Rise: Rise & Fall Duet Book 1 (Shaken 3)

by Grahame Claire

  “Are you ready?” He tilted his head as he looked at me, like he was attempting to decide something. It was anyone’s guess what that might be.

  “Banana ate all his food in two seconds.” Eric held up two fingers for emphasis.

  “If he hadn’t been so fast, I would’ve joined him.” My stomach made an embarrassing growl that echoed in the quiet lobby.

  “Are you up for a short walk?”

  “I have on a dress and heels. Strolling in Central Park isn’t exactly—”

  “To a restaurant.”

  Thank goodness Lincoln stopped my smart response. I really wanted to eat. And he made me uptight. Grumpy pants had already arrived.

  “She’s only like this when she’s hungry. And around you.”

  I put an arm around Eric’s shoulders and squeezed. “Thanks for keeping me in check, bow tie,” I said softly. “You’re buying.” I pointed at Lincoln, and instantly regretted more of my words.

  I didn’t want him to think we were interested in him for his money. We weren’t interested in him. That was a bad choice of terms. Whatever we were doing . . . gah, we weren’t doing anything.

  “Never mind. We’re buying.” I glanced between the front door I was familiar with and the elevator I’d never noticed before today. “How do we get there?”

  Lincoln gestured toward the glass doors. I steered Eric in that direction. He put an arm around me too, and my short temper vanished. I could always count on him for the love and support I needed. Where would I be without him? I couldn’t do life without him and that was one of the reasons my nerves were still shot.

  “Hi, baby doll. Daddy’s out of jail and needs to see you. Now.”

  What did he want? Why did he have to call me? And how was I supposed to avoid letting this agony be visible?

  He stopped so quickly I nearly tripped. “We haven’t finished the deliveries.”

  “He’s right. We’ll have to wait until we’re done.” I hung my head and trudged back toward the elevator.

  Wordlessly, Lincoln escorted us to the van. He took the keys from my fingers, unlocked it, and held open my door. My eyes stung.

  No. No. No.

  No crying. Not in front of him.

  “Wait here.”

  I couldn’t bother with a snarky response that I wouldn’t know how to leave if I wanted because he did something no one else had ever done.

  Opened my car door.

  It was a simple thing. Definitely not worthy of getting emotional over. But it was kind.

  Why did Lincoln have to be the one to do something nice for me?

  “He’s awesome,” Eric said while we waited.

  “You think?”

  He nodded. “I told you he’d text us.”

  “He didn’t text,” I corrected gently, leaning my head back.

  “In person is better.”

  More wisdom that I agreed with in general. Lincoln might be an exception since I seemed to go haywire around him.

  I could think of a couple of others where in-person was definitely not better.

  “Let me see your phone. I want to check the weather.”

  I fished it from my pocket. “You can’t leave me to become a TV weatherman.”

  “I won’t.”

  I released the device when he made the promise.

  “Lexie. You have twenty-seven missed calls.” He thrust the screen close to my face.

  Reluctantly, I glanced at the bubble notification with indeed, twenty-seven missed calls.

  “Someone really wants some dog food. I’ll call them back.”

  “Eric. No!”

  He’d pressed the call button before I could swipe the phone away. The tentacles of stress and fear wound around my throat and squeezed.

  “Eric, please give me the phone.” I prayed someone else had called and that was who would pick up. But I knew better than that.

  Don’t answer. Don’t answer.

  “Baby doll?” Eric’s brow furrowed. “You have the wrong number, mister.” He stabbed the end button.

  I sagged in my seat. Thank goodness he hadn’t recognized the voice.

  “This should curb your appetite.”

  I screamed and put my hand over my already racing heart.

  Lincoln offered two large stainless-steel tumblers as if he hadn’t just scared the bejesus out of me.

  “What’s that?” Eric looked uncertain.

  “A smoothie. Try it.”

  Slowly, I turned my head to Lincoln. “A smoothie?”

