“Calm down, Joshy.” He shoots down his drink and orders another before turning back to me. “Does the name Scott Granger mean anything to you?”
Scott Granger. His name isn’t remotely familiar to me. Shaking my head, I reply, “no, nothing.”
“Elle’s father is, Henry Johnson.” He pauses, giving me time to recognize the name.
“Henry Johnson, the billionaire?” I question, surprise in my tone.
“The one and only. His business partner, Tom Granger, has a son, Scott, who is Elle’s ex-boyfriend.”
I can’t remember Elle ever having a boyfriend. She must have dated him before junior year of college when I met her.
“They haven’t been together since she was twenty. There are rumors he was abusive to her. I couldn’t find anything concrete on that, but I wouldn’t doubt it. He doesn’t have a good reputation when it comes to women or business.”
“She flinched once when I went to caress her face and I could tell she’d been hurt by someone before. That fucking piece of shit,” I growl, between clenched teeth as I fight off images of all the horrible things he could’ve done to her.
“Calm down. There’s more for you to hear.” His head turns in my direction. “Scott Granger is blackmailing Elle.”
“What?”
“You heard me. He’s forcing her to be his girlfriend.”
“She’s his girlfriend?” I question, raking a hand through my hair.
“He told her he’d ruin your reputation if she didn’t break up with you.”
“Motherfucker.”
“Yeah, he’s a piece of shit. He used your ties to the Bastards to scare her off - said you’d filtered money for the club through Canvas.”
“She should know, I wouldn’t do that.”
“I’m sure she does, but she wouldn’t take the chance. This dude could fabricate evidence. He has the means to do it, Josh.”
“How did you find all this out?” I’m aware my brother has connections and ways of finding things out that the average person can’t comprehend, but I’m still curious how he obtained this information.
“Come on, Joshy. I have my ways. You didn’t really think I was going to answer did you?”
“No, but I want to make sure the information is accurate.”
Jam raises his brow. “Really? It’s fuckin’ insultin’ that you’re asking me this.”
“Jam, I meant no disrespect. I’m really worried about Elle.”
“Don’t worry, the info is solid. I’d bet my left nut on it.”
Nodding my head, I stare down into my glass and picture kicking Scott’s ass. “What should I do?”
“Not I. We.” Jam shoots his drink and slams the glass down on the bar so hard, I can’t believe it’s not in pieces all around us. “Let’s go.” He smirks.
Fifteen minutes later, I’m following behind my brother on his bike as we pull into a small marina just north of the city. We drive around to the back side, stopping in front of a garage. We park next to a black cargo van directly in front of the closed bay door.
Jam throttles down his bike, steps off and waves me over.
“What are we doing here?” I question, instantly aware of how dark and deserted this place looks.
“Relax.” He reaches into his back pocket and hands me a black neoprene mask. “Put this on.”
I look down at the mask and then back at my brother. “What the fuck is this?”
“Do what I say,” he barks at me. Knowing better than to argue with, or question my brother when he’s this serious. I do as I’m told.
Jam slips an identical mask over his light brown hair and folds it back, leaving his face exposed. I struggle to get the damn thing to fit right around my eyes when he unexpectedly grabs my head, slaps it and forcefully adjusts the mask into place. “Better?”
I nod in response, somehow embarrassed by a lack of skill at concealing my identity while standing in front of a rundown garage in the dark of night. Once again, I’m reminded my brother’s world is very different than mine.
Reaching out, Jam slaps his palm flat against the garage wall three times. Within seconds the heavy bay door is lifted from within and I instantly recognize the man standing on the opposite side as he says, “JD, this fucking kid’s a pain in the ass.” He shakes his head.
Billy Banes is like family to me. He’s one of my father’s oldest friends and he’s also one of the founding members of the Bastards. Most people call him Bad Billy or Billy Bang, but I’ve always known him as Uncle Billy.
