The Exception Read online

  “Don’t hoot with the hoot owls at night if you can’t soar with the eagles in the morning.”

  I huffed. “That is so not funny. It’s Saturday!”

  Cane smirked. “You are so fucking cute. But you need to get up.”

  “You are such a pain.” I rolled onto my side and looked up at him. He was dressed in a pair of jeans and a grey polo shirt, the collar popped up and looking downright edible. It was as if he had been awake for hours as he stood over me.

  “That’s been said before. You are so unoriginal.” He smiled cockily and smacked me on the butt.

  I rolled over onto my back again and looked at the ceiling. “How long have you even been awake?”

  “I had to work this morning, so I rolled out of here around five.” He sat on the edge of the bed and turned towards me. “And as much as I would like to lay back down with you, I told Max we would be at lunch.” He bent down and kissed me on the forehead. “You still smell like smoke.”

  “I can still smell it on me.” I rose up and drug myself off of the bed. “I guess I need to get another shower before we go.”

  “What was the impromptu fire about last night?”

  I could see the suspicion in his eyes. I shrugged as I walked my way towards the door. “We just wanted a fire. I had some things from my life before that I didn’t want around, so I burned them.”

  “Okay,” he said, lying back on my bed.

  I heard the bed squeak and I flew around, hands on my hips. “Hey! You can’t lie down if I can’t!”

  He put his hands behind his head and smiled, looking ridiculously gorgeous. “I typically do what I want, you know?”

  I shook my head. “Can you make me some coffee while I get ready?” I said, jutting out my bottom lip.

  “If it will make you a little happier today, sure,” he said sitting up. “But get your ass moving, woman.”

  I trudged to the bathroom and showered quickly, using the body wash with the strongest scent to try to mask the smoke smell that wouldn’t leave. I hated that Cane was suspicious about the fire, but I knew he would overreact. Decker was a loudmouth and an asshole, but he wasn’t a threat to Cane in any way, shape, or form. So the less he knew, the better. I had endured enough drama to last me a lifetime.

  I toweled off quickly and threw on a coral sundress and a turquoise bracelet that had been my mother’s. I twisted my hair into a knot and slipped on a pair of flip-flops before joining Cane in the kitchen.

  “I smell coffee!” I said, perking up at the aroma of beans. He was sitting at the table with two mugs of energy, reading the Saturday morning paper. Seeing him so relaxed while doing something so normal made my entire body flood with warmth.

  “That you do,” he said, nodding at my cup. “I sent Max a text and told him we’d be leaving in a few minutes, so drink up and we will go.”

  I sat down and lifted the cup to my lips and breathed in the heavenly aroma. “Thank you,” I said, smiling at him as he got up and put his cup in the sink. He turned to say something when the doorbell rang. He looked at me curiously and I shrugged. “I have no idea.”

  “Want me to get it?” he asked, flipping the coffee maker off.

  “If you don’t mind. I’d like to sit here and nurse this liquid gold.”

  Cane smiled and shook his head as he walked to the front door. I heard the door open and Cane’s voice grow louder. I sat my mug down slowly, listening closely.

  “I’m here to see my wife. Is she here?”

  I would have recognized that voice anywhere.

  It was so agonizingly familiar; I knew the tone like the back of my hand. I knew what he was feeling, what his eyes looked like, the rise and fall of his chest by the sound of the words alone.

  My stomach dropped to the floor as a cold chill ripped through me; I scrambled to get up from the table. I knew I had to get to the front door before the two of them went toe-to-toe.

  “You’re wife? You’ve got the wrong house,” Cane replied as I entered the living room. He was standing with his back to me and I could see Decker over his shoulder.

  Our eyes met and he took a step forward and a rush of adrenaline tore through me. Cane extended his arm, grabbing onto the door frame with his hand, effectively blocking Decker from entering.

  “Jada!” Decker watched me from the other side of Cane and I could feel the fury rippling off of him as I approached. “Get out of my way,” he said to Cane, trying to sidestep him.

