Forgotten & Found: A Dark & Dirty Sinners' MC Boxset

by Serena Akeroyd

Lily: Umm, yeah. Lol. That didn’t escape me.

  Link: Did you go to college?

  Lily: Yeah, but it was close to home and I was allowed into the dorms for the first year, but after he made me come back.

  Link: Fuck, that’s shitty.

  Lily: Yeah. I liked it out of there. I slept really well.

  Link: You have problems sleeping?

  Lily: Well, not falling asleep, just staying asleep.

  Link: Nightmares?

  Lily: No. More like I’m just on edge. There’s a lot of tension in the house. Sometimes it’s business, but mostly it’s just how it is. Things have calmed down now that Luke’s dead, but Father’s still uneasy.

  Link: You ever call him ‘daddy?’

  Lily: Would you?

  Link: No. Lol. Good point.

  Lily: I’m smart. Surprisingly.

  Link: Why surprisingly? Some of the smartest people I know are bitches.

  Lily: You didn’t just call women ‘bitches?’

  Link: Yup. Get used to it.

  Lily: You going to call me a bitch?

  Link: Depends on whether you act like one or not.

  Lily: Good point. I’m not a bitch BUT I do have RBF.

  Link: What the fuck is RBF?

  Lily: Resting Bitch Face.

  Link: Hmm. I could see that.

  Lily: Thanks! :/

  Link: You’re the one who admitted to it!

  Lily: It’s not like it’s a crime.

  Link: Haha. No, I guess not.

  Lily: My father doesn’t like it. Says it’s bad for business.

  Link: Fuck’s sake. Is everything business for him?

  Lily: That’s how you get ninety billion in the bank.

  Link: That and by breaking laws.

  Lily: I’d imagine.

  Link: You don’t know?

  Lily: Not for certain. I have my suspicions. But it’s hard to look into him. I don’t have access. I wish I did.

  Link: What would you do if you had proof that could take him down?

  Lily: Celebrate? Have a massive party?

  Link: Would you change your mind about killing him?

  Lily: Maybe. I want him dead.

  Link: Why?

  Lily: He deserves to die.

  Link: Maybe he does, but do you want the stain on your soul?

  Lily: Is that what it is? To kill someone who taints the Earth by walking on it? Aren’t I doing people a favor?

  Link: Hell, yeah. But it depends on who you talk to.

  Lily: I’ve only ever wanted to hurt him.

  Link: Good to know you’re not a nutcase.

  Lily: Oh, I never said I wasn’t.

  Link: Lol. At least you’re funny and sexy as well as insane.

  Lily: Well, a girl’s got to try to give a good first impression.

  Link: Trust me, you did that. We’d been looking for the women for a while. Since the bastard’s death.

  Lily: How did you find out about them? I wasn’t even sure if you knew, to be honest.

  Link: That why you dropped it like a hammer on my toe? ‘I know where they are.’

  Lily: Yeah. I wasn’t going to get people involved unnecessarily.

  Link: Shrewd of you.

  Lily: See? Told you I was smart.

  Link: If you were smart, I don’t think you’d be trying to talk to me.

  Lily: Trying? Isn’t this us? Talking?

  Link: Maybe. O.o

  Lily: Wellllll… if you don’t want to talk…

  Link: Lily?

  Lily: This is me. Not talking.

  Link: Nah. It’s all good. You can talk.

  Thursday

  Lily: You send me that to make me jealous?

  Link: Maybe. :P

  Lily: It worked.

  Link: My dinner.

  Lily: Looks good. Where you eating?

  Link: The diner. Just off Daytona. You ever been there?

  Lily: No. I usually just go to the country clubs.

  Link: Shame. You’d probably like it here.

  Lily: I would, huh? How do you know that?

  Link: You like to think you have a stick shoved up your ass, but you don’t. I think you’d like the fact we’re not all pretentious assholes.

  Lily: Well, you get used to them.

  Link: What? Pretentious assholes?

  Lily: Yep. Fact of life for me. At least with Luke dead, I don’t have to deal with his prick ways too.

  Link: That’s one way of looking at it.

