by WL Knightly
Darek still couldn’t believe she was going to take off and go to Nashville with Noah and Ethan. Things had happened so fast, but Darek knew shit like that could happen when you were rich and famous. Ethan had that advantage for sure. “I’m done worrying about her, Bay. So, you can save it. I’ll be there, and we’ll drink to old times, and maybe we’ll figure out who the man in the shadow is.” Darek brushed his hand through his hair as he pulled into his drive. “See you soon.” He hung up the phone and let out a long breath. He knew he had to let her go, but his heart wanted to be selfish.
Chapter 19
Ethan
After trying to get Nate to come along for fun, Ethan had finally given up. He had promised Raven a night of dancing, and since the two were taking things at a strange pace—one that didn’t guarantee they’d have more than friendship—it gave him a reprieve from spending the entire night looking like a fool with two left feet and stomping her toes.
That was fine by him. He hated to dance anyway. At least, that was what he told himself as he watched her down on the lower floor, her body moving against another man’s.
“Get used to it with that one,” said Bay, who then took a long pull from his glass of bourbon. “She’s a wild child. Likes variety.”
Mia sat at his side with her neck craned so high, she looked like a gopher sticking its head from a hole. The girl was so pretty that she had that unnatural look like Bay did. Ethan had always thought the man, even when he was just a boy, looked like something from a fantasy. His symmetry was so perfect, too perfect, like an alien.
He leaned back in the leather banquette, the seat so much more comfortable than should have been allowed outside of someone’s living room. “She’s probably the most down to earth person I’ve ever met actually.” Ethan had met a lot of people. He had seen how sex-hungry women acted, and Raven was not the same.
“Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for her too,” said Bay. “I didn’t hook you up with her to fall in love. I just thought she’d be that good fuck you were hoping for.”
“She’s good at that too, but I can get that anywhere I go.” There was something else bothering him. “So, what was up with her and Darek?”
Bay smiled and sat up in his seat. “I don’t know. Why don’t you ask him?” He gestured behind Ethan, then elbowed Mia to whisper something in her ear.
“Hey, Darek.” Ethan stood and shook Darek’s hand, hoping that Bay would drop the conversation. “I wasn’t expecting you.”
“I wasn’t expecting you, either,” Darek said. “But it works out. We have some business to discuss, the three of us.”
Bay got to his feet. “I should have had Lane join us. But you know what happens to us when too many of us are in the same place.” Bay shook Darek’s hand as Mia got up and waited for a kiss before walking away.
“Lane’s in town?” asked Ethan.
“Yes, he’s here for the fashion gala too. Who knew we all appreciated fine fashion?” Bay shrugged.
“So, what’s going on? What’s this business, and will I need an attorney?” He gave a teasing glance and then sipped his beer.
“No, but you might want to find a bodyguard who won’t fuck your girlfriend,” said Bay.
There was a collective groan at the table. “Come on, man.” Ethan looked around, hoping the paparazzi wasn’t still over his shoulder, waiting for an opportunity to see his reaction.
“What?” asked Bay. “Too soon?”
“No, it’s just Shannon alerted the paparazzi to my being in town. Luckily, I think they’re all tired out from a week of stalking the hotel, or maybe she’s someplace more interesting, but it’s been a tough week of her acting like we’re supposed to get together again for this stupid event. She thinks the media will eat it up if we act like we’re back together.”
“Damn,” said Darek. “That must be tough. Especially with Raven being around. You know, she’s been through a lot. The shooting, the stabbing, Finn’s death, Seth’s murder.”
“Wait, what?” Ethan’s eyes narrowed. “Finn and Seth?”
Bay grinned like a fox. “Didn’t she tell you that she’s been around the block?”
He glanced down to the dance floor below. “You mean, she’s fucked all of them?”
Darek gave Bay a hard look. “She shouldn’t have to explain herself,” he said. “You could have told him before you got him involved.”
Bay put on an innocent expression. “I didn’t know that she was going to enchant another one of you. She’s like fucking Zodiac kryptonite.”
Ethan’s pulse started to race. “Well, don’t I feel stupid? I guess you’ll have a good laugh at my expense.”
Darek shook his head. “Trust me, Ethan. I’m not laughing. If it weren’t for this killer, I’d probably still be with her, and we’d be having an entirely different conversation right now, but as it is, Bay’s an asshole, so here we are.”
Bay laughed. “Hey, I didn’t break you two up. I didn’t send her away from you. She ran like her head was on fire, and that was the killer’s fault.” Bay took a swig of his drink and waved for a waitress. “I guess you’re going to blame me for the shooting in New Orleans, too.”
“Wait, was she in New Orleans?” Ethan asked. “So, that’s how she knew about it. Dammit. She tried to tell me. I just thought all the bad shit had to do with her cousin’s murder.” He glanced back to the dance floor where she was sandwiched between about three people. She glanced up, met his gaze, and blew him a kiss.
“Yes, she was in New Orleans with me,” Darek said. “She got shot.”
“Her wrist?” The wound was healed, but Ethan had noticed a fresh scar, one she still tended with vitamin E to make it fade.
