“Stop,” I ground out, my voice rough, but it wasn’t because of anything but frustration.
“Why?” She pressed closer to me, her body now flush with mine. “I want you, you want me. She doesn’t have to know.”
“Moira—”
She leaned up, her lips connecting with my jaw. “Come on, Brody—”
“No.” I gripped her biceps and pushed her away from me. The liquid in her glass toppled over the edge and splashed against her front, making the material even more see-through than it already was. I could see everything under there, and I hated it. “Stop it.”
“You did that on purpose.” She placed the glass on the counter and ran her palm over her chest, making the material stick to her even more. “You want to see it, don’t you? You want me now that you shouldn’t. Is that your thing? You crave the forbidden fruit?”
“It’s not.” I let go and took three steps away from her. “I don’t want you at all.” She sucked in a breath, but I kept going. “And what you’re doing right now isn’t going to change my mind.” I shook my head. “Stop acting desperate, it doesn’t suit you.”
“How dare you.”
“How dare you,” I repeated. “How dare you show up at Lola’s work and embarrass her—”
“Embarrass her?” She gripped her hair and widened her eyes. “I’m the one who is embarrassed, not her. All my friends know what you did with the Cresthill whore! They whisper behind my back, talking about how I can’t keep a man—”
“Would you just listen to yourself?” I asked, my voice raised. I hated it was escalating to this, but she wasn’t the same person who I’d met all those years ago. I understood we all changed, but she was someone completely different. “You’re embarrassed because your high-society ‘friends' are talking about you?”
“You don’t understand!”
“I understand just perfectly,” I told her, lowering my voice. “I understand that if you approach Lola once more, I’ll get a restraining order slapped on your ass within the hour. I’m warning you, Moira.”
“Warning me?” she pointed at her chest, her cheeks bright red. “You think you can warn me off your little whore?”
I took two steps closer to her. “I’m sorry for what I did to you.” I paused and kept my gaze trained on hers. “But I mean what I said. Stay the hell away from her.”
“Or what?” she taunted, her lips lifting on one side.
“Or you’ll find out the lengths I go to for the people I love.” I left her with those parting words and spun around, desperate to get away from her.
Chapter Thirty-One
LOLA
I paced the small space between my living room and kitchen as I stared down at my cell. A new message was open, the cursor above the keyboard flashing at me—taunting me. It was time to tell Brody. Time to come clean about the secret I’d been keeping.
But I couldn’t help wondering what he’d say and do when I told him. Maybe everything he was doing had been for nothing? Cade finally spoke to me yesterday and told me they’d moved into a new house after Moira had called me a whore. Which meant it was all real. Brody was starting a new life. The question was whether I wanted to be in that life with him or not.
I shook my head. It wasn’t a question, I was just stalling for more time.
My fingers flew over the keyboard, and I pressed send before I could chicken out.
Lola: We need to talk. Can I come over later?
I cringed at the words. I shouldn’t have assumed he’d want me to come to his place. Maybe I should have suggested we meet on neutral ground, like somewhere public. Crap. I should have done—
Brody: I’d love to talk. I can pick you up around 8?
Lola: No, I’ll meet you. Send me the address.
I shook my head. I sounded like a goddamn robot, but the nerves were hitting me full force. Once I got out what I needed to say, we could wade through all the shit and figure it all out. But the first step was being honest. He’d been honest with me when he came here two weeks ago, and now it was my turn.
My cell vibrated in my hand, and I looked down to see his address. I copied it and put it into Google Maps, working out how long it would take me to get there, and started plotting out my whole day around it.
I didn’t have work today, and there were four hours until I had to leave, so the only viable thing to do was wait around. I hated waiting, so I grabbed my keys and headed out to get something to eat and to kill some time.
I strolled through the streets and past the diner, spotting Jan at the counter through the windows, but I didn’t stop. I kept on walking, heading into the stores at the small strip mall five minutes away, and then I grabbed a sandwich from the deli shop and ate it on my way back to my apartment.
