The first red, orange and pink colors of the sunset were in the clear sky of Los Angeles, as the three friends decided to go out for a last cup of coffee together. Helen had only just put her heels on, when the distinctive rumble of Thunderheaders rocked the busy neighborhood.
“There are more Harleys in this world other than Marcus’s.” Michelle’s voice was reeking with sarcasm, as Helen glanced at her.
“It is him.” Helen spoke in emphatic tones. “I know that sound.” Without wasting any time, she turned around and strode through the bedroom door. Too impatient to run down the stairs, she chose to head towards the balcony. A simple glance down to the road confirmed her suspicions. It was Marcus. He even looked up at her and curled his index finger.
“What the heck…” She mumbled to herself. “What is he doing here?”
Baffled and in need of an explanation, Helen turned around again. She crossed the living room in seconds and stormed out of the suite, trying to guess why he was there, much earlier than he was supposed to be here. In fact, she was so curious about his visit that she didn’t use the elevator. Helen preferred to run down the stairs, feeling her adrenaline rushing through her veins. The lobby door slid open sideways, before she stepped outside. With a heavy heart, she crossed the street, believing that this would be the last time she saw Marcus.
“Um, hi…” She waved her hand hesitantly. “Aren’t you supposed to be at work or something?”
“Nope,” Marcus croaked, as a sly smile spread across his face. “David owed me two weeks leave. Today’s my first day.”
“And you wanted to go out with me before I left?” Helen wondered as curiosity colored her voice.
“No,” He said, his eyes glinting with amusement. “We’re leaving together.”
A gasp of surprise left her lips, as her eyes darkened with shock. Stunned into stillness, Helen stared at him, unable to utter a word. Marcus reached towards her, his shadowy eyes locked on her face, as his smile widened more by the second.
“You look like you’ve just seen a ghost.” He teased her.
“Oh, my God…” Helen spoke too fast. “You want to…”
“Visit your town.” Marcus finished her sentence.
Feeling her heart pounding like a drum, she spoke no more. Helen took a short step towards him and wrapped her hands around his back, resting her head on his shoulder, as he put his left arm around her waist. The scent of leather filled her nostrils, as she struggled to come up with a rebuttal. However, Helen was in such a state of shock that she could not do so. She held him tightly in her embrace, thanking her luck that she had met him.
“You think I was going to let you leave like that?” Marcus inquired, his baritone going up an octave.
“You really are something, you know that?” Helen stated in a wobbly voice as she leaned back.
“Go tell your friends.” He winked at her. “I’ll be waiting.”
“Waiting?” She squinted at him. “I’ve got plans with them. I wasn’t expecting you so early. I need to call the airport.”
“Whoa!” Marcus raised his hand in front of her face. “Airport? Nuh uh. Too public; too many cameras. Besides, James said you were not in a rush to get there. We’re riding.”
“Riding?” Another soft whisper escaped her, as she realized what he had only just suggested. Riding across the states had been a childhood dream for Helen, one that she had very little hope of fulfilling. Marcus was offering her a chance to add some adventure in her life. And Helen would not let it go to waste.
“Are you going to hug me again?” He teased once more.
“I’d love to,” Helen uttered, smiling down at him. “You don’t know how much this means to me.”
“Actually, I do.” Marcus said with a nod. “Go get your suitcase. We have a long ride ahead of us.”
“Ok.” She chirped, her heart leaping with joy. Still trying to wrap her head around the idea of traveling across the states with him, Helen sprinted across the lobby. Eager to share the news with her friends, she jumped up the stairs, feeling like a child with a new toy. Her heart beat faster and faster, as the door to the suite became closer. Helen stormed into it, her chest rising up and down, as Michelle and Olivia turned to her.
“Guys…” She gasped. “I can’t come with you. We’re leaving.”
“You’re what?” Michelle squeaked.
“We’re riding to New York.” Helen explained.
“Helen, you’re not making any sense!” Olivia cried out, furrowing her brow. “I mean, riding all the way to New York? Are you crazy? It’s three thousand miles away, for God’s sake! You said you wanted to be there ASAP.”
