Released (Caged 3)

Eye contact with Yolanda lasted nine seconds.

On the tenth second, she punched me hard enough to send me backwards. The next thing I knew, I was on the ground and she was sitting on my stomach, beating the shit out of me. She went for my gut and kidneys first and then moved up to my chest and head.

I covered my face, but otherwise let her do her worst.

It was a little cathartic, really. I closed my eyes and just felt the punches until she realized that was exactly what I was doing and stopped. I glanced up at her only to have her smack me a couple more times before she stood back up.

“Can I see her?” I asked as I hauled myself back onto my feet.

“Get the fuck out of here,” Yolanda growled. “You are a lost cause.”

“I need to talk to her.”

“What, to tell her to kill the baby because you can’t manage to be a man? You’re shit!”

She punched my gut again. I cringed and rubbed at the spot before running my left hand up and over my head.

Mistake.

Yolanda’s eyes widened as she grabbed my arm and twisted it. Her gaze ran down the inside of my arm.

“You’re high.” She snarled as she practically threw my own hand back at me. “I fucking knew it! I could tell at your last fight!”

“Not now,” I said. “I…I went a little crazy. I’m straight now—really.”

“Lost cause,” she repeated. “I’m done with you, Liam Teague. We’re done. I’m not training you or helping you out with your shit anymore. Fuck, Liam! I thought you had some real potential! But you can’t get your head out of your ass long enough to make anything of it!”

“Please, Yolanda,” I said, “I know she’s here. I just want to talk to Tria.”

“No.”

“Tria!” I yelled over Yolanda’s shoulder, and she shoved me back into the hallway.

“Get the fuck out of here,” she said as she moved herself to further block the doorway.

“Not until I see her,” I insisted.

“My building has actual security,” Yolanda said. “I’ll have them throw you out.”

“Do you think they can take me?” I asked, crossing my arms. “I hope there’s more than one of them.”

“Get out!”

“I want to talk to her!”

“I don’t want to talk to you.”

Instinctively, I turned my head toward her voice. Tria stood in the opening to Yolanda’s guestroom, wrapped in a long purple robe which was tied around the waist. It was dark in the hallway, and I couldn’t see her face well, but my heart started beating faster at the sound of her voice.

“Please,” I begged, “just give me a chance.”

“Why should I?”

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I’m sorry I freaked and ran out. I’m sorry I reacted that way—just give me a chance to explain.”

“Explain?” Tria repeated with a harsh laugh. “Explain what?”

“You going to tell her, Teague?” Yolanda asked with a sneer. She reached out and smacked my chest with both hands. “Are you finally going to tell her why you are being such an asshole? Because there is no way I’m letting you in here unless you are ready to tell her everything.”