  Lily: I’m a glass half full kind of girl.

  Link: Really? Full of what?

  Lily: Dreams. Hopes. We can try to live a better life than what we’re already leading, can’t we?

  Link: Funny…

  Lily: What is?

  Link: From the outside looking in, I mean, you look like you’d be happy.

  Lily: Why? Because I’m rich?

  Link: Yeah. Isn’t that what everyone wants? To be rich and able to buy good shit and do whatever they want?

  Lily: What about my life makes you think I can do whatever I want? Lol. I just told you I haven’t gone to the diner you’re in…know why?

  Link: Because it’s not fancy enough for you?

  Lily: I’m not that much of an asshole. It’s because if I gain any weight, my father restricts my food.

  Link: You shitting me?

  Lily: No. I wish I was.

  Link: Why do you put up with it?

  Lily: Because it’s only for as long as I’m willing to deal with it.

  Link: And how long is that?

  Lily: I don’t know.

  Link: Seems to me you don’t really know what you want. You let him control you, let him get away with the stuff he does because you think, at some point, you’ll break and will end him. But I don’t think you have that in you. Not really.

  Lily: That’s a lot of guessing from someone who doesn’t know me well.

  Link: What you want to do…I know what that feels like. It’s not something just ANYONE can do. You’re not just anyone.

  Lily: Aren’t I?

  Link: No. I think you’re kinder than you realize. I don’t think you could do it.

  Lily: Won’t know until I’m pushed.

  Link: Hasn’t he already pushed you enough? Wouldn’t you have snapped by now?

  Lily: I don’t want to talk about this.

  Link: The truth hurts. But if it’s any consolation, your ass is to die for, and I think it could survive a few of these sammiches.

  Lily: Thank you. I think. Lol. I’m surprised. Didn’t take you for a steak sandwich kinda guy.

  Link: No? How come?

  Lily: Thought you’d prefer something the size of a T-Rex on a plate with loaded baked potatoes.

  Link: Well, I do, but everything in moderation.

  Lily: Ha! This is you being healthy, is it?

  Link: Well, this piece of walking heaven has to stay looking this fine, doesn’t he?

  Lily: I suppose, when you put it like that…

  Link: Haha.

  Lily: :P

  Link: Does that mean you think I’m walking heaven?

  Lily: I wouldn’t want to inflate your ego anymore.

  Link: Shame.

  Lily: *snorts* If you say so.

  Link: I do. Every man likes his ego being…stroked.

  Lily: As well as other things? Or just his ego?

  Link: Other things too. Ego optional.

  Lily: So, in the grand scheme of things, you’d prefer ‘other things’ to be stroked than the ego?

  Link: You stroke those parts of me, the ego purrs.

  Lily: You’re nuts.

  Link: I try. :P Seriously, you should come down. I’ll even share this sandwich with you.

  Lily: Won’t buy me my own? You’re a cheap date!

  Link: The cheapest.

  Lily: Haha. Thanks for the offer.

  Link: But?

  Lily: I can’t go into town. Not without my guards, and as fascinating as I’m sure your
company is, it’s not worth the crap I’d get for it.

  Link: You know how prisons work, don’t you?

  Lily: Locks? Keys? Guards? Yep, well aware that’s my world. Except, I get to drive a fancy sports car so no one realizes it.

  Link: That sucks.

  Lily: Ah, but my belly is full, I have a roof over my head, and I have staff to see to my every whim. Aren’t I the luckiest princess in the world?

  Link: Sarcasm doesn’t become you.

  Lily: Sarcasm totally isn’t the lowest form of wit.

  Link: If it isn’t, what is?

  Lily: I don’t know, but sarcasm is the BEST.

  Link: Crap, you’re one of those weirdos who likes Fawlty Towers, aren’t you?

  Lily: Maybe. O.o John Cleese is a legend.

  Link: Pfft. Only weirdos like that show.

  Lily: It’s got a cult following.

  Link: Key word there being CULT. Anything that has that attached to it isn’t good IMO.

  Lily: We’ll have to agree to disagree.

  Link: Definitely.

