Dillon navigated onto the road, and before long, the prison became a dot in the rearview mirror. I tossed a quick glance over my shoulder and stuck out my middle finger.
Dillon smirked. “You sure you want to thank Kelton, or do you really want to see Jade?”
“Does it matter? I want—no, need—to bask in soft skin, long legs, and plump lips.” Not that Jade would jump my bones the minute I saw her. Yet just seeing her would make my day even better.
My brother shifted his attention back and forth from the road to me. “You look better out of that prison uniform.”
I rubbed my hand along the soft fabric of my shirt. “Feels good too.” Hell, my feet were tingly and happy in the army boots instead of white canvas shoes.
“I have a room ready for you at my place,” Dillon said. “Grace can’t wait to see you either.”
I clutched my chest. “How is our baby sister?”
“Good. She helps me at the shelter.”
“What are you not telling me?” I asked.
“Grace has a lot of healing to do, man. That’s all.”
I didn’t doubt that. It would be hard for anyone to overcome the horror of being a sex-trafficking victim. But now that I was out, I hoped I could spend time with her.
“Did you find out why your parole was expedited?” Dillon asked. “I tried to get ahold of Kelton, but he’s been in court.”
“I haven’t. I need to tell you something, though.” At the parole hearing, I couldn’t talk to Dillon except to say hi. “The Feds want me to help them take down our brother.” I knew that anything we talked about wouldn’t leave the car. Dillon wasn’t the type to go running to Duke or anyone else.
A muscle jumped along his unshaven jaw. “What was your response?”
“I told them to take a hike. But here’s the kicker. They believe Duke was at Alvarez’s apartment the night he was murdered.” I focused on my brother, eager to see how he would react.
Not much shocked Dillon or angered him unless our belligerent old man was beating one of us senseless. Dillon’s knuckles instantly turned snow white as he gripped the steering wheel. “What the fuck?”
“I don’t believe them. Do you?” A tiny part of me did, which was that fucking doubt in the dark recesses of my brain.
“Not sure. The Feds might say anything to get you to do what they want.”
“My thoughts exactly.”
The highway was teeming with traffic as we headed into Boston. Despite how anxious I was to get answers from Duke, my pulse thrashed around at seeing cars and people, women in particular.
My dick jerked at the thought of sex. I only wanted one woman, though. One with black hair and sparkling emerald eyes. Yet I wasn’t sure I could pussyfoot around Jade and wait for her to come to me. Given how I’d dumped her, I doubted she would make the first move. I had to be the one to beg and grovel.
Regardless of my need for sex, seeing the cityscape in the distance and the fall leaves fluttering to the ground along the highway made my stomach giddy.
I couldn’t wait to walk the streets of Boston and smell the aroma of Italian food, or any food other than the slop I’d eaten in prison. My mouth watered at the thought of a plate of spaghetti and meatballs the size of my fists, and I had big fists.
My brother’s phone rang, and a moment later, Kelton’s voice was blaring through the speakers. “Well?”
“He’s out,” Dillon practically snapped at his best bud.
“Whoa! What’s got into you?” Kelton asked.
“Duke,” I said.
“Speaking of your brother,” Kelton started.
Dillon and I exchanged a surprised look.
“It seems the FBI was instrumental in your speedy release, Denim. The bad news is they’re acting as your parole officers for now. You’ll be checking in with them rather than a court-appointed one.”
I sucked in a sharp breath. “You’ve got to be kidding. That means they’ll do everything they can to fuck with me until I give in and narc on Duke.” They would probably threaten to send me back to prison if I didn’t do what they wanted. After all, if they’d convinced the parole board to let me out, then they could sure as fuck come up with an excuse to throw me back in.
Dillon’s face was turning a dark shade of red. “But wouldn’t Denim have gotten parole anyway? He checked all the boxes for an early release.”
A female voice interrupted Kelton. “Sir, here’s the file you wanted.”
