Stripped 2

by H. M. Ward

  Mother pretends the bird will be allowed in here on the wedding day, but there’s no way in hell she’ll actually follow through on that promise. I was born into a family of liars, willing to do anything to move their chess pieces across the board. Nothing is beyond these people. I’m ashamed to say they’re family, but then I look at Pete and wonder—he’s changed over the past few years. Since he met Sidney, he’s not the womanizing manwhore he’d been before. And Sean, he’s leaning against a column, arms folded across his chest, glaring. I can’t forget what Avery said about him. Everyone wears a mask—only fools fail to see that. I can’t write my brothers off, not yet. We were close once. Maybe it can be that way again.

  Before I have time to consider how to do it, I feel a pat on my shoulder. When I turn, Uncle Luke is there, beaming at me. “Nice to see you again, Jonny boy.”

  I’m not going to make a scene. I’m going to hold my shit together for Pete. For Sidney. I shake him off. “Go stand somewhere else.”

  Uncle Luke flinches in his new Armani suit and Mezlan wingtips. “That’s hardly an appropriate greeting for your favorite uncle.” His light hair is slicked back, out of his eyes. His skin is tanned like he’s been spending all his free time on his yacht.

  I can’t stand it. I’m going crazy worrying about Cass, and I can’t help it. I blame the motherfucker. If Luke hadn’t made me turn on Cassie, she wouldn’t have met and married Mark. I could have saved her from a lifetime of pain if this prick hadn’t interfered. I round on him and shove him hard into the marble column. “You’re not my favorite anything, anymore. You’re a putrid piece of shit too low to acknowledge, but since I’m here with my hands around your neck, I’ll elaborate. You screwed with the wrong man, you fuckfaced pisshole of a human being.”

  Luke laughs lightly so I shove him harder. I feel eyes on me, Sean’s. Right now no one else sees. They’re looking at the bird, watching Sidney and mom fight over the perch placement.

  Luke’s hands wrap around mine and try to rip them away, but I don’t back down. “You nearly killed her, and for what? So you could win some pissing match with Mom?” I shake my head and drop my hands. “You’re not worth it.”

  Luke stands there stunned. “Jon, I never—”

  “Don’t.” It’s a one-word warning with more venom than I thought I had in me.

  Sean’s behind me a moment later. His voice is even, careful. “Why don’t you go check on Cassie?” I turn and glance at him, wondering if he knows where she is. He couldn’t. Sean’s expression is unreadable, as always, but there’s a twinge of compassion in his tone. I can’t miss it. “Mom and Sidney will be debating where that bird stands for the next hour and then it’s food after that. Your mind is elsewhere, and there’s clearly an issue between you and Luke.”

  I glare at Sean, torn. I want to spill my guts and tell him everything. I know he’d help me if I asked, but I’m too fucking proud to say it. I shake my head. “There’s nothing here worth worrying about. What’s done is done. Keep this asshole away from me and there’s nothing to worry about.”

  Uncle Luke laughs nervously. “Jon, give me a chance to explain.”

  I can’t handle it. His arrogance, the way he completely disregards what he did to Cassie, to me. I’m in his face hissing, “There’s nothing you could say to fix the damage you’ve done. There’s no fucking way to undo a godamned drop of the misery you’ve caused. Stay the fuck away from me or you won’t like what happens.”

  Uncle Luke is still a Ferro, although a borderline crazy one. His lips snake into a smile that reminds me of mom. “I could end you, boy. You’ve been a thorn in this family's side for far too long.”

  “I’d like to see you try—”

  Before the exchange continues, Sean steps between us, grabs my arm. He snaps at Luke, “Enough, Uncle Luke. You, of all people, should know better than to threaten your own. You," Sean jerks my arm, but I yank it away, "come with me. Now.”

  I follow him up the side of the nave and shove through the side door onto the city street outside. The sounds of horns and engines rumbling fill my ears as Sean rushes down the steps and abruptly turns to look up at me. I step down slowly, one at a time, my hands deep in my pockets.

  His voice is clipped, features irritated. “You’ve been disowned, Jon. You know that means if something happens to Mom, everything goes to Luke. That man wants everyone to think he’s a moron, but he’s not. The bastard has a long memory and doesn’t forgive shit.”

