by Rachel Jonas
“You think it’s a game,” he continues, “but keep letting Pandora expose your shit all over social media, and things could end badly.”
Guess I know he’s been keeping up with all the updates.
“Could end badly for who?” I ask. “Blue?”
Suddenly, I have his attention again, and the rims of his nostrils flare. “I’d burn this whole fucking city down before I let that happen.”
When it comes to her, there’s a viciousness that breaks through the I-don’t-give-a-shit thing he has going otherwise. He makes it seem like he’s one-hundred percent down for her, but something’s never quite added up for me. It’s the fact that, if that were completely true, they’d be together, and it’s this thought that keeps me from letting him get too deep under my skin.
“You want her safe and so do I,” I reason with him. “That’s why I’m here. I need info, and you seem to have that.”
He eyes me again, but only for a second.
“All I know is I don’t see anybody going in and out of my Uncle Paul’s office as much as I see your shady-ass daddy.”
I’m confused. Mostly because I have no clue who he’s talking about. The name Paul hasn’t come up before now.
“What’s that got to do with Blue? Her family?”
Ricky shoots me an incredulous look, like I’m naïve as shit for not knowing what’s going on.
“Used to be that Hunter sat in on a lot of those meetings. Then, when he’d come out, he was always real tight-lipped about shit. Next thing I know, Hunter’s locked up.”
“You think my dad had something to do with that?”
His brow quirks. “Just sayin’, anything that man touches turns to shit. Hunter’s life included. He’d never snitch, and he holds whatever he knows close to the cuff, but I know there’s a whole lot more to that fucking story.”
“Your uncle doesn’t talk about shit like that?” I ask.
“Nope, and I learned a long time ago not to ask that man too many questions. Some things you just don’t want answers to. And at this point, I wouldn’t even risk bringing it up,” he says. “He’d question why I’m asking, and with shit heating up out here, I’m just trying to keep my ass out the flames.”
Ricky’s distant for a moment, and I practically hear the wheels in his head turning.
“I promised Hunter I’d look after his sisters while he’s away. Can’t do that from inside a jail cell,” he reasons, and then glances around, like he’s watching his back. “Speaking of, I shouldn’t even be out here talking to you. We done here or what?”
My gut’s telling me to leave the conversation right where it is, but I know I won’t have another chance like this anytime soon. It’s a miracle he even met me here today. A second time would be out of the question.
“Fuck,” I grumble to myself, hoping I don’t regret this. “I need to ask you something.”
“Make it quick.” He checks the time on an expensive-ass-watch after that.
“Blue asked you about that pic the other night because I found it on my dad’s phone. She seems adamant that you had nothing to do with it getting out, so I need to know how that happened.”
There’s a furious scowl set on his face now.
“I knew she was hiding something,” is all he says before going quiet.
“Do you know anything about it?” I repeat.
“Nah, but I’ll figure that shit out.”
“If she’s in danger, I need to know about it,” I remind him.
Judging by his expression, I can tell he doesn’t like this any more than I do, but the bottom line is we’re both in Southside’s life and we might need to work together on this.
“I’ll hit you up if I think you need to know something,” is all he says, and likely the best answer I’ll get out of him.
“Yeah. Same.”
He heads back to his car after that, but all this conversation has cleared up for me is that my father’s not at all who I think he is. And seeing as how I didn’t think all that highly of him before, I sure as shit don’t trust his ass now.
Chapter 26
BLUE
The three-hour drive here gave me plenty of time to think. Mostly I second-guessed this decision, but then I remembered how many unanswered questions I have. It helped me settle on a conversation with Hunter being my best chance of getting answers.
Lucky for me, Dr. Pryor was in a particularly reasonable mood when I finally got up the nerve to stop in and see her. I explained that I had a family emergency and needed to cut out after lunch. To my surprise, she excused me from the rest of my classes and from practice. I’m pretty sure she wasn’t supposed to do that without speaking to one of my parents about it first, but I’m starting to see something about her. She pulls a lot of strings for me that most probably wouldn’t.
It took me the better part of the week to even get up the nerve to ask for her permission, hence the reason I’m just now making it here on Thursday—instead of Monday like I originally planned. But anyway, I’m here now, and Pryor’s the reason that’s possible.
These visits are always hard, but this place is even colder than the last, clearly a higher security level than when Hunter was held closer to Cypress Pointe. I spot him being escorted over, completely shackled, hands and feet, but there are more bruises. Fresh ones I believe he must’ve received just the night before.
A deep breath helps me hold my composure, hold in tears. It won’t do him any good to see me cry.
I force a smile when he walks up and he manages to flash a faint one in return.
“Wasn’t expecting to see you again,” he greets me.
I swallow and try to look him in the eyes without staring at the marks on his face.
“Makes two of us, I guess.”
He nods and I swear his spirit is more broken than it was before. I can’t even begin to imagine the hell he endures here.
“Shouldn’t you be at school or something?”
I laugh a little. “Should be.”
“And Scar? She come with you this time?”
I shake my head. “No. I asked Ricky to pick her up from school when he gets Shane. Aunt Carla offered to take them to the mall this evening to do a little Christmas shopping.”