Jade. Sweet, sweet Jade. Her voice had always taken me to a special place where the world was perfect and kind, and violence didn’t exist.
The line was quiet for a beat until Kelton cleared his throat. “If Denim hadn’t gotten into a fight right before his hearing, then sure. But the board was ready to deny him parole.”
I ran a finger over my eye where Costa had punched me. By the time of my parole hearing, I’d had the stitches removed. My appearance had barely shown signs of a fight. “I told them I was attacked.” I hadn’t gotten disciplined, but the warden had still been required to make a note in my record. “I told them they could check with the warden.”
“You’re out,” Kelton said. “Do everything in your power to stay out. As much as I like billable hours, I care about my clients.”
“Can the Feds send me back to prison?”
“As long as you don’t violate your parole, you’ll be good.”
Dillon’s knuckles were still white as he clenched the steering wheel. “But the Feds will fuck with Denim, though. Won’t they?”
“They’ll throw down some threats.” Kelton’s tone was even as though he’d told clients that very statement a million times. “If they do, I want to know about it. For now, one of the agents will be in touch. Whatever you do, please don’t tell Duke about the Feds. They’ll slap you for intervening in an ongoing investigation. That, my friend, will get you arrested.”
Fuuuck!
“So Denim is clear to see Duke?” Dillon asked.
Kelton sighed. “I don’t think there’s any way around not seeing him.”
“I forgot to tell you something during our parole-prep meeting,” I piped in. Jade had jumbled my mind that day. “The Feds think Duke was at Alvarez’s apartment the night of his murder.”
“It could be a ploy to get you to do their dirty work.” Kelton’s voice boomed in the car. “If you talk to your brother, do not—I repeat, do not—bring up Alvarez and your suspicions. You could cause a chain reaction where both of you could end up in cuffs. Heed my advice. For now, enjoy your first day of freedom, Denim. We’ll be in touch.” Then the line went dead.
I stared out the passenger window, seething. The happiness I had felt when I’d walked out of the prison gates evaporated. I wasn’t even in Boston yet, nor had I had my first beer, and my world had gone to shit. I could get onboard with checking in with a parole officer, but not the FBI.
We rode in silence, not saying a word to one another.
I didn’t want to start on some self-pity trip, but it was hard not to feel sorry for myself. Someone had set me up. I’d spent my prime years in prison for a murder I didn’t commit, and I’d learned Duke could be involved in the murder, and now I had to answer to the Feds.
“I want to throttle Duke.” Dillon’s deep tone zapped my pity party.
“Can we talk about something else?” I was going to heed Kelton’s advice and enjoy my first day of freedom. Duke could wait. The Feds could wait.
Dillon rested his arm on the console, relaxing back in his seat. “Maggie and I finally set a date for our wedding.”
“That’s great, bro.” I hoped I sounded happy and excited. Dillon deserved nothing but me showing him love and support. Yet my stomach was still knotted so tightly, I suspected it would take more than happy words to loosen it.
“I was waiting for you to get parole before I asked. Would you be my best man?”
I slapped a hand over my heart. “For real? You’re not asking Kelton or Kross?” Dillon was tight wit
h two of the Maxwell triplets.
“You’re my brother, man.”
Emotions rushed through me, causing tears to spring forth again. What the heck is wrong with me? I hadn’t cried since I was a little boy, and in a matter of an hour, I’d had the urge to cry twice.
“I would be honored. Can I bring a date?” I could feel my lips pulling into a smile as I thought of the one person I would ask.
“Of course you can bring Jade.”
I chuckled. “How do you know my date would be Jade?”
He gave me a sidelong glance. “Really, man. You’re still in love with her. You always have been. I get why you broke up with her. I have to say I don’t blame you either. She didn’t need to be part of your dark world.” Dillon knew me better than I knew myself sometimes.
“I don’t know if she wants anything to do with me. Considering I’m about to report to the FBI, I don’t know if I want her caught up in the mess that’s about to unfold.” My problem was that I wasn’t sure I could stay away from her. Since seeing her, I hadn’t been able to get her out of my mind.
