Caged (Savage Men 1)

Graham’s nostrils flare, and he takes a deep breath. Narrowing his eyes, he seems to look past me … beyond the glass prison … and I follow his gaze to find him glaring at Syrena.

“Fine. But I am going to teach her a lesson. Everything has a price.”

Just with that one look … he’s sealed the deal.

He couldn’t get me because he’d go against Cage’s wishes, and he wants to keep Cage happy. Cage is his prized fighter, the one he cares about the most. The one that everything here revolves around … So now he’s going to take Syrena instead.

He marches to the black door that leads to the back bedroom, and I try to scream, but my voice has abandoned me once again.

I hear the door unlock and watch as it slams open and Graham disappears through. Seconds later, the door to Syrena’s prison opens, and she screams.

“Who is it? Graham?” she pleads, desperately searching for a way out with her hands, but a blind woman is no match for a man who can see.

When he grasps her wrist, she screams. “No!”

“You’re coming with me,” Graham growls, dragging her out of her cell and through the bedroom.

In horror, I watch as he pulls her all the way outside, beyond the glass, and to the door. I keep knocking on the glass, but he won’t turn around. He won’t even give me one look before slamming the door shut behind him.

The last thing I hear is Syrena’s loud squeal as it penetrates my brittle heart and shatters it into tiny little pieces.

Accompanying Song: “Life In Her Yet” by Rag’n’Bone Man

Tears run down my cheeks as I keep banging the windows, but it’s no use.

She … won’t come back.

Syrena’s been taken from us, and why? So Graham could fulfill his sadistic needs.

So he could hurt her instead of me because Cage wouldn’t let him take me.

I want to know where he took her. What she’s going through right now. I hate the thought of her being in more pain.

And it’s all because of me.

I didn’t do what Graham wanted, so now he punished her instead.

Probably to get me to listen—to do his bidding—and it’s working. I’m no match for this emotional blackmail. I never wanted Syrena to get hurt. I never expected he’d go to this length to get to me.

God, if I could switch places with her, I would.

It’s all my fault she’s there now … wherever she is.

I turn around in my cell and knock the glass near Cage. He glances over his shoulder at me. The mere sight of his wistful gaze makes me so furious, I scream.

Out loud.

The sound that exits my mouth is as formidable as it is frightening.

And it feels good.

So good.

To finally let it all out.

To finally capture his complete and utter attention in a way I didn’t think was possible.

And I will make him listen to me, no matter the cost.

“How dare you?” I yell.

His lips part again, but now he is the silent one as he stares at me in disbelief.

I’m just as much amazed at my own ferocity as he is, but I won’t back down. Not now. Not anymore. I’ve reclaimed my lost voice. Found what always belonged to me. And I won’t let anyone or anything take it from me ever again.

“You let him take her!” I scream, my voice hoarse and uncontrollable.

He still doesn’t respond even though tears stream down my face. I feel so out of control of this world, this place, these people. So let down by fate. My voice was the only way I could regain a little bit of my self-worth. My soul.

“Why didn’t you do something?” I ask, banging the glass with my fist. “Answer me!”

His eyes lower to the floor, and he frowns. “No choice. This is my life.”

“What do you mean your life? You’re a captive, just like we are. Why don’t you fight back?”

“He’s my father.” He swallows it down as if it’s a tough pill. “I was born here.”

Chapter Twelve

Accompanying Song: “I Will Fall For You” by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui & Woodkid

Ella

Shuddering, I lean back, pulling my hands away from the glass.

“Born here?” I repeat.

It makes no sense.

No sense at all.

Yet the sincerity in his eyes makes me feel as if I’ve just been hit by lightning.

No wonder he never sought to escape. Why he never tried to hurt Graham. Why he shrugged off being in the cell as if it wasn’t that bad. Why he seemed so eager around me.

He literally … doesn’t know any better.

He looks away as if he’s ashamed of the fact even though it might not even be his fault.

“Do you mean … your father kept you here all this time?” I ask. “In this cage?”

He nods and then sits down on the floor, so I do the same.