THE MISSING PIECE

THE MISSING PIECE
Cash stood there, trembling violently, his finger twitching on the trigger as pure rage poured out of him. “I swear to fucking God I’ll kill you.”

Cage scoffed and shook his head. “I haven’t seen Paxton since yesterday. He told me he was leaving, and when I came back, the house was empty.”

“Shut up!”

“You know me too well, Cash. You know I’d never do what that lunatic woman are accusing me of, she’s just putting nonsense in your head. I mean, we’re brothers. Are you going to trust them over me?”

“Shut up, Cage! Shut the fuck up!”

“Remember all we’ve been through together. She’s just trying to use you and make me look bad. I’ve never hurt you. Why would you think I’m capable of murder? Cash darling, belive me…”

“Shut up, you lying bastard!” Cash screamed, and pulled the trigger while Cage was still talking.

The gunshot echoed sharply through the room like deafening our hearing for a second. Cash’s eyes widened in horror as he stared at the glass sculpture behind Cage.

“Are you crazy?!” Cage, who covered his ears in shock, yelled at Cash. But Cash didn’t care. He just stood there, a horrifed look on his face despite the pain.

Cash dropped the gun, his hands shaking uncontrollably. He collapsed to his knees, breaking down into sobs that wracked his whole body.

And Cage, the caring brother, stepped closer. “Cash, sweetheart, you know Father and I love you so much. Come back to us. We’ve always been such a happy family without that woman…”

“Get him away from me!” Cash yelled through his tears, scrambling back on the floor.

“Cupcake, don’t cry…” Cage cooed, ignoring the ignoring his hysterical brother as he advanced.

“Don’t call me that!”

“Cash, baby…”

“No! Stay away from me!”

Cage paid no attention to Cash’s hysterical screams.

He kept moving forward, his eyes fixed on his brother with that sickening mix of possession and fake sympathy.

Isabel had had enough. Fed up with Cage’s lack of sympathy and his pure wickedness, she pulled out her gun and stepped between the brothers, shielding Cash from the lunatic.

“First of all, his name is Cash. Stop calling him those nonsense names.” She lifted her gun right to Cage’s face. “And take four steps back.”

Cage’s expression twisted into raw anger. “You’re not part of our family. You’re nothing but a gold-digging intruder who’s sucking my father’s cock because of his status. Now, step out of my way, I want to talk to my brother…”

Isabel rolled her eyes. Typical Cage. Always here to remind her of her position with Carl.

“Do I need to repeat myself?!” She snapped. “Let me remind you Cage, that before I became a forensic expert, I was a cop and that’s how Carl and I met.”

“Oh really?” He mocked.

“That’s fact. And now I’m giving you an order as a cop with an authorized weapon. If you don’t do as I say, I’ll shoot you in self-defense. Trust me, Carl won’t bother me with a single question. And then we’ll go out to have dinner at one of the most expensive restaurants in town while you fight for your life on a hospital bed, hooked to life machines, because I know exactly which artery to hit.” She ground out her threat, in a low and steady voice.

Cage went silent, his jaw clenched, but he still refused to move.

“Now, Mr. Asshole…” she continued, putting a firm finger on the trigger.

Cage laughed bitterly and looked away.

“Will you obey, or do I need to show you what happens to dickheads civilians who don’t abide by the rule of law?”

He stared her down for a long moment, his eyes burning with hate, before he finally backed away, step by step.

Isabel turned slightly to Clara, who stood frozen nearby. “Clara, help Cash to the car.”

She nodded quickly and reached for Cash who was still on the floor, but he pushed her hand away roughly. 

“Don’t touch me!” he shouted, then bolted out the door in tears, screaming profanities at Cage as he ran.

Isabel kept her gun trained on Cage, a small smile finally breaking through as she lowered it slowly, knowing she had won over him once again.

But as she turned to leave, Cage’s voice stopped her cold, laced with pure venom. “Yeah, run after him like the fucking nanny you are.”