  “What are you doing here, Decker?” I asked, stopping a few feet behind Cane. My stomach rolled at the sight of him and I wrapped my arms across it.

  Decker’s eyes were wide with fury, just like I knew they would be. His body was tense, his chest rising and falling rapidly. His jaw was tense, his fists clenched at his side. I vaguely wondered if I got close enough, if he would smell of whiskey.

  I knew every ripple of his body, every shade in his eyes. But at the same time, he felt like a complete stranger. It was confusing, stranger than I ever thought it would be, to see him again. Then again, I never thought, nor did I want, to see him again.

  I just wanted him to leave.

  “So you’re Decker?” Cane’s voice was frigid, his body completely still, never taking his eyes off of the man in front of him.

  “I told you yesterday that I had enough of your games,” Decker said, looking at me over Cane’s shoulder. “Get your shit packed. We are going home.”

  Cane bristled, the muscles in his back flexing at the revelation. “You talked to her yesterday?”

  Decker laughed arrogantly. “Are you jealous?”

  “No,” Cane said, standing taller. “You get jealous over things that aren’t yours. She’s fucking mine.”

  “You need to get out of my way,” Decker bit out, his Boston accent thick.

  Cane turned a bit and I could see the side of his face as a smile spread across his lips. “You seem really angry. I would hate for something ugly to happen in front of my girl, so you better get out of here while you can.”

  Decker’s eyes blazed at Cane’s words. “I don’t want any shit. Just move out of my way.”

  “Don’t start shit and there won’t be shit.”

  Decker took a step towards Cane, his jaw tight. “Move it, boy.”

  Cane chuckled, releasing the doorframe and standing in the middle of the threshold. “This guy wasn’t even in your league, Jada,” Cane said loud enough for me to hear. “You can’t tell me that this pussy did shit for you.”

  My heart leapt in my chest as Decker rushed Cane, closing the distance between them in a half a second. Cane grabbed him by both shoulders as he came in, driving towards Decker with his head in an upward motion, smashing the top of his head into Decker’s face.

  Decker shot back, blood pouring from his nose, his eyes wide. He was clearly not expecting Cane’s aggression.

  My entire body went stiff at the scene. I couldn’t shout, I couldn’t cry, I couldn’t do anything but watch the chaos unfold in front of me.

  Cane burst forward, grabbing Decker by the shirt. Decker swung wildly at Cane, connecting with the side of his face. He stood still, shaking his head, an eerie smile on his face.

  “Now you’ve fucked up,” he said as he threw a kick, knocking Decker to the concrete with a thud. The impact caused one of Kari’s aloe plants to fall off the stand by the door.

  Tears began to prick my eyes, my past colliding with my future in front of my eyes in a way I never imagined.

  “Stop it!” I finally choked out, my hands covering my mouth, trying to hold back the bile that threatened to spill from my gut.

  Immediately, Cane’s fist was blasting into Decker’s face—once, twice, three times. Decker stopped swinging and lay still in the fetal position, his hands trying desperately to cover his face.

  Cane stood up as Decker lay still, his face already swelling from the blows it was dealt. His eyes were wide with fear.

  My stomach was volatile, a pit of acid. I hated everything about
this situation and there was nothing I could do to stop it.

  Cane stuck his foot on the side of Decker’s face, pushing his head roughly to the side, before turning to me. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me this motherfucker called you yesterday,” Cane said, his eyes wild. “Didn’t you feel that was a little fact maybe I should fucking know?”

  Cane’s lips were a thin line, his jaw pulsing with anger as he looked at me.

  “He sent me a box of pictures I had left behind and I burned them, Cane. The smoke? It was the smell of my life before you going up in flames.”

  His face softened a bit.

  “He called me and I told him to never call me again. I didn’t tell you … I should have, I guess. But I didn’t want to cause a bunch of drama for nothing.”

  “Yeah, for nothing. Right,” he said, holding my gaze for a few more moments. He looked down at Decker and removed his foot from his face.