  Lily: I bet you like facile American comedies, don’t you?

  Saturday

  Link: Might have downloaded an episode of Blackadder.

  Lily: Legit?

  Link: Legit. O.O

  Lily: You won’t regret it. Rowan Atkinson is fantastic. I love that show.

  Link: Why do you think I’m giving it a try?

  Lily: Probably to punish me.

  Link: Haha. You got that right. If I watch an episode of Blackadder, then you need to watch a…what did you call it? A FACILE American show.

  Lily: Like what?

  Link: I’m thinking Seinfeld. That’s funny.

  Lily: Bleugh.

  Link: You’ll suffer if I suffer.

  Lily: Blackadder isn’t suffering. Which season did you get?

  Link: The one with Queen Elizabeth.

  Lily: You listened!

  Link: I did. I remembered what you said about the first season not being that great.

  Lily: I can’t believe you remembered.

  Link: I have a good memory. Anyway, today, I need a laugh.

  Lily: Why? Bad day?

  Link: Not one of the best I’ve had in a while. Lot going on here. As you can imagine. We brought them here and things aren’t going well.

  Lily: They must need medical attention! Can I do something?

  Link: It’s all taken care of, but they could be doing better. It’s a lot of responsibility.

  Lily: I’m sorry. <3

  Link: Yeah. I’m not even the one dealing with them, tbh, but it’s just…there’s like this heavy cloud over us all atm.

  Lily: Understandable. My asshole father isn’t helping. But with him away, he has to let things slide.

  Link: Why is he away?

  Lily: He just said business. He doesn’t often go to Hong Kong, but when he does, he’s usually in a shitty mood when he gets back.

  Link: Something to look forward to.

  Lily: Yeah. Not so much.

  Link: You should get out of that place while you can.

  Lily: Just because he isn’t here doesn’t mean he doesn’t have eyes on me.

  Link: I guess not, but I could help you.

  Lily: Why would you do that?

  Link: Because I don’t like the idea of what you’re going through.

  Lily: I’m okay.

  Link: No. You’re not. Different prisons, different cages.

  Lily: I can’t be compared to them.

  Link: No. Maybe not. Trust me, I saw where they were. You’re definitely living in better circumstances, but that doesn’t mean you don’t need liberating as much as they did.

  Lily: I’m here by my own choice.

  Link: You just said it yourself. You’re not. You have eyes on you.

  Lily: By choice. I know what I’m doing.

  Link: Said no one. Ever.

  Lily: No. I really do. I need to do this. I need to be the one who takes him down.

  Link: And how are you going to do that without spending the rest of your life behind bars?

  Lily: I’m going to do what he did to my mom. Simple.

  Link: Not simple.

  Lily: Maybe not. But I HAVE to do it. I have to make him pay, and I want all my mother’s money. All of it. Not just a slice. I want to take it back from him, and I want to dismantle his stupid empire.

  Link: There’s more to life than vengeance, and I say that from the position of someone who’d know.

  Lily: Who did you want to avenge?

  Link: Not me. A brother. It burns inside him. I used to think it rotted him away from the inside out, but I was wrong.

  Lily: Why? I can’t see you being wrong on that score.

  Link: What do you mean?

  Lily: I think you’re quite astute. Adept at reading between the lines, you know?

  Link: We’ve barely talked.

  Lily: Now who can’t take a compliment?

  Link: True. Well, I try my best. But I was wrong because he fell in love.

  Lily: Did that make him stop needing vengeance?

  Link: No. I think his focus has just changed.

  Lily: Onto what?

  Link: Your father.

  Lily: Oh. It’s Giulia Fontaine’s partner? The brother you’re talking about?

  Link: Yeah. He came from a bad situation, his sister killed herself because of it, and ever since, that fire’s been burning away inside him.

  Lily: I know you can’t and WON’T say, but did it help him? Whatever he did to find it, did it ease it?

  Link: No. And that’s how I know that doing what you want to do isn’t worth it in the long run. Live your life, Lily. Get out of there while he’s away.

  Lily: You don’t understand his reach.

