“So what about it, Justice? Should we try a relationship?”
“Yeah.” I grin. “Let’s give it a shot.”
The two of us wear matching stupid grins.
“So now what?” I ask, almost afraid of what he might say.
“Wanna go for a ride?”
“Yeah.” I bite my lip as I look down at him. “I do.”
The night is hot and muggy as a blanket wrapping around my shoulders. I showered an hour ago, but you wouldn’t know it considering the sweat I have trickling down my back. Caelin is warm as I hug him around the waist, my cheek pressed against his shoulder blade. The sun sets in the background, marking day into night.
Pulling over on 101, he turns around, yelling to be heard over the idling of the engine. “You ready to head back home, or are you hungry?”
My stomach growls, reminding me I didn’t get a chance to eat lunch today. The last thing I had was the biscuit this morning. “I’m hungry, if you don’t already have other plans.”
He might have to work at Wet Wanda’s or there could be something pressing he needs to do for the club.
A bashful smile causes his cheeks to pop. “I’m all yours.”
The words cause a tickling in my stomach, the same way it does when we go over a hill too quickly. Us being together is like coming to the precipice of a roller coaster and hanging on tightly as we fall weightless all the way down.
He gets us back out onto the road and I hang on tightly as we head toward Bowling Green. The wind feels good as it caresses my body, making me wonder what it would be like to have him do the same.
Be careful, Justice, he could break you.
But I could break him too.
We come to a stop at the intersection of Porter Pike and Louisville Road. We both know where we’re headed. El Maz has been a favorite of the club since before I was born. The light turns green and I hang on tightly as we cross over and turn right. We see a couple of bikes parked as we pull around to the back.
All of them we recognize.
“Do you want to go somewhere else?” he asks as he helps me off.
“Dad gave you his blessing, right?”
“He did.”
Reaching out, I grab his hand. “Then I guess everybody else is just gonna have to get used to it.”
He leans in, kissing me softly. Holding hands we walk toward the patio area, where our group normally goes when it’s warm enough. Funny how it can never be too hot if it’s a nice night.
“Oh my God!” I hear as we get closer.
“Shit.” Caelin groans. “Addie’s here.”
“Are you two holding hands?” she squeals louder, enough so that everyone straight down to Nashville can hear.
“I don’t think Louisville heard.” Caelin’s tone is dry.
“I mean, I can be louder.” She raises an eyebrow back to her younger brother.
“Don’t I know it? My room was right next door to yours for many years.”
“Hey, hey.” Wilder gives Caelin a look.
“She started it.”
“They’re gonna join us,” Jagger tells the waiter as we go over to the patio entrance.
He quickly takes our orders - we’re here so often, he only asks as a courtesy - and then we sit down with the group.
“Get it out of the way,” Caelin sighs.
“I’ll be nice.” Addie grins. “But my God, it’s about time.”
“Where’s Meri T?” He mentions his niece.
“With her namesakes.” Wild puts his arm around Addie. “She’s staying at your parents tonight.” He gives a wink.
Jagger takes a drink of his beer. “That’s the beautiful thing about never having children. You don’t have to schedule anything.” He looks at us. “Remember that, kids.”
“Noted,” I giggle. Leave it to Jagger to have absolutely no filter.
“Are you working tomorrow?” Wild asks Caelin.
“Nope, I’m off.”
“Would you like to work?”
“Fuck no, man, I have other shit to do. I’m not working on my day off because Mom and Dad are watching that sweet little niece of mine.”
“She’s a hellion.” Addie slaps her hand on the table. “Just like you were.”
“Oh yeah, blame me.” He grabs a chip, taking a bite of it. “I have nothing to do with how she acts.”
“The fuck you don’t. She packed her bag the other day, said she was going to Uncle Cael’s house and for us not to come find her.”
Caelin laughs, putting his arm around me and pulling me close. “They’re mean to her. She loves me.”
