by WL Knightly
“It’s the only thing that kept me going, you know? Camp was like my double-life. I looked forward to it. It made my everyday abuse worth it.”
“Your parents abused you?” Alan had no idea he’d endured that.
Corey laughed. “No, my parents were different. My dad was a lot older than my mother, and they were both still trying to live their lives. I didn’t get much attention from them, but what I got was bullied at school.”
“Oh, sorry,” said Allen. “That must have been rough.” He had been upset when his own son was bullied.
Corey walked over and joined him, placing two cold drinks on the coffee table between them. He took one for himself then kicked back. “Yeah, I was at my wit’s end by the time Bay met me, and he let me into the club,” he said. “Turns out, one of his friends back home knew me. He said he heard about the bullying, and we spent the whole first week I knew him learning how to throw a decent punch. He wanted me to be able to defend myself. I’ve been learning self-defense since. It still didn’t buy me any friends, but it taught me self-worth and self-esteem.”
Alan took the drink and popped the top. “I think that’s my problem. I want to provide for my wife and kids so badly, to be their hero, you know, that I continue to fuck up and take things to the extreme. I have no self-pride. I think my father killed it, actually. He was good at killing my spirit. I think I always hope to get lucky and make it rich on my own because of it. Like, even though he’s dead and gone, I’ve got something to prove.”
Corey put his feet up on the coffee table. “That was why I participated with Emily. I wanted to prove something to all of you. Bay especially. I needed to belong more than anything, and I couldn’t imagine you guys knowing the real me. I knew Bay knew, and I begged him not to ever tell. I guess he didn’t, but I always knew he could.”
“I never knew.” Alan wondered what other things he had never known about his friend. Then he wondered if they were still friends at all.
“So, what’s you’re big secret?” asked Corey.
Alan gave him a puzzled look. “My secret?”
“Yeah, haven’t you figure it out yet? We all have secrets. Bay used them to get us in the club. I started thinking about it when Tad died. I figured we’re not the only ones. So, what’s your story?”
Alan understood what he meant. “My mother was a stripper. Bay found out about it and how she’d run off with some con artist that cheated my father out of a lot of money and left us.” It all seemed like so little. “I didn’t want the other boys making jokes about my mom. Bay made jabs now and then but would always say he was kidding. I knew it was just to remind me that he had me on a string, but strangely, I didn’t mind being on one when it came to him. He finally laid off about it, and I got in the club mostly to appease him. Plus, I needed friends, and you guys seemed tight. I needed someone I could count on.”
“We’re a fucked-up bunch,” said Corey. “It’s hard to believe that the others are gone, and whoever this is,” he took a sip of his drink, “this killer, I hope they fry for what they’ve done.”
“I hope so too,” said Alan. “I know I’ll have to pay for what I’ve done, but I want to find this person. I want to kill them before they kill me.”
“Let’s find them.” Corey got to his feet. “Come on; we’ll see if we can have any luck with that number. Maybe today is our lucky day.”
Chapter 20
Darek
Glass shattered as Raven tried to pick up another broken frame, and Darek let out a breath of frustration. “I told you to leave it. I’ll clean up the glass.”
“I’m just trying to save the photos. This one is of my mother.” She was determined to pull the damned picture from the broken frame, and Darek cringed watching her.
“You’re going to get cut if you’re not careful. You’re too shaken up to deal with this right now.” He had been trying to talk her down for an hour, but she kept on cleaning and sweeping, hoping to get the last bits of glass into the dustpan. Now, she’d just made another mess.
He walked over and put his hands on her shoulder as she placed the photo on the shelf. “Look, get your bags ready and let’s go.”
Raven let out a long breath. “I don’t have anywhere to go, and since I have to send off this rent check, I’m not capable of renting a hotel room.”
“Then you can come to my house.” He gave a shrug like it was no big deal.
“Ha!” she huffed, looking like it was the worst idea in the world. “You want me to stay at your place? I don’t think you really do.” They had agreed to be friends, and he knew it seemed a little sudden to have her staying with him.
“Normally, you’d be right. But this is a special circumstance, and until we can rule out the person who this killer is, I’d prefer it. Besides, I feel responsible, Raven.” He was the one who had gone down to her turf and questioned her, and he couldn’t help but think that he’d put her in harm’s way.
“Why?” she asked as she walked across the room and went to her bedroom. She looked back at Darek, who followed. “Did you force me to sleep with Seth and Finn? I don’t think so. I got mixed up in this all on my own and completely by chance. And I don’t regret knowing any one of you, in case you’re wondering. Especially you, Detective.” She gave him a warm smile.
She took out her suitcase and started filling it, making trips back and forth from her closet and dresser as he sat on the bed and watched. She ducked into the bathroom to get her toothbrush and used it before she put it in the bag. “I need to shower.”
“Do it at my house. I have great water pressure.” Darek was ready to get her out of there. Not to mention, he really needed to get back to work as soon as he could.
“Great bed, great water pressure; I may not want to leave.” Raven gave him a warning glare and giggled. “You’ll be begging me to leave in a day, you know?”
He helped her zip her bag, and then she grabbed a small case from under her bed and headed for the door.
