Hooked: Uncaged, #4

Chapter One

Valerie

The flames spread out from the window. Her window. She would have been home. She should have been home. Instead, she went to see a movie with friends.

As she drove home, it was impossible to ignore the black smoke against the dark blue of the sky as she drove into her neighborhood. There were firetrucks, neighbors staring, and orange flames.

She didn’t see her parents. That realization transformed the stunned disbelief that had rendered her almost paralyzed into frantic action. She didn’t think about her safety; she just moved forward, limbs flailing.

Running into a fire. That was her first instinct and it took hold. Valerie Colson ran toward her house even though it really wasn’t a house anymore. It was food for a beastly and hungry fire.

She felt two strong arms wrap around her and stop her. It was like one of those dreams where you need to move fast, but you’re in mud. She couldn’t move.

Let me GO! My parents are in there I have to get them out. Another firefighter came over. They moved her farther and farther away from the heat.

Can you please? She begged them.

No one can go in there. It is unstable. I’m sorry miss. They still held her tight. They knew maybe she was just as unstable as the house in front her now.

But Mom and Dad? She sounded like a child. She felt like a child. A part of her knew that this was it. This was the moment that her life separated into before and after.

She felt hot tears sting her face and the smoke seeping into her lungs.

Oh God Valerie. I’m so sorry. This is so terrible. It was a familiar voice. Trent. Her friend. Her next-door neighbor since before high school. Trent was there. He put an arm around her and the fireman let go a little.

Trent, my parents? She asked the question even though she was in terror about the answer.

Oh God. Valerie was vaguely aware that Trent was hugging her but her eyes were on the house. The crackling sound intensified and she heard the firefighters yell for everyone to step back.

Valerie watched as the roof caved into the first floor and the life that she’d known caved in with it.

They sat in the lawyer’s office. Lawyer? How had she gone from care-free college graduation to a lawyer’s office in less than two weeks?

Valerie Colson was an orphan now. Could 21-year-olds be orphans? She wondered. Probably not. But whatever you called it her parents were dead.

Trent Kurshon, her oldest friend, had been there every step of the way. From the fire to letting her stay at his family’s house, to the funeral, and now to this meeting with the lawyer. Trent’s long skinny legs were folded into the office chair. Looking at him could almost make her smile despite the reason they were at the lawyer’s office.

There was only enough for the funeral Valerie. Your parents had two mortgages on the house.

What about insurance? Valerie had gone from college kid to being on her own in an instant the night her parents died. She struggled to ask the questions an adult would ask. All she knew was there was a lot she didn’t know.

They had insurance on the house. That’s true. But the investigation is ongoing. The lawyer looked down at papers on his desk. She turned to Trent to try to make sense of it. Her friend shrugged.

What does that mean? She tried to get a handle on what the lawyer really meant.

It means until they can rule that this fire was accidental they will not disperse any money to you to pay your parent’s debt. Including the mortgages.

A mortgage on a house I don’t own that doesn’t exist? So far being an adult was awful Valerie had decided. The death of her parents wasn’t going to be the end of her trouble, she had a sinking feeling that it was just the beginning.

You’re not without resources. I took the liberty of calling your aunt.

My aunt? It wasn’t remotely someone Valerie would have reached out to on her own.

Aunt Susan, that’s who he meant. She’d not seen her Aunt Susan in years. She knew her parents and her aunt weren’t close. It had always just been her parents and her growing up. She didn’t have memories of big family get-togethers, only a vague image of a sister her dad didn’t talk about much.

The lawyer picked up the phone, Send her in please.

I didn’t know you had an aunt, Trent said to her.

My parents didn’t really stay close to her. Valerie racked her brains on her family history. She didn’t know much about it, and up to now, she didn’t need to.

The door opened, and her aunt walked in, slowly. She was tall, beautiful, and rich. Stinking, filthy rich. That was clear. Then Valerie remembered, that money was the source of something ugly between her dad and Aunt Susan. Daddy hated Aunt Susan’s money for some reason.

Valerie tried to piece together the family relationships through the fog of her childhood. It was all a jumble of overheard one-sided phone calls and whispered arguments. It was also the mean side of her Dad. He did have one, and it came out when he thought Valerie wasn’t really paying attention.

Sorting through vague childhood memories was fruitless. The adult decisions she had to make were happening in this room, right now.

Valerie felt herself stand up for some reason.

Valerie. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry. And Aunt Susan enveloped her in a hug. She smelled beautiful and her embrace was soft. Valerie swallowed hard. Surprisingly she wanted to collapse in Aunt Susan’s arms. She was warm. It was like they’d always been close. But they hadn’t. Valerie did her best to keep it together. Aunt Susan may be rich, but she was far from standoffish. Valerie thought she didn’t have a blood relative in the world. It was a surprising relief to realize that wasn’t true.

You’re so beautiful. I’ve not seen you since you were in sixth grade! Susan kept her hands gently on Valerie’s shoulders and looked at her. Valerie stared back. Her aunt’s eyes were kind. That was her clear impression. Thank God.

Valerie was an open wound. She felt tender and exposed. She needed kindness in her life. She didn’t realize how much until it showed up in the form of this long lost relative.

I guess. Ten years ago?

I suppose so. You’re 21 now? Valerie nodded. Aunt Susan turned her attention to the lawyer. The lawyer, that up until the fire Valerie had never heard of.

He’d shown up as soon as the fire was on the news and said he would help her with the rest of the arrangements. It was another grown-up thing that she’d never thought about but had to handle.

Donald, thank you for arranging everything. Donald. Aunt Susan called him Donald. They knew each other.

My pleasure Mrs. Thompson. He was her employee. That was clear, and Valerie wondered what the hell was going on.

Can we speak, uh, privately? Aunt Susan looked past Valerie over to Trent.

