Requiem (Remington Carter Book 2)

by Emma Cole

  My feelings are hurt that my brother would cut me out of this now. And that Ethan had discussed it with him since we came home last week to find her here, yet hadn't mentioned it to me.

  "So, I was just going to be the odd one out here?" I ask.

  Beck answers me before Ethan can say anything.

  "You weren't cut out of anything, Dylan. You're the one that is seeing someone else now. You don't seem too interested in picking back up where we left off. Ethan does. Regardless of any of that, she's with Eli, and I'm not sure that, even if she wasn't, she would be okay with Ethan and I being together. At this point, we would at least like to be friends. But after tonight, I'm not sure where you'll stand with her. There seems to be quite a bit of animosity between her and Samantha."

  I shake my head, but I don't know what it is that I'm even protesting.

  Before we can discuss anything further, I hear the stairwell door shut, and moments later, Eli comes in. From the thunderous look on his face, I can tell he got my message. That and the swing he takes at my head. I duck, barely, catching his big ass fist on my shoulder instead of my jaw.

  "Do you know how uncomfortable she was coming back here?" Eli whisper- yells. "She didn't want it to be awkward because she still has feelings for you! All of you! I don't care where you want to dip your dick, but you won't do it around her again. Not here. Her last option was the motel the lot lizards take truckers to or letting that dealer piece of crap that Alex's roommate is dating essentially move in. The rule is no women here. It's not that hard of a concept to grasp. What is wrong with you?"

  Eli is up in my face with the last of his words, and I feel the guilt and shame run across my features.

  "I already told these two that I'll deal with Samantha,” I say, “and I'll find a way to make it up to Remi. If she ever speaks to me."

  Remi

  I napped, waiting on Eli to get back, and wake when he sits on the bed, making it dip as he climbs in behind me. Snuggling back into him, I pull his arm over my torso and drift back off.

  I don't move again until an alarm goes off. It's still dark, and Eli is putting his jogging clothes on. Telling me to go back to sleep and dropping a kiss on my forehead, he quietly leaves. Trying and failing to get back to sleep, probably due to my early night, I get up and do my morning routine. I brush my hair out and throw it up into a messy bun to deal with later. My first class isn't until ten this morning.

  I go to the kitchen to make breakfast. I'm not sure if Eli will want anything, but waffles sound good and the other guys may want some. If not, they can freeze them. As I'm pulling ingredients out, I spy the recipe for Eli's smoothie he has every day. I grab the makings for that as well and pile it all up next to the bullet blender he likes to use. I smile a bit at my domesticity. I've got the love bug bad.

  Lost in my thoughts, I'm putting the first batch of batter in the iron when I feel I'm being watched. Spinning with a two-pronged fork in hand, I find Ethan propped against the wall, observing me. The guy is still prettier than any man has the right to be. Dressed in low slung lounge pants and a semi-tight t-shirt, with bare skin poking out of the bottom, I have to shake myself out of ogling him by spinning back around to pick my mess up.

  "How long have you been standing there?" I sound grumpy even to my own ears.

  "Not long. I heard the rummaging, and usually Elliot's the only one up this early, abut I heard him leave a while ago. The other two are lazy bones, only getting up early if they have to, so I came to investigate." He straightens up off the wall and grabs a cup of coffee before taking a seat on one of the island stools. And completely ignores me while he drinks it and does something on his phone.

  I scowl at him until I hear the slight click of the light on the electric waffle iron turning off. I take the waffle off and pour in more batter. I finally break after his second cup of coffee and a pile of waffles are done.

  "Would you like some breakfast?" I wait, my hand poised inside the plate cupboard.

  "I'd love some, thank you."

  I pull the plates down and get out the peanut butter and syrup, placing them in front of Ethan. I grab some silverware and join him at the opposite side of the granite topped island. We silently make our plates and start eating. The quiet is getting to me. I think he's doing it on purpose. He always loved getting under my skin.

