Forever with Me

by Trilina Pucci

  “I know I gave you attitude about your phone earlier, but I want to check in with Alex. I texted her earlier to tell her about the books. I want to know if she had a chance to swing by,” I smile sheepishly as I grab my phone from my purse.

  Taking a drink from his wine, he smiles and shakes his head. “It will be hard, but I can be the bigger person…”

  I roll my eyes knowing that he is really going to let this live for a bit. “Oh, thanks. You are such a good person,” I snark as I toss a pillow his way.

  I shoot off a quick text and toss my phone on the table.

  “What were you saying earlier about Sherlock Holmesing it?” he asks with a mouthful of pasta

  “Gross.” I laugh. “It was Murder She Wrote. Get your shows straight.”

  “Clearly, you are passionate about your Angela Lansbury trivia.”

  “HA! She is bomb!”

  “I won’t disagree, but what were you talking about?” he asks, setting his plate aside to give me his full attention.

  “It’s nothing, really, I just had this thought that has been bugging me ever since Carter was bailed out by his cousin. I didn’t really know Carter and his family well, but we knew some of the same people, so I was hoping that maybe I could find something in one of my scrapbooks that would make sense. I don’t remember him, but I mean, I’m sure he had some friends and maybe they could help us out. I just wonder who would have bailed him out, especially considering the charges and the fact that his own parents want him put away in a hospital. Alex remembers he used to hang out with some sad guy and I don’t, so… I was just, I don’t know… trying to connect some dots.” I’m not sure why, but I feel embarrassed or self-conscious once I say it all out loud. I mean, what do I think I’m going to find. I feel like a child, naïve and silly. I look away, not wanting to see Cole’s reaction.

  “What are you looking away for, don’t be like that. I think it’s cool that you want to help. Can I look, too?” His voice is soft as he sweetly pulls me closer to him.

  “Don’t make fun of me!” I spit out pushing back against him.

  “Mia, baby, I’m not… swear. I totally get it, you want to feel like you’re doing something to help rather than feeling helpless. I get it and frankly, it’s a great place to begin. I bet we can find something in those books.” His voice is sweet and understanding, serving to help me accept him at his word.

  “Thank you.” I smile and nestle my head on his shoulder, snuggling closer because it was getting colder outside and because I love him.

  “You want to make the fire bigger, sweetheart?” Cole asks, standing and walking toward our outdoor fireplace.

  “Yes, please.”

  “Anything for my baby.” He winks, looking back over his broad shoulders.

  We stay outside until late into the night, drinking wine and laughing. It’s a perfect night and I’m sure we have drama waiting back home, but right now, right here, we are perfect. Cole carries me into the house as the fire dies outside. He made love to me three times tonight. We stay up until the early morning just worshipping each other’s bodies. Wrapping ourselves in blankets, we walk out to the deck at the end of the property line where the grass meets the lake. Cole sits me in his lap and wraps his blanket around the both of us, and we sit and watch the sunrise in silence.

  “Shit!” I think I missed Mia’s call last night. I’m sure she was just calling to brag about her new lake house, I mean, what the fuck! I need a rich husband, or maybe his head of security. I shake the thought off as soon as it settles in. I cannot keep making a fool of myself. No matter how hard I pursue Foster, he treats me like a stupid girl with a crush. Ugh! I can’t even really talk to Mia about it, because she would kill me if she knew how forward I’d been. He’s just so sexy and serious and forget about the fact that he looks like he could rip your head off with just his pinky. Get a grip, Alex! My phone dings pulling me out of my daydream and I pull it out of my pocket to see it’s a text from Mia.

  Hey, those scrapbooks and old yearbooks are being left at my place today…you totally don’t have to but if you get a chance, I left your name with the front, they will let you up… please don’t feel obligated.

  Love you

  Sweet, maybe I can get Foster alone. OMG! I seriously cannot get my downstairs lady to chill out. How horny am I, he is just a guy… who has zero interest in me… or her!

