by Rose, Lila
Travis
I really should have expected the visit. Still, the day after I went into Violet’s office, I walked into my kitchen from my office, not expecting to see Talon sitting calmly at the dinner table. I stopped for a second, then casually continued to the fridge.
“Can I get you anything to drink?” I asked, taking out a beer for myself. He didn’t answer, so I closed the fridge door. Turning, I leaned against the bench. “Are my men still alive?”
“The brothers are out there.” He shrugged. “They could be.”
My jaw clenched. It was fucking hard to find good men to work for me. Obviously I needed some skilled ninjas to deal with people coming into my house uninvited.
“What are you after, Talon?”
He stood, walked around the table and headed my way. I refused to move, to be intimidated. He stopped just before me, his eyes as hard as steel. “Warden called.”
Fuck.
“I told you to stay the fuck away from my sister.”
“She’s been a big part of my life, and if I have my way, she will be again.”
A muscle ticked his forehead. “From what I get, she don’t want anythin’ to do with you.”
Straightening, I put my beer down on the counter behind me. “She’s angry, upset, and hurt. I fucked up, I know I did, but I will prove to her we’re meant for each other.”
His face contorted into a fierce scowl. “She’s upset? Hurt?” he demanded on a snarl. “What the fuck you do to her?”
“It’s between Violet and me,” I told him.
“Wrong.” I didn’t move despite knowing what was coming. When his fist connected to my face, I rocked to the side and straightened again. He got close. “You fuckin’ go near her, you’ll have more than just my fuckin’ fist in your face.”
“Lies,” I hissed. “Or you would have killed me by now. You fear your sister disowning you if you harm me.” I snatched my beer up and took a drink. Stepping away from Talon, I gave him my back, knowing I was right. He wouldn’t kill me because he loved his sister, and he knew I loved her. “You’ve had your hit, Talon. The only reason I allowed it was because I felt I deserved it for hurting her. You can fucking leave now.”
The front door opened, and little footsteps sounded on the hardwood floor. “Daddy!” Izzy called. She came running around the corner and skidded to a stop. “What happened to your face?”
Smiling, I forced a laugh. “Silly me tripped over and hit it.”
She giggled. “Daddy, you have to be more careful. Who are all the big men outside, Daddy?”
Talon must have stepped out from behind me as Izzy’s eyes widened. “Who’re you?”
“They’re my men, and I’m Talon Marcus.”
Her head tilted to the side. “Miss Violet’s last name is Marcus.”
Link walked around the corner, gun in his hand. I shook my head at him, and he quickly put it away.
“She’s my sister.”
Izzy beamed. “Really? Cool, I love Miss Violet. She let me do her hair and brought me a fairy light for my room. But she’s been too busy with work to come back yet. Next time I wanna watch Beauty and the Beast with her.”
Talon nodded. “I’m sure she’ll love that.”
Izzy clapped. Link stepped closer to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. “What do you need to do when you get home, sweetheart?”
She sighed and rolled her eyes up to look at Link. “Take my things to my room and unpack them.”
“That’s right. Come on. I’ll help.”
“Okay. Bye, Mr Marcus.”
“Later, squirt.”
She giggled and waved. They went out of the room, but then I heard her run back in. “Almost forgot.” She came at me. I crouched enough for her to plant a kiss on my cheek. “Hi, Daddy.”
Chuckling, I kissed her cheek. “Hi, princess. Have a good day at kinder?”
“Sure did. I’ll bring down all my drawings.”
“Can’t wait to see them.”
As soon as she left, Talon turned to me. “That’s also a reason I won’t kill you. But you fuck my sister over, I’ll second-guess my decision.”
I nodded. Couldn’t say I blamed him for the threat, but I wouldn’t allow myself to fuck Violet over ever again. I just had to make her see that.
* * *
It had been nearly a month since seeing Violet. Since I fucked everything up. A month where she had evaded my texts, my calls, my emails, and my stop-ins. I’d thought something would have changed after the gifts or at the very least after sending her the photos. I’d hoped she’d remember how good we’d been together.
