Wildfire

by Bliss, Chelle

  “Fran,” Izzy warns, glaring over my shoulder.

  Tamara’s ignoring the woman who currently has her hands on me, not coming to my aid at all. “It looks delicious, Grandma,” she says, leaving me to fend for myself.

  “Hey, ma’am,” I say, tipping my head back, looking at the woman who I know was gorgeous in her youth because she’s still beautiful, even if she’s old enough to be my grandmother. “While I appreciate the offer, I don’t think it’s appropriate or necessary in this moment.”

  “Appropriate.” The older woman snorts. “I’ve never been appropriate a day in my life.”

  “A piece?” Grandma Gallo asks, holding a plate, staring right at me.

  “Yes, please, ma’am,” I say softly, wondering how I’m going to get the woman off me.

  “He’s so respectful,” the woman behind me says, kneading my shoulders harder. “I like that in a man.”

  “You got a man,” her husband says. His arms are crossed, and while he looks annoyed, he doesn’t seem shocked to see her pawing me. “You better be moving that sweet ass over here, sweetheart, and putting those hands on me.”

  The woman leans forward, bringing her mouth close to my ear. “You’re a looker, kid. A total hottie. I just like getting my husband all worked up and angry. He’s a wild man in the sack that way.”

  A little vomit rises in my throat, but I push it back down, trying to force a smile on my face. She’s gone before I have a chance to reply and at her husband’s side, sliding into his lap.

  “What happened at the compound?” Bear asks me, changing the subject away from sex and to something a little more comfortable, for me at least.

  Tamara’s grip on my knee slides higher, but I don’t flinch. “Same old stuff. Just an issue, but it’s been dealt with.” Tamara’s grandmother pushes a plate in front of me of the best-looking strawberry cake I’ve ever seen.

  “It’s homemade. I hope you like it, Mammoth.” She smiles kindly, and I see hints of Tamara in her features.

  “I’m sure I’ll love it, ma’am. And my name’s JD.”

  “And that stands for?” Anthony asks.

  “JD,” I reply, picking up my fork, knowing I’m not giving him what he wants.

  “Like John David.”

  “Something like that,” I mutter, jamming a forkful of cake into my mouth to rescue myself from having to answer any more questions.

  Tamara laughs as I moan around the fork, loving the fuck out of the cake. “I think he likes it, Gram.”

  “I’ll give you the recipe, baby.” Grandma winks at Tamara. “The way to any man’s heart is through his stomach.”

  “Lies,” Bear mutters, squeezing his wife. “All lies. Fran can’t cook worth shit, but I still love her.”

  “You okay?” Tamara asks as I sit silently, eating the cake, watching the craziest group of people I’ve been around in a long time.

  “Great,” I tell her as soon as I swallow the bite that’s in my mouth. “Just freaking great.”

  “Good, baby.” She pats my leg, smiling like the sun and the moon revolve around me. “I know they’re a lot to take in, but they’re good people when you get to know them.”

  I have to agree with her.

  For all their insanity, there’s nothing but love around this table. Unconditional love in every form and so much goodness, it’s hard not to want to hold on to a little of the craziness.

  15

  Tamara

  “Oh my God, sorry I’m so late,” Lily says, almost running on to the patio and talking so fast, it all comes out like one word.

  We sit on a chaise lounge near the pool, flanked by Gigi and Pike, with Austin on the other side of us.

  Her eyes widen as soon as she sees Mammoth. “Who the—?” Her mouth hangs open, and I laugh because the look on her face is priceless. “What the—?” She twists a few strands of her hair around her fingertip, gaping at me.

  “Lily, this is Mammoth,” I tell her, touching one of his legs as they straddle my side. “Mammoth, this is Lily, my nerdy cousin who’s going to be a doctor someday.”

  “No shit,” he mutters, sounding impressed. “Hey, Lily.”

  “Damn,” Lily whispers as her eyes move over Mammoth, soaking in his tattoos, long hair, and general hotness. “It’s nice to meet you, Mammoth.”

  Austin leans forward, patting the end of his lounge chair. “Where the hell have you been?”