“Mean to her. She gets what she wants, but now you’ve got her getting all the big stuff she wants. When we say no, she gets mad.”
“Sounds just like our dad, doesn’t it? So I’m not sure how you can totally blame it on me.”
“Oh, I can, and I will.”
Looking around at the table, I inhale deeply, before exhaling, realizing this is what my life will be like now. I’ll be at Caelin’s side, and our family will see us together. It’s daunting after so many years of being a dream I wasn’t sure would ever come true.
But he’s worth it, and damned if I’m not ready.
Chapter Eight
Caelin
“Y’all go on and take your lunch, I’ll deal with it,” I tell Wild and Bishop a few days later, as I see a relatively well-known truck pull into the parking lot and come to a stop.
“You sure? He’s always a pain in the ass.”
Don’t I know it? Almost all of us have had words with this dickhead, but it is what it is.
Alec Tinsdale gets out of his truck and starts walking toward the garage bays before turning around, gesturing at the passenger seat. Because of the angle of the mid-afternoon sun, I can’t necessarily see who's sitting there, but I have a feeling. His voice carries to where I’m standing, and the sharp tone he uses is a dead giveaway.
Pearl Van Hampton.
It sounds like a last name from one of the remaining southern dynasties. Like she should be eating off the most expensive china plates, she should have a hair appointment ready to go every week, and she must have debuted at a ball.
Unfortunately for her, none of those entails anything to do with her life.
Abandoned as a teenager, she met Alec, and although Heaven Hill has done their damnedest to get her to leave, she won’t. These days, she makes her money dancing at Wet Wanda’s, while Alec spends it on his next hit of whatever drug of choice he’s using this week.
“Get out of the goddamn truck,” he yells.
She does as he asks, and it breaks my heart. Head hanging down, posture screams completely disinterested in life. I’ve spoken with her about it more than once, but it might be time to mention CRISIS to her again.
“Caelin.” He nods toward me. He’s tweaking. Eyes the size of pinpoints look to the left and right, taking in the empty bays beside me.
“Alec.” I amble to where they stand, my hands in my pockets. It’s a deceptively relaxed pose. “What can I help you with?”
“Got a tire that keeps going down. You got one we can trade for?” He raises his eyebrows gesturing at Pearl.
Fucking disgusting.
“No, we won’t be trading today, but I’ll take care of it for you.”
He shakes his head. “Nope, don’t need no fuckin’ charity.”
“Not charity,” I argue. “We always need practice keeping our skills sharpened.”
“You think I’m stupid?”
Now I’m getting pissed. “Yeah, I think you’re a fucking dumbass. You’ve got this woman here who would do anything for you, and you treat her like complete shit. She works her ass off and you spend her money like it’s yours. I’m offering to help you. Let me do it.”
His face goes red, almost pink in its intensity. “I already told you I don’t accept charity.”
“Okay then son of a bitch, it’s gonna be one hundred dollars. Nothing more, nothing less, and no trading
for services. Take it or leave it.”
“You’re a prick,” Alec spits the words out. “I wonder what your daddy would say if I go ask him.”
“Doesn’t matter. He’s fucking retired. You deal with me, or you deal with nobody. What’s it gonna be?”
Judging by the scowl on his face he doesn’t want shit to do with me, but they obviously need help.
“Fine, do it.”
“I was about to go to lunch.”
“Fuck you, Caelin. You gonna make us wait while you go eat?”
He just keeps digging his ass further into a hole. “I wasn’t going to, but you keep talkin’ and you’ll be waiting a week. I’m the only one here, so it’s going to take me a few minutes, but I’ll get your ass out of here as quick as I can, since I don’t wanna look at your face any longer than I have to. Pull it into that bay and shut the fuck up.”
Shaking my head I go around back, picking through the tires we have, trying to find one that’ll match the other three he has on his piece of shit truck. The sound of it pulling into the bay rattles my brain. It needs a muffler too, but I’m not even going to open my mouth about it.
