A Little Band of Red

by Lily Freeman

  “Oh God, no, no.”

  Spinning around, she didn’t even bother to look at him before she ran straight back down the alley. Elliot was stunned, absolutely speechless, that was until the door behind him opened and he was forced to find some words because the look on Mika’s face was something he couldn’t ignore.

  “What did you do?”

  Chapter 10

  December 1st

  “Rise and shine, PJ, your first delivery’s due in twenty minutes.”

  “What?”

  “You’re late boss lady, move it.”

  Through sleepy eyes, PJ struggled to focus on her phone as Rodger’s unnaturally happy Monday morning voice ricocheted around her head, triggering all sorts of groggy memories from her last twenty-four hours. As she sat up, rubbing her eyes, they all came rushing back: the little dog, the huge man and Mika. He’d been amazing, helping her search the alleys in the rain while the other one, Elliot, had stood back and watched. She hadn’t asked, not that she ever would, but there’d been no need. The way Mika had touched him when they left, had said it all—her new neighbors were gay.

  Climbing out of bed, PJ found some clothes and headed for the bathroom. She actually had to fight the urge to check her backside out in the mirror, focusing instead on brushing her teeth, but somewhere between taming her hair and putting mascara on, she peeked. There wasn’t much evidence of her time at the club, only a few red marks, strategically placed over the curve of her ass. When she touched one, she was right back there with him, just like she’d been last night.

  Master Luke had crept into her dreams, crawling over her body and pressing her down hard into the mattress. She’d heard those words again, beautiful, perfect, so sweet and then he’d kissed her, his lips finding hers, his tongue filling her mouth. She’d woken up gasping and trembling, a heartbeat away from an orgasm, then she remembered and her dream had turned into a nightmare.

  Grabbing her coat, PJ headed to Starbucks, taking the long route, but again there was nothing, no scurrying feet, no whimpering dog, nothing.

  Twenty minutes later she stood in her lounge directing a continual flow of furniture and boxes. She still couldn’t believe she was actually doing it, moving into her new home. It was the single most exciting thing PJ had ever done yet beneath the joy she felt at achieving that goal, was a deep-seated pang of sadness. These were the moments that parents were meant to be proud of, the moments where Dads could lift anything and Mums knew exactly where that weird kitchen appliance should go. She didn’t have that. They didn’t even know, and most likely never would know, that their one and only daughter had built her dream home. She could Skype them, tell them everything that had happened, but she already knew how the conversation would go. Her father would just give her that look, his mouth twisting into a half sneer as he mumbled some sort of belittling comment. Her mother would reach for another glass of wine and attempt to drown them both out.

  “That’s the last of it for today, PJ.”

  Pushing that depressing thought back under the rug where it belonged, she turned to find Rodger unloading a stack of small boxes.

  “Next barge is booked for Wednesday, Phil’s up in your bathroom and Danny’s in the laundry. Final inspection’s booked in for Friday, but it’s only a formality. I think we’ve done it, Boss.”

  “God, I hope so.”

  “Me too.” With a smile, Rodger headed back upstairs just as a quiet knock sounded across the room. Clambering out from behind a pile of boxes PJ headed for the door, hauling it open to find Mika casually leaning against the wall.

  “Hi.”

  His beautiful soft, brown eyes took her in from head to toe.

  “Hi, yourself. There’s a guy at the front door who says he has your dog.”

  PJ’s heart ground to a halt. “What? Wait I—I’ll, shit. Where are my keys?” Trudging back through the chaos she found them then proceeded to drop her phone and smash a glass. The look of concern on Mika’s face would’ve been comical if she wasn’t so fucking desperate to get out the door.

  “Calm down.” Taking her hand gently in his, Mika led her down the hallway. Elliot was standing at the door towering over Rene and he was scowling.

  “You owe me big time, I’ve got your dog.” Rene’s smile faded as she stepped around Elliot’s huge body. “It doesn’t look good, PJ, poor little thing’s half dead. Do you know a good vet?”