But there’d been no contact on her part.
It fucking scared me.
Still, I wouldn’t give the hell up.
Patience was my new friend. One I’d never had before but was willing to give it a go for her.
Warden was like her personal guard, stuck to her like glue at work. He wouldn’t let me pass, no matter how many times I tried.
I didn’t want to shout out how I’d changed my life because of her. How better off I was with her in my days. I just needed a moment with her to let her know everything.
“Daddy,” Izzy, in a tired voice, said from her bed after I’d started for the door.
Turning, I asked, “Yes, princess?”
“When will we get to see Miss Violet again?”
Fuck. She’s been asking nearly every day, and all I had to tell her was soon, that Violet was too busy with work right now. I hated the way the lie tasted on my tongue. I couldn’t exactly tell her it was my fault Violet wasn’t around. I’d fucked up. Let business get in the way when I should have taken Violet into account right from the start.
“Soon, I hope, Izzy.”
“Daddy?”
“Yes, sweetheart.”
“Do you think Miss Violet doesn’t like me, just like Mummy doesn’t?”
A hand closed around my heart and squeezed.
Striding to the bed, I pulled back her covers and picked her up, holding her close. “Why do you say that, princess? Why do you think your mum doesn’t like you?”
Her tiny arms wound around my neck, and she buried her head into my shoulder.
“B-because Mummy said so.”
My body locked. I stared up at the camera in the corner of the room. Link was in the office waiting to go over some paperwork with me. I hoped to fucking Christ he was either listening or recording this for proof.
“When?” I managed to get out through my clenched teeth.
She sniffed. “S-she came to kinder, at the fence. She told me it was my fault you didn’t love her. S-she said she hated me a-and wanted me gone.”
Fucking hell. Jesus motherfucking Christ.
I cleared my thick throat. “Gone?”
“D-dead, Daddy.” I could hear the tears in her voice.
I gripped her tighter to me. “Baby, princess… my sweet Izzy. Your mum’s sick. She doesn’t know what she says, but I want you to know you’ll never see her again.”
“I-is it bad I don’t want to?”
“No, princess, it’s not bad at all.” I sat on her bed, laid her down, and I lay next to her, tucking her hair behind her ear. “Miss Violet would never, ever hate you, Izzy. She cares a great deal for you. I promise.”
At least I knew that was certain.
“Okay, Daddy.” She yawned, wiping at her tears.
“How about I lay here until you fall asleep.”
“Yes.”
“You know I’d never let anything happen to you, right, Izzy?”
Her smile settled me just a little, though anger still burned deep. She curled into me, her hand resting on mine over my chest. “I know, Daddy.”
It took a little while for my girl to drift off. I’d read to her, told her stories of Violet since she wanted to hear some.
Finally asleep, I kissed her cheek and quietly walked out.
My phone rang as I walked down the hall. When I saw Trisha’s name pop up,
I quickly pushed my anger down and answered it. “Trisha, everything all right?”
“Anton and I are out to dinner,” she whispered into the phone.
“Is there trouble? Do you need help?” Briefly, I wondered why she was calling me and not her brother. Either way, if she needed us to kick someone’s arse, we would. Then again, she was with her husband and since he was a boxer, I would think he’d take care of any situation.
“No, it’s great…. Look, it’s nothing like that. Ah….”
“Trisha, what is it then?”
“It’s Violet. She’s also on a date at the same place.”
“Where?” I snarled into the phone. I took the stairs two at a time on the way down, heading for my office. Trisha rattled off the place. “I’ll be there shortly,” I said, and hung up. I stalked into the office.
Link looked over. “I’ll send the recording to the right people. Make sure she’s in custody by morning.”
“So you did get it?”
“Fuck yes.”
“Good.” I nodded. “You’ll need to get a message to her somehow.”
“I know a few birds on the inside,” Link said.