“Go sit over there.” I point to a couple of chairs. “And wait on me. I’ll be done soon.”
They both follow my directions, but I watch them out of the corner of my eye. Alec seems to be getting more upset with her by the minute. It isn’t until he reaches over, grabs her around the upper arm, and jerks her out of the chair that I step in. She lands with a sickening thud, not even making a sound when so many others, including me, would have cussed his ass out.
“If you think you’re gonna manhandle her, take your piece of shit and get outta here.”
“Mind your own business, boy.” He stands up, walking over to where I am.
I straighten to my full height, which towers over him by a head. “I am minding my own business. You think you can put me down? Go ahead and give it a try. I’ll take her to CRISIS and she can find someone who really appreciates her.”
“You’d love that wouldn’t ya, Caelin?”
“She’s a beautiful woman, but I have one of my own.”
His gaze sharpens on mine. “Oh yeah. Wouldn’t be Drew’s daughter, would it?”
Something about the way he knows this pisses me off. We’ve been careful in public, and honestly, I don’t like him sneaking around in the club’s business. “Fuck off, Alec.”
“Hit a nerve, huh?”
“More than one. You want me to finish this? Go for a walk and be back in the next thirty minutes. Leave her here. Let her have a little peace and quiet without you being a dick.”
He eyes me and up down, obvious in the fact he wants to make me eat his fist. But he’s older, he doesn’t take care of himself, and the years of drug use are starting to show.
“Thirty minutes.” He cracks his knuckles, before turning around and leaving.
Directing my gaze over to Pearl, I let it soften. “There’s food in the office. Go grab you something while he’s gone. Use the bathroom, and clean up if you want.”
“Thanks, Caelin.” She smiles gratefully. “Justice is a lucky girl.”
I give it one more try. “You could be too. Let my mom help you.”
Her smile turns sad. “This is the life I chose, and it’s the one I’ll live.”
As she disappears into the office, all I can think of is what a damn shame.
Justice
“Sorry I’m late!” I burst through the door of CRISIS, waving to Meredith as I quickly make my way back to the training center. “Traffic was awful. Is my class already here?”
“Yeah, but we’re holding them up for you. Meri is back there teaching them the latest dance craze to hit whatever the thing is you kids use nowadays.”
“Good,” I laugh. “I’m gonna get changed and go get started.”
“I’ll be here when you get done to lock up.”
This is the first time I’ve seen Meredith since everything that’s happened with Caelin. I almost feel as if it’s written across my face that I have an intimate knowledge of how her son tastes. The flush goes up my neck and to my cheeks. The heat travels with such an intensity, it’s felt as it encompasses my body. “Thanks,” I squeak as I quickly go to the bathroom to change into more comfortable clothes.
My hands shake with a nervousness I haven’t had in years makes it hard to lock the door, but I manage it. Leaning back against the door, I close my eyes, trying to slow my breathing, but instead I’m taken back to every interaction I’ve had with Caelin. The way his kisses make me forget where I am, and what I’m doing. I wonder if that’s the way Tyler was for her. If everyone has the same reaction to the person the universe has picked to be your significant other.
If I were as brash as Harley, I would ask. But I’m not, so instead I cower here in the bathroom like Caelin and I are doing something wrong. Disgusted with myself, I quickly take off my work clothes and get changed into comfortable ones to work out in. All I have left to do is put my hair up, so I hurry to the gym and grin when I see Meri has the group of girls and women in the palm of her hand.
“Now slide to the left and stomp your foot,” she instructs them.
I giggle when I see everyone mimicking her moves. If I’m not careful, this class will eventually be led by her.
“Justice.” She waves. “You’re finally here.”
“I’m only ten minutes late.” I check my watch to make sure. “Sorry everybody, there was a wreck at the Louisville Road bridge and it was backed up. Got here as soon as I could.”
