“I don’t know, Mav. My powers of being in two places at once seem to be broken right now, so why don’t you enlighten me?”
“Al.”
“Al who?”
“Don’t play fucking dumb with me right now, Kalum. Al, from the old neighborhood—aka Big Al, who is high up with The Kings.”
“Wasn’t he the one who lost the class pet?”
“I don’t fucking know, Kalum, and quit with the dumb-guy act!”
Kalum doesn’t respond right away, but eventually, he asks, “Why was he there, Mav?”
I might not be able to see what’s going on, but you could cut the tension in here with a knife. Whoever this Big Al guy is, Kalum clearly doesn’t want to talk about him.
“He asked me if I still designed software.”
“What did you say?” Kalum’s voice has a desperate tone to it, like he absolutely needs to know everything Mav and this Big Al guy said to each other.
“I told him I was out of the game—that I was sure he could find some other computer genius to break into cars for him.”
I know that Kalum and Maverick both did time for stealing cars, but I honestly don’t know many details about it. It was in the past. And I, for one, am all about keeping the past where it belongs.
“How did he react to that?”
“Not the way I expected.”
Silence hangs for seconds but it feels like hours. I know the guys are so heated in their argument right now that I could likely leave without being noticed, but I can’t manage to move from this spot.
“Well, are you going to tell me?” Again, Kalum’s voice is desperate. Why does he care so much about what this Big Al guy had to say?
“He said, and I quote, ‘I’m sure I can get you out of retirement, just like I have with your brother.’ What did he mean by that, Kalum? Big Al might be shady, but he’s not a liar when it comes to business.”
Out of retirement? Like his brother? Is Kalum stealing cars again?
No. That can’t be. Can it? Kalum would never go back to that life. He has worked so hard to turn his life around.
But he has been stressed and angrier these last few months. Is this what he meant last week when he said he had to get some stuff figured out? That he had to get out of it again?
“It’s not what you think.” Kalum’s voice cuts through my thoughts.
“Then what is it? Please tell me what the hell Big Al was talking about.”
Yes, Kalum. Tell us what this is about.
“I can’t tell you. Not yet.”
“What do you mean not yet?” Maverick is now furious, and honestly, so am I. “So I’m supposed to sit here in the dark when my brother may or may not be back doing the shit that sent us to jail for years? You are fucking better than that, Kal!”
“It’s not what you think!” Kalum is fuming. I can feel his anger across the garage with every word he bites out. “You need to trust me, Maverick, and soon I’ll be able to tell you everything. Every last detail. But right now, you have to fucking trust me that I have this shit under control.”
The silence is there again, and I wish I could take a look to see what’s happening. If I had to bet, they’re in each other’s faces, trying to size each other up.
“You need to trust me, Mav. I swear that everything will make sense soon.”
Maverick doesn’t respond, but I hear something else clear as day. Skin hitting skin. And if I had to put money on it, my guess is that Kalum is wearing the effects of that punch.
“Until you want to fucking tell me the truth, don’t bother fucking talking to me. We’ve trusted each other our entire lives, Kalum. So I don’t understand why now you won’t tell me what’s going on. The ball is in your court.”
The next thing I hear is the garage door slamming shut.
I want to run over and comfort Kalum. To get him ice for the bruise I’m sure is developing on his face. But at the same time, I kind of want to leave a matching bruise.
Is he back in that life? Is that what he does on Thursdays? And why has he been acting like an asshole to his friends over the past few months?
I slowly stand up, and I don’t even have to try to make a quiet exit. Kalum has already barged out of the garage, not even remembering—or caring—that I’m still here.
Maybe that’s for the best. Because I have no clue what’s going on right now.
28
Kalum
When I got myself involved in this whole fucking situation with Big Al and The Kings, I knew it would weigh on me. The secrets, the lies, doing things I promised myself I’d never do again . . . I knew eventually they’d start piling up and I wouldn’t know how to balance it anymore.
I’ve reached that point. Last night with Maverick at the garage was proof of that. I can’t keep it up. I’m done. I need out.
As I sit in the dive bar waiting for my normal Monday meeting that got bumped to Wednesday, I can’t help but smile as I look over at the pool tables. I’m lost in the memory of that fateful night when Tori came waltzing in here looking for nothing more than a drink and a good time. It was the start of everything for us.
And now I wonder if this is about to be the end. Because tonight’s meeting could go one of two ways—the way I want it to go, or the way that will crush me and everyone I care about.
I sip my beer and look up when the door opens. In walks the person I need to talk to. She gets a drink and finds her way back to our table like she’s done every week for the past four months.
I stand to greet her—my arms open wide for the hug we give each other each week. I kiss her cheek, again like I do each week. For anyone looking at us, we look like a couple on a date. It’s how we’ve flown under the radar here, not drawing attention to ourselves.
But a date is the farthest thing from what goes on in this booth.
“Sorry about the switch in days this week,” Amanda says, taking a sip of her club soda.
I slip my arm around her, playing the part of the gentleman. “It’s fine, but we need to talk.”
