All We Are (8th Sin Book 2)

by Holly Hood

  I touch my seatbelt. I hope Fuzz knows what he is doing.

  “St. Espses botched Sarah’s entire autopsy. If it wasn’t for them pricks they would have known what happened to her.”

  I look back at Nash. He stares me down and settles back into his seat. None of us say anything, we just listen to Nash’s dad go on and on about my mother and how everyone who could have helped her failed.

  Fuzz manages to make it into the emergency room parking lot in one piece. But getting Nash’s dad out of the car is another story. He doesn’t think he needs medical attention and he is not backing down.

  The guy manages to swing at both Nash and Fuzz every time they try to get near him.

  Nash finally walks away.

  “Maybe we should get a wheelchair,” I suggest. “Sometimes people don’t want to admit they need help. Maybe we should just go get him one.”

  Nash shakes his head. “There’s no way that man is going to sit his ass in a wheelchair.”

  I touch his arm, wishing there was something I could do. We can’t force a grown man to seek medical attention. “We’ll figure this out.”

  We watch Fuzz duck another swing he makes at his head. And suddenly I am on the move. I figure what do I have to lose. I don’t think his father would swing at me.

  “Hey.” I step in front of Fuzz. “We’re all worried about you. Will you please stop being so stubborn and just go inside and have them take a look?” I cross my arms and wait.

  He stares me down and so far his fists are resting at his sides.

  “Those doctor’s don’t know shit about anything that is going on with me,” he starts.

  “Fine. Let’s say you’re right and they are idiots. Why can’t you just put us all at ease and then we can go home?”

  He sighs, standing up. “Fine. But if they try to keep me, I’m burning the place down.”

  “Fine. Fair enough.” I try to help him but he grunts warning me to let him be.

  He starts toward the hospital. We all stay behind him; afraid one wrong move might send him back to the car, or worse swinging his fist again.

  “I don’t think I have ever been more impressed by you than right now,” Nash says.

  I smile, an inner sense of confidence taking over.

  ***

  I’m curled up on the loveseat in the family waiting room waiting for Nash to come back. I didn’t want to impede on his father’s personal space so I stayed with Fuzz and waited.

  It’s miserably cold and I wish so badly I had a blanket and a pillow. But my own arm has to suffice.

  “You did good, kid,” Fuzz tells me once he knows I am awake.

  I sigh, sitting up. “Thanks. I’m just glad he’s getting checked out. Maybe it will put us all at ease.”

  “You sound like you’re getting invested,” he looks at me and back to his phone.

  “Would it be so bad if I was?” I run a hand through my hair, smoothing it out. I can see my reflection in the big windows and I look a mess.

  “I don’t think so…Nash needs a person.” He falls silent.

  “What about you, Fuzz. You seem like a nice guy. Do you have a life outside of taking care of everyone else’s?”

  He looks down and back up. “Are you kidding me? Do you think a girl actually wants to deal with this face all day?” He runs a hand across his head, blowing me off.

  “Yeah I do. I see a lot of potential in a guy like you,” I smile. “And I think you know it too.” He’s by no means of the word unattractive. He’s got blue eyes, a playful grin and this good way about him. I can’t put my finger on it but I can tell Fuzz has been through a lot.

  He’s young but he is not stupid.

  “That’s what they say,” he says, leaning back in his seat. He goes back to his phone. He doesn’t want to hear anymore kind things said about him.

  “How long have you known Nash?”

  “All my life.”

  “He’s a good guy right?”

  “One of the best.”

  “Are you just saying that? Would you tell me if he wasn’t?”

  “Of course, kid. No reason not to.”

  I nestle up against the arm of the loveseat. “What’s with calling me kid?”

  “I call everyone kid. It’s a bad habit. But consider it a compliment.”

  Forty

  Nash nudges me. I sit up, totally unsure how much time has passed. He keeps his hand on my leg and takes the spot next to me.

  “He’s doing good,” he tells me.