  This was a man’s man. I was surprised smoothie was in his vocabulary, let alone he’d think to bring one to “curb our appetite.”

  “Beau seems to believe they work wonders. I can’t be held responsible for what’s in it.”

  I gaped. He’d just whipped up a smoothie like a magician. Or he’d transported Beau with technology none of the rest of us had.

  “You taste it first. Both of them.”

  He lifted a brow. “In case I poisoned them?”

  “Yes.”

  He drank from both tumblers, though I couldn’t tell what he thought of the drink.

  I didn’t really think he’d contaminated the smoothies, but it was fun to make him jump through hoops.

  He held open an arm. “Still here.”

  “Maybe it’s time-released.” I snatched a cup from him and handed it to Eric before I grabbed the other.

  I gulped down the thick liquid. It was fruity and sweet and cold.

  “Yummy!” Eric said.

  “Took the words right out of my mouth.” I slurped again. “Where’s yours?”

  “I can wait.”

  “That wrong number called Sis twenty-seven times,” Eric blurted between sips.

  Lincoln scowled. “That’s bordering harassment.”

  “I’m sure it was nothing. They won’t call again.” I shot him a warning look to shut it. The sooner Eric forgot about the entire incident the better.

  He grunted but got my message and let it go.

  “What time is it? We can’t be late to feed Pepper’s doggies.”

  I checked the clock. “We’d better jet.” I flicked my chin at Lincoln. “Thanks for the pick-me-up.” I held up the tumbler.

  “Do you want to sit up front, Lincoln?”

  “I’m sure he has other things to do.”

  “The back is fine.”

  Lincoln and I spoke at the same time. I didn’t have time to argue with him and by the determined set of his jaw, he’d probably win anyway. And there were twenty-seven reasons I didn't have the emotional energy to fight him.

  Without waiting for my agreement, he circled the van and climbed in the back. I threw the van in reverse, took another sip of my smoothie, and retraced the path we’d taken. I inched up to the gate and it slowly lifted.

  Guessed we weren’t trapped after all.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Lincoln

  “I thought I was the only one who rode in the back of vans.”

  Teague slapped my shoulder as I exited. My body was stiff from the awkward arrangement, but in a few minutes, I’d be all right.

  “I couldn’t let you keep that pleasure all to yourself,” I said dryly.

  “At least I have dogs in ours. They make good pillows.”

  “Teague,” Pepper said, appalled.

  “What? Lucky burrows behind me. He’s a pillow.”

  She rolled her eyes but smiled. They had an easy way about them. The only other people I’d been around who came close were Daniel and Vivian Elliott.

  I didn’t know if most people had relationships like that because my experience was limited. Considering divorce rates, I doubted they were.

  “How are you, Lincoln?” Concern marred my soon-to-be sister-in-law’s pretty face. I appreciated her discretion and care.

  Lexie would’ve point blank asked me if she wanted to know, but she hadn’t mentioned a word of the near arrest.

  “Excellent.”

  Teague punched me. “
You’re with family. You don’t have to act like you didn’t just spend an entire day with lawyers.”

  I surveyed the people around me. Besides my brother and Pepper, Miss Adeline, Lexie, and Eric surrounded the van.

  Teague and Beau were my family. Now Pepper and Miss Adeline were because they were important to Teague.

  Lexie and Eric?

  I wasn’t going to consider that in front of them.

  And my response had been my “family” answer. Out of everyone, I wanted them to worry the least. If I continued to project I was excellent, perhaps someday I would be.

  “It wasn’t so bad.”

  Pepper furrowed her brow. “We’ve spent time with those two. Not a lot and it was . . .”

  “Nuts,” Teague finished for her.

  “I was going to say interesting, but nuts works too.”

  “Mr. Zegas presented me with a bill before I left.” I respected his forthcomingness.

  “He doesn’t play when it comes to money.”

  “I wouldn’t pay them if they can’t keep you out of jail,” Lexie said.

  She and Miss Adeline had been speaking, and I didn’t realize they’d been listening to the conversation.

