“What did you bring him? Did you bring him real man food? The kind that would stick to his ribs? Who are you anyway?”
“I’m Taylor. I work with Ian.”
“Oh, thank God. I was worried that I’d have to have his head examined. You look way too flighty for Ian. I didn’t think you were his type.”
I fought back my laughter.
“Where’s Leo? I brought food for her too.”
“They broke up,” Taylor informed my mother.
“And how do you know this? Let me tell you something, Leo has been a part of this family since she was five years old, she’s like a daughter to me. Oh, Ian can have his trysts, but he isn’t settling down with anyone but her. I’ve always known it.”
“I don’t think she’ll settle down with anyone if she’s in jail.”
“Vlákas,” my mother said in between a cough.
I rolled my eyes. Taylor had no clue that Mana had called her an idiot, which made it even more comical.
“Leo’s innocent—”
“I think you’ve overtaxed your brain today. You really should be getting home.” I watched as my mother picked up the bowls of soup and dumped them back into the container. “It’s store bought, how sweet of you.” Mana examined the container and picked at the label before she then shoved everything back into the bag. I remained seated not saying a word.
When Mana moved next to Taylor and lightly placed one hand under the girl’s arm and Taylor stood, I about died. Mana escorted her out the door and handed her the bag of food before she shut it in Taylor’s face.
“Now, care to tell me what that was all about?” Mana placed her hands on her hips and stared at me.
“It’s a long story, you should have a seat. But please tell me that you did bring me some food.”
I grabbed my phone and scanned through the texts just to see if there were any messages, but if she deleted them, I wouldn’t know. I hope that app worked. My mother moved into my kitchen as she fixed me a plate of souvlaki, and I filled her in on everything.
“There’s a possibility that Taylor’s involved in all of Leo’s problems.” I took my first bite.
“And what are you doing about that?” Mana handed me a half lemon. God she knew me.
“You knew I wouldn’t have any?” I held up the fruit. She grabbed my head and pulled me down to kiss my temple. I loved tons of lemons. I squeezed it over my chicken then continued talking. “I’m doing exactly what needs to be done.”
“What do you hope will happen from all of this?”
“I’m hoping that Leo will forgive me when it’s all said and done.”
“So you and Leo are really together?” Mana’s presence was calming and for a moment I felt like a little boy and she’d make all of this go away.
“Yeah. I think I’m in love with her.”
“Then explain what wannabe Barbie was doing here.”
“The detective in charge of her case asked me to see if I could get Taylor to use my phone again. When she showed up here uninvited I thought it was a great idea, and then it felt like cheating. I didn’t want anyone in my house, messing in my kitchen but Leo.”
“You don’t have to convince me of Leo’s innocence. That girl couldn’t lie to save her life. That includes all the times she used to try to lie about how she felt about you when you’d go out on a date. Pops and I used to watch her, and it would break my heart. Just once I wanted you to notice her.”
“Why didn’t you ever say anything?”
“Would you have listened if I had?”
“No.”
“That’s why.” Mana cracked a smile. “Leo is lovely, Ian. I was serious when I said that I always believed she was the girl for you. You can’t imagine how excited I was when I saw you two getting along at your brother’s wedding.” She came around the bar to where I was sitting and enveloped me in one of her comforting hugs.
I was stupid, why had I not seen this until Kayson’s wedding? I smiled at her, feeling a heavy load off my chest. “Leo is very special to me. She means a lot.”
“What is it, o gios mou?”
“I’m in love with her. Her happiness, protecting her, defending her, I can’t think of anything else, it’s all I want to do. Does that make sense?”
“Yes. Perfectly.” With that, Mana nodded. She moved back into my kitchen and started putting away the extras that she had brought into my refrigerator. “I brought something else for you. It’s in my purse.”
“What?”
