Take All Of Me: A Brother’s Best Friend, Sibling Rivalry Romantic Suspense Novel (The Takers Series Book 1)

by Sienna Evans

  “Your father’s going to kill me if he ever finds out. And you disappearing into a crowd like that doesn’t help to set my mind at easy.”

  “Please CeCe...” Her demeanor shifted into the complete opposite of what I’d just seen inside. She was back to being calm. “One-hour. Please CeCe.”

  I struggled to do the “right” thing. Truth be told, none of this was right. I knew better than to have brought her here in the first place. Even knew better than to go back inside, but we did. I gave in to Quinn’s pleas. She was an amazing cousin and human being, though spoiled like hell. So, I gave in and let her have her way.

  From this point on, a nagging feeling down in my gut made this the most uncomfortable night ever...

  Against my better judgment, I led my cousin back into the den of lions.

  An Additional Two Weeks Later

  Greyson

  I followed two men into a hidden room, off of a long, blue hallway behind the storefront of Godwin’s Bakery in Hartford, Connecticut. They could’ve made this a whole lot easier and met me in NYC instead of here.

  Everything, from the shabby neighborhood to the desolate store, was out of the norm. A 120-inch monitor was muted on the opposite end of the room. A large, u-shaped, black desk was parked at the far end along with two chairs—one belonging to the desk and another at the side. Everyone stood around the desk at the center of a secluded room in the back of Godwin’s Bakery. I was supposed to be a part of that conversation, which included five other men, but the screen kept robbing my attention.

  “Are we cutting into your time, Greyson?” the big boss asked. He had a thick tongue; therefore, his New England accent was even heavier on the ears.

  “No, I’m good, Godwin. I’m just trying to figure out what’s going on in New York.” Everything remotely close to Celeste put me on edge. Any rumors, any events, any news and I was ready to drop everything to be at her side.

  “Forget about that,” one of the men barked. This guy had at least five inches on me and was nearly twice my size.

  “Your head is in this?” This time, Godwin stood to his feet and approached me. He swallowed up the room. I swear it felt like the floor vibrated as he stepped over, and his hands hung out and kind of flapped against his pudgy sides.

  Godwin has built an underground network out of a legitimate business. To those who didn’t know any better, he was a normal guy and struggling like any other store owner in the area. He kept a low profile. But this business had nothing to do with the man he really was.

  “My men will be waiting for you at JFK. Someone will text you the rendezvous point and you’ll be fed instructions.” Godwin squared off with me. His irises were a chilly blue as he took aim.

  “That’s it?” I couldn’t go off of this nonsense. “You need me to secure your connections, but I need insurance. I need to know the specifics and exactly who I’m dealing with.”

  “You want full disclosure?” Godwin asked slowly and almost under his breath. With those words, everyone else fell back from around us. Godwin kept coming until he was there. And I mean right there!

  “This is my life you’re talking about,” I gritted. No matter how intense things ever got, I had to play it cool. Hell, I knew how ruthless he could be to those who came at him or showed an ounce of resistance. Just the other day, one of his old buddies got gutted about a block away. Rumor was that that guy had spoken to the wrong people, and although things might’ve been on the up and up, this was all about perception.

  “Do you think I’ve been in business this long by trusting any piece of shit walking in off the street?” He snapped his fingers. “Your brother’s some big shot cop!”

  “What does that have to do with me? I never hid that!” People always made assumptions about us. Brendan was the golden child. And me… I was the rotten one. That’s why I never tried to distance myself from my background, and why I purposely used my real name. I was all in! “He chose his path. I chose mine. The two never cross.”

  The room grew silent. No one moved. His men seemed to be looking at him for direction and he was studying me. There was nothing more to be said, nothing more to be done, not by me at least.

  After ten long, uncomfortable seconds, I shifted focus back to the screen. And there he was: NYPD Detective Brendan Michaels. Why was he showing up on the news in Connecticut and at this second?