“I’m sure you’ll figure it out. Just don’t fuck with her heart. She’s a good person.”
If Jade took me back, it wouldn’t be for a tryst or a one-night stand. I’d had years to ruminate on what I wanted when I got out, and I wasn’t getting any younger. If anyone would break hearts, it would be her severing mine into a trillion pieces.
I wanted to change the subject. “When’s the wedding?”
“The day after Christmas,” Dillon said. “Kelton is officiating the ceremony, and his older brother, Kade, offered to host the wedding ceremony and reception at his new mansion.”
“You mean in five or six weeks?”
He sported a big grin, basking in happiness. “It’s a small wedding. Maggie and I don’t want a big blowout.”
“Is Duke invited?” I didn’t care one way or the other. It was Dillon’s wedding not mine.
He lifted a shoulder. “I’d planned on asking him to be part of the wedding party. In light of the Feds, I’m hesitant now.”
On that note, I wondered if Duke and I would be around to see Dillon get married. Hell, we could both be in prison together if things got out of hand.
I rested an elbow on the console. “What could go wrong?”
“When it comes to the Hart family, a million things.” Dillon sounded as sure as the cars speeding by us.
He wasn’t kidding. Our dysfunctional family could put a damper on anything. But I wasn’t about to ask who else in our family was invited. Surely, not our old man. I didn’t think Dillon would invite him.
“Can you drop me off where Jade works?” All the talk about Jade had me itching to see her. I also had a desperate desire to be around someone who was kind and caring. Plus, I could use her advice. She’d always been one to give it to me straight, and in addition to Dillon, Jade had believed in me at one time. As much as I wanted to fuck her until my brain became mush and my dick went limp, I wanted to talk to her and absorb her pretty looks and ball-busting smile.
“You can’t go up to her office. You need an appointment. Security is tight in that building.”
“Then I’ll wait in the lobby or have security connect me with her.” I would probably do the former. That way, she couldn’t easily dismiss me over the phone. Besides, it was well after lunch, and quitting time was only a couple of hours away. I had nothing else to do except get a beer with Dillon, but seeing Jade was far better than alcohol.
As Dillon slowed to exit into downtown Boston, I promised myself I would be all those adjectives I’d bragged about at my parole hearing—responsible, confident, a law-abiding citizen, and an overall good person. I wouldn’t ever return to prison. If my fate said otherwise, I would kill myself before I stepped foot in a place like that again.
10
Jade
My cell phone rang just as I was coming out of Kelton’s office. The familiar “No Caller ID” lit up the screen.
I briefly closed my eyes, debating whether to answer Savannah’s call or not. It hadn’t been quite a week yet, and I wasn’t due to get paid until Friday. I hadn’t had time to find any other methods of borrowing two grand either. The most I could give her would be the five hundred dollars I’d promised her.
I slid into my chair just as my phone stopped ringing.
Mallory peeked around from her cubicle, an act that was becoming quite the norm. Not that I minded, although sometimes I wanted to be left alone to get work done. “Your phone rang while you were in with Kelton too.”
I blew out a breath. “It’s Savannah.”
Mallory came around the short fabric-covered wall. “We haven’t talked about your visit. Is she okay?”
I didn’t want to burden her with my problems. Mallory had been through hell with me, and she deserved a break. But I knew my BFF, and she wasn’t going to leave until I gave her something.
“I’ll tell you later.” I didn’t want to go into detail. There were too many ears around us. “On another note, Kelton was just talking to Denim.” My stomach dipped again, just like it had when I’d heard Denim’s husky tone through the speakerphone.
She crossed her arms over her black sweater dress, her blue eyes narrowing. “No one’s around.”
That was true. We were close to quitting time, and some of the other paralegals had closed up for the evening.
I sighed. “Savannah was pretty beat up when I saw her.”
Mallory pushed out her small shoulders. “I’m sorry. But doesn’t that happen? You said yourself Denim was bruised from a fight.”