  Her mouth went instantly dry, her throat tightening. “No, but—”

  Beside her Mika pulled out his phone, his fingers flying over the screen. “There’s one in Mill Lane. It’s a bit of a drive, but Elliot can take you.”

  She caught the cryptic look Mika shot over her shoulder before she peeked up at Elliot. It was the first time she’d been able to really look at him and it left her speechless. The sheer size of him was unnerving. He had to be about seven foot tall; big, broad and heavily muscled. Short black hair framed a face that was so masculine and angular, it was hard to see the beauty in it. He was attractive alright, but there was no softness to him, not like Mika. Elliot was all chiselled lines and darkness. She wanted to sit in a car with him about as much as she wanted a second date with Master Luke’s sadistic twin.

  God, it hurt to think of the beautiful man she’d met, only to find out that he’d been nothing more than an illusion because he’d been perfect. She’d go back to her Master Luke with his baby blue eyes and gentle smile, tonight, tomorrow, anytime, if only she could.

  “It’s fine.” Struggling under the intensity of Elliot’s stare, PJ stepped away from him. “I’ll take a cab.”

  “No, I’ll take you.”

  Elliot’s accent was subtle, tinted with something European, but weird European, like Estonian or Russian, not that it mattered. After his abrupt little outburst, he just turned around and walked away, striding across the courtyard without so much as a backward glance. If Mika hadn’t been standing beside her, PJ would’ve said all the words that were right on the tip of her tongue, but he was, and Elliot was his partner.

  “Thanks, Mika. I’m sorry to be so much trouble.”

  “You’re not, Tesorino, he’s just … he’ll look after you.”

  There was that word again, the one Mika had used last night when she’d been crying, absolutely distraught over losing the dog. She was tempted to ask what it meant, but Rene had already taken her hand and was tugging her out the door.

  Elliot was leaning against the wall when they approached Starbucks. She shot him a look and not a friendly one. The man was an asshole, but she had more important things to do than pacify him right now.

  Rene ushered her straight past the café’s customers and into the kitchen where a cardboard box sat on one of the benches, several staff members were peering inside. Her blood pressure plummeted at the thought of what she was about to see, but for once she fought the haze as she looked over the edge to find the tiny dog huddled in the corner. Its face was buried in an old woollen jersey someone had kindly donated, and it was shivering, still wet and absolutely filthy.

  Taking charge PJ closed the box, slid it into her arms and left with a quick thank you.

  Elliot was exactly where she’d left him; still glaring at her like she’d grossly offended his mother, which she hadn’t, but if he didn’t stop, she’d be tempted to try out a few insults on him. With a grunt he pushed off the wall, stalking towards her like an incoming storm, all wild and unpredictable, dangerous almost.

  “Here.”

  That was it, all he said as he reached for the box. Maybe she was deluding herself that her evening with Master Luke hadn’t affected her, but as Elliot’s cold, heartless demand rattled around her head, tears threatened and her throat suddenly contained nothing but razor blades. PJ felt fragile, alone and very much like she could do with a friend. She was tempted to call Indy and ask her to come, but she didn’t want to sound needy.

  “No, it’s fine.” Clutching the box, she waited, unsure what his next move would be. He just glared at her b
efore turning and heading further down the alley to the large wooden doors she walked past every day. Unlocking one he revealed a shiny black Range Rover. While she tried to figure out how to climb in with the box, Elliot stepped forward and opened the door for her. This time when he reached out she allowed him to take it. As soon as she was seated, he placed it carefully back on her lap.

  There was absolute silence from the dog and absolute silence from Elliot while he drove slowly through a maze of winding back streets and alleys that were so unfamiliar to PJ, it may as well have been on another planet. Not that she cared, she was too busy imagining every worst case scenario until tears poured down her cheeks. Finally when there was nothing else she could look at she opened the box, just to reassure herself that they weren’t too late.