  I lean on the railing and stand a foot above him on the last step. “Tell me something I don’t know.”

  “He could erase you, make it look like you were never here. I’ve been keeping my eye on him. Why do you think Mom banished him in the first place? It wasn’t because he was nuts. It’s because she needed him contained. Bribery only goes so far. Luke knows everything is his once Mom is out of the way. I don’t want that, and neither do you.”

  “I don’t give a fuck what Luke does.”

  Sean tenses, his jaw tightening, and he steps up to me until we’re nose to nose. “Yes you do. That fucker will cleanse the line and eradicate any threats, which includes you. I know what he did to you, to Cassie. I get it. But this isn’t the time for a pissing match. You’ll lose.”

  “Then what do I do?” I’m angry, pissed I was so fucking stupid. I didn’t see it before, but what Sean’s saying lines up. Luke was never harmless.

  “We wait. We bide our time until the most opportune moment and then take all of it, push Luke out, and make sure he doesn’t come back. He hit you where it hurts once already. He won’t hold back a second time. He sees you now, they all do.”

  I shake my head and laugh, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Cut the shit, Jonny. They know you’re smarter than you let on, and they know you’ve got way more than a hard-on for that girl.” Sean glances down the street and then back at me. He walks up the steps, heading back inside. Before he pulls open the door, he says, “Play nice and when the time is right, Pete and I will help you take him down—together. In the meantime, keep Cassie close.” His eyes rest on mine, saying a million other things that’ll never pass over his lips. There are whispers of loyalty, understanding, and protection. It’s what I’ve wanted from Sean from the beginning, a promise of something I thought vanished long ago. Now it’s back, staring me in the face. I could spit in his face, write him off like everyone else, but I don’t.

  Sean’s my brother. I’ve got his back, and he has mine. I nod once, curtly and smile in a way that infuriates him. It’s cocky, arrogant, and charming all at once. “It’s good to have you back.”

  Sean watches me for a moment, barely breathing. He tips his head, a slight smile playing at the corners of his lips, then disappears into the church without another word.

  * * *

  I speed all the way back to Cassie’s apartment, rushing down the stairs and through the door. I’m huffing. She’s sitting on the couch with a cup of frozen yogurt in her hands. Beth is sitting next to her, and they’re both smiling.

  “Cassie.” I practically skid to a stop and for a second everything is fine. There’s a smile on her face. I was afraid I’d find her in her bedroom crying. Not going to the doctor with her killed me, but I had to keep reminding myself that this isn’t my battle. It’s hers. And I’ll be there for backup when she needs me, but today wasn’t that day.

  “Jon.” She looks up at me with those warm brown eyes. She hands Beth her yogurt and stands up. “How about a walk?”

  “Nice tux, 007.” Beth teases. “Anything happen at the rehearsal for the wedding of the century?”

  “Nope. Unless you count the vulture being batshit crazy, but we already knew that.” I tug off my tux jacket. It’s not a good outfit to walk around in.

  But Cassie puts a hand on my shoulder and stops me. “It looks nice. You look dashing. Leave it on for a bit?”

  I nod and follow her outside. The night air is humid. My hair sticks to my forehead. I’m a
sweaty mess. I was so worried about her. The rehearsal took much longer than anticipated, then the shit with Luke and Sean. I thought I’d be home hours ago. I’m glad she’s smiling, but I’m still worried. “So, was Dr. Bellamy a heinous bitch or what?”

  She laughs lightly and slips her small hand into mine. “No, she was very kind.”

  “I thought you might like her.”

  “She cares about you a lot.”

  I nod once and glance over at her. “Bellamy seems to sense when someone is hurting, and she sincerely cares about her patients. It’s refreshing. She’ll do anything to help. I’ve seen her make house calls, Cassie, and charge nothing. It’s a crusade for her, a way to undo some of the evil in the world.”

  “I can tell.” She’s looking at the asphalt, as we head down the street.

  The douche across from us is watching. He’s always watching, which makes me nervous. There could be some bad shit going on over there—Cassie and Beth are way too close to it.

