by Kar, Alla
We all three get into my Hummer. If Damon wants to keep pursuing my nerves, I’m going to make him want to leave. My plans for Layla haven’t changed at all.
***
The lake where I spent a lot of my childhood is back in the woods about ten miles away from the main highway. It’s not the same one I took Layla to the last time, this one is future out in the woods. No one is ever out here, except maybe one or two people that live close by. Mom use to take me here when Dad was on one of his tirades. We would watch the sky, swim, fish and catch fireflies when the sun would drop below the trees.
“Wow, not a lot of people know about this place, huh?” Layla asks.
I shake my head. “Just the houses close by. Every time I come out here there is no one here.” Layla squeezes my hand. It would be a great moment if Damon wasn’t standing on the other side of Layla.
His voice breaks the silence. He lets out a long whistle and kicks up some leaves. “It’s pretty awesome out here,” he says. He glances over at me. “Pretty far away from everyone. It would be a shame to get trapped out here.”
Who in the fuck thinks like that? Who is this guy? A serial killer? “Well, I don’t plan on knocking any of you off, so we don’t have to worry about that. Unless that’s your plan, Damon.”
He barks out a laugh, and a few birds scurry away from us. “Nope, not my plan. So, what are we doing out here? Swimming? Bird watching.”
Jesus Christ I’m going to beat this guy’s head into the ground. Bird watching? I’ll shove a bird down his mouth and see how he likes it.
“Taylor,” Layla whispers. She smiles, it’s forced.
“Well,” I clear my throat, “I planned on taking Layla out on the little boat and swimming but now that we have company, I guess we can just swim off of the dock.”
Layla frowns. “Why didn’t you tell me we were going swimming? I would have worn a swim suit?”
I lean down and place my lips by her ear. “I planned on skinny dipping, but since we have an audience, I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”
A hint of red blushes Layla’s cheeks. She looks down embarrassed with a small smirk on her face. “Okay, well we’re all adults here, we can still swim.”
She starts toward the dock, slipping her shirt over her head and then sliding her jeans down her legs. My dick moves in my pants. Jesus. She pulls her hair into a bun on the top of her head and looks back at me. “You guys coming?”
I nod, but watch as she stands on the edge of the dock. Her yellow lace panties barley covers her tight ass. I’m so fucking turned on I almost forget that Damon is standing beside me. He is staring at the water Layla just dove head first into.
Anger rides along my skin. “Don’t even think about it, or her. I’ll pound your face in if you touch her.”
Damon glances over at me, then raises an eyebrow. “Why don’t you tell me how you really feel, Taylor.” He shakes his head and pulls his shirt over his head. I hate to admit it, but he isn’t as weak as I thought he would be. He trots over to the dock when I see something on his shoulder, a tattoo. I squint, trying to get a better look when I see it. It’s a scorpion.
My body seems to numb as he dives into the water where Layla is floating. This has to be a coincidence. It has to be. Finally feeling my legs again, I start toward the dock. I try to make eye contact at Layla, letting her know I need to talk to her. She smiles and waves me in. “Come in, babe.”
I smile slightly, tug off my shirt and dive in. The water isn’t as cold as I had hoped, but it still sends shocks down to my toes. When I come up for breath I search for Layla. She is lying on her back. I waste no time swimming over to her.
She squeals when I grab her around the waist and wraps her legs around my back. “This was a great idea,” she says.
Damon chuckles. “It really couldn’t have been better.”
Layla glances down at me and it’s then she realizes the look on my face is worry. “Layla,” I whisper. “Keep calm and don’t change your face.” I kiss the base of her neck, and she moans. Any other time I would take her in the damn water, but I can’t help thinking about the scorpion. “I think Damon is connected to the scorpion guy,” I whisper.
Her legs tighten around my waist and her arms around my neck. “Why?” she asks.
“He has a scorpion on his back,” I say, nuzzling my face into her neck.
I wait for her to ask what to do but all I hear is her laughing. “Why are you laughing?”
