Talon's Heart

by Jordan Silver

  “How'd you get her to talk?”

  “That was easy believe it or not, that girl is dying for attention she has like the lowest self esteem I've ever seen in a human being. Who would've believed it, I mean she's not bad to look at, she's enrolled here so she must have some smarts but damn, the girl is...damn. Do you know every night Harden makes her do a smoothie run?”

  “So she just opened up and shared?”

  “Nah, I led her a little, asked her things like why you hated her so much, what she saw in Harden when she was just using her? By the way she told Harden about Stark, your girl shared a little with her when she first arrived not a whole lot just about catching him with the cousin. Harden went digging for the rest. Oh yeah here." He threw something on the desk; looked like a USB stick or some shit.

  “The fuck is this?”

  “I recorded the whole thing.” He grinned at me cause he knew he’d done good.

  “My man, now all I need is to get Harden on here confessing to her sins and I'm good to go; then I gotta deal with Stark the fuck.”

  “I don't think he's stupid enough to come back here."

  I looked at Kevin and folded my arms.

  "He's not, I'm taking the fight to him and you're not telling Nonna shit or I'll break your legs." He held his hands up in surrender and backed up. "Take it easy bro, I won't say a word but you're not going alone.”

  “It's not your fight bro, I can handle this." They both looked at each other like I didn't know our secret code of honor as a team. Shit, maybe I should've kept that little tidbit to myself. Hey they didn't know when I planned on going so they couldn't interfere. "Thanks for this bro." I pocketed the little device as the professor came gliding in with his old ass.

  "You're late dude.”

  “Sorry Mr. Avery, I know how you yearn for my intellectual presence but nature called.”

  “Dude, TMI”

  “I'm sure I don't know what that means and with your proclivities I don't want to.”

  “That might be best Profess.”

  “So I heard you bought your new bride a Tibetan mastiff, good dog that.

  " What...the...fuck?

  Chapter 26

  TALON

  That damn dog is a pain in the ass, not only is he eating me into the poor house the little shit has totally confiscated my woman. I fixed his ass last night though; that's right I locked him out of our room and no matter how much he moaned and carried on I didn't give in. Skye bitched at me until I got my mouth on the goods then she piped down too.

  "What are you giving him now?"

  "You do know its ridiculous to be jealous of a dog right?" I could see she was trying her best not to laugh at me.

  "I'm not jealous of the mutt, I just asked a question."

  I sniffed her neck and wrapped my arms around her waist for my morning breakfast snuggle. The damn dog started making noises.

  "You want to become a handbag you keep that shit up." I pointed at him and he settled his ass down again. I guess I should be happy that he was already becoming protective of her, as long as he remembered who was the alpha around here we should get along just fine.

  "Okay so tell me, what's going on."

  "What?" How the hell did she learn to look at me like mom? You know the look, the one that if they held it for one minute more you'd be spilling state secrets. I'd seen mom put the whammy on dad more than once. I ducked my head into the fridge, which was fast becoming my safeguard these days.

  "Oh no you don't mister, get out of there and tell me what's going on with you."

  Okay Avery, man the fuck up you knew this day was gonna come sooner or later, looks like its now.

  "No."

  Yep, that threw her for a loop alright, the first time I'd told her no. I went about my business like she wasn't looking all flustered and out of sorts.

  "Talon."

  "What did I say babe? leave it alone."

  I wasn't trying to hurt her feelings but we both knew I was gonna do what I had to do. There was no point in discussing shit with her because I already knew what she was gonna say so what was the point?

  "You can't just leave it like that."

  "Babe we got married I didn't become a eunuch. What made you think I was gonna become that guy just because we got married? Listen couple things you can bank on; one, I'm never gonna cheat on you, I'm always gonna take care of you, I'm always gonna love you, with that said, there's nothing for you to worry about. Don't do that, why are you doing that?"

  I pointed my finger at her because she looked like she was about to burst into tears.

  "Because you're gonna get into trouble...please Talon."

  I studied her for a minute, these Avery women were full of tricks; dad and gramps had already schooled me.

  "Uh huh, alright Olivia junior eat your breakfast and stop trying to play your husband." She wasn't too happy that I'd called her on her shit, hah. I'm gonna have to watch out for that one.

  I'd given the guy I had working the case what Cunning had given to me the day before; he said it was a start but we needed more than just Robyn's word on shit. Now I have to set up a sting and shit. He thought maybe I should stage a fight with Skye for Mackenzie's benefit but I nixed that shit. I wouldn't give her the satisfaction not even in make believe. Besides Skye would probably junk punch my ass, she'd grown a little feisty since the I dos.

  SKYLAR

  "I'm telling you Stephanie he's up to something I just don't know what; I mean seriously Cunning and Robyn? everybody knows that's a nightmare waiting to happen."

  "Except her, she seems to think she's in, I hear she's been bragging that she's part of the in crowd now."

  "I don't know, I almost feel bad for her because knowing Talon if he's after her she's in deep crap."

  "Well he still thinks that she made you sick and you know how he is where you're concerned. I mean for heaven's sake Skye the man spent a million dollars on a dog to protect you."