  “Well, what’d she say?” I hate prying like this. Asking her that bluntly feels like a dick thing to do, but I need to know if she’s okay. I need to know if there’s hope.

  Cassie’s lips curve up, and she looks over at me. We’re at the corner now, and she’s stopped. Facing me, she holds my hand and traces a pattern on the back of it while she talks. “She said you told her to tell me anything I wanted to know about you. You didn’t have to do that.”

  “I know, but if there was anything that could help you, I wanted her to use it.”

  “It was sweet, and kind, and perfect. Like you.” Her voice is fragile, with a slight quiver in it. I lean down and kiss the top of her head, holding her tight for a moment.

  “I love you, Cass.”

  “I love you, too, Jon.” She steps back and smiles up at me. “She said there are ways to make it better. Last night, the main thing that upset me was that scar. It made me feel sick, and it hurt. She said that was something that didn’t have to happen, and she told me how to work on it.” Cassie holds up a finger and smirks. “It’s very dirty therapy, and it’s the kind of thing I don’t have to do alone. Actually, she said it might help me with other variables if we both did it.”

  “So, you’re going to be all right? She can help you?”

  Cassie grins at the ground and nods. “Yes. I have an appointment again next week. She’s going to show me some things. In the meantime, I have books to read. It helps explain what happened, and why my body is stuck like this. It’ll take a while, but eventually, we can be together, and I won’t feel like puking on you. I might even like it!” Her face flames red and she pulls away. “God, that sounds awful.”

  I grab her arm and pull her into my chest. “It sounds wonderful.” I sigh contentedly and try to stop smiling. I hold her like that, her small body wrapped in my arms, her head tucked beneath my chin and feel emotions slip over me like a warm blanket on a cold day.

  She’s going to be all right.

  She didn’t shut me out.

  She still wants me.

  It’s a fucking miracle.

  As I smile like a kid on the corner, a low rumble shakes the street beneath our feet. I lift my head, but before I can say anything, it becomes a roar. Fire explodes through the windows of the drug den down the block swallowing the house whole.

  Kam stands on the curb, leaning against his car. His hands are in the pockets of his black pants seemingly unaffected by the wave of heat and flames. Beneath his battered brown leather jacket, a white t-shirt clings to his dark skin. The fucker torched that building and stayed to watch it burn.

  After the roar quiets, Kam turns and looks at us. His expression is hard when he glances at me, but when his gaze shifts to Cassie, a light smile pulls at his mouth. Shit.

  Cassie gasps and looks up at me. “He did that on purpose.”

  “Yeah, he did.”

  “And we saw it.”

  “No, we didn’t see anything.” This is trouble I don’t want, not for her or me. “I’ll make sure he knows it. Go inside, and get Beth. We’re getting the fuck out of here and never coming back. Go, now.” I push her back, and as she races toward the apartment, I walk toward Kam.

  The man doesn’t move much. He finally glances at me when I step in front of him. The warmth from the burning house is torching my back. I wouldn’t stand here, but when I glance over my shoulder, I know why he does. He has a good line of sight. If anyone gets out, he’ll see it. And put a bullet in their head.

  I stand with my feet a shoulder’s width apart and copy his stance. Slipping my hands into my pockets, I say, “Nice day for a fire.”

  The flames dance in Kam’s eyes. He doesn’t look at me. His gaze is locked on that house. “Amongst other things, I suppose so.”

  “My back was turned. What happened?”

  Kam turns his head and looks at me. This is going to turn into some complicated shit. “You saw the explosion, Ferro. Don’t pretend you didn’t. I don’t give a fuck about you, but you don’t need to worry. Nothing will happen to your girl. I like her.”

  “I can see that.” I sound like a prick, but guys like this take what they want, and no one is ever fucking with Cassie again. Not while I’m alive.

  “You don’t see shit.” He pushes off the car and turns toward me, draping an arm over my shoulder. I know he has a gun, and I don’t. This is going to get real ugly, real fast. “The thing is, that girl had a hard life. I see it on her face. I don’t like people who treat women like bitches. They’re not. How are you treating her, Ferro? From what I know of you, I haven't a fucking clue why you’ve been there so often. Why not take her to your apartment in the city, fuck her brains out in style, and then dump her like you always do?”