“You can grab it. When Yia Yia died, each of you boys chose one item,” she spoke referring to our grandmother who passed away when my brothers and I were still young. “Kayson gave Ariel Yia Yia’s ring. Damon gave Katy the pearls.” She waited for me to open the black velvet box. “And that was your choice. I see Leo wearing them. They aren’t fancy but they are near flawless, much like Leo.”
“Agape mou, Mana.”
“We need Leo cleared so that you two can have a future.”
I closed the lid on the diamond earrings as I thought of how to give them to her.
20
Leo
Lifting one arm, I sniffed. God, I needed to end this self-imposed pity party and get my shit together starting with a shower. The hot water steamed up my small bathroom, stepping into the shower, the water stung as it hit my skin. But for some reason it was like a subtle penance for the decisions I’d made. I’d trusted Ian, allowed him to get under my skin. I was washing all of that away. I wasn’t going to change for anyone.
When I finally got out of the shower, I could see things clearer. I’d made a list of things that I needed to do, and the first order of business was to sell some of my extra bike parts that I had shoved in my closet.
As I mentally put together what I was willing to part with, I reached under my bed and pulled out some flattened boxes that I’d kept there.
Throttle meowed loudly, furious at my interruption to her normally peaceful home. But I ignored her. I had to stay busy.
“Sorry, cat. You really need to be nicer to me. At this rate, I might have to keep boxing shit up because we will be homeless, and then I’ll have to decide your fate. Problem is I have no clue what to do with you.” I would lose everything, including my cat if this didn’t get resolved quickly. I had enough stuff to sell to get me through maybe another month but that was it and then I’d be flat broke.
Standing, I headed into the kitchen to find some tape, any kind, just so I could secure the boxes.
I saw my phone sitting on the counter, it was taunting me, reminding me of yesterday’s embarrassment.
Ian was gone. Why, Ian, why did you have to lie? Needing to take it slow, I understood. My life was a mess, it’s a lot to take in for anyone including me. But to lie about where you were and not just that but to have another woman in your home. God, I was so stupid.
Plain Leo, Leo with the freak mom, just one of the guys, some things you just never overcome.
You asshole, you cocksucking motherfucker. You lied, you said that you’d been falling in love with me for the last twenty-three years but you lied. You sit on a throne of lies.
I snagged the phone intending to call Ian and tell him exactly what I thought of him but a tiny green message box with the number one flashed. Shit. How had I missed that? I swiped the screen and froze. Peering back at me was a photo of Taylor, sitting all cozy and comfy in Ian’s kitchen. Looking at the time stamp, this photo was sent yesterday evening. She looked happy in his home. She probably was happy in his bed as well.
Don’t go there, Leo. Get your shit together. You have to do this, you don’t have a choice. I was done. I was done waiting for the fucking white knight. I was done being the damsel in distress. I was done.
After giving myself my own big girl pep talk. I turned, rolled my shoulders, and strode into my bedroom to finish getting dressed. There may not be a light at the end of my tunnel, but I was going to set that motherfucker on fire and watch it burn. I was going to save myself and
when it was over, I’d pack my shit and get out of here. I wouldn’t tell Ian or my mother where I was going.
Sophie had done it, so why couldn’t I? She disappeared for ten years and Carter pined over her. I couldn’t imagine Ian pining over me since I wasn’t exactly the kind of girl that men pined over. But I could start over. I’d call the girls and we’d talk. But I needed something new, fresh. I needed to be unknown. But first, I needed to be cleared.
When I left my apartment, I wasn’t sure where I was going, I just needed fresh air for my fresh outlook. I pulled onto the interstate and picked up speed but then nausea washed over me so fast I had to pull over. I listened to the humming of cars zooming by as I lost what I had eaten this morning. Slowly, goose bumps popped out up and down my arms. This was the first time I’d been on I-4 since my accident, and at that thought, I threw up again. When the dry heaves passed, I forced myself back onto my bike and headed to the next exit. I needed to think and I couldn’t do that on this road. I-4 was nerve-racking on a normal day without adding my fucked-up memories.
