“Hint to what?” Tate chimed in, anger laced in his tone.
“Victor. He had mentioned it one night that he hated the cool kids in high school. Except me, of course. We had an agreement.”
“What? I assumed you fucked him, but what did you get out of it? Drugs? Money?” Tate crossed his arms over his chest, highlighted how strong and in charge he was.
“His daddy is the principal of my school. He said he’d make sure my job would always be safe in exchange for a few nights here and there. One night, he mentioned how he was planning some sort of revenge. We chatted about who would be on his list. I should have added both of you,” she said without a twinge of guilt. As she spoke the words, bile rose up in my throat but I was frozen.
She knew about the attack? I had thought it was a random act of rage, but now I see it was calculated. She could have prevented it all.
“Cylas?” Tate whispered, his head bowed low.
“Yep,” she replied with a pep in her voice. She sounded proud.
Tate walked out of the room, leaving me alone with Sophia. I’d never ever hated someone so much in my life. I wanted to scream at her, attack her with my nails, and make her bleed. She took away people’s loved ones without mercy. She didn’t deserve to live.
I walked out without saying a word, leaving her alone in his bedroom. The need to be with Tate was stronger than speaking another word to my sister. I was done with her.
I slowly walked into his living room but noticed the patio door was open and he was leaning his arms against the railing. The amount of hurt and anger radiating from him could be felt before I even stepped foot outside. I wanted to take it all away from him. He didn’t deserve this.
“I called the detective who we spoke to after the reunion. He’s on his way over. I know she’s your sister, but she deserves to be behind bars for what she just admitted to. The saddest thing though is how she showed no remorse. I can’t fathom having a soul so dark,” he said quietly and all of his fire, all of his confidence, had been drawn out of him. He sounded like the shell of the man I loved.
“I agree with you. She’s always had that dark side to her, but she used to hide it better. I’ve slowly seen it take over though, and while she can play nice and act like the perfect elementary school teacher, she has no respect for anyone. I can’t help but feel guilty that I didn’t know and didn’t do more to help her. When we were younger, she wasn’t this bad. Or maybe I just didn’t want to believe it.” I didn’t know what I was saying anymore. I did hold a certain level of guilt, though. She was my family, and I had no idea that she was capable of such pure evil.
“This was never on you. Sure, she’s your sister, but she isn’t your responsibility. She makes her own choices, and it’s clear she doesn’t have a moral bone in her body.” A few minutes later, we heard a knock at the door and Tate let the detective in. I hadn’t even given a thought to keeping an eye on Sophia’s whereabouts.
“We caught her downstairs as she was getting into her car. We’re bringing her in for questioning. Can I ask how you got her to confess?” he asked and from his demeanor, he had been doing this a long time. The way he analyzed his surroundings and us so naturally, I hardly even noticed what he was doing.
“She brought it up, we didn’t. She came over here upset, and she probably wasn’t thinking about what she was admitting to. We’re as surprised as you are, sir,” Tate responded for both of us, holding my hand and massaging it with his thumb.
After a few more questions, the detective left and thanked us for the phone call. Once the door was shut and we were left alone, it all caught up with me. The gravity of the situation weighed me down, and I collapsed onto the couch with Tate scooting in behind me.
“What the hell just happened?” I asked as I started processing it all.
“We finally realized who your Sophia really is. Dylan and her really do belong together, but society doesn’t deserve to put up with both of them. I keep thinking about how Cylas jumped in front of Sophia to save her. What if he hadn’t?”
We both shared a silent moment as we pondered the “what if.” If he hadn’t, maybe he’d still be alive. Would Sophia, though? Was Victor aiming at her?
“She said though that Cylas was on the list.”
“What if Victor had a plan of his own and Sophia was on it, too? I wouldn’t put it past her to piss him off enough to make him add her.”