There are rounds of understanding as I make my way to the front. One of the girls I see in class every week is stretching. “Yeah, we were lucky enough to go around it, right as it happened, but we saw the backup already starting.”
“They really need to see about widening some roads as we get bigger,” I drop my bag and go to stand in front of the group. “How’s everybody doing tonight?”
A cheer goes up in the air.
“Since we’re running a little late, let’s say we break off into groups. Those of you who want to do ring work, head on up there, and Harley will help.” I point to my twin who has just showed up in the back of the room, wearing almost the same outfit as me. “I’ll take those of you who want to do floor work. If you want to stay for an extra workout, we’ll run a fifteen-minute HIIT routine. Sound good?”
Everyone agrees, and they break off into what they’d prefer to work with. “Justice.” One of the newer girls I’m not familiar with comes over to me. “I’m Cathy. I was here last week, and I’m was wondering if you could help me work on the self-defense moves a little more.”
There’s a bruise that appears to be healing on her temple. It pisses me off to see it, and I wonder what she got into, but I don’t ask. That’s one of the things I’ve learned since I started doing this. If people want to tell you their stories, they will in their own times. “Sure, which would you prefer to work on?”
She swallows harshly. “The choke hold. If someone comes up to me and grabs me around the neck, I want to be able to get away from them.”
There’s a sadness in her eyes, one I’m used to and recognize as what I carried for so long. “Sure.” I point over to a private corner. “We can go over it as many times as you need until you feel comfortable with it.”
As we walk, she stays a distance away from me. I did the same thing in the following weeks and months after what happened with Travis. I didn’t allow people to come up behind me, even if they were family and they meant absolutely no harm. It scared me too much. After a while they all stopped doing it, and eventually I realized it didn’t bother me anymore.
“Okay.” I grab my hair tie from around my wrist and start putting the length up. It’s gotten longer than I like it, and my turquoise strip is starting to fade. I make a mental note to get an appointment with Christine soon. “I’ll let you put your hands around my neck, and I’ll show you how to get away from it. Sound good with you?”
S
he nods.
Pressing myself up against the wall, I motion for her to wrap her hands around me the way an attacker would. “You can use one hand or two. There are two different variations to this, and then we can do one where they try dragging you into isolation.”
She uses one hand, and I quickly turn into the hold, pressing her wrist and knocking her grip from my throat. “Okay, now let’s break it down. It’s not even about how strong I am or you are, it’s pressure points. You can get away from someone double the size of you, as long as you know where to hit.”
Cathy pays attention as I instruct her on how to work with the move, instead of against it. We then go through the double neck hold and when someone is trying to drag her away into isolation. We’re both sweating as we come to the end of the session.
“What made you do this class?” she asks, taking a drink from her water bottle.
“I was kidnapped.”
It’s easier to talk about what happened to me that sunny day now than it ever has been. There’s no longer a dark cloud hanging over the situation.
“I’m so sorry, I shouldn’t have asked. That must have been not only incredibly scary, but painful too.”
“At the time it was, but I’ve come through on the other side. Thanks to friends and family who never let me identify the things that happened to me as a personality trait.”
She laughs. “That’s a good way of putting it.”
I shrug. “It’s the only way I can describe it. My parents and my twin were instrumental in not letting me take myself too seriously.” An image of Caelin crosses my mind. “And we all need a hero.”
Her smile is wistful. “I’m still looking for mine.”
“Who knows.” I get up, remembering I have to do a small workout with the class. “You just might end up being your own.”
“Are you?”
Caelin walks into the gym, his hands in his jeans pockets, broad shoulders slightly hunched over. He never wants to appear as the larger-than-life man he is, here. His understanding of what we all need is incredible. “I’m learning to be, and if it weren’t for him,” - I point to Caelin - “who knows where I’d be in the journey.”
Restraint (Heaven Hill Generations Book 5) Page 5