My mom reached out and pulled me into her arms. “You take care of Amber and those kiddies, you hear?” I nodded, tears clogging my throat. I knew that when she left, she wouldn’t be back. My dad was a stubborn ass like me. He wouldn’t ever forgive me for shaming his family by taking on a bastard baby.
“Mom, I don’t know how to thank you.” She’d been incredible over the past year since Ollie had left. Mymom had picked up the pieces and helped me get myself back together.
“It’s fine son, but it’s time for you to stand on your own two feet. You know I’m only a phone call away.” I nodded, but I could see in her eyes that she knew as well as I did. There would be no going back. My mom was strong, but once my dad made up his mind about something, that was it. His decision was final.
Helena moved closer and pulled me into her arms. “Mason, stay away from her. She’s fucking trouble. I can tell.” I nodded and patted her back before letting her go.
“Enjoy college sis. I’ll see you on Monday, right? Before you go back?” I glanced between her and my mom.
My mom took a deep breath. “Well Mason, the thing is, your dad doesn’t think…” I shook my head at her, knowing full well that my mom and my sister weren’t coming to Cassie’s funeral. I had to do it alone.
My Pops clapped me on the shoulder and spoke in a low voice. “I’ll be there on Monday son.” He nodded at me. I hugged him tightly, grateful for his support. “I won’t let you do it alone. Cassie was a gem of a girl and I adored her. I want to be there to give her a send-off she deserves.” He raised his voice slightly. My mom and Helena both looked suitably chastised at his words.
My dad however, chose that moment to walk over and say, “Right, let’s get out of here. I want to beat the traffic.”
Sophia wobbled over and pulled at his leg. He turned away without looking at her, marching towards the door. Sophia burst into tears and I scooped up my daughter, glaring at his retreating form. My mom scuttled after him. Helena leaned over, kissing my cheek and the top of Sophia’s head.
Pops just walked out, but turned back. “Mase, send a car for me Monday, will ya? I have a feeling I won’t be allowed to drive anymore.” I nodded in agreement and turned back to the lounge, finding Amber sitting with Lucca in his chair. She was rubbing her temples. I moved towards her almost instinctively.
Lewis beat me there though and sat down beside her. He tried to engage her in conversation, but shrugged when she didn’t give him more than a one word reply. He stood and walked into the hallway, heading for the kitchen. I sat there with a sleepy Sophia curled against my chest. I didn’t say a word, just sat. Amber put her hand on my knee and squeezed. I leaned over and kissed her palm, just like I had the night before. She moved her hand down, smiling at me.
I twisted and placed Sophia down, putting a cushion in front of her so she didn’t roll off of the couch, before I turned to face Amber. Her eyes were dark and I couldn’t tell if it was desire or worry that had them almost brown. As I looked at her, her eyes narrowed. She smacked me on the right side of my chest.
“That’s for being a dick earlier.” She smiled softly at me and then stood up, moving away from me, but I panicked.
I couldn’t let her, so I grabbed her hand. “Wait, Amber, please,” I begged, but she shrugged me off, heading for the stairs. I knew I had an appointment in half an hour and that I needed to leave in ten minutes if we had any hope of making it, but I needed to know she was okay. Rushing into the kitchen, I grabbed Harris and asked him to sit with the kids for a moment while I nipped upstairs. He nodded and looked at me quizzically, but walked through to the sitting room.
I rushed up the stairs, taking them two at a time, not caring about the burning in my side or the pain that the sudden movements caused. Sprinting along the corridor, I didn’t even break a sweat, but as I knocked on her door, my palm shook. I wasn’t sure if I was going to get smacked across the face or booted in the sack for how I’d been earlier.
The door flew open and I pushed into her room. I closed it behind me and stood in front of it. She hadn’t moved away from me so I pulled her against my hard chest, feeling every place our bodies touched tingle with desire.
“Amber, I’m sorry about earlier. I was trying to put Lewis off. I never meant for you to hear me.” I rushed the words out, praying she’d forgive me.
She nodded against my chest. “I know, but it still hurt. That’s why I made out with him and he knew it too. He whispered to me that you were jealous when we kissed. That was why I Iaughed.”
