Hoss’s Limits (House of Lustz #2)

Hoss

It had been a goddamn week since the whole episode with my stupid-ass brother breaking into the house and Cady having to hide out. Every time I thought of what he might’ve done in his doped and desperate state, I was scared all over again and wanted to put my hands on him.

When I first got the call from Iker saying the alarm was going off at the house, I assumed Cady had forgotten it was on and accidentally triggered it, then forgot the code. I’d shown it to her, but it wasn’t something she was used to. I’d been drilling into her the importance of having it on anytime we were home. Since her apartment didn’t have one, it wasn’t ingrained into her. Belle Meade wasn’t a high-crime area, but it was better to be safe than sorry.

I’d called her to give her the code and tease her before they called the police. When she said there was breaking glass and then the alarm sounded, terror filled me. Images of her hurt or, worse, dead flashed through my mind. That was when I put her on hold, even though it killed me to do it, and told Iker to call the cops and get them there ASAP.

I barely took time to call Mikhail to tell him I was leaving my post and why as I ran for my car. He said not to worry and to go make sure Cady was okay. He also said to let him know if we needed anything. I couldn’t drive fast enough to get there. It was pure luck that Detective Saller and I arrived at the same time. We’d met in the past through Iker, so he was fine bringing me inside. He did settle my nerves by reporting one of the officers had called an all-clear over the radio moments ago.

Walking in to find Max in handcuffs and no sign of Cady had triggered my fear again. When the two officers said she spoke over the PA, but they had no idea where she was, I was relieved as hell that she was still in the panic room. I didn’t want to let go of her when she came out. However, my relief changed to anger when I found out she’d left it despite my order. She knew when it involved her safety, she wasn’t to disobey or challenge me on the matter. To know she did, pissed me off.

I admit I went into my own brat mode, which consisted of me ignoring her and avoiding a discussion. I knew I couldn’t do it forever, but I wanted her to know how upset I was so she’d never do it again. However, it had been a week. It was time to talk to her and clear the air so we could get on with our lives. Tonight, when I got home, I wouldn’t be locked up in my home office for hours. Cady and I would be sitting down for a deep discussion. A part of it would be talking about her punishment. I never wanted her to endanger herself again, especially all over fucking useless objects. The most valuable thing I had was her. She had to know that.

I was jarred from my thoughts by my phone ringing. I recognized the ringtone as Mikhail’s. I wondered why he was calling in the middle of the day. If he wanted me to work tonight, he was out of luck. Cady and I needed to clear the air without delay. Besides, I’d been thinking of giving up my doorman job at Lustz. I only did it to de-stress and give me something to do. With Cady in my life, I no longer needed it. I wanted to spend all my free time with her. I detested going there and leaving her at home alone. I’d give him notice, and hopefully, he’d find someone to replace me quickly.

“Hey, man, good afternoon. If you’re calling to ask me to work tonight, I can’t,” I told him.

“Afternoon, and no, that’s not why I’m calling. I called because I have a crying Tajah in my office. She’s bawling one minute, and the next, she’s threatening to find you and cut your balls off,” he said.

“What the hell did I do?” I asked, mystified.

“She said—” he was cut off by the irate voice of Taj.

“Is that him? Are you talking to that no-good rat bastard? Let me talk to him,” Tajah snarled.

“Sweetest Dove, let me take care of this. There’s been a misunderstanding,” he said soothingly, or at least he tried.

“You’re damn right there’s been a mistake! The mistake was ever introducing or allowing him near my best friend. I can’t believe he had me fooled,” she half-hollered.

“Mikhail, put me on speaker. I’ll talk to her. I have no clue what’s sent her on the warpath,” I told him.

“You’re on speaker, Hoss,” he said loudly to be heard over Tajah, who was still ranting about me in the background.

“Tajah, stop shouting and tell me what the hell has you so upset?” I shouted. Damn, she had a mouth on her.

“Oh, don’t act like you don’t know. Why did you start something if you weren’t man enough to stick to it? If I’d known this would be how you acted, I would’ve had her stay clear of you.”

Taj referring to her, clued me into the fact she was referring to Cady. The only explanation was she’d told Tajah I was punishing her for her actions. Whatever she said had lit a fire in Taj. I wasn’t sure why, though.

“Tajah, how I choose to deal with Cady is between us. I know you’re best friends, but I wouldn’t get in the middle of a disagreement between you and Mikhail, and I expect you and him to give us the same courtesy. I know Cady is upset, but this reaction from you is over the top,” I chided her. If it angered Mikhail, I’d smooth it over later.

“You can go fuck yourself. A disagreement! You call what you’ve done a disagreement? It’s a helluva lot more than that, mister. You and Mikhail may be friends, but you and I no longer are.”