  "So, you own the building? And started a security company?"

  He looks up from his plate in surprise that I'm speaking to him. "Yes. My great aunt left it to me in a trust. And security work seemed easy enough to slip into, with my background. I enjoy it."

  "I thought your family was from Australia?" I ask.

  "We are. My grandmother’s sister moved here when she met her husband who was temporarily stationed in Australia."

  I get the feeling that, unless I pry it out a question at a time, I'm not getting much from him. I stab another piece of waffle with more force than I probably should have. I swear I see a smirk. I can't quite tell with his head bent over his phone.

  We finish eating and I'm clearing my plate when Beck stumbles in headed straight for the coffee pot. I'm going to have to make more if I plan on having another cup. He must overhear my grumbling. After pouring the remains of the pot in a carafe to keep it warm Beck sets the pot up to brew more coffee.

  Well, crap now I feel like a shit.

  That feeling only lasts until Ethan is up, rinsing his dishes. When he bends to put them in the dishwasher, Beck slaps his ass. They both freeze and look at me.

  "Carry on, it's your house." I don't linger. Giving a flap of my arm in a ‘go on’ motion, I leave for Eli's room to get dressed. Of course, I run into Dylan in the hall.

  As I reach him, he opens his mouth, "Remi, love—”

  I put up my hand without slowing down. "Sorry, have to get ready," I tell him, then breeze into Eli's room, shutting the door behind me. Which makes me wonder where he is. I know he does long runs, but I'd expected him back by now.

  Eli

  I detour on the way home. Instead of taking the side stairs up, I stop in to see Samantha, since I saw her car parked outside. Now that everyone is back on site, she'll be working part time with her office duties. Coming through the personal entrance instead of the buildings public one used for client meetings, she doesn't hear me enter. And as soon as she's done with her phone call, she's going to wish she'd paid more attention.

  After she hangs up, I wait for her to notice me, but the grumbling under her breath about 'serving the bitch right' cements who she was discussing on the call. When she turns, she lets out a screech.

  "Elliot! Crap, you scared me. What are you doing here? I mean, sorry, what can I do for you?" She definitely meant the first part, but as I'm technically her boss, or one of them, she has to backtrack.

  "What do you think you're doing, Samantha? And who was on the phone?" I keep my arms crossed over my chest, not caring if it's intimidating as I wait for her response.

  "Doing? Um… I'm working. And that was a prospective new client, inquiring about our services."

  If I hadn't overheard her myself, I wouldn't have thought twice, with the sincerity she delivers that with. She completely holds her composure.

  "I need the information for that client, please. Actually, here, just hand me your phone, and I will call them back." I hold out my hand.

  "You can use the phone in the office. I'll write the information down for you. You'll be more comfortable there, so that you can sit and be able to write." Her facade begins to crumble with her rambling.

  "Samantha, that's a company phone, and I want you to hand it over. Now." She hands me the phone reluctantly and I dial the last number in the call log. It rings and Agent Bricker answers with her title. I hang up without speaking. The phone rings back, but I ignore it.

  "Hand me your keys and your tablet, Samantha. I also want the notebook that you keep security codes written down in. Fair warning, they'll be changed before the day is out and surveillance will pick up anyone that t
ries to use the old ones." I don't put it past her or those shady ass agents to try something like that. We'll need to do a sweep again; who knows what the bitch has planted here in the office and in the other levels.

  "You can't do this! You can't fire me without a majority rule. Ethan is the one that hired me." She says it like I'd actually give a fuck, even if it were true.

  "I can and I just did,” I say. “Do I need to call them down here?"

  She finally looks nervous. Her false bravado is crumbling because she knows as well as I do that she's just violated more than one clause in her contract, confidentiality being a major one. She tries one last-ditch effort.

  "I want to talk to Dylan."

  Dylan

  Right after I get into the kitchen, Ethan asks me if I have my phone, that Eli is downstairs and Samantha wants to see me. I hope Eli didn't take it upon himself to speak with her. I pull on my shoes and take the stairs down to the office.

