Tacet a Mortuis

by Amo Jones

  My eyebrows pinched together. “What? Who?” I was still not having kids, but I’d ask him who he thought I could be matched with anyway.

  He reached into his front jacket pocket and pulled out a small photograph, flipping it around to show me. It was a little girl, had to be around the same age as me or younger—unless she was just really small. She had brown wavy hair, chubby cheeks, a bright smile and blue eyes. A couple of freckles were scattered over her cheeks and she was holding a hunting rifle. “This girl.”

  “That girl?” I questioned, obviously my dad was off his meds. That girl wasn’t anything great, I had seen better at my school, but she had something contrastive about her, an imbalance if you will, but her eyes. Her eyes ate up the distance between us, even if it was a photo that she was staring at me from. “Who is she?”

  Dad looked sideways at me, noticing the other guys trying to get a look. He folded it and pushed it back into his pocket, shooting them all a warning glare. “Someone who is going to arrive in your life at the exact moment you need her to.”

  “Like fate?” I asked. I didn’t really know what that word meant, but I had heard it be thrown around a lot with the adults.

  He laughed. “Not fate—karma. Your wake-up call.”

  My phone vibrated on the kitchen counter, pulling me out of the task at hand. Cooking. I wasn’t bad, because neither of my parents were around much, which meant I learned how to make the simple things, like toast, and eggs, and bacon, and that’s all that I really needed to live on, so I stopped my skill level right there. Reaching for my phone, I slid it unlocked and pushed it onto speaker when I saw it was Mom.

  “Yeah?” I picked up the spatula and pushed the creamy eggs around.

  “I’m just making sure you haven’t scared that girl off?”

  I snorted. “Not likely.”

  She paused, and I leaned over to check to see if the call was still connected. “Bishop, how much does she know?”

  I checked on the bacon in the oven and licked the juice off my fingertips. “Enough but not all.”

  “And how much are you planning on telling her?”

  “All.”

  “Bishop…” she warned. “I would say some, but all could be too much for her to take in too soon.”

  “Mom, I thought you would have been all for this since Dad left you in the dark for so long and you were all ‘don’t keep too many secrets, son.’”

  “For her safety, Bishop. You know your father, need I say more?”

  I slammed the oven door and sighed. “You don’t need to, but if it came down to it, I’d handle him.”

  “My son the knight…” She was playing with me because I could hear the slight humor in her tone, but I could also hear the apprehension. She was afraid. With good reason. No one goes up against my dad, but if there was anyone who ever would—it would be me. As much as I respected him, and obviously searched for his approval in most things I did, when it came to Madison, no one else mattered and I think he knew that.

  “Where are you, anyway?” I flipped the oven off and took the pan off the stove top.

  “I’m actually on my way home. I’ll explain once I get there, are you in your new place?”

  “Yep. I gotta go. Talk soon.”

  “Ok. Love you, son.”

  “Yeah, you too, Mom.” I flicked it off and pushed my phone into my pocket. I was aware I never had outwardly told my mom that I loved her, but she was one of those women who just knew.

  “Cooking? Have you been holding out on me all this time?” Madison was leaning against the entryway to the kitchen.

  I grinned. “Nah, probably saved your life.” She ran her fingers through her hair, brushing it away from her face. It fell loosely around her shoulders anyway, and that’s when I noticed she was wearing one of my shirts.

  My eyes narrowed. “You wearing anything underneath that?” I asked, gesturing to her legs with the spatula.

  She looked down, gripping the bottom of the shirt and shrugging. “Um, no?”

  I dropped the spatula into the pan and made my way towards her. She smiled when she saw I was coming for her, a look of shock passing over her eyes. Good. She should feel strange. Gripping her from the backs of her thighs, I lifted her off the ground until her legs wrapped around my waist and tightened. Pressing my lips to hers, I slipped my tongue into her mouth and sucked her bottom lip into my mine. “Fuck you taste good this early.”

  “Yeah,” she rolled her eyes. “That’s because I brushed my teeth.”

