Ruthless People

by J. J. McAvoy

  “Nothing,” Mel said, glaring back. “Nothing at all, especially when you do nothing else other than make yourself look pretty and shop.”

  Declan kicked my foot, but I said nothing, simply cutting into my steak. This was not my battle, and I was definitely not taking a bullet for Olivia.

  “You think you’re better than us?” Olivia snapped, causing Melody to laugh and me to stuff my mouth with meat.

  “Barbie, I know I’m better than you,” Melody said, sipping her red wine. It was basically a food group for her. “All my parts are original and not made in China.”

  It took all my might not to laugh, but I did grin like a fool, and in the corner of my eye, I could see my father smiling as well behind his glass.

  “You bitch,” Olivia spat, rising from her seat.

  Glaring over at her, I met Neal’s eyes. “Control her, Neal, or else she will need new parts. No one calls my wife a bitch . . . with the exception of me.”

  “No one calls me a bitch, period. You aren’t special, Liam,” Mel said, and it felt like she had stabbed me.

  “Maybe you should tell her we don’t attack family,” Neal said as Olivia sat back down.

  “Yeah, we simply fail to defend them,” I replied, knowing full well it would shut him up. However, he simply turned to me.

  “How long are we going to do this Liam? It’s been almost two decades!”

  “When I said I would never forgive you”—I took another bite—“I meant not in ten, twenty, or even eighty years. We share DNA, nothing more.”

  “Liam!” Evelyn shouted. “I’m not sure what happened between you two, but Neal is right. It’s time to make peace.”

  “Neal, would you like to tell our mother what happened between us?” I asked him, waiting. The coward had never told either of our parents what he had done to me as a child. Part of me believed Sedric knew, even though he had never let on.

  Neal nodded slowly to himself before standing up and walking to the door.

  “Neal,” Melody said, calling after him. His back straightened before he turned to her.

  “Pack your bag. I have something planned for the week. We leave tomorrow after mass,” she said, not bothering to look at him.

  He left quickly, causing Olivia to stand up as well.

  “Are you happy?” Olivia asked.

  I turned to Mel. “Well, love, are you happy?”

  “No.” She frowned at my use of love. “I would be happier if you passed the peas,” she said, pretending not to even notice Olivia.

  Coraline, who had kept her head down and mouth shut this whole time, surprisingly reached over and handed them to her. I looked over to Declan to find him glaring at her, and I knew that look. Coraline had most likely gone through another credit card saving the hungry children of fill in the blank . . . it had only been two weeks. People were going to start questioning where all this money was coming from. At least we looked good. He was pissed. Maybe I would let him kill the police officer just to release some stress.

  “You all sicken me,” Olivia hissed.

  “You’re still here?” Mel asked, acting confused as she added peas to her plate. Olivia stormed out, and I was fucking grateful. I was already in a small battle with my wife, the police, and Vance. The last thing I needed was Olivia and Neal drama.

  “What are you two planning?” my father asked, simply.

  “Camp,” Mel and I said at the same time.

  “Camp?” Coraline’s head popped up. If I remembered correctly, Coraline actually liked the outdoors.

  “No women,” I said without thinking, causing her to look at Mel. Mel eyes narrowed.

  “Only those who are part of the job, Cora.”

  Coraline looked surprised at the nickname, as did everyone else. “Cora?” she asked.

  “I’m still working on a nickname for you.” Mel smiled. It wasn’t real, but it was better than the glare she gave Olivia. I could see the mischief she was spinning in her eyes, and I wasn’t sure whether to be afraid or groan in awe of her.

  “So this camp?” Evelyn asked, unsure. If it was criminal, she didn’t want to know, but she was interested.

  “Basically, it’s bonding for the men, or I plan on killing them all.” Mel smiled, which only made her threat more deadly and sexy. The fact that I knew she would made me want her, made me want to give her the gun and pull the trigger alongside her. However, she just rolled her eyes at my lust.