“Hey Josh.” Uncle Billy addresses me, winks and then turns his attention back to speak with my brother again. “I’m telling ya, Frost is gonna snap his neck, if I don’t get right back.”
Jack Noonan is also a member of the Bastards. People call him Frost because of his nearly complete lack of emotion. Jack is a killer. I’m not sure how long I’ve known, or even how I know, but I do. His reputation is notorious. He’s a predator; pure and simple. Men like him are the reason I hate the life my family has chosen.
We trail Billy through the main bay into a hallway just outside the back office. We stop so they can refit the masks over their faces. Jam and Billy nod, then step through the door. I follow them, stopping dead in my tracks once I see who Scott Granger is. He’s someone I recently did a tattoo for and my blood boils when I think of what the letter E he had me permanently ink his body with, stands for. My only consolation is that he’s sitting here in the middle of the room and it’s not looking good for him. Frost is sitting in the dark, behind Scott, out of his field of vision. Scott is duct-taped around the arms, legs and torso, tightly secured to an office chair. He looks frightened and helpless, his face swollen and red.
Jam turns to Billy and cocks his head to the side. “You started without us?”
Billy shrugs his shoulders. “I may have slapped him once or twice.”
“I don’t know who you think you are but…” Scott tries to speak, but Jam cuts him off with a hard backhand across the face. The smacking sound alone is painful.
“Now, now, first you need to pay for what you’ve done. Then we talk about who thinks what.” Jam smiles as Scott winces from the pain of the fresh slap.
Jam and Billy turn to face me, while Frost never takes his eyes off Scott.
“First, he pays for what he’s done,” Jam speaks slowly and directly to me.
I feel the anger surge inside me. Before I even realize what’s happening, I’m standing over Scott, punching him in the face repeatedly, as images of all this piece of shit has done to Elle flash through my mind. I’m not sure how many times I hit him, or for how long, but by the time I stop my hands ache and are covered in his blood. I can barely open my fists.
Scott Granger’s face is bloody and battered. At some point his screams and cries turned into moaning with his chin buried deep into his chest. His breathing is labored and shallow. Three of his teeth are on the floor at my feet.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck - what have I done?” I step back, mumbling to myself and try to focus. I’ve never been afraid to throw a few punches if a situation calls for it, but this is different.
The adrenaline dump hits me out of nowhere and I can’t stop my hands from shaking.
“Now, he needs to know why.” Jam steps over, letting me know I’m not finished.
Uncle Billy steps in front of Scott with a rusted, old mop bucket in his hands. He grins evilly and tosses what appears to be a full bucket of filthy water into Scott’s chest and face. “Wakey, wakey.”
Billy seems to be enjoying this a bit too much.
Scott coughs and hacks weakly for so long, I start to think the fit may end with him dead.
Billy laughs and slaps me on the back. “There he is.”
I see why people call him Bad Billy.
“Now, he needs to know why.” Jam repeats his last directive and nods at me. He’s right. Scott needs to know Elle is off limits from this moment forward. Without thinking, I reach back and peel off the mask covering
my face. “Forget you ever knew Elle.”
Scott blinks repeatedly, trying to focus his eyes on my face before him. It doesn’t take long.
“Dawson?” He mumbles, glancing from me to the others. It only takes a moment for him to realize, the other men in the room are from the Bastards.
Before I can say anything else, Jam steps in. “And I’m damn sure you know who the fuck we are too.” Jam and Billy leave their masks on as he slowly nods his head twice.
Frost still sits motionless behind Scott, with no mask; the blank look on his face screams bad intentions.
Without warning, Billy walks out of the office, followed by Jam, who stops at the door and turns to face me. “Let’s go.”
I follow without hesitation.
“So, taking your mask off - that was one way to go, I guess.” He sounds amused.
“That’s what you meant for me to do, right?” I ask.
“Personally, I’d have gone with a detailed threat myself, but it worked for you.” I can still hear laughter in his tone.