The look I give her should say everything my words aren’t. She told me that after a while, I’d want out, but she also told me that I wasn’t done until she said I was.
“Not yet, Kalum. We need more time.”
I shake my head. “No. I’m done. You have to have enough on Big Al and The Kings. Hell, the conversation I recorded about needing the second night should give you everything you need. I’ve let them, and you, use my shop. I’ve agreed to record conversations that could probably get me killed. What the fuck else do you want from me? I can’t keep doing this. I feel like I’m being torn in two and I’m over it, Amanda. I can’t keep leading this second life. So, like I said, I need out.”
“I know, Kalum, and we’re close. I promise. We have a lot of smoke, but we don’t have the fire yet. You need to give us a few more weeks—a month, tops.”
A month? Hell no.
“You told me three months, Amanda. We hit the four-month mark last week and now you’re telling me it could be another month? Fuck this. You have what you need from me. I’m done.”
I go to stand up, but she grips my hand, pulling me back down. I know I’m making a scene, but I couldn’t give a flying fuck right now. I’d hoped against hope that she’d be willing to let me off the hook with this, but I never thought she’d tell me we needed another month.
“Don’t make me play the Maverick card, Kalum. You know I will.”
It’s a low fucking blow, and she knows it. But that’s the problem when you’re friends with a cop from the old neighborhood—they know how to push your buttons. And they know how to get you to agree to things you’d never in a million years think you’d do.
About four months ago, I was surprised as all hell when my old friend Amanda O’Donald stopped by for a visit. She was the only girl who could hang with Maverick, Jaxson, and me when we were kids. While we all said we’d never find ourselves in jail or on the wrong side of the law, she actually meant it.
She became a cop, and even though the three of us couldn’t have been happier for her, some of the guys we ran around with considered her a traitor.
When she walked into the garage, I knew it wasn’t the Amanda who was my first kiss on the playground. No, I knew this was Detective O’Donald.
She told me she needed my help, and that she needed me to be a mole inside The Kings. I told her she was nuts—that I was out of the life and no way would I voluntarily go back in. But then she explained to me that The Kings were operating a car-theft ring that was slowly becoming one of the bigger organized crime operations in the city. I told her she was crazy; I wasn’t about to even pretend to go back to stealing cars, even if I did want to see justice served.
But then she told me that as they’ve been investigating this new theft ring, older, similar cases have kept popping up—ones with Maverick’s name attached to them as a suspect. Some solved, some still unsolved, but Maverick was the prime suspect in every one of them. Apparently, The Kings are using an amateur version of Maverick’s coding system that mirrors the keyless remote systems.
And when she said they, she meant the feds.
They know Maverick isn’t involved in this current ring, but the statute of limitations hasn’t run out on some of the unsolved thefts. Amanda said that the feds her squad is teaming up with would love nothing more than to close some of those old cases.
So Detective O’Donald gave me two choices: Mav and I could press our luck to see if the feds came after him, or she could help me make a deal that would ensure he’d never do any time for the crimes of his past. All I had to do was go undercover for her.
It was the easiest decision I’d ever made. Maverick went to jail the first time because of me. I’ll do anything in my power to make sure he never goes back. Including becoming a snitch, which is what I do every Monday night with Amanda: report my week to her, give her anything incriminating, and hope that it’s enough so I can go back to living the life I want to live. Which includes owning a successful business with my brother. And being with Tori.
“Big Al visited Maverick the other day. Asked him to get back in and to bring his computer with him.”
Amanda puts her drink down, turning toward me to make sure she gets every word of this unexpected development. “What did he say?”
“He told them to fuck off. But that’s not the problem. Big Al dropped that I was back in it. So naturally, Mav confronted me. I didn’t tell him anything, but he’s pissed, Amanda. They think I’m back in it. I could keep the secret, but I can’t keep it if they think I’m boosting cars again. It’s too much.”
“Who is ‘they’?”
I blink a few times, mentally slapping myself for the slip of the tongue.
“What do you mean?”
“You said ‘they,’ Kalum. That ‘they’ think you’re back in it. Who other than Mav knows?”
I let out a breath, knowing I’ve fucked up.
“Her name is Tori. She’s a . . . friend of mine. She was in the garage when Maverick came in. I don’t know how much she heard.”
It’s not a complete lie. I don’t know when Tori left. For all I know, she heard the whole thing. She might have heard none of it. I was so mad that I forgot she was even there until after I stormed out, but by the time I went back, she was gone.
“Is she just a friend, Kalum? Is she the reason why you want out?”
I wish I could lie to Amanda, but this girl has always figured out a way to see through my bullshit. No sense in trying to fool her now.
“She is. But she’s . . . well she could be . . . fuck, I don’t know. But I care about her. A lot.”
“I told you not to get in a relationship while this was going on, Kalum. That it was too dangerous for her, and for you. What were you thinking?”
I grip my beer bottle so tight it might break.
“I was thinking that I like the way she makes me feel. That I want to be with her. I know that I got myself into this situation, but I couldn’t help it. I tried to stay away from Tori. But I just . . . couldn’t.”
