I realize I’ve been letting her get to me little by little, night by night. This didn’t happen all at once, but she has weaved her way into my body and soul. Returning to the Brandon I once was is no longer an option. Once someone’s soul has been intertwined with yours, it’s impossible to remain the same person. The past few months with Claire are unfolding before my eyes, and like an open book, I see her breaking down my walls page by page. What’s even more terrifying is that I love this feeling.
“Thanks, Claire,” Luke says. They are torn up over this picture.
I can barely keep my eyes off Claire. I can’t believe she did something like this. Why does she do this for me?
“How old are we here?” Mark asks, tearing my gaze away from the angel on the blanket.
“You two are two, and I’m twelve. This is us at a beach in Florida. It’s actually the very picture I keep on my nightstand.” They continue to stare and comment on the picture. We are such babies in this picture. We had no idea what a hard road lay ahead.
“We should get going,” Mark says, and I notice that it’s after three. Where has the time gone? We all four stand and have one final embrace. “When can we see you again?” Mark’s voice is desperate with need. They have needed me just as much as I have needed them.
“Soon. I’ll call you again before the summer is over, to make sure I have your contact information at college. Then we can set something up. We can’t meet too often, but every couple of months is better than nothing.” I can promise them this much.
“Love you, Brandon,” Luke says as he slips his picture into his pocket.
“I love you, too. Both of you,” I whisper as we embrace again. They walk away, glancing behind every few feet. I sense their youth and their knowledge that the world is at their fingertips. When they reach the last set of trees before they are lost to my sight, they turn around for one final wave. I wave back before sticking both hands in my pockets. I walk back over to the blanket and lie down, looking into the sky. I allow my thoughts and emotions to run circles in my head.
This has been one of the best days of my life.
I look over at Claire to see her cleaning up the picnic. I can’t quit staring at her. I’m still in awe that she gave them the picture, that she took the time to scan a copy and bring it here.
“Claire.” She looks up from the basket, her blue eyes matching the sky behind her. “Thank you.” I pause because this is important, too. “For everything. I can never repay you.” She nods and comes to lie beside me. I grab her hand and release a sigh. And then Claire does something completely unexpected. She leans up on her elbow, looks into my eyes, and kisses me.
CLAIRE IS KISSING me. Claire is kissing me! I don’t think much beyond that thought except to react to her advances. I can’t believe she has initiated this, but I don’t question it for long. I wrap my arms around her and hold her tightly on top of my body. It’s been a while since I’ve been with anyone, and I’ve never been with someone I might potentially love. I feel her silky hair wrap around my face, and I deepen the kiss.
The connection I felt between us all those months ago is back in full force. The connection I thought I would never experience again swirls around us and overtakes my body. I am a slave to my desires, wants and needs.
I take her tongue in my mouth and lift her shirt to experience her skin. I flip us around so she is beneath me, and start kissing her neck. “You smell so good, you feel so good, Claire,” I say in between kisses. She throws her head back to allow greater access and I release all the feelings I’ve had for her in that moment.
My life has been one huge hurricane, and I have found my way to the center. She’s the eye of the storm. She calms, anchors and soothes me. I don’t know how long the center will last, because the calmness in the eye doesn’t last forever, but I know she is my peace.
I ravage her neck, her mouth, her skin, her tits. I’m trying to be gentle, but I’m finding it too difficult to hold myself back. She doesn’t seem to mind as she responds to my touch. I make our moment all about her, unable to keep my hands off her body and when I slip on the condom, she’s ready for me.
Once inside I know letting her go will be almost impossible. For the time being, she’s mine. I’m going to be selfish. I don’t know how I will get her to stay, but I have to think of a plan and fast.
This is so different from anything I’ve ever experienced before. Who knew having sex with someone you cared about would be so intense? She has been taking over my soul bit by bit for the past three months, and now I realize she owns me.
Claire owns me. Claire Peters is mine.
FROM THIS POINT forward, Claire and I can no longer keep our hands off each other. My bedroom is no longer the same mundane place, and I’m finding it difficult to go to work. I could spend days and days here with her. It’s Sunday night, and she has just given herself to me again. We lie in the moonlight, her on my chest, and I decide to ask her what’s been on my mind since the pond.
“Claire?” She lifts her head, while continuing to run circles on my chest with her fingers.
“Yeah?”
“Why?”
“Why what?”
I see her puzzled look and smile. I take my fingers and ease the worry lines from her face. “Why did you do all this? You know who I am. You know what I am. Why?”
She’s silent for a moment as she looks at my chest. “Because you’re a good man with a good heart.”
I can’t respond to this. Maybe I heard her wrong, but “good man” and “good heart” do not describe me. Does she have the right guy?
“Claire, I run the largest car theft ring in Atlanta. I’ve kidnapped you to avenge myself on a lawyer and a cop who are trying to make things right. How can I be a good man or even more, have a good heart?” I give a small laugh at my words because Claire has this all wrong.
