Devil's Gamble

by Michele Arris

  The man was nearing thirty but had stated he’d never been in a solid relationship. She was essentially his first love. Calling him a virgin in that regard had choked him with laughter.

  He’d dated—the term had been used loosely—plenty of women, but he’d never allowed himself to fall in love due to his family’s chosen profession, he’d said. His family—she wasn’t one hundred percent comfortable with that part. Nevertheless, she loved him and was willing to give their relationship a chance.

  The sound of the doorbell rang in chorus with the ding of the dryer. Quickly, she started the sheets to wash, retrieved warm, fluffy towels from the dryer, and carried the bundle to the door. She looked through the peephole, but dark Ray Bans prevented her from seeing the man’s eyes. If growing up in the Bronx had taught her anything, she knew to be careful who she let into her space.

  “Yes?”

  “Where’s Gavin?” the man asked and jiggled the doorknob.

  “He’s not in. May I take a message?”

  “Take a message?” A gruff tone and more jiggling of the knob. “Who the hell are you?”

  “I’ll ask the same. Who the hell are you?” Her tone was just as combative.

  “I’m his brother, Edwin, that’s who, and I’m tired of talking through this damn wood. Open the door.”

  Sienna gave another look through the peephole. The sunglasses were now perched atop his wheat-blond hair. There was some resemblance.

  His right eye came in close to the peephole. “You gonna open the door or what?”

  Shifting the bundle in her arms to free her hand, she flicked the lock and opened the door.

  Giving her a thorough once-over, he stepped inside, then looked around the apartment. “Where’s Gavin?”

  “He went to the market for groceries.”

  He gave her another hard scan up and down. “The market? Isn’t that what he pays you to do?”

  Sienna drew back. “I beg your pardon?”

  “You’re his maid, aren’t you?”

  Her lips pursed to curse him out, to school him that domestic help came in all shades, but then she noticed his blue eyes dipped to the towels she held clutched to her chest. Giving him the benefit of the doubt, she calmly said, “No, I’m not the maid. I’m his girlfriend, Sienna.” There was a definite flare of surprise in his eyes at that little reveal.

  “Girlfriend? So, you’re that chick that was shot?”

  “Chicks are baby birds,” she returned evenly, and a slow grin cut at the right corner of his mouth as he folded his arms across his chest.

  He wasn’t as tall as Gavin, and though he favored his older brother, his features were less defined. There was noticeable youth in his narrow cheeks and softer build.

  “Baby birds,” a weak chuckle, “I heard that. You got legs, girl.” Catching her scowl, he supplemented, “Balls—bones—you know what I mean.” His noticeable attention slid down to her bare legs in her fitted, white short-shorts. “You do have great legs, too, nice and long. I see my brother doesn’t discriminate.” His smile stretched wide.

  Sienna rolled her eyes and stepped over to the couch, dropping the towels on the center oak table. She asked as she began folding, “Edwin, do you always make inappropriate comments to your brothers’ girlfriends?”

  He came forward and half sat on the arm of the leather sofa, watching her closely. “How’s that inappropriate? It was a compliment.” His head turned toward the window. “Who painted that? You?” He moved over to the window and leaned in to the canvas, giving it close inspection.

  Sienna glanced over her shoulder. “Yep, it’s the buildings across the street.”

  His head swiveled, looking out the window, then at the painting, back and forth several times. “Damn, you got skills.” With hands in the front pockets of his low-slung denim jeans, he moved about aimlessly.

  “Anyway, like I said, it was a compliment. The last chick . . . woman Gav hooked up with didn’t have nice legs . . . all knocked-kneed and whatnot. Glad he dumped her. She didn’t even do a good job cleaning his place.”

  Sienna’s head jerked up from her task. She’d been half-listening to the young man, but those last words penetrated. “Gavin’s last girlfriend was his maid?”

  Edwin cut a cheeky grin. “I wouldn’t use the term girlfriend. I’ll just say she was hired to clean but didn’t do much cleaning when she was here, if you know what I mean. I don’t know how he does it. My bro’s got skills with the ladies.”