“Now what happens?” I ask, my stomach unsettled from the events of this night.
“Now little brother, you use that sink in the garage to clean yourself up, you go home and figure out how to get Elle back.”
“And Scott?” I’m almost afraid to ask, but I need to know.
Jam looks hesitant to answer at first, but then shrugs it off. “While I’m thoroughly pleased and even a little impressed with the beating you dropped on our buddy in there; I’m afraid Scotty is gonna need a more permanent reminder of our expectations.”
“What does that even,” I begin to ask, but Jam interrupts. “Go home, little brother.”
I turn to leave as Jam and Billy head back inside the office. Through the open door, I see Frost finally move, stepping in close behind Scott.
He’s smiling.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Elle
The past two weeks have crawled by at a turtle’s pace. Every day without Josh feels like three. I’ve been trying to keep myself occupied with work to distract me from how much I miss him, but it’s not helping. He’s never far from my mind, no matter how busy I try to stay.
Tonight, I’m finally going to get out and meet my girls, Janny and Kenna. I need some female interaction and distraction from the mess my love life has become. I never imagined being in this position. Things were much simpler when my heart didn’t get involved. However, I wouldn’t change a thing about the time I had with Josh except I’d wish for more of it - maybe a lifetime of days with him. Forever has a nice ring to it. I haven’t heard from Scott since the night we went to the charity auction. I’m not sure why he hasn’t ordered me to go somewhere with him yet, but I’ll take the respite from his company. It’s wishful thinking on my part, but I hope he forgets about me. Maybe he’ll meet a girl who’ll suck his dick better than anyone ever has.
Gathering up my keys and purse, as I prepare to leave, there’s a knock on the door. Frowning, at the delay this will cause, I open the door.
“Josh,” I whisper. I’m surprised to see him.
“Elle, can I come in?” he questions, both hands shoved into his front pockets.
Nodding, I step back and usher him inside, before closing the door.
Spinning around, my eyes scan over Josh. He nervously runs a hand through his hair and I notice blood on his knuckles. Catching his hand between mine, I draw it closer to my face.
Gently running a finger over the multiple raw splits in the skin on his knuckles, I peer up at him. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Scott Granger, not so much.”
I gasp, one hand raising to my chest. “What did you do, Josh?”
“I did what needed to be done.”
“I didn’t want you to get involved. I don’t want any of this blowing back on you.”
“Don’t worry, it won’t. Why didn’t you tell me he was blackmailing you?”
“I was ashamed of my past with him. He has more money than he can spend in a lifetime, Josh. That means he can buy any favors he needs. Favors that could ruin your business.”
“You should’ve told me and trusted me to do what’s right. Whether we’re together or not, I’m always going to save you.”
We stare at each other in silence for what seems like forever. There are things that need to be said, but I can’t find the courage to bridge the gap.
“I’m going to give you the space you deserve. I don’t want you to feel obligated to be with me because you want to repay me. You don’t owe anyone anything. Not me - not your father. This is your life, Elle. Do what makes you happy. That’s all I want for you.” He leans forward, kisses my forehead and walks out of my apartment leaving me in a state of shock.
I can’t believe he beat up Scott for me. I can only pray long and hard this doesn’t come back to bite him in the ass at a later date.
* * *
Walking into Quake, my mind flashes back to the last time I was here with all my friends. It was shortly after I’d started to notice that Josh was actually hot. Before then I’d never really thought much about him or whether he was attractive. That particular night, he was out on the dance floor smoothly maneuvering around all us girls. His t-shirt was tight on his chest and biceps and his new tattoos were peeking out the bottom of his sleeve. It was like looking at him with a fresh set of eyes and seeing him as the gorgeous guy he is. That revelation freaked me out and knocked me off balance. Josh, my “friend,” became someone I tried to avoid or immaturely insulted because I didn’t know what to do with the attraction I unexpectedly developed for him.
