by Aja Cole
“A sex tape?!” Keyra practically shrieks and I swing my head to Mickey, who holds her hands up.
“A warning would’ve been nice.” I hiss.
“Honestly, she hadn’t said a word until you got here. I just thought she was being her usual high-strung self so I didn’t really question it too much.”
“To be fair, I told you about it two weeks ago.”
She’s so mad that she’s just shaking her head silently. I haven’t seen her like this since that time I took the heads off her collection barbie dolls because I was curious about what was inside them.
“I thought you were joking.” She throws her hands up. “But something told me to check into it, and lo and behold, I find out someone’s shopping it around to be sold.”
“Someone hacked his ex’s computer.”
“Is his ex’s name Delia?”
“Yeah.” I take a bigger sip from my cup, finishing it, and Mickey hurries to refill it. She also shoves a cup into Keyra’s hand and she’s on autopilot anger so much that she just starts drinking from it.
Bless.
“Delia Moore is shopping that video around. Yeah, she’s doing it through about five different people, but that woman was not hacked. Its a money grab, pure and simple.”
“I think you missed your calling as a private investigator.” Mickey muses, biting from a brownie.
“So what can be done about it?”
“I’m not a legal expert, but there’s been enough cases like this that even though New York doesn’t have an official law on revenge porn or similar stuff, there should be a good enough statute for them to be able to forbid it being distributed if they get on it like, right now.” She takes a big drink from her cup, peering at it. “This is really good.”
“Want a brownie? I baked them today.” Mickey grins, offering Keyra the plate, and she happily takes one.
I fight my laughter and grab my phone. I need to tell Harlan what Keyra said before I’m too drunk to be coherent.
I dial him and he picks up on the first ring. Makes me all fuzzy inside.
“Having fun?” He rumbles and a little shiver works its way through me. Voice like honey, this one.
“About to. But I wanted to pass along some interesting things that Keyra just told me….” I explain what she said, and talk him down a little when he starts to get pissed off. When we get off the phone, it’s so he can call his lawyer and agent immediately and put them on the same trail Keyra got.
With that complete, I leave my phone on the counter and grab a brownie for myself, plopping on the couch next to Mickey. Keyra’s kicked her shoes off and has curled up in an armchair, happily raving about how good and chocolatey Mickey’s brownies are.
She’s going to be beyond pissed off tomorrow. But we’ll deal with tomorrow when tomorrow comes.
For now, I’m just going to enjoy my sisters being able to be in the same room together, even if its mostly because of controlled substances…
20
Harlan
“I just…fuck, I wanted to believe her for once. Like, shit, I didn’t want to think she was just out to fuck me over for money.” I shake my head and drink my beer, still reeling of what Kai told me.
My lawyer and agent starting making calls immediately, finding out more shit as they went. I told them to just do whatever they thought was necessary, and to tell me the details later.
I’d rather not deal.
“My first thought was that the bitch was lying anyway.” Dane shrugs, pushing his chips forward. “Raise.”
“You think that’s why Kaija has been acting so weird, maybe?”
“Nope.” Leo sips his beer and peers over his cards. “Sounded like she just found this stuff out tonight. You said she’s been being suspicious for 2 weeks now.”
“I have no idea then, and it’s frustrating.”
“You know you don’t need to know every little thing that’s happening in each other’s lives, yet. Give it some time. You’re not even near the three month mark. If you break up, it can’t even be considered a real relationship. And didn’t she have sex with you before she left? Well…I guess that doesn’t actually say much.” Dane pops a chip into his mouth, blasé per usual.
“I think it’s nice that you’re so wrapped up. Some people get lucky and find a connection that just…fits.” I can always count on Hanson for a little more positivity. He and Dane are fire and ice when it comes to dating and women. Leo is probably somewhere in the middle, but I’d bet closer to Dane.
“Yeah, fits until someone else comes along and they fit them in too.” Dane makes a finger in the hole gesture and I glance over at my phone when it rings again. “Your girl again?”
“Yeah.” I frown. It’s not like Kaija to keep calling when we’re both doing something. I get a bad feeling, and swipe up to answer. “What’s wrong?”
“Harlan, I think someone’s watching us.” She whispers and I turn up the volume on my phone, wondering if I heard her right.
“Baby, are you drunk?”
“No. Kinda. A little bit. And a little high, but that’s not…” she hiccups, “that’s not the point. You have to come.”
“Where are Keyra and Mickey?”
“They’re in the closet with me, duh.” Oooooookay.
“Okay baby, we’ll be there soon. Don’t move.” I guess it wouldn’t hurt to humor her. I need to get them on tape, something tells me Keyra doesn’t let loose often and won’t believe it.
“Okay.” She whispers, and clicks off.
“So, the ladies are drunk and maybe high, and paranoid. Mind if I drop in? Just make sure everything’s good?”
“I’m always up for more entertainment. Brandon’s gonna be sorry he missed this.”
“Yeah, we’ll have to send him a video.” We grab our shit and head out the door, taking Leo’s truck since we’ve only had one beer each so far.
This should be good.
