It Ain't Me, Babe

“Greetings, Brother Cain.” My sisters dropped prostrate in his presence, their heads to the floor, arms stretched out in front—complete and utter submission.

Cain cast them a brief disinterested glance, then focused his brown eyes on me. I stood on shaky feet, trying to meet him face to face, on equal terms.

His eyes narrowed.

“Leave us,” he commanded.

Instantly, Maddie and Lilah jumped to their feet, their wary eyes questioning.

Lilah took Maddie’s hand, but my sister refused to move. Cain addressed them once more. “I said leave!” he snapped, obviously losing patience.

“Don’t you dare shout at her!” I threatened, stepping right up to his broad chest. Lilah sucked in a sharp, shocked breath at my action.

“Mae, be quiet,” Cain growled in warning, his fists clenching and unclenching at his sides.

“I will not be quiet! I shall never obey another order given by any of you people ever again!”

Maddie ran to my side and clutched my arm. I glanced down at my sister. She was petrified. I pressed a kiss on her head.

“Go, Maddie. I shall be fine. Wait for me outside.”

She shook her head, her huge eyes squarely aimed at Cain. Brother Cain sighed. “I shall not hurt her. Despite what y’all believe, I have never harmed a female. I don’t intend to start with Mae. Especially not Mae.”

I scoffed at that obvious lie, earning me another glare from Cain. Turning to Maddie, I said, “Go, Maddie. Lilah will care for you. I shall find you when our business is complete.”

Lilah took Maddie’s hand and pulled her to the door. They left and the door closed.

“I have nothing to say to you.” I sneered at Cain. Turning my back to my former friend, I walked over and sat on the end of my bed.

“I know you think I have betrayed you, but everything was real, Mae. Us, our friendship, everything I said… especially the way I feel about you.” He edged closer to me and I held up my hand, signaling him to stop.

He did so.

“Really? Was it all real, Rider—Oops! I mean Cain! Forgive me if your kidnapping me and returning me here, to Hell, can be construed as a mere slight against me.”

Cain ignored my sarcasm and ploughed on regardless.

“You don’t belong out there in that world, Mae. You belong with your people… with me.” His voice was so soft, so persuasive.

My heart sank. I wanted my Rider back. The person stood before me confused me and at that instant, I just did not know what to believe.

“It can’t be what you want,” he stated. “You want to be an old lady? You want to be surrounded your whole life with guns, drugs, and violence? The Hangmen are poison, Mae. Deep down you know it.”

“No,” I countered. Cain remained relaxed, a small happy curve forming on his lips. I looked him dead in the eye. “I want to be with Styx for the rest of my life. Wherever he is, is where I will be. He is my life. If he remains president of the Hangmen, I will be standing at his side.”

Cain blanched, then thundered toward me. He pushed me back on the bed then crawled above my body, pinning down both of my arms.

“What are you doing? Get off me!” I hissed, trying to throw him off.

“Well, you ain’t gonna see Styx ever again, okay?”

I stopped fighting and closed my eyes, only to open them again and ask, “Am I to marry Prophet David?”

Something akin to pain flashed in Cain’s eyes, but he nodded and my eyes filled with water. “Please leave me,” I whispered. I just wanted to be left alone.

Cain’s head lowered and his forehead pressed to mine. “I love you, Mae. I love you so much. I ache for you to be mine.”

“You were never meant for me, nor was Prophet David. I am Styx’s.”

Cain suddenly punched bed beside me, his arms shaking with frustration. “Styx ain’t here! He’s gone, Mae. Long f**kin’ gone. No one will find you here! This commune is protected.”

“Rider…” I sighed. Damn, I had to stop myself. “I mean, Cain—”

“No.” He interrupted, skimming his finger down my cheek. “I like you calling me Rider.”

I frowned in disagreement and he ran his fingers through my hair, his eyes soft.

“When I was Rider, I think a part of you loved me, didn’t you? Now, all I can see is hatred.”

No matter how hard I tried to hate him, at that moment I could not. He was right. I did love him in a fashion and I could not just switch off those feelings, no matter how hard I tried. I loved the person he was on the outside, but not here, not as Cain. Not as a brother of The Order and certainly not the prophet’s nephew!