  I try to focus on work and the rest of my day, but I pretty much just keep thinking about different scenarios where I find myself alone with Foster. I’m ridiculous and I know it. My co-workers are going to start to notice me lost in a dream world, especially since I’m known for being so focused. I shake my head to re-start, and dive into my paperwork. Busy work is the best part of working at the magazine. I love the high energy and pace, especially on days like today.

  Heading home at the end of the day, I start to send off a text to Mia to let her know I am going to run by her place tonight when BAM, I run right into someone.

  “Whoa! Buddy, watch where you’re going!”

  Looking up I am stunned into silence because lo and behold, Jack, of all the assholes to run into.

  “Wow, sorry, so sorry… wait a minute, Alex?”

  All I can do is shake my head because I’m sure as hell not shaking the creeped out feeling that is taking over my body. I’m sure I watch way too many Criminal Minds shows, but this feels strange. I’ve never seen him by my building, never around here. I’m sure I’m just overly paranoid given all the things that have happened to my best friend, but he is weird.

  “Wow, I can’t believe I’m running into you.” Really? That’s all you’ve got?

  “Yeah, wow… are you stalking me? You should know that Mia isn’t with me,” I deadpan.

  “Jesus, well I guess I know whose side you’re on,” he laughs out.

  Realizing that I’m the one coming off as crazy, I try and smile, shaking my head as if to say, “no worries.” Honestly, I hope I do offend him. The guy was a total douche to Mia, what kind of best friend would I be if I didn’t give him shit.

  “Hey, I’m sorry, but I’m a little weary… I mean, you guys ended pretty badly and honestly, she is my best friend, so I’m always on her side. Duh!”

  “I get it, I was just being polite. I was always cool with you, so I have no reason to be rude to you in the middle of the street, ya know?”

  All right, dickhead, you don’t have to pretend you’re a nice guy.

  Jack looks down the street as if he’s looking for someone and then back to me. “Well, sorry again. It was nice to see you again. Out of curiosity, you heading to Mia’s? I mean, I just assume since her place is this way. I mean, thank goodness she moved out of her old place, what with all the drama there…”

  “What drama? The robbery?”

  “No, I mean obviously, there is that, but that girl that was killed downstairs. I heard her body was there for a while until the smell gave it away.” Tilting his head, he takes a step closer, lowering his voice. “I’m surprised the police haven’t talked to you guys about it with you being young girls living in that building. I bet you had zero idea you were at such risk. That could’ve been you, Alex.” His voice is just a level above a whisper and something about his eyes look too distant. Welcome back creeped out feeling. Seriously, I knew he was a weirdo.

  “Yeah, sooo, I’m going to go now…” my skin crawling, I take steps backward to increase my distance from freak ass Jack.

  “Good to see you, Alex.” His disdain evident in his tone.

  As I walk away, I can’t help but look over my shoulder. I’m not sure how Mia talked to this guy for as long as she did. Talk about Dahmer vibes. Taking out my phone, I shoot a quick text to Foster about my run-in. I don’t feel bad, because I can easily convince myself this is pertinent info for him rather than just a reason for me to have contact.

  I make it to Mia’s penthouse and wait at the front for a minute for someone to let me up. Spying an envelope with my name, I snatch it o
ff the desk and open to find a card key inside. Bingo! I leave the envelope with a written note, saying I got it and head up. As I walk in the door, my phone dings.

  I’m heading back into town this afternoon, where are you? I don’t want you around him. Stay public. I mean it.

  Overreact a bit, Foster? Lordy. I text back telling him not to worry, but I leave out the little bit about me being at Mia and Cole’s. I would rather it be a surprise. If I can’t get him alone, then I will surprise him into it! I’m a stalker. It’s official! If I’m being honest with myself, I am over the moon that he is protective over me even though I know it’s more about Cole and Mia than about me.

  I walk into the house and scan for the books. Not seeing anything, I walk into the kitchen to grab a soda and see them sitting on the kitchen counter. I’m not sure what we are even looking for, but Mia is right, maybe someone’s face will connect a memory and help us connect the dots between Carter and his cousin, but it’s more likely that I will just end up going down memory lane and laughing at how dumb we were.