Her anger wasn’t abating. I tried again. I hated the idea of losing her friendship, and for what? “Tajah, I don’t understand why you’re so mad at me. Yes, I’ve been punishing Cady to a degree for her coming out of the panic room when I told her to stay there, and she said she would. Do you understand, my brother could’ve hurt her? When he’s high, there’s no way to know what he’ll do. She tried to protect my possessions rather than herself. I can’t let that go.”

“If that was all you did, then I get it. But to end your whole relationship over it is ridiculous. It tells me and her that you were never in it for the long haul. She thought she’d finally found a man who could handle her, accept her as she was, and love her. Instead, she got more of the same. She’s alone and hurting because another man kicked her to the curb.” She was no longer shouting. Instead, it sounded like she was half-crying.

My heart lurched. “Tajah, what’re you talking about? I haven’t kicked Cady anywhere. What did she tell you?” Dread began to fill me.

“She called to let me know she was leaving for a few days to clear her head. She would have her phone off and didn’t want me to worry. She told me that you’ve been ignoring her, not even kissing her, much less anything else. She said she knows the signs. The guys who didn’t get physical with her in the past would go silent and freeze her out until she left. You’re doing the same, so she decided to put an end to it. She sees the writing on the wall, so to speak.”

Dismay took over. I felt sick to my stomach. Bile rose up in the back of my throat. “Cady did what? Where did she go?”

“Why do you care? She’s not your problem,” was her response.

“Because she’s my woman, and I love her. Nothing is over between us. If I have my way, it never will be. Please, Taj, tell me where she went.” I was anxious because two days ago, I told Iker to pull her protection detail. Flint had remained gone, and I didn’t see a need to continue to have her watched.

“You love her?”

“Damn right, I do. I’m going to marry that woman. Tell me,” I demanded this time.

“I don’t know. She didn’t say. I’m not sure she knew. All she said was she’d call me in a few days, and we’d do a girls’ day when she got back.”

I was kicking myself for dismissing her protection. I had no idea where she was. And if her phone was off, how was it possible to track her? “Jesus Christ! Okay, let me think. Is there anywhere special she likes to go to be alone, to think, or just get away from it all?”

“Not really. She rarely takes time away. Cady has always focused on the clinic. I honestly can’t think of a place,” Taj answered.

“Goddamn!”

“Hang on, don’t get all crazy. Let me see if there’s something Outlaw can do to find her. He’s resourceful as hell when it comes to finding people. Speaking of him, he sent over the names and locations of those guys you wanted. I’ll send it over to you today. I bet he can find her. Why don’t we put a pin in this and get back together later? By then, I might know something from Outlaw. Why don’t you come here after work?” Mikhail suggested.

“Do it. And I’ll be there soon. First, I’ll check her apartment in case she changed her mind or just said that so no one would bug her there. I swear, the last thing I want is her gone, Tajah. I love her so damn much, it’s crazy. Hell, I’m planning to ask her to marry me. Does that sound like someone who’s fed up with her? No. She can be the biggest brat in the world, but she’ll be my brat.”

“Oh my God, that’s so sweet. Oh shit, I’m sorry for calling you names and swearing at you.” She sounded aghast now.

“Don’t worry about it. Just let me know if you think of a place she might go. I need to get to her place. See you in a while.”

“Sure thing. Come over whenever you want,” Mikhail added. I ended the call before it could drag on any longer.

I hardly took the time to close down my computer before I was on my feet, rushing out the door. I went to Alicia Ann. “I’ve got to go. Cancel the rest of my appointments for today. Reschedule them for later next week. I may have to take a few more days off, but I’ll let you know,” I told her as I rushed by her. She was up and jogging beside me as I explained. I did it as I headed for the elevator.

“I’ll get it handled. Is there anything I can do?” she asked.

“No, this is my mess to clean up. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome,” were her last words before the elevator doors closed to take me to the garage in the basement of SacketEdge. I got into my car and peeled out of the garage and parking lot. I had to remind myself not to speed like an idiot. I’d been a big enough one of those as it was. As I headed for Cady’s apartment, I called Iker. I wasn’t sure why.

“Hey, miss us already?” was how he answered his phone.

“Shit, so you did pull your people,” I muttered. I’d had the slightest hope that it hadn’t happened yet.

“Uh, yeah, the day you asked me to. Why? Did something happen?”

“You could say that. Cady got the wrong idea about a situation, and she left. We don’t know where she went. Her phone is supposedly turned off. I was hoping you hadn’t done it yet and could tell me where she went.”

He whistled. “Damn, it sounds like you’re in the middle of a shitstorm. I’m sorry. I wish I had good news for you. What’re you gonna do? Did she call Tajah? ”

“She did, but only to say she was leaving and not to worry, that she’d call in a few days. It’s alright. You just did as I asked.”