“Hmm. Maybe. All I know is that I’m ready for San Diego. Chicago is wearing me down,” I told him as I closed my eyes, trying to memorize the feel of him behind me. When I was in his arms, everything felt better.
“Sooner than later. I think Ryder found us a place that would be ready to move into as early as five weeks from now.”
“Done.”
We stayed around his place, packing up some of his things, but there was an unspoken heaviness throughout the rest of the day. I prayed that with time, everything would be sorted out. My heart hurt for Tate.
I HADN’T REALIZED HOW Tyler would take the news of me moving.
When I say that, I meant that he threw a damn fit.
“It’s time for a change. We both need to get away from all the negativity that surrounds us in the city and we fell in love with San Diego. We’ll come back and visit, and it’ll give you an excuse to head down there, too. How are you and Polly Pocket?” I asked, hoping to redirect his thoughts.
“She broke it off and ran away with some pilot. I’m on to Amanda now. Now, back to the main subject. You’re not fucking moving, bro! We’re in this shit together. Bros before hos?” he asked with a slight pout.
“That doesn’t count when I plan on marrying her!” I confessed as we lingered around my kitchen island.
“Oh. No shit?” he asked honestly. Tyler looked at me for a moment and I could see the wheels turning. He hadn’t realized how serious we were.
“Yes, shit. You have a ton of friends here. You can text or call me whenever, okay?” I had to try really hard not to laugh at our situation. Two grown ass men arguing about the other moving to another state, one of them pouting, and the other giving terms of communication.
“You love her?”
“Yes. Very much. We’ve both been through some rough stuff over the past few months, and when we visited Payton, we both finally felt at peace. We need this. I just want you on my side because I’m coming back and you better be visiting.” I gave him a beer out of the fridge, and I could see him softening.
“I get that. I’m sorry I overreacted, man. It was just unexpected. Does everyone else know?”
“Yeah, mostly. I told them all this morning, and they were all cool about it. Graham seems to be doing better and everyone else is healing in their own way. This is mine.”
Stella had told Naomi a while back and her last day of work was Friday. She’d already packed up, and she was staying at my place for the last few days until we left for good.
After Tyler left my place, I headed down to the cemetery. Leaving the boys was going to be tough, but leaving Cylas felt like a betrayal. I had visited him a few times and there was always an assortment of flowers and cards at his gravesite. It brought me happiness to know that so many people loved and cherished him. He wouldn’t be alone when I left.
The grass was perfectly green and the clouds had just rolled in. I sat here usually rambling about whatever was going on in my life and how he should have been there for it. Today was different. I needed to talk about the future.
“This is going to be my last visit for a while. I’ll be back every time I’m in town, but for now, I need to be with Stella in San Diego. She’s the one. We didn’t know her very well, but if you had the chance to see her huge heart and loving personality, I know you’d approve of her. I can’t wait to settle down with her and make her my wife. I feel like I’m finally taking your advice and appreciating the woman in my life. I think about you every day and how I’m the man I am today because of you. Tyler said he’d come by for me every now and then and see ho
w things are.” I was bawling. Tears were falling on the grass as I sat on my knees and it felt like my heart was being ripped out of my chest all over again.
“I know you’re looking out for me, but if you could look out for the boys and Stella, too, I’d really appreciate it, man.” I took a moment to say the next part. “Anyway, I love you and next time I’m in town, I’ll catch you up on all everything. See you around, Cylas.”
I patted the ground and laid my hand on the cold stone. Wiping the tears and snot, I nodded my head and looked up just as the sun broke through the clouds. Cylas would always be watching down on me and knowing that put me at peace.
I had a woman to make mine, and I knew just the perfect time.
“HOW DID YOU CONVINCE Tyler and Graham to road trip to San Diego with all our stuff when we get to fly there and meet them?” Stella joked as we went through security.
“I told them there would be a party they couldn’t miss. And I paid them way too much money. I think they both were ready for a vacation though, and now they’re getting an all-expense paid trip. Win, win, baby.” I held her hand as we head toward our gate.