“She needs to know if she ever gets out and shows her face to me or anyone in my family, she’ll find a fucking bullet between the eyes.” Even though I wanted her in pain, even killed now, I’d rather her rot in jail and live her days in hell.
“Done,” Link bit out; he was just as furious as I was.
At my desk, I pulled the drawer open and snatched up my keys. “I have to go out. Will you stay for Izzy?”
“Yeah, mate. Never need to ask. But where you goin’?”
“I just got a call from your sister. She happened to see someone on a date.”
His eyes flared. “Do I need to ask who?”
“Violet,” I clipped roughly.
“Fuck.”
“Exactly.” I stormed out of the office and made my way to the front door.
“Just don’t kill the bastard,” Link called.
I couldn’t promise that. I was already in a foul mood.
* * *
Violet
It was easy to spot Jim through the restaurant since he was standing and waving me over to the table. Smiling, I made my way there. He’d wanted to pick me up from my place, but I told him I could be late since I was on a case.
“Vi,” he murmured against my cheek after I’d reached his side, and he’d leaned in for a quick kiss on the cheek.
“It’s great to see you, Jim.”
“You too, honey.” He pulled out my chair. I sat down, and he helped me push it back in.
“Tell me, how’s the city?”
He groaned. “Terrible idea going from the country to the city. The people are crazier.”
I laughed. “I tried to tell you that.”
“You did.” The waiter arrived, and we gave our order of drinks. When he left our table, Jim announced, “I’m moving back.”
My eyes widened. “You are?”
“Yeah, honey. Had enough. Give me the country any day.”
“When’s the move? Do you need help?”
He smiled softly. “Already done. I shifted last weekend. Now tell me what’s been happening with you.”
God, a lot of things and yet so little too.
Travis.
No, I wouldn’t think of him. He’d already plagued my mind constantly, and I’d lost count of the times I’d looked at those photos. It was exactly the reason why he’d sent them.
He’d screwed up, yes.
Though I may have held my grudge a little too long. The only thing was, I wasn’t sure if we could have a future.
Deep down, I wished it was possible, but I was scared of the unknown.
The waiter dropped our drinks to the table. I quickly looked at the menu since Jim already knew what he wanted when I’d asked. After ordering and we were alone again, I told him, “Nothing really, just busy with work. Chuck’s leaving next week, so we’ve been training a new guy. His name’s Butch.”
“Chuck, Butch,” he said with a chuckle. “Where do you find these guys?”
Smiling, I shrugged. “They find me.”
“How’s Warden?”
“He’s doing well. Now, since I know you’re coming back to the country force, do you mind if I run something by you?”
He grinned. “It wouldn’t be the same if you didn’t. Hit me.”
We talked about a couple of cases I was on while we drank, waited for dinner, and as we ate. I forgot how lost I could get in work and talking about it with someone who knew the line of business.
Sitting back, I rubbed my stomach. “I’m so full, and I’ve done enough talking about business. Tell me, are you moving back with someone special?”
Jim smirked. “You know I wouldn’t have asked you here if I was.”
“But we’re friends, right? Even if you had been dating, engaged, or married, we’d still be friends.”
He winced. “Friends.” He leaned into the table. “I had been hoping you’d say more.”
I thinned my lips, staring at him. “I… um, my… life in that area is complicated.”
He hummed under his breath. “So this was just a catch up between friends in your books?”
It was my turn to wince. I hated I hadn’t been direct to begin with. “I’m sorry.”
Jim shook his head. “No need to apologise, honey. I do love talking to you.”
“Same with you.” I smiled. My eyes drifted over his shoulder and widened.
“Violet?” Jim asked.
He went to glance where I had, but it was too late.
Travis already stepped up beside our table. He reached to the chair behind him and pulled it over before sitting down.
“Ah, are you all right?” Jim asked.
