Two cups of coffee and an hour later, she left Kathy and Dean’s feeling like her brain was tired, but slightly better about her situation. Her aunt had become one of those “cup all the way full” kind of people and you couldn’t help but feel more positive about your circumstances after spending an hour with her. She climbed back into her car and found three missed calls and two texts from Sam.
The text’s read:
“I can’t wait to see you tonight.”
And
“How did therapy go?”
Kirin couldn’t help but to write back.
“Where did you sleep last night, Sam?”
The reply came back immediately, “What little sleep I got, was in bed.”
She’d bet. Her face felt red and hot. She tossed her phone into the seat next to her after turning the ringer off.
When she got home, Rosa left early, and Kirin busied herself by playing games with Little Jack. When he went down for his nap, she rummaged her closet looking for something spectacular to wear. Even though it was just Roger’s Bar, Stacy would be dressed impeccably, and she wanted just one person to notice her. Maybe she’d feel pretty again.
Her favorite green top. It fit fabulously and hugged her curves. It was scoop necked, three quarter sleeved, and loose and flirty around the hem. It would look perfect with black leggings and her worn-in brown cowboy boots. She was looking forward to seeing her old friend. They’d texted a few times since Stacy had bought her new phone and her friend was desperate to tell her something.
Kirin’s house phone rang, and she darted downstairs to grab it before it woke Little Jack. He’d be a bear at Kathy and Dean’s if he woke early.
Out of breath, she answered, “Hello?”
“I think we need to talk, don’t you?” Gianna’s silky voice hummed in her ear.
“About what, exactly?” Kirin snapped, perturbed. Doesn’t this woman have a job?
“About the man we seem to be sharing.”
“We aren’t sharing him. You’re using him as arm candy. He’s mine. And don’t you have better things to do? Your job must be very flexible—seems like you never work.”
“I own the company, dear. I work when I want.” She said snobbishly.
“Convenient for you. Were you really going to visit me in the hospital? What kind of a home-wrecker are you?” Kirin asked, raising her voice.
“One that always gets what she wants. By any means necessary. So I’m gonna cut you a deal ...one that I know you won’t be able to turn down. I’m sure you love Sam, and I can tell he has feelings for you, too. The Club, well...they want his head for double crossing Saul. Of course, they want yours too, but I can guarantee Sam’s safety. Nobody would touch him, ever. But you’d have to leave him. And you couldn’t tell him why.”
Kirin sat slow on a stool at the bar. Gianna was right. Kirin loved him, and she couldn’t imagine life without him. Her nightmares had been all about Sam dying. Which meant her subconscious worried constantly about his safety. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she knew The Club would come after them, but the idea of Sam dying and leaving her here to grieve was more than she could stand. She’d already been there with her mama, Jack, and her father. She couldn’t lose Sam too.
There had to be a way around this. The line went silent as she mulled it over. But what about her boys? How would they survive without her and Sam? And what if they came after her Aunt Kathy and Uncle Dean? They would. She knew they would. She’d have to save them all, even if she herself didn’t survive. How much did Gianna want Sam?
“Counteroffer. Me and my family, all my family— guarantee our safety too. No retaliation on any of us, no matter what.”
You could hear the smile erupting in her voice, “Done. So that’s a yes?”
“Give me twenty-four hours to think about it.”
“Nope. Midnight. The number on your caller ID is my cell, write it down and call me before midnight. One last thing... you’d better be a damn good actress and break his heart in two. He has to believe that you really mean it, I don’t want him pining for you as I pick up the pieces.”
Kirin laid the receiver down without another word. She sat all alone in her kitchen with her head in her hands and wept.
Chapter Fifteen
By four-thirty, the boys were gone, the house was locked up and she was in the shower. Her dilemma had run through her mind all day, sidetracking her every move, causing her to spill her coffee, trip over the rug and burn the cheesy bread she’d made Little Jack for a snack after his nap.
At the end of it all, she knew. She’d protect him. They wouldn’t have to worry any more about his safety. They– there’d be no more ‘they,’ only she and her boys. The power and confidence in Gianna’s voice convinced her that the woman would stand by her promise.