She followed him in her car back to his house, and the two went inside, Darek toting her heavy bag and her the smaller one with her handbag.
“Just make yourself at home and keep a low profile,” he said, placing her bag by the hall. “I’m going to have to go back to the station soon.”
She dropped the little case and her handbag to the coffee table and then sat down on the couch. “I called in from the diner. My boss told me to take all the time I needed, but I may go in myself. I do have a few calls to make, but I think I’m fine now that I know you’re here for me.”
“What time will you be home? I’ll bring dinner.” Darek thought that might be better than them going out.
She shrugged. “I’ll have to call you if I decide to make up the hours I’ve missed. I still have to go take a shower.” She got to her feet and walked over to join him across the room. “I’ll be sure to check out that water pressure.” She leaned in and kissed his cheek. “Thank you again, Darek.”
“I’ll drive by your house later. Don’t forget to call and make a report.” He hugged her tight, and then she broke away to go to the shower.
After going to the kitchen for a glass of water and checking to see what kind of food he had for his unexpected guest, he walked over and picked up her suitcase and brought it down the hall to his bed.
As he walked back into the living room, he noticed the little case on the coffee table. He wondered if it was makeup or something else she might need. So, he brought it, along with her handbag, into the bedroom and placed it on the bed.
He remembered her taking the small case out from under her bed, and that only fed his curiosity more. Surely, she didn’t have guns or a pile of money hidden there, but perhaps it was her bills and other important papers. He was staring down at it, content to leave it be, when Raven opened the door.
“Ah, I see you’ve noticed my fun box.” She gave him a sly smile.
“You’re what?” Had she said fun?
“Did you open it?”
Darek seemed a little taken aback that she thought he might. He was curious but had no intention of prying into her things. “I’m a detective, not a snoop, and before you say they are the same thing, they’re not.” He smiled to let her know he wasn’t offended.
Her face lit with a smile in return, and she walked over, wearing nothing but a towel. The water still dripped off her back and shoulders when she came to stand beside him. “Do you want to see what’s inside? I was hoping to show you later, but maybe you’d like to think about what’s inside.”
“Now you’re scaring me.” He gave a chuckle as she reached down and opened it.
Inside, there were toys, vibrators and dildos, cuffs and clamps, and even an anal plug. There were various other things in the assortment as well, and while he and Raven hadn’t introduced any of the things into their fun before, she had shown it was nice to keep an open mind. He had just one hang up. “As long as those things aren’t to be used on me, I’m game.”
“Of course not, silly. Though this, you might want to try.” She pulled out a small package that appeared to be a condom, but much lumpier.
He read the words on the wrapper. “It’s a cock ring?”
“Makes things more intense for you, and I know you like things to be intense.”
He reached into the box and pulled out a pair of fuzzy cuffs. “These are cute, but I have my own. And I’ll use the ring if you let me use them on you.”
Raven’s eyes lit with delight. “Oh, I like this. One minute into my box of tricks and you’re already making bargains.” She took out the largest lifelike dildo she had and shook it at him. “Perhaps I should bargain to use this on you.” She smiled wickedly, and Darek shot across the room going to the door. But that didn’t stop Raven, who ran over with the towel still hanging on, and chased him into the living room.
They were laughing, and Darek managed to get away, their showdown making them both chuckle. It was a break from all the stress and a much-needed release from the earlier drama. Raven had a way of doing that for him, and he didn’t think he could play that way with anyone else. Of course, he had to admit he never tried. Then again, Lizzy didn’t have a big box of fun. Or did she?
He was so busy laughing that he let out a yell when Raven darted across the couch to get him, the towel slipping off with the extra movement, which caused her to scream.
When the front door suddenly swung open, it all came to a screeching halt. Raven’s eyes widened, and she went for the towel at her feet. When Darek turned his head, seeing Lizzy forced the smile from his face.
“I’m sorry,” she said as Raven gathered the towel around herself and headed to the bedroom with her toy.
Darek’s face turned warm with anger and embarrassment. “Why are you here? You just barged in without knocking.” He should have locked the fucking door, but it still didn’t give her any right. She was his partner, not his wife, and certainly not his girlfriend.
“Stupid me, I was worried about you. I was approaching the door when I heard you yell, and I thought I heard a scream.” She looked around him toward the hall. “I guess I did, just not the right kind. I take it she’s your emergency.”
“This isn’t what it looks like.” He knew as soon as he said it that the line was not going to do any good.
“A naked woman chasing you around the house with a rubber dick? I don’t think it could look like anything else.” She gave him a smug look. She was dressed very buttoned-up and professional, and Darek couldn’t help but think it really looked good on her.
He shrugged. “My friend needed a place to stay, and so I told her she could crash.”
“Your friend?” She gave a curt nod. “The one you were telling Max about. I heard enough to know that this is what you’ve chosen.”
“Wasn’t like I had much of a choice where you were concerned, Lizzy.” He wasn’t going to stand around and let her accuse him of anything. “It shouldn’t matter to you. Lying didn’t.”
She squared her shoulders. “That again? Because it’s so much easier to just call me a liar than try to understand why I lied.”