  Godwin first turned to the screen, then the mouthy one. The air sucked out of the room, and I knew what was coming.

  I dropped to the ground and rolled away. I reached down into the small of my back and pulled a Glock from my holster. But I was a second too slow. The giant one kicked the gun out of my hand, leaving me completely open to their attacks.

  They yanked me up from the ground. I caught another glimpse of the screen and was able to see “MISSING” in bold letter. The news break taunted me though the rest of the headline had faded from my view. Wouldn’t matter now because my time was counting down.

  Life was supposed to flash before you at death. To hell with that! I didn’t want to relive it, with the exception of my time with Celeste. I now regretted not calling her sooner, but after that night in the alley with her, I've had to travel for “business.”

  Yeah, business.

  “Answer me!” Godwin’s shout didn’t move me. I’d tuned out the threat the minute my gun got knocked away.

  He was too stupid and too paranoid to realize that my link was legitimate. Instead, he chose to have his men take turns wailing on me. Little did they know, this was nothing compared to what I’ve already gone through. But before any real damage could occur, the room swarmed with police. The men instantly let me go and I dropped back onto the ground. Felt like I was in a UFC match. I couldn’t move an inch. Last thing I remember was somebody giving the order to, “Don’t move!”

  Yeah, like I would’ve been able to get up and run. I’d chosen this uncertain life, with the constant threat of death.

  Would I ever walk away from a life on the edge, a life of having to look over my shoulders, a life of wondering who would take me out at any given time? Would I ever consider putting an end to smuggling just about anything under the sun and knowing that my life would forever be tied to these people? Unfortunately, I couldn’t see an exit coming anytime soon.

  Would anything or anyone ever change my mind? Truthfully, I would be lying to if I said never. As much as I might not deserve better, I couldn’t help but hope in something more than this tragic life.

  Closing my eyes, Celeste came to mind. Her existence was the one thing, her love would be my only out.

  Turmoil

  Celeste

  Nine months later, Greyson finally decided to come to me. I’d purposely ignored his calls, trying to force his hand. Yet nine months later, after all of the emotional turmoil and loneliness since we’d last seen each other, he wanted to be there for me.

  That night in the alley, Greyson had made a nonverbal promise to put an end to the nonsense we’d gone through since way back when. He’d claimed me and forced me to let down my guard and then he rejected me. Since that time, I’ve had to learn to forget about him.

  Yeah, forget about the only man I’ve loved since forever. Forget the man I once thought was made for me. And now, he was standing on the opposite end of my door, demanding that I let him in because tragedy struck.

  What would it take to make this man understand I’m broken? Utterly broken by this love I’ve had to keep buried my entire life.

  “C’mon CeCe, I know you’re there. You can’t shut me out!”

  Boom! Boom! Boom! The door vibrated with his knocking.

  I clutched at my chest to steady my heart. I tried to convince myself to let go of this ridiculous need but when love has overtaken your heart and soul, is it possible to ever break the curse?

  I pressed my forehead to the door, and slowly leaned sideways. On the one hand, there was the god-awful love I had for him. On the other hand, hounded something so tragic, I couldn’t fully w
rap my mind around the present situation. Both stripped away my strength. Only one of the two gave me any real type of purpose right now. Besides, I’ve already set things in motion to right that horrible tragedy.

  Reminding me of his existence, Grey kept knocking.

  I kept crying and hoping he’d go away and forget I ever existed. Maybe then, just maybe I’d be able to learn to live without him. But after two minutes of continuous pounding from the opposite side, I could tell he wouldn’t leave me alone.

  I had to face him. I had to let him in.

  I swiped at the tears with the back of my hands, counted to three and threw open the door. And there he stood; filling up my heart like I never dismissed him in the first place.

  “You’re ignoring my calls?” he stated.

  “Of course, I was.” He’d smashed my heart and expected me to turn it over again? “I want to be left alone, Greyson.”

  “By shutting me out? By tackling this tragedy on your own?”

