SOB, but at least he can back it up with results. The others work at a snail’s pace compared to him.”
Trixie snorted, not admitting that she too wished any of the others had called out instead of Cayden. She missed him, and she didn’t like that he hadn’t called her directly. What was up with that? It was Friday. They were supposed to be starting their weekend together. Trixie didn’t know if his absence from work today messed up his furlough pass.
Maybe she should call Peggy sooner rather than later.
A cold chill ran down Cayden’s spine at the familiar buzzing of the gate’s locks. God, how he hated that buzzing. It had been the soundtrack to his life for thirty months. He’d sworn when he had stepped out of this place that he’d never step back in. Yet here he was, nearly five months later, reentering Buford State Penitentiary. At least this time he was here as a visitor and not a resident.
It was only due to good behavior on his part and overcrowding on the prison’s that had allowed him to be released early on parole. He’d considered it his good fortune and had waved a joyous goodbye to his cellmate on the day of his release. What an ass he’d been. Cayden had walked free, but Tony had stayed.
Cayden had suffered thirty months. By his calculations, Tony was on month ninety-three. Christ, what must be going through that guy’s mind on a daily basis?
Ugh, he’d tried so hard to forget that smell. Emotions didn’t have distinct scents, but Cayden swore that distinctive prison odor was fear, misery, and pain. It made him want to gag.
He didn’t want to think about Trixie as he stepped inside. She was too good, too pure, for this hellhole. Even thoughts of her didn’t belong behind these walls. But it was only the thoughts of her that kept him sane as he stepped through the visitor’s entrance to the prison.
The hand on his shoulder was gentle. “You sure you want to do this?”
He turned to look at Mr. Jones. “I have to.”
Mr. Jones nodded. “I’m going to visit with some of the others. Take your time and come get me when you’re done.”
Cayden didn’t like the idea of Mr. Jones leaving him, but he forced himself to man up and nod. He was no coward. It was this place, though. It was like it sucked all the goodness out of the world.
He closed his eyes and thought of Trixie’s smile. It gave him the strength to walk forward and take a seat. It was odd, being on this side of the glass wall. He probably should keep that feeling to himself too.
He waited long enough to wonder if Tony had declined his visit too, as Mrs. Wynn had said he had to Trixie’s, Addy’s, and her own attempts. He hoped the guard told him who his visitor was, and the curiosity of his old cellmate’s return would bring Tony out.
When the blue door leading into the prison buzzed open, a whirlwind of emotions struck Cayden. Tony’s right eye was swollen shut and he had a bandaged cut over that brow. His jaw was just as colorful. As he limped over to the seat, he flinched with every other step. The way he cradled his left arm to his side, Cayden suspected he had broken ribs. The orange jumpsuit prevented Cayden from seeing the stab wound.
Cayden looked for the familial similarities he’d missed before. In the picture of AJ in the courtroom, his hair had been long around his ears and curled just like Trixie’s. Tony had always kept his head shaved with only a little black stubble that grew between cuts. They had the same high cheekbones and mocha skin tone.
His left eye, the same shade as Trixie’s without her shining light, was suspicious as he lowered himself into the seat.
Cayden gestured to the phone on the other side of the glass before grabbing his own.
“Boost? What are you doing here, man?” Tony sounded the same as he always had, but for the first time, Cayden picked up on the defeat in his voice.
“I heard what happened. I needed to see you were okay.”
Tony shrugged, and then flinched in pain. “Unfortunately, even this place can’t seem to kill me, though not for lack of trying.”
Cayden didn’t laugh at the morbid humor as he might once have. “I need to tell you some things and I need you to stay calm when I do.” Tony frowned but nodded. “My rehabilitation officer placed me with Greg and Peggy Wynn. You’re familiar with their halfway house?”
Tony dipped his head once.