  Cane peered down at my ex-husband. “I am going to let you up. I want you to get in your fucking car and get the fuck out of here. Got it? Move on with your life because her future? It’s with me.”

  He shook his head as he bent down and grabbed him by the shirt, helping him to his feet. “Now get.”

  Decker spit a mouthful of blood onto the porch as he looked at me. “This was your last chance.” The eyes that I once knew so well, that I once saw my life in, seemed so alien to me. “I won’t be around when you decide you’ve messed up. You are on your own.”

  With that, he turned and walked to his car, got in, and backed out of the driveway.

  My chest felt tight, like a band was wrapped around it, squeezing the life out of me. I bent over and put my hands on my knees, trying to get air into my lungs, trying to calm myself down.

  Cane walked slowly across the room. He wrapped me in his arms and rested his cheek against the top of my head. He took a deep breath. “You will never be on your own.” He squeezed me tighter as my tears overflowed my eyelids.

  I sighed as I wiped my face and sagged against him.

  “You know,” he said, kissing the top of my head, “it doesn’t matter what’s in front of you as long as you know who’s behind you. And I’m always going to be behind you.”

  I smiled into his chest.

  “Even when you fail to tell me shit like your ex-husband called you.”

  “I’m sorry. I should have told you.”

  “Damn right you should have told me.” His voice was crisp, laced with frustration.

  I let out a breath, causing my shoulders to slump with it. “Things just seemed to have calmed down, to be going right for once in my life. And I didn’t want to rock the boat.” I raised my head to look into his eyes.

  He placed his hand beneath my chin, angling my face up. I watched as the anger melted from his face as he searched my eyes, his jaw slacking, his eyes softening. “Jada, it really bothers me that you didn’t tell me that.”

  “I know. I’m sorry.”

  Cane’s body relaxed as he looked away. “My feelings are hurt. I’m turning into Max,” he said, wincing, making me laugh. “But seriously, are you all right?”

  “Yeah. These blasts from the past are going to have to stop at some point, right?”

  “Let’s fucking hope.”

  “Forgive me?” I reached up and cupped his face in the palm of my hand.

  He tried to look stern, but a grin crept its way in. “I suppose. But you’ll have to make it up to me.”

  “Deal.”

  “Oh, my beautiful girl. You should always ask for the fine print before agreeing to a deal.”

  I shrugged. “I trust you.”

  “Famous last words,” he said, wiggling his eyebrows. “Let’s go back inside. Someone has some baking to do.”

  JADA

  I smoothed down my dark brown dress I had bought right before leaving Boston. I had never worn it before and it felt nice to be dressed up. It was the color of my hair, a chestnut brown, and tight around the waist. I had accented it with gold hoop earrings, bangle bracelets, and a pair of strappy heels. I curled my hair into beachy waves and was pretty confident as I made my way into the kitchen.

  I rounded the corner and my eyes fell on Cane, standing with his back to me overlooking the pool. He had a pair of grey dress pants and a white dress shirt, sleeves rolled up as usual. His blond hair was a little longer than normal and the ends fell just to the tip of his collar.

  I had hoped that going out to dinner would ease the strangeness between us that had seemed to linger since the Decker incident. Cane had seemed to be busier at work since then and a lot quieter around me. He promised nothing was the matter, but it just wasn’t the same as it had been before Decker showed up.

  I leaned against the doorframe to adjust a strap on my heel and just watched him. He ran one hand roughly through his hair, the muscles in his back rigid. In his other hand, he was holding his cell to his ear. The sound of my heel hitting the tile caused him to turn towards me abruptly.

  His face was stern, his forehead creased in frustration, his lips a thin line. He raised an index finger to me and turned his back to me again.

  Something about the way he was standing there made me nervous and I spun the ring on my finger.

  “No, I understand.” Cane stretched his neck side to side. “Are you sure?”

  His head fell as he nodded it subtly, more to himself than anything. My stomach dropped.