  Link: I can help you. Let me.

  Lily: You can’t. Nobody can. I have to help myself.

  Link: You’re not as alone as you think.

  Lily: You barely know me. Why would you even try to help me?

  Link: Because I’m a decent guy. Someone I just met called me astute. You’re dying in that place. I can feel it.

  Lily: I’ll be fine.

  Link: If you say so. When you decide I’m right, I’m here to help. Pinkie promise.

  Lily: Pinkie promise? Haha. Not scout’s honor?

  Link: Ain’t never been a scout and will never be one either.

  Lily: Now you really do surprise me. Lol. Are you seriously watching Blackadder tonight?

  Link: I am. Most seriously. Need a laugh. Things aren’t going well for another brother of mine.

  Lily: No? What’s wrong?

  Link: His wife left him. He needs to pull his head out of his ass.

  Lily: You’re obsessed with things being inside someone’s butt.

  Link: Lol. You’ve no idea.

  Lily: O.o no. I don’t. Do I want to know?

  Link: Maybe. :P

  Lily: Okay, I have a question that isn’t butt related.

  Link: You wound me.

  Lily: Lol. I’ll bet. But…you don’t take me as a rosary-wearing kind of guy.

  Link: Was my Grandma’s. She pretty much raised me. Mom was useless and as she got older, she got weirder. Couldn’t rely on her to make toast without freaking the fuck out about something.

  Lily: You wear it to honor her?

  Link: Not really. She wouldn’t approve of what I do. So, in her eyes, I’d probably be besmirching the rosary. But I wear it as a reminder. She used to say that if someone dies and you think of them often, then they’re never truly dead.

  Lily: I like that.

  Link: Me too. So I wear the rosary and think of her. I had a shitty childhood. Lots of crap going down. It made me who I am, made me accept things most decent people wouldn’t. But anything inside me that IS decent? Grandma gave me that.

  Lily: I’ll think of her too when I see your rosary next. What was her name?

  Link: Rosa. Simple name for a simple lady. And she was. We m
ight have been dirt poor but she was a lady.

  Lily: I believe it. Thank you for telling me that, Link.

  Link: No big deal. I’m going to watch Blackadder now.

  Lily: You want to watch it together? Like, over the phone? I have it on DVD.

  Link: I’d be down for that.

  Six

  Link

  Three days later

  “Link?”

  “Hmm?”

  Tink scowled at me, then slapped her hand down on my thigh. “You gonna do something with that log between your legs or what?”

  I hummed again, my attention on my phone. I had one hand behind my head propping me up enough to see the screen, and the other I used to tap out a message to a woman who—surprise, surprise—I actually fucking liked.

  Liked.

  As in, she didn’t irritate me.

  As in, she was amusing.

  As in, she had character, a character that she clung to with both hands in the face of forces that wanted to turn her into a robot.

  I admired that.

  Me.

  Admiring someone, and not just for how well they filled out a pair of yoga pants. Although, she filled hers out to perfection that was for damn sure. Just thinking about her swaggering out of the coffee shop that morning made the ‘log’ between my legs twitch at the memory.

  Me: You serious, right now?

  “Link!” Tink whined. “I’m—”

  “Don’t care what you are, babe,” I muttered, too engrossed in my conversation to give a shit. “Go fuck one of the others if you’re that desperate for some dick.”

  A gasp escaped her, and not because she was insulted. It took a lot to insult a sweetbutt, especially if you were a brother. I wasn’t going to say that you couldn’t hurt their feelings, because you could, and we routinely did and sure, that made us shits, but that was the life.

  That was their choice.

  Choice.

  Something I didn’t realize, until recently, was a precious thing.

  “You being serious right now?” she whispered, and her hand came up to touch my forehead. She twisted it around so the back of her fingers tested my temp. “Are you sick?”

  I scowled at her, swatting her hand away. “Nope. Just don’t want to fuck you. Fuck off, Tink. I’m in the middle of something.”

  She strode off at that, huffing as she walked that admittedly fine ass of hers out of my room. I didn’t notice. I was too taken aback.

  Lily: Why would I lie? :P