Her blue eyes widen and then she ruffles her hand through my wet hair. “Taylor, don’t be ridiculous. Just because he has one doesn’t mean that he is working with that guy. I believe your hate for this kid is blinding you, Taylor.”
I grit my teeth. “Layla, it isn’t funny that he is everywhere you are? He is here, where my family lives. You can’t look past that.”
The edge of her mouth turns down, and she shrugs her shoulders. “I have to have more evidence. I think you’re overreacting, baby.”
“Layla, listen--,”
“Secrets don’t make friends, guys. What’s going on?”
Damon is closer than I thought he was. I swim a circle and put Layla’s back to him. “Just talking about how I want to take Layla in the shower tonight.”
She gasps and hits my shoulder. “Taylor!”
Damon slicks his hands through his hair and smiles. “Can’t say I blame you.”
Layla hides her face in my shoulder and shakes her head. “Jesus,” she mumbles.
After a few more minutes of swimming Layla’s phone starts ringing from the dock. She looks back and then at me. “I better get it, it might be Cindy. I’ll be right back.” She unhooks her arms and legs then swims over toward the ladder. I watch frantically as she grabs the phone and walks off of the dock toward a tree swing, off to the right.
“So, big fight next week, right?”
I keep my arms moving staying on top of the water and glance over at Damon. “Just another fight, what about it?”
He clicks his tongue. “I hear it is with the wrestling champion here. Think you’re up to it? I mean you can fight, I’ve watched you, but this guy has technique.”
I keep my eyes on Layla. “Technique doesn’t mean you’re a great fighter. Wrestling and fighting are two completely different things.”
“So you know you can beat him?”
What the fuck is he getting at? I turn toward him. “Are you getting at something?”
He cocks an eyebrow and holds his hands up in surrender. “I just don’t think it’s a good idea to always think you’re going to win. You’re never scared to fight? You never think he just might beat me?”
If I weren’t swimming in this lake, I would beat the hell out of this guy. “No. If I had that logic I would be like the rest of the fighters who lose all the time. That’s what makes me different, I’m not afraid.”
Damon watches me thoughtfully for a minute and then grins. “Good.”
Good? What the hell does that mean? I’m getting ready to come undone when I remember Layla on the phone. I glance back finding her still sitting in the swing. She is laughing, probably talking to Cindy. It’s when she throws her head back to laugh that I see the man standing a few yards away from her. A shadow from his hood hangs over his face but I don’t need to see his face to know who he is beneath it.
I can’t seem to get my mouth to open quickly enough. He hasn’t moved but I don’t think he knows I’ve seen him. By the time I get my body functioning Damon is yelling my name. I’m already on the dock, running toward Layla. When she sees me, she furrows her brow and stands up.
My feet haven’t carried me anywhere this fast in a long time. My chest is burning from the swim and run, but I dig my feet into the rough ground anyway. “Come here,” I scream at her.
A sense of realization washes over her face and she runs. Doesn’t look back. Just runs. Good, girl.
I feel the wind pass me as she runs behind me, she is screaming my name but I keep toward the guy sta
nding in front of me.
He doesn’t run, only stares at me. When I’m close enough to throw a punch, I throw my fist out and make contact with the side of his head. The sounds of flesh hitting bone crackles, and it throws him off balance, and he stumbles to the ground.
His hood falls off of his head, and I see his face for the first time. He is in his forties, the palest blue eyes I’ve ever seen, and a huge scorpion tattooed on his face, near his cheek. Now his left eye is swelling and blood is streaming down his jaw. He doesn’t bother to cover his face up, he staggers up and disappears into the woods.
“Taylor!” I hear Layla yell, but I keep staring at the trees. Layla’s arms wrap around my stomach from behind me. “Oh my God, I can’t believe he followed us out here.”
I feel a hand on my shoulder, and I turn toward Damon. He is wide-eyed, mouth ajar and looks confused as hell. “That’s the same guy that was at your apartment. I remember the hood.”
Layla nods into my chest. “Yeah, that’s him.”