It was the second time in just a few months that we had traveled together and so much had changed. If I had any doubts back then about her, they were gone now. She was my forever girl.
Speaking of, I was nervous as fuck. The box in my pocket was the constant reminder of what I was about to do, and while I didn’t think she’d say no, proposing in public wasn’t a tiny feat.
The best part was that she had no idea. I had Naomi help pick out the ring and she had pried her for information the week before. According to my source, Stella was ready for marriage, but she was thinking maybe once we’d settled into San Diego. That gave me hope that it was on her mind and that she wasn’t opposed to the idea of being with me forever.
I purposely got us there a little early so that there wasn’t a huge crowd and it wouldn’t be rushed. We walked up to the gate and I found an empty row for us.
“Are you ready for a new beginning? Today’s a big day, babe,” I questioned as she took a seat and I followed in beside her, trying to act as casual as possible.
She rummaged through her carry-on tote, probably looking for her Kindle. She had downloaded a bunch of shows and books for the plane ride last time, and I could tell it was her new routine. “Ah-ha! Found it! What were you saying?” Looking over at me, she was clueless and I smiled at the surprise I was about to pull.
“I was saying how today’s going to be a big day for us. Are you ready for a new beginning?” I clasped my hands over my lap, and I could feel the box under my arm. No backing out now.
“Oh. Yeah, for sure. I’m just ready to be on the plane, and I hope I’ll just pass out before we take off. Who’s picking us up?” Pulling her foot under her other leg, Stella shifted to get comfortable.
“Ryder, I think.” In reality, everyone would be there when we landed, assuming she said yes to my next question.
“Good. We need to buy them a gift for helping us so much lately. Maybe we can go shopping tomorrow?” She was getting us off track. When I planned this in my head, we would continue talking about new beginnings, and then I’d get down on one knee. How was I supposed to transition now?
“That sounds like a great idea. Are you sure you’re ready for some big changes?” I inquired, hoping this would lead into it.
“Mmm, I don’t think I’d be getting on a plane with you if I wasn’t.”
She wasn’t making this easy. She wasn’t sticking to the damn script! I laughed lightly at the situation. When she looked over at me, I felt like I’d been caught, that she somehow had figured me out.
“Oh, this is not how I planned it out but looking back, our relationship is far from conventional so why start now. Stella, I didn’t know what love was until I met you. I didn’t realize what I was missing, and now that I have you in my life, I never ever want to be without you. Throughout all of our shitty luck, I knew at the end of the day that we’d be okay because we were in it together. It was because of you that I made it through this past year, and I hope we have another seventy years of chaos, love, and happiness.”
During my speech, she had been looking at me as if I’d grown a third nipple. As I got down on one knee in the middle of the airport, she threw her hands up to her mouth and gasped before nodding. “Yes, yes, a thousand times yes!” she screamed and threw her arms around my neck, knocking me onto my ass.
“Uh, can I ask the question first?” I chuckled as she kissed me over and over again.
“Why? You already know my answer.” She looked into my eyes with such confidence and happiness, who was I to argue.
“I guess you’re right. I love you, Stella. Thank you for making me the happiest man in this airport right now.”
“You really had to propose and expect me not to jump your bones during the flight? We won’t be alone for hours, baby!” she quietly whined into my ear.
My little vixen.
“I got us a hotel for the night. Ryder knows why.”
“I love you.”
“Love you too, babe.” I gave her a kiss on the lips. “We’ll remember this day forever.”
WE WERE ENGAGED AND living in a new town. After two weeks of living in San Diego, I wondered why everyone wasn’t moving here. I mean, seriously, the weather was always gorgeous, you were by the ocean, they had orgasmic food, and good people. What more could you ask for?
Tate and I were mostly moved into the new home, and we both started work tomorrow. We had walked by a brand new bakery that had the most gorgeous cakes in the window, and after talking to the manager and showing her my piping skills, she hired me on the spot.