  “Camp,” Sedric repeated. “Maybe I should—”

  “Sorry, Sedric, but that invitation isn’t for you either. You are the past, and as much as I respect it, and you, my men need to walk forward as one.” My jaw almost came off as I stared between Mel and my father, who glared at her with fire in his eyes. However, they were no match for hers and only made her seem even stronger. Sedric shook his head and sighed.

  She said my not ours.

  Declan leaned into me. “When she wakes up in the morning, the devil curses.”

  “We both do,” I muttered. How the fuck did she do it? How the fuck was she able to call forth hell and heaven in her eyes? I was in awe of her so often it pissed me off. I could hear Orlando’s words in the back of my mind. You won’t find a woman who needs to be taught anything. He was right. She could rule without me. She wanted to rule without me. She didn’t need me, and it ticked me off. She ticked me off, and once again, because of her, I always needed to think. She confused the fuck out of my goddamn emotions and me. I felt like a teenager again—unsure if I wanted to fuck her or punch a wall.

  “Well then, daughter, I wouldn’t want to get in your way. After all, you will rule the world one day,” Sedric joked, though I’m sure he partially believed it.

  She smirked. “One day soon, hopefully. I have placed all the pieces in order. Nothing will stand in my way. I’ve worked too hard for that.”

  “Don’t overwork.” Evelyn frowned. “I still think you and Liam should have taken a honeymoon.”

  “That would have been pointless. Liam and I got married for the company. A honeymoon would have wasted time.” She frowned at the idea of it. She frowned at the idea of me.

  Running my hands through my hair, I sighed before rising from my seat.

  “I’m not feeling well. Goodnight,” I told them all, walking away. I needed to remember I was just a piece to her.

  MELODY

  I watched him leave in shock. He looked like he was so lost in his thoughts that he made himself sick. I wasn’t sure if I should stay or follow after him. What did wives do in these situations? Maybe he needed a moment. Evelyn met my eyes, and I could almost feel her pushing me to the door. Sighing, I stood and wished them all a good night before walking out as well. What the hell was I supposed to say to him?

  Honey, are you okay? Fuck no.

  Liam, what the fuck was that? Then we would fight.

  Liam, are you okay? He would try to have sex.

  “Melody?”

  Turning around quickly, I came face to face with Cora.

  “Yes?” I shouted, causing her to jump. She was so sweet, I almost felt sorry for her, but she needed a spine and quickly.

  “Umm . . . I was wondering . . . umm . . . ”

  “Ahh, I hate when people waste words. What’s wrong with you?” The Coraline I met was living high off glue and unicorns. This one seemed liked she had been roundhouse kicked off cloud nine.

  She took a deep breath and stood straighter, which was still quite short.

  “I’m losing Declan,” she stated directly.

  “That sucks,” I replied. “Evelyn is the other way for couples counseling.”

  She glared at me before shaking her head. “I don’t need Evelyn’s help, I need yours. Ever since you came, Declan has been looking at me differently . . . like an annoyance.”

  “That could be the constant giving, you’re rarely with him. So again, Evelyn . . .”

  “Mel—and I am going to call you Mel because we are family and you can’t kill me.”

&nb
sp; “Are you sure?” Declan was going to have to get a new wife if she didn’t get to the point soon.

  “Only in this family would charity work be deemed a flaw.” She sighed. “But they notice me. They see me. Every time I write a check, help rebuild a house or a community center, you should see their faces. It’s like I’m an angel to them, I’m important, needed. Do you know what that feels like? How it feels to be praised like that?”

  She didn’t give me a chance to speak before laughing to herself. “Of course you do, you’re the great Melody Giovanni.”

  “Cora get to your point.”

  “I love Declan, and I don’t want to lose him. But I see the way he looks at you,” she muttered, and I really hoped this conversation wasn’t going where I thought.

  “There is nothing—”

  “No, I know,” she said quickly, her eyes wide. “I know Declan would never cheat on me even if . . . I want him to look at me the way those kids do when I hand over a check. I want him to light up like he once did. So I need to be more like you. I need you to help me be more like you.”