He nods. “Good. Probably best she doesn’t see me like this.”
I swallow the lump in my throat and nearly choke on the sob that’s threatening to rise from within me.
“Speaking of Christmas shopping, you guys got plans for the holiday? Was Thanksgiving okay last week?”
“Thanksgiving was mostly good,” I answer, leaving out the little surprise Mike had for us when we got home from Jules’s. “Christmas will probably be like every other,” I add.
He knows what that means. Christmas will miss us this year, like always. Keeping up with regular bills is hard enough.
There’s an awkward silence that comes next, because I know he’s aware that I didn’t come all this way to give him a verbal version of The Riley Family Newsletter. I need to get to my point so I can at least make some of my drive home in daylight, but I feel bad rushing things.
“Just say it,” he forces out, as if he’s heard my thoughts. He looks exhausted and broken, so maybe getting to the point is as much for him as it is for me.
I shift in my seat, trying without success to get comfortable on the cold, unforgiving metal.
“You warned me about watching my back last time, but I got upset and left before you had a chance to explain why,” I say. “I guess I came to finish that conversation.”
He takes a breath and then nods.
“Who were you telling me to watch out for?” I ask.
His eyes shift up to mine and a sharp pang of sadness hits me square in the chest.
“It was just a general statement,” he says, but that doesn’t feel like the truth.
“Really? Because I could’ve sworn there was someone in particular you had in mind.”
There’s no guarantee he’ll tell me more.
For some reason, his conversation is far more reserved this time, compared to my last visit. Then, he’d been eager to tell me everything. Only, I wasn’t willing to listen. Not like I am now.
“Please, Hunter,” I beg in a whisper. “If there’s something I need to know, please don’t leave me in the dark. Things are getting… strange. There’s so much happening that I can’t explain, so if you know something, please tell me.”
He holds my gaze for a long time, and I’m half-convinced he’s about to tell me what I need to know, and then it’s gone. That hint of whatever I saw in his eyes that gave me hope.
“I told you. It was just a general warning.”
Heat creeps up my neck to my face and I’m feeling frustrated—with him, with this conversation. Since he’s beating around the bush, I’ll be direct.
“Did you mean Vin Golden? Is that who I need to be looking out for?”
I expect a reaction, but not the look of panic I suddenly see fill Hunter’s expression.
“Whatever you’re doing, whatever you’re digging into, leave it the fuck alone, Blue.” The words leave his mouth with a sharp edge, so I not only hear them, I feel them.
“I need to know what’s going on, Hunter.”
“You don’t want any connection to that man,” he whispers harshly, ignoring what I said last.
His response has blood rushing through my veins at lightspeed. “Ok, but why?”
“For your safety, for Scar’s… I’m begging you to let this go, Blue. Please. There’s only so much I can do to protect you from in here.”
He’s tearing up and my eyes are blurred when they flood like his. His gaze darts around the room and I’m beginning to sense his heightened paranoia is completely warranted.
When he meets my stare again, he’s shaking. “Please, Blue.”
I want to hug him, want to stay together and weather whatever he seems to think is coming together, but I can’t. Those damn chains on his hands and ankles tell me so.
“Okay,” I answer nodding. “Okay.”
He settles down, but only a little.
“I know I sound crazy as shit, but don’t trust the phones,” he warns. “If you have anything to say that you want kept private, do it in person. Trust me.”
I’m reminded of how he pressed for Ricky to have me come see him, refusing to just call. This particular warning also has me thinking of a certain picture that ended up in the wrong hands. The hands of a man I didn’t even know existed just a week ago.
I nod, feeling the gravity of Hunter’s last statement. “I promise.”
He settles against his seat again and I watch as he struggles to regain his composure, as if he doesn’t want anyone to notice he’s gotten worked up talking to me.
“Don’t come here again,” he says next, causing tension to spread in my brow. “It’s too dangerous. They’ll wonder what we talk about and I don’t want you on their radar any more than you already are.”
Another tear slips down my cheek, but for fear of calling attention to myself, I don’t wipe it. Instead, I only nod.
“Okay, I won’t.”
This is killing me, but I keep it all inside when I stand.
“I love you,” I say.
He peers up, holding so much back. “I love you more. Let Scar know, too.”
I nod. “Promise.”
It’s physically painful walking away from him this time, knowing he’s just forbidden me from returning, but I get the feeling that me doing so makes life here harder.
This visit hasn’t been in vain, though. It’s helped me better visualize my enemy, shined light on the hold he seems to have on my brother, and this villain certainly isn’t invisible. He has a name.
And that name is Vin Golden.
Chapter 27
WEST
“Pretty sure this shit could’ve waited,” I grumble.
“You’re right. We could’ve waited until Christmas Eve and grabbed Mom whatever bullshit is left on the clearance rack,” Sterling shoots back with sarcasm.
Frosty the Snowman is every-damn-where, holiday music is blaring through the mall’s loudspeaker, but I’m still not in the mood for any of it. Especially not since meeting up with Ricky a few days ago.