Damon presses his lips together. “Well, what in the fuck did you do to piss him off?”
Layla glances up at him. “Live.”
Damon doesn’t say anything, just stands there and stares. He is paying the dummy act all too well. My thoughts are everywhere, and all I care about it getting Layla to safety.
“I think we better get going,” I say, rubbing my hand over Layla’s back. “I don’t want to be here if he comes back.”
Chapter Nine
Layla
I have never been more thrilled to be behind a locked door before. I’m sitting on Taylor’s lap, on his bed, in his room. His mom is pulling a double shift, so it’s just us for the night. Damon finally decided to go home. He hadn’t said anything on the ride back. Just stared out of the window probably utterly petrified with fear. I know I am. He had been right behind me. What would have happened if Taylor hadn’t seen him in time? Would he have killed me right there? Tortured me? Raped me? I have no idea what this guy would do. The only thing I know is that he wants me dead.
“You’re shaking,” Taylor whispers into my ear.
I swallow a large lump that’s made its way into my throat. “I’m scared. He was right there--,”
“Shhh, baby. It’s going to be okay, I promise. We’re going to head out first thing in the morning, we’re going to get to the bottom of this. I’ve seen his face now, so I can go to the police and let them know what we’re looking for. Maybe they’ll let me look at some pictures. Or do a character sketch.”
I cuddle into his body. “Maybe. This means he is following me closely without us knowing. You think we would have noticed a guy following us for an hour.”
Taylor holds me tighter. “I promise we’ll get to the bottom of this.”
Taylor and I spend the rest of the night inside, eating popcorn, watching old VHS and laughing at home movies. Before the night is over Taylor has me pressed against the living floor making me scream him name. I don’t remember falling asleep, all I remember is seeing his face from underneath his hood.
***
Cindy leans over the counter at the coffee shop. “So, he did nothing?”
I press the top onto the plastic coffee cup. “Yeah.” I slid the cup of coffee to the anxious girl across the counter. She looks like she needs about three energy shots and a comb.
“Why?” Cindy shouts.
I shrug. “Detective Vice said that the man didn’t actually do anything to me or Taylor. Taylor hit him and he ran. He said the guy would have better chances charging Taylor for attacking him. So, we’re back to square one.”
Cindy scoffs. “Great. What a fucking help he is, right?”
I nod and start on my next coffee.
“So, why was Damon there anyway? I’m sure Taylor loved that,” Cindy laughs.
“He was about to beat the hell out of him on several occasions. He just showed up, which takes me into another long story on how Taylor thinks Damon is somehow linked to scorpion guy.”
Holding her chin with her hand, a smile crawls up her face. “You’re kidding, right? Why does he think that? The only reason he is always around is because he has the hots for you.”
I roll my eyes. “Damon supposedly has a scorpion tattoo on his back, and Taylor thinks it’s connected.”
Cindy sighs and grabs her books. “As interesting as Taylor’s theories are, I have to get back to Brett’s. We’re studying tonight.”
“By that, you mean making out on the couch?”
She closes her eyes and gives me an opened mouth smile. “That is exactly what I mean. See ya later.”
I wave as she walks out of the double doors. An hour later, the entire place is empty. I don’t complain, because making coffee constantly starts to wear on your nerves. I’m bending over the counter, trying to unplug the blender so I can wash it when I feel a hand on my waist.
I shrink back, turning my back toward the counter. Damon is standing in front of me, eyes intense, one hand on my waist, the other on the counter beside my hip. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”
I sigh and then realize he is still touching me. “Um, Damon…”
He presses his index finger to the side of my face and sweeps a piece of hair behind my ear. “I’m really sorry about this weekend. I know it must be a bunch of things I don’t know about, but I’m willing to help out if you need it. I’ll do anything.”
I try to think of a descent response, but all I can think about is his hand on my neck. It’s warm, calloused and huge. “Damon, listen--,”
He doesn’t listen. I can see a look in his eyes that I’ve never seen before. It makes my belly toss and turn. He knows this isn’t right, I can see it in his face. But, he doesn’t take his hand off of my neck. He traces his finger down to the base of my throat and stops. Abruptly. Suddenly. Then he is on the other side of the coffee shop, replacing the cups we’re low on.