“I didn’t know who you were, man. I didn’t place it until yesterday. We talked every day for two years, but we never talked about personal things. I don’t even think you ever told me your last name.” Cayden took a deep breath before he continued. “Mr. Wynn got me a job at Romero’s.” Tony stiffened. “It’s so great there, Tony. I was originally hired to work on updating the security system but then I started working in the motor pool. I get to work on exotic cars, T, and I’ve even been learning about running a legitimate business. I’m turning my life around, just like a swore I would. And your sister…” Cayden cleared his throat. “Well, she’s amazing, T. You’d be so proud of her. After she inherited the shop from your grandfather, she expanded it. She’s got more clients and employees than ever.”
Tony’s jaw tightened. “Why are you telling me this?”
“Because I’m in love with her.” He didn’t see the point in beating around the bush. Tony had always appreciated things being done straightforward.
Tony closed his good eye, setting the phone down on the desk in front of him. He dropped his head into his hands, gripping his shorn scalp. Cayden tried to be patient as he waited but failed. His leg started bouncing up and down. He wished Tony would look up. He wished he could tell what the man was thinking.
Finally, Tony straightened. Cayden watched him clear his throat and take a deep breath before he picked the phone back up. “And Trix? How does she feel?”
A smile crept onto his lips. “She’s never said it, but I have it on good authority that she loves me too.”
Tony nodded once. “Good, good.” He glanced behind him at the guard. “Boost, I need you to swear to me you’ll treat her right. If you love her, truly love her, don’t come back here.”
Cayden knew he didn’t mean as a visitor. “Never,” he promised. “She deserves a hell of a lot better than an ex-biker like me. I honestly don’t know what I did in a past life to have gotten so lucky.”
Tony fell quiet again. Perhaps Cayden shouldn’t have mentioned his good fortune in front of the hapless man.
“T?” Cayden asked, grabbing his attention again. “I need to tell her about you. She told me about her brother AJ, but you never called yourself that. At least as far as I knew. I didn’t know until I saw your picture yesterday that you were her brother.”
Tony hesitated and then said, “AJ died a long time ago. I didn’t want that name in here. I didn’t want her in here.” Cayden didn’t think he was referring to Trixie. “Tell her what you need to, but please don’t—” He paused. “Don’t tell her about me, about who I am in here.”
Cayden’s brows furrowed. “I don’t understand.”
“Come on, man. You know what it’s like in here. You know the things we’ve had to do just to make it through the day.” Tony shook his head. “Don’t taint her with that darkness.”
Cayden recalled his own reaction when Trixie had asked him to tell her about his time in prison. Without knowing it, he’d already done as Tony was requesting. “Okay.” He glanced at the clock behind Tony. They only had a few minutes left before the visiting hour was up. “How are you, really?”
Tony’s laugh was dry and humorless. “Ask me that tomorrow.”
Cayden winced, recalling all the times Tony had said that to him. If today doesn’t kill you, there’s always tomorrow. “Do you need anything? I can try—”
“There’s only one thing in this world I need, and I gave it up a long time ago.”
Cayden had a feeling that it wasn’t an it Tony was referring to but a her. He knew now why the pictures of Addy Wilson had looked so familiar. Every night Tony would stare at a picture of her, even long after light’s out. The one time Cayden had asked Tony about the picture, Tony hadn’t spoken to him for a week.
Apparently silent treatments ran in the family.
“I’m told she’s a lawyer now—”
“Don’t.” Tony spoke the word so softly, Cayden almost missed it over his own words. Tony seemed to struggle for a moment before he said, “Make Trixie happy. Please.”
Before Cayden could reply, Tony hung up the phone and stood. He swayed, struggling to catch his balance, and then limped his way back to the guard and the door. Cayden watched Trixie’s brother disappear back into Hell with a sense of dread.
Tony was utterly defeated. There was no fight left in that man. He truly believed he was going to die in here.
And what the hell was Cayden supposed to say to Trixie when that happened? How was he supposed to comfort her when yet another one of her brothers was taken from her?
Trixie jumped at the knock on her apartment door. It was after nine on Friday night. Who the hell was knocking on her door? For that matter, who could have gotten up to her apartment to knock on her door?