  I walk in to find Samantha handing Eli her work items.

  "Hey, what's going on?" I ask.

  Samantha looks pissed and smug. It's not a great look for her

  "Elliot just took it upon himself to fire me." Hands on hips, she glares at Eli.

  "Really, Samantha? Why don't you tell him exactly what you're being terminated for."

  I'm confused, but even Eli wouldn't irrationally fire someone over personal reasons.

  I look at Sam, waiting for what she's going to say.

  "Obviously, your little friend's in trouble. She has agents calling and asking about her and wanting information, so don't put that on me."

  I knew she was jealous about Remi, but Sam and I haven’t really been serious. It's been a convenience thing, but unfortunately for her, she may have overestimated my interest.

  Irate, Eli says evenly and low, “And what would make you think it would be okay to give out information on someone living in my house with your contact only being through our business?”

  I see Sam react to Eli's accusation, her gaze moving between me and Eli

  "What she's failing to mention,” Eli continues, addressing me now, “is that she is conducting this on business equipment and using what she's able to find out from us to spy on Remi. I caught her on the phone with them, and she tried to deny it. She's being fired for breach of confidentiality." Eli's tone brooks no argument, but I need to smooth things over.

  I'm not even sure why, but I do it anyway and say, "I'm not sure how that applies in this case, but I don't like that she did it either."

  Eli cuts me off. "Her contract states that any tenant of the building, or client of the company, is covered in the confidentiality clause, and as Remington is a tenant, it applies."

  I have to agree. Although, I don't know exactly what's going on, and I'm hoping to be filled in, the issue is valid. I sigh, and from the mutinous expression she's sporting, Sam knows she isn't winning this argument

  "I'm sorry, Sam, he's right. I'll help you gather your things."

  Eli stops us both. "I'll call Ethan and Beck so it's not an issue. I don't want her suckering you into anything or sneaking out with something she shouldn't have. She's done enough damage. And I don't need her claiming anything against me either." He pulls out his phone and calls the guys down.

  I internally cringe in shame that one of my best friends doesn't trust me and is obviously disgusted by my actions

  After informing the guys about what transpired Eli looks at me. "I'm going to go back up, I have to get ready for class."

  After he leaves, I stand there awkwardly until Ethan and Beckett appear, both seemingly disappointed with me, Sam, or more than likely, both of us.

  While they're handling the situation, I occupy myself with drafting a want ad for a new hire. We'll still need someone part time to handle things around the office. I keep noticing Samantha shooting me looks. There's nothing I can do for her at this point; she needs to drop it. Finally, they're done.

  "Dylan, walk me out?" she asks.

  It's more of a demand than a request. I don't let it irritate me. I already planned on it. I take the small box of belongings from her as we make our way outside to her car where see she's parked at the curb in front of Remi's car. She uses her key fob to pop the trunk. I put the box inside, moving several bags from the local hardware store aside to make it fit. There's all kinds of stuff in here. The woman is a pack rat.

  I get the trunk shut, and she's waiting by the open driver's side door for me.

  "See if you can talk some sense into them. That girl is bad news from what those agents told me. Got into trouble when she was younger and got the boys in trouble, too. You don't need her dragging you down, Dylan. Maybe I can get my job back after they cool off."

  I stiffen at her words. Remi didn't do anything wrong when we were teens other than sneak out with me and Beck. Samantha's cattiness is out of control. And the fact that she's that deep into Remi's business is disturbing.

  She steps into me and winds her arms around my neck. I stay still, and she huffs at me. "I see how it is." Pissed off, she gets into her car and slams the door.

  I can't help but drop a bomb on her in retaliation, not wanting to let this just slide. It's not like she couldn't find out.

  "Samantha." I wait for her to roll the window down. "Those 'boys' she got into trouble with were me and Beck. Stay away from her and out of her business." She flips me off, and I step up onto the curb before she runs my toes over as she leaves.