Sam would be married to Gianna—to be her arm candy. But he’d be alive. If she took the deal, she wouldn’t have to worry about the boys, her Aunt and Uncle, Rosa, or Maggie. Maggie could come back with no threat of retribution.
Kirin dried and straightened her hair, applied makeup, and pulled on leggings, her green top and boots. She checked her watch—five-thirty. She had a good twenty-minute drive in traffic to the bar. Grabbing her purse, she eyed Gianna’s number laying on the counter, crumpled it and threw it into her purse before climbing in her car.
She’d ignored another two calls from Sam. A pinch in her gut warned her she was missing out on a last chance with him. How was she going to break it off clean, without showing her true feelings? She couldn’t use the excuse that he’d slept with Gianna. He’d just deny it and she’d never know the truth. She had to think of something worse. Or was there another way to protect them all without losing him. Her mind pinged back and forth before focusing on grabbing a drink with her oldest friend. They’d figure out what to do together.
When Kirin pulled into the parking lot, it was almost empty. How many people frequent a neighborhood bar on a Tuesday? She felt foolish for dressing up. Stacy’s red convertible was parked in the furthest spot from the road. She was hiding. Right next to it was a blacked-out sedan. Kirin parked hers next to the black one, shut off the car and trotted across the lot and into the bar.
Walking inside, her eyes struggled to adjust. One tall man sat with his back to her at the bar, wearing a suit. He didn’t turn around when she entered. Roger’s was small with just a half dozen tables sandwiched between the bar and the booths that hugged the wall all around the outside perimeter. She spotted Stacy sitting in a far booth, wearing Dolce & Gabbana sunglasses. Her Hermes black vintage bag wrapped around her too-thin frame and two empty shot glasses in front of her.
Stacy turned, her face exploded in a familiar toothy grin. Kirin’s grin mimicked hers.
“You look amazing.” Stacy gushed, slurring her words. The old Stacy was back.
“You look like a Bond girl waiting for her prey,” Kirin hugged her friend then flopped and scooted into the other side of the booth, laughing.
Stacy removed the expensive sunglasses.
A black and purple circle hung perfectly around her right eye.
“What the hell?” Kirin asked, mouth gaping. “Did Todd do this to you?” It came out angrier than she meant.
“No...Yes....aw hell, I don’t know how to explain. I had a perfectly good made-up story to tell you, but now my resolve is all screwed up after two of these babies.” She pointed to the almost empty fireball shots.
“Son of a bitch,” Kirin swore too loud. “You’re coming back with me. And never going back to that prison, do you hear?” She noticed the man at the bar straightened.
An older woman, with a wrinkled face that told the world she didn’t take anybody’s crap, stomped up in perfect time. She stared from one woman to the other as if to say, “Is there a problem?” Both women sat back in unspoken tandem and grabbed the menus as if they were friends coming in for a beer after a hard day. Kirin ordered first.
“Can I get a bottle of Bud Light and chips
and salsa to start?”
“Sure.” The woman’s tone was clipped. Then to Stacy “Another fireball?”
Stacy had snuck her sunglasses back on and stared at the menu. “Uh, no, can I get a beer like hers and chicken strips, please?” Stacy asked, her air of formality back.
The woman turned on her heel without another word. Stacy removed the sunglasses, Kirin couldn’t take her eyes off the blue and purple hues coming from underneath her skin. Then it dawned on her.
“Did that happen because of me?” Kirin’s hand flew to her open mouth, horrified. Although she could tell Stacy was planning to lie, her face revealed the truth.
“I didn’t realize they had GPS tracking on all the fleet cars.” She said nonchalantly. Todd’s uncle spotted you at Market Square and then I showed up...they just put two and two together. Of course, I tried to lie my way out of it, but I’d embarrassed Todd in front of his uncle. He had to make a statement to show his strength or be considered weak...” her voice trailed off.
She was beaten because of Kirin. They were monsters.
“Yeah, beating a woman to show strength—I could break him like a twig.” Kirin said through gritted teeth and stared at her own trembling hands.