By the time I closed my door behind me, I’d killed two hours and only had two left. My stomach dipped, and I gripped on to it, trying to hold the nerves in. Nothing would be the same after today. It would either go really good, or really fucking bad, but I wouldn't know until I said the words. Two words. Two words that could change the course of everything.
I jumped out of my skin at the knock on my door, and my eyes widened. He’d turned up at my place instead. He was early, and now I was going to have to tell him, and I wasn’t prepared. I wasn’t ready. I hadn’t figured out my speech yet, and—
“Lola!” A fist banged on the door a second time. “I know you’re in there.”
I frowned at the door and Hut’s voice. Why was he here? I hadn’t seen him since he’d last turned up, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to deal with him right now.
“Open the fuckin' door, or I’m gonna kick it in!”
I rushed over to the door and flung it open. “What are you doing—”
Hut barged his way inside, and I stumbled to the side, thankful the wall was there to catch me.
“You’re coming with me.”
“Erm...no, I’m not.” I shook my head and crossed my arms over my chest. “You don’t get to tell me what to—”
“It isn’t open for discussion,” Hut ground out as he took three steps toward me and gripped my arm. His eyes were wild, not able to concentrate on any one thing, and I knew he was high. “I need you to come with me.”
“I don’t care what you need,” I sneered, yanking my arm from his grip, but he readjusted and held me tighter. I wasn’t going to do this again. I’d been through it enough when I lived in the same house as him, I wouldn't allow myself to go back to that place. “Let me go, Hut.”
“You come willingly, or I’ll knock you out, but either way, you’ll be coming with me.”
“Hut!” I growled and stomped my foot. I wasn’t sure why I did it, but it felt right at the time. “Let me go!”
He pulled me out of the door, not bothering to close it behind him, and I fought. I fought like I’d never fought before. I scraped my nails down his arm, I punched his back, I threw all my weight at him, but it didn’t faze him one bit. He kept on yanking me down the hallway. If he made for the stairs, I could push him down them and get away, or maybe I could call for help—crap, my cell was on the kitchen counter.
“Hut, seriously, stop.”
“No.” He turned for the elevator, and my plan was destroyed. “I need you to come with me to see Carson.”
“Again?” I groaned, finally giving up the fight. I wouldn’t get anywhere with fighting him, not yet at least. “I already went to one with you, why—”
“Stop asking so many fuckin' questions!” he roared so loud that I shrank a little. The elevator doors whooshed open, and he pulled me inside, not caring that I stumbled and nearly face-planted the floor.
“Please, Hut. You don’t have to—”
“Stop talking,” he fumed, his hand gripping on to my arm even harder and tears sprang to my eyes. I was sure he’d crack the bone if he weren’t careful. “If you don’t stop talking, I'll make you stop.” His gaze met mine, a promise in their depths as he pulled out his trusty knife—I hated that thing with
a passion. “Maybe it’d be easier if you didn’t have a tongue?”
“Hut…” I trailed off, not sure what to say. There was no getting through to him when he was like this.
I had two hours until I had to meet Brody. I wouldn’t make it back to Cresthill and here in time, but maybe if I did as Hut told me and met Carson with him, it could all be over. I could be back in my apartment tonight, and once I told Brody what happened, he could get Hut out of my life for good.
Sadness hit me like a freight train. I didn’t want to cut Hut out altogether. He’d been the one person I could rely on when I was growing up, but staring at him now, there wasn’t one flash of that person. This evil version of him had taken over and strangled the boy beneath.
The elevator doors whooshed open, and I didn’t have the energy to try and pull away this time. He led me to a car—not his usual SUV—and popped the trunk.
“Get in.”
My eyes widened. “Hut—”
He pushed his face closer to mine, a sneer pulling at his lips. “Get. In.”
I swallowed, hating I was about to climb into the trunk without putting up another fight, but the glint of his knife at his side was enough to get my ass into the trunk. I didn’t have to guess if he’d use it. I knew he would.