“Girls…”
“Don’t!” Michelle grumbled, the stiff look on her face sending shockwaves down Helen’s spine. “Don’t be stupid, alright? Go tell him it’s out of the question.”
Her friends’ words acted like a wakeup call. In her enthusiasm, Helen was about to do something very immature and out of character for her. She closed her eyes and banged the palm of her hand against her forehead, trying to catch her breath.
“You’re right.” Helen heaved a long, heavy sigh. “That was stupid.”
With a heavy heart, she left the suite yet again. This time, she was in no hurry whatsoever. Helen had to find a subtle way to tell him that his plan was not an option.
Riding across the states, when you know your parents need you. What the hell were you thinking, Helen? That would be the dumbest decision you’ve ever made.
“Where’s your suitcase?” Marcus wondered, as their eyes met across the street.
She remained silent, struggling to work up the courage to speak to him, as she closed the distance between them.
“I can’t.” Helen shook her head sideways. “I can’t come with you.”
“Oh, man.” He let out a sigh of frustration, dragging his gaze away from her.
“I’m sorry, Marcus,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. “I shouldn’t have said ‘yes’. I’d love to do this with you, I really would. But, it would take us too long to get there.”
In a swift move, Marcus faced her again, reaching his arms towards her. Cupping her cheeks, he pulled her gently closer, tilting his head up. Their lips locked in a long, tender kiss, as Helen snaked her arms around his neck. Draping her hands over his back, she felt her heart fluttering, as he ran his thumbs across her cheekbones. His kiss made her feel warm inside, the sensation of his strong hands on her face comforting her, as the moisture from her eyes soaked his skin.
“I’ll find you,” he said, his voice a mere whisper, as he slowly leaned back.
“I don’t know if I can come back.” Helen breathed, pressing her forehead against his.
“You will.” Marcus put a little force in his voice, opening his eyes. “I’m going there. Wait for me.”
“You’d do that for me?” She asked in a soft, almost inaudible whisper.
“Absolutely.” He gave her a lazy nod. Moving his lips to her cheek, he pressed the “ignition” button with his thumb. Marcus planted a tender kiss on her skin, as the motorcycle engine roared to life. He spoke no more. Kicking his Harley into gear, he merely winked at Helen, as he rode off. She stood on the edge of the street and watched, the ample light from the cars behind him reflecting off his leather jacket, as his figure slowly faded in the distance.
A sea of bittersweet emotions rushed into Helen’s heart. Marcus’s will to ride all the way to Shandaken alone had given her a reason to smile. If anything, it proved that he wanted to share this epic journey with her and spend all of his leave with her. Still, she had rejected his proposal; it would take her at least five days to see him again. More than that, the situation at home had filled her mind with suspicion and negative thoughts. Completely clueless as to her parents’ problem, Helen could only guess on the impact that it could have on her personal life. However, she quickly chose to get rid of those unwanted thoughts. She had to focus on the situation and speculating was not going to assis
t her by any means.
You need to try and stay optimistic, Helen. Your parents love each other. Whatever it is they’re facing, they’ll get through it, like they always do. Be careful out there, Marcus. It’s a long, long way to Shandaken. I just hope we can spend more time together, while you’re there. Much more time…
18
Helen had to cope with her friends’ jokes for the remainder of the night. Michelle dropped quite a few sarcastic innuendos on her impetuousness, whereas Olivia maintained a milder attitude, pointing out that she was so in love with Marcus that she was just seconds away from making a serious mistake. Helen didn’t confront either of them. Despite their different approaches, they were right. She was mad at herself for being so immature and grateful to them for changing her mind. If anything, it had been an educational experience for her, one that would prevent her from making irrational decisions again.
The following afternoon, after an emotional “goodbye”, Helen left Los Angeles behind with a mind filled with questions about her parents’ problem, but also with many happy memories in her heart. She had had a lot of fun with her friends, but the moments that had rocked her world were undoubtedly the ones with Marcus. His confession, the sensual night that he had given her and the one in Butterfly beach.
