“You will.”
“I know,” she whispers, acknowledging what I’m saying. If I say suck, she damn best swallow. “I will be starting Juliet in January.”
“I’ll deposit ten grand in an account for you. No more tables.” Tough girl’s eyes blossom with tender tears. I don’t actually buy into the exterior shell, I think she’s soft hearted and genuine. “But here is the deal, Skeet. The position at my table won’t be Cameron’s. It will be yours.”
And this is how we became four boys and one Skeeter.
Oh, just wait.
“I am so grateful, Sir.”
I nod and take her hand as I put out the substance which should never be classified as green. “Give me your keys.” She pulls the D-clip from her belt loop on her skimpy blue jean shorts and reaches to give me a hug. I smirk at this. She’s got loads of potential, a mini-me and Iris combined. Her Juliet sweatshirt is about three sizes too big. “Thank you for showing me your spot. And don’t let me down.”
“I won’t.”
Why I’m giving this chance to this girl is beyond me, but with all the pink pussy power players coming to light, it is clear the time to diversify is now. I can’t stay narrow or I may as well be done. Maybe because I’ve been given a chance to sit down at Morpheus’ table or Keishi’s and we all have to start somewhere. If this girl has the balls to approach me to be an Unholy player, I’ll give it to her because she showed respect. I won’t be extending my hand often, but Skeeter is special. Skeeter has talent.
And I know my brothers would agree.
There is more at stake here than just those four though. There is Iris and Serene. And eventually, Deacon and Dom will settle down with their betrothed.
She’ll fuck up. She’ll learn. We’ll clean it up.
And we’ll move on.
As we walk back, my phone vibrates in my pocket with a brief message from Deacon.
KOS orders for Ashley.
Threatened to tell about kids.
I blink. I don’t have to ask who issued the hit, I know—Dom. “We have to hurry. I’ve got an urgent thing to attend to.”
“What can I do for you?”
That’s a very good question.
“Can you bake pies?”
“Yeah,” she says with a reassuring nod and big, eager eyes. “I make a mean sweet potato pie.”
“Go help Anna,” I command, testing how well my new pupil listens. We start slow and we build. First pies, then guns. “I’ll call her and tell her you are coming. Tell Cameron where you are.”
We get to the car and I open her door cause I’m a nice guy. And I acknowledge sometimes even when you think no one is paying attention, someone great comes along and changes the game.
Little gifts from my guardian angels.
And it is my job to recognize them when they pass by.
“… You said you took an order to Mierne’s house?”
“Yeah, Nico eats like a fucking horse.”
Oh. Fucking. Hell.
I am trained for this.
But fuck if it ain’t hard some days.
65
Rise My Minions
On our way back to town, Skeeter holds my phone through the tense conversation between Deacon and I.
“What the fuck is going on with Nicky?”
Deacon quizzes, “What do you mean?”
“He’s at fucking Mierne’s.”
“Shit,” he sighs, rustling about. “Do you have any idea where Ashley is? I asked Allie and she doesn’t know.”
Is he involved with Allie to keep an eye on Ashley?
Certainly not.
“I’ll meet you out there,” I say as Skeeter gives me a drag off her smoke. “Don’t bring your patrol car, Sheriff.”
Skeeter giggles.
“I won’t. I’m at the house, changing clothes, and grabbing my bike.”
Whipping into the empty spot by my car, I lean over and lay one on Skeeter. Gotta seal this deal with a kiss. “Be fucking good. Don’t let me down.”
“I won’t, Sal,” she promises as we get out of the car. “Be careful.”
“Wait,” I say, grabbing my wallet and slipping the cash into her hand. It won’t matter how fast I get to Mierne’s. Nico is going to do what Nico does. “Here’s a grand. I’ll get more to you soon.”
“Thank you,” she whispers, lifting her finger. “Pies!”
“Yes!” I wink.