  “Do you know what I’m going through? What it’s like to lose some?” That revelation, out loud, was a two-edged sword. I nearly choked on the words.

  “I understand loss.” He paused in front of me long enough to let the effect sink in.

  “Do you, Greyson?” I shot out as waves of anger pulsed throughout my body. “Who have you ever lost?”

  “Close the door, Celeste,” he said when his heavy footsteps landed at the absolute center of my spot.

  My place was perhaps big enough for a bed that could’ve doubled as a sofa, a center table as a dinner table and a few knickknacks spread around. I’d made the best of the low-budget apartment my parents were paying for by bringing it to life with bright pastel colors and bold pieces which hid my sometimes-lonely existence. And I wanted to be left alone.

  “Close it,” he pleaded.

  “How about I close the door when you leave?” I tossed back. But then, looking down at the over-washed rags I’d thrown on from earlier, I kicked it shut with a sharp twist of my ankle.

  “What’s going on with you, CeCe?”

  I now cringed every time someone from my past used that ridiculous childhood nickname. It reminded me that I was once young, and it drove home what could happen when you’re young. I sniffled but refused to cry now.

  “I’m minding my own business, Greyson,” I mumbled, keeping my head low. I wasn’t ready to drown in his pupils. If I looked up, I might forget my plans to start some much needed killing and instead start something on a whole different level with him again, only to be disappointed...again.

  “Minding your own business, how?” he blurted out as my body swarmed with heat. He came forward, into my space. The words showered down on me, and I needed to remind myself to breathe.

  “I don’t expect you to understand what I’m going through.” The pain sliced at my heart, the wounds were deep.

  “What you’re going through, CeCe?” His voice cracked. Kind of caught me off guard, but I refused to let him know it was affecting me.

  “I wouldn’t expect you to understand.” I flexed my hands away from my body before reaching up to cuddle my forehead. Tears clung to my lashes, ready to pour out at any minute. “Once again, who have you ever lost?”

  I’m sure he noticed me trembling. My fingers twitched and my voice was a second away from collapsing. It hurt like hell. Everything hurt like hell! I still bared the scars from his post-climactic rejection, and now this.

  “Greyson, answer me!” I finally gazed up at him.

  He didn’t reply. Instead, his eyes reflected back at me with a longing. I knew better, though. Not here. Not now. This day, I’d make it about what was truly important.

  So, I got back to the core issue and posed a reply. “No one, huh? You see, Greyson, if you had lost someone the way I did, then you would be on fire just like me.”

  “Don’t make assumptions.” He turned, only to give me his back while disconnecting even more.

  “Greyson, I’ve known you since I was five. I know your entire family. So, for you to come at me with a lecture on letting things go when you can’t possibly understand what I’m going through, you can go to hell!”

  “I’m sorry about us―”

  “No, you don’t get to do that. This isn’t about you or me.” I stuck out my right hand. “To hell with whatever happened between us. Only my cousin matters now.”

  “No Celeste―”

  “Yes, only Quinn matters!”

  Our voices echoed through the tiny space of my StuyTown apartment. I wrapped my fingers around my throat because this was the first time I’d said her name out loud since we’d recently learned of her death. Although my body felt weak, I moved around him until we stood face to face once again. “She was blood...”

  He raised his arms; his fingers aimed for the side of my face. I swatted his hand away. He let me. Beyond that, neither one of us budged.

  After several seconds, I exhaled. My tear ducts burned, chest burned, and throat burned. I’ve cried like hell. This was crazy on so many levels, to walk around with layers of frustration compounding all around me. Yet, I understood the need to keep it focused on Quinn. “Do you understand family bonds?” I asked, laying my palms to his chest and trying to shove him out of the way. “How about loyalty?”

  Even from the slight touch, the muscles beneath his shirt made my head spin. I mourned my cousin, but Greyson brought out this outrageous anger. I was pissed like hell for what he’d done to me, for what I’d allowed him to do to me. But every pain, every disappointment only kept compiling all around me. A flush of breeze swept throughout my body, though I tried to be strong and put my emotions in check.