  Lily groans as she slides onto the chair, hunching over and hugging her knees. “My goddamn piece-of-shit car died on me again. I don’t know what the hell is wrong with it, but I want the damn thing to last for one more year at least.”

  “What kind is it?” Mammoth asks from behind me.

  “Some fancy foreign piece of shit,” Austin says, always ragging on Lily for her automobile choice because he thinks there’s nothing better than a good ole shit-kickin’ pickup truck.

  Lily snaps her head to the side, and she gives Austin the death glare. “Shut up.”

  Austin throws his hands up, pretending he’ll relent, but he never does. He’s easily fallen in as part of the family and worked his way into what used to be our threesome, but so did his brother. Times have changed fast. We are no longer solo, three chicks out to cause trouble and chaos, breaking hearts everywhere we go. We are growing up, and I’m not sure how I feel about it either.

  “I can take a look at it,” Mammoth tells her, ignoring Austin’s jab about her car.

  She gasps. “Would you? You know about cars?”

  Mammoth nods. “I do. I’ve been tinkering since I was a kid.”

  I smile at him, liking that he’s willing to help my cousin who doesn’t know a lug nut from a brake pad. For being so damn smart, she’s dumb in so many basic things. Her brilliance has limits and doesn’t include anything mechanical. “You’d do that for her?” I ask Mammoth, my smile widening as he nods.

  “Of course,” he says like I’m insane for thinking otherwise.

  I’ve never been with someone so willing to help others, especially my cousins. Thinking back, I’ve always been with selfish pricks. Guys who cared about busting a nut and not much else. I’m not even sure a few of them knew my name, but at the time, I didn’t care. I used them as much as they used me.

  “I’ll help,” Pike says, rising to his feet before Mammoth even has a chance to stand up. “We’ll get you sorted, Lily.” Pike stares down at Gigi as she lies back, stretching. “Wait here, darlin’. We won’t be long.”

  Mammoth’s up, leaning over and pressing his lips to mine. “You don’t mind, do you?”

  I shake my head, gazing into those eyes that make me a big pile of pliable goo. I’ve turned into one of those girls who melts at the mere sight of a man, and I don’t think I like it either. “Nah, baby. You go do your man things and bond with the tattletale.”

  A moment later, his lips are gone, and he and Pike are walking through the sliding glass doors, disappearing into the house.

  “What the hell did I miss, and where the hell is Crow?” Lily asks as soon as we’re alone…well, except for Austin, but he doesn’t count.

  I sigh, covering my face with my hand, wishing I could sock that asshole right in the nuts. “He’s a tool.”

  “Well, yeah,” Lily mumbles. “We all knew that except for you. But why isn’t he here, and where the hell did you find that hottie badass?”

  I slide across the lounge chair, and Gigi follows, moving to my chair so we’re all sitting in a huddle. I look at my girls, wishing we could turn back the clock a few years and start the insanity of our college years all over again. “When I showed up at the compound, Crow acted like he wanted nothing to do with me. So, I said fuck it, and voilà.” I pitch my thumb toward the house. “I found myself a new one. I upgraded. Supersized. But in the end, I think I ended up with a way better deal.”

  Lily’s lips curl. “I never liked Crow. There was something not right about him.”

  “You never like anyone, Lily baby,” Austin says, pipi
ng into our conversation like he always does. “No one’s ever good enough.”

  She grabs his sandal off the cement and tosses the damn thing at him, but he catches it and laughs. “Hey, buddy, I like you, and you’re not even that likable,” she tells him.

  “You love me,” he teases her. “You all love me.”

  “We do, Aussie,” I tell him, always feeling the need to reinforce his ego. The kid has been through some crazy shit. More shit than I’d be able to deal with and still be capable of sitting here laughing and smiling like life is carrying on as usual. “What’s not to love about you?”

  “How long do I have? I can make a list,” Gigi says, busting Austin’s balls like she always does.

  “You love me the most,” he tells her, knowing she’s full of shit.

  “Hello.” Lily waves her hands, calling our attention back to her. “The big guy. I want details.”

  Before I can open my mouth and tell Lily everything, Gigi throws her hands up and says, “Get this shit. He’s like Uncle James.”

