Chapter Thirty-Eight Jaden

Dad doesn't call, but I know they've been busted because it's on the school's newspaper the next morning. Seeing my brother's face, bruised and sunken in makes my chest hurt. This isn't the Adam I know.

I close the receipt book as soon as the clock turns five. I'm glad to be finished for the day, and even more excited to go home to an apartment that isn't Adam's. Cade doesn't look at the clock, never does, so I sashay over to the garage and knock my knuckles over the metal door.

"Hey handsome, it's time to clock out!" I shout.

Johnny sticks his head up from underneath the hood of a Mazda and smiles. "Alright, Sweetheart, I'm coming."

Cade walks around and nonchalantly hits him in the back of the head with his sack of dirty rags for the day. "My bad," he says with a smile.

He looks worse than the day before since his fight with Will and Adam. I'm thankful the random neighbor broke it up, because I knew I couldn't. But his garage uniform looks good on him nonetheless. I'm eager to have alone time with him when he doesn't have one arm and a bruised body. I don't rush it though, because I'm secretly scared.

My sex life is nonexistent, besides my time with Justin, if you want to call it anything other than awkward and horrific. I don't. Cade walks with me toward his pickup, and I climb in the driver's seat because he doesn't need to drive and hurt himself anymore.

"Go to the baseball field," he says, shutting his door.

I glance over at him. "May I ask why? I'm starving and I want to take a bath."

"Do it, woman," he says.

I don't start his truck and stare at him.

He rolls his eyes. "Listen, I need to go see your little friend Justin, okay? Scare him a little and figure out if he knows anything."

I scoff. "You think he's going to be scared of a one armed guy?"

He flexes the muscles in his good arm. "Yeah, I do."

I chuckle. "Okay, but if you start another fight, I'm going to reconsider this relationship. I didn't sign up for this gangster lifestyle."

He laughs, and relaxes into his seat. "You heard from your dad?"

"No, have you heard from yours?"

"No," he says, looking out the window. "I'm having my mom's cremation ceremony tomorrow if you want to come. It's just gonna be me, but I feel like I need to do something for her, ya know?"

"Of course," I say. "She was your mother, Cade. I'll be there."

We ride in silence with the windows down to the baseball field. The bleachers are packed with people, and I doubt we'll be able to find Justin easily, but I don't doubt Cade. I follow him through the crowd of people, seeing our school's team winning by two.

We walk to the home side and I scan the people for Justin. I don't see him, but figure he's here seeing Will play. Cade keeps close to my side as we walk through the park, until he darts toward the left of the baseball dugout and disappears around the side.

I run to keep up, and find him with his forearm against Justin's throat, pressing him against the brick. "Tell me who did it."

Justin looks like he is going to crap his pants and I can't help but smile. His gaze moves to mine over Cade's shoulder and he pleads for help. I pretend I don't notice. Too little too late, bro.

"I don't know," he says with a shaky whisper. "I really don’t."

"Is it Selena?"

He scoffs but coughs when Cade presses his forearm harder into his throat. "I don't know, I don't talk to her anymore. After everything that happened in school, my parents want me to stay away, so I've been trying to stay away. Only seen her a few times around campus."

I believe him, believe it or not. He looks scared and panicky, so I place my palm on Cade's shoulder. He turns to look at me. "I believe him," I whisper.

Cade presses hard one more time but releases him. "If you say so."

Justin grabs his throat, but doesn't look as mad as I thought he would. "I'm sorry, Jaden," he whispers, meeting Cade's gaze. "For everything."

It isn't heartfelt but I truly believe him.

"Yeah," I say because I don't know what else to say. 'It's okay' isn't it, because it's not okay.

Cade and I walk back to his pickup. I jump into the driver's seat, and start the engine. "Where to?" I ask.

When he doesn't answer, I look over. He's leaned against the window staring at me. "What is it?"

"How about that tattoo?" he asks.

My eyes widen. "I don't know—,"

"Come on, don't be a wuss. My treat. You can get your semicolon, a fairy or Bart Simpson for all I care. Let's take care of that virgin skin of yours."

I give him a look. "You don't like my skin, Cade?"

He chuckles, swiping his lip with his thumb. "I love your skin, but I think it's time. Man up, Baker," he says, hitting his chest.

I chuckle, because it's funny, and I feel myself getting excited. Maybe it is time to get a tattoo and start my life as my own.

***

Cade directs me to a parlor where he had some of his work done when he was younger. I feel myself growing nervous when we walk inside. Especially when everyone turns and looks at me like I don't belong there.

They aren't wrong. This isn't my scene and probably never will be.

"Is Lonnie here?" Cade asks.

The man behind the desk jabs his finger over his shoulder. "In the back."

Cade grabs my hand, which earns me a look from some of the men in the front lobby. The narrowed hallway is littered with artwork and pictures of tattoos. Most of them are grizzly looking with skulls and swords, and they are intimidating.

Cade leads me into a back room and doesn't knock before he burst inside. A feminine laugh halts me at the door. She's covered in tattoos, her dark ebony hair short like a pixie, and her fairylike features only make her more beautiful.

"Cade!" she squeals and bounces over the table toward him. Jealousy climbs my throat at the sight of them hugging. Why did he even bring me here? To torment me? Her gaze travels over his shoulder to me and a smile curls up her mouth. "Well, hello."

Cade turns and smiles at me like I'm a noble peace prize. She shoves from Cade and offers me a handshake. I take it reluctantly. "I'm Lonnie. Who is this Cade?" she asks, shoving her shoulder against his.

"I'm Jaden," I say.

She nods slowly. "Well, isn't this a first? Bringing a girl here. It's nice to meet you." She walks around the seat. "And she's so pretty. Good for you."

Cade grins. "Yeah, she is."

I feel a blush drowning me.

"I heard about your Mom," she says, washing her hands. "I'm so sorry."

Cade shrugs. "Thanks."

She notices his bruises on his arm. "Beating up on your boyfriend, Jaden?"

I laugh. "Only sometimes."

She smirks. "You take up MMA, or you get into a fight."

He waves her off. "We're getting a tattoo today. We as in Jaden. I brought you a virgin sacrifice."

Lonnie tosses her fist into the air. "What are we getting?"

I bite my lower lip, embarrassed about being here and what I want. Cade shoves his good shoulder against mine and gestures for me to tell her.

"I want a semicolon on my hand."

Her eyes meet mine and I can see that she knows what that means, and no judgement crosses her face. "Awesome. Take a seat."

I take a seat and watch Cade walk around the room looking at her artwork. She sterilizes my hand and opens new needles in front of me. "So, Cade, seriously, what happened?"

"Got jumped a few nights ago."

She pulls out her inks. "You want black?" she asks.

I nod.

"Yeah, some bikers came by. Some gang. I was looking for the guy that pimped my mom out before she died."

Lonnie cringes. "Dang. You said a biker gang? What did the guy look like?"

I zone out watching her get the needle ready while he describes what the old guy looks like. When she stops moving, I glance over at their eye contact.

"Wait, did he have a tiger on the back of his jacket?"

Cade thinks about it. "Yeah, and he drove a Harley."

She straightens. "I know that guy, and where to find him."