I NEED SOME SPACE

I NEED SOME SPACE
“What have you done?!”
Cash lay sprawled on the bed, shirt half-open, belt unbuckled, eyes shut, face pale. My chest tightened when I saw the hickeys on his neck.
Cage stood at the foot of the bed, sleeves rolled up, shirt unbuttoned.
Everything about him seemed eerie.
When he saw my shocked figure standing in the doorway, he smiled. “Ah. The savior arrives.”
I didn’t say a word. 
The moment I walked into the room, my hand moved before my brain caught up.
My fist connected with Cage’s jaw, slamming so hard my knuckles stung.
The crack of his neck echoed.
“You animal!” I screamed, my breath shaking.
Cage staggered back, a twisted grin spreading across his face. His tongue ran over his lip where blood glistened.
Quickly recovering, he blinked, and then laughed… actually laughed. “You’ve got some nerve, Isabel.”
“Don’t say my name,” I spat. 
He rubbed his jaw, grinning. “You hit like him, like a weak woman. Maybe that’s why he likes you.”
“Shut up!”
Cage tilted his head, his smile widening. “You have no idea what you’re walking into huh? The both of us, were meant to be, you can’t tear us apart. I’m the only one who knows how to take care of him.”
“Stop saying nonsense” I moved closer. “You hurt him.”
“I was about to give him pleasure.”
I glanced back at Cash, his chest rose and fell, slow but steady. Rage roared through me. “Pleasure? He’s unconscious! He didn’t give you his consent!”
Cage’s eyes darkened. “Don’t raise your voice at me.”
“Or what? You’ll force yourself on me too?”
“Who the fuck are you talking to like that?” He stepped forward. “You think you scare me?”
“Try me.”
In one stride, he was in my face, breath hot with alcohol. 
I saw his hand twitch… the way men do before they ball their fists and strike.
Then he moved fast… too fast. He lunged in attack.
But I knew men like him. I’ve had my fair share of them and I was two steps ahead.
I reached into my pocket, stepped back, pulled a switchblade from my pocket, and flicked it open with a click.
The sharp sound sliced the silence in two. “Come on”
Cage stopped and his grin faded.
I held it between us, steady despite the fury making me shake. “Touch me, Cage. I dare you. I double dare you.”
He smirked again. “You wouldn’t…”
“Take one more step,” I said, voice trembling, “and I’ll find out exactly how dangerous I can be.”
For a moment, we just stared at each other… predator against predator.
Then he chuckled and leaned back, hands raised. “You’ve got fire. I see why Carl likes you.”
I didn’t lower the blade. “You’re sick.”
He shrugged and straightened. “I’ve been called worse.” His eyes narrowed at my weapon. “Put that down before you hurt yourself.”
“Security!” I shouted, ignoring his order.
Cage chuckled, rubbing his jaw where hos skin was an angry red. “Security? This is my territory. I own everyone here, down to the men who guard the door.”
True. Everyone answered to him.
But there was only one person Cage answered to.
“Get out of my room Isabel, you just ruined a good time.”
“Fuck you” I cursed “Now I know why Cash has always been scared of you.”
“You know nothing!”
“Yes I do, and I’m looking at the evidence right now.”
My phone was already in my other hand. I dialed Carl, the call connected and I hit speaker as soon as he answered.
The line clicked. “Isabel?”
“I know your secret.”
Silence.
“What?” Carl’s voice sharpened instantly.
“I know what you and your son have been hiding,” I said, keeping the knife pointed at Cage. “How long were you going to let this go on? How long were you going to let him keep doing this to Cash?”
“Isabel,” Carl said slowly, “where are you?”
“In Cage’s room.”
“What’s has he done?” Carl asked and I shook my head in disbelief.
Carl has been covering up sexual abuse between his sons!
“I can’t believe you Carl, this is horrendous! It’s a taboo!”
“Isabel, calm down”
“No! Don’t fucking tell me what to do”
Cage just stared blankly at my outburst.
“Your son tried to force himself on Cash while he was unconscious.”
“Liar,” Cage snapped. “He just had too much to drink, and he’s not complaining”
“Shut up!” I shouted at him, then back to the phone. “Carl, your deranged cunt of a son has lost his fucking mind! Cash is not safe with him… none of us are!”
Carl’s tone turned ice-cold. “Cage.” 
Cage’s eyes flicked toward the phone. “Father.”
“Step down ,” Carl said in a commanding tone
“Father, you don’t understand…”
“Step. Down. Now.” The tone of Carl’s voice carried an air of finality and left no room for arguments.
Cage flinched, the first real crack in his façade.
Carl’s voice deepened. “Do not make me repeat myself, Cage, and don’t get me mad. You’ve crossed a line. You think I’ll protect you forever? You’re out of control, and now someone else knows. I won’t let you drag me down with this.”
Cage’s jaw clenched. “I can fix this.”
“No,” Carl snapped. “You can’t. I don’t care if you’re my son. You need help, and you’re getting it the moment you land in California.”
Cage’s head lifted sharply. “You can’t send me away.”
“I can,” Carl said, calm and final. “And I will. I’m sending a jet tomorrow morning. Pack your bags, I need you home before dinner. Isabel, take Cash home,” 
The phone went silent. Carl had hung up.
I stared at Cage. He looked smaller suddenly. His chest rising and falling hard, eyes burning into me. 
The power had been stripped right off him. Still, that glint never left his eyes. 
The kind of glint that said he wasn’t done. Not yet.
“Do not glory yet. You haven’t won.” He said.
I stood there, heart hammering, blade still in hand. “I don’t care about winning. I just want you gone.”
He tilted his head. “You really think my father runs this my affairs? He doesn’t. I’m free to do whatever the fuck I want, with whoever the fuck I want.”
“Not anymore.” I countered.
For the first time, he looked uncertain. 
Then his lips curled again. “When I come for you, nothing will save you.” He whispered, smiling calmly.
But I didn’t budge.
I dialed another number. “Security. The last floor please.”
Three men in black suits stormed into the room within seconds.
 They looked at me first, then at the unconscious man on the bed.
“Take him,” I said, pointing to Cash. 
Cage’s jaw tightening. “Don’t touch him.”
The guards exchanged looks but didn’t back off. 
“I order you, get him out of this room. This man here tried to rape him.” I pointed at Cage and they all turned to give him a condescending look.
“Take him to my car. Carefully so you don’t hurt him. I’ll drive him home.”
They nodded and lifted Cash gently, carrying him out of the room. His head lolled weakly against one guard’s shoulder. His skin was clammy, his breathing shallow but steady. 
Cage didn’t move. He stood in the corner, eyes following me like the predator he is.
I waved my knife in his face when I walked up to him, my voice low. “You repulse me.”
I glared at him one last time and turned away.



