Page 89 of One Quick Obsession

“Mommy tripped, girls.”

Cale moved forward, as if to reach for them, and I turned, moving so they were both behind me.

“I’ve got it. Don’t touch them,” I snapped.

My voice chilled, and Cale just looked at me, tilting his head. One blond lock fell over his gaze, and he smirked at me.

“Excuse me?”

“Don’t touch them. I didn’t fall.” Words tumbled out of my mouth, and I realized if I didn’t say them, I wouldn’t ever.

Who was this person? The one who had cowered, and would have most likely leaned into the idea that I had tripped.

But he had nearly hurt my babies. And I would never allow that to happen.

I ignored the thoughts that whispered to me that I had already done so by staying. By trying.

“Don’t be so melodramatic.”

The girls crawled behind me, and I stood up, still woozy.

“Don’t touch me. Or my girls.”

“Our girls. You forget that I’m the father, don’t you? Or were you spreading your legs for someone else.”

I blinked, wondering exactly how many drinks he’d had before this. And when exactly had I allowed his venom to pierce me.

“Get out. Just get out.”

“Why? Why should I leave when it’s my house? Oh wait, it’s not. Your family money helped us with the down payment, didn’t it? I’m the useless one, who has to sleep with his wife in order to gain anything? Is that what your family thinks? Why they allow me to be in their presence? The beautiful and brilliant and billionaire Cages. They don’t care who they step on to get where they are. You’re nothing. You’re the left behind Cage, that’s getting the scraps. Why the fuck do you think I’ve stayed this long though? Because those scraps are worth far more than you. And they’ll be mine soon. So don’t find your damn spine now. You know you’ll fall at my feet whenever you remember exactly what I can do to you, or exactly what I would do to take your kids. Because those girls are half mine. Remember?”

“Get out.” I knew there was more I needed to say to stand up for myself. But it was all I could do to try to put any distance between him and the girls.

I had known that Cale was changing. That the shadows that had coated him had long since fallen away. My family hadn’t found out, and I’d done my best not to let them see too closely, but I was failing.

I had failed my babies, failed my girls. And I wasn’t going to let it happen again.

Hazel moved forward, past my legs, and towards him, and when Cale smirked, reaching for her, I pushed out, slamming my palms into his chest.

“Don’t touch her.”

“You think you can hurt me?” Cale snapped out, before he fisted his hand and punched me in the face.

I fell back, both girls screamed their little hearts out, and Cale hovered over me.

“You’re going to clean up this mess, put the girls to bed, and make dinner. And then you’re going to remember that you’re my wife. The only Cage we need is the one that will help us sustain where we need to be in society. But you are mine. Remember that. You might not have taken my name because you wanted to show that you were a part of your precious fractured family. But I’m the one that let you do that. I own you. Just like I own these little girls. I’m tired of pretending to be the weak one in your family so they feel better about themselves. Remember exactly who I am.”

I tried to crawl away, to cover both girls with my body, but Cale just sighed, grabbed my ankle, and pulled.

A scream ripped out of my throat as I scrambled to get away from him, but I had forgotten how strong Cale was.

“Are you really going to make me do this the hard way?” With a sigh, he leaned down and punched me again.

Darkness welled over me, and I tried to shift. Everything moved as if I was in a fog. I reached out, trying to grasp anything, but it was too late. Everything was just too late.

There were a few whispers, and the babies crying, but I couldn’t do a damn thing.

“Come on, girls. You’re coming with me.”