  Still, he didn’t say a word. Nothing! Zilch!

  I came at him again by forcing my body closer into his wide chest. He budged, just a little, tilting backward because he chose to. I'm sure the move had nothing to do with my strength over his.

  “Cut it out!” he finally shouted. I would’ve jumped back, but he grabbed my sides and proceeded to massage down to my hips. “What is wrong with you,” he continued.

  “Get off of me!” I retaliated, swaying my hips in this fight to get away. “I’m dying inside, and you expect me to stay calm?” A swarm of burning emotions rose from places I sure as hell didn’t give permission to.

  I had to take long, deep breaths to steady the shivers. For a few seconds, as I squinted up into his eyes, I could’ve sworn I saw darkness swirling around in his grays, but then he let me go and took a step backward.

  I was empty, lost. There it was, the rejection all over again. So, I had to focus on the one thing giving me life. Revenge! “My cousin is gone, Greyson. She’s never coming back.”

  “Exactly! And you can't do anything about it right now. CeCe, listen to me, leave it alone.” Tears glistened in his irises. The faintest vein began throbbing at his left side temple, along his now cropped brown hair. He was a different man, standing before me to offer comfort. “This isn't your loss alone. We all knew her. She was... She was...”

  “Perfect,” I blurted out, “Too perfect!” Precisely the reason I couldn't allow her abduction and murder to fall through the cracks. “She should be graduating next year. My family shouldn't be getting ready to put her in the ground.”

  This hurt like hell. Everyone was lost. I shook my head so fiercely that the room was on the verge of swallowing me up. I gasped and spat out, “Quinn was too good for this, but now you expect me to let it go.”

  “You might be pissed now but look at the big picture.”

  “This is the big picture! Those men kidnapped and killed my cousin, Greyson. They did God knows whatever else to her, and then took her life like she was nothing.” My voice quivered, and I felt sharp bouts of energy climbing up my arms. I wrapped both hands around the base of my throat like before. The pain didn't stop moving until it reached the sides of my head, at my temples, only to linger intently.

  “I swear...” His lips flipped down into a frown.

  “You swe
ar what, Greyson?”

  “Regardless of the situation now, I grew up as best friends with your brother, Celeste. How am I supposed to look away when you want to go after Quinn’s killers?”

  “You guys might’ve been best friends but to me, you're just some guy I grew up around. You don't own me or owe me anything, and you sure as hell don’t have a say in what I do.”

  It was partially a lie, of course. I craved him much more than a little. I was still learning to reel in my urges and instead, made every attempt to redirect my feelings onto other things. And though I’ve tried, no man was capable of stealing what already belonged to Greyson Michaels. And after I’d sampled his intense make out skills, how could I ever expect things to go back to normal? So, I avoided staring into those now wild eyes, just like I had since we were kids.

  There were years of lost moments between us. I couldn’t deny the facts though. Greyson held my heart but was never allowed to claim it because of his friendship with my brother.

  I moved to the opposite end of my space, where the cream cushion of a futon took up most of the only wall with a window. The place just about swallowed me up. It was only a studio size, but the yellow curtains and matching sheets of the full-sized bed made me want to scream in terror. I felt battered by my own insistence on perfection. Everything in my home had a place, yet here I was feeling out of sorts in my own world.

  “Celeste, you're everything to me,” he mouthed, just above a whisper.

  “Why? How?” Even asking the questions, I refused to look into his eyes. I was afraid of getting swept in.

  “I want to be there for you.” He took a step closer. His arms were low and stretched out for me. “You have to stop pushing me away. Just because something came up, it doesn’t change—”

  “Something? Like you are messing with my mind and then letting me down?” This time I stepped to him. “Or losing my cousin?”

  All of the madness that typically ran through my mind whenever he was near suddenly got silent. My entire body awaited his acceptance or something different to go on. Trying desperately to not make eye contact again, I twisted my fingers together in front of me. That’s where my attention drew.