The drive home was silent. I had one hand on the wheel, the other clenched in my lap. 
Cash was unconscious in the back seat, his head resting against the window. Streetlights flashed across his face, bruised, broken, and beautiful.
I felt sorry for him.
We were victims of dishonor.
When I pulled into my driveway, I got out and helped him inside. 
He barely stirred as I laid him on the couch. I covered him with a blanket and sat across from him, my heart still pounding from what happened.
My hand darted out to brush the hair from his damp forehead.
I wanted to kill something. 
I wanted to scream. 
I wanted to wake him up and demand answers.
Instead, I just stared at him.
How many nights had this gone on? How many times had I told myself I wasn’t part of whatever darkness the Graves’ lived in?
I was here on a mission… but now Cash was my distraction.
And now I’d seen it, the truth. The way Cage had looked at him, touched him, kissed him, claimed him on that bed.
It made my stomach turn.
I stayed awake all night. 
I couldn’t stop replaying it all. 
The moment I walked in…
The sight of Cash lying helpless…
Cage’s smirk…
Carl’s rage…
The switchblade sat on the table beside me, still open.
I hated that I needed it.
I hated that I had an urge to use it.
Without thinking, I grabbed my knife and walked out of my the house into the dead of the night. 



Morning came too soon. 
Pale light bled through the blinds, cutting across the room in quiet lines.
Cash stirred, groaned, and opened his eyes.
He blinked a few times, confused. “Isabel?” His voice was hoarse.
I didn’t answer right away. I just stood up from the chair I had sat all night watching him, and poured him a glass of water.
He winced as he tried to sit up.
I handed him the glass of water. “Drink.”
Cash took a sip, avoiding my eyes. “What happened?” he murmured.
“You don’t remember?”
He looked down. “I remember taking too many shots. And then… nothing.”
“You passed out,” I said flatly. “And Cage was there with you.”
He rubbed his temple and sighed. “He lost control again, didn’t he?”
“Again?” I repeated, my voice rising. “Cash, how long has this been happening?”
He didn’t answer.
I felt anger bubbling up again. “How long has this been going on, Cash? How long have you been letting him do this to you?”
He sighed. “You don’t understand…”
“I understand perfectly,” I snapped. “I walked in on him standing over you like some psychopath ready to fuck you wjile you were unconscious. And you’re defending him?”
“He’s my brother,” he whispered.
I froze.
The words hit like a slap.
I stared at him, disbelief twisting in my chest. “Your what? You still see him as your brother after what he’s done?”
He lifted his eyes to mine, guilt heavy in them. “We grew up together. It’s… complicated.”
“Don’t say that again.” My voice broke.
He ran a hand over his face, exhausted. “You don’t know what it’s like, Isabel. I hate him but he’s… he’s always been like this. Possessive. Controlling. He hates the fact that I left and he just won’t accept that this it’s wrong…”
My throat felt tight. “So you just… stayed quiet all these years? Let him abuse you, manipulate you, and…”
“Please,” he sighed wearily “I don’t want to think about it.”
“I saw you kiss him.”
Cash froze. “I didn’t…”
“You have no idea what it was like walking in there and seeing you like that.” I whispered “I don’t think I can get that image out of my head,”
Cash shook his head. “I promise you wasn’t like that. You don’t understand.”
I stared at him, heart pounding, every memory between us feeling tainted now. “Then explain it to me.”
He said nothing. Just silence.
His lips parted, but no words came.
That silence said everything.
I felt something inside me shift, like a door closing for good.
So I stood up, grabbed my coat, and walked toward the door.
“Isabel, wait…”
I stopped but didn’t turn around. “I need some space.”
His voice cracked behind me. “Please don’t…”
But I didn’t look back.
“I don’t think I can stand you right now.”