  “Smart woman,” Miss Adeline said. “By the way, how was ice cream?” She waggled her eyebrows.

  “He said it was the best he’s ever had,” Eric said.

  Miss Adeline snickered. “I bet he did.”

  Lexie flashed the older woman a stern look, but it was useless. My face got hot, even though I realized she was just giving us a hard time.

  “You’ll all come inside, won’t you? The dogs would love to see you.” Pepper grabbed one of the boxes of food.

  Lexie handed Teague, Eric, and me one, and we followed Pepper and Miss Adeline inside.

  “Why’s Beau pissed at you?” Teague asked as we trailed behind.

  With the busy day out of the office, I hadn’t had much time to dwell on the tiff with my sister.

  “I made a poor choice of words.” Unlike many people, I had no problem admitting when I’d made a mistake. I hadn’t meant to offend Beau.

  “And you clammed up instead of explaining.”

  I looked at my brother. Had he been there without my knowledge?

  “Don’t look so shocked. I’ve known you all my life.” He grinned before he turned serious. “Did Zegas and Whitley have any insight if this thing is going to blow over?”

  “Not really. They told me to keep my nose clean and lie low.” I already did that.

  “Have you looked into why they targeted you?”

  I shrugged. “I wouldn’t know where to begin.” Daniel had taken it upon himself to dig into it. He had more resources than I did, though I was still uncomfortable with his help. Although if he were in trouble and I knew about it, I'd do the same.

  He made a disgruntled noise. “Why aren’t you more concerned?”

  “There’s no purpose worrying about things I can’t control.” I had a business to run, a brother and sister to protect, and I couldn’t fight battles if I couldn’t see the enemy. I had no idea why I’d been targeted.

  “Take control. Get ahead of this,” Teague said insistently.

  “How? If I go to the press and they spin the story the way I want, then it might be in the public eye for naught. The feds may never pursue this further.”

  Our father might have no problem using any means necessary to get what he wanted, but I wouldn’t pressure or bribe or use any unscrupulous means to save myself. Those methods only came back to hurt later.

  “Can’t Dad do anything?” he asked the question as if it pained him.

  “I’m sure he’ll do whatever he needs to protect his good name,” I said bitterly.

  “If it keeps you out of prison, that’s fine with me.”

  “There’s always a price, Teague.” I caught the open door to the rescue with my foot and held it for my brother.

  “I know.”

  I surveyed the familiar space, once again impressed with how well they’d adapted in such a short period of time.

  Muffy charged me, nearly knocking the box out of my hands.

  “Can you keep him for a couple of nights?”

  For the second time in mere milliseconds, I almost lost the box again.

  “Wouldn’t you prefer someone more experienced?”

  “Nah. He seems to like you, why I don’t know.” Teague elbowed me and grinned. “We want to see how he does in a home before we put him up for adoption.”

  “You’re putting him up for adoption?” I glanced down at the dog, whose tail whipped at warp speed as he stared up at me. He was a fixture at Grey Paws. Pepper and Teague seemed particularly fond of him.

  They were going to let him go? To strangers?

  “He’s a good dog who deserves a good home.”

  “What’s wrong with the home he has?” I asked tersely. I might not be an expert on canines, but these dogs thrived under the care they received here.

  “Nothing. We love the guy.” He scratched behind Muffy’s ears. “We want the best for him.”

  I set the box down next to Teague’s.

  “You’re staying for supper.” Miss Adeline was a master at getting her way. “We’re having Lucky Charms.”

  Lexie needed something more substantial than that. She hadn’t eaten all day.

  I’d planned to take Lexie and Eric to my favorite steakhouse but couldn’t reject Miss Adeline’s invitation. I wanted to spend more time with my brother too.

  My thoughts darted to the grill Pepper and I had put together at their old place. It had ultimately been a gift of destruction. I hadn’t set the fire that had nearly cost them their lives, but wondered if I hadn’t given Teague that grill, would that have happened?