  I mindlessly start thumbing through the scrapbooks as I drink my soda, laughing occasionally at pictures of our younger selves. It’s hard to believe that Mia and I have been friends since eighth grade when my family moved to New York and we attended the same school. It really was love at first sight. We were instant besties and it’s always been that way. I don’t know what I would do without her and I’m fairly confident she would be a total nerd without me. I rifle through some of the other books until I see one peeking out from the bottom. I know exactly what’s in this one! Ahhh, the college years, not too far gone, but they feel like eons ago. Opening the scrapbook, I laugh, because who seriously scrapbooks? Like ever? Gotta love Mia. I am flipping page after page until right there, in the corner, a little fuzzy, but there. NO fucking way. No way!!!

  Reaching out for my phone, I try to connect the dots for what I’m seeing. This is so fucked; the implications are crazy. I need to take a picture of this and send to Mia. I zoom in on the picture and focus the camera on the page. As soon as I snap the picture, I hear a noise, like a door closing. Thank God, Foster!

  I pocket my phone and take off toward the front. “Oh my God, Foster, I have literally never been happier to see you! You will never believe what I just saw!” Rounding the corner, I feel dizzy, so dizzy. Stunned, I stop in my tracks. I’m so confused. Why can’t I focus? All I can taste is iron as I hear someone breathe in my ear.

  “That’s it, just go. I want you to die knowing that you can’t help your friend. I want you to die knowing that everyone you love will suffer.”

  I can’t stop checking my phone since getting the text from Alex. Fuck, this girl is the most distracting person. I can’t keep her out of my head no matter how hard I try. After dropping Cole and Mia off on Sunday, I’m heading back Monday afternoon to take care of some things in the city, but all I want to do is find that crazy girl and bury myself in her. I need to keep a clear head right now. I don’t have time to romance this girl when so much is on the line for Cole and I. I need to find answers and the end of this shit for him and Mia, so I can move on as well.

  When Cole met Mia, it was my intent to start my own security company, but when everything went down I couldn’t leave his side. Cole has always been like a brother to me, we kind of came up together. He made himself into the man he is now without family to help or encourage him. I lost my family as well at a young age, so we’ve become each other’s family. I owe my life to Cole, literally. I was all over the place after being discharged from the Marine Corps. I had zero focus and my head was all fucked up after three tours. I was a young scrapper getting into too much shit, and on one particular night, I was looking for a fight and found it in someone bigger and more ruthless. Cole had my back and stopped me from going down the wrong road. That was the night that I first met Cole and he saw something in me that was better than what I was settling for.

  He tracked me down and extended an invitation to a boxing facility, helping me channel my anger into a healthier function. He subsequently hired me on as security and I slowly built a security empire for him with men like myself that have special qualifications that go beyond regular security services.

  All of that is on the backburner now, at least until we get this current situation under control, I would never turn my back on my brother.

  Checking my phone again, I see that Alex has texted back.

  Don’t stress, Foster, I’m cool just thought you should know that this weirdo is still being… well, weird. The whole dead girl thing is fucking freaky though…

  XXX

  She always signs XXX and it makes me crazy. If she only knew the dirty shit I would like to do to her body. She is a vision, fucking gorgeous and that ass! But the best part about her was that crazy, dirty mouth of hers. I love everything she says, every ridiculous, insane remark that is always completely unfiltered. Some people may be put off by her dry sense of humor, but I absolutely love how she says everything that’s in her head.

  If that idiot were to do anything to hurt Alex, he’d better disappear or he will regret ever being born. I used to be surprised at my protectiveness over Alex, but now I realize that how I feel about her is a forgone conclusion. One day I will be able to share it with her, but for now I have to keep my head in the game. Re-reading her message, I am irritated that she doesn’t answer my question. I want to know where she is. I can track her phone, but I’ll hold off on that for a moment. I call the penthouse to see if she has dropped by yet. I know she doesn’t know I expect her there, but I’m the one that arranged a key for her to pick up, so she could look through those books.

