by Ivy Smoak
“I don’t know, but she’s too cute not to believe.”
“That’s the whole problem.” James sat down on the edge of his desk. “I give in to her too much. With everything that’s happened over the past few months, I just want her to be happy.”
James’ family had been through enough devastation. And I couldn’t be the reason for any more. “I need to tell you something.”
“About Scarlett?”
“No. Well, yes actually. I should just start at the beginning. Ever since Brooklyn died…” my voice caught saying the words out loud. “Mr. Pruitt has been sending me texts. A few a year. Sometimes more often. He always says he needs to speak with me. And I never reply.”
James pushed himself off his desk. “Why didn’t you tell me about this?”
Because I was mad at you. Because you married his psychotic daughter. The list was endless. “I don’t know. I didn’t think it mattered. I didn’t care about what he wanted. But the last few texts he’s sent said it’s urgent. I didn’t respond to those either and I started noticing a woman following me around. At first I thought she was just some woman I’d slept with…”
“You slept with her?” James asked.
“Months ago. I think. Actually, that night’s a little foggy. But she looks familiar. And that doesn’t matter. What matters is that she started showing up at my games. And she was at the graveyard the other night.”
James pressed his lips together. He didn’t need to ask why I was at the graveyard.
“Tanner did some digging and Mr. Pruitt hired a few hitmen recently. One of them is some woman who’s really good at her job. We think it might be her.”
“Jesus.” James shook his head. “Okay, well, we’ll figure this out. No need to panic. Do you want to spend the night here? I can let my security team know about the woman if you give me a description. And maybe I can call Mr. Pruitt. I expected him to hate me after everything that happened with Isabella. But he was surprisingly understanding the last time we spoke. I can…”
“That’s not everything. Poppy showed up at my office. She actually may have mentioned something about Mr. Pruitt making certain allowances with my friends because he still thinks of me as family.”
James lowered his eyebrows.
I got how that sounded. I had never technically been part of Mr. Pruitt’s family. James had. And he was probably insulted by that. But I didn’t care how insulting Mr. Pruitt was right now. I only cared how violent he was. “Poppy said that if I didn’t return his texts he wouldn’t be as forgiving. She threatened Scarlett.”
The color drained from James’ face. “So what did Mr. Pruitt say when you called him?”
“I didn’t call him.”
“What? When did you say Poppy told you this?”
I hadn’t said. I was really hoping he wouldn’t ask. “Monday.”
“Today?”
I swallowed hard. “No, last Monday.”
“You didn’t tell me for a week?”
“I tried to tell you after the game but you had to leave early…”
“You mean on Friday? When I had to go home early to put my daughter to bed? Matt, that was still five days after Poppy threatened Scarlett. Why the hell would you wait so long?” He pulled out his phone and sent a text. “You won’t be happy until you destroy my family, will you?”
“James, that’s not…”
“Don’t. I’m not a fucking idiot, Matt. You think I haven’t seen the way you look at Penny? I don’t know how many times I have to tell you this. She’s not Brooklyn.”
“And you think I don’t know that? Brooklyn’s dead. And she died thinking I didn’t love her because of you, you piece of shit.”
“Hey, guys,” Tanner said. “Let’s all take a deep meditative breath on three, shall we?” He stepped between us. “Now I get that Matt’s a disloyal little bastard on occasion, but you know he has a good heart. And James, from what I’ve heard, that shoe fits you as well. I think it’s best that we get all the animosity out right now before anyone messes up anyone else’s life.”
“I’ve apologized for kissing Brooklyn so many times,” James said. “High school sucked for me. I was drunk and high half the time. Brooklyn was my friend and I crossed the line, but I was freaking drowning. I wasn’t thinking clearly. But you’re thinking clearly right now, Matt. And what does that say about you?”
I wanted to yell at him. And punch him in his stupid face. But honestly? He was right. He hadn’t been thinking clearly back then. I knew that. And yet… “It was me who cleaned up your mess half the time. And covered for you showing up to school hammered. It was me who was worried that you’d take it too far and fucking kill yourself.”