  “Don’t tell me you’re a bran flake fan too, handsome.”

  I blinked at Miss Adeline when I realized she was speaking to me.

  I cleared my throat. “No.”

  “I knew you lived on the wild side too.” She linked her arm through Eric’s. “What about you? Lucky Charms or bran?”

  “Donuts!”

  “A man after my own heart,” she said as she steered him toward the dogs. “Millie wants to see you.”

  When she was out of earshot I leaned closer to Teague. “Will she be offended if I need more than cereal? I missed lunch.”

  “I’ve got a brisket in the oven.”

  I narrowed my gaze. It amazed me how we could be so much alike and so different at the same time. I barely knew how to operate a coffee pot, yet he was proficient in the kitchen.

  Lexie leaned on the counter as if she were finally running out of steam.

  “I’m famished. Do you mind if we run upstairs and ransack your kitchen?”

  Now Teague was looking at me strangely. “Uh, yeah. Be my guest. We’ll bring Eric up after we feed the dogs.”

  I nodded and touched Lexie’s elbow. “Teague asked us to set the table. Eric can play with Millie.”

  She looked uncertain. “I rarely leave him.”

  Guilt that I’d put her in an uncomfortable position regarding her brother swirled within me.

  “He’s in good hands.” If she didn’t want to leave him, I understood.

  “I know,” she said quietly.

  Eric sat on the floor and Millie crawled all over him. He let out a happy laugh as he rubbed her sides.

  “Lincoln, come see Millie.”

  “Looks like setting the table will have to wait.” Lexie smirked.

  It was probably for the best I wasn’t alone with her. Muffy trotted beside me as we waded through the sea of dogs.

  When we reached Eric, he shot off the floor and threw his arms around my waist. I kept my arms stiffly at my side, taken aback by the display of affection. I wasn’t sure what to do. The only people I ever hugged were my brother and sister.

  Eric’s affection was different, though I couldn’t decipher why.

  I felt all the eyes in the room watching the scene, but
I refused to make eye contact. Eric’s head was against my chest, and he clung to me like I was an anchor.

  No. It was as if he sensed I needed the embrace.

  I was uncomfortable and uncertain, but he wasn’t.

  Slowly, I lifted my arms and returned his hug. Muffy nudged my leg as if to encourage me. Awkwardly, I patted Eric’s back, and he showed no sign of letting go.

  And oddly, I wasn’t sure I wanted him to.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Lexie

  My brother gave the best hugs.

  Watching him hold Lincoln, a powerful, untouchable man, made me proud. Eric didn’t worry about boundaries. He operated by what he felt, by what he sensed people needed.

  Did Lincoln need a hug? He was so stoic most of the time, it was hard to remember a human being was inside that beautiful exterior shell.

  “I thought you were starving.” He nudged my barely touched plate. “Are you a vegetarian?”

  “No.” I righted my dangling fork in my fingers. “Just too tired to eat.”

  “And you still have to make tomorrow’s dog food, right?”

  I resisted the urge to slouch. I was comfortable with these people, considered them friends—not Lincoln, but the rest of them. But I wasn’t ready to let them see the messy part of our lives. The not-put-together part. The slouchy part.

  Yet Lincoln had had a glimpse.

  “Thanks for reminding me.” I made an annoyed face at him.

  He didn’t seem to notice. “How long does it take?”

  “A few hours.” I forked a bite of brisket. “I’d put it off until the morning, but we only have the evening available for the kitchen.”

  Eric had scarfed down most of what was on his plate, and now sank into his seat. He yawned and was quiet. We’d been working so hard with barely any time off. He was a trooper. He did whatever was needed and never complained.

  We both needed rest. I just wasn’t sure when we could work that into our busy calendar.

  “Lexie, you’ve never told us how you and Eric got into the dog food business.” Miss Adeline’s focus turned to me, as did everyone else’s, but Lincoln’s was the one I felt most acutely.

  “We help an older neighbor with groceries and anything she can’t do easily on her own.”