“It’s not more important, Lizzy, just pointless. A lie is a lie is a lie. And when you lie to me, how can I trust you?” Darek walked closer, but only to put his hand on the door and show her out.
Lizzy gestured to the hall across the room. “Your new girlfriend looks familiar, by the way. It feels like I’ve seen her around the station. Is she on the force too? Does she work for the department?”
“No. I’m pretty sure you’ve never met, though she does have one of those beautiful faces people rarely forget.” He wasn’t trying to be petty, but he didn’t need Lizzy thinking too hard about where she knew Raven. She would eventually realize it was from the composite drawing, and he wasn’t about to let Raven go down for something the killer did.
Lizzy turned and walked down the steps. “Enjoy your day off. Some of us have to get back to work.”
“I was just about to head to work, actually,” said Darek. He thought her comments were ripe, considering she’d missed many days on the case to do other work. His time had been eaten up with doctor’s appointments and crisis; it wasn’t like he was playing a fucking round of golf.
Lizzy stopped and glanced over her shoulder. “Apparently.” She held her head up, and Darek noticed one thing when she walked away. Not once had he seen a look of hurt in her eyes.
Chapter 21
Bay
Bay had not expected a visit from Kari Lynn Stone, but when the woman called him first thing in the morning, asking to see him, he was more than happy to oblige. Now he sat in his office, hoping she would keep her appointment and not be late. He had a reprieve from the courtroom, with the judge having a personal matter, but granted Kari was on time, it would work in his favor, which was just how Bay liked things.
Mia walked into the room, and as she plopped down in the chair in front of him, she yawned. “I’m bored. I’d like to go shopping or do something. This is like being in prison, and I hate it.”
“I could send you away with your sister if you like. I hear your mother is joining her and Rose Marie.”
“That’s because she thinks Rose Marie is going to kill her and steal the baby.”
Bay chuckled. “I’d never let that happen. Besides, the baby will need her breasts.”
“You might want to talk to her about that. She’s determined to go the formula route. She said she wouldn’t be woken up in the night by a screaming baby.”
“We’ll see about that. She’ll do as I say and feed the baby from her breast. I’ll hook her up to a fucking milking machine if I have to, make her into my own human cow and let Rose Marie tend to the child. It’s all your sister is good for anyway.”
Mia smiled. She got up and walked around the desk to stand at his side. “Can I please go shopping, Bay?” She gave him her best pleading look.
“Yes, but only if you promise not to turn into a whiny, spoiled bitch like Lila.” He passed her his credit card and gave her a swat on the ass. “Go home and change that skirt, first. It’s too short.”
“You like it this length.” She looked down and smoothed her hand down the front.
“I do, but I said to change it. Now go.” He had passed the phase of sending Mia out without her panties and little to cover herself. Now that she was his special pet and he’d given her a taste of pleasure, he needed to protect his assets.
“Fine, I’ll go.” She rolled her eyes, and he swatted her on the ass again.
“Five-hundred-dollar limit,” he reminded her.
She stopped and turned around, her mouth popping open to protest. She’d always preferred a grand.
He gave her a pointed look. “Argue with me, and I’ll make it a hundred.”
“Fine!” She stormed off, and as she left the office, she nearly ran over Kari Lynn.
“I beg your pardon,” said Kari as she stepped into the room.
“Excuse me,” said Mia.
Bay got to hi
s feet. “Please excuse my sister-in-law. She’s in a hurry to spend two hundred dollars.” He walked across the room.
Mia’s face fell. “I’m terribly sorry.”
“It’s quite all right. No harm no foul.” Kari offered a gracious smile, and Mia ducked out.
Bay looked at Seth’s young widow and remembered being balls deep inside her throat. She was a pretty, young thing, and from what he knew, she liked a lot of kinks just like Seth had. “Come in.”
“Thank you for seeing me. I’m afraid that I’ve had a rough morning.” She walked over to join him, and he pulled out a chair.
“Have a seat, darling.”
Kari smiled. “Seth called me darling.”
“Oh, I’m terrible. Sorry.” He had heard Seth call her that a few times, his southern drawl always shining through when he said it. He walked around his desk and sat in his big leather chair.
She shook her head and waved her hand dismissively. “No, it’s fine. It’s good to hear it actually, and everything reminds me of Seth. I guess I still haven’t accepted that he’s gone.”
“I know exactly what you mean. I still can’t believe it. I mean, he was in such good spirits when I last met him. He even told me that you were considering starting a family.”
“Yes, I’d just grown okay with the idea. As you well know, our sexual appetites were a concern of mine. I didn’t know if a baby would make that impossible.” She was a bold woman to speak of such things with him, but then, she had tasted him before.
“You’re always welcome down at the club. When you’ve healed in time, of course. I know it will be a long process, but it will get better, I promise.”
“Thank you.” She wiped a stray tear. “I’ve come here to talk about something that was very concerning to me. I talked to an agent with the FBI. She had scheduled an appointment for me this morning, which I’m afraid I didn’t make. But she had said something about Seth that I wanted to check with you about. Something I need to know before I say something that Seth might not have wanted me to say.”