“No,” Travis clipped darkly. His attention was solely on me, completely ignoring Jim. He reached out and took my hand in both of his. My heart jumped. I tried to pull away, but then he started talking, and I stopped moving, and I think breathing. “I love how your hair is so black that in the light it looks blue. I love it when you’re happy, smiling, teasing. I also love it when you get pissed and angry and want to kick me in the face. I love your smile, your eyes, your body, your heart. I loved you back in university, Violet Marcus, and I still love you to this day. I can’t imagine my life without you in it, and I don’t wish to. We’ve already had too many years apart. I’m not willing to lose any more time without you in my days.” Tears threatened, and my chest rose and fell rapidly. Still, he went on, “What happened will never, and I fucking mean goddamn never, happen again. The business is gone—”
I gasped. “Travis.”
“I don’t and will never deal with hookers again. I’ve handed the business over.”
“Travis fucking Stewart,” Jim said, shock and awe in his voice.
Travis once more ignored him, but I worried Jim was putting two and two together and knew exactly who Travis was in the underworld. The biggest pimp in Victoria. From the cunning look in Jim’s eyes, it told me he had.
“Travis, you should—”
“Lettie,” he said softly. “Please, let me make it up to you.”
Jim started laughing as he stood. I pulled my hand away from Travis while he was distracted, watching Jim with a scowl.
Annoyance boiled my blood and yet it cooled, then warmed, and bloody felt like it swirled throughout me over Travis’s words and his action of showing up here in the first place. Still, I focussed on Jim. “Jim, stay, you—”
Jim shook his head. “Honey.” Travis cursed low. “Relax,” Jim offered. “Vi, good luck with this one and your future. I already know I can’t compete with him.”
Wait, what? It was true…. No, I wouldn’t admit that just yet, but Jim didn’t have to give in so easily. “No, it’s—”
Jim’s hand came up. “We’ll talk soon.” His gaze drifted to Travis. “I know who you are.”
Travis clipped back, “And I know who yo
u are, Jim Binton.”
Jim’s brows raised. He snorted. “I’ll be keeping an eye on you. Make sure what you’d said stays true. If you’re out of the business, then we won’t have a problem. If you’re not, then… well, you’ll see.” He tapped the table twice. “Any chance you want to tell me who the new owner is?”
Travis’s upper lip raised. “You fucking seriously asking me that?”
Jim’s lips twitched, just like mine wanted to. It seemed Jim had bigger balls than I thought. “Worth a try.” His face turned serious as he leaned in a little and said, “Just think yourself lucky it’s Violet you’re wanting, or I’d be hauling your arse so fast to the station you’d shit yourself.”
Travis chuckled roughly. “You must be mistaken, Jim. Because I just don’t give a shit what—”
“Enough,” I snapped, glancing around.
Jim stood tall, his gaze came back to me. “Talk soon.”
“Yes.” I nodded. Nerves fluttered my stomach, knowing I was about to be alone with Travis.
Chapter Thirteen
Violet
Jim walked out after stating he would be getting the bill. I didn’t know what to say to Travis. I still couldn’t believe Travis said what he did knowing Jim was a police officer. I also couldn’t comprehend Travis giving up the business to begin with. For me.
Guilt swept through me.
Needing to centre myself, I took a sip of my drink. “You shouldn’t give something up for someone.”
My stomach was in a spin, along with my head, and my heart hadn’t stopped its hard beat since he’d arrived.
Travis shook his head. “If it’s for the right person, then you’d be willing to do anything.”
Dear Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.
“You know my life. How my mother was a drunk and didn’t give a fuck about my sister or me. How my sister hated me because I refused to get her the drugs she wanted.”
I did know this. I just didn’t understand where he was going with it.
“It was a year after we parted when I learned my sister, my own sister, took up prostituting to make money for the drugs she was hooked on.” I gasped, my hand flew to cover my rapidly beating heart. “I went looking for her, to try and help get her clean once and for all. But I was too late. She died in a hospital bed after her pimp, the man who was supposed to protect her the most, beat and raped her because she wouldn’t take on certain clients.” Tears welled in my eyes for his loss. “It was then I took over his business.”