  “Yeah, I get it. We need to get to the bottom of it. I don’t like the way that sounds.” He exhaled harshly. “No, I can absolutely meet you now. I’m in Tempe now, so it will be a little bit, but I’m on my way.”

  He shoved his phone in his pocket and hesitated before turning to me again.

  “I’m sorry, Jada. I have something I need to take care of, so I’m going to have to cancel our dinner plans.” His face was stern, his body rigid. His eyes were soft, yet somehow still maintained an underlying blaze that had me worried.

  “Okay. Is everything all right?” My mind rolled through a million possibilities, causing my heartbeat to spike.

  Calm down.

  “Yeah. Nothing for you to worry about.” He strode over and kissed me on the head. “When is Kari coming home?”

  “Uh, I’m not sure. I think she is getting off work in an hour or so, but I think she’s going to Max’s house after that.”

  Cane started towards the front door. “She’s coming home; Max will be with me. Follow me to the front and set your alarm, okay?”

  My heart began pounding in my chest. “Should I be worried about something, Cane?”

  He stopped in his tracks and turned to look at me. “You should be alert. You should always be alert. Eyes open. But I wouldn’t leave you here if I didn’t think you would be fine. You should know that.”

  A small smile spread across his face. “You’re my priority.”

  “Cane,” I whispered, my heart swelling. I took a few steps forward and wrapped my arms around his waist. “Will you call? Let me know you’re okay?”

  “Of course. Now set this alarm. I have to go.”

  CANE

  My fucking head hurt. Pounded. Throbbed.

  It could have been because my blood pressure was so fucking high that my head was about to shoot off of my body like a cartoon character.

  That would have been a funny vision, if I hadn’t been ready to lose my shit. And losing my cool in front of the private investigator sitting on the other side of my desk at Alexander Industries probably wouldn’t be the best idea. Max gave me a look to keep myself in check and I glowered at him all cool and collected.

  How can he always be so calm? One of these days, I’m going to make sure he goes ape-shit crazy, just for the fun of it.

  I rolled my head around my neck, trying to loosen the straining muscles in my body.

  “So what do you suggest we do?” I asked, sitting back in my chair.

  I really hope he suggests that I just destroy him …

  “Well, Cane, there
isn’t a lot we can do at this point. The witness that says he saw a man that looked like Simon the night of the waterline bust isn’t going to talk to the police. He’s a young, gangster-looking type and he doesn’t want any involvement with law enforcement.”

  “Fucking punk,” I muttered, waiting for Nick to go on.

  “But there is security footage of an Avalanche in the area that night?” Max glanced at me and then back to Nick.

  “There is. But do you know how many dark Avalanches there are in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area? It isn’t clear enough to get a license plate number, so there’s no hard evidence that we can do anything with.”

  I scrubbed my hands over my face. “I should have killed him when I had the chance.”

  “Do I even want to know what that means?” Nick raised his eyebrows.

  “No. No, you don’t.” Max flashed me a warning look. “Cane’s just running at the mouth.”

  I leaned forward on my desk, frustration eating away at me. “So what? I just wait around like a sitting duck while he goes around tearing up my jobsites and assaulting my girlfriend? Fuck that!”

  “Cane,” Nick said, his voice even, “stay calm. We are doing everything we can at this point to ensure Powers doesn’t do anything else to you, your assets, or Ms. Stanley.”

  I looked Nick over. His face had changed in the roughly ten years since I had met him. It was harder, more seasoned, but his eyes were still the assessing, evaluating ones I remembered.

  He was one of the best PI’s in the state and one of the few that was willing to take on a case from a rambling kid that had just lost his dad. As his investigation progressed into my dad’s case, Nick and I became close. He never had gotten married nor had children, so I don’t know if he looked at me like a kid or a friend. Regardless, he saved me from drinking myself to death on more than one occasion.

  “I know, Nick. But you know who this son-of-a-bitch is. I want him eliminated as a threat and, since I’m guessing you aren’t going to support me killing him …”

  Nick shook his head. “If anyone knows what that family is capable of, it’s me, Cane. But we have to do things in order.”