I threaded through the throng of dancers, occasionally getting bumped or knocked in the head. Once I finally made it out of the club and into the hall by the coat check, I sighed heavily. The bouncer, the same one who’d sized me up earlier, raised an eyebrow.
“Rough night,” I said, zipping up my jacket.
I’d gotten halfway to the main entrance when Dillon’s voice echoed in the narrow hall. “Elizabeth!”
I cringed. The only person who’d called me Elizabeth had been my mother, and only when I was in trouble. Otherwise, my family called me Lizzie.
I took another step forward. Right now, I didn’t want to deal with how he knew who I was. I was tired, cranky, hungry, and needed a bathroom.
“Elizabeth Reardon,” Dillon said, his voice demanding.
I whirled around. The blood drained from me. Kelton was standing alongside Dillon, his mouth agape. At that moment, I wanted to run as fast as my legs could carry me, but I wouldn’t get far with my knees trembling.
Dillon marched toward me, grinning as though he’d just caught the biggest fish on the boat. I clenched my fists, considering my next move. If I ran, Kelton and Dillon would hunt me down. I wasn’t sure why Dillon would. I was the one who’d sought him out. But now it seemed he was chasing me. I never should have kissed him back. That had to be the only reason he wasn’t letting me go. On the other hand, I was one hundred fifty percent certain Kelton would not let me leave. He was the most persistent person I knew. He’d claw and fight until he got his way.
Dillon drew close. The blood in my veins gelled as I mentally shouted every swear word that came to mind.
“Lizzie?” Kelton asked. “Lizzie Reardon. Is that you?” Kelton’s long legs ate up the distance between us until he was closer to me than Dillon. His gaze desperately searched for an answer.
Dillon angled his head, glaring at me. I guessed I wouldn’t be doing business with him.
Kelton was breathing heavily, as though he was trying not to pass out.
I debated whether to speak or just walk away. If I did speak, I ran the risk of Kelton connecting the dots between redheaded Emma and the real me. If I ran, Kelton would pursue me like a hunted dog. I was screwed. You’re screwed anyway. Your voice will give you away.
I set my attention on Dillon. “I need a ride,” I said in a high-pitched tone as if I’d just eaten a mouse.
“The car is waiting.” Dillon waved his hand to urge me forward.
“Wait one fucking second.” Kelton swung out his arm to stop Dillon.
Dillon did a double take at Kelton. “Dude, if you value your life, you’ll get out of my way. You don’t know who you’re messing with.”
“Fuck off.” Kelton crowded my personal space. “You’re lying.” He zoned in on my eyes as though he was my optometrist, his breath hot on my face. “You are Lizzie. The girl I used to climb trees with.” He continued to scrutinize me, his nostrils flaring. “I know it’s you.”
He was so close, yet so far. He smelled like rain and nature, enticing and fresh. He reminded me of the good times we’d had. The times when we’d lain on the grass in my backyard in the pouring rain, letting the cool droplets drench us in the heat of summer. My heart raced, and my chest expanded, my breasts coming infinitely closer to his body. I had no doubt he’d pinpointed the square gold speck. It was hard to miss. The guys I’d dated always noticed it too.
I stalked away, water filling my eyes. I couldn’t allow myself to feel for him again or get him involved in my plan. I was in this world alone, and being alone was best for everyone. People I loved had a way of dying. Besides, I was leaving once I got all of my inheritance back. I left him once. I couldn’t bear to see his heart break again. I shook off those thoughts. I was getting way ahead of myself. He had a girlfriend—a sweet mafia princess who loved him.
He grabbed my arm and spun me around. “Say something.” His blue eyes pleaded.
Dillon pulled Kelton off me. Kelton threw the first punch, knocking Dillon to the ground. The bouncers ran up. The one with the double chin pried Kelton away, expertly securing his arms behind his back.
Kelton jerked his arms away. “I’m cool, George.”
Dillon pushed to his feet, scowling as he felt his busted lip. Then he said to me, “Let’s go.”