  A rumble of laughter escaped me. I always admired her flare for honesty. It was refreshing that she didn’t truly care what anyone thought of her. The sound dock turned on and Marilyn Manson “Killing Strangers” started playing, and I grinned, walking her towards the kitchen island and dropping her onto it. The back of her head smashed onto the marble and she groaned, her eyes rolling to the back of her head.

  “That hurt?” I asked, an eyebrow quirked.

  She bit down on her bottom lip and shook her head. “Not really.” With her stretched out on the counter, I stood between her legs, gripped her thighs and pulled her toward me so her crotch was pressed against my cock. Then the palms of my hands slid up her thighs, pushing the shirt above her head until she was bare naked in front of me. I stepped backward, taking in every curve and slim line that marbled her tanned skin. “So fucking beautiful.”

  Her cheeks reddened, and I fucking loved it. I loved that I could have that kind of effect on her with my words alone.

  “Wait, I’m hungry.” She went to get up, but I shoved her back down.

  “So am I.” Then a dipped my lips to her inner thigh and slid my tongue over her skin. Defeated, she dropped backward and arched her back. I took my tongue out and circled her clit, her taste invading my mouth. I lost it, and wrapped my lips around her, sinking a finger deep inside of her. She moaned out, pinched her nipple with her finger and arched her back farther.

  I stood up, my thumb still pressing to her clit, circling it softly. “Wait.” Letting her go, I sucked my finger and went to the freezer, taking out a tray of ice. Her eyes lit up brightly, her cheeks flashing red. “I’ve not… is that dangerous?”

  I chuckled. “No. It’s not.” I banged the ice cubes on the counter until they scattered out everywhere, then picked one up and slid it up her inner thigh. “Close your eyes, Kitty.”

  I pressed my tongue to her clit and pushed the ice cube inside of her. A gasp left her instantly, her back arching off the counter in shock. I continued pushing it up, feeling the contraction of her insides and the melted ice dripping down my finger. Her body confused as my tongue ran circles on her. “I’m—I’m—”

  “Come, baby. All over me.”

  She moaned and I felt her walls pull my finger in deeper as she rippled through her orgasm. Standing, I yanked her closer to me, spread her legs wide and sunk my cock deep inside. Sweat fell off her smooth flesh and her lips parted, her eyes rolling to the back of her head.

  “There’s something weird about Mrs. Winters,” Madison threw out absently around a bite of her bagel. “Like I haven’t seen her since Tate and I got her to get our passports.” Then she stilled, her eyes coming to mine where they narrowed.

  “Woah!” I threw my hands up in defense. “I haven’t got shit to do with her disappearing act, so point those eyes elsewhere.” She went back to eating, as did I. I wasn’t lying, I didn’t have anything to do with Tinker doing a runner. She would have done that all on her own as soon as she found out I knew where Madison was. She was a fucking idiot for thinking I wouldn’t know it was her that helped Madison though. We finished up eating and got dressed. I snatched my car keys off the counter as Madison was coming down the stairs, tying her hair into a high ponytail.

  “Where we going?”

  “We are going to teach you how to fight.”

  Her hand stilled, still clutching her hair. “What? Why?”

  “Because, all though you have me and the Kings, we may not always b
e around if you fall into trouble. And now that everyone who is anyone knows your affiliations with us, you’re pretty much a walking target, and I’m not about to take chances. Not when it comes to you.”

  She seemed to think over what I had just said, and then shrugged, feigning nonchalance. “But I have my Glock.”

  I forced myself from not rolling my eyes. “That’s good and all, but here’s the thing about relying on a Glock. That metal bullshit may not always be easily accessible to you when you need it, but do you wanna know what will always be accessible to you?”

  “I get your point. But I don’t know if combat is my thing.”

  “Well, we’re about to make it your thing.” I shoved the car keys into my back pocket and headed for the front door. “Come on, princess.”

  She flipped me off.

  “I don’t wanna…” I whined like an annoyed toddler. “Seriously, this isn’t fair!” We were back at the cabin and the sun was blaring down on my skin. I had yoga pants and a loose tank on. Too loose. So I wrapped the front into a bun and tied it tightly under my sports bra.