It’s okay. I tell him everything. Trent was her friend. She leaned on him the last few days more than ever.

Okay, well. As you might have figured out Donald is my lawyer. I sent him as soon as I saw what happened.

I sort of thought he was my parent’s lawyer. Valerie knew her dad was not the kind of man who had his affairs in order. It made more sense now that it turned out her Aunt Susan was helping behind the scenes. Her dad didn’t have a lawyer or much else in the way of planning for the worst it turned out.

I just had to do whatever I could. You’re family. I know we haven’t seen each other, but I am here for whatever you need. Whatever. Aunt Susan said.

I need to pay my parents’ mortgage. It came out of Valerie’s mouth. She didn’t want handouts. It was just the truth of her situation. Valerie hoped insurance would cover whatever expenses her parents had, but the expenses were far higher than she had guessed.

That’s the part I had yet to explain. Donald piped in again.

Your Aunt handled the mortgage and the funeral bill, just like she did for your college tuition. Valerie was dumbfounded. She knew her Dad was cash-strapped, and her mom was always worried about money. Her mom said it was why dad was always launching half-baked ideas. But she’d thought they’d paid for her recently acquired college degree in building and construction management.

Donald, I don’t want to make this about money. Please. Aunt Susan was uncomfortable. Valerie saw her tense up.

She needs to know her financial situation. The lawyer countered. Valerie put a hand to her head. A headache was forming between her eyes. She wanted to be done with meetings and get out of this office. It felt warm suddenly. She looked at her aunt and squared her shoulders.

It’s okay Aunt Susan. I am grateful. As soon as the insurance money comes in, I’ll pay you back. I am in your debt and I just so appreciate what you did to make the last few days smooth. But my college? I thought Daddy had done that. It was falling into place, how he’d afforded some things. Valerie didn’t know how she felt about how death had changed the picture she’d had of her dad.

Your dad was stubborn, but he let me after I insisted. You’re not in my debt. We’re family. Susan loosened up again.

Well, still, that money’s yours. Valerie had nothing. Zero. She’d been numb the last few days, she’d gone through the motions, but the enormity of what had changed, what she’d lost, was now starting to seep into her bones. She felt pain there now. It was harsh. Drastic change hurt. She hurt.

Let’s not talk about money okay? Let’s talk about where you’re staying.

Trent spoke up.

She’s at my house. She can stay as long as she needs. Forever. Trent was the cutest. But Valerie was not about to stay at his house much longer. She was starting to feel like it was an imposition on his family. She was feeling sort of stifled as well, with Trent’s constant presence. He meant well, but she needed space. That was becoming clear.

She should rent an apartment, but she hadn’t even started her job search. That was what she was supposed to be doing, living with her parents and finding a path. Instead, she’d been free falling since that fire ripped them away.

You’re coming to stay with me. I have a ridiculous amount of room. A little mini-apartment that Meyer’s mama used to use.

Meyer? Valerie asked and couldn’t place the name.

Your Uncle Meyer, my husband. It’s yours. It has its own entrance, so I’m not going to be in your business. You’re coming. I insist. At least until the dust settles with all this.

It felt like a lifeline. Valerie had been floating out in the ocean of uncertainty and grief. She’d been sinking under the waves every hour of every day. Aunt Susan offered her a life raft. She didn’t have to have Trent in the next room, hovering, worrying. She didn’t have to have her college friends struggle for something to say to her. Aunt Susan could help her get on her feet. She needed that.

You can stay as long as you need. You’ve been through a trauma. You shouldn’t have to worry about a roof over your head.

Aunt Susan was taking charge and Valerie, if she was honest, didn’t mind. She’d been forced to make dozens of decisions the last few days about how to handle the double funeral of her parents.

It was nice for a moment to have Aunt Susan’s help. It was nice to have her calm presence and open arms. Valerie didn’t want to have to make every choice in every moment during the worst days of her life.

You don’t even know her, Trent said, and it was a little snotty, Valerie thought. But then again Trent was always a little possessive of their time together. She knew he cared about her.

It’s okay Trent. I do. She’s my aunt. I love you for helping me this week. But she makes a lot of sense. I can’t continue to impose on you and your family.

But… Trent stopped talking as Valerie took him in a big hug.

I need to get out of our neighborhood for a little while. I’ll call you as soon as I can okay? Valerie wanted to leave. She needed air. She’d made a choice and didn’t want to wait or debate.

Aunt Susan had given her a way to move forward.

She looked over at her Aunt Susan. The woman was the safe harbor she needed. Valerie wished her Dad had been closer with Aunt Susan, but it was too late for that.

All she could do now was be grateful that while she may be an orphan, she wasn’t alone. She had a family, and she felt something in the neighborhood of safe for the first time since the fire took away everything she’d known.

Chapter Two

Zane

He had it. He knew it. He was going to win. Zane Diggs was going to show the 21C that he was up and coming. That he was the next superstar.

The Friday Night Fight in the Grand City Convention Center was the first stop. Zane was winning.

He wasn’t the main event, hell he wasn’t even an important undercard, but shit, he was getting it done. His new agent, Sam Bosque, said do well in the Grand City Friday Night Fight and you get offers.

Zane walked to his corner. It might be a new arena, the next level for his MMA career, but he had his guys with him.

Knox and Vinnie were his trainers and his sparring partners, and they were helping him on his way up to the next level. They were here for him. If he made it into the 21C, the biggest fighting league in the country, he was going to do everything he could to keep his guys with him. He was going to do it like Lebron did, keep his crew tight and loyal. And bring them along on the money train.

He was on the platform, and that train was in sight.

Zane looked over at the VIP row where he saw his agent, Sam, and next to her was Meyer fucking Thompson!

The CEO of the 21C, the founder, the man who could make or break