  Lily’s nose wrinkles. “He’s like what?”

  “Like Uncle James,” Gigi repeats, shaking her head and laughing. “A bossy fucker like him. A Dom.”

  Lily’s blue eyes widen, and the pinched expression on her face is replaced by shock. “He’s a Dom?” she whispers like she’s trying to keep a secret under wraps.

  “Wait,” Gigi says, scooting over a little more and leaning forward toward Lily. “It gets better. They know each other.”

  Lily’s big eyes get even bigger as she glances over at me. “They know each other?”

  Gigi nods. “Yep. It’s like there’s some super-secret club ‘Doms R Us’ or some shit. And to say Uncle James wasn’t happy to see him with Tamara on his arm is an understatement.”

  “Damn it,” Lily mutters, grabbing at her ponytail and smoothing down the strands in front of her shoulder. “How do I always miss the good shit?”

  “You’re too busy with your nose stuck in a book, babe,” I tell her, knowing my cousin wasn’t out partying last night, but studying her ass off for some imaginary exam she thinks she has to nail as soon as school starts.

  Lily raises her chin, staring down her perky little nose at me. “Am not.”

  “Are too,” I throw back. “Life’s passing you by, and you’re missing it all.”

  “Both of you bitches are going to spend your lives working your asses off for someone else, when there’s a family business sitting right in front of you, waiting to be taken over. I can’t believe you two aren’t going to work with me at Inked. Imagine the fun we could have for the rest of our lives,” Gigi says.

  I sigh, knowing she’s right, but I can barely even draw a heart without fucking it up, making it look like a five-year-old drew the damn thing. “If I had an artistic bone in my body, I’d be there, babe.”

  “You think her”—Gigi points at Lily—“dad is an artist?”

  Lily snorts. “The man is all muscle and heart, but Picasso he’s not.”

  “You should take over for him, Lily. Take some time off school after next year. Come work at the shop. Learn the craft. I mean, do you really want to go to school for another bazillion years?”

  Lily curls over her knees, hugging herself. “I hate school,” she announces, and Gigi and I gawk at each other, shocked by Lily’s admission. “Hate it!”

  The girl has always been a straight A student, priding herself on her perfection and book smarts. She’s never once complained about studying or her impossible college schedule, seeming to thrive on the difficult course load.

  Gigi’s eyes flash with concern. “You hate it?”

  Lily peeks up from her knees and shakes her head. “I don’t want to be a doctor,” she whispers, like it’s the dirtiest secret she’s ever told.

  I rock backward as if she’s punched me. “You don’t?”

  “Fuck.” Gigi practically slaps herself on the forehead because we both thought…

  “I want to drop out.”

  Austin scoots off the chair and places his hand on Lily’s shoulder. “Wait. Let me get some popcorn before you drop that bombshell. The fireworks are going to be better than the Fourth of July.”

  “You’re not helping,” I grind out, glaring at the playful little prick. He knows, even in the short amount of time he’s been here, Uncle Mike and Aunt Mia are going to lose their proverbial shit over this revelation.

  Lily swats his hand away. “I’m not telling them now.” She rolls her eyes and groans. “I don’t want an audience for the shitshow that’s going to go down.”

  “What the hell, Lily? Why now? What happened?” I ask, wondering if my cousin is having a midlife crisis at the ripe old age of twenty.

  She shrugs, twisting her lips. “I want more out of life than studying.” She flings out her arm, waving at Gigi and me. “You two are really living, while I’m stuck in the library all weekend, studying, wasting my life.”

  Gigi touches Lily’s knee. “But being a doctor isn’t a waste. Think of all the people you could help. The lives you could save.”

  “Or the people I could kill,” she admits like she’s talking about nothing serious. “I don’t want that kind of responsibility. I don’t want the pressure of knowing one little mistake could be the difference between someone living or dying. You know?” Lily rests her face in her hands, elbows on her knees, staring down at the ground. “I just don’t want it anymore. The last year, I stayed in school for my parents, but I want to stop living for them and live for me for once.”