We barely knew each other and you opened up to me. You gave me the time of my life in bed and then you showed me how sensitive you are. The way you held that guitar while you looked at me spoke so much louder than words. You don’t have to speak to me, Marcus. Besides, I know talking isn’t your strength. I am going to hold on to you, my biker. It’s going to be hard; we live thousands of miles away from each other, but nothing good comes easy, does it?
Night had fallen in Shandaken, as the bus entered the small town. Helen hopped off, as the familiar scent of balsam fir filled her nostrils. With her suitcases in her hands, she started down the main road, recalling the faint tone in her mother’s voice. The sight of her sister’s white Chrysler in the driveway added to her curiosity. Patricia lived in Boston. She only visited them on special occasions. As she came closer to the front door, Helen’s ears picked up loud, angry voices. Her sister was screaming at their father. Helen dropped her suitcases on the doorstep and stormed inside the living room, feeling her pulse rising more and more by the second. Debbie, Patricia and Dwight turned to her, almost at the same time. Her sister had an empty bottle of whiskey in her right hand.
“Welcome back, princess.” Patricia said, a hint of sarcasm in her voice, as she tossed the bottle across the floor. “It’s good to see you.”
“Can somebody please explain to me what’s going on?” Helen spoke in frustrated tones. “What are you doing here, Patricia? What’s with the bottle?”
“Dear old daddy’s picked up a couple of…” Patricia faltered; “… bad habits lately.”
“Dad?” Helen whispered, turning her gaze on her father. “Is that true?”
“Hell, no!” Dwight shouted, strutting towards the front door. As he brushed past her, Helen grabbed him by the wrist, but he quickly pulled his arm out of her grasp.
“Sweetheart, don’t. Leave him be.” Debbie urged, as her husband slammed the door behind him. “Why did you come back? I thought you…”
“Because: I knew, mom!” Helen exclaimed, narrowing her eyes at her mother. “I knew something was wrong!”
“I said it wasn’t urgent!” Debbie cried. “You shouldn’t have done this, Helen! I had it handled!”
“Oh, yeah?” Helen smirked. “Is that why Patricia’s here? When did he start drinking?”
“She didn’t want to bother you.” Patricia spoke, her voice calm. “She didn’t want you to quit your job. They’re barely getting by.”
“Barely getting by?” Helen squinted at her. “What are you talking about? Why?”
Her question put her sister in a difficult position. Patricia dropped her gaze to the floor, clenching her jaw.
“Your father has been gambling, child.” Debbie said, her voice broken as she started towards her. “He’s been drinking since his retirement. He says he feels useless.”
“It gets worse.” Patricia drew in a sharp breath. “He’s borrowed money from a loan shark: twelve thousand.”
“Oh, my God.” A sigh of despair left Helen’s lips, as she dropped her head into her hands.
“That’s why I wanted you to get that job, honey.” Debbie explained, as a tear spilled from her eye. Her mother’s words brought the night of their conversation back to her mind. Helen remembered that convincing her was much easier than she had expected, but she was too happy to wonder why. But now, everything was clear to her.
“I’ve brought four thousand with me.” Patricia spoke, her voice riddled with sadness. “It’s all I have. He’s got by tomorrow to pay him or…”
“Or?” Helen whispered, sliding her hands down her face. She glanced at her sister and then down at her mother, but neither of them could utter a word. Tears welled up in her eyes, as their prolonged silence gave them the answer that she so much dreaded. Dull despair settled over her, as her mother collapsed in her embrace. Debbie burst into loud, wailing sobs, as Helen slipped her arms around her back. Patricia hugged her mother from behind and held her tightly, as Helen sensed her tears flowing down her face. It was at that moment that James’s words flashed through her mind:
“There’s nothing that I wouldn’t do to protect the ones closest to me; nothing at all.”
Helen’s initial reaction was to reject the thought of asking for help. James and Olivia had already done more than enough for her. Sadly though, she had no one else to turn to. They were the only choice she had.