He slammed it closed, basking me in darkness, and then the engine rumbled beneath me.
LOLA
The car shuddered to a stop.
I didn’t know how long I was in the small, enclosed space, but a clarity I hadn’t had was gained. It only took one incident to make you realize what really mattered in your life, and without a doubt, that was my baby and Brody. I’d pulled away when he came to me, afraid he’d hurt me like he did before, but nothing good came without risk. Risks weren’t meant to be guaranteed. They were a chance you took at a better life—a happy life, and Brody was that risk I was willing to take.
I pulled my hand away from my stomach. I wouldn't give Hut any excuse to hurt me. I’d push my shoulders back, do what I had to do, and then get out of here. Evening sunlight blinded me as Hut pulled the trunk open, and he hauled me up and out. He grunted as he deposited me on some gravel.
“Get up.” He stepped away from me, and I took a look around.
A house sat in front of me, a wraparound porch and one rocking chair by the front door, and to the right was a warehouse. I hadn’t been here before, so I had no idea where we were or what we were doing.
I placed my palms on the ground, the gravel biting into the soft flesh, and pushed myself up. I didn’t want to follow him into the warehouse, but dammit, I didn’t have a choice. I had no idea where we were, and no cell to contact anyone, so I moved toward him.
The warehouse was mostly empty with a stack of something covered in sheeting toward the back wall. “Hut? What are we doing here? Please, take me home.” I hated how whiney I sounded.
He stopped in the middle of the warehouse, the large overhead lights illuminating his tense body. “Home?” He turned around slowly, his face a mask of anger. “Home is with me, and you haven’t been there for nearly two months.” He widened his stance. “You’re not going anywhere...at least, not until Carson gets here.”
“But—”
Tires crunching on gravel cut me off, and I spun around to see headlights shining into the warehouse. I knew it was Carson before he stepped out of the SUV, followed by two of his men. My stomach dropped, and my gut told me this wasn’t a normal meeting. Carson had told Hut he wanted me in the first meeting I’d attended at his bar, and Hut had said he would have me in not so many words. My mind was running rampant, and however much I tried to deny everything falling into place, it was the only thing that made sense.
“I see you found my payment,” Carson said as he walked toward me. His gaze flicked over to Hut as he raised a brow. “Unharmed, like I requested.”
“She’s not hurt,” Hut growled. “Let’s get this done, I got places to be.”
Carson nodded and smiled down at me, the same smile that made me give him the nickname “Creepy Carson.” I shivered as he came closer, and my natural instinct was to cover my stomach, to protect the baby growing inside me from any evil these men could cause.
“Lovely Lola.” Carson sighed and stopped in front of me. He lifted his hand, his rough fingers trailing down my cheek. “Just as pretty as I remember.”
“Carso—”
“Did I say you could talk?” He tutted, his gentle fingers turning rough in the blink of an eye. He gripped my chin and forced my attention on him, and only him. “You’ll learn the rules soon enough,” he said, his eyes getting darker. “They all learn the rules.”
I swallowed, not sure what he was saying or what he meant, but it couldn’t have been anything good.
He let me go, smoothed out the lapels on his jacket, and turned to face Hut. “You have the product?”
“Yeah.” Hut pointed over at the corner. “It’s all there.”
“Good.” Carson nodded to one of his guys. “Get the payment.”
I backed away a step, wondering if I could run while they were occupied, but my back hit a body, and then hands were gripping my arms. Not hard the way that Hut had held me, but with enough force that I wouldn’t move.
“Take her to the car,” Carson said, flicking his wrist in the air in dismissal.
“The car?” I asked, my eyes widening. He was taking me with him—taking me away. I couldn’t allow myself to be put in that car. I’d heard the stories of what Carson did to women he liked, and there was no way I’d allow myself to be in that position.