  “Oh come on, this will be fun!” That was Nate, grinning from his seat. All of them were here. Nate, Jase, Hunter, and Chase were sitting on the logs that surround the bonfire. Their sunglasses covering their eyes while they sat there, shoving potato chips into their annoying gobs, drinking beer, and basically, looking like they were ready to watch an hour long movie. Bishop, Brantley, Eli, Cash, and Saint were semi surrounding me in a circle. All dressed accordingly. You know, with no shirts and various colors of jeans. Some worn, some not so worn, som—

  “Madison!” Bishop snapped.

  I brought my eyes to him where they were squinted. “What!”

  “Watch those eyes.”

  I turned red. I didn’t even realize I was obviously checking them out—without checking them out. “I was looking at all of your jeans, actually,” I mumbled under my breath grumpily. Then I cranked my neck. “I’m really not sure about this.” Saint had laid down some combat mats. Which proved my earlier statement. He was the brains of the group. I heard a car speeding down the long private gravel road and everyone revived to alert. The guys shot up from their seats while Bishop slowly stepped in front of me. Then they all relaxed and mumbled annoyances. I couldn’t see around Bishop’s block of a body but when I heard the voice, I laughed.

  “If you think you boys get to beat her ass without me watching, you’re mistaken.”

  I giggled. “Tate, tell me you brought vodka or something.” I had a feeling our holiday was going to be fueled by alcohol and poor decisions. Oh, and I have a new boyfriend who isn’t really new, and I guess we haven’t really made it official. Crap. Is he my boyfriend?

  “Kitty!” Bishop growled, pointing to my arms that were not so defensively to the sides of my body.

  “Oh, I really don’t want to do this,” I whined.

  I could hear mumbled arguing to the side of me, so I turned to see what was going on only to find Tate and Nate fighting over a bag of chips.

  “Seriously!” I deadpanned at the both of them. “I mean I expected it from Nate, but not you.” I pointedly glared at Tate.

  She looked around the group innocently, licking the salt off her fingers. “Oh come on.” She rolled her eyes. “You’ve totally got them all. And besides, I haven’t been laid in what feels like, weeks. This will be like live porn.”

  “That’s not pervy at all,” I retorted, then turned back to a grinning Bishop.

  “Oh it’s totally pervy, and I’m not ashamed to admit it.”

  “Wait, you haven’t had dick since mine?” Nate asked, staring at her.

  She turned Ferrari red and I relished in the fact that her mouth had once again, landed her ass in hot water.

  She shrugged. “I’m fussy, so what.”

  Jase was staring her up and down. “I mean, I can rectify that if you want. Can’t guarantee you’d survive a real man, though…”

  Nate flipped him off.

  I rubbed my forehead with the palm of my hand. “Fuck me. I have idiots as friends and family.”

  Music started playing through the big boom speaker that was huddled near Nate, and I recognized the song from one of their parties. “Get Dough” by Dead Obies.

  An hour later, sweat was dripping from my skin and Bishop’s body was pressing into my back with my face squished into the mat. “Okay! Alright! Fuck!” He circled his crotch into my ass. I flushed. “Stop it…”

  The entire time we’ve been doing this training-fighting thing, Bishop was going hard on me. And I don’t mean his dick. I will most likely have bruises all over my arms and butt for weeks after this. Brantley was no exception either. He almost knocked me out, waiting for me to get out of the sleeper hold. They weren’t playing around at all, but now I was tired, sweaty, and thirsty. Not for water.

  “Can we continue this next week?”

  “No,” Bishop answered, jackknifing off me and getting to his feet. “We all have to stay out here…”

  I looked around at them. “Why are we staying out here?” I couldn’t believe I didn’t ask anyone earlier about why we were all out here. Bishop’s phone went off in his pocket and he stepped backward, answering it. I turned to Nate and Jase. “Seriously, what’s going on?”

  His eyes drifted over my shoulder. “What?”

  I followed his line of sight, facing Bishop.

  “We’ll leave tomorrow.”

  “Leave?” I asked, my eyes darting around the place. “Leave to where?”

  “Come here…” He gestured with his fingers, and I followed, hooking my fingers with his. He sat on a log and pulled me onto his lap. “We have to go to Perdita.”

  I sat for a beat, thinking over what he had just said.