  That pinched a nerve, and it had Sienna questioning her choices with Gavin as she listened to the immense pride that tinted Edwin’s voice. She could see that the young man admired his older brother’s roguish lifestyle. She resumed in folding the towels and asked, “So your brother isn’t much into monogamous relationships?”

  A colorful chuckle was his reply before meeting her stare, his eyes flaring slightly. “But he likes you.”

  “I don’t know, Edwin. Your words are contradictory.” It was said with a forced grin.

  “No, really, he does. Why do you think he bloodied and broke that dude’s face that shot you? Gav went Mayweather on his ass.” He laughed.

  Sienna jerked her head to him, and his boxing air jabs stalled. “What did you say?” She dropped the towel mid-fold and took a step toward him. He stepped back, forehead pinched tight, finally getting a clue that he’d flapped his gums far too much.

  Edwin looked at his watch. “I got somewhere to be.” Quick steps put him at the door. “Tell Gav I’ll holler at him later. Good meeting you.” He exited without another word.

  Sienna stared at the closed door as Edwin’s words trickled like icy tendrils down her spine. A chilling dread caused a gnawing ache where her assailant left his mark. Her mind flashed back to that day she’d noticed Gavin’s bruised knuckles. Images of the bloody horse’s head followed. Her stomach lurched so violently she almost didn’t make it to the bathroom.

  Chapter Twenty-six

  Gavin entered the apartment and brought the groceries to the kitchen island. He pulled out the bouquet of daylilies from the bag and carried them to the bedroom. The sound of drawers being aggressively opened and closed drew him to the closet. Entering, he picked up a bra at his feet. Looking around, some of the hangers were bare where Sienna’s clothes had been. She stood over by the shelves, taking down her shoes.

  “I see you didn’t like the way I arranged things.” She swung around. The warm glow in her eyes that he’d grown accustomed to when she looked at him was completely gone. She came forward, snatched the delicate lace from his fingers and shoved it into her pink duffel bag stationed on the dressing island, then went back to yanking items out of the drawers. A sudden anxiousness twisted a knot in the pit of Gavin’s stomach. “Sie-Sie, what’s going on?” He set the flowers next to the duffel bag and went to her. “Sweetness, what’s wrong? Talk to me.” An attempt to soothe whatever was bothering her with a stroke at her back was rejected with a vehement jerk away from his touch. “Sienna, please talk to me. Tell me what has you so upset.”

  She swung back around, facing him. Her hands came down solidly on her hips. “Talk to you? Okay. You’re out of fabric softener, you like fucking your maids and then dumping them, oh, and of course, you killed Dale.”

  Gavin’s eyes widened in surprise, and then leveled in denial of her charges. Fear of her walking away, and anger directed at whatever source had caused this five-alarm blaze to roil, lit him hot. He compelled himself to focus. “Who told you that?”

  “Your brother, Edwin, stopped by. Aside from him complimenting my legs,” hard air quotes, “we had a pretty interesting chat. Do you deny any of it?” When he didn’t answer, she turned and shoved more of her things into the duffel bag.

  “You’re going to leave me just like that? After everything we’ve shared?”

  “Yup, that’s right, Mr. Kavanagh.”

  A strangled breath of alarm left him. “You can’t. I won’t let you.” He reached for her, and she repelled him with an agg
ressive jerk of a shoulder. “I didn’t kill anyone.”

  Her fiery gaze locked tight on him. “Did you hurt Dale in any way?”

  “That motherfucker shot you and left you and your friend for dead. He’s lucky all I did was kick his ass,” he growled in defense.

  “How did you find him?”

  Gavin didn’t reply. He didn’t have to. Her eyes narrowed in revelation.

  “You had those men that were at the hospital find him, your father’s men, your men.”

  “You’re not leaving me.” He started pulling out her things from the duffel bag with a frantic urgency and shoved them back into drawers. “You’re not leaving. You said you loved me. We can talk about this.”

  She yanked her clothes from his grip. “I asked you what happened to your hand, and you lied to me.”

  Again, he knew his guilty silence was displayed like Vegas lights.

  The doorbell rang.

  “That’s probably Bailey.” Sienna zipped the bag and slung the strap on her shoulder. “I’ll get the rest of my things when I can.” She shoved past him out of the closet.