“If you need me, just holler. Did you check her apartment?”

“I’m headed there now. Thanks. Talk to you later.”

“Sure thing.”

It took me another twenty minutes to make it to her place. There was no sign of her car in the parking lot, but I still got out and went to her door. I knocked. There was no answer. I called out her name. Nothing. As a last effort, I took out the key I had. She’d given it to me two weeks ago to pick something up for her, and I hadn’t returned it. Walking inside, I knew immediately that she hadn’t been there. It had this still, stuffy feel. I did a fast walk-thru, then locked up and got back in my car.

I sat there, trying to think of where to go next. I racked my brain, trying to remember if she’d ever talked about a place she got away to or loved. Zilch. I knew what my next move had to be. I got out my phone again and placed the call.

After three rings, it was answered. His tone was cautious. “Hello? Hoss?”

“Hello, yeah, it’s Hoss. Sorry to bother you, Carver, but I need to talk to you about Cady.”

“Is she alright?” he asked somewhat urgently.

“Shit, sorry, yeah, she’s alright, or at least as far as I know. I hate to bother you, but I need to ask. Has she ever talked about any places she’s gone or wants to go to get away and relax, maybe to think?”

There was a long silence before he answered. “Not that I can recollect. Why? What did she do?”

“Why do you automatically make it sound critical of her?”

“Because I’ve discovered that when it comes to my sister, she gets into situations mainly with men. I told you before, Hoss. Cady isn’t someone you can be with long-term. Don’t get me wrong, I love her, and she’s loving and sweet at times, but her mouth and attitude wear on people, and they can’t cope. It sounds like the same thing happened with you two. She left.”

“She did, but the misunderstanding between us is just that, a misunderstanding. It isn’t the end of us by a long shot. Cady is mine. I’m keeping her. If you can’t say nice things about her, I don’t want to hear it. I’ve got to go. Call me if you think of anything. Bye.” I hung up. I knew I was short and rude, but the way he acted and spoke of his sister set my teeth on edge. If he’d been before me, I would’ve throttled him. I pounded my fist off my steering wheel.

“Where are you, Cady Cat? Call us. Or better yet, come home, baby. Please, come home,” I uttered to the wind as I sat there, straining to remember a place.

After sitting there for a good half hour, I gave up and decided it was time to go to Mikhail’s. Maybe I’d get lucky, and when I got there, he’d have good news. The drive there was no faster. I fought to contain my impatience with drivers dawdling on the highway. It was a relief when I got to Lustz. I zipped up to the third floor. I’d texted to say I was here, and Mikhail had told me to go right up to their home.

Tajah answered the door. She stepped up and gave me a hug. “I’m sorry I was such a bitch to you. If you truly love and want to keep my bestie, then I’m sorry. If you’re not, then I’ll kick your ass later,” she threatened, even as she hugged me. I wasn’t able to hold in my chuckle. She was crazy, but I did like her. I patted her back gently.

“It’s okay, I forgive you, and there won’t be a reason to kick my ass later. Can I come in, or are you going to continue to maul me? Mikhail! Your woman won’t let go of me,” I playfully called out, so she knew there were no hard feelings. She giggled and gave me one more squeeze before she let go and walked over to Mikhail, who just joined us.

“She has a habit of doing it to people she likes. I can’t seem to break her of it. Although piss her off for good, and she’ll stop, and I don’t know what she’ll do to you then.” He was grinning.

“Oh, stop. Come in, Hoss. Make yourself at home. Any news?” Tajah asked as we moved further into their apartment. I closed the door behind me.

“Nope. I called Carver and asked if he knew of somewhere. He said no.”

“Crap. I thought of calling him but didn’t want to hear him criticize her. He loves Cady, but he doesn’t totally understand her,” Taj shared.

“Well, I doubt I’m on his favorite people list. I gave him a little hell about how he talks about her, and then I hung up on him. He irritates me when he does that. What about you? Anything from Outlaw? Can he help?” I directed this to Mikhail.

“I spoke to him, and he’s on it. He said as soon as he finds a sign of her, he’ll call. Have faith. He’s relentless when he has to find someone. Let’s have a drink and sit. You look like you could use one.”

“I can. Thanks.” I sat and let him prepare me my favorite drink as I thought of Cady and wondered where she was. As long as she was safe, that was all that mattered, except me finding her and patching things up. God, let it be soon before I lose my mind.

As time passed, they did their best to distract me and keep my mind on other things. I appreciated it, but I knew I wasn’t good company. I watched the clock, paced their home, and made deal after deal with God if he’d let us find her and bring her home. I’d beg on my knees if that were what it took to bring my Cady Cat home.