Trixie scurried out of bed, hoping it was Cayden. He hadn’t called her back and all Peggy had been able to tell her was that he was “out with Mr. Jones”. Trixie didn’t know much about his rehabilitation officer. She had only met the man twice, the day with the Rolls Royce and Bucky, and the following Sunday. She wasn’t sure that was a fair assessment of the man, since she’d been royally pissed that he put Cayden under house arrest.
She opened the door, smiled, and then scowled. “Where were you today and why the hell did you not call me back?”
Cayden shifted nervously on his feet. “Can I come in?”
Trixie straightened, the feeling of dread washing over her. “Are you going to break my heart if you do?”
A look of fury crossed over his face. “Never.”
She nodded and let him in. Trixie closed the door behind her as he walked into the room. “Why do I get the feeling you’ve still got bad news?”
He put his duffel down and sat on the end of her bed. She hoped the surprise she’d been working on would help with their lack of room in her apartment. “I wouldn’t call it bad, but I wouldn’t call it good either.”
Trixie let out a long sigh. She grabbed a water bottle from the fridge, took a sip, and then offered it to him. He took it but didn’t drink. She sat on the floor in front of him and crossed her legs. “Tell me.”
“I went back to Buford today.”
She blanched. “What? Why would you…” Buford? Where AJ was housed? “What do you mean you went back?”
“It’s where I served my time.”
She hadn’t known that little detail. But if he served time in Buford, did that mean he knew AJ? “Am I going to like what you’re about to tell me?”
He shook his head. “I didn’t know until yesterday he was your brother.” Cayden reached into his duffel and pulled out Peggy’s scrapbook. Trixie reached for it with trembling hands. She hadn’t seen it in years. How had Cayden gotten it? “I asked Mrs. Wynn to tell me about AJ. I wasn’t trying to invade your privacy. You were so upset, and I didn’t want to bring up bad memories for you. She told me everything. I think Mr. Wynn must have overheard us because when I got back up to my room that,” he indicated to the scrapbook, “was sitting on my bed. I looked through it. I saw… When I saw the last article, the one where he was sentenced to life, I recognized him.
“You have to understand that this is a massive coincidence. I didn’t know his last name, and he didn’t call himself ‘AJ’. Everyone called him ‘Tony’, even the guards. I don’t think I ever heard him referred to as ‘Romero’ once. And even if I did, I probably would have never put the pieces together. He looks different. I didn’t even recognize your eyes as the same as his.” Different? Why would AJ look different? Why would he call himself Tony? What was it Cayden was trying to tell her? “I had to go back. As soon as I realized who he was, I had to check on him for you. He’s…hurting, but he’s okay, Trix. His injuries weren’t life threatening.”
Trixie gripped the scrapbook hard against her chest. “Did he ask about me?”
Cayden nodded. “I told him about us. He made me promise to make you happy.”
A small smile touched her lips. That was so like AJ. Whatever you do in life, abeja, just make sure you’re happy doing it. She closed her eyes against the sudden onset of tears. “And he’s…okay? I mean, he’s…”
She heard him move and opened her eyes in time to see him kneel on the floor in front of her. “Baby, it’s prison. No, he’s not okay. But he’s alive. I’m no lawyer. I’m just some ex-biker gearhead, but I want to look into his case. I want to see if there’s anything we can do to get him out of there.”
Trixie quickly shook her head, her chin trembling. “Don’t you think we’ve tried that? Papá died believing AJ was lost to us.”
He reached forward to grip her hands. “It doesn’t hurt to have a fresh pair of eyes look into things, but I won’t do it if you don’t want me to.”
Tears flowed freely. “I guess not. Just… Don’t tell me anything unless you’re positive about it.” She couldn’t risk any more false hope.
Cayden put his hand under her chin. “Is this why you asked me what prison was like? You wanted to know what it was like for him.”
Her chin trembled. “Yes, no, I don’t know… I was… I wanted to know for you too. I wanted you to share that part of yourself with me.”
“Trix, AJ and I are in agreement here. You don’t need to know, and it will only hurt you to know. Neither of us want you a part of that.”