  With his heart jackhammering in his chest, Gavin grabbed the jewelry box she’d left on the counter and rushed after her. “Sienna, wait.”

  She pulled open the entry door, and Bailey stood in the frame. Green eyes narrowed tight on him.

  “Hey, Bailey.” If looks could kill, Gavin was certain he’d have a knife at his throat.

  “Don’t you hey me,” she snarled. “You and that husband of mine had better stay out of my way. Lucas knew about what you’d intended to do to Dale, and still, he let me convince my best friend to stay with you. His butt will be sleeping on the couch indefinitely. He can thank you for that.”

  Gavin winced. He’d gotten his boy banished to the couch. One problem at a time. He turned to Sienna. “Everything I did was to protect you.”

  “Gavin, you had Dale hunted down, and you brutally beat him. Who does something like that?” Her lips curled with a look of disgust. “If that’s not bad enough, you lied to me about it.”

  “What do you want me to say?” he yelled. “I’m not fucking sorry that I kicked that bastard’s ass for hurting you.”

  “I guess if someone cuts me in line at the supermarket, you’re going to seek revenge and take them out, is that it?”

  Gavin exhaled and rolled his eyes. “Come on, of course not. You know this situation was different. That asshole needed to pay for what he’d done to you.”

  “You just don’t get it.” She shook her head and stepped out of the apartment.

  The sudden well of tears glistening in her eyes threw his mind into a wild state of distress. Her warrior woman, kick-ass attitude he could handle, but this, to be the cause of her tears . . . He grabbed her wrist, holding firm to his lifeline. “Sie-Sie, sweetness, I love you. Please don’t leave.” He noted Bailey’s gaze soften at those words, allowing her anger and discontent for him to slip a small fraction. “This is for you. It was your birthday gift.” He offered her the jewelry box.

  Her eyes widened with a look of surprise, and a tear slipped down her cheek. Lips trembling, she broke free from his hold. “Bye, Gavin.”

  Bailey took the box from him, and the door closed behind her with a quiet clank.

  “Fuck!” Pacing the floor, while raking all ten fingers through his hair, squeezing tight, Gavin inhaled and let go a slow release to calm his sputtering pulse that boxed against his ribs, then yanked out his cell phone from his front pocket. He pulled up his contacts and delivered a hard stab of a finger on Edwin’s name. A couple rings in, the line connected.

  “Sup?” Edwin said on the other end.

  “It’s been a while since I kicked your ass,” Gavin gritted. “Know this, I’m going to choke you out when I see you.”

  “Bro, all I said was your lady had nice legs. What’s wrong with that?”

  “You said a shitload more than that!” Gavin’s chest heaved a frantic beat from both anguish and anger.

  “What is she? Black and Chinese . . . Japanese or something? Where’d you find her? She’s hot.”

  “Are you fucking mental?” he boomed, utter rage pounding in the center of his skull. “You’re like twelve in a twenty-one-year-old’s body. You wonder why Pop is slow in pulling you into his operation. Because you have diarrhea of the mouth, that’s why! You need to learn when to keep your damn mouth shut!”

  “Whoa, relax, bro, damn. I didn’t tell her about Pop’s business or the jobs you’re doing for him. That says I do know when to shut up. Hey, I stopped by to see if you could ask Sean to hook a brother up, to let me use his private suite at the Capital One Arena tomorrow night. It’s the Caps’ pre-season opener.”

  Incredulous, Gavin clenched his teeth, jaw locked tight. “Like I said, wait until I see you, Eddie,” he growled and thumped a finger on the End button.

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  “Thanks, but I’m not hungry.” Sienna waved away the offering of her favorite popcorn that Bailey held out to her. Seated on the couch, she snuggled beneath the cashmere throw while aimlessly clicking the remote at the widescreen on the wall before her.

  “You have to eat something.” Bailey placed the bowl on the side table, sat down next to her, and dragged some of the blanket across her legs. “You picked at your breakfast, and you didn’t eat lunch. All you’ve done these past two weeks is paint and sleep.” She looked at the TV. “And watch Iyanla Vanzant, Fix My Life.”