  "Isn't he the best? But if he gets into trouble I'll kill him."

  "I wouldn't worry about that too much if I were you, from what I hear his nonna protects him like a lioness with her cub; something to do with him reminding her of his grandfather."

  "Yeah, those two are crazy about each other, but he can't keep getting into trouble."

  "Maybe it's nothing, maybe he's just being cautious that's all."

  "Get real we're talking about Talon here, he already went after Robert the ass and if I'm to believe the stuff he mumbles sometimes he'd like to have a go at Lainey the tramp as he so fondly calls her."

  I had to roll my eyes at that because sometimes I wanted him to go after her, but that was stupid, we had each other now and all that was in the past.

  "Well if it isn't the little tramp, how'd you do it huh? did you pretend you got pregnant your first time out, what's next a pretend miscarriage; a little slip and fall in the shower?"

  "Shut up Mackenzie you're making a fool of yourself."

  "No one's talking to you Stephanie, is that why you brought her here, so she could help you worm your way in with the rich kids? Everyone knows you're just a poor country hick here on a scholarship."

  "I'm the one you're after leave her out of it."

  I tried to put myself between them but Stephanie wasn't having it. I guess the fact that Mackenzie was almost twice my height could have something to do with that...

  TALON

  If you could be arrested for your thoughts I'd be doing hard time; the shit Cunning had uncovered still wasn't enough to go to the cops, which just added to my frustration. I'm giving serious thought to taking matters into my own hands; it really pisses me off that she thought she could get away with this shit.

  "Avery you better get down to the quad ASAP pal."

  I squinted at the kid who was hurrying past me as I made my way to meet Skye.

  "Why?"

  "Your girl's about to get into it with that Harden chick."

  He kept running as he spoke.

>   I didn't even think, just sprinted past him and the crowd of assholes who were headed in the same direction.

  There was a nice size crowd gathered in front of the steps, even the geek squad was taking in the action from their table under the tree. Stephanie was trying to get between Skye and Mackenzie or so it seemed and I could hear Mackenzie's voice above the ruckus screaming shit at my wife.

  "Oh yeah Robert says hi, remember him, the guy you couldn't even hold onto because you were such a lousy fuck..."

  I had my hand in her chest and was pushing her back before I realized my feet had even moved. I was too mad to form words; that's never happened before. Okay I'm a stand up guy, I hate those stories about men beating up on women, I think that's some weak asshole jerk shit behavior, but at the moment I saw myself doing it.

  "Come on Talon let her go." Skye was pulling on my arm and yelling in my ear.

  Fuck I'd lifted Mackenzie off the ground by her collar.

  "What did you say to my wife?"

  I stayed in her face because the trick had crossed the fucking line and all bets were off.

  She didn't answer me as she was too busy trying to find a quick exit. The tables had turned, now she was the one on the receiving end of this shit. I wanted to hurt her, it took everything in me to throttle back from going over that line.

  "What! did you think you we're gonna fuck with her and I was gonna do what? You come near her again and I'll forget you're a female you even look at MY WIFE a fucking gain and you're done." I dropped her and left her clutching at her throat, my rage was so high I wanted to kick the shit out of her. Skye grabbed my hand and pulled me away before I could do anything more than threaten her again.

  I took Skye and Stephanie by the arm and led them away as the crowd stood around trying to piece shit together. She'd just sealed her fate; I might've left her some breathing room before, now I'm going all out to destroy her ass. If I couldn’t get her a jail sentence I’ll think of something else, but either way she was going the fuck down hard.

  Chapter 27

  TALON

  Skye's looking at me as if she expects me to go ape shit any minute but that's okay. I'm gonna keep my cool, at least in front of her. She's had enough bullshit what with her asshole ex and somebody trying to kill her with mold. Now this shit.

  I took the girls to our place and left them with the dog.

  "Talon where're you going?"

  She held onto my hand like a vice grip; I kissed her forehead reassuringly and closed my eyes praying for strength.

  "I'm not going to strangle the bitch if that's what you're worried about, now go play with your dog and I'll be right back."

  I guess I shouldn't have told her to go play with her dog like I was sending a kid off to play dolls or some shit because her chest puffed up like she was ready for battle.

  "Talon Xavier Adam Avery..."

  Shit I got the full name and the bitch brow plus the hand on the hip; she meant business.

  "Can you take your little ass inside and find something to do ‘til I get back? Sasha come and get your mother."

  The dog came running at his name and while she was distracted trying not to let him escape out the door that I'd purposely widened I made my escape.

  "Arghh, jackass."

  "Love you too babydoll." I yelled over my shoulder as I headed out. I had to think of what I was gonna do next. I couldn't very well body slam a female even nonna would frown on that shit but I sure did want to. I walked and thought trying to come up with a way to hit back at her, some way that would definitely hurt her. She wasn’t getting away with fucking with my wife, no way no how.

  "Cunning that twit there with you?"

  "Nah why what happened?"

  "Harden got in Skye's face I want this shit over and done like yesterday, get Robyn to go see her she might be in a venting mood."