That conversation’s been practically all I can think about, wondering how to figure out my dad’s role in all this without calling attention to myself. Or anyone else for that matter. Shit got deep real fast and it feels like the world’s sitting on my shoulders. Which is why it’s been an even bigger strain than usual to get into the Christmas spirit.
Meanwhile, the two assholes I’m walking with are jolly as fuck.
I glance sideways and glare at Dane’s candy cane scarf, then over at Sterling’s lame-ass Santa hat. Needless to say, I want to punch them both in the dick.
They’re carrying bags from damn-near every store inside this place, loading up on gifts for family and friends, plus a ton for themselves, too. Meanwhile, the only thing I’ve bought are three giant, soft pretzels I refused to share.
“We’ve still got three weeks to get this shit done,” I remind them. “Our focus should be on the championship, seeing as how we leave tomorrow. Or do you assholes not care about winning?”
Dane rolls his eyes, and I don’t really give a shit if I’m getting under his skin.
“Yes, West, we care,” he says with an annoyed huff. “Just a few more stores to hit, then we can go.”
Sterling turns toward me, and I scowl the second his lips move. No doubt he was about to call me Scrooge again, but I’m guessing he changed his mind. Probably because he knows I’ll make good on my promise to lay his ass out, right here in the mall. I’ve got zero fucks left to give today.
“Think Joss’ll like the stuff I got her?” Dane asks, drawing a frustrated sigh out of me.
“Idiot, you bought her a game system—the one thing her parents don’t want her to have,” I point out, likely reminding him of their many rants about those things being a distraction from schoolwork and shit.
“Didn’t ask if they’d like it,” he counters. “I asked if you think she’ll like it.”
Frustrated, I sigh before grumbling a response. “Fuck if I know. I guess.”
It almost seems like he wants her dad to hate him. The guy’s been looking for a reason to set Dane’s ass on fire since day one. My guess? This will be the thing that’ll send him right over the edge.
Okay, so maybe I do sound a little like Scrooge, but both my brothers are ignoring me, so it doesn’t really matter. Whatever the case, I don’t really give a shit. I just want to get the fuck out of this place.
“Here, hold these. I smell cookies,” Sterling says, shoving his bags into one of my hands, before Dane shoves his into the other.
I’m not even given a chance to protest before they start toward the pastry shop a few yards away. I’m left to stand here, like the ugly chick at the club who gets stuck watching all the purses.
Fuck-ing fantastic.
I scan this place. It’s crawling with people. Most of whom are smiling, all of whom are spending money they don’t really have to impress a bunch of people who won’t even appreciate it.
I hear my own thoughts, so I know I sound like the fucking Grinch. But I have my reasons for hating this time of year and, of course, Vin’s at the root of it. He turns the holiday into a make-up day, thinking his habit of overdoing it with gifts makes up for falling short the other three-hundred sixty-four days of the year. Hence the reason I’m thinking about bailing this Christmas. Grandpa Boone has an open-door policy with his grandkids and I’m thinking about taking him up on that soon.
Basically, I just need a damn break.
Above the usual mall sounds—chatter and damp boots squeaking across the tile, I hear loud voices coming from the other direction. I turn and spot someone I don’t expect to see. But there she is, her reddening face framed in pale-pink hair.
At first, I assume she’s just hanging out with a group of friends, but half a secon
d later, I realize that’s wrong. First clue is when one of the little punks gets in her face, then another shoves her. She nearly loses her footing, coming within inches of landing in the fountain, but I’m already on my way, rushing through the crowd, pushing those aside who aren’t moving quickly enough.
The second I step up, the little shits’ eyes are wide, a blend of guys and girls.
“Guessing you realize you fucked up,” is how I announce myself, causing the group of pissants to back off from Scar and the kid I remember being with her at the block party.
I pinpoint the ringleader and level a look his way.
“You the one who started this shit?” I ask, backing him down when I step closer. “What are you, ten?”
“N-no. I’m fifteen,” the kid stammers.
“Perfect. Just old enough for me to kick your ass and not feel guilty about it,” I growl. “Now, what happens next is up to you, but choose wrong and I swear I’ll be your worst fucking nightmare.”
Kid’s shaking in his boots, taking a few more steps back.
“We were only playing,” he reasons.
“Worst. Fucking. Nightmare,” I say again.
He taps one of his little friends. “Let’s take off,” he announces, prompting the others to parade behind him, but I don’t miss their conversation as they’re walking away.
“Isn’t that the guy from the porno with her sister?”
If I knew which one said it, I’d trip the little bastard, but they’re already pretty far away now.
I turn to Scarlett.
“You good?”
She’s still a little shaken, but nods. “I’m okay.”
I raise a brow at her friend, having a hard time reading him. “You all right?”
“I had it handled,” he snaps, and it takes a second to figure out why he’s pissed at me, but then I get it.
He’s got a thing for Scarlett and I just stepped on his toes.
My bad, kid.
“Yeah, I saw that,” I lie. “I just came over as reinforcement. I’m sure they would’ve backed off either way.”
He straightens his jacket, and his face turns bright red. Since he doesn’t seem to appreciate my clean-up job, I leave him alone and only speak to Scarlett.