She looks me in the eyes, and her face is serious. “You’re a good man with a good heart, Brandon Wilson, and don’t let anyone tell you differently. You’re better than this. You’re better than this lifestyle, but I understand that you’re stuck.” She pauses for a minute. “I think you should remove yourself from this business. I don’t know how, and I don’t have all the answers, but you’re better than this. You want to become an honest man, and I know you possess the drive to make the change.”
“I don’t know how, either,” I whisper because I truly have thought of this before - Marcus and I leaving this shit behind and starting over. “I’m beyond redeeming, Claire. There’s no hope for me, for people like me.” I look up at the ceiling to avoid her gaze.
Claire takes her tiny hand and places it under my chin. She pulls my head to hers, causing our eyes to meet. “I love you, Brandon. You’re a person worthy of being loved. And that is why.”
Her words are a bucket of cold water on a dry and barren desert. This angel loves me? Is that possible? I’ve had plenty of women tell me they love me, but never like this. How could someone as good as Claire love someone as evil as me? But she’s telling me the truth. Claire isn’t capable of lying and besides, I sense she means this with everything in her soul.
Can I say it back? Do I love her? I’m not completely sure because I’ve never been in love before. And if I were in love with her, wouldn’t I release her? I hold her tight and kiss the top of her head.
“What about your boyfriend?” I know his name, but I refuse to acknowledge him. I really think I might hate this guy more than I hate her dad.
“Jonathan?” She waits for a moment before speaking again. “I was never in love with him, Brandon. I do love him, but I was never in love with him. I realize that now.” We remain silent for a while and when she speaks, her voice is small. “You don’t have to say it back, Brandon. Say it when you’re ready.” She whispers her words into my neck and I hold her even tighter.
I want to say it, I really do, but how can I love someone I’m holding prisoner? She thinks she loves me, but would she leave if given the opportunity? I thin
k she would. We have a messed up situation and because of that, I remain silent. I’m not sure if she really loves me and I’m not sure I truly know what love means. How can what I’m feeling be real if the woman I love is here against her will?
MONDAY NIGHT STARTS back the workweek, and things between Claire and me are forever changed. While before, she wouldn’t take her eyes off her novel, now, she keeps stealing looks at me and smiling. Tonight she’s reading The Litigators and those blue eyes of hers continuously steal glances from behind the book.
I love it.
It used to be me staring her down to make sure she was okay. Now, we’re stealing looks and smiles all night long. I have a grin on my face from ear to ear. If I see Carlos roll his eyes one more time, I will take him out in the middle of the shop.
“Did you think anymore about my friend?” he asks when the night is almost finished.
“I need to meet him first. What’s his name?” I have a bad feeling about this, but Carlos is the one who brought me Simon all those years ago.
“Stan.” He doesn’t say anything else, just looks at me with his cold black eyes. How have we worked together all these years? He’s really starting to get on my nerves.
“No. I don’t think we need anyone else.” I say that just to piss Carlos off, and it works. He’s instantly angry.
“We need someone to replace you! You’re too into the girl now!” He’s yelling and I turn back to face him.
“Why? We’re running plenty of cars through both warehouses each night. And anyways, Sean replaced me. Why the extra person to pay?” I’m in his face and he knows the drill. He starts to back down because he wants to keep his job.
“He’s a friend, man. I need to help him out.” Carlos’s voice has dropped and I take pity. What has happened to me? I don’t take pity on anyone.
“Fine. Bring him by tomorrow for an interview. I need to see what he can do.”
Carlos nods and returns to his work. When did I start helping people out and taking pity on people? Maybe the guys are right. Maybe I am becoming soft. I look over at Claire and I catch her blue eyes on me. I walk over to her and push the book down so we’re face to face. I kiss her on the lips as a smile forms over her face. “Thank you. That’s all I needed.” I smirk at her and walk back to my station. All the guys are giving me the look, but I don’t care. That tiny, blonde angel owns me and I’m no longer afraid to admit my feelings.
“I KNOW THE perfect place we can go,” I say, taking Claire in my arms and giving her a kiss on the head.
“But don’t you think it’s too dangerous?”
“No. This place is a hole-in-the-wall. Marcus and I grew up eating here, and I think the owners are always high anyway. They’ll barely know we’re there.”
She laughs at my statement and I smile, knowing I just made her laugh. “Is the food any good if the owners are always high?”
“Yeah. Of course. It’s the best burger in town. They don’t call it the Burger Bar for nothing.” I grab her hand and kiss the temple of her head. We walk out of my room and down the hallway. Marcus is there, sitting on the couch watching the television. “We’re going to the Burger Bar. Wanna come?”
“Yeah. Sounds good.” He picks his massive frame off the couch and follows us down into the garage. I decide on the Beamer because of the dark tint and within minutes, we’re on the road to the best burger joint in town.
“How long have you two known each other?” Claire asks. I think Marcus has started to grow on her too. Of course, who doesn’t love Marcus?
“We’ve been friends since freshman year of high school,” Marcus explains from the backseat.
“Yeah, I was trouble, and Marcus was trouble. We met in the principal’s office and the rest is history,” I smile one of my grins at her, and I see her cheeks blush ever so slightly. I love it when I affect her.
“So, you were both in trouble?”