Tanner sighed. “This isn’t going well. How about we take a lobster break? It’s getting cold.”
James stepped around Tanner to look at me. “Kill myself? What are you talking about?”
James knew what happened to my aunt. He had been there that night when we found her. And not once had he asked if I was okay. He’d been too busy getting shit-faced while I was worried he’d do the same thing. I was the only one that cared about him, and he’d pushed me away because of a stupid rumor. He hadn’t even given me a chance to tell my side. “You’re a hypocrite. And a liar,” I said. Those had been Brooklyn’s last words to me, and I knew how deeply they could sting. I regretted them as soon as they were out of my mouth. But I wasn’t going to stand here and tell him that. He’d messed up my whole life and he was too blind to see it. He’d gotten the wife, the family, the kids. He’d gotten everything I’d ever wanted. And I hated him for it.
“I’ve never lied,” James said.
Well at least he knew better than to deny that he was a hypocrite. “Oh yeah? Because I know that the two of you weren’t just friends.”
Tanner gasped.
“You don’t look at friends like that,” I said. “You loved Brooklyn too.” And I think that was the worst part. He’d betrayed me worse than I’d ever betrayed him. I had to get out of this apartment. I couldn’t freaking breathe. “Don’t worry about Mr. Pruitt. I’ll handle it myself.” I didn’t need to hear anything else James had to say.
“Um, good day to you,” Tanner said to James before hurrying out of the room behind me. “I guess we won’t be sharing the lobster with him after all,” he said to me. “That did not go well. Look out!”
I almost ran straight into Penny because I was trying to figure out what Tanner was yelling about.
She looked up at me. “Matt, what’s going on?”
How much of that conversation had she heard? “Ask your husband. Maybe if he’d sobered up enough in his twenties and not married that witch we wouldn’t be in this mess.” I walked past her without another word. Fuck James. Fuck everything.
Chapter 22
Monday
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Tanner asked.
No, I wasn’t. But I was already knocking on Mr. Pruitt’s door. “I just need to get this over with.” My heart was still pounding in my chest. I was pissed at James. I was pissed at Mr. Pruitt. I was freaking pissed at everyone. I tried to take a deep breath.
“It’s pretty late,” Tanner said. “Doesn’t Richard usually invite you over right after dinner? Around 7 if I recall correctly from his texts? He was rather specific about it.”
“Yeah, I don’t care if I’m inconveniencing him.” Mr. Pruitt had been inconveniencing me for years. His texts had been slowly driving me insane. I could bother him for one night.
Tanner stuffed his hands in his pockets, pulled them back out, and then stuffed them in again. “You’re not at all worried that you’re about to upset a mobster?”
“I told you to wait in the car.”
“I’m not worried about my safety. I’m worried about yours. You think Richard is having you tailed. All he has to do is make the call and you’re a dead man.”
“That’s an even better reason for you to wait in the car. You don’t want to get caught u
p in this.”
“Do you have a freaking death wish?”
Maybe. But that didn’t mean I needed to bring anyone else down with me. “Tanner, seriously, go back to the car.”
“If I’d waited in the car when you went to see James, you two definitely would have brawled.”
“I’m not going to brawl with Mr. Pruitt.”
Tanner stared at the door. “Doesn’t mean he’s not going to brawl with you.”
“If you’re scared…”
Tanner laughed. “I’m not scared of anything.” But his eyebrows were pulled together and he was just staring straight ahead.
I knew he was lying. He wasn’t even really trying to hide it. But I didn’t get a chance to ask him about it, because the door opened.
Mr. Pruitt was standing there in a…nightgown? I wasn’t sure how else to describe it. A long men’s shirt, perhaps? He was also wearing some weird little cap that I couldn’t explain either. And for just a second, all that pent up anger I had for him evaporated. I just wanted to laugh. The man in front of me wasn’t scary. He was wearing a nightgown and cried during the Titanic. I was going to end this right here right now.
He cleared his throat. “Matthew.” His voice came out hoarse and strange despite the fact that he’d just cleared it. “What are you doing here at this hour?”
