by Goode, Ella
“Give me a second,” he says, stepping back from me. I reach out and grab his arm, worried that he’s going to do something stupid. He must see the worry on my face.
“Just need to have a word with Santa over there.” I glance over to the guy who kind of does look like Santa Claus. My hold on Carter tightens. “You win.” He sighs, pulling me into his side as he walks toward the older man. Everyone is still watching us. It’s then that I see Aly and Owen are here too. I had forgotten that she was with me when the detectives pulled me over. A pang of guilt hits me as I realize that she must have been scared too. I’m sure Owen was a nervous wreck too when he found out. I’ll have to apologize to both of them.
“That fucker’s wallet that’s missing that they keep accusing my girl of taking,” Carter says loud enough for everyone to hear. “He better hope I don’t get my hands on it.” Carter has had his hands on it before. Then I shoved it to the back of the closet. I don’t know if he knows where it is or not. He likely does. “’Cause if I do find it, I’m going to personally return that shit. If I were him I’d forget about it unless he wants that to fucking happen.” The threat rings clear in his words. No one says a word. I don’t know what kind of pull Carter and his family have around here but it must be pretty significant. He just made a threat and no one is doing shit about it. Not only that, he looked about ready to rip this building apart before I came flying out of those doors and no one looked as though they were going to stop him. I once again have an appreciation for Carter’s asshole side. It definitely has its benefits.
“No one is looking for any wallet.” I glance over to see the same older man that called Detective Murray and Grant into his office a few minutes before Carter got here. I’m not sure what happened to them but I haven’t seen them since.
“Chief.” Carter’s voice holds a hard edge to it. He’s not saying the man’s name in greeting. He’s looking for an answer.
“It was a mistake. We all know how much you love your car. We thought someone stole it.” He clears his throat. “We apologize and the two detectives will be handled.”
“There’s a lot of shit that seems to need some handling around here. It would be best if I’m not the one that has to do it.” With that final warning, Carter leads me out of the police station. The fresh air hits my face and I thank my lucky stars that Carter is in my life.
“Deuce!” Aly yells out.
Carter turns her way. “Jesus. Everyone better not start calling me that.” I fight a laugh.
“She was a smooth ride.” She dangles the keys to Carter’s car in her hand before she tosses them our way. Carter easily catches them. I laugh at Aly’s excitement over driving Carter’s car.
“Thanks.” He actually gives them a smile. “Both of you. I mean that. Thanks for keeping an eye on my girl.”
Owen pulls Aly into his side in understanding. “That’s what friends are for. Even ones who pretend to be assholes but really aren't.” He shrugs.
Carter shakes his head because it’s kind of true. Carter can be an asshole but there are always good intentions behind it. I shout my goodbyes and promise Aly that we’ll catch up soon. Carter leads me toward his car, opening the passenger door for me to get in before hopping into the driver’s side. He adjusts his seat and starts the car.
“I should have known you were going to take off with my car.” He pulls out of the parking lot.
“I don’t even know why I did it,” I admit. Before Carter I always followed the rules and tried to stay under the radar. I only stole that wallet for survival. I look over at him. “I don’t even have a real driver's license.” I look over at Carter, expecting him to explode with anger. Instead he throws his head back and laughs. It’s so unexpected that I follow suit. He looks so handsome when he’s not frowning. Watching him enjoy himself begins to turn me on. I love when he’s so relaxed and I seem to be the only one who gets that out of him. I reach over the console and run my hand up his thigh. His laughter stops immediately. I slide my hand to grab him. His breathing picks up as I stroke him over his pants.
“Carter.” I continue stroking him the best I can. “Drive faster.”
Chapter 31
Carter
“You ready?” I straighten the lapels of the burgundy Burberry coat Mallory has draped around her shoulders. It’s still chilly out and I can’t have my girl catching a cold. I should have handled this weeks ago. I’ve been wanting to but Mallory kept telling me to let it go. That was until she woke up last night with a nightmare screaming that the cops had gotten her. That’s when I knew I had to handle it. She herself isn’t letting it go and I am finally going to put this shit to bed for everyone today.
