The Cage (Book 2) ✔️

Father

Next part? Ritoria! 

Father

"Uh... Schneider. You know... your boss's son..." I faltered when I didn't see any sign of recognition in the guard's accusatory dark eyes, feeling like a deflating hot balloon. So much for that.

"Who?" The guard repeated like an owl, and I nearly had a meltdown from all the nerves. Evidently, I wasn't built for a life of excitement. Still, I had no choice but to hold it together or be gunned down.

Cade shot me a look that clearly told me he didn't appreciate my interference, but he piggybacked on my idea anyway. "Tell your boss we're here because his son's in danger." Cade ordered, his menacing glare fixed on the guard.

I silently groaned; why did Cade think he had any authority over these guards? This wasn't prison!

Nose flaring and teeth flashing, the guard barked, "I said-"

Cade cut him off and growled, "If you turn us away and something happens to his son, it's on your head."

That gave the guard pause. He appeared to be processing Cade's words, and I instantly knew from his changing expression when the instinct to protect himself from his employer's wrath took over, and he saw the wisdom in Cade's words.

Wordlessly, he stepped back and motioned for his colleagues to lower their guns. "Search the car."

One of the guards brought a bomb detector and swiped the bottom of the car with it. Another two opened the car's trunk and rummaged through the bags. I looked over my shoulder to find them rifling through my work with the carelessness of angry toddlers, and I bit down on my tongue to keep from yelling at them. Naturally, they found the bag of guns and carried it, unzipped, to the guard still standing by Cade's side to show.

"What's this?"

"Protection." Cade answered easily, seemingly not worried they'd suspect us of foul play.

"It stays in the car." The guard's eyes flashed a warning.

Cade nodded his agreement.

"You two, get out. Boys, search them."

We did as instructed. The last time I was so meticulously frisked was when I'd gone to prison. Talk about extra security.

This wasn't some normal person's abode, that much was obvious.

"They're clear."

Nodding his approval, the guard said, "You're clear to go in. But no funny business, you hear?"

The gate opened and the guards cleared a path for us. Heart thumping erratically, I hurriedly climbed back into the car just as Cade did.

"That went better than I expected." Cade admitted as soon as his window was rolled up, and I turned to look at him just in time to see a bead of sweat roll down the side of his face.

So Cade was nervous too.

Some distance ahead, I spotted a large gothic structure that looked to be at least a hundred years- old. A mansion. The drive to it on the winding road, with stretches of well-kept green lawn on either side, took about five minutes. This place gave new meaning to the word 'sprawling'. We passed by what I assumed to be the servants' quarters, followed by a car garage that could house at least fifty cars. Two classic Mercedes were parked out front.

"You've been here before?" I had been dying to ask Cade this question since the moment we turned onto the road leading to this estate.

"Yes. Once."