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CHAPTER SEVEN:

DRINKS AND TALKING

WITH FORSYTHE'S ARMS AROUND CADEN, SHE FELT as if everything was better but it wasn't. She knew that she was the other woman in a relationship and she didn't know how to repair the damage. All she knew was that with Forsythe beside her, she felt better.

"I'm sorry," FP repeated over and over as he clutched her tightly. He was afraid that she was going to run away and if she did. . . that would ruin him. "I'm sorry."

Caden sighed, closing her eyes as she felt his body pressed up against hers. Forsythe Jones was definitely the devil and Caden was about to sin.

She turned back around so she could look up and stare into his eyes, noticing how tired he looked. She raised her hand cautiously to cup his cheek where his bruise lay, and she frowned.

"It's nothing," Forsythe muttered. "Gladys came and visited me too." Caden's eyes widened in understanding, knowing that the slap was delivered in anger as she found out FP Jones was sleeping with Caden. The force of the slap mixed in with the slice of her wedding ring caused an ugly discolouring.

"Want to come in for a drink?" Forsythe offered gently, trying to veer the subject to something less uncomfortable, tugging on her body. It was an excuse to hold her.

"Uh, sure," Caden replied, feeling way younger than she was right now in the presence of the older man. C'mon, when would she have time to drink? And with whom?

"When was your birthday?" Forsythe asked in surprise, remembering that she had told him previously. He couldn't recall how old she was. There was still a ten-year age gap between the two, leaving much to be discussed... like his children... but she didn't want to fight right now.

"Last Sunday," Caden told him shyly, she still wasn't sure what they were doing. But at the same time, she knew neither of them wanted to be alone right now. She knew there was mistrust between her and FP but she couldn't deny that his presence was the only thing making it better.

"Happy belated birthday," FP breathed out as he looked down at the young girl with a look of fervor in his eyes.  "I've missed you," his fingers tickled her body as they skimmed up and down the length of her arms. His mind held dirty thoughts as he thought of the perfect birthday present for her.

"I—I've missed you too," Caden was waiting with bated breath for FP to lean down and kiss her. She knew that it probably wouldn't be a good idea but her dreams had been haunted by his kisses.

And that's what he did.

His neck bent slightly so his head could level with hers before his lips met hers. It was not a sweet, chaste kiss. It was a long, hard, passionate kiss that Forsythe was trying to put his feelings and frustrations into. He was trying to convey what he couldn't say.

"Wait," Caden mumbled against his lips and pulled away for FP to continue his kisses down the side of her neck. "Wait, FP. I still don't trust you." That ceased his burning kisses and he pulled away to look her in the eyes.

"I know," Forsythe replied, closing his eyes momentarily to remember where he was. "C'mon, come back inside with me."

Caden DeSantos hated to admit it but she was a nervous wreck as she realised she was entering Southside territory— and even though Forsythe was there with her, dangerous people were there. She trailed behind him, glad that his hand held hers, pulling her alongside him.

"This is Caden," FP casually introduced the young girl as the two slid into the round booth he had been at before. She smiled nervously at the other men who nodded in greeting.

"This is Keith, Bobby, and Ricky."

"Nice to meet you," Caden forced a smile as the three men continued to sip their beers as they stared her down. This time round, the stares weren't lecherous— rather more curious. They knew that Forsythe had a girl and that they couldn't do anything about it.

A big boobed woman approached with a beer in hand, setting it down in front of FP, smirk in place. "Who's the new girl?"

"DeSantos' kid," Caden guessed it was Keith who piped up as he took a sip of beer. The woman nodded in realisation and bent down to Caden's level. Caden hadn't even said her last name but it seemed like her and her father were famous with the Serpents.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Aida, what can I get you?"

"I'll have what he's drinking," Caden rushed out, hoping she didn't seem as clueless about liquor. She served in a family diner where there was no liquor, and the alcohol she was around before never was labelled. She also wasn't sure about the Southside quality of liquour.

Aida came back quickly with the same beer and Caden raised it to he lips, looking at FP from the corner of her vision. She almost paused to look at him but she noticed the proud smirk he had sent her way.

Caden laughed the night away with Forsythe and his friends, surprised by how easy it was for her to keep up with the men joking. Maybe it was the liquid courage she had gulped down or the fact that Forsythe had his hand place on her upper thigh in encouragement as well as for personal reasons. Every so often, the older man would let his hand rub her skin softly as it crept higher and higher, before going back to its original place. He was teasing her or comforting her. She couldn't tell.

Caden turned to Forsythe, batting her eyelashes as she leaned close to the older man. Caden had no idea where her confidence had come from but the alcohol brought out a bolder her— the one who would become a seductress.

Caden felt FP's grip on her leg tighten as she leaned forward, letting her tank top show him her breasts that were pressed together. His eyes had darkened significantly as he looked the young girl up and down before landing on Caden's mouth, in which she licked her lips slowly in invitation.

Caden couldn't care less about the friends in the booth with them, they were already drunk enough they couldn't tell what was happening.

She grazed her lips on the shell of his ear, feeling a shudder run through his body as he was slowly falling apart in front of her.

"Want to take me somewhere else, sir?"