She paused in her steps, though refusing to look back at him. “At least I get to take care of him now. He’s all mine, Cage.” She chuckled softly and walked away, feeling his fury burning into her back.

“Watch your back, Isabel. Don’t you ever forget to,” Cage called after her, his voice carried dark promise.

Once she was gone, Cage whirled on his assistant Clara, who hadn’t moved.

“What the fuck was that? Clara, do you realize you work for me? If I decide to fire you, you’ll never be able to work for even a beggar in your life…!"

“What happened to Paxton?” she cut him off sharply, her voice steady despite the cold tension.

Cage went cold, his face hardening with anger. “How dare you ask me that? Do I look like a murderer?”

“The last time I saw him, he was sad, right here in your house. You were maltreating him.”

Cage balled his fists in cold fury. “Are you trying to accuse me?”

“No. I just want him to get justice.”

“Get the fuck out of my house and get him justice in a courthouse.”

Clara couldn’t believe the man “How can you be so cruel? He loved you! Paxton was your lover!” Clara almost lost her cool. Her professional composure nearly slipped.

But Cage felt no remorse. He stared her dead in the eye. “Was he?”

Clara felt a pang of fear as a small, chilling smile played on Cage’s lips.

The realization hit her like a wave. Paxton had always been a rebound, a hated one, because Cage could only truly love one man.

His brother.

“If you want to keep your job, Clara, you better keep your mouth shut,” Cage said coldly.

Clara fell into angry silence, her fists balled tight, but she held her strict secretary composure. 

Cage turned and walked to his mini bar. “Now, I need to throw a party.” He picked up a glass and a bottle of Merlot, pouring it steadily. “Something large and extravagant to distract us from all this hullabaloo…”

But then he spun around at the sharp clicks of Clara’s heels. And there she was, heading for the door.

“Where the fuck do you think you’re going?!” Cage’s voice thundered.

“I’m taking the day off,” she replied coolly.

“Are you fucking dumb? How dare you turn your back on me, you weak filth?” he asked with menace.

Clara stayed silent, raising her chin in defiance.

“I could kill you right here and right now…”

“You won’t,” Clara cut him off.

“What was that?” Cage asked, his rage barely suppressed.

“You need me to keep my mouth shut. That’s how I know you won’t kill me or fire me, Cage.”

Cage suddenly went cold, his expression freezing into surprise.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Mr. Graves. I’m more than delighted to continue being your loyal secretary.”

With that, she turned and walked away.

Cage was beyond astonished. Clara had challenged him. And she’d called him by his first name.

“Clara, don’t you dare…” he yelled as she opened the door.

“I know your kind of man, Mr. Graves. I promise you, you don’t want to know my kind of woman.”

And with that, she closed the door firmly behind her.


Isabel Slade (first person POV)

I was lounging in the bathtub, soaking in the warm, scented water with a glass of red wine in my hand, trying to wash away the day’s chaos. 

The sweet scented steam rose around me, and for a moment, everything felt peaceful. 

Cash was in the guest room, finally asleep after hours of crying and raging. I’d held him until he passed out from exhaustion, whispering that he was safe now, that I’d protect him from his twisted brother.

My phone dinged on the edge of the tub, breaking the silence and I reached for it, expecting maybe an update from my contacts or a text from Carl. 

And it was exactly the update I’d been waiting for. The dirt I’d been digging up for weeks, had been finally delivered by my contact.

I opened it, scrolling through the attached files and photos, and breath caught in my throat as I read the details involving him. My so-called fiancé.

Carl was a missing piece that had been hidden on purpose all along. 

How long had he planned on hiding this from me?!
Anger boiled up inside me, hot and fierce and I stood up. The water was cascading off my body as I grabbed a towel. 

“That two-faced phony ass charlatan!” I gasped out loud, splashing water as I walked out of the bathtub.

“Bastard!”