I wait for her to back out before heading to Mierne’s. I’m trying to not think about the fact my business partner may have butchered the woman I harbored deep feelings for. There was a time when my life was split between Kaci and Mierne. And even though she has done some bad shit, I’m not sure I’m ready to say goodbye. I’m not sure I’ll have a choice, either.
Her house is a good half hour away and lo and behold when I pass by the road to Cruz’s house, he follows me in. With our rescue caravan en route, I call Dom.
His phone rings and rings.
And I panic, pulling off the side of the road and getting out to go talk to Cruz.
“He isn’t answering his phone.”
“What?” Deacon says. “He sent me a message right before I texted you.”
He flashes the screen in front of my face with the same ominous words. “You go.”
“I don’t want to split up,” he maintains with a steely gaze. “It may be bad at the house.”
“And my Master isn’t picking up the goddamned phone.”
A few cars whiz past as we debate what to do.
Finally, he concedes, “I’ll go, but I’m coming out when I find him.”
“That’s fine, just go check,” I plead, grabbing his hand. “Ease my worries.”
I take off for the car when he yells, “Hey, Nero!”
“Ya?”
He makes a love sign followed by a peace sign. I do the same and point to him. I wink. I get in and he pulls up next to me. “Who giggled on the phone?”
“Our new member.” He tilts his head and lifts a brow. “Her name is Skeeter.”
“Good boy,” he says, grinning. “Don’t limit.”
I watch as he does a 180º across the empty stretch of road. He waves and I hit the gas. I glance in the rearview until I can no longer see his bike. Sometimes, I think he was sent by Luca to guide my ass through the pile of shit.
Within fifteen minutes, I arrive at Mierne’s house and spot Nico’s Escalade. I hear no screaming as I break in through the back door. I spot the box of food and the gone through containers sitting on the counter. I look around the front rooms and pace down the hallway past the red wagon full of bears and books galore. I love her house with all the antiques, but something is very wrong.
Nothing is going on.
No blood. No screaming.
No sign of them—anywhere.
I crack open the bedroom door and see her grand mahogany four poster bed perfectly made with her multitude of pillows. I check the bathroom and trek back through the hallway. I spot the pool and remember seeing Jack in the upstairs loft of the garage.
Crossing through the porte-cochère to the exterior garage door, I wiggle the handle. It’s locked. And I’m starting to think maybe they took her car somewhere, but that would be weird. With only one way to confirm that, I punch in the code for her oversized garage door. It rolls up and her car sits untouched, but I check the interior door up to the loft and it gives way.
I climb the steep steps. I spot Mierne on a spanking bench and Nico with a brutal looking paddle—Dear God, that’s almost an insta-boner tool—in his hand.
“What in the hell is going on?”
“Salvatore!” Mierne squeals, embarrassed. She is dressed in a corset with no bottoms. Her ass is seriously marked. “What are you doing here?”
I’m kind of pissed—okay, that may be an understatement. “What the fuck are you doing, Nicky?”
Sensing my anger, Mierne rallies, “Sal, wait. Serene and I are…back together.” I set my jaw and glance around, avoid
ing their looks of guilt. The newly decorated dungeon is quite nice. “… We’re involved.”
“What did you think I was doing?” Nico asks. “You didn’t think I would…not with Mierne… Did you?”
I scan over her feet and consider his hungry fetish.
“I didn’t fucking know, it’s not like she’s been the most trustworthy.”
“That’s fair,” she whispers, laying her hand on Nico’s arm. “Serene called me after getting into a spat with Trudy. Said she missed me. And they both came over.”
I stroke my beard. “Why was Jack up here?”
“When?”
“The night of the engagement party.”
She is stunned. “I haven’t talked to Jack in months. If he was here, I didn’t know.”
“You still have cameras running outside?”
“Yeah,” she says, grabbing her long silk robe and rushing for the staircase.
“I don’t know what you are thinking, but don’t let this get in the way,” I calmly warn Nico.