“Yeah,” I smirk. “You can say that. What about you Claire? Were you ever in trouble in high school?” I already know the answer, but I want to pick on her some. I love to give her a hard time.
“No. I was the perfect A student. I’ve always made the right grades, never in fights. I was a cheerleader.”
I laugh this time, a deep hearty laugh because I can totally see her as a cheerleader. “Your answer doesn’t surprise me,” I say with a twinkle in my eye. Who would have put the two of us together? We are polar opposites.
I grab her hand and rest it in my lap on the way to the restaurant. Claire and I dominate the conversation, but this is normal. Marcus usually doesn’t have much to say. When we arrive it’s exactly how I said it would be. There aren’t many people here, and it’s still a hole-in-the-wall. I open my door and jog around to open Claire’s. I hold her hand as we walk inside, Marcus trailing behind. We find a booth in the back, and the waitress comes to take our order. I swear, I think she’s high.
“Marcus, did you grow up here in Atlanta?” Claire asks innocently, probably trying to draw Marcus into our conversation.
“Yeah. I’ve been in foster care the majority of my life in and around Atlanta. I did manage to stay in the same high school all four years and then afterwards, Brandon and I hit the streets.”
“Where’s that necklace from? The one you’re always messing with?”
He glances down at the pendant and starts the process of moving it back and forth across the chain. “It was a gift from my mother. She gave this to me when I was in middle school, about a year before she died. It was hers.” He feels the four prongs of the cross with his fingers. “It’s all I have from her. It goes with me wherever I go.”
Claire smiles and reaches across the table to take his hand. “It’s beautiful, Marcus.” He gives her a shy smile in return, and I wonder what it is about this girl that makes everyone spill their guts. Our food arrives and Claire agrees that this is the best burger she’s ever eaten. She eats almost as much as Marcus and I, and our laughter fills the small booth. Even Marcus joins in on our conversation and drops a few jokes.
The restaurant has an open window, which overlooks the kitchen area. We see the workers making the burgers inside, and I recognize the owners immediately. They don’t know who I am, but I know them from years and years of eating here.
“Which ones are the owners?” Claire asks as she notices my eyes looking over at the kitchen.
“Those people,” I say, pointing to the man and woman I have seen here numerous times.
She stares at them for a second longer. “You think they’ll recognize us?”
I shake my head no because they haven’t even given us a second look. It’s safe to say we’re good at the Burger Bar.
Once done, we walk to the car and climb inside. Claire holds her stomach saying she might explode, and I continue laughing. Marcus laughs, too, saying he’s never seen someone so small eat such a large burger. We take the interstate home, and I relax in how simple life is with Claire. I need her during this time. Even though I went about getting her the wrong way, I need her. And I didn’t even know I was missing her until she was here.
We’re almost home when Claire glances at me. “Brandon, you were right.”
I grin because lately I haven’t been right about much.
“And what could I possibly have been right about?” I ask. My head is resting on the back of the seat and I look over to smile at this gorgeous angel. She might not be mine forever, but for the time being, she’s my world.
“I think the owners of the Burger Bar were high.”
I give another deep laugh and hear Marcus’ laugh joining mine from the back seat. I take Claire’s hand and kiss the top.
When we arrive back home, Claire and I head straight to my bedroom. I start kissing her and undressing her slowly as I memorize her body. I might not have her with me much longer and I need to savor everything. I take her body throughout the night and when we’ve both had our fill, I hold her in my arms and try to keep my thoughts in the here and now.
THE WEIRD THING: I like Stan. And I never like any new employees. I actually don’t like anybody up here except Marcus and Simon. I tolerate Carlos, but Stan, I like. He seems genuine and he’s a fast learner. Maybe this won’t be bad after all.
“All right, Stan. You’re hired. You’ll start on that vehicle over there with Carlos. Let him teach you the ropes. We pay out at the end of the night. Cash.”
“Thanks, man,” Stan says as he walks over to Carlos. I watch him and then freeze when his eyes stop on Claire. He blatantly checks her out and my blood boils. He doesn’t know she’s mine. Maybe I should inform him of that before he gets my fist in his face.
“Stan.” I signal him back over.
When he’s in front of me, I lay down the law. “That girl, the blonde,” I start and he nods like he knows who I’m referencing. “She’s unavailable. Don’t let me catch your eyes on her again.”
He becomes slightly frightened. “Yeah, got it. I just thought I had seen her on the news or something.”
“No. You didn’t see anything,” I say, my tone harsh. He nods and walks back to Carlos. This time his eyes only look at the car. Like him, or not, I need to establish my dominance from the first night.
THE NOON SUN SHINES through my room as we lay cocooned together in my bed. Claire’s body is intertwined with my own, and I love the feel of skin on skin. Our breathing is heavy after our latest exertion, and I hug her closer to me, smelling the scent in her hair.
“Brandon?”
“Yeah.”
“What are we doing?”
Her question hangs in the air because I know exactly what she’s asking. And really, what are we doing?
“Enjoying each other.”
“You know what I mean. What happens when you take me back?”
The Thief Redeemer Page 14