  Shaking my head at the situation, I don't notice I have an audience until I look up to reach for the door handle. And nearly run headfirst into Remi.

  She still isn't looking me in the eye. Not that I blame her; I've been a shitty friend.

  "Excuse me," she pushes past, sideways, to avoid touching me.

  "Remi, wait! Will you talk to me please?"

  She pauses with her back still to me. "I can't, I have class."

  "After class then." I'm going to pin her down at some point. This all needs to be discussed. One-on-one and then as a group. I miss my friend.

  She shrugs noncommittally and gets in her car to leave.

  Going back upstairs I find the rest of the guys in a tense silence.

  "What the fuck is going on? Someone start talking," I demand.

  Remi

  I'm annoyed. Which I'm conflicted over because I'm not even sure if I should be. Also, I'm scared. These people aren't going to stop. Eli coming back in and telling me about Samantha and the douche agents was a shock. Now the guys I don't want to deal with are going to be my shadows, if they have their way.

  Also, I may have snuck out while they were still discussing who should be with me and when. I'm not going to be late to class while they hash it out. And work. That's not something I really want them sitting in on. Especially if I take that higher paying job.

  I park in the campus lot closest to the building for my English class and find Adam waiting on me again. At least this time I had returned his texts.

  "So, how's buff, blond, and broody been treating you?"

  I'm a bit surprised he asks so straightforwardly. Usually he's more subtle and less snarky.

  "Really good, actually,” I answer. “When are you going to find a blonde, not so buff and broody? Unless that's your thing?" I can give snark back too.

  "Well, see, I already found her, but she's hooked up with one of those jocks I take care of."

  Oh, now I feel bad. I'd thought he was letting this go.

  "I'm sorry, Adam. Maybe we should start looking for someone not already taken then." I'll play dumb. Less drama that way.

  He drops the subject and we go to class. We end up being partners for a joint project due next week and make plans for meeting a few nights to get it done. I'll have to find out if we can meet at the apartment, or if I should plan on going to his place. For tomorrow, though, that's where we're going to be.

  I feel my phone buzz in my pocket and pull it out to see that Eli messaged me. More than once. I send him a quick one
back with my schedule for school, assuming they're still working on a chaperone. Maybe Adam would be interested since we do have several classes together, and with the project for class, we'll be around each other anyway. I shoot Adam a quick text, too, telling him I need to talk to him later.

  I get some coffee, and while I'm waiting, I feel like I'm being watched. I turn to look around and see a group of girls flicking quick glances my way and talking rapidly to each other. Rolling my eyes, I face back toward the counter to continue to wait in line. I've gotten comments all day about Eli and Beck getting into it at the motel. I'm sure it's been blown way out of proportion by now.

  I finally get up to order and take a seat at a table afterward to wait. I can overhear a few words here and there. They're definitely talking about the fight and trying to figure out if I'm cheating on Eli with Beck and if that's why I was at the motel in the first place. Idiot females. My name is called, I grab my coffee and leave for my photo shoot. This one should be easy enough, being for a catalogue.

  Right before I go into the studio, I get yet another text from Eli, asking about my itinerary today. I let him know I'll be working for the next few hours and the location. It goes smoothly, and we're able to wrap up early.

  I'm just coming out of the changing area, when I see Ethan waiting for me. Makes sense, with Eli being at practice. Even so, doesn't mean I have to like it.

  "You're on babysitting duty this evening?" I ask.

  A short 'Yep' is all I get in return.

  He follows me outside to my car, and after looking around, I realize he doesn't have a vehicle. With a sigh, I get in and lean over to pop the lock up. He climbs in, and a wave of nostalgia envelopes me. It's like déjà vu, years later. He reaches up and flicks my fuzzy dice. Yep, he remembers, too. More often than not, when we went somewhere, it was in my car. I wasn't really allowed to be on his motorcycle very often.