“Born that way, babe,” she says, but underneath her light tone I hear a sense of anxiety. She knows we have to do this too. It’d be nice if she stayed here in our carriage house but when I told her that I was going to make a visit to her mom and the deadbeat boyfriend, she insisted on coming along. She tries to downplay her feelings for her mother but I know she has them. If anyone knows that shit it’s me. We both might have selfish mothers but on some level we can’t help but love them no matter how hard we try not to.
“Good. I’m nervous, though. I hope you plan on holding my hand the whole time.” I tuck her fingers into my pocket and lead her out the door.
“I know you’re lying to make me feel better,” she grumbles. Of course I am. I’d do anything for my girl to make her happy.
I throw a look over my shoulder. “Is it working?”
“Marginally. I’m more concerned about what trouble you’re going to get in. Mayor Al doesn’t have a lot of control in Hottenberg.”
If anyone would ask me how Mallory has changed my life, I’d have to say it’s that I’ve become less selfish. Before I would’ve gone in hot, which means I could’ve made a mistake or ten. I’m not alone anymore so I can’t be reckless like I was before. Mallory’s my number one now so every action I take impacts her. “I’m not leaving you alone, babe. Nothing is more important than me being with you.”
“Not even revenge?”
I unlock my Maserati and settle her inside before answering. “I don’t think there needs to be a choice.” I give her nose a bop with my finger before going around to my side. “I’ve never gotten in any serious trouble before this so I don’t see why I should get into serious trouble now.”
“So you’re not going to get physical with Ricky? Because when you first found the wallet, you ripped my shirt and said you were going to kill him,” she reminds me as I gun the Maserati down the drive.
“I ripped your shirt so that you wouldn’t leave and I think my exact words were ‘I’m going to bury this guy,’ which can mean a lot of different things.”
“I hope that those different things don’t include illegal activities.”
“I’m not taking a hit out on him if that’s what you’re asking.”
She sighs and settles back against the seat. “There is a lot of gray area between not taking a hit out on him and all the unspoken things you want to do to him.”
“Babe, don’t worry. I’ve got this taken care of.”
She falls silent so I reach across the console and tuck my hand between her legs. “I should make you drive,” I say, “and see how good you are at it while I’m finger-fucking you.”
“You’d need a new car,” she says but scoots down so that her hot pussy is resting against my fingers. Good thing I can navigate with one hand.
“I was getting tired of this piece of shit anyway.” I nudge aside her panties and stroke her rapidly swelling lips.
She wriggles against me. “Yeah, this is a terrible car. We probably need a bigger car with an actual backseat.”
“And maybe a driver.” I slide one finger inside of her.
“Yeah, a driver might be—” She lets out a gasp as I curl my finger forward to rub against that tiny patch of skin that makes her go crazy.
“Let go, babe. Don’t worry about a thing. Carter’s go
ing to take care of all of it,” I croon. She does as I ask, tipping her head back, bracing her feet against the dashboard and riding my fingers until a nice orgasm ripples through her body. I keep my fingers there the whole ride, even after she falls asleep against the door because I want her to know I’m always going to be with her.
She comes to as the car slows down in front of a dated apartment complex. There’s no gate, just a big cracked asphalt parking lot. She makes me use some wetwipes from her purse to wipe my fingers off because the idea of me going into her mom’s house while Ricky is there with her scent on my body grosses her out. I kind of liked it, but I remind myself that it’s not about me. It’s about her, so I wipe off any trace of her and then kiss her hard.
“Don’t worry, babe. It’s gonna be all right.” I take her hand in mine and we climb the stairs. She uses a key to let us in the front door.
“It’s at the end. Apartment 14,” she tells me.
Apartment 14 has a dirty welcome mat with the first three letters worn away so it only says “come.”