Things were falling into place and life was good. We’d decided on a wedding the following spring to give us enough time to plan. Payton had taken charge as our wedding planner, and I wasn’t about to argue.
“There are two bottles already made in the fridge. Just heat them up in a cup of warm water and she’ll be the easiest baby ever. If you rock her after you feed her, she’ll be asleep within minutes,” Payton relayed to Tate and me.
We were watching Jagger and Emilynn for the night so the two couples could have a child free night together. All of us had been to dinner and down to the beach this week, but I thought it’d be a nice treat for them to get away. Plus, seeing Tate bouncing Emilynn on his lap and talking to Jagger about girls and muscles was just too cute.
“Jagger will pretty much eat whatever you eat. He isn’t picky. Oh, he’ll try to manipulate you into an hour of television shows, but he knows he’s limited to one show at night after dinner then bed. He’s a sneaky one. Thank you both again. They don’t trust random babysitters so we thought this day would never come,” Tristen called out as he pointed to the wives who looked like they were about to protest, but Ryder quickly chimed in.
“I get it, especially while they’re still young. Let’s not piss off the ladies before we get alcohol in their system, ‘kay?” he told Tristen as he walked over to Emilynn, who was playing in her bouncer. “Mommy and Daddy are going on a date, sweet girl. You be good for Auntie Stella and Uncle Tate, deal?”
Emilynn cooed and gave a cheesy grin, and I couldn’t help but look in awe. He was a good daddy.
“Let’s go before they realize what’s happening. You have our numbers; feel free to text with updates.” Payton winked and walked out the door.
Once they were all gone and we were alone with the two little ones; that was when it got real. Tate was playing with Jagger on the ground, and I was holding Em in my arms and playing patty cake with her. We could handle this. No problem.
Thirty minutes and a diaper change later, I had a different opinion. I had heated up the bottle as instructed but apparently hadn’t left it in the warm water long enough because Emilynn was boycotting the bottle. Every time I got the nipple close to her mouth after she initially tried it, she swung her head from side to side and clamped her mouth shut.
Ja
gger and Tate were almost done having dinner, and they were fine together. “Wanna switch?” I begged Tate as I watched him clear the table. I wasn’t about to eat dinner until this little one was asleep, which might be never.
“Sure. Jagger went to grab his jammies. Can you help him get dressed, and I’ll feed the princess?” Tate asked without another thought.
Thank the heavens, this man is a keeper.
“I can do that. She won’t take the bottle. I think she hates me,” I huffed out as I passed her off to the strong arms of Tate.
“Nah. It’s too cold. Where’s the water you had?” He looked around and found it on the counter. I watched as he placed the bottle back in the water, checking it every minute or so and testing the temperature of the formula on his wrist.
“You’re a pro. What the hell?”
“I had sisters, remember?”
“I did, too? Just not the right kind.”
“You two were the same age. It’s different. Mine are all younger and I thought I was the coolest kid ever because I could feed them and burp them all by myself. Mom appreciated the help so I got good at it.” He shrugged as he pulled the bottle out and shook it before testing it again. “You want it lukewarm so that it warms their tummies and makes them want to sleep. Too cold or too hot and it riles them up. Science, baby.” He winked and went into the living room and had a seat as he fed Emilynn.
I went over, helped Jagger with his clothes, and settled down with him to watch a show. His lids were heavy by the first commercial, and I knew he would be out as soon as we got him to bed.
Maybe, between the two of us, we could be great parents.
Payton texted me twice to check on the kids. They had gone to bed easily, and Tate and I had some peace and quiet that we were taking advantage of. By that, I meant that we were taking a nap together on the couch with the monitors beside us.
It was just past midnight when they got home and we woke up to them chuckling lightly at what they had walked into.
Deceitfully (Sinfully Series) Page 16