“I have no plans of it.”
“Does Serene know you’re here?”
“Of course,” he says, laying his hand on my shoulder. “And I know about her feeding Cruz.”
Oh. Dear. God. No.
“She was polishing his sub skills for you,” he adds.
Somehow, in the craziness, I start to understand what Deacon truly wants but can’t ask for—the three of us, solid and stable. Iris and him have been there for a while, I’ve been the loose one.
I’m the missing piece.
There are open relationships, and then there are swinging dynamics. I don’t need to understand it to accept it. All I need to know is Nico and Serene are devoted to The Unholy until the end.
Cause I ain’t got a fucking clue what to do with their new pet.
In Mierne’s study, Nico scrolls through the footage from the night of the party while munching on snack mix. I’m on one side of the high-backed leather chair and Mierne is on the other. She accidentally brushes my hand.
“Sorry.”
“It’s ok.”
“I don’t mean about bumping you,” she whispers, apologetically. “I mean about everything else.”
“If my resident chop shop left you alive with those shoes on,” I confide, peering down to the very sexy, black heeled boots. “You’re okay with me.”
“Thanks,” Nico mumbles, holding the bag up to his mouth and pouring. “It means a lot to me that you don’t think I’m some random monster.” His garbled words speak volumes about the trust in our relationship. And while I’ve worried, and probably still will, I have to trust he’ll stay sober unless triggered. “Got it! Motherfucker was right goddamned there!”
“He snuck into my house.” Her voice wavers as Deacon and Dom come in.
“Found him!” Deacon winks as I look at the bruises all over Dom’s arms.
“What happened?” I ask Dom.
He briefly looks away with shame. “We got into it early this morning. She threatened to kill me, which she’s done several times, but then she said everyone was going to know about the kids coming back home.”
“How did she find out?”
“I said nothing,” Mierne defends.
My mouth opens as tears come to my eyes. “I know,” I confide. “Anna told her.”
“… Anna?” Nico asks, tilting his head back to look up at me. “Nah.”
“Yeah, she’s not as sharp as she used to be,” I mutter, not wanting to admit age is starting to take its course. “All it would’ve taken is Ashley buttering her up.”
“We ought to do something about that,” Nico replies.
“… Anna?” My voice squeaks at the idea.
“No.” Nico deviously grins before polishing off his fuel. “Ash.”
Dom sits down and folds his cane up. “I issued kill on site orders if you would ever check your phone, Nicky.”
“I was a bit…preoccupied.” He reaches to hold Mierne’s hand, which is awkward. I loved her at one point and she’s screwing the human garbage disposal of a serial killer.
“We don’t even know where in the hell she is,” I mention, squatting low and pulling my hair. “Where the fuck would she go…”
Crossing her arms, Mierne mumbles, “Day before Thanksgiving? Probably to buy a new dress or something.”
My phone rings.
“Hold up,” I say, answering the phone.
“Hi, Sal?” Skeeter nervously says. “I went over to Anna’s and I drove her over to Ruby’s to get her hair done with Emily.”
“O—kay,” I mutter, wondering why the newb is wasting my time with such pointless intel. “That’s fine just stay with her and don’t let her go beyond polite conversation with anyone. Keep an eye on Em. Get your hair done. Or your nails. Or have a facial.”
“No…no…” she panics, whispering. “Ashley is here getting her nails done.”
“… What?” I shout.
“Yeah,” she says as I stand up, circle my finger in the air, and lead the way to the door.
“Do not let her out of your sight.”
“What do I do with Anna?”
“Leave her with Emily.”
“Sal?”
“Ya?”
“She’s been on the phone the whole time. And it doesn’t look like she is talking about what she’s bringing for dinner tomorrow.”
“Fuck. Call me back if you leave.”