“I’m not some girly-girl who needs protection!”
He raised an eyebrow but didn’t back down from her ire. “I never claimed you were. But there are some things you just don’t need to know.”
She made a face and looked away from him. “Fine. Just don’t treat me like a child. If there’s something that’s bothering you or you want to share, do it. Regardless of your need to protect me. I can take it.”
He moved her face back towards his. “I never doubted you could. You just don’t need to. Do you understand that?”
She didn’t like it, but she nodded.
A distance had sprouted between Cayden and Trixie following his confession of his connection to her incarcerated brother. Cayden wasn’t sure what he’d expected. He didn’t think his reveal warranted them to be closer, per se, but he certainly hadn’t wanted distance. They still worked together just as well, and they made sure to say goodbye to the other at the end of the day before Mr. Wynn picked Cayden up. But those little touches, those hidden kisses, the need to be in the same room as the other even if they weren’t touching… All that had vanished. Cayden didn’t like it, but he also didn’t know how to fix it. He couldn’t change going to jail any more than he could change who his cellmate had been.
Mrs. Wynn’s suggestion to give Trixie time was driving Cayden nuts. “She’ll come around, sweetheart. I think AJ’s attack and learning your connection with him was a bit much for her. Brought back some nastier memories.”
Mr. Wynn even went a step further and hinted that, in a twisted way, Trixie was jealous. Cayden had spent more time with her brother in the past eight years than she had. Cayden had a hard time wrapping his mind around that suggestion, but still found himself wondering if Mr. Wynn was right.
Hoping to brighten her spirits, Cayden brought Geordi to work with him on Thursday. The flower shop was closed through the weekend so the owners could attend an out of state wedding. Mrs. Wynn had been planning on spending the day with Geordi until Cayden had asked if he wanted to come to the shop with him. Since Romero’s wasn’t Geordi’s place of work, Mr. Wynn or Mr. Jones had to also come. They decided that Mr. Wynn would go with them in the morning, and if Geordi wanted to stay, Mr. Jones would relieve him after lunch and then would bring Cayden and Geordi back to the house.
Having Geordi underfoot was fun. He was like a big kid who could easily lift a hundred and fifty pounds. Cayden showed Geordi how to patch a tire and exchange a battery. Geordi even helped him take apart a four-cylinder piston engine to clean the couplings. “It’s like a giant puzzle, Cayden!”
More than once Cayden caught Trixie eyeing them. At one point he caught Jeff’s knowing gaze before the older man winked at him and turned away.
Geordi and Cayden brought Trixie her lunch and ate with her in her office. No one could resist Geordi’s child-like innocence. By the end of their meal, Trixie was smiling and laughing along with them.
Cayden and Geordi went back to work. Mr. Wynn texted him that Mr. Jones was out front in his car. Cayden sent Geordi out to bring Mr. Jones in but the rehabilitation officer said he was good in the parking lot. Geordi brought him out a sandwich and water bottle instead. Cayden took Geordi out to the showroom floor and showed him the different rides. Like any child, Geordi was drawn to the bright green Spyder and bright red 1966 GTO. He didn’t see the beauty in the Aztec or the Taurus. Not like Cayden did.
The day went by too quickly. Soon Geordi was waiting impatiently by the employee door so he could go home and tell Mrs. Wynn “everything!” Cayden had told Geordi he needed to use the restroom before they left but went in search of Trixie instead.
She was bent under the hood of a Mazda Speed6. Cayden leaned against the doorframe and just watched her. Her hair was a mess, she had a dark streak across her forehead, and her hands were covered in grease. Damn, she was beautiful.
“Are you just going to stand there staring at my ass?”
He smiled. He hadn’t realized she’d caught his entrance. “I might. It’s a fantastic view.”
She looked over her shoulder and glared. “I know what you did.”
“I’ve done a lot today. I’m a fantastic employee. And if you don’t believe me, just ask my boss. So if you want to accuse me of doing something, you’ll have to be more specific.”
