Free Cadence Reflection (Wheels & Hogs Book 2) by D. M. Earl Page B

her, but Cadence? If she doesn’t want to be found, we won’t find her, so prepare yourself for that, okay? Also, I think you need to see Dr. Joe more frequently. I think she’ll be able to help you deal with this shit you have going on in your head. I don’t know your story kid, but I do know that until you deal with the past, you have no future.” He shakes his head and wipes his face. He turns to leave but I clear my throat, “Kid, you aren’t alone. You have family here that would do anything for you.” 
    “Yeah, I know,” he says. I pat his shoulder as he leaves the room.
    After he’s gone, I reach for the phone because there is one person who can always help Cadence put things into perspective,  “Fern? It’s me.  How you feeling, honey?  That’s good, I’m glad to hear it. Listen, I need to bring you up to speed with Cadence. He’s got himself in quite a mess and I just want to warn you that he’s gonna need you.”

Chapter 11
~Cadence ~
    A s night falls I sit in my apartment, alone. I look around at all the work I’ve done to make my apartment feel more like a home than just a place to lay my head. I’m finally starting to understand why people want to take pride in their homes, and by the looks of this place now, I can see my hard work is really paying off.  The kitchen is done with new cabinets, granite countertops, and stainless steel appliances.  I’ve even gone as far as to pull up the old laminate flooring, replacing it with hardwood floors all throughout the apartment.  The floors turned out perfect and they shine throughout the place. This was a job in itself because my apartment is huge, covering the entire top of Connelly’s Wheels & Hogs.  Even though I don’t remember the exact footage, it’s mammoth. Besides the kitchen, I have an eating nook with huge windows, a dining room and a family room off the kitchen with an island between the two rooms.  I also have 3 bedrooms with two baths and an office.
    For someone like me it’s a lot, but since Des refuses to ever take rent money, I figured this was a good way to pay him back.  When I eventually move, Des will be able to rent this place for a pretty steep price.  I’ve also remodeled both bathrooms with ceramic tile and new updated fixtures.  All colors throughout the apartment are muted, except my bedroom. As I walk down the hallway to my room, I rub my hands through my hair, feeling extremely lonely. 
    My bedroom is a vibrant blue with gray accents.  The room is completed with a black dresser and matching nightstands to go with my huge, four-poster bed right in the middle.  If anyone saw my work up here, they wouldn’t think the smart-ass man-whore did the work and picked out the colors.  This side of myself I like to keep from others. 
    I lie down on the bed and try to relax, but I can’t stop my mind from thinking of my past and of Trinity being pregnant. Even though the most important thing to think about is Trinity and the baby, Duke always takes over, filling my mind with all the horrid things that happen to people – all the horrid things that happened to me. God I hate that motherfucker.  I wish I could find him, then slowly kill him for all the pain he brought to my family and me. 
    My mind starts to wander back to the time I was held by Duke against my will. I had no idea what was going on when I woke up in that cabin alone, cuffed to a bedframe.  I freaked out trying to break free, but I couldn’t. For hours, I tried to wiggle and pull, everything I could do to get free, even tearing the skin from my wrists and ankles until they were raw and bleeding.  When the door opened and Duke walked in, my heart actually felt like it stopped.  The look in my stepfather’s eyes was one of complete and utter madness.  He casually walked to the side of the bed asking me, “How you doing, son?”  I felt the vomit in my mouth at the word son .
    I looked Duke in the eyes and said, “I ain’t your son,