Did that just happen?
I glance around to see if anyone saw that. Did they? Surely someone saw? No one is looking at us, they’re all looking at their computers or phones.
Frustrated, I tap his shoulder. He turns and looks down at me. A patient look is over his face, and I want to smack it off. “What was that?” I blurt out.
Damon smiles. “That was me wanting you, but knowing I can’t have you…yet.”
Yet? Does he think I’m going to dump Taylor? After everything he has done for me? Seriously? I play with a piece of string on my shirt for a few minutes. It’s a lame excuse not to look at him. I can’t. His green eyes are always so intense. Like he has a secret that I’m not getting.
“Um, I don’t know what to say…”
Damon laughs, placing his arm on my shoulder and lets it slide down to my hand. “Nothing. You say nothing.”
I can definitely do that. I want to tell him I’m sorry that I’m in love with Taylor and that he has no chance, but I think he gets that. He is way more mature than I pegged him for. So, we work in silence for an hour. I can’t help but glance over at him throughout our shift. He seems so calm, talking with the customers, fixing all the drinks and laughing at the cappuccino machine.
So, I guess Taylor was sort of right. I mean he does like me, obviously, but, he doesn’t seem like the type to force himself on me. I’m sure he can find him a girl, it’s not a secret that he looks good.
Damon leans against the counter after he made his last drink. “So, any news on the incident?”
Tossing a broken cup into the trash can, I shrug. “No. Our detective is an asshole, which thinks my delinquent days in high school prove that I’m just a screw-up now.”
Damon raises an eyebrow. “Delinquent days? Does Layla have a wild side I haven’t seen yet?”
I hold back a smile. The already cleaned countertop seems very interesting. “I’ve been known to crash a few parties. Hustle a few people every now and again.”
“Hustle, huh. Card player?”
I shake my head. “I’m good at cards, but I use to make
all of my money at pool.”
He scoffs. “You hustled people at pool? You expect me to believe that?”
What does that mean? I’m a girl, so I can’t play pool? “Are you saying you don’t think I can play, Damon? I could wipe the floor with your ass.”
Damon barks out a laugh, it echoes across the room. “I highly doubt that, Little Ms. Layla,” he presses a finger to my chin, “what do you do? Use your looks to trick boys into playing with you?”
That’s exactly what I do. What I did. I’m through with that now. “Yes, actually that’s quite accurate.”
Damon bends over and starts to laugh, hysterically. It was a little funny, but it’s not that funny. I cross my arms over my chest and raise an eyebrow. “That’s enough, Damon. It’s not that funny.”
When he straightens up, he has a huge smile on his face. I mean teeth showing smile. “It actually is that funny. You never really see this often. You may hear about it, or read about it, but normally girls aren’t that great at pool. At least not against men.”
I mentally gasp. I know he did not just say that? Does he need a brain transplant? “You’ve got to be kidding, Damon? Girls rule this world, whether or not men think so or not. As long as you have these,” I point toward my breasts, “or this,” I point toward my ass, “women can rule anything. All I have to do is giggle, wear a low cut T-shirt and I’ve got however much they’ve got on them.”
Damon has a tranquil look on his face and it makes me mad. He doesn’t think I can hustle someone? I’ll fucking show him.
“Okay, then let’s see it, big shot,” he says, gesturing toward me. “After work, we’ll go down to the pool hall and you can show me your skills.”
Before I even have a chance to talk myself out of this horrible idea, I agree. “Wait and see.”
***
The pool hall smells the same as before. Like alcohol, must and weed. It’s shocking to walk in from the fresh air to this. I guess I never really noticed it before, or I was so use to it that I didn’t care. Now I feel like I’m going to vomit from the smell.
“Let’s see it, baby girl,” Damon says from behind me. His mouth is close to my ear, but I wave him off.