  As soon as I hear the phone pick-up, I bark out who I am, adding, “Has Miss Thompson collected her key?”

  “Yes, she has, Mr. Crown,” the woman answers happily.

  “Thank you, please message me when she has left the penthouse.”

  “Will do.” And with that, I hang up, relieved that she is at the house.

  My last course of action is to call my contact at the precinct to find out what I can about the girl that was killed at their old apartment. I knew the story, at least what has been circulating around the news, but I would love to hear some inside information.

  The ringing of Dax’s cell rings clear through the speakers of my car. “Hey man, what’s up? I didn’t think I’d hear from you for a bit. Aren’t you out with Cole right now?”

  That’s the great part of having friends on the inside, I know Dax has my back and will give me any heads up he can.

  “No, he’s doing his thing with the wifey. I was calling to see if you could give me some details about the deceased girl in the news that was at Mia’s old apartment. I just want to rule out any connections.”

  “Man, you know I would tell you if anything was suspected, but they actually think it was a one-night stand gone wrong. Witnesses say they saw a man with her a few weeks before she died. It all happened way before Mia was robbed.”

  “Sounds like you have a suspect…”

  “Yeah, we have eyes on a TA at the college she was at, he was seen talking to her at a bar downtown.”

  “What school?” I bark out, the hairs on the back of my neck were starting to rise. I didn’t like this, too many coincidences. Jack was a fucking TA. Jack dated Mia when all this shit started, Jack just ran into my girl and creeped her out. I don’t like it. I don’t like Jack.

  “The community college, downtown… some douche bag named Evan.”

  “That’s shitty, poor girl. Well, hey, keep me posted if you hear anything, brother,” I end the call, trying to hide my near panic.

  “Will do, buddy,” and Dax hangs up.

  Fuck! I need to get my shit together. I almost lined a guy up for murder based on my girl being creeped out. She has no idea what’s coming her way the minute all this shit clears up. In the meantime, I’ll keep everyone at bay that tries with her, just like I convinced that dumbass bouncer to stop calling her.

 
I shoot off a text to Cole letting him know I’m back in the city and to let me know of any developments. I know I’ve left him in good hands, the guys there are my best team. Stopping by my place, I grab a fresh change of clothes and laugh knowing that the partial reason for my change is because I know that I’ll be surprising Alex at the penthouse. The whole ride over, I can’t help but feel the buzz I get from knowing I’m going to see her. I park underground and head up through the private elevators. As they open to the entry, I notice the door ajar and I am in full alert. Something isn’t right and I’ll be damned if something goes down on my watch. I reach to the small of my back, grabbing my weapon and holding it out as I enter the house. Scanning the entry, it’s hard to see anything with all the lights out.

  “Alex?” I yell out. “It’s Foster, come out and help me with my bags.” I try to sound unsuspecting.

  Then my foot taps against something soft. I glance down to see Alex’s lifeless body lying in front of me and that’s when I snap.

  Threatening every single person on the staff at Cole’s building for letting someone get to her and finally calling Cole, not because I worried about him and Mia, even though that is exactly where my head should be, I couldn’t think past my own despair.

  Coles shakes me gently to wake me. “Mia, sweetheart, wake up.”

  “Cole, what time is it?” I ask, blinking my eyes open and stretching. We had to have slept until afternoon since we stayed up to watch the sunrise.

  “Honey, it’s around one in the afternoon,” he smiles down at me and grabs my hands and pulling me to a seated position. “We didn’t hear our phones this morning. They both died and I didn’t put them on the chargers until this afternoon, I’m sorry for that.”

  Pulling my hands away, I start to laugh at his apology over not charging my phone. Who cares? I don’t need to speak to anyone, and anyone I know can call me later. I stretch my neck side to side and hang my legs over the side of the bed and realize that Cole is still struggling to finish this conversation.