  “Okay.” I pull it together. “That’s good.”

  He immediately kisses me, bombarding my senses with his lips. What a way to wake up, his hand on the back of my head, his fingers slipping through my messy hair.

  He’s passionate, slow, intense. He’s obviously thanking me for something.

  I search his eyes for an answer once we break away from each other.

  “Can he go home?”

  “Yeah. They seem to think it can all be managed with medications and weekly visits to a clinic nothing as bad as he wanted to think it would be.” He touches my face. “And if it wasn’t for you talking him into it none of this would be happening.”

  I touch his hand. “It was nothing but a pep talk.”

  “It was more than that. Thank you.”

  “No problem.” I sit up. Fuzz is gone. “What happened to Fuzz?”

  “He’s in his room hanging out with him. I figure we can go get something to eat while we are waiting on the doctors to release him.”

  I stand up, smoothing my hair the best I can with my fingers. “Sounds good.”

  “I hope it doesn’t bother you that I told him who you were,” he tells me halfway down the hallway.

  I swallow down my shock that he was willing to share such a secret. “No, of course it doesn’t. I don’t think you would do anything you didn’t think was right.”

  “It means a lot to him to know that Sarah’s daughter is alright. He actually said that was the reason he liked you right off the bat.”

  We both laugh.

  And then he goes serious just as fast. “When I was younger the only thing I wanted to be was just like my dad.”

  I look at him.

  “But now that he gets older the more of a giant asshole he is and I say if I can just be less of a prick that would be fine by me.” He holds the door for me, letting me go in first.

  “For what it’s worth, you’re just like your father and I don’t see anything wrong with that.” I smile. “I happen to like giant assholes.”

  He grabs a tray. “Oh okay, then maybe I don’t want to change a thing.”

  I lift an orange juice from the ice. My cheeks heat up. “Good, because that would be a shame.”

  We stare each other down holding up the line.

  ***

  When I get home the only thing that sounds even a little bit nice is a long soak in the bath.

  I pull my shoes off, shake my hair out of the messy bun I created on the way home from the hospital and strip down to my underwear and bra.

  I start the tub and lean against the counter checking my missed calls and texts while the water fills in the tub.

  One in particular catches my eye—Jackson.

  I hit the voicemail and listen to him explain that we need to talk about the warehouse that is mine. He seems to be still hanging onto hope that somehow he is going to snake it right out from underneath me.

  I dial him back. And when he answers I let him have it.

  “I don’t know why you can’t let this warehouse go, Jackson but you need to.” I study my reflection in the mirror. “Because as of last week I own it.”

  “Nice to speak to you too, Sav.” He clears his throat edging into the zone of irritation with me. “That’s what I think we need to talk about. Do you want to meet up for coffee?”

  I sigh, cutting off the water. “No, I am not meeting you for coffee. I am tired and had a long day. Just tell me whatever it is you need to tell me.”

>   “When your grandfather became ill he granted me power of attorney. And I was in control of any and all of his legal matters.”

  “Okay.” How sweet of him to inform me about my dead grandfather. I am beginning to think Jackson is a huge prick.

  “The warehouse actually was in the name of Lee. He turned over rights after I was granted power of attorney.”

  I grit my teeth, closing my eyes. “Which means you think you have a right to the property after all.” My blood is boiling.

  “That would be a yes. Savy, I am not trying to start anything with you. But this is a big deal, we need this right now. It’s a warehouse, what could you possibly want with it?”

  “Is that all you care about? Since when are you such a dedicated worker bee?” I snap. “What happened to the Jackson who could care less about property?”

  “I could ask you the same thing.” He snaps back. “You’re not the same girl I fell in love with. You are cold and calculating, Savy.”

  I laugh at his opinion. “Maybe you just never noticed before. I am going to talk to a lawyer about this warehouse before I believe anything you have to say.”

  “Is this your idea or a suggestion from Nash?”