  “Three questions,” Tate yapped off in the background. “What’s Perdita, do they have margaritas, and should I pack my bikini?”

  “I’ll answer all those three for you,” Nate snapped back. “One, you’re not coming, two, you’re not coming, and three, you’re not fucking coming.”

  “Really?” She shot back with a roll of her eyes. “Because I specifically recall you ‘coming’ all over my tits last week.”

  “Jesus Christ,” Jase muttered, getting to his feet. A few guys chuckled, but I was so used to Tate and Nate’s banter, I brushed them off. Even if their banter had intensified over the past week. Must be Tate not getting any sex.

  “Ok, why?” I quizzed through more of a whisper, searching Bishop’s eyes, which were on mine, studying my reaction.

  “We’re not sure yet, but we know we have to get there.”

  My confusion turned to excitement when I realized I’d get to see Daemon. “I’ll need to grab some clothes.”

  “Babe, I’d rather you not come.”

  “Too bad, I’m coming.”

  “Mads…”

  “Bishop…” I countered his tone. “I’m. Coming.”

  He pulled his bottom lip into his mouth, his eyebrows pulling in softly as if he was searching for what to say, or internally fighting with what he should do. Too bad, I wasn’t giving this up. I’d sneak myself onto that plane if I had to.

  “Fine,” Bishop agreed. I wiggled in his lap in excitement and his hands flew to my hips where he stilled my movements. His eyes narrowed. “Watch it.”

  “Wait, she can’t come. We can’t have a liability on Perdita.”

  I flipped Hunter off. “I’m not a liability!”

  “Nah, she’s right. She needs to be near us. She’s not safe here on her own and we can’t afford to leave anyone here to watch her because we need all the manpower we have over there.”

  I gave Hunter a Cheshire Cat grin.

  His face deadpanned. “I don’t like having a baby sister.”

  “You’ll warm up to her.” Nate winked at me. I smiled.

  “To her or on her?” Hunter snapped back.

  “Okay!” I stood from Bishop’s lap. “So I want Tate to come with me.”

&n
bsp; “You do?” Tate’s face lit up.

  Nate’s sunk.

  “Yes, I do.”

  “Ah… I don’t thin—” Bishop started to say, but I cut him off.

  “—she’s coming.”

  “Now do you still think it’s a good idea her coming?” Hunter flicked his wrist in my direction, but his eyes were on Bishop.

  “Mmm,” Bishop mumbled and then stood.

  “Please tell me were not throwing a party…”

  Bishop shook his head. “Nah, just us out here. If you two need to go home to get some clothes, I’ll take you now since I have to stop at my parents’ and see Dad quickly.”

  “Ok,” I nodded, and then hitched my thumb over my shoulder, toward the cabin. “Is there still no food up in there?”

  Bishop gave me a look that said “correct.”

  “We’ll stop and get food. I’m starving and I need a shower.”

  Bishop’s hand sprawled out over my belly and he pushed my body into his, his lips falling to my shoulder. “Shower later. Come on.” He slapped my ass and then made his way to his car. Tatum brushed off her pants and shot Nate a scolding look before following Bishop.

  “Just out of curiosity,” I muttered, slowly walking toward where Nate was sitting. “What did you do to piss her off so bad?”

  “What?” He threw his hands in the air innocently. “Why do I have to be the one who had done something wrong?”

  I quirked an eyebrow at him. “Because you’re you?”

  He pretended to think over my reply. “Valid.”

  I rolled my eyes and started following Bishop and Tate. “You.” Was all Nate had said, just as I passed him.

  I turned back to face him, my hands on my hips. “What?”

  He shrugged and leaned back in his chair. “She’s mad about what we did with Brantley, only she wasn’t sleeping with Brantley.”

  “Wait, so she’s mad at me too?”

  Nate shook his head. “No. She was mad because I got in between you and Bishop. She’s team Madship.”

  My eye twitched. “Team, what, what?”

  He snorted. “Go do your thang, girl.” I looked at Jase and Hunter, who were watching me carefully, then turned to make my way to Bishop’s car. Was she mad at me for hooking up with Nate? I didn’t even think of her feelings while I was doing what I was doing. Damn. I was such a bad friend.