  Still curled in a ball, the little dog was shuddering almost continually with its eyes closed and its jaw hidden. With a trembling hand PJ stroked carefully over its thick, matted fur. “It’s okay, Sweetie, it’s okay.” His little ears twitched. “They’re going to make you all better, then you can come and live with me.” She touched a wet foot, its claws rough and ragged. “I’ll look after you. Just don’t die, please don’t … die.”

  “Luke, for fuck’s sake, would you listen to me?”

  Gabe was a second away from slamming his fist down in frustration and Luke couldn’t blame him. They’d been talking in circles for the last two hours. With a twist of his hand, Luke loosened his tie, but it did nothing to ease the strangling sensation around his throat, which was something he’d been struggling with since PJ had disappeared on Saturday night.

  “I am listening to you, every word, but you’re wrong. There’s no way I can walk away from this. I need to see her.” Luke wasn’t an idiot, he was well aware what he looked like right now. He’d barely slept in the last two days and he hadn’t eaten. His head was fucking pounding and the whisky he was knocking back wasn’t helping either.

  “And then what?”

  He had absolutely no idea, but the need to see her, to talk to her, fuck to touch her was driving him insane. “I just need to talk to her, Gabe. I need to understand what happened so I can fix it.”

  “And if you can’t?”

  A weaker man might have faltered at that comment, but Luke was not weak. Yet for the first time since his father’s death when he was a child, he felt a mounting sense of helplessness. “I have to. She was perfect, so honest and real. She trusted me even when she was scared. Can you imagine what that feels like, to be given something so precious without her demanding anything back in return?”

  Abruptly Gabriel stood up, pacing a few steps before he sat back down. He understood, Luke knew he did. “Look, I know what you’re thinking, Gabe.”

  “What am I thinking?”

  Luke took a breath, tried to calm his racing heart. “That I’m banking my entire future happiness on a woman who doesn’t want me, but you weren’t there. I’ve never reacted to a woman the way I did to her. I kissed her for fuck’s sake.”

  Gabriel’s head snapped around. “You what?!”

  “I kissed her. Every time she moaned I kissed her. Every time she panicked I kissed her. Every smile, every laugh. I could kiss her forever and it would never be enough.”

  Gabe was momentarily speechless, staring at Luke like he was a stranger.

  “So you want to become her lover, hold hands and fuck missionary style? You can’t have it both ways, Luke. If you’re planning on seducing her with your charm, what the hell do you think she’s going to do when you bring out a cane? Because while she may be novel now, in three weeks when the itch is back, you’re either going to destroy the bond you’ve built or you’re going to destroy her.”

  It was Luke’s fist that hit the desk. “No! I don’t know how, but we’ll figure it out together. Once we’re together—”

  “You’re not together, she walked out on you.”

  “I fucking know that. What I don’t know is why, and that’s why I need to see her.”

  “I’m not going to talk any sense into you am I?”

  The tension between them eased as both men recognized the stalemate.

  “No, you’re not. I won’t make a scene when she gets here. I just need to get her alone.” Luke was well aware that he was overstepping a myriad of club rules that Gabe upheld ruthlessly, yet he blatantly refused to back down.

  “Ten minutes, Monroe, in my office and if she even breathes deeper than I think is necessary, I’ll intervene.”

  The sense of relief that swept through Luke was enormous. It didn’t stop the nerves rioting around his body, but it did ease the ache in his heart. “I won’t need ten minutes, all I need is a kiss.”

  “If you say so.”

  Just as Luke was about to respond to Gabe’s insulting attempt at humour, the security monitor beeped, the main door opening. Two of the new subs entered, holding hands and giggling. They’d barely cleared the entrance before the door opened again, India and a red headed woman walked in, but as Luke watched, the door slowly shut behind them. Both men waited in silence for the next few minutes.

  “Luke?”

  “Don’t.”

  He was out of his chair and across the room before Gabe had even made it around the desk. Two more steps and Luke was in the foyer. All four women turned to stare at him. He smiled; it hurt. A look he’d caused a thousand times passed over India’s face—a look of fear. To her credit, she didn’t back away.