  “Not gonna happen,” I replied. “There is only one Melody Giovanni, and there will be no second edition.”

  “Mel. I don’t want to be you. I want to be like you. I want to be able to shoot a gun. I want to learn how to fight. I’ve always wanted to learn, but it was never our place. But then you came in shattering glass ceilings and literally breaking down walls. I want to see if you could train me. I don’t need to become the best, but I want to be able to feel in control, and I want Declan to see me more than just a—”

  “A good old housewife,” I finished for her.

  She frowned, her nose flaring. “Yeah. I want to get into the ring and show him there is so much more to me.”

  “Why not ask him yourself?” Declan was a great fighter, he and Liam boxed every morning.

  “Because he has stopped seeing me. Everyone has stopped seeing me! I know what that means for our future. If I don’t do this, Declan and I will only grow further apart and he will resent me. I would rather die than have that happen.” She looked so scared that I almost wanted to help her.

  “Cora, you have to train for yourself, not Declan, or any man for that matter,” I replied, and she looked at me as though I was the one who was crazy.

  “Declan is me, Mel. We have always been in sync, and then somewhere down the line, the music changed for one of us, and now I’m looking for the right station to get back to him. He would do the same for me. He has done the same for me. It’s what married couples do. So, please, help me,” she begged, and I wasn’t sure what to say.

  “I’m busy, Cora.” The look of disappointment in her eyes bothered me. “However, Adriana can stay behind and work with you while we are gone for the week. Then after that, I will see. Be prepared for months of bruises and pain.”

  Coraline grinned, pulling me into a large hug.

  “Thank you!”

  “You’re touching me.”

  “Sorry,” she said, letting go quickly. “Thank you.”

  “Yeah, goodnight,” I told her before leaving. Coraline was good at getting what she wanted from me, and the last thing I wanted was to agree to anything else.

  When I entered Liam’s and my room, I could hear him in the shower. Stepping toward the door, I watched him as he stood under the stream of water. The drops rolled off every part of his body. He was so beautiful. He looked like a statue chiseled out of finest stone.

  “Is there something you needed, Melody?” he asked me, not bothering to look up.

  Melody? He hadn’t called me that since the first time we had sex, and for some reason, hearing him call me that now bothered me.

  “What’s wrong with you?”

  “Nothing, Melody. I will be out in a moment,” he replied, emotionless, but even I could hear the lie in that.

  He was ticking me off. We do not lie to each other. Taking off my shoes, I walked straight into the shower, not even bothering to take off my dress. Flinching at the coolness of the water, I glared into his eyes, grabbing the side of his face.

  “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

  “Mel—”

  “Call me Melody again and I will knee you in the balls.” I was not going to let him lie to me.

  He brushed back my wet hair before pulling it and my head back. Pushing me against the wall, I glared into his eyes, they no longer seemed green, instead they were filled with fire burning with passion and rage.

  He snapped at me. “You do not own me. You do not own us. I am not your pawn.”

  “I never called you a pawn!”

  “In my mind, I thought I was getting closer to you. But then tonight I realized all you do is play everyone around you, including me. I bend at your will. Since when did I start bending? You do not own me! I’m not another piece, I am your husband.”

  “Stop bitching at me. You’re mad over my words? Why are you so fucking emotional?”

  “Because I’m human, and therefore I have emotions!” His volume made my eyes widen. “Do you even like me, Melody? As just Liam?”

  Where the fuck was this coming from?

  He smirked sadly, shaking his head as he turned off the water. Stepping forward, he kissed my forehead. “The fact that you can’t answer that question is enough.”

  “You make it seem like we were high school sweethearts who eloped. This is business, Liam. I told you I could rule beside you, but I can’t handle your emotional shit.”

  He knew this! Why the fuck was he being such an idiot?