I pulled her tighter as I spoke again. She looped her hands around my back, running her fingers over my back. “I was jealous, but I’m not sure what I want. Can we just be friends for the moment?” She smiled up at me. I wanted so much to taste her sweet lips again that I didn’t think, I just leaned down and kissed her. All the passion from the night before came crashing back. I stumbled back into the door as we kissed hard and fast.
A loud knocking at the door interrupted us. I was grateful because I couldn’t figure out how I’d gone from asking her to be friends to fucking her mouth with my tongue. I had a massive boner, but knowing where I was going, and why, killed it. She moved away from me. She ran her finger over my top lip and bit her full, slightly swollen lips as she did. I almost groaned. The person outside rattled the door again. “Come on Amber, we need to get going? You need to watch the kids,” came Lewis’s voice from outside the door. I moved behind the door as she opened it and walked downstairs.
As they walked away I heard him ask, “You seen Mase?” And her answer, “nope. Not since earlier.” I smiled at the fact she was helping me keep whatever this was between us under wraps. I needed to figure out what I wanted. Maybe if I just fucked her, then I’d get over it and be able to move on with my life? I raced into my room and pulled my socks on. I ignored the pain and shoved my feet into my tennis shoes.
As we got into the SUV, Lexa stayed with Amber. Both girls ignored us completely as we left, chatting together on the couch. We drove slowly out of the driveway. It hit me where we were going. Harris, beside me in the back with Quinn, clapped me on the shoulder. I knew, as hard as it was going to be for me, for him it would be so much harder. He’d really loved her. Before she really gave him a chance, he’d have to bury her.
That thought made me appreciate the fact that I might not know what I was going to do about Amber, but I knew that I wasn’t going to let her ruin me. I had to decide if I was going to fuck her and chuck her. If I decided that, was it going to fuck up our working relationship? Or if I was going to steer clear and find another willing girl to fuck? I wanted to go with the second thought, but something held me back from making that decision completely.
We pulled up at the funeral home and I instantly stopped being so selfish. I had to do right by Cass. I needed to pull my head outa my ass and give her the send-off she deserved. I was glad the boys were there. When we walked in, she was in a white casket, with the blue dress I’d picked out. Her brown curls tucked around her face. She looked so peaceful that she may have been only sleeping.
My eyes clouded over and I stumbled. Harris caught my arm. When I glanced at him, tears rolled down his cheeks. The other two hung back as we both stared down at the girl we’d loved, in vastly different ways, as she lay peaceful in death. Harris turned away after laying a gentle kiss on her head and placing a note in her closed palm. And I stood a moment longer, before I turned to the funeral director. I spoke for the first time since I entered.
I expected to have to choose the music, and the order of the service, but I didn’t have to do any of it. Cassie had done it all. She wanted to have her ashes buried with her mom in Washington.
“Is that everything?” I asked the funeral director as we spoke in the private office, beside the chapel of rest.
“There is the matter of payment.” He looked uncomfortably at me.
I nodded. “How much is left to be paid?” I was numb and just wanted to pay the man so I could get out of ther
e.
“The full price sir. Five thousand andfive hundred. We can set up instalments if you’d like?”
I passed over my credit card, muttering, “Just take the full payment now please.” He smiled and nodded at me, before passing me over the contract to sign. As I signed, I saw Cassie’s signature. A tear leaked from my eye.
We rushed from the funeral directors as soon as I was done. Archie sped towards the offices. “Mase, we need to deal with the fallout from this. Our stock price plummeted four million yesterday. We need to get on top of this now.” I nodded, and as much as I knew we needed to deal with the shit that had happened, I wasn’t looking forward to cleaning up the mess left by dicks one and two at all.
Amber
As soon as the boys were leaving, Lexa pulled me over to the couch and told me all about what was going on with the Ellis and Kurt saga. She had tears in her eyes the whole time. She’d acted like she believed them, but she hated it. She knew he’d beaten her little sister. Rather than kicking his ass like he deserved, she was having to sit back and listen to him tell lie after lie about me. She’d told me this much earlier, but I needed to know what was going on.