An eyebrow raised. “Oh, like bringing Geordi here wasn’t some elaborate scheme to mend this,” she gestured, “between us?”
Cayden crossed the bay floor. He studied her face for a moment. Her chocolate browns were a mixture of annoyed and amused. “I couldn’t take it anymore,” he said honestly. “I hadn’t seen you smile all week and I was running out of ideas.”
She turned fully, leaning her bottom against the rim. “I know I’ve been…cold this week. I didn’t mean to be. I’m not mad at you and, honestly, I’ve missed you like hell. I just…” She made a face. “I couldn’t get what you said out of my head, and it hurts to think what he’s suffering through in there all alone.” Cayden reached for her, but she jumped out his way. “I’m covered in grease!”
Cayden snorted. “I don’t care.” He wrapped his arms around her, bringing her flush against him. “I was worried you were upset I knew him. I should have known you’d only be concerned for your brother.” He kissed the side of her head. “I’m sorry I was so selfish.”
“You weren’t.” She clung to him. “I was the one being selfish.”
He grudgingly stepped back. “You still want to spend the weekend with me?”
“Three weekends to go,” she smiled widely. “And hell yes. I’m not letting you get away from me that easily.”
Cayden gripped her by the chin. “You, my beautiful gearhead, just made my day.” He bent to kiss her once. “I need to go. I left Geordi by the door and he’s bouncing like he’s on a sugar high.”
Trixie laughed. “I love how sweet you are with him. Makes me wonder…” Her voice trailed off.
Cayden raised an amused eyebrow. “Wonder what?”
She shrugged and then shook her head. “Nothing. I’ll see you tomorrow.” She turned away from him and bent back under the hood.
Cayden’s eyes narrowed. She was not putting any distance back between them, especially not when they’d just mended the one that had been there. He grabbed her hips and thrust her back against his hardness. He felt her gasp as he ground himself against her tight ass. Dipping his head down, he nipped her ear. “Wonder what?”
She moaned against him. “It’s silly.” Her voice was just a gasp. “How you are with him, it makes me wonder about how you’d be with our kids.”
Cayden blinked, a small trickle of fear rolling down his spine. “You’re not—”
“No,” she giggled, obviously following his train of thought. “It was just a fleeting thought. Forget I said it.”
Cayden turned her head over her shoulder to grab her lips. “I never forget anything you say. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
She smiled and nodded.
It was only after he climbed into Mr. Jones’s car with Geordi talking a mile-a-minute to the officer about his “awesome day!” that Cayden realized she’d said our kids. Not his kids. Our. That brought a permanent smile to his lips for the rest of the night. His housemates noticed and teased him, but Cayden couldn’t bring himself to care. Trixie, whether she realized it or not, was planning a future with him. And that was worth all the ball busting in the world.
Three weekends to go. His freedom with Trixie was so close he could almost taste it.
Trixie was waiting impatiently in the bay for the rest of the employees to clear out. The sales floor was clear. Joey and the marketing staff were already gone. Jeff seemed to be taking extra-long setting up Monday’s tickets and Gary just had to decide that today was the day to reorganize his toolbox.
Strong arms wrapped around her middle from behind. She smiled, but still wiggled her way out of his hold. “We’re not alone yet.”
Cayden rolled his eyes. “It’s after five-thirty and I want to kiss my girl.” He cupped her face. “And I don’t give a damn who sees.”
She wanted to argue but, apparently, she wanted his kiss more. Trixie tilted her face up to him.
“Oh, wow.” His hand dropped from her face and he took a step back. Trixie’s brows touched in confusion. “Yeah, this is embarrassing. I didn’t mean you—”
Catching onto his joke, Trixie jumped him. In the bay room, in full view of Gary and Jeff, Trixie leaped onto his body and wrapped her arms and legs around him. He caught her with ease, trying to keep the smile off his face. She leaned down, grazing his lips with hers. “Better only ever mean me.”
He finally let his smile show. “Just you, only you.”
She met his smile and then kissed him. Jeff and Gary must have taken the hint because they were gone by the time Cayden and she broke apart. Either that or they stood there making out a hell of a lot longer than she realized.