  “This is me!” I tug my hair. “Sometimes you need to learn to be the bigger person and back off, Jackson. Everything isn’t about making money.”

  “Hey…I’m doing you a favor. You might not see it yet, but you will sooner or later.”

  “What is that supposed to mean?”

  “It means I am not the asshole you think that I am and I am looking out for you. This warehouse, these people, none of it is good for you, Savy.”

  “You say that like a person with a lot more invested than you are letting on. Is there something else you want to say to me?” I will him to just tell me the truth.

  One time Jackson had a heart and didn’t talk to me like I was on his last nerve.

  “Lee meant a lot more to me than you will ever know. Let’s leave it at that.”

  I swallow. “If that is true than you need to think about what you are trying to do. Because this will not be good for anyone, Jackson.”

  “Anyone or your boyfriend?”

  I bite my tongue before I lose it. Once I regain my composure, I answer him. “For everyone, including me.”

  He goes quiet.

  “It might be about your family’s company but it’s a lot more than that. I just want you to be the Jackson that I cared about and have a heart. Don’t do this.”

  ***

  In the morning I am waiting by the phone for Ryker to call me back. He insisted he help with the lawyer and the legality of the warehouse. And I am glad because I don’t know how much I can handle when it comes to throwing details back and forth between lawyers and Jackson.

  I fold my laundry and put it away. I load the dishwasher and do about two hundred sit-ups trying to take my mind off of what is going on.

  My phone rings and it’s Ryker video calling me. I adjust my hair and hit answer. He comes into view, a background of skateboarders doing tricks behind him against the blue sky.

  “Hey beautiful,” he says, grinning at me.

  I touch my hair. “I look like shit. But hello.”

  “Miss you.”

  “Miss you too.”

  He drags a hand through his hair, looking a bit uncomfortable. “Well, the lawyers seem to think Jackson isn’t a giant douche and they agree that he has been power of attorney for Lee for quite some time now.”

  My heart sinks for not only Nash but also his father. “So what are you saying?”

  “I’m saying the sale from Nash to me was nothing but bullshit. They seem to think everything he is saying is legit. And if it is, Savy he can do what he wants with it.”

  I plop down on the couch.

  “Are you alright?”

  “No, I’m not alright. Jackson’s family wants the property and they are going to tear the entire place down. And once that happens a lot of people are going to go down with it.”

  Ryker frowns. I know he wants to help. “Did you try reasoning with the guy?”

  “Of course I did.” I sigh. “Thank you, Ryker… for trying.”

  “I hate seeing you disappointed. If it makes you feel better I have my lawyers combing over paperwork and if they find out the property switched hands before Jackson took over for Lee they will stop it.”

  “Okay. Let me know.” I blow him a kiss and end the video call.

  The thought of the warehouse being torn down and so many skeletons being exposed doesn’t only scare me, it sends me into a panic.

  I just got to know Nash and I know he is a good person, he doesn’t need to go down for the sins of a group of people.

  I get dressed and hurry out of the apartment. I need to talk to Nash before he finds out some other way about the warehouse.

  Ten minutes later I am pulling up to his house and throwing the car into park. There are a slew of bikes posted outside of his house.

  But I don’t care. I don’t care if I meet face to face with the guys I peppered sprayed again. I just need to talk to Nash.

  I climb the stairs, I can already feel the bass from the music before my knuckles hit the door. I knock hard, hoping someone can hear me.

  Nobody hears me, it’s obvious to me a few minutes later. I twist the knob and let myself inside to a sea of cigarette smoke and a table of men playing poker.

  Everyone looks at me. Nash’s dog stands up ready to bite a chunk out of me, but Fuzz stops him before he can. He pats the top of his head and greets me.

  “Looking for Nash?”

  I nod, looking around. There are a bunch of girls pinned up on one side of the room, playing nice with one another; all of them have drinks in their hands.

  “Some party,” I point out. “Where are Nash and his dad?” I fan smoke out of my face.