“Amber.” She tugged on my hand as I stared at the babies sleeping. “He’s told everyone who’ll listen that it was you. That they were in a scene and you went crazy at him, pulling him off. When you did, her head hit the side of the bed and knocked her out. According to him, you then booted her in the stomach and caused her to miscarry the baby.”
My stomach rolled, and I gasped as I looked at Lexa. “Wait. What? She was pregnant?” Lexa nodded with tears in her eyes. One broke free and rolled down her cheek. My finger brushed it away and she sniffed.
I reached over to hold her. “She told me you were the only person who knew. That had found the pregnancy test in the garbage.” I shook my head as her words hit me, and I cried. How could my best friend be saying all this about me?
“Lexa, I didn’t. I swear,” I took a breath, trying to calm down, “I swear to god I didn’t know she was pregnant and I didn’t attack her.”
Lexa nodded at me and held me tight as she continued. “Because of your testimony and the evidence from the neighbour, he’s still been charged, but his dad’s trying to get him off.”
“Why would he do that? Does his dad really believe that his son is innocent?” Bile rose in my throat and I swallowed it back, running my hands over my face.
Lexa was quiet for a moment, and then she spoke with disgust colouring her tone. “His dad believes him. He thinks that you were crazy about Kurt. That you went after Ellis to hurt Kurt when he’d told you he didn’t see you that way.”
This time I retched, as the sickening thought hit me. “And his dad’s after me now?” Lexa didn’t speak. She wrapped her hands in her long auburn hair and nodded. Her eyes were wide and fearful as she looked at me.
“Lexa, do they know where I am?” My voice came out in a squeak as I stared at her in terror. What had I brought to Mason’s home? I couldn’t let them get to me; if they did I was toast. Especially since Ellis had gone on record to say I’d attacked her. I shook all over and Lexa pulled me in for a hug.
“No, it’s okay. I haven’t put the paperwork through yet. Quinn’s going to speak to Mason about what’s going on and get Mason to keep your employment under wraps. This is the perfect job. He doesn’t really have to declare you until tax season in January.” I nodded and started wringing my hands. This was all a fucking mess and Mason was going to be pissed when he found out about it. He was going to hate me too, and probably ask me to leave because I was putting the kids at risk just by being here.
“Lexa, can I tell you something? You can’t tell Quinn though. They have enough to deal with right now.” Fear radiated in my chest and I clenched my hands together to stop them from shaking. She nodded at me, not speaking. I grabbed my cell, showing her the messages from the day before.
She checked my cell and I waited with bated breath while she compared the number. “I don’t know who this is, but it isn’t Kurt’s cell. His digits are different, although with that creep he could have a burner cell and you wouldn’t know.”
I nodded at her and she smiled at me. “You’re safe here. Trust Mason. He’s a good guy and he’ll help keep you safe.” She paused and I glanced over at her. She seemed nervous, twirling a ring around her finger as she stared at the ground, before looking back at me. “Have you considered asking your daddy for help?”
I shook my head at her, which seemed to encourage her to continue on this path. “Amber, he could help you. I think he knows Kurt’s daddy and he can rein them in. He is the mayor after all.” Tears filled my eyes as I remembered what he’d said the day before. He didn’t want anything to do with me and he’d told me to stay away from everyone. I couldn’t go to him. He didn’t care.
It hurt that I couldn’t go to my daddy with my problems. He’d always been a constant for me and suddenly now my word wasn’t good enough for him. He’d probably believe Kurt’s daddy over me anyway, especially since Ellis was lying about me.
I glanced away from Lexa, and shook my head, whispering, “I can’t do that. There’s no way he’ll help me. He told me that he didn’t want anything to do with me yesterday so I’m on my own.”
My cell started to ring and Lexa gave me a puzzled look as she took in the name that flashed up. “Amber, it’s your daddy.”
Swallowing around the lump in my throat, I reached over for my cell with shaking fingers. As I clasped my fingers around it, Sophia stirred. I settled her back to sleep and quickly answered the call. “Hi Daddy.” My voice was small as I spoke to him. I hoped he’d heard what had happened and believed me, but his words brought that hope crashing down around my ears.