“Yes, Lovely Lola.” Carson sighed and shook his head at me like I was being difficult. “You’re my new pet, and pets do as they’re told. Now, off you go.”
“No.” My voice was small as I tried to shrug Carson’s guy off of me. “No,” I said, firmer that time. “I won’t go.”
Carson laughed, his head thrown back from the force, and I really wanted to punch him in the face. He thought this was funny, but it wasn’t. And Hut was just standing there, not caring in the slightest that he’d just sold me.
“Oh, Lola, Lola, Lola.” Carson tutted again and darted forward. His hand made contact with my hip, and he yanked me into his chest, his erection poking me in my stomach. “You don’t know what your refusal does to me.” He groaned and ran his nose up the side of my neck. “I can’t wait to get you in my bed.” He pulled back slightly. “Or maybe I’ll take you here and now, show your brother that you’re all mine?”
“No.” I shook my head and tried to pull away. “You can’t do this. You can’t!” I slapped my hands off his chest, needing to get out of his hold, but he gripped me harder and pawed at my T-shirt, trying to pull it up. I couldn’t let him get to me. I couldn’t let him do this.
“Please,” I begged, tears streaming down my cheeks. I just wanted this to be a dream and not the reality I was thrust into.
Carson groaned. “God, you beg so good.” He flashed me a devilish smirk and gripped my bicep. I didn’t get the chance to process what was happening as he yanked me out of the warehouse and toward his car on the gravel.
“No, please. Stop.” My words were hitting deaf ears. He kept on pulling, and one of his guys opened up the back door. “I’m pregnant!” I screamed, the words echoing around the empty space.
Shit. Shit, shit, shit.
It was out of my mouth without a second thought, I should have regretted it, not knowing what they would do, but I didn’t. A small part of me hoped it would stop them from hurting me.
“You’re…pregnant?” Carson halted, his body perfectly still. It took him a second to process it, and then he was shoving me away and screwing his face up. “You gave me damaged goods!” he roared at Hut who had followed us out of the warehouse.
I swallowed and stared at Hut with wide eyes. This was my chance to get away, my chance to run, but my feet were planted to the ground, not willing to move.
“I…didn’t know,” Hut replied, not looking away from me. We w
ere in a stare-off, and I could feel the rage rolling from him in waves.
“She’s no use to me now.” Carson threw his hands up in the air and spun to face his guy. “Put the payment back.” The guy spun around on his command, and Carson turned to face me. “I would have made you my queen, Lola.” His gaze dipped to my stomach. “The spawn has damaged you though.” He huffed out what sounded like a tired breath. “Such a shame.” I didn’t see his arm lift until it was too late, and then the back of his hand was connecting with the side of my face. The force sent me tumbling to the gravel, but I turned at the last second, protecting my stomach from the impact.
Carson drove away, kicking up gravel that bit against my skin. It was just me and Hut left now, and he had no choice but to take me home. Whatever was happening with him and Carson was no longer an option. The deal had fallen through, and it was all because of me.
“This is all your fault,” Hut said, his voice closer than I thought. I blinked several times and turned to face him a couple of feet away. “I got arrested because of you.” He stepped forward. “No one will do a deal with me because of you and your boyfriend.” Another step. “And now you let him get you pregnant.” A final step and his boots were in line with my face.
I should have attempted to get up. I should have run away into the vast darkness that surrounded us, but I couldn’t bring my body to move. Hut and Carson knew the truth, but it didn’t always set you free. Sometimes it trapped you.
He lifted his boot, and I flinched away, trying to move as quick as I could, but the sole of it pushed against the side of my face. He pressed harder, causing gravel to pierce my skin on the other side.
“I should kill you.” His voice was like whiplash, but the truth was ringing out with each syllable. “I should cut you to pieces and send them one by one to that fuckin' traitor Brody.” He twisted his boot into my face harder, and I called out, the pain becoming too much.
Fallen Duet: Brody & Lola: Free Fall & Down Fall (Easton Family Duet Boxsets Book 1) Page 33