Stacy exhaled and pointed to her eye, “this is actually tame compared...”
Their beers and chips were delivered, with a thud. It appeared that the bar lady wasn’t thrilled with her choice of employment.
Kirin took a long draw of the beer. She couldn’t skate around it any longer.
“Stacy, explain...Why do you stay there? I don’t understand. He treats you like a slave and hits you. This isn’t you. You’ve forgotten the bad ass you were just a few months ago.” Kirin grabbed Stacy’s hands. “She’s in there telling you to walk away and kick the shit out of someone on your way out. But you’re not listening to her, why?”
Stacy took a long breath and stared at their intertwined hands. The struggle on her face told Kirin she was waffling as to what to say.
“Stace, look at me.” Her friend looked up. “It’s me. I was wrong not to tell you and Laura about the trouble I was in back in the spring. About Saul and the book and my parents...I was afraid to burden you both with it. Please, don’t make that same mistake...tell me.” Kirin squeezed her hands.
Stacy exhaled, “It’s like they’ve brainwashed Todd. He wasn’t like this until his father died. The real him is in there somewhere. And they all know I want out. They’ve made it clear...if I leave, they’ll hunt me down and kill me slow, but before I die, they’ll get Steve, my parents... and you to die in front of me...for revenge.” Stacy’s voice trembled at the end. She picked up her beer, took a swig, then continued, “They have connections everywhere and the resources to do anything they want. There’s only one way out,” Stacy stared at the food, not looking at Kirin.
Rage ran through Kirin. The Club had been intimidating her family and friends since before she was born. Stacy was talking suicide. Her friend was contemplating taking her own life rather than try and stop what she felt was unstoppable.
It was time to end this.
“Shut up. You hear me? That’s not an option. There are other ways out. And your brother has built a fortress around your parents. Nothing will get past him or the ten FBI agents he surrounds himself with...nobody is getting them or you.”
“What about you?” she asked, after taking another long sip of beer. “Who’d protect you?
Kirin sipped to give her time to think. With Sam gone...nobody would protect her. She was completely on her own. She’d have to rely on her own instincts to survive. In her gut, she believed Gianna would stick to her word about protecting her family and friends, but something in her voice told Kirin that protection didn’t include her.
If Stacy thought Kirin was alone, she’d never leave Todd. Kirin did what any best friend would do, she lied.
“I’ll be fine. I’ve got Sam.”
Stacy shot her a look as if to ask, “You sure?” She wondered what Stacy had heard about Sam and Gianna. Kirin nodded then stuffed a chip in her mouth and changed the subject.
“Do you know many people in The Club?’
“A few.”
Kirin chose her words carefully. “There’s a woman. She’s shown interest in Sam. They’ve been friends since they were kids. And I think she’s trying to lure him away.”
Stacy balled her fists and hit the table hard, making the bar lady and the man drinking both turn to stare. Kirin sucked down the last sips of her beer then stared through the dark bar haze at the man. Something seemed familiar about him. Then it hit her.
Babyface.
You’ve. Got. To. Be. Shitting. Me.
Without warning, Kirin jumped up from their booth and stormed between the tables, pushing chairs out of her path like a tornado. She walked straight up to him, empowered by her mostly empty beer, and pushed the tall man off his barstool.
Stacy jumped up and followed, “Kirin, stop!”
“What the hell are you doing here?” Kirin yelled. The young man recoiled from her sudden anger.
“Kirin!” Stacy grabbed her arm, “Stop. He’s on our side.”
Kirin spun and glared. “Our side? On what planet is he on our side? This man hit me over the head with a t-ball bat in my own back yard—knocking me out, broke into my house and threatened me and my kids. He will never be on my side.”
Babyface stood. Running from him for so long, and seeing him from afar, she hadn’t realized how tall he was. She stepped back instinctively and pushed Stacy behind her.
“What? What do you have to say?” She yelled.
“I’m sorry.” His voice was almost a whisper. “I followed orders. I never wanted to hurt you or Sam, but I was being controlled by someone else. Please, accept my apology.”