Normally I wouldn’t obey anyone who barked out orders, but walking away from Kelton was best for both him and me. I couldn’t bear to reminisce about the past. A past I’d once loved—a past that encompassed my baby sister, my mom, my dad, and even my dog—a time of great memories, summer parties, Kelton and I hanging out in his tree house, Kelton and I playing baseball, football, and even roller hockey. I couldn’t begin to think about our first kiss and the butterflies I’d felt when our lips touched. Or the one afternoon our lives had changed forever.
“Talk to me, Lizzie,” Kelton said, keeping his distance, his hands visibly shaking.
I fidgeted with my stud earring, twirling it one way then the other. “I’m not the girl you think I am.” None of what I said was a lie. I wasn’t that girl he’d known back in Texas. Not anymore.
Dillon cupped my elbow.
“Funny.” Kelton combed his large fingers through his thick black hair. “The girl I knew always played with the earring in her ear when she was nervous.”
My stomach hurt, and tears pricked the corners of my eyes. I brought my hand to my chest, feeling under my jacket for the half-heart charm he’d given me. I rarely took it off. The piece of jewelry was a reminder of what had been good in my life and of what we’d shared as kids and friends.
Leave and don’t look back.
I was about to pivot on my heel when Kelton started for me, but George grabbed him.
“Fuck!” Kelton shouted.
I flinched before walking away when all I wanted to do was run back to him. He gave me the sense of family. Something I hadn’t had in ages and desperately craved. But Kelton was a luxury, not a necessity like the Maldens.
Chapter 6
Kelton
Someone staggered past me, bumping into me as they left the club. I didn’t move. A stampede of drunks could’ve trampled over me, and they wouldn’t have been able to break me. When Dillon called her name, a weird feeling swirled in my stomach. The last time I’d gotten butterflies was the day I kissed Lizzie before she moved away.
“Kelton.” George, the bouncer, waved his hand under my nose. It smelled of cigarettes, and the scent brought me back to the present, which suddenly I didn’t want to be in. “Are you cool?”
Fuck no. My head spun like an out-of-control plane dropping from the sky. A breathtakingly stunning woman was mere inches from me, denying she was Lizzie Reardon. I didn’t believe her for one second. Not when the square gold speck in her left eye gave her away. Or not when she played with her earring because she was nervous. Or the fact she was all grown up with curves, rounded breasts, long legs, and plump lips that I badly wanted to taste. My heart hadn’t beat this hard with excitement since the first time I’d set eyes on her back in the fifth grade.
“I’m good,” I lied. I was all twisted up inside.
A group of people came toward us as George went back to his bouncer’s station. I tugged on my hair. I wanted to touch her, run, hide, and kiss her. I could run and hide, but feeling her body against mine, or tasting her sweet lips, wasn’t going to happen, and not only because she didn’t want anything to do with me. I couldn’t risk my own heart. I couldn’t risk getting hurt. I couldn’t risk taking that chance of falling for someone, especially Lizzie. She was my forbidden fruit. One touch, one taste and I’d never be the same. I wouldn’t dare allow myself to take the chance on love again. I had one problem though. I had questions that needed answers.
I blew out a long breath then punched the wall.
George glanced over his shoulder. “Do yo
u want me to get Kade?”
Fuck, no. If he found out Lizzie was in town, he’d start preaching. You can’t get involved with her. You can’t bring her home. And you can’t let Mom and Dad know she’s in Boston. It would tear Mom up if we brought up the subject of the Reardons, and if she saw Lizzie she could fall back into a deep depression.
It didn’t matter what he said. My fears aside, I had to talk to her. I had so many questions about the past and present. She doesn’t want anything to do with you. She’s with Dillon. Yeah, maybe it was for the best. Talking to her without being able to touch her would be near impossible. It would be like the time my parents took me to the zoo. “Okay, son,” my father had said. “You can see the giraffes, but you can’t touch them. They could bite you.” Well fuck me now. I’d love for Lizzie to bite me. The problem with that reasoning was her bite would hurt and feel fantastic all at the same time.