“That’s Ricky’s doing,” Mallory says. “He’s got the sense of humor of a ten-year-old.”
“Sounds like an insult to ten-year-olds,” I quip. “You got the key to the apartment, too?”
She fits it into the door and shoves it open. It’s quiet, which surprises me. I thought someone would be up. It’s Saturday and nearly ten a.m.
“They might still be in bed,” Mallory whispers. She points to a closed door off to the side. I release her hand. Seeing this place makes me wish I’d found my girl sooner.
“Stay here. No need for you to see old Ricky’s sausage.” Although he seems like the type to pull his shorts on immediately after sex.
Mallory grimaces at the thought. “Yeah, okay.”
I start for the door, but she grabs my hand. “Please, don’t do anything that gets you into trouble.” She pleads with her eyes.
“I won’t,” I reassure her, giving her another hard kiss. After she releases me, I cross the room and then with one swift move, kick in the door. Sure enough, the two were sleeping. Mallory’s mom shoots out of bed, clutching the sheets to her chest and leaving Ricky with his boxer-clad ass exposed.
There’s a glass of half drunk amber liquid on the nightstand. I grab it and throw it in the man’s face. He jerks up with a sputter.
“What the fuck?” he roars.
“Who are you?” Mallory’s mom squeaks.
“You’re Ricky, right?” I just want to make sure I’m going to beat the right man.
“Yeah, who are you, punk?” He starts to get up but I lay him out with a right hook.
“Oh my God,” cries the mom. “Did Pat send you? I swear we were going to pay for those drugs. We just got a little behind.”
“Shut up, bitch,” growls Ricky, holding his jaw with his right hand. “Look, if you are from Pat, we’ve already made a deal.”
“Not from Pat, but it’s nice to hear you admit you’re a dirty criminal. Come on in, honey. The asshole is getting dressed.” I swipe a shirt off the floor and toss it to him. “You, old lady, your daughter is here. She’s got something to say. After she says it, I’m going to finish teaching Ricky a lesson on what happens when he disrespects my girl and then I’ll leave you five hundred. That’s the last of the contact we’re all going to have. Got it?”
“Mallory? Mallory is here?” Her mom flies across the room. I step in her path before she can reach my girl.
“Uh-uh. No more manipulations out of you. Mallory is doing the talking and you’re going to listen.” I snap my fingers in Ricky’s direction. “I told you to put that shirt on. Don’t make me ask again.”
“Or what?” he sneers.
I leave the mom and walk over to the bed and slam the glass into the side of his face. He lets out another shout of pain and tries to tackle me. I step aside and he falls flat on his face. Mallory’s mom starts screaming while Ricky struggles to his feet. He charges again. Instead of stepping aside, I punch him in the jaw again. This time when he goes down, he doesn’t get up again. I throw the T-shirt on top of his exposed back.
“I thought you weren’t going to bury him,” Mallory says from the door.
I rub my knuckles with one hand. “I don’t see any dirt here. You got anything to say to your mom?”
Mallory gives me a stiff nod and turns to the older woman, who’s standing in the middle of the room with a sheet barely covering her body and her jaw gaping wide.
“I’m sorry I took Ricky’s wallet. Here it is with all the money intact. He was trying to get me into bed with him and I was worried he wouldn’t take no for an answer so I took his wallet and ran away.”
“What are you talking about? Ricky would never—”
“You either believe your daughter or you shut the hell up,” I snap. I know she told her mom before about Ricky and she brushed her off. Mallory’s mom was keeping Ricky around for the drugs. It isn’t him that she is necessarily picking over her own daughter but the addiction.
“What? How dare you—”
“Okay, you don’t have to have the money back.” I take Mallory’s hand and pretend to leave.
“Wait. Wait.”
We turn back. Mallory’s mom licks her lips.
“How much did you say was in the wallet?”
“How much do you want it to be?” I ask. “It can be more if you make sure Ricky forgets Mallory ever exists. Otherwise, I’ll be coming back to take your home, your job, and anything else you need to survive. I’ll put you out on the street so that you’ll have to beg on your knees to be fed.”