  Ike stands up, dropping his cards down on the table. “Dollface. What brings you by?” He has an arm around me before I can answer.

  “I’m looking for Nash.”

  He smirks, leaning in, the smell of liquor on his breath. “Oh… I think he’s busy right now.”

  I immediately look at Fuzz to confirm or deny that. My heart sinks. Fuzz rubs the back of his neck.

  “Well, can one of you go get him I have something very important to tell him?”

  Ike looks me over. “You’re not pregnant are you?”

  I groan, shaking my head. “This is the second time someone has asked me that when I’ve come here looking for Nash.”

  Ike turns me to the hall. “If you want the guy go get him yourself.” He slaps me on the ass and I head down the hallway.

  I’m afraid to know what I will find on the other side of Nash’s door. It scares me to think he might be in their doing something that I can’t unsee, something that could hurt my opinion of him.

  But I knock anyways, waiting for god knows what. Seconds feel like minutes and finally he is standing before me without a shirt on. He rubs the back of his head focusing in on me.

  “What are you doing here?”

  I look past him, searching for someone else. But the only thing I see is his television playing some old movie. His bed is empty and there are many signs he had just climbed out of it.

  “I needed to talk to you.” I wait for him to invite me in. When he doesn’t, I look over his shoulder again, thinking maybe I missed the girl. Maybe he hid her in his closet.

  “Are you trying to figure out if I have someone in here with me?”

  I look at him, biting down on my lip. “I don’t know what I am doing. The idea of it made me a little ill if you want to know the truth.”

  He opens his door, letting every insecurity fall to the wayside when I see nothing but an empty room. He goes to the bed lifting it up to prove to me there is no girl hiding out.

  “You want to check the closet?” He starts picking up, letting me sit down on his bed. “Because I’d be willing to open it if that makes you feel better.”
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  I shake my head. “You really need a cell phone.”

  “I have one. But I only use it for work.” He crosses his arms, staring me down. “I stay out of trouble that way.”

  “It would be easier to get ahold of you in times like these.”

  “Are you pregnant?”

  I get up and slap him. “Nash. That is not funny. It’s bordering on creepy how many times someone has asked me that.”

  He grabs me, laying a kiss on my lips before he lets me go. I sit back down.

  “I’ll go out and get one tomorrow then. But you’re going to be the only one who has the number.” He grins, sitting down on the bed. “Does that make you feel better?”

  “Yes actually it does.” I sigh. I hate the good moment to have to turn dreadful. “I have some bad news.”

  “What?”

  Now I wish I was pregnant because this would be a lot easier than what I have to tell him. “Turns out Jackson has rights to the warehouse and he is going to have ownership in the matter of hours if things go his way.”

  “And you rushed all the way over here to tell me this?”

  “Yes. Because I’m worried about what that means for you. For any of you.”

  “Either way, I still will have the money from the sale.” He shrugs it off. “That’s all I needed to take care of my dad. That’s all I am worried about. Let him have the warehouse, Savy.”

  “What if they find out what’s under there? Aren’t you worried about going to jail?”

  “I didn’t put them there. They can’t pin this on me. The police are going to assume it has something to do with the 8th sin and they will try to pin it on someone but it doesn’t matter. They always find a way out of any mess.”

  “What if they don’t? What if this is the one time things are concrete and you all go down?”

  I can’t see any of this being for a good cause if that happens and his dad has to live the rest of his life in a jail cell.

  He goes to his door and opens it. “Fuzz!”

  Fuzz appear rather quickly. He shuts the door behind him and takes a seat on the bed.

  “Luckman has plans for the warehouse after all. What can you dig up to give us enough time to come up with another option for what’s about to be unearthed?”

  Fuzz scratches his head and sighs. “Besides the fact they have someone dipping into their money?” He leans back, really thinking about it. “I can possibly plant a bug in some inspectors ear and make them think there are zoning issues.”