“Kaija?” I open the door using the spare key she keeps under one of the shingles, and it’s completely dark.
The guys move in behind me and we listen for anything suspect, moving through the house. Kaija never said which closet they were in. I pull out my phone and dial her number.
The startled shrieks coming from the guest room let us know where they are. I open the double doors, and bust into laughter.
Three grown women, huddled together in the middle of the closet. They look all disheveled and nervous, and scramble up when they see its us. Kaija flings her arms and legs around me.
“I was so scared!” She strokes my face like she’s fascinated.
“I can see, baby. How much have you had to drink?”
“A lot.” Mickey pipes up, eyes wide. “And this many,” she holds up her hand, peering at it like it’s not attached to her body as she holds up two fingers. “Two brownies.”
“Did I tell you how sexy this tattoo is?” Kaija presses kisses to my bicep, clinging to me. “I just want to lick it.”
“Brownies?” Dane questions, voice amused.
“Really, really good brownies.” Keyra pipes up, biting her lip. “Have we met?”
“Yep.” Dane pops the p, shaking his head. “You’re high as a kite.”
“High?” Keyra questions, screwing up her face and shaking her head. “Nope. Justtttttttt the drinks.”
“Weed brownies.” Kaija whispers loudly, and Keyra doesn’t seem to notice. She’s too fascinated by poking Dane’s bicep.
“Are these guns real, sergeant?”
“I think I need a brownie.” Hanson muses, and Mickey grabs his hand and drags him to the living room. We all follow, and it’s so fucking funny to see Keyra holding onto Dane.
I can’t read his face, either. He looks more amused than annoyed, maybe a little…interested?
That would be a wild ride to watch. I almost wish it on him.
Oh shit! Hanson can’t eat a brownie, we’ve got physicals tomorrow.
Goddammit it, greedy motherfuckers. They’
re already stuffing their faces and I cross my arms, surveying them all.
“Am I the only one that remembers testing’s tomorrow?”
They stop chewing, looking at me guiltily. Dane swallows first, shrugging. “Well…it’s too late now.”
Mickey holds out a brownie to me, grinning. “You might as well jump on this sinking ship.”
Fuck. If we’re going down, we might as well go down together.
“Whose idea was it? Which one of you fuck ups decided it was a grand idea to get fucked up the day before my camp?”
It’s been awhile since I’ve felt like I was back in grade school, back in the principal’s office, but that’s exactly how I feel like now.
On top of being tired as fuck. Those were some potent ass brownies. Never in my life have I had a weed hangover, never back in my youth when I did that shit and definitely not since I stopped.
We all sit there silently, not looking at each other and not looking at Coach.
“Oh, so no one’s gonna say a fucking thing? I should bench all of your asses for the first game, this stunt. What the hell kind of example are you setting for the rookies, huh?”
“In our defense, they’re adults too.” Leo speaks up, and we all look at him incredulously.
Not the time for logic.
Coach walks up to Leo and stands in front of him, staring him down. “You wanna repeat that, son?”
Leo, unflappable Leo, squirms. “No, Sir.”
“I expect more from you four. I count on you four to get me results and I’m going to be pissed if you can’t hang up your childish shit and do that this season. Fuck around one more time, and I’m replacing you all in the starting lineup with rookies. You got that? Get the fuck out of here and have your asses ready to perform tomorrow morning.”
“Yes, Coach.” We clear our throats, rising and fleeing the office. Well, as quickly as we can. I’m sore as shit, even more than usual.
Note to self, apparently can’t recover from weed as well as I used to.
“I need to ask Mickey who her dealer is.” Hanson jokes, and Dane punches him in the arm. “Okay, too soon.”
“He wouldn’t really bench us. Right?”
“Shit, I don’t know. But I don’t want to find out.” I mumble, and Hanson and Leo break off, leaving Dane and me.
“So…you and Keyra.” I open my bag, throwing my shit in.
“There is no me and Keyra.”
“I don’t know, you two were pretty cozy last night. She seemed particularly happy with your physique.” We shoulder our bags and leave, turning off the light in the room. Coach kept us back, we’re the last ones around.
“She was under the influence. It was nothing. I doubt she even remembers doing it and I’m not gonna bring it up.”
“What if she does? You like her?”
“I don’t know her.” He answers, narrowing his eyes. “Actually, I know everything I need to know. She’s a woman. Which means I’m not going down that road anytime soon.”
“Oh, you joining Nico?” I grunt when he knocks me into the wall, and shoot him the finger.
“I’m done getting involved. End of story.”
“She’d probably eat you for breakfast anyway. The woman is scarier than if put Leo and Jones together, then combined them with like…the Hulk.”
“Oh come on, she’s one woman.” I incline my head, pursing my lips.
“Underestimate her if you want. She’s a one-woman force, I promise you.”
He snorts, and something tells me that it’s just something he’s going to have to find out for himself. I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket, and I check the screen.
“Speak of the devil.” Dane sees the caller ID, and I answer.
“Keyra?”
“Kaija needs you.” Her voice is shaky, something I’ve never heard from her before and that pit is in my stomach again. Something tells me it’s about whatever has her acting weird.