Confusion made me dizzy. I needed to drown in liquor or bury myself in a woman.
I trudged back into the club, barely registering the music. I plowed through the crazy hip- swinging, arm-flailing people. I would settle for a quick lay since getting a drink would be near impossible if Kade was working the bar. HHHe was a stickler for the drinking age, and I wasn’t twenty-one yet. Now I just had to snag a willing lady who I could take into the bathroom for a quickie. When I finally made it through the sweaty dancers, the bar came into view. Leo was working tonight. Pay dirt! He always let me down a beer or two when Kade wasn’t watching. A drink first, then I’d find a lady.
I came up alongside Lynn, one of the waitresses at the drink station on one side of the bar.
“Christ, what happened to you?” she asked, her frown full of concern. “Please tell me you didn’t just have sex in the bathroom.”
I smirked. “Not yet.”
She punched me lightly in the shoulder. “Kelton, I have to clean those bathrooms. I’m closing tonight.”
“Don’t freak. I always clean up after myself.” I acknowledged Leo, the tattoo-laden bartender, with a flick of my head.
She punched me again. “If you’re looking for Chloe, she’s in the office with Lacey and Kade.”
Chloe was the last person I wanted to see. I wasn’t in the mood for her sweet attitude or her ability to coax me into a quickie, which she usually did when I was frustrated. She was all about feelings, and I wanted raw and rough with someone who didn’t want anything from me except a good time. Not to mention, I’d promised myself I wouldn’t lead her on.
Lynn checked her notepad. I snatched a shot of tequila from her collection of drinks. As I knocked back the alcohol, she lifted her head and immediately slapped my hand.
“For fuck’s sake, Kelton. Are you trying to get me fired?”
“What’s he doing?” Kade appeared out of nowhere.
“I took one of her tequila shots.” I didn’t want to get Lynn in trouble. She was a single mom and needed this job to support her two kids.
Kade popped me in the back of my head. “I’ll throw your ass in jail if you take another drink. Now, what the fuck happened to you? And don’t tell me you got into a fight again.”
I shrugged. “I won’t tell you I got into a fight again.”
“George filled me in. My office. Now!” Rage was stamped all over his face.
Fucking great!
Lynn gathered her tray of drinks and left. Kade glowered at me, crossing his arms over his chest. The music changed from head-bobbing to slow and moody. Which was just the right speed to set up Kody, who sang depressing songs. I checked the stage opposite the bar. Kody was hooking up his guitar. Several girls gathered around him to watch. My brother was doing something right. He always had girls at his feet.
“I think I’ll hang here and wait for Kody to start his set.” I wasn’t in the mood for big brother to yell or tell me what my flaws were and that I should work on fixing them.
“Fuck you will. If you don’t get in my office, I’ll drag you.”
I laughed. “Go ahead. I dare you.” I was itching for a fight. I’d only gotten one punch in with Dillon. I could’ve used several more to release the tension.
“Stop being a dick.” He grabbed my triceps, his strength stopping the blood from flowing.
Normally, I obeyed my big brother—or had up until I started college. I loved him and would die for him, but I was on my own, living in a condo with a roommate, and having the time of my life. For the past three years, I didn’t have to hear him being the parent, which he had been for most of my childhood with our mom’s mental illness and our old man deployed on military missions. Out of Kody, Kross, and me, I was the triplet who’d given Kade the most grief.
He let go. “Five minutes.” His tone was less irascible.
“You can reprimand me here.” I glowered at him. I wasn’t about to hear him chastise me in front of Lacey and Chloe.
“Lacey took Chloe home.” He gave me a half smirk. “Lacey coaxed her to come down here. Then as soon as Chloe got here, she was throwing up.”
“Is she okay?” I didn’t want to marry Chloe, but I wasn’t a complete dickhead.