  Gigi stares at me, shrugging when I mouth What the fuck? at her. “I’m sure they’ll understand,” Gigi tells her, trying to soothe her fears, but we all know she’s lying.

  Her parents will care. Uncle Mike, probably not so much, but Aunt Mia… She’s going to lose her freaking mind. She’s been grooming Lily since she was a little girl to take over the clinic, thinking they would work side by side until Lily would one day take over her passion project and help the underserved members of the community.

  “They won’t, but they’ll just have to deal with it. This is my life. My choice. My time. They did what they wanted to do. Dad has his piercing and his fighting. Mom has her clinic and people who adore her for helping them, but I don’t want it. I don’t want any part of it.” Lily shakes her head, muttering something under her breath. “I have some shit to figure out.”

  “Tam’s heading back to school, and you can crash in her room. We can totally be roomies, cousin. Think of the fun we could have.”

  I glare at Gigi. The bitch is giving my room away without even so much as asking me.

  “What?” Gigi asks, throwing her hands up. “Your skanky ass is slinking back to college, right?”

  I nod. “I am. One more year and I’m done. I just wish the compound was closer.”

  “You’re serious about this guy?” Lily asks, studying me like I’m the one with the biggest fucking news of the day.

  “I am.” I smile as my stomach flips just thinking about him.

  “Do what makes you happy.” Lily bobs her head, giving me a small smile back. “Just do you, babe.”

  “Or do Mammoth,” Gigi snorts. “’Cause I’m pretty sure he’s what’s making her happy right now. It’s like he fucked the bitch right out of her.”

  I give Gigi the middle finger. “You can fuck right off.”

  “And she’s back,” Gigi teases, laughing. “There must be an expiration period on the niceness his cock delivers.”

  “It is pretty magical.” My statement is met with grunts and giggles. “Now—” I clear my throat, ignoring the assholes “—back to my room. If you promise me you’re going to have some fun and finally get your fill of cock, you can use my room and keep my bed company when I leave.”

  Lily covers her face. “I don’t think I can do it. I can’t drop out. I most certainly can’t tell my parents.”

  “It’s up to you, Lily. It’s your life, and you know we’ll support you,” Gigi tells her as she
moves to the spot next to Lily where Austin had been. “Just tell them. I bet they won’t be that upset.”

  Gigi’s lying her ass off. She knows it. I know it. Lily knows it too. They’re going to go from angry to nuclear in under two seconds as soon as they hear the news Lily’s dropping out of college to do…cock?

  “Let’s go see what the boys are up to. Maybe they’ve fixed your car,” I tell them before Lily can start crying. The girl is petrified, but although I know her parents will be mad, they love the girl like she shits rainbows.

  We don’t cut through the house, wanting to avoid our parents and a barrage of questions. As we walk around the side of the house, opening the gate at the fence, we see Pike and Mammoth leaning over the hood of Lily’s little black car, asses sticking out, looking mouthwateringly good.

  “Fuck, that’s hot right there,” I mutter, enjoying the hell out of the view. “You see that kinda shit at your school, Lil?”

  Lily shakes her head, but her eyes are firmly on their backsides. “Nope. Just a lot of khaki.”

  Gigi and I gag in unison, shivering like we couldn’t deal with the horror of such a fashion crime.

  “There’s nothing sexier than a pair of snug jeans on a man.” I fling out one arm, pointing at their perfect bodies, and snake my other arm around Lily’s shoulder. “I mean, look at that ass. Amirite?”

  Lily smiles next to me as if the stress of her earlier admission has been washed away. “I could use a little bit of that right now. I mean, not them exactly, but someone like them.”

  “Girl,” Gigi says in a singsong voice, “men like that will break you.”

  Lily snorts. “I’m not as delicate as I look.”

  “Didn’t your last boyfriend wear a pocket protector? Gigi asks her, rolling her eyes. “No respectable man wears that.”

  “They’re very practical,” Lily tells her, showing her nerd even more. “And super sexy sometimes.”

  God, my cousin is drop-dead gorgeous. Between her blue eyes, long curly brown hair, and killer rack, men would be falling over their own feet to get a taste of her beauty.