Now, I don’t know what to do about the depth of what I feel for him for a completely different reason. Saying I love him would only hurt more. It’s a secret I’ll probably have to take to the grave with me. Maybe he’ll move on and find a girl who makes him happy. I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to get over him. He’s the perfect man for me. How do you move on from everything you’ve ever wanted to something less without being dissatisfied?
The loud music pulses through my body, the bass thumping in my chest as I spot Janny and Kenna at a table in the back. Smiling, I make my way through the crowd until the three of us can exchange hugs. Taking a seat at the table with them, I say, “hey, girls. How are you?”
“I’m tired,” Janny replies.
“I’m pregnant,” Kenna announces, nonchalantly.
Janny and I both scream and jump up from our seats to hug her once again.
“I’m so happy for you,” I say, tears in my eyes. And though I mean my words, I can’t help the pang of envy running through me. I’d give anything to be with Josh and to have a family together.
“I’m going to be an auntie. I can’t believe it,” Janny, says with a squeal.
“I found out this week. I’m only eight weeks along, but I had to tell you both.”
“Is Derek excited?” I ask.
“He’s ridiculously excited. He’s convinced it’s a boy because he has too much testosterone to make a girl.”
We all titter. Picturing him saying those very words isn’t much of a stretch.
“How have you been, Elle?” Janny asks.
“I’m okay. I’ve been better, I’ve been worse.” I shrug my shoulders in feigned indifference.
“What do you mean?” She watches me and I can tell her eyes see more than they should.
“I’ve been busy with work,” I answer, noncommittally.
“How are things with you and Josh?” Kenna asks, jumping in.
“We’re not together.”
“What happened?” they both ask at the same time.
“It didn’t work out.” I keep my answer vague. I can’t tell them about Scott. Now that I know what Josh did, I definitely won’t be sharing that information with anyone. “I’m okay with it though. It was for the best.”
Janny narrows her eyes at me and presses her lips together. “I’ll let it go for now, but at some point, you’re going to have to tell me
what really happened.”
“I realize you can’t drink, but I need a stiff one tonight,” I say, nodding at Kenna.
“That’s what she said,” Kenna replies with a snort.
“I can tell you grew up with an older brother,” Janny tells her.
“Yeah and Derek is even worse than Kyle ever was. Half the time he treats me like one of the guys and the other half he’s busy…” her words trail off.
I laugh and gesture at her still flat stomach. “I think we know what keeps you guys occupied most of the time.”
We spend the rest of the night dancing and laughing. It was the perfect way to blow off steam and when I walk through the front door of my apartment building I still have a smile on my face and a lightness to my step.
I stop inside the main entrance to collect my mail from the bank of silver mailboxes lining the wall. I haven’t bothered to check it in a few days and there are quite a few envelopes stuffed inside. Arranging them all in a neat pile, I head down the long hallway to my apartment.
Once inside, I drop my keys on the narrow shelf inside the door and kick my shoes off. As I walk toward the kitchen I shuffle through the mail, looking for anything important. There’s a large envelope, with my name printed neatly on it and no return address. Dropping everything else on the granite counter, I slip my finger under the seal, prying it open. I pull out the card, my eyes quickly perusing the contents. It’s an invitation to the art exhibit Josh is taking part in and a reception that follows. They’re going to announce the winner of the competition during the reception.
Josh has added a note at the bottom of the page.
Elle, I’d really like you to be there. Please consider coming as my friend. It’s only right if you’re there. You were the inspiration for the artwork I entered in the competition. I’d really love for you to see it. Don’t overthink this. Just please be there. - Josh
Smiling, I lower the card to the counter. He knows me so well. I’m going to overthink this entire situation. It’s part of who I am. I want to go. I’d like to be there to see him win. Even if he doesn’t, I’d still want to be there. I’d like to see him - period. But I don’t want to piss Scott off and have him go after Josh. I have a couple of days to think about it. I’m going to get some sleep now and resume my overthinking tomorrow.
The Complete Quake Series Page 68