  I react. I shove my elbow into his chest, and his arm drops. I round on him, grabbing his shirt collar and squeezing hard. “You don’t know what you’re talking about, Kam. If you do anything to hurt her, I’ll—”

  The fucker starts laughing at me. There’s a cold barrel pressing into my stomach. I release him, but I don’t step back. “Again, you misunderstood me, friend.” He spits out the last word sharply. “I suggest you figure out who your allies are quickly because you seem confused.”

  He presses the barrel harder then pulls it away.

  “An ally? You?”

  He nods once then turns his attention back to the house. The cops and fire trucks won’t show up until it’s nearly burned to the ground. They stopped coming down these streets a long time ago. Too many lives lost in the call of duty. Now they shrink back and let the drug dealers kill each other. Then, they come clean up the mess after it’s over.

  Kam flicks an ash off his coat and stares straight ahead. “I took care of a problem for you, for Cassie, actually. There was a dipshit in a red truck waiting by the old lady's house a few nights back. He asked if Cassie lived there and I said yes, invited him in. The asshole proceeded to tell me that she’s his bitch, married. The woman ran off and is having fun fucking some rich guy. He didn’t seem to realize who you are.”

  Shit. Kam didn’t do what I think he did. There’s no way. But he did. I understand before he says the rest. As I watch the flames lick the eaves of the house, gasping for breath through the blown windows, the fire takes on a whole new light.

  Kam is utterly calm, his face placid as he continues. “I have issues with men who treat women that way. My shrink says it’s a deep insecurity from watching some prick batter my sisters, but I think it was watching my mother get backhanded with a shovel that put me over the top. I killed that motherfucker without a second of doubt, and since then, when I see their kind—the ones who think they can get away with it—I make sure they don’t get away with shit. Call it justice for assholes.” His gaze cuts to the side.

  “How long has he been watching her?”

  “From what I gather, you kicked his ass, and he found Cassie’s place the next day. He had plans for you, friend. The dumb shit told me what he was going to do to you and then to Cassie. Arroga
nt fuck.” Anger rolls off him for a moment, but he reins it in, a cool, emotionless expression sliding back across his face.

  “Why the fire?”

  Kam smirks. “He deserved to burn in Hell, and since I can’t be sure there’s an afterlife, I made sure he got his before he checked out. Tell Cassie she doesn’t have to worry about him anymore. Use discretion with the details. She won’t like this.”

  No shit. Vengeance isn’t her thing. “I hear you.”

  Kam stands there a moment longer before turning to me. “The story that’ll be in the papers tomorrow is that this drug transaction went south with the dealers inside. The meth lab in the basement is a highly volatile thing. Just another day on this side of the tracks.”

  Cassie comes rushing out with Beth in tow. Beth starts shoving their stuff into the car as Cassie rushes over to us. She looks up at Kam, unafraid. “Are you all right? You’re burned, Kam.” She reaches for a spot on his temple, but he doesn’t let her touch it.

  He catches her hand in his and smiles at her. “I’m fine, Cassie. You should get out of here for a few days unless you like talking to cops.”

  She nods and he drops her hand.

  Kam glances at me, the warmth for Cassie still in his eyes, and leans in. He speaks in a hushed tone so that Cassie can’t hear. “You owe me a favor, Ferro.” He holds out his hand, and I take it, shaking it firmly.

  “Agreed,” I reply in his ear.

  When I pull away, he nods once and talks to Cass for a moment.

  I’m glad someone else was helping watch out for her. I should be horrified that her husband is in there, being burned alive, but I’m not. That fucker was so determined to hurt her nothing short of death would have stopped him. He got too close too many times. I’d been considering how to remove him from the equation and not liking my options. Cassie would never forgive me if I'd done this. I owe Kam a huge debt, one that I’ll be happy to pay.

  I pull the car away from the apartment, Cassie by my side and Beth shoved in the backseat. I drive away, watching the flames in the rearview mirror. Today is a turning point for Cassie, for us. The past is burning behind us, and I’m glad.