I wanted to ask him what the hell he was wearing. But that wasn’t why I was here. Making fun of him didn’t seem like the best approach anyway. “I need you to listen to me because I’m only going to say this once. Leave me and my friends the hell alone.”
Mr. Pruitt lowered his eyebrows and glanced at Tanner. “I don’t know who this man is. And I have no idea what you’re referring to.”
Tanner offered him his hand. “I’m Tanner Rhodes. Matt’s best friend. Nice nightshirt, by the way. Very retro of you.”
Why the hell had he told Mr. Pruitt his full name? Was he trying to get killed too?
Mr. Pruitt paused a beat too long before shaking Tanner’s hand. “I’m sorry, I was under the impression that Robert was Matthew’s best friend?”
“No, that title belongs to me,” Tanner said.
Why did everyone always want to discuss who my best friend was? This wasn’t relevant at all. “It doesn’t matter who my best friend is.” I felt stupid saying the words out loud. “I’m here to tell you that you’re done messing with my life.”
“Messing with your life? Matthew, I have no intention of hurting Tanner or…”
“Cut the crap, Mr. Pruitt. You sent Poppy to my office to threaten a child. What the hell is wrong with you?”
Mr. Pruitt sighed. “I told her to deliver a letter to you. That is all.” He shook his head. “She doesn’t love following simple directions. Now tell me, what did she say about a child?”
The nerve of this asshole. “You threatened James’ daughter. Don’t play dumb with me.”
“Ah. Well, Poppy has her own…unique set of strengths to get what she wants. She’s very good at spotting weaknesses and using them to her advantage.”
I didn’t believe him for a second. Threatening children could never be considered a strength. And me caring for my friend’s child’s safety wasn’t a weakness. Fuck him.
“Let me guess,” Mr. Pruitt said. “She also tried to seduce you?”
Who talked about their niece like that? And why was he acting like he had nothing to do with this? If he’d just wanted to send a letter, he could have sent it via FedEx. He hadn’t needed to involve Poppy. “I don’t know what delusional plans you have for me and Poppy, but I’m not playing any part.”
“It’s late, Matthew. Can we talk about this in the morning? I’m having trouble following your logic. Are you feeling quite alright?”
Son of a bitch. I wasn’t the crazy one here. He was. “I know you’re having me tailed. I know you hired hitmen to come after me…”
“Maybe Richard is right,” Tanner said. “Why don’t we come back in the morning after we’ve calmed down a bit?” He tilted his head in the direction of the elevators and gave me angry eyes. “You’re going to get yourself killed,” he mouthed silently at me.
“I’m never stepping foot back into this cursed apartment,” I said.
Mr. Pruitt sighed. “Matthew…”
“Stop texting me! Don’t send crazy people to my office with letters and threats. Don’t contact me in any way. We’re done.”
“We are not done. I’ve been asking you for years to come speak to me and the best you can do is show up in the middle of the night half lucid. This isn’t a game. You’re in danger, Matthew. I’m trying to protect you. Just like I have been for years. This is a life and death…”
“You expect me to believe that you’re worried about me? Where were you after Brooklyn died? You never came to her grave. You never stopped by my parents’ house to talk to me. You never gave a shit about everything you took from me. So don’t stand there and pretend you care now. You don’t care about me. And I don’t give a shit about you. So get it through your thick skull. Leave me and my friends the hell alone. “
Mr. Pruitt looked so calm. “You can’t keep blaming me for Brooklyn’s death. It wasn’t my…”
“It wasn’t your fault? You tricked her into loving you. Into trusting you. And then you murdered her.”
“Murder is such a strong word,” Tanner said with a grimace as he elbowed me in the ribcage.
“She agreed to the surgery,” Mr. Pruitt said. “She knew the risks. It was a misunderstanding at best.”
Misunderstanding? He’d murdered his daughter. “Is that how you sleep at night? Watch your back, Mr. Pruitt. Because I have resources too.”
“Are you threatening me?”
Damn right. “Enjoy one of your last nights in your own bed.”