She hangs up, and I turn to face my minions. “We need to prepare for the worst. Ashley is at Ruby’s and she’s been on the phone. Dom try and get ahold of Henney, tell her not to go to the safehouse when they land in Colorado. Rent a car. Stay moving. Do not stop. For any reason.”
“What can I do?” Mierne asks.
“You get on some clothes in case we need to send someone into Ruby’s to fish her out.”
“I know where we can take her,” Deacon offers. “I have the keys for Allie’s office.”
Trying to comprehend his statement, I blink several times. I don’t bother to ask why he’s managed to weasel his way into Allie’s life, all I know is he has. “Nico?”
Digging through the fridge, he says, “Hmm?”
His eating habits are bordering on gluttonous, but I get it. When one addiction cannot be fulfilled, another takes its place. I replace Iris with drugs. Deacon replaces my absence with random dates. Dom replaces his complete loss of control with abuse. I don’t think any of the things are ideal, but they happen and we have to be willing to weave the obstacles to stay on the trajectory. Our arrow has remarkable aim when we forgive one another for the quirks. And when we work together as a team, we hit every target.
He grabs an apple—how poignant—and bites into it like a tiger mauling a pig as I ask, “What do you want to do?”
“I would prefer the warehouse if you’re asking me to do the interrogation because this won’t be pretty, but I’m not doing it unless Dom says go.”
“We can decide when we get there,” I declare, rallying the troops. They follow me because I am their leader. They follow me because they trust me.
I should trust myself.
Especially with Iris.
I am trained for this.
But fuck if it ain’t hard some days.
66
For A Crust of Bread
We use all the pink resources of Skeeter and Mierne to coax Ashley out of Ruby’s. They turn the corner and we nab her in the SUV. The girls stay behind with Anna as we contain the target.
Skeeter is in no way ready for this.
Arriving at the warehouse, I park in the garage next to Nico. Dom is already inside away from the fray, too broken to be present. His hard distance isn’t abnormal, but the lack of his physical presence is. It is then I know, I must take care of this for him.
The loving son must care for his father.
Deacon wrangles her zip-tied, duct taped, flailing body into the main room. The sparkling place smells faintly of bleach and chemicals from our last d
ance with the macabre.
Her candy apple red nails look beautiful.
Pity.
Her makeup smears from the struggle and tears. Dom doesn’t even look. I believe he loved her once, and that brings on the agonizing hurt of her betrayal. He sits down in a chair at the back of the room, distanced from the table, and Nico lingers close.
I don’t consider a deceit of this magnitude between Iris and I. Not because I don’t think it is possible. But because these aren’t the things one takes into account in the throes of love.
With his hand on his gun, Deacon snarls.
Fuck with me, bitch.
My boy will blow your head off.
Adjusting my hat, I plop down and light a smoke before reaching across and carelessly ripping the tape from her lips.
“Please!” she sobs, banging her tethered hands around. “Please! Dominic!”
“Ashley,” I politely say. “You need to calm down. We’re just having a talk.”
“I’m tied up, you fucking daego.”
“That’s not nice,” I reprimand, popping piece of gum in my mouth. “You can settle down or I’m going to hurt you.”
“What do you want?”
“Who were you on the phone with?” I ask, taking a drag and exhaling. “Tell me.”
Her eyes skim with a delirious fog as she bellows, “Fuck you!”
I roll my eyes, not really wanting to play games with her. She isn’t much fun. “Do we have her purse?”
Nico grabs it from the car, and Deacon retrieves it from his hands. I take the relay pass and dump it at the end of the table, sorting through the assorted girl shit. “How long you been on meth, babe?”
“Leave my shit alone!” She seems a tad aggressive. “Since he insisted we move our son!”
Dom says nothing as I walk to her side of the table and try to pull her up. She twists and fights, but in her red stilettos she slumps against me.
“Stand the hell up!” I frisk over her body with gentle but firm strokes—I’m professional, after all—and find her phone along with a loaded syringe. I peer to Dom. “Did you know about this?”
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