He nodded at someone.
I tracked Kade’s line of sight to find George ambling down to the other end of the bar.
I shouldn’t be surprised since Kade wrote their paychecks when Mr. Robinson wasn’t around. He’d opened up another club not too far from Rumors.
“She said she ate something that didn’t agree with her.” He began walking away. “Let’s go.”
The faster I got this over with, the faster I could find a sexual partner for the night. I followed like a good brother. When I rounded the corner into the hallway, I ran right into Trudy Davenport. She smelled like an enticing plate of sex, sex, and more sex with her strawberry fragrance. I sized her up while she giggled. She wore a tight-fitting miniskirt, showing her long-ass legs, with a top that made her tits scream, Touch me.
She mashed those dick-hardening tits right into my chest. “I was hoping to find you here.”
“Mmm.” I stared at her breasts like a complete dick.
“I talked to my dad about your résumé. He said he’d look it over and call you Monday.”
“Sweetheart.” I bit my lip. “I don’t need your help. But I wouldn’t mind—”
A hand landed on my neck. “Kel, office. Now,” Kade’s hardened tone zapped the lust that was making my dick swell to huge proportions.
She ran her soft hands up under my T-shirt. “If you need a friend later, I’ll be listening to your brother.” She winked and sashayed away.
I watched her hips sway then shook off the thoughts of tapping her ass as I met Kade in the office.
Once the door was closed, Kade said, “Sit.” He tipped his head to the red couch underneath the small window.
I rubbed my bruised knuckles as I went to the fridge and removed a can of Coke and chugged half of it. After I let out a burp, I straddled the arm of the couch.
Kade scrutinized me with one of his blank expressions that Lacey hated. He was either picking his words or deciding where to begin his dissertation. “George tells me you punched Dillon Hart. Why?”
“Just come out and ask me what’s really on your mind.” Kade was immune to fights. They happened in the club at least on a weekly basis, according to him. Besides, the bouncers took care of removing anyone causing any disruption. No, Kade had something else on the tip of his tongue. I gulped down the rest of the Coke.
“George said it was about a girl named Elizabeth Reardon. You want to tell me more?”
I burped loudly then tossed the can into the metal trashcan adjacent to Kade. It clanged for two points. I sauntered to the door. “There’s not much to say.” I wasn’t ready to discuss the girl from my past. I wasn’t even ready to believe she was here in Boston.
K
ade pinned me up against the door with his hand on my chest. “Is it Lizzie?” His face reddened.
“Chill, bro. It’s not.” I never lied to Kade—or any of my brothers. We were all tight. We told each other everything. At that moment, I couldn’t tell him the truth. I was having a hard time believing the dark-haired beauty was Lizzie Reardon. The Lizzie I knew was tough but sweet. The girl tonight was different—cocky, badass, and she seemed to have a chip on her shoulder.
“Seriously, Kel. Tell me the truth. I know how fucked up you got when she left Texas. And you know you can’t get involved with her. Any mention of the Reardons in our house—”
I pushed him. “It’s not her. Okay?”
Kade stumbled, running both hands through his hair. “I swear, Kel.” He sneered.
“I’m twenty years old, not thirteen. Give me a fucking break.” I stormed out. As soon as I did, a wrecking ball hit the pit of my stomach. I hated to lie to my brother, but before I could come clean, I had to talk to Lizzie. First, I had to find out where she was staying.
Chapter 7
Lizzie
After thirty minutes of stoplights and side streets, we drove up to a three-tenement house in a suburb of Boston. The bald guy who had followed me to the restroom sat shotgun while his buzz-cut crony drove. I sat in the back seat with Dillon. The tension between us was as thick as the ocean fog on a dark night. Dillon and I had argued when we’d gotten into the SUV. I’d wanted him to take me back to the hostel. When I said hostel he’d done a double take. Then he’d instructed the driver, who I learned was Rafe, to proceed back to the compound. Yep, compound. Whatever that meant.
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