“Dinner? I’m starved.” Leo walks up with Hanson, but I don’t even hear them, I just take off running to the parking lot.
21
Kaija
I don’t know what to think right now.
I don’t know what to feel, what to do.
I’m just numb. Scared. There’s a lump in my throat that won’t go anywhere.
“Baby?”
I close my eyes, hearing his voice, but I can’t look at him. I look through the glass, at Jasmine, so small in that hospital bed.
I feel useless.
I feel his hands land softly on my shoulders and I tremble, trying to hold it all inside, keep it together. He turns me to his chest and I stand there, shaking in his arms and biting my lip.
Keep it together.
Keep it together.
“I wasn’t there. I was supposed to be there.” I confess to his chest, whispering because my voice feels too loud, too…much.
“You were supposed to be where?” He rumbles, stroking my back, always comforting.
Always able to be relied on.
“Jasmine was meeting me at the bar, I was going to take her out to eat for getting her first job, have a girls night.” My voice doesn’t even sound like my voice to my ears. It’s empty. I feel so much but I can’t feel anything. “But I was late. Bahi told me one of our indie suppliers wanted a last minute meeting, and I took that and told Jazz I’d be a little late but she could hang out in my office.”
“Keyra told me a man heard her yell and stepped in.”
“We don’t know all the details because she was hysterical, and they sedated her before the police could get everything. But yeah, that man stopped whatever was happening and now he’s in surgery fighting for his life because I thought something else was more important than being there.”
“You can’t take that on yourself, Kai. There’s no way anyone would’ve known anything could happen.”
“You know she smokes? I didn’t know she smoked. She was in the alley because she wanted to smoke and knew I don’t like that stuff inside. If I was there when I was supposed to be, she wouldn’t have had time to.”
“You can go through what ifs forever, but all you can do now is be here for her. And I’m here for you.” He anchors his hand on my neck and plays in the hair at my nape, his voice so tender. Dammit, he’s going to make me too comfortable and I’m going to cry.
I don’t want to cry. I don’t deserve to cry. What the fuck do I have to cry about? I’m not the one laying in that hospital bed unconscious. I’m not the one who’s going to have those memories, not the one who’s going to have to figure out how to get past it and function normally again.
I thought being in Jazz’s life would prevent her form having to go through that, and here she is….there because of me.
If she didn’t know me, she wouldn’t be where she is right now.
I shake my head, pulling away. He’s too much right now.
“I don’t…let’s talk about something else. I can’t…I can’t do anything. I need to…think about something else.” I pace away from the window, heading back towards the waiting room. I stop short when I see everyone there.
I grit my teeth, trying not to tear up.
My whole family is here. Mickey, Keyra, my dad, Sina. And then there’s Brandon, Leo, Hanson, and Dane. Even Nico and Michelle are waiting, and I’m so confused.
“Why…what is everybody doing here?”
“That’s one intelligent and strong young lady in there.” My dad stands, coming forward and kissing me on the forehead. “You brought her into our lives and she’s one of us now. Anything she needs.”
“Was someone able to get her parents?” I cross my arms and hug myself, stepping back from my dad and making sure I’m not within Harlan’s reach. I just…I have to contain it.
“I went by.” Keyra stands. One of my waitresses went out for a smoke break and found Jazz and the man. Her first call was 911, her second was to me. She holds up a form. “They…after a less than pleseant conversation, well, you no
w have medical power of attorney.”
What pieces of shit.
I know what Keyra’s not saying. They didn’t want to deal with it. The easier option was putting any decisions into my hands.
“Miss Banks?” Jazz’s doctor walks up and I go to her, stopping myself from wringing my hands. “We’ve decided to keep her sedated, let her mind and body rest. From what we can tell so far and what the EMTs shared, she’s mostly bruised. No signs of concussion, rib damage or any internal injuries as far as we know. You should go home, we’ll keep you updated since you have POA.”
“Thank you.” She nods at everyone and leaves, and I stand where she left me, running her words through my mind.
This shouldn’t have happened.
“It’s late. I’m going to stick around, but you all should go home.”
“You can’t do anything else here tonight, Kai.” Sina comes up to me and grabs my hands, and I fight the immediate urge to snatch them away. I don’t want to be touched. “We’ll all go home and we’ll be here bright and early tomorrow.”
“You’ll stay with me tonight.” Harlan comes up behind me, settling a hand on my back and my knees almost buckle.
Him. I definitely can’t be touched by him right now. I just need to hold it together. Keep it together.
“I’ll go home. I just…I want to sleep in my bed tonight.” I only agree to be able to step away. Everyone gets up, coming over to say goodbye and say good wishes for Jazz and I take myself to that place in my mind where reality is just a pale mirror of itself. Where I can function, without being too involved.
Where I can freeze myself to the extra feelings. Auto-pilot, just making it through.
“I need to talk to you for a second.” Keyra grabs my hand and walks me down a side corridor, out of earshot of anyone. “I talked to the vendor you met with, told her I was just following up for your files. She didn’t request a meeting, Bahi told her you did.”