Semua Bab Cage to Cage: Bab 31 - Bab 40

VEX POV“She’s been in there too long, Kade. I don’t like it.”“Relax, I’m sure they’re just catching up.”“You didn’t hear the way he said ‘family duty’. It was almost like she’s his property.”Liam Tang makes me uneasy. There’s something dark in him I can’t quite place. He’s powerful—equal to me. I could take him down if I needed to, but I’ve never seen an advantage in that. We exist in a tense balance; neither of us makes the first move.Brynn’s quick steps pull me from my thoughts. Kade and I rise instinctively as she rushes past us, her energy jittery, panicked.“What’s wrong? What happened? Damnit, talk to me.” My voice comes out more protective than I intended, and I hate that it betrays me.“Not here. Follow me.” Brynn brushes past us, her pace urgent. She leads us through a corridor that opens into a secluded garden. Cherry blossom trees bloom in delicate pinks, white bushes spill over stone walls, and a solitary bench waits at the center.“Now talk.”⸻BRYNN POVVex and Kade

KADE POVI’ve followed Vex for years, long enough to know when he’s bluffing, when he’s angry, and when he’s ready to kill. But this—this is different. This isn’t business, it isn’t strategy. It’s personal. And it’s dangerous in a way I’ve never seen before.The second Brynn suggests the marriage arrangement, something shifts in him. His jaw tightens. His eyes lock on her like a predator who’s just claimed prey. He doesn’t even need to think about it—he just says it. Me.That one word cuts through the air like a blade, and I feel it slice straight through me.I try to school my expression, but the surprise slips out anyway. “Boss—” I start, because I have to. Because this is reckless. Because she deserves a choice.But Vex silences me with a look, sharp enough to pin me where I stand. I know that look. It’s the same one he’s given rivals before putting them in the ground. Only now, it’s aimed at me.So I shut my mouth. I always do. Loyalty first. Always loyalty.But my chest burns wit

BRYNN POV The garden seemed to exhale as the last words left our lips, the deal hanging between us heavier than the night settling over the Tang compound. The torn folder lay scattered on the stone, photographs catching in the wind before vanishing into shadow. Lanterns flickered to life along the pathways, throwing long, distorted silhouettes across the blossoms and statues, as though the place itself bore witness to our betrayal of fate. What had started as a desperate bargain now felt like the sealing of something darker—chains disguised as vows. By the time we left the courtyard, the air was colder, sharper, the silence between us more dangerous than any words. The Tang compound has never felt more like a prison. I sit on the edge of the bed, staring at the shadows dancing across the walls. You and Vex retreat to adjoining guest rooms. The paper-thin walls ensure neither of you can forget the other's presence.My brother thinks he’s controlling me, that this marriage binds me to

VEX POVThe night air is thick with the scent of cherry blossoms, petals drifting across the stone paths like pale snow. Lanterns flicker, casting long shadows over the carefully manicured courtyard as I walk beside Brynn, her hand still in mine. Every step toward her room is deliberate, controlled. Not because she cannot handle herself—she can—but because the world around us is dangerous, and I refuse to let her become collateral.Her dress brushes softly against my coat, and I resist the urge to pull her closer. The urge to rip her dress off and explore her entire body with my mouth. I want to feel her lose control as I send pleasure through her with just my tongue. The thought makes my dick get hard. I want to feel her thighs so tight around my head I can’t breathe as she cums in my mouth. I push the thoughts away. It can’t happen. Ever. I have to control this urge. One mistake, and we are dead. All of us. This is part performance, part protection, and part… something else I re

KADE POVI watch the smoke curl from Brynn’s lips, disappearing into the night air. God, I’ve never wanted to be a cigarette so badly—just to feel those lips wrapped around me.Something in her whispered words makes me shift—a flicker of genuine concern breaking through my professional veneer.“One cage for another. Yeah.”I lean against the railing, letting a brief understanding pass between us.“The difference,” I murmur, “is that Vex’s cage has golden bars. Comfortable prison.”My eyes find hers in the moonlight. Regret. That’s what I feel. I should have spoken louder for her. I’m loyal to Vex—but Brynn… I just want to protect her. Nothing, not even Vex, will stop me from that.A faint sound from the tunnel releases me from my thoughts.“Someone’s coming. You should go.”⸻BRYNN POVI rush back down the hallway, seeking a corner to hide. But the sharp scent of cologne hits me before I even see the figure.Vex.He strides up to Kade. I freeze, pressing myself against the wall, liste