“Mom…” She sniffled, easing out of her mother’s hold. “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of this.”
“How?” Debbie wondered, curiosity written all over her face.
“I need to make a phone call.” Helen said, her voice picking up volume. “Just wait here.”
Helen turned around, opened the door and went outside. Finding her purse between her suitcases, she bent down and picked it up. Then, she pulled her cell phone out and called Olivia. Michelle’s smoky voice and piano notes filled her ears, as soon as her friend answered.
“Hey, girl! How was your trip? Is everything alright?”
“Hi, Liv,” Helen replied as she attempted a lazy tone of voice, while she wiped the tears from her face. “Yeah, it was fine. I’d almost forgotten about Michelle’s gig. How is it?”
“It’s great! They should be done in a few.”
“Listen, I need a favor. God, I wish I didn’t have to do this.” Helen sighed, looking up into the sky.
“You sound worried, girl. What is it?”
“I need money.” Helen stated, running her hand through her hair, as a sense of guilt overwhelmed her. “A lot of money: my father owes money to some loan shark.”
“What?” Olivia squeaked. “A loan shark? Why?”
“He’s been gambling for a while now. I’m really sorry, Liv.” Helen’s voice lowered once more, as tears welled up in her eyes. “I didn’t know who else to turn to.”
“How much money are we talking about here?”
“Eight grand.”
A weighty silence lingered over the line. Michelle’s voice and the piano became fainter. In a matter of seconds, all that Helen could hear was the click-clacking of Olivia’s heels on the floor.
“I’m sorry. I had to get away from the stage.” Olivia finally spoke. “It’s not the money that worries me, Helen. I’ll talk to James. We could lend you the money. Can you be sure that your father will stop gambling? Loan sharks are criminals, girl. Can you guarantee that he won’t pull off anything smart on you?”
“I can’t be sure about either of those things. I just know that if my father doesn’t come up with the money, he’s…” Helen paused and bit her lower lip. “He’s going to kill him.”
“How much time do you have?”
“Forty eight hours.”
“Great.” Ol
ivia sighed in relief. “I’ll wire the money tomorrow. You’ll have it in time; oh, and Helen?”
“Yeah?”
“I’d call Marcus, if I were you. Goodnight.”
“Thanks again, Liv. Goodnight.”
Helen hung up the phone, overflowing with a sense of joy. Once again, her friend had not failed her. Olivia’s suggestion was precisely what she had been thinking about, but it could wait. Helen couldn’t wait to share the good news with her mother and sister.
“Mom, Pat…” she started, a big smile spreading across her face, as she rejoined them in the living room. “I was just on the phone with Olivia. She and James will help dad out.”
Helen watched relief entering their eyes, visibly loosening the tension in their faces. The two women walked towards her with open arms as they smiled at her. Within seconds, Helen found herself lost in a group hug. Her mother burst into happy tears, as Patricia rubbed her hand up and down her back.
“God bless that girl.” Debbie sniffled, as her tears soaked her daughter’s shirt.
“And James,” Patricia corrected her. “I’ll never forget this.”
“Guys, can I ask you a favor?” Helen politely requested.
“Yes, dear?”
“Can I please go to bed? I’m exhausted.” Helen said in her sweet voice, causing Patricia to burst out into joyful laughter.
“Mom, she’s right,” Patricia said, reaching to pull her mother’s arm away from her sister. “She just got back from L.A.”
“Goodnight, sweetheart,” Debbie whispered, leaning back.
“Goodnight.” Helen murmured, as the idea of contacting Marcus lingered in her mind. Still, it was 2:10am. She could hardly keep her eyes open; another phone call was simply out of the question. Before going to bed, Helen chose to send him a text message:
“Please come here, ASAP. Something big has come up and I need you. I’ve missed you.”
19
A tickling sensation on her left cheek woke Helen up from her deep sleep. Slowly opening her drowsy eyes, she discovered that Patricia was standing at the foot of her bed.
Filthy Desires: A Romantic Suspense Collection Page 104