  "How the hell am I supposed to do that?"

  "The fuck if I know, you'll think of something."

  I hung up the phone as I made my way across campus. I had no set direction in mind I just knew I needed to calm the fuck down. I guess I've been losing my rep in these parts since I'd spent the last few months concentrating on Skye and getting her sewn up tight. Now that was done looks like I was gonna have to knock some heads together to let these fuckers know.

  Since I couldn't very well punch that slag in her face I had to come up with something else. She was going down for the mold stunt and going down hard but she had to pay for today's little blip, no way she was getting away with embarrassing my wife in front of the whole fucking school.

  My phone rang with the strains of the theme song from Rocky.

  "Nonna?" Fucking Skye.

  "Hello young man and how is my favorite boy today?"

  I rolled my eyes at that I'm pretty sure she tells Rye the same thing.

  "Cut the crap old lady my wife snitched didn't she?"

  "Now is that anyway to speak to your nonna? Shame on you, as I was saying I have some information that might be of great interest to you."

  "Yeah what's that?" My ears perked right the fuck up, nonna wouldn't bullshit me and I knew whatever she had to say would have some sort of an impact on the fuckery that was going on in my life right now.

  "It seems that our friends the Starks are involved in some less than savory business dealings."

  "Oh yeah, like what?" I was feeling better already shit, looks like I'll get to fuck his shit up in more ways than one.

  "Well now that information's gonna cost ya."

  Shit I knew it. "Alright you old deviant what's it gonna cost me?"

  She laughed her ass off on the other line, gotta love nonna, she's as twisted as I am.

  "I want you to turn around and go back the way you came."

  "Nonna..."

  "Now Talon; haven't I taught you anything? A good kick in the ass is very satisfying but it's not long lasting. We need to hit the young lady where it hurts so she'll know and her cohorts will know that no one fucks with an Avery and Skylar is, in every sense of the word, ours."

  Damn I could cry I love the way the old tyrant thinks, but still. "But nonna can't I just slap the twit once?"

  "Boy heed me, Damien's already looking into that other matter concerning her. I don't know why my family insists on insulting me. All my years of hard work for nothing, you've been looking at this thing all wrong boy. Now this Harden person comes from a family of some standing yes, so what we do is we find their weaknesses. You know like where her brother's company is bleeding money since the demise of their parents, and you squeeze until it becomes a hemorrhage. Do you understand?"

  "Damn nonna, I was just hoping to maybe get her a couple months in jail or something."

  "Pfft, prison is nothing to a rich bitch compared to the lost of her wealth and standing trust me. You put a wealthy self-centered hoyden in jail and she is released to her wealth still in the bank she's thumbing her nose at you in a week's time. You take away that wealth and leave her a pauper, that's her destruction."

  "Nonna, you're scary, but I don’t necessarily want the rest of her family to pay for her misdeeds."

  “I thought you’d say that and that is why I had my people do some digging and found out that her inheritance is tied up in investments and stocks which are at this very moment being manipulated to suit our purposes. It’s a nice little nest egg, I’m thinking it would make a nice wedding gift for my new granddaughter.”

  “You’ve started the ball rolling already?” Damn she wasn’t leaving much for me to do.

  “Yes of course, by week’s end the young woman will find herself penniless; besides Damien assures me that there would be too many loopholes for her to slip through if the case was to ever make it to trial. This way you would’ve gotten your pound of flesh and it would be much longer lasting. Now as to the other thing, I sent Damien off to your bride’s hometown to do some digging.”

  “What?”

  “Don’t interrupt; now as I was saying. It seems there
was some sort of contract between the two men that would be Skylar’s father and this man Stark. But after the fiasco and I’m sure you know what I mean, it became null and void. It will appear that your father in law wasn’t as careless as you presumed.”

  Good for him he was still on my shit list until farther notice. “Go on.”

  “Well there were certain stipulations involved one of which was that if there was any ill treatment of the intended bride she could bow out of the deal. I will say being caught in bed with her cousin fits that description very well won’t you?”

  “Yeah I guess, but nonna, if you’ve taken care of everything what’s there for me to do? I was looking forward to kicking his ass again.”

  “Barbaric, you’re too much like your grandfather, all that fire. Oh too be young again.”

  “Nonna…gross. So it took you only a couple weeks to figure this all out huh, I repeat nonna you’re scary.

  "And don't you forget it boy; I’ve taken the liberty of having papers drawn up to combat anything the Stark camp might have up their sleeves but as it stands there should be no more trouble from that quarter. If they should make waves in the future we have the shady business dealings to hold over their heads. All wrapped up and tied in a bow. Consider it your wedding gift from me. Now go home to your wife and stop stressing the poor girl. I can't wait until you two come home for good she needs lots of training yet."

  She hung up the phone on that delightful note. Well shit, what was there for me to do now? With Stark taken care of it was pretty much over. Unless the ass decided he wanted to make another try. I almost wish he would. I had to make one more phone call on my way back.

  "Kevin come and get your girl from my place. I'm gonna need some alone time with the wife.”