Tanner was staring at me like I was insane. He turned to Mr. Pruitt. “He doesn’t mean that,” Tanner said. “He hasn’t been getting much sleep. If you would just call off your hitmen, maybe...”
“Come at me with whatever you have,” I added. “I’m going to fucking destroy you.”
“Watch your own back, Matthew,” Mr. Pruitt said. “I’m not having you tailed. And you’re not in danger because of me. Despite what you think, I’ve been protecting you for years. And if you refuse to thank me, consider my protection revoked. Come back to me once you’ve learned reason and an ounce of respect.” Mr. Pruitt slammed the door in our faces.
“I know you cry during the Titanic!” I yelled at the door. “Wait until everyone finds out about that!” I laughed.
“Why are you laughing?” Tanner said. “He’s so fucking pissed. He’s definitely going to off you.”
“Good. Let him try.”
“What?”
I grabbed Tanner’s arm and pulled him away from the Pruitt’s door. “I want him to try to kill me. You said you got the information about the hitmen illegally so it can’t be used in court. So I’ll catch him in the act and get him sent to prison where he belongs. Attempted murder isn’t as bad as actual murder, but he’s old. Hopefully he’ll just rot in prison for the rest of his miserable life.”
“Oh. Oooh. Well, that’s a good idea. Minus the fact that you might die in the process.”
“I’m not going to die. I have a plan.”
“Well…are you going to fill me in?”
It was fitting to make Tanner wait for something for once. The only problem was that I didn’t actually have more of a plan than what I’d told him. Seeing how angry Mr. Pruitt had gotten was what had given me the idea. I’d dug my heels in and gone all in by throwing more insults his way. There was no going back now. Surely Mr. Pruitt had murdered people for less. And I needed to think of something fast or else I was an idiot. I’d just threatened a mobster. Maybe I was an idiot. An idea finally popped into my head. “James has prototypes of these little undetectable cameras…”
“You’re fighting with James. I doubt he’ll loan expensive prototype cameras to you right now.”
Dam
n, that was a good point. I’d basically told James to fuck off. “Well, Penny will let me borrow them.”
“You really think James is going to let Penny hang out with you while you guys are in a fight? He knows you have feelings for Penny. That was part of your argument.”
“Penny’s her own woman. She doesn’t need James’ permission to hang out with me. Besides, we have plans for dinner tomorrow night. She won’t cancel.” I think. She hated when I canceled on her. I doubted she’d do it to me. But that really depended on what she and James were talking about right now. She’d definitely overheard some of our conversation earlier. Maybe James was telling her everything. The thought of Penny knowing about Brooklyn gave me a sinking feeling in my stomach.
“A dinner date?” asked Tanner. “Nice. So you’re going to seduce Penny and then she’ll bend to your every whim?”
“No.” Maybe. No. “We’re friends. If I tell her I need the cameras, she’ll give them to me. She won’t even ask any questions.” That was a lie. Penny would definitely have a million questions about why I needed spy-grade cameras.
“Great. So you’ll get a hitman trying to kill you on film with a tiny, undetectable Hunter Tech camera. And somehow get away with the evidence and your life. That’s your big plan?”
“I’m open to suggestions.”
“Why don’t we just try to confront the hitwoman directly? Get her to confess to being hired to kill you before she actually has a chance to kill you?”
Damn, that was a much better idea. “I’ve tried to talk to her. But she always runs away. And she’s pretty fast.”
Tanner cracked his knuckles. “Not as fast as me.”
I stared at him. I’d never seen Tanner run. The closest was him hurrying to my car tonight and he was so unaware that I’d almost run him over.
“Don’t look at me like that. I’m quite the athlete. I’ve been running more years than you’ve been alive.” He laughed because it made no sense. “As the saying goes.”
“I’ve never heard that saying.”
“You know what I mean. I’m fast. Much faster than you or a hitwoman.”
“If you say so.” I would have sworn I was faster than a hitwoman too. Maybe the heels on her boots were somehow powered to make her move faster or something. Or she was a retired track star.