Walking into Rocco’s Tacos brought a myriad of emotions. Sure, I’d been here numerous times by myself, but today there was a different vibe in the air. Maybe it was because as I made my way to a table, I kept my head down to avoid the accidental eye contact with any familiar faces since Rocco’s was a popular lunch place among my friends.
I had just ordered when a voice behind me pulled every ounce of my attention.
“Don’t turn around. Don’t even act like you’re listening to me.”
I knew that voice. I did as instructed and kept my head down but pushed my back tighter against the cushions of the booth.
“Go to Queen’s Gold pawnshop, ask for Coco,” Piper said.
“What do I say to her?” I mumbled. I probably resembled more of a ventriloquist or a wannabe ventriloquist who was trying exceedingly hard not to move their lips.
“Just tell her your name. She’s expecting you. Take the camera that Stella and Katy brought you but don’t take anyone with you. Coco doesn’t trust many people.”
“Will she trust me?”
“Probably not. But she’ll point you in the right direction and won’t stand in your way. She trusts me.”
The waitress set my plate in front of me, but I pushed it away, suddenly not feeling so hungry.
“I know you’re innocent.” Warmth engulfed me upon hearing the sincerity in her voice. “Go see Coco, her shop is right by the sheriff’s station.”
I pulled a ten from my pocket and tossed it onto the table. Grabbing my helmet, I stood. When I turned, Piper was already gone. I scanned the room but saw her nowhere.
I had no idea what was going on, but if Piper had faith in me, then I had faith in Piper. Straddling my bike, I headed home and all but ripped the camera off the wall of my building before packing it up with the laptop and extra memory sticks then going across town.
The sheriff’s station wasn’t in the nicest part of town and Queen’s Gold fit the area. I pushed the heavy glass door with wrought iron fencing that crisscrossed over the front of it, and the tiny bell above the door jingled, letting whomever was working know that someone had come in.
A large woman in a caftan-style dress stood in a back corner. Her legs were spread about shoulder width apart and her arms were crossed. She reminded me of a guard or a linebacker, either was fitting since she was the size of both...together.
I didn’t want to come across as though I was staring, but it was hard not to. Her lemon yellow dress illuminated against the dark mahogany of her skin. It was a stunning contrast of color.
Was I supposed to just say my name or was I supposed to make small talk first? Fuck, I was nervous, this woman intimidated the hell out of me. I waited a second, hoping that she would greet me. After all, this was a shop even if it was a pawnshop, but after about five minutes, I realized that wasn’t happening.
“I’m Leo.”
The woman waved for me to come closer, and I obeyed. I stood next to her, and she peered out a window and pointed across the street to the sheriff’s station.
“I was upstairs doing the books one day, and I saw something. It rubbed me the wrong way. I thought it was weird. It just didn’t add up. So I kept watching. A man was fiddling with deputy motorcycles. When he stood, I recognized him, so I thought nothing about it. Then not a week later, I hear rumors about some girl getting in trouble for tampering with deputy motorcycles. I didn’t put two and two together until I see that same man messing with a bike a few hours before there was a crash right over there.” Coco pointed toward the corner of her shop in the direction of the I-4 and South Street on-ramp. “Once again, I didn’t put it all together, he’s one of them after all. And the other day, when that crash happened? Well, to me it was just sirens, and when I hear sirens I lock it down. I don’t mess with them, and they don’t mess with me.”
“You know who it is? Please, you have to come with me to tell the detective.” Oh my God! Oh my God! I couldn’t believe this. Finally, the dark clouds were slowly clearing out. I couldn’t believe this! “You have to go to the sheriff’s station! You have to tell them. I am being blamed for something I didn’t do.”
Coco looked at me, disbelief written all over her face. “That isn’t my problem. That is your problem. I don’t get involved with the cops. Deputy Piper gave me her word that you would do your own shit and get out.”
“But you know the truth.” I didn’t get it, why was I sent here if she wasn’t willing to help.