Amanda gives me a sad look and puts her hand on mine.
“I know I’ve asked a lot of you. I’ve asked you to lie to your family. To put your life on hold. To get involved with guys you promised yourself you’d never be in the same room with again. But I promise you: this is almost over, and then you can resume whatever you have going on with her.”
Wait! What?
“Are you saying I need to break up with her? We’ve been on the down low. No one knows about her—not even Maverick or Jaxson. I have it under control. Why do I need to end it now?”
“I’m sure you do. But Kalum, what if Big Al finds out about her? Or his boss does? What if they use her to threaten you to do more than you’re willing to? What if they harm her because you won’t do what they ask? We can only protect so many people, Kalum. Don’t bring anyone else into this who doesn’t need to be.”
I know what she’s asking me to do is the right thing, but I don’t want to. Tori is the only thing in my life right now giving me any sort of peace.
Amanda stands up and places a kiss on my cheek before she goes to leave.
“Kalum?”
“Yeah?”
“It’s almost over. But you need to end it with this girl. For her safety, and yours.”
29
Tori
Annabelle likes to say that everything happens for a reason. When she says it, the phrase sounds so hopeful, like there’s a grand plan for this world where everyone lives happily ever after and gets to wake up to rainbows and sunflowers each day.
So here’s my question for the grand planner of the world who makes all things happen for specific reasons: why did Kalum West come into my life if it was only going to come with stress, heartache, and general confusion?
Because I, for one, am over this shit.
My heart hurts just as much as my head and I don’t know which way is up, and it’s all because Kalum has been a ghost the last few days.
After our romp in the garage on Tuesday, I should have been riding on a post-orgasmic cloud. That was by far the most erotic and intense sexual experience of my life, and the Camaro is my new favorite car. But before I could even bask in the glow of it, Maverick called and everything came crashing down.
I’ve been a mess at work since then. I’ve dropped more than my fair share of drinks. I took out my frustrations on the espresso machine, and I might have told a customer who asked for a scone to get it herself.
Luckily, it was a regular who thought I was joking and proceeded to tell me she loves my sense of humor.
I wasn’t joking.
It’s now Friday and I haven’t heard from Kalum since I was adjusting my dress behind a car in his garage. And the radio silence has led my mind to come up with every possible scenario of why he’s ignoring me.
I’m freaking out because I haven’t heard from him.
I’m freaking out because of what he and Maverick were arguing about.
I’m freaking out because I’m pretty sure I’m in love with him, and I’m scared that everything is about to change.
The worst part is that I can’t talk to anyone about this. Even if I tried to talk to Annabelle or Scarlett in a hypothetical situation, they’d see through me in five seconds. Plus, for all they know, I’m taking a dating break.
The only person I can talk to is the reason for this mindfuck, and he’s been ignoring my texts and phone calls.
I don’t know how much time has passed during my shift. It feels like hours, but it could have been minutes. I’m abruptly snapped out of this state when I feel a vibration in my apron pocket. It’s probably Scarlett confirming that she’d love for me to watch Grant this weekend. I figured that since I didn’t have plans that included morning sex with Kalum, then the least I could do is watch the only man who will never let me down. Well, until he’s a teenager and gets me into trouble for buying him beer.
Kalum: I need to see you. Come to my pla
ce after work.
What the actual fuck?
I haven’t heard from this man in nearly three days, and the first time I do it’s with a demand to come over to his place—a place I’ve never even been to because we didn’t want Maverick to catch us.
Not a “Hi, how you doing?” or a “Sorry I’ve been an asshole and have been ignoring you.”
I was mad at Kalum before for ignoring me. Now I’m furious with the man.
Me: I’m sorry. I don’t recognize this number. It’s been a while since it’s appeared on my screen. Can you confirm that this is the cell phone of Kalum West?
If he thinks I’m going to crumble at his feet and show up at his front door in the red dress, he has another thing coming. Right now, he’s going to be lucky if he ever gets to see that dress even hanging in my closet.
Kalum: Don’t be a smart-ass, Tori. I’m sorry for ghosting you the past few days, but I’ll explain everything if you come over tonight.
Me: How do you know I don’t have plans? Maybe my calendar has booked up since you last saw me. Maybe I have a date?
Kalum: The fuck you do. And I know you’re lying because it’s Friday, and I know you work early on Saturdays, so you don’t usually go out unless it’s for a girls’ night or if we all go out. Since we aren’t heading out, and Jaxson told me Annabelle has to teach a class tonight, I’m assuming you’re free. So, I will say this nicely again: GET YOUR FUCKING ASS OVER HERE.
Well, the all caps wasn’t very nice. Pretty shouty if you ask me.
Don’t get me wrong. I want to go over to Kalum’s place more than I want pizza to be calorie-free. I got so used to seeing him almost every day that it feels like forever since I last saw him. And I miss him. A lot.
But I’m still trying to decide if I’m mad at him, or if he’s been lying about more than just our relationship these past few months.
Guess there’s only one way for me to know any of that.
Me: Are you actually going to explain things to me?
Say You're Mine Page 28