“Amber, where are you?” His voice sounded strange. A warning bell sounded in my head. Perhaps it was the conversation we’d just had or something else.
I glanced at Lexa before speaking. “I’m at a friend’s. Why? Is everything okay?”
“No. Can you come home now?”
Some instinct was telling me that it was a bad idea. “No, Daddy. I’m out of town. My signal is going.” I ended the call and looked over at Lexa, before switching my cell to flight mode. I was worried about them tracing me. I knew I needed to get a new cell before the day was out. I went straight to the downstairs bathroom and dropped my cell into a sink full of water.
I walked out, leaving my cell in the water. “Lexa,” I called out, walking into the sitting room. She wasn’t there, she was behind me in the hallway.
“Yeah honey?” She asked me and I glanced at her, wondering what she had been doing? A glint of silver flashed in the air as she pinned me to the banister. Her eyes had a crazy hue to them. I stepped back, open mouthed as she moved towards me. The blade was pointed at me.
“Amber, I want to believe you, but I need to know for sure. I want you to take a blood oath that you didn’t harm my sister. Kurt made a pretty convincing case yesterday.” I had backed right into the banister. There was nowhere else I could go. “Please, Amber, swear it on the blade.” Her pretty eyes were filled with tears and her hand shook as she stood in front of me.
I was completely stunned and frozen to the spot. She handed me the blade. My hand shook as I cut my palm. The pain was nothing more than a paper cut, and her eyes followed the trail of blood from my fingers. “Lex, I swear to you, I have never, nor would I ever hurt Ellis. Please believe me.”
She relaxed and muttered, “I do believe you and I kind of hate myself for it. I’m so sorry Amber, but I had to know.” I nodded at her and moved towards the kitchen. Betty was there, cooking lunch and her eyes widened as I walked in cradling my hand and carrying the knife.
Thinking on the spot, I came up with the best lie I could.
“Damn clothes labels. I borrowed this knife to cut a label off of my clothes, but sliced my hand in the process. Then I dropped my cell in the bathroom sink. Can you let Mason know that my cell is completely gone? I need to g
et a new one anyway. Too many weirdo’s have the number.” Shut up Amber, you never talk this much, just shut up now, I thought.
Betty walked over to me. She was smiling. “Of course love. Now sit down while I patch this hand up.”
I nodded and walked towards the island. There were croissants wafting their delicious, fresh scent at me and it hit me how hungry I was. I hadn’t eaten yet and my stomach growled as the smell of coffee and baked goods hit my nose. Betty smiled at me and cleaned my hand up. She wrapped it in a small bandage, before she made me a tray to take through to the sitting room. The boys had only been gone around about an hour. When I walked back into the sitting room, balancing the tray on the tips of my fingers, I found both babies fast asleep. Lexa was nowhere to be found. There was a note propped up on the table.
Amber,
I need to head back to Ellis, take care and keep in touch. Mason has my cell, get it off of him when you get your burner and try and stay of off their radar. I’m so sorry about earlier, but knowing that Ellis lost her baby has made me a little crazy. I hope you can forgive me.
Lexa.
I sat in silence, sipping my coffee and eating croissants. I put a daytime show on the TV and watched some celebrity baking, but it couldn’t hold my interest for long. I knew I needed to find out what my dad wanted, but I couldn’t bear to check just yet. I let the show numb me for an hour, and by the end I was sucked in and wanted to see who’d win the bake off.
My main emotion was worry. I didn’t think my daddy believed me and I wondered if he’d emailed? after I finished with my coffees — yes I drank both — I rushed upstairs, grabbed my Mac and ran back downstairs. As I waited for it to load up, I sat staring at my reflection in the window.
My eyes were wide. My cheeks well defined and my blonde hair was braided back from my face and curled on my head. The fear of what was going on was evident on my face. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to hide my emotions from Mason. For some reason he could see right through me. When my Mac had finally loaded, I decided to check out the gossip sites for fun. I hadn’t done that in a while and it usually cheered me up. When I clicked on the item about Terry Jacks, my current celeb crush, I noticed a piece on Black Mercy. I decided to click on the link.
Black Mercy (San Francisco Rock Romance Book 1) Page 14