Beside me, Mallory grows still and silent because she knows I’ll do it. I can be an asshole, everyone knows that, but cross my girl and I’ll take that shit to the extreme. It won’t be pretty. I wouldn’t do any of these things to this woman because it’s Mallory’s fucking mother but I’m okay with scaring the dumbass into doing what I want.
“If you keep a leash on Ricky, I’ll send you money every month. It won’t be a lot. Just enough to feed you, clothe you, get you clean. And if you do get clean and sober and want a relationship with Mallory, we can re-evaluate, but it all depends on you making sure that Mallory gets to live her life free of any fear from this asshole here or anyone else. Got it?”
Mallory’s mom doesn’t have to think twice. This deal sounds great to her. “Yes. Yes.” She nods eagerly. She rubs her hands together as if she can feel the money.
“This work for you, babe?” I ask.
With sad eyes, Mallory nods. “Yes. It’s good for me.”
I take the wallet and toss it on top of Ricky’s back. “There you go. Keep your promises, lady, and there’s more where that comes from.”
To my great surprise, the mom doesn’t immediately fall on the wallet. She reaches out a hand in Mallory’s direction. “I’m sorry, honey. I really am. The drugs make me do things I don’t always want.”
Mallory releases a shaky breath. “I know, Mom. Get help, though, please?”
The woman nods her head. “I will. I love you, honey.”
Mallory closes her eyes for a moment, almost as if she can’t believe her own mom just said those words to her.
“Get yourself clean, Mom,” Mallory responds. She squeezes my hand and draws me out of the room.
“You all right?” I ask.
“Yes and no. I’m glad she’s getting help but I’m sorry for all that happened before. I don’t like seeing her in that condition.”
“I know. Just remember, though, you’re not alone anymore. You’ve got me.”
Mallory smiles. “I do, don’t I?”
I bring her hand to my lips. “Always and forever.”
“Getting into your car was a real gamble, Deuce, but it paid off.”
I grow hot under that sweet grin of hers. “Let’s get out of here,” I growl. I pick her up in my arms and walk out of her past into her future.
Chapter 32
Mallory
“You think I can be a
chef?” I ask Carter as I stir the sauce I’ve had on the stove for most of the afternoon. The sun is setting and Carter lights a fire. It’s hard to believe that this is my life. I’m still in high school but Carter and I are playing house. My cooking for us has become our normal and I’m finding it’s something I love to do. It also relaxes me. It feels natural and I’ve never really had the luxury of cooking whole meals before. Hell, I’ve never had an abundance of food to cook with. The pantry here is never ending. I think it’s bigger than my old bedroom at my mom's place. Food always seems to be popping up and being refilled. I’m pretty sure Felton comes over while we’re away at school and stocks it for us. When I’ve asked Carter about picking some things up they always seem to appear the next day.
“Think you can do anything you want, babe.” Both Carter and I are more relaxed since we got home from seeing my mother. We made love and passed out in each other’s arms. I think that nap was the best of my life.
I didn't know how heavy the weight on my shoulders had been until it was gone. I think Carter had been carrying some too. He wanted his turn with Ricky and to give my mother a warning. I was never more grateful for him being an asshole than I was when we were at their place. Carter delivered the message loud and clear in his arrogant way but also showed compassion for my mother by offering her a way out of that life. He gave her an option to get help. Something that I didn’t even know I wanted him to do until he’d done it. Carter was good at gauging me and he had hit the nail on the head. I loved him more than I ever thought was possible at that moment. That’s the thing about Carter, he always takes care of me and does what he thinks is best for me.
“I have to do something.” I shrug, going back over to the counter to chop the vegetables for our salad. I crafted homemade dressing for it. Gertie had passed on the recipe to me. She’s actually taught me a bunch of quick meals to make for two people. She has been Carter’s family chef for many years and she was more than happy to help me.