  “I made a mistake. I thought you didn’t understand love. But you do. You love the blood and the power, as do I. However, I was making room for you, and it has made me soft. You’re surpassing me because you don’t give a fuck. You wouldn’t take a bullet for me or even shed a tear if I died. I’m the guy to staunch your need and then you’re off. I’m just sex. This whole night was nothing but Melody. This whole marriage has been about Melody. I won’t waste my time. You want business? You will get business,” he answered, leaving me standing in the shower. I was shocked and confused.

  Did I even like Liam?

  He was amazing in bed and beautiful, funny . . . sometimes. I didn’t hate him.

  When I stepped into the room, it was pitch black, making the hair on the back of my neck rise as I made it onto the bed.

  He turned off his light. He never turned off the light. Ever since he found out about my . . . fear. The nights we didn’t have sex—which were rare—he read until I fell asleep and each night he said goodnight, love. He tried not to make it obvious, but I knew the reason. If he was going to be cold, I was going to be colder. He was such a dick. But part of me felt like he was right. I hadn’t really put in much effort since our second night together when I’d told him about the white shoes. He had looked so happy then, as if knowing that little detail about me was going to make his day.

  So what if I had called him a pawn or a piece tonight? We were both pawns. We both knew that when we got married. Why was he trying to complicate the relationship? We fucked. We worked. Simple. But now that motherfucking asshole had to make sure I cared.

  Groaning in frustration, I sat up quickly. He was awake, staring up at me with no emotion. I wanted to scream at him! Because of his fucking shit, I couldn’t sleep.

  “Let me guess, you need to have the last insult?” he asked, sitting up to prepare himself.

  I raised my arms ready to strangle him, but pulled back. I was going to kill him. I wasn’t clear about the reason yet, but I was going to kill him. There was so much I wanted to yell at him, but nothing was coming out.

  “What the fuck do you want from me, Liam?”

  “Go to sleep, Melody. You’re going to wake the house.”

  “I don’t give a fuck,” I snapped. “What happened? One moment we are fine and the next you’re . . . what the fuck Liam?”

  He yawned and it ticked me off to no end. “I’m going to war, Melody. Everyone is coming for me .
. . coming for my family, but the most dangerous woman in the world is sleeping next to me. I care for her, but she doesn’t give a shit about me or anything.”

  “That’s why I’m the most dangerous woman in the world!”

  He smirked. “It’s also why you’re alone. You can trust me in work, but with you personally, you won’t let me get close.”

  “I don’t know you!” I yelled. “How long have we been married? Ten fucking days, Liam? Who falls in love in ten fucking days? Who feels anything in ten fucking days! That isn’t normal!”

  “I do.” He glared at the ceiling. “We aren’t normal. Normal people don’t shoot other people almost daily. Normal people don’t sell drugs nor are they at risk of dying every day. I don’t have any time to waste going through the motions. Either I like it or I don’t. Either I’m in or I’m out. I do not walk in the middle.”

  “Not everyone is like you.”

  “You’re like me,” he whispered. “But you would rather lock everything out. Joy, pain, love. You work on anger and lust.”

  “I don’t hate you, Liam. Goodnight.” I frowned, turning onto my side.

  LIAM

  And just like that, I wanted to smirk. I knew I had her. Step one, smother her with love. Step two, take that love away. Step three, drag the raw emotions out of her kicking and screaming. The moment I left the dining hall, I knew it was time for step two. I planned step three for the morning, but she just had to talk it out now.

  I knew who she was, and most of the time I loved it. But I didn’t have time to take down her walls, brick by brick. I needed to find a weak point and then blow it up. I would keep going, keep being cold to her until she admitted the truth to herself. We weren’t just sex anymore. Even now as she drifted to sleep, I could feel her leaning back for my warmth. She cared. She wanted to care more, but she was afraid.

  Waiting until she was deeply asleep and muttering to herself, I reached over and hugged her against me. She smelled amazing. Kissing her lips softly, I watched as she rolled into my arms.

  She wanted this. She wanted me. I was going to break her out of bitch mode . . . for me. I enjoyed her bitching at Olivia.