  It wasn’t often that he relaxed his posture, shrugging his shoulders and leaning back, but he didn’t want to intimidate her any more than he already had.

  “Lovely to see you again, India. May I have a word?”

  She wasn’t subtle as she quickly glanced around, looking for God knows what, still, she followed him as he gestured her towards the couch on the far side of the room. Once they were seated well away from the small group, he took a moment to compose himself. “She’s not coming, is she?”

  “No, Sir. She’s not coming back at all.”

  Somebody asked why in a pained voice—him. It was so quiet and detached, he had to ask again. “Why?”

  “It … it wasn’t for her, Sir, and she has a lot going on right now.”

  Did the woman not realise what he was, what he did when he wasn’t sitting here being lied to? “I see. Did you make sure she was okay?”

  “Yes, Sir. I did.”

  Everything about India’s body language was shut up tight from her folded arms to her crossed legs. What had happened that night, and at this point, he was almost one hundred percent certain that something had; he wasn’t going to find out from her, but he would find out eventually.

  “Thank you. I appreciate your time.”

  She got up, walking swiftly back to the safety of her group while Luke headed back to Gabe’s office. The phone call he made to Thomas was short and abrupt, a bit like the one he’d received at five o’clock this morning informing him of the media storm that was building around their case. Someone had leaked details. He suspected it was Leon Keiser, attempting to hide in plain sight, but it was too soon. All he had was a flimsy wrongful dismissal case and a fuckload of data that no one could decipher. Luke was booked to fly back to Frankfurt first thing tomorrow morning, but there was no way he could leave now.

  “This is your career you’re gambling with, Luke. Thirteen years and a partnership, not to mention you’re risking the most important case you’ll ever have over a dream.”

  If he and Gabriel hadn’t been friends from the start, Luke would have turned and walked away at that point, never to return. “You think I don’t know that? All I’ve got is my fucking career, it’s all I am, but it’s not enough anymore. I want a God damn life, Gabe. I want to fall in love. I want someone who’s just mine.” He got nothing back after that little revelation. “Will you help me or not?”

  Chapter 11

  “Miss Lester?”

  “Yes.”

  “Mr de la Croze called ahead, please go on through, the ve
t’s waiting.”

  With a sympathetic smile, the receptionist pointed PJ towards a door on the far side of the waiting room. She went in a daze, without giving the hulking brute behind her a second thought. The astringent smell that greeted her as she entered the exam room was strangely comforting, much like the warm smile of the young Asian man standing beside the table.

  “Good evening, I’m Doctor Christopher Yee. Shall we take a look?”

  PJ nodded, sliding the box onto the stainless steel table. Her hands were trembling as she waited, but Christopher’s were steady as he lifted the tiny bundle out, jersey and all. Methodically he worked his way over the dog, stretching out little legs, prodding areas down its back and tummy, then carefully unraveling the sleeve to expose its muzzle.

  Rasping, guttural breaths filled the room, followed by a high-pitched whimper. Christopher lifted its jaw, pressing gently. PJ had to grab the table when her legs began to sway, her vision faltering.

  Carefully he pried the dog’s mouth open, lifted its ears and checked its eyes then with a nudge of his glasses, he turned back to her.

  “Right, he’s got a fractured jaw and at least four broken ribs. He’s malnourished, dehydrated and three teeth are abscessed. I don’t want to be harsh, but it’s a lot to come back from. It might be kinder if we—”

  “No!” No, PJ couldn’t contemplate where those words were going. “Whatever it takes I want you to do it.”

  He smiled. “I understand you want to try, but he may not survive the surgery. I’ll have to remove the teeth then wire his jaw back into place. His heartbeat’s erratic and we need to get some fluids into him. Everything else can wait if we can stabilise him. There is a chance he won’t tolerate the anaesthetic. His body’s in shutdown, but …” he hesitated, running his hand down the little dogs back. “If you want me to try, I will. The cost though—”

  She honestly didn’t care. “Doesn’t matter, do what you need to.”