“And, now, so do you. You think some boys’ club is going to take my word? Or yours over one of their own? How sheltered are you?”
“I’m not. I just always believed that the truth will set you free.”
“What truth? His truth, your truth, or my truth? There is no truth. It is all perception. The person doing all of this believes they are justified, that is their truth. The mother who steals milk to feed her children but serves time for shoplifting, and the boy who rapes an unconscious girl but only gets community service? What are their truths? Girl, you want a leg to stand on, you need proof, or whatever, or your truth will be twisted and turned.”
“But how?” The weight of the bag that I still gripped in my hands, the one that I was told to bring with the camera, gave me the answer. “Is there a place I can set up?”
“Upstairs. Help yourself.” Coco pointed to a door at the back of the shop, and I disappeared up the steps without another word.
Hours passed, and there was not a trace of anything weird going on. No one messing with motorcycles, no one lurking. I sighed heavily and slunk down deeper into the chair. I didn’t want to go home because I was too afraid I’d miss something. All the possibilities of things that could go wrong seemed to be dancing in my head at that moment. What if the camera went out? What if the camera wasn’t pointed in the right direction? Okay, I knew that the camera had Bluetooth and there was pan and tilt, but I wasn’t in my right mind. Stretching my arms out against the table in front of me, I let out a giant yawn. I had to figure this out. The detective said that the back lot didn’t have cameras. Looking up, I clicked a few buttons and titled the camera so it was pointed toward the back lot.
I just need a clue, something to get them looking at someone besides me.
“Girl, go home. You can leave it running. You have no clue how long it will take.” Coco interrupted my thoughts as she handed me a cup of black coffee. I looked up at her gratefully as she settled onto the seat across from me. “It may be a day. It may be a week. My understanding is that you can log in and check it from home.”
I nodded and took a sip, fighting back the urge to spit out the liquid tar. Holy shit, that was thick coffee. She probably needed to serve it with a fork and knife.
“Do you mind if I stay for a little longer? This is my life, after all.”
“Be my guest.”
I finally left when she locked the door at two in the morning, and I was back at her door ten minutes before she o
pened at eleven. Every day for a week, I sat in that upstairs room and watched, seeing nothing suspicious.
It had been just as long since I’d heard from Ian, which was almost unbearable to think about.
My life was officially a hellhole, and the stress was getting to me. I was coming down with the flu, and I constantly felt the urge to vomit.
“Ach. Ach.” I turned at the obviously false cough and met Coco’s eyes. She was glaring out the window.
In my haste, I nearly knocked over the laptop as I stood and looked toward the parking lot. Nothing. I could barely see anything. Falling back onto the chair, I zoomed in the camera focus and ensured that it was recording.
BOOM, there it was—or rather, there he was. A man with dark hair was bent near one of the motorcycles. Fuck, he was in the standard sheriff’s office polyester green uniform, which meant he was a deputy, a regular deputy, not a motorcycle deputy.
When he stood, he pocketed something, turned around, and in that instant, I recognized him. I had met him, recently. I’d met him at Kayson and Ariel’s wedding. He was Taylor’s date. Fuck, it’s a deputy, Sawyer Bressler.
Holy shit.
With a few keystrokes, I stared at my computer screen impatiently as I converted the video recording. I nervously strummed my fingers, willing the stupid thing to go faster. Coco stood near but didn’t say a word, she didn’t have to. Just her standing near me was enough encouragement to let me know that this was almost over.
When the computer stopped making a humming sound, I removed the thumb drive, let out a breath of relief, and clasped it for dear life.
I waved at Coco and eyed my table. “I’ll be back to clean this up.”
She nodded back, and I turned and descended the steps two at a time.
With courage, I raced over to the station, still trying to let the image of the culprit sink into my brain. Of all people. He was the last person I would have suspected of doing it. I don’t think anyone would have even thought to point at one of the deputies.
Often (Iron Orchids Book 4) Page 16