2-1
1147 Words
2
Sage
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HE FOLLOWED ME to my desk, and we sat down across from each other. My heart was still hammering in my chest and I was thankful to be sitting down. When I’d realized who Phalen’s uncle was, my legs had just about given out on me.
Caden Wolf.
He’d been good-looking as a teenager, but now he was so handsome, it was unnerving. I could barely breathe as he studied me with those intense amber eyes of his.
Lord help me.
Trying to keep my composure, and reminding myself that I was an adult, not a lovestruck teenager, I picked up a folder from my desk, my hands trembling. Hoping he didn’t notice, I opened it up quickly and pulled out two drawings. I slid the first one over to Caden.
He picked it up and studied the picture while I studied him. He was very tan, as if he spent a lot of time in the sun, and I could tell by the width of his broad shoulders, he’d filled out quite a bit. Not that he’d ever been skinny, but he obviously worked out, and it showed. His jawline was also much more masculine and square than I’d remembered. Those lips and that sexy smile of his, however, hadn’t changed. It was a little alarming to find that he still had such an incredible effect on me.
He looked at me with pride in his eyes. “Phalen drew this?”
I nodded. She’d colored a picture of herself surrounded by a group of scary-looking guys. Above it, she’d written “Gold Vipers are coming for you.”
Caden chuckled and rubbed his jaw. “She’s very creative. The kid can really draw.”
“While I do admit that she is a talented little artist, Phalen threatened Dylan and Josh using the picture.”
His face turned serious. “Why? Were they picking on her?”
“No. From what I’ve seen, she’s been bullying them around, which is why I had her moved to the front of the classroom. So that I can keep a better eye on her.”
He frowned. “Phalen isn’t a bully. They must have done something to her.”
I told him about the time I’d seen her pushing Dylan on the playground and how she’d grabbed Josh by the shirt-collar another day. “Josh claimed that she threatened to punch him if he didn’t do what she wanted.”
“What did she want him to do?”
“Does it matter? She shouldn’t be scaring the boys like that. Or pushing them around.”
He looked over at Phalen. “While I agree with what you’re saying, in my experience, Phalen doesn’t just threaten someone idly. There had to have been a good reason.”
“Well, I’ve asked her and all she told me was that they weren’t playing by the rules.”
“Rules for what?”
“They were playing some kind of a ‘tag’ game. Anyway, this hasn’t been the only instance of her acting out.”
“What else has she been doing?”
“Cutting in line. Bossing other kids around. Threatening them with violence.”
I handed him another drawing of Phalen’s. This one showed a guy running over someone with his motorcycle. “She told Josh that if he didn’t leave her alone, Uncle Caden would run him down.”
As Caden stared down at the drawing, he seemed more amused than angry. In fact, he looked like he was trying to hold back some laughter.
“There’s nothing funny about this situation,” I said coolly.
He set the picture down. “I agree. What I don’t agree with is blaming everything on her. She’s a good kid. She doesn’t start s**t with anyone unless they have it coming.”
“Mr. Wolf—”
“Caden.”
“Caden.” I sighed. It was obvious he wasn’t going to bend. He could see no wrong-doing when it came to his niece. Which reminded me...
“I hate to bring this up, but Phalen told me that you were her one and only guardian.”
His expression turned guarded. “Yeah. So?”
“If you don’t mind me asking, what happened to her mother and father?”
I could tell he didn’t like the question. He looked over toward Phalen. “I don’t think that’s any of your concern. Or business.”
He was right, of course. Knowing that I needed to be careful with this line of questioning, I apologized. “I’m sorry. I was just curious as to whether or not there was a female in Phalen’s life.”
He looked amused again. “If you’re wondering whether or not I’m single, all you’ve got to do is ask, darlin’.”
I stared at him in alarm. “What? No. That’s not what I meant.”
He chuckled. “Hey, you don’t need to beat around the bush. No. I do not have an ol’ lady. What about you?” His eyes moved to my left hand. “You seeing anyone?”
I sighed in irritation. I could tell Caden was just screwing with me. Changing the subject to throw me off. “That’s irrelevant. I’m asking if there is anyone else in her life besides your... club.”
His eyes hardened. “What’s wrong with my club?”
Everyone in Jensen knew how dangerous the Gold Vipers were. Although they’d stayed out of the news for several years, they had a volatile past. Rumors of murder, drugs, and g*n-running still surrounded the club.
“I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with them. I’m just concerned that she’s intimidating the other kids in class using the threat of violence. I’m just wondering if it’s because she’s surrounded by...” My voice trailed off as I saw his expression turn even harder. I’d really struck a nerve.
“By what?” he asked angrily.
I swallowed. “I meant to say exposed to a rough lifestyle.”
His face was now red, and he looked about ready to explode. “She isn’t exposed to anything but love and protection,” he said, his voice both calm and angry.
I suddenly felt bad for bringing it up. Maybe I was wrong?
“I’m sorry. I just thought that maybe—”
“You thought? Let me tell you something. You don’t know anything about my club or how I’m raising Phalen. Does she look neglected or abused?”
I glanced over at her. “No, of course not.”
“Exactly. So, maybe you should be taking a closer look at how you’re running your classroom. Hell, maybe you should be paying more attention to the little shits who are causing her to react this way.”
I knew he was angry, but he wasn’t the only one who’d been insulted. “I’m just trying to look out for her and the rest of the kids.”
“Yeah. Right. Look, I’m only going to say this one more time. Phalen is a good kid and doesn’t cause problems unless there’s a reason.”
I knew he believed that passionately, but I still wasn’t so sure that Phalen was totally innocent in all of this.
“Now, is that all you have for me?”
I knew this conversation wasn’t going to get any better, so I just nodded.
“Good.” He grabbed the pictures, stood up, and walked over to Phalen. He squeezed her shoulder. “Come on, chiquita. Let’s go.”
Phalen removed the headphones and stared up at him. “You’re done already?”
Caden looked at me, his eyes still hard. “Yeah. We’re definitely done here.”
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- Writer