Babyface put his hand out. Kirin stared at it like it was a bomb. Stacy walked around her, grabbed Kirin’s hand and placed it inside his, holding both as they shook. “Brandon meet Kirin, Kirin—this is my protector—hired by Sam—Brandon.”
Kirin swallowed hard. Sam had cared enough about her to hire someone to protect her friend. He didn’t even know Stacy. She stared openmouthed for a few seconds.
And Babyface had a real name. She shook his hand and stared into his young face. God, was he even old enough to shave? Seeing him this close, he was not only tall, but muscular with deep brown eyes and sandy brown hair. He had a strong jaw and a rock-hard chest under his well-made suit. He had to be in his twenties. He smiled at Stacy and she returned it. His eyes held more than protection. She turned to survey her friend and recognized the look in her eyes. She liked him. She knew well enough how hard it was not to fall for one’s protector.
Stacy turned Kirin’s body, steering her back toward their table as Brandon sat back on his bar stool.
“Now where were we...Oh yes, the wretched woman. What was her name?”
“Gianna.” Kirin’s voice still shook from meeting Brandon.
“Shhhit...you’re kidding. Please tell me no.”
“Why...you know her?” Kirin leaned forward.
The bar lady walked back over with Stacy’s chicken and two more beers. They hadn’t ordered the beers, but maybe the woman knew they needed them. She may be in the right business after all.
Stacy took a big gulp of her beer. “She’s pretty high up in the hierarchy...several people jump when she says to. Mean as a snake, too. She hates me—partially because I don’t take her shit. The woman is arrogant and conceited even with her bigger-than-it-should-be nose. You can’t give in to her. Sam will be miserable his whole life if he ends up with her. “
Kirin chewed on the inside of her mouth, “you think they’d still believe you and I are at odds?”
Stacy thought for a moment, “No, my throbbing right eye tells me they know we’re speaking.”
“Wait, if they have GPS won’t they know you’re here?”
“Well,” Stacy smiled, “my protector over there is like an MIT level techno geek. He’s
disabled mine and his, so they can’t track either of us. He’s told them the devices are “glitchy” and that he’s ordered new ones, which is a lie. He was assigned after the blast and we’ve had some lengthy heart to heart talks. He’s a cool guy.”
“Mm hm,” Kirin hummed, raising an eyebrow.
“What?” Stacy grinned and turned to look at him. “Yeah, he’s easy on the eyes, too.”
Kirin glanced at her phone—it was five after seven. She’d missed another two calls from Sam. Was he waiting at her house? Part of her hoped he was. She hadn’t lied to him though—she’d told him she wouldn’t be there. Stacy cocked her head to the side.
“Got a date?”
“Nope,” Kirin stuffed a chip in her mouth and read an incoming text.
Where are you? We need to talk. Now. Love, Sam
She shook her head, revealing how tipsy she truly was. She didn’t have time for love. She needed to convince her friend to come home with her. Kirin glared at the shiner on her eye. Then reached out and grabbed Stacy’s hand.
“Right now. Tell me you’ll come back. Leave him and everything there. We’ll stay up all night and figure out how to keep all of us safe.”
Stacy’s eyes narrowed. “How the hell are we gonna do that?”
Kirin shrugged, taking another drink. “I don’t have a clue. But I will. Wait, what about your brother? Can’t he haul these bastards to jail for everything they’ve done?” she asked.
“Kirin, Steve runs on proof. What proof do we have that they’ve done anything wrong? So far they’ve done nothing but threatened harm, not executed it.”
“They blew up a hospital cafeteria!”
“Oh, really? And you have some sort of proof? That they pulled the trigger?” Stacy’s eyes narrowed.
“Well, no, but you and I know they did it.” Kirin took another long swig of the fresh beer that their wonderful bar lady brought to them. She would get a fabulous tip as Kirin was feeling perfectly numb.
“Oh, well in that case, let’s go arrest them ourselves!” Stacy snorted and popped a piece of chicken in her mouth. She lifted her glass to turn up her beer. She stopped mid sip, staring at the door. Her face drained of all color.
Unraveling Page 9