For the first time, I felt uncomfortable talking to Mallory about Savannah. I didn’t want to be scolded or have her tell me that Savannah made her bed, or that it was time for me to back away. Savannah was family, and family came first. I’d agreed with Kelton when he’d told me that very thing, and my belief hadn’t changed.
“Put yourself in her shoes or mine, Mal. Let’s say your sister, Cara, was in prison or shacked up with a man like Duke. What would you do?” I knew Mallory, and she would be devastated if Cara did anything like Savannah had.
“Fair point,” she said. “I’m only trying to protect you.”
“I know. I love you for that.”
“Is that why she’s calling, though? Surely you can’t fight her battles for her.”
I moved a notebook around on my desk. “She wants money for protection.”
For a moment, I’d almost called Duke. But I would rather pull out my teeth than ask him for money.
Mallory lowered her arms and pressed her hands on my desk. “Maybe you should find out if what she’s telling you is true before you give her money you busted your butt for. Please.”
“How? It’s not like I know someone inside. I could talk to the warden, but he would probably give me some scripted answer about how he wouldn’t let anything happen to any one of the inmates.” Or he would tell me that everyone in prison was scared.
“Ask Kelton for advice, then. He said he would help you. Maybe he can pay a visit with you to the prison. Lawyers have a way of getting through to people.”
Savannah was my problem, not Kelton’s, and despite his offer to help, I couldn’t bring him into my mess. I didn’t want him to think I couldn’t handle my own business.
But Mallory was right. Before I went into full panic mode, I somehow had to confirm if Savannah was in danger.
I massaged my temples. “I have to get something done for Kelton before I leave.”
She placed her hand on my shoulder. “Why don’t we grab a drink after work?”
The idea of a drink made me wet my lips. I could taste the tequila on my tongue. “I’m not sure if that’s a good idea.” Between the Savannah situation and knowing Denim was out of prison, my pulse was in overdrive. “I might drink until I pass out.”
“I won’t let that happen,” Mallory said.
I pressed the button on my keyboard to wake my computer when my phone rang again. Sava
nnah was relentless when she wanted something. “I should take it.”
Mallory stabbed her finger toward her desk. “I’ll be right there if you need me.”
I waited for Mallory to leave, shook off the nerves, and answered.
“Jade.” Savannah’s voice was frantic. “Did you get the money?”
“I told you a week. I don’t get paid until Friday.”
She growled. “Call Duke. Please!”
“Did you get into another fight?”
“No, but I’m running out of time.”
“Savannah,” I whispered. “Are you being honest with me?”
“Are you kidding me?” She was practically shouting.
I cupped my hand over my phone. “Fights happen in prison. Surely the warden wouldn’t let anyone die.”
She let out an evil laugh. “Why don’t you spend time in prison, then.”
I gripped the phone so hard, I swore I would crush it. “You’ve never given me a reason to trust you.”
“Why the change of heart? Have you been talking to Mallory?”
She was impossible.
“I’m doing the best I can.”
My sister released a long breath. “Are you going to help me or not?” The fear I’d seen on her face came through in every word. Her moodiness was maddening.
If I didn’t help and something happened to her, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself. If I did help her, and she was blowing smoke up my butt like she’d done ninety-nine percent of the time, I would go nuts. Either way, I was screwed.
“There’s nothing I can do until I get paid.” I was done worrying about her. I was done tossing and turning in my pathetic dump of an apartment, wondering how to get her two grand. I wasn’t jumping through hoops to ask anyone for help. “You’re just going to have to take care of yourself until then. I have to get back to work. We’ll be in touch.” I ended the call before she made me feel even worse than I already did. With a shaky hand, I set my phone down.
Kelton came out of his office with his briefcase in one hand and his phone in the other. “Jade, I’ll see you in the morning. Please make sure Mr. Cahill’s file is on my desk and ready for tomorrow.”
Hart of Vengeance: The Hart Series Page 7