  “It’s a good show. She’s got great advice. And I have orders to fill from my tour. I’m almost caught up on my painting.”

  “Yes, but you need to eat at some point.” A comforting hand stroked her arm. “Sie, that was a really beautiful necklace Gavin gave you for your birthday. A man doesn’t spend that kind of money on a woman unless she’s important to him.”

  “How did he know I’d had a birthday? I hadn’t told him.” Looking at one another, “Lucas,” they said in unison. Sienna swallowed hard to keep from choking up. “It is beautiful. He’s thoughtful that way.” She was unable to stifle the slight quiver in her voice.

  “Sweetie, if being without Gavin makes you this miserable, you should talk to him.”

  She shook her head. “He sought Dale out, and from what I understand, beat him to a bloody mess, then lied to me about it. Who knows what else he’s lied about. Maybe he wasn’t honest about not seeing someone else.”

  “A relationship that’s built on the foundation of lies is never stable,” Bailey said.

  Sienna looked at her friend. She had to hand it to her, the girl could find an idiom to suit any circumstance.

  “The person that did what he did, I don’t know him. That level of retaliation has mob written all over it.”

  “He was a man scared to death of losing you who wanted Dale to pay for hurting you.”

  Sienna lifted her head from the plump cushioned throw pillow and shot Bailey an astounded stare. “How can you condone that type of behavior?”

  “I didn’t say I condoned it. I don’t, not at all. I just understand where his head had been with what he’d done. Sie, when Kevin told us that you’d been shot, the thought of losing you was a pain I never want to feel again. Gavin felt that same pain. I read it on his face when he saw you lying in that hospital bed. Should he have done what he did? No, absolutely not. But I have to say, now that I have had time to calm down and look beyond the falsehoods that Gavin, as well as Lucas, Sean, and Dax, who all played a part, told, I can understand Gavin’s position. I wanted to stab Dale in the throat myself for what he’d done to you.”

  Sienna couldn’t argue that part. “If I’d had a knife within arm’s reach, I would’ve used it on that asshole, too. He made me break my favorite sculpture on his ass.”

  “The ballerina you made of Misty Copeland with the gold slippers?”

  Sienna nodded.

  “I loved that one. That bastard.” They both scowled, then Bailey said, “He deserved the beating he got from Gavin. He g
ot off easy if you ask me. Lucas said they cut him loose afterward. The police are still looking for him. No telling where he is now.” A gentle hand clasped Sienna’s, lightly squeezing. “Anyway, I’m only saying consider talking with Gavin. It’s been over two weeks. I’ll bet if I looked at your cell phone, as of today, there are likely new messages to add to the ten or so messages from him that you refuse to listen to.”

  Sienna looked at her and swallowed the welling tears back. “I’m not ready.”

  “I understand. But really you should eat. I made clam chowder while you were napping. It’s Lucas’s favorite.”

  “I suppose I should eat something. Oh, also, this Friday I’m scheduled for my checkup. Gavin usually goes with me.” A tear rolled down her cheek, that she hastily swept away with the back of her hand. “Will you come with me?”

  “Yes, of course. Hey, how about we go to the spa on Saturday? Ever since you gave me that spa package, I’ve become addicted to clay wraps. You and I could lie back and get pampered, then go shopping. My treat. Come on, Sie, it’ll be fun.”

  Sienna wasn’t in the mood for doing anything, except finding a deep, dark hole to crawl into, but she understood her best friend was trying to cheer her up. “I guess. Sure, why not.” She gave Bailey a tentative look. “I’d like to visit Faith. I tried calling, and I texted her several times, but she hasn’t responded.”

  Bailey met her stare. “Funny you should say that. I’ve been thinking about her lately, wondering if she was okay. I was beyond done with Faith after what she tried to do with Lucas, but when I learned how she’d helped you, saved you during Dale’s attack, I couldn’t hold onto my anger anymore.”

  Bailey and Faith’s relationship had been rocky at best on a good day. But Sienna longed to have their trio-sisterhood bond again. “Does that mean you’ll come with me to see her?”

  “You’re right; we should check up on her. Yes, I’ll come.”

  “Great.”

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  “Guys, help me out here. What should I do?”