Trixie rested her head against his forehead. “That was mean.”
“I had you going for just a second.”
She glared. “One second. I’ll admit to one second.”
He kissed her again. Something deepened in his voice, laced with emotion. “Just you, Trix. Only you.”
She gripped him tighter. “This week has been really tiring, and I want nothing more than for you to take me upstairs and have your way with me. Wait!” she laughed when he started walking them that way. She pointed over her shoulder to the door leading to her personal collection. “That way. I have something to show you.”
Cayden raised an eyebrow. “You don’t let anyone beyond that door.”
“Consider yourself a special guest,” she purred into his ear.
“Only guest?”
She shrugged. “Joey and Jeff have access, but they respect my privacy enough not to go back. But you’d be the first person I’ve ever invited back.”
Interest sparked in his eyes. “Color me intrigued. Let’s go.”
Trixie jumped down off of him and took his hand. When L and S had revamped their security, they had also upgraded her retinal scanner and added a motion sensor. She used her right eye to unlock the scanner and punched in the code to turn off the sensor.
The door opened into a narrow, cylindrical hall. She kept her vault at sixty-eight degrees, always, and used special filters to keep the air clean. There was a metallic scent in the air that always got her blood pumping.
She realized she was nervous as she led Cayden down the hall. She’d never shown anyone her personal collection. Three she’d inherited from her abuelo, but the other four were her babies. The cars up in the showroom were unique or fancy, but hers were priceless.
Cayden stopped as the first vehicle came into view. “Holy shit,” he breathed. “Is that a Yenko?”
Trixie’s smile was smug. “1969 Yenko Camaro Coupe.”
Cayden walked forward like a man possessed. He circled the shiny black car fully, his jaw dropped and his eyes wide, before he realized it wasn’t alone in her vault. “I think I died and went to Heaven. That’s a 1963 GTV!”
He journeyed to the baby blue Lamborghini. He reached out to touch it but then pulled back. “Damn, my hands aren’t clean.”
Trixie found that amusing, since his hands had just been on her ass. Apparently, they were clean enough to touch her, but not the collectible. She rolled her eyes, storing that knowledge away for future use.
“That’s an El Camino! And a Mustang Boss!” Cayden started hyperventilating. He rounded on her. “Am I alive? I mean, I didn’t inhale too much paint or maybe a jack malfunctioned?”
Trixie laughed before approaching him. “These are my babies.” She pointed to the El Camino, the GTV, and the Porsche 916. “I inherited those from Abuelo. The Boss was my first restoration. I completed it when I was sixteen. Papá helped find me all the parts, but he insisted I was the one who did the work. I think he was trying to keep me distracted from what was going on with AJ.” She pointed to the Yenko, the droptop Ferrari, and the RX7. “I’ve completed all of these since.”
She could feel his heart thumping hard in his chest. His eyes kept jumping from car to car like he was afraid they’d vanish before he got a chance to fully look. “These are amazing. I can’t believe these have been here this whole time. I stole the wrong damn car to win our bet.”
Trixie slapped him hard on the chest. “You gave up that life, remember.” He nodded, though the want in his eyes didn’t lessen any. She forced his face down towards her. It took a moment for his mismatched eyes to leave the cars long enough to meet hers. “I am showing you these for a couple of reasons, but the most important is to show that I trust you, Cayden Russo. I didn’t like the distance between us this week. I know it was my doing and I want to make sure you know that I do trust you.”
That snapped his attention fully to her. “It was never a question of trust, baby. I know you trust me, and I hope that I never break that faith.” He reached down for her hands. “Your brother’s situation is upsetting. I know that, and I get it. I felt so helpless, seeing your pain but not being able to do anything about it.” He kissed the back of her hand. “You weren’t the only one responsible for the distance between us this week.”
She grinned shyly. “You know… I’ve always kind of had this fantasy…”
His eyes lit up. “Oh, yeah?”
She nodded, dragging him back towards the Ferrari. “Yeah.”