“Yeah, what did she tell you?” Darek asked.
“She didn’t. I didn’t want to ask. She just told me about the tough time she’d had and about Noah. I had no idea. So, she was with Finn? And Seth?”
“I believe at the same time,” said Bay with a big grin. “At least once, anyway. She performed beautifully, that one. I swear, I think she can unhinge her jaw.”
“Fuck you, Bay. You’re eating this shit up, and it’s sick. Raven’s a nice girl, and while you’re sitting there getting your rocks off tormenting Ethan and me, we have real problems. There’s a killer out there. They tried to have us shot, Raven stabbed, and killed people we care about. This person is a threat to everyone we hold dear.” Darek turned and met Ethan’s eyes. “You do realize that you’re next on the list, right?”
For the first time, Ethan felt vulnerable. “Are you saying that someone is after me right now, and they want to kill me?” Darek nodded, sending chills down his neck and his pulse racing.
“You really have been in your own little world, haven’t you?” Bay asked.
Darek let out a long breath. “First the killer exposed Tad, drove him to the point of helplessness and he took himself out. Then they killed Logan’s girlfriend, and Logan went to the pen where he was killed.” Darek turned his eyes to Bay, who shifted in his seat uncomfortably as if he knew something about it.
Darek took a drink and continued. “Finn ended up dead in the damned river, and then Seth was murdered by Alan, whose wife was kidnapped by the killer. At that point, we had contact with the asshole.”
Ethan narrowed his eyes. “You talked to the killer?”
“Yes, we have received messages. But the killer stays anonymous.”
“Trace the calls. Find the killer.” He had heard about it on television shows. There had to be a way.
Darek shook his head. “Tried and failed. And then the killer took out Corey and Justin.”
“Actually, just Corey,” Bay said. “Justin died by Brandy’s hand. She blamed him for killing Corey.” Bay shrugged. “I don’t know. She was a crazy bitch.”
“What about Carter?” Ethan asked. “He’s missing somewhere, right?”
“Dead,” said Bay. “Lane called. They found his body. Brandy got him too, although he took her down with him.�
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“Shit.” Ethan leaned back in his chair. “I should have stayed in Nashville.”
“I’m pretty sure if it’s your time, this fucking killer is going to find you or find a way. They’ve used several of us to take out each other. Look at Corey and Alan. Alan took out Seth, Corey took out Alan. All because they felt like they had no other choice.”
“The killer is playing a sick game with us,” Ethan said.
Bay huffed. “They’ve been playing a sick game with us, yes. While you’ve been blissfully touring the fucking country and playing that beat-to-hell guitar you’re so famous for.”
“I just thought that it couldn’t touch me. I mean, I don’t live here in the city.”
Bay laughed. “Neither did Seth, Corey, Justin—”
“I get it,” said Ethan, waving a hand. “This is because of what we did, isn’t it? Because we’re horrible people.” He took a deep breath and thought of who might be doing something like this because of Emily. “Didn’t that girl have a family? Cousins, sisters, brothers, uncles? Someone who would want revenge?”
“The paper didn’t mention anyone specifically,” said Darek. “We dug around in the records, but there isn’t anything on the family in that area. We found out that Justin was seeing a woman online. We know that she was the very first victim in all of this. So, as soon as this fucking fashion gala is over and I can get a minute away from my partner/girlfriend, I’m going to dig into the girl’s past a little more. See if I can find her client list. There has to be some record somewhere. We talked to a few of them, the ones who didn’t use aliases.”
“You have to find them before this maniac comes for me,” said Ethan. He wiped a bead of sweat from his brow. “Wait, you said this killer comes after the people I care about? So that means Raven is still in danger, and Nate?” He closed his eyes. “I need security.”
“I have a man that’s been tailing Raven. You should be safe to get back to the hotel.”
“Why do you have a man tailing her?” Ethan asked.
“He’s keeping her safe. It was part of the deal. That and the twenty grand I gave her to fuck you.”
“You’re just trying to make him hate her,” said Darek. “It’s not likely to work.”
“Because he underestimates her,” Ethan said. “I’ve offered to put her and Noah up at the old farmhouse I bought in Nashville. It’s going to be a bed and breakfast if I can ever get around to finishing it, but it’s going to make a good home for them. It will be private. If something happens to me, would you make sure that she gets that place? I don’t speak to my family. My dad is dead, and his wife, I don’t want her near my shit. Nate gets my main house. I promised it to him the day I bought it.” He suddenly felt as if he needed to get his affairs in order.
“Don’t talk like you’re about to die tonight, man. You have to have some hope. Don’t let all of this get to you and weaken you. That’s what the killer wants.” Darek’s hand fell on his shoulder, feeling like a ten-ton weight. “You have to be strong, alert, and fight. We went to New Orleans to make a commitment. I’m honoring that commitment, man. I’m not going to let anything happen to you on my watch. Not while you’re here in my city.”
About that time, Raven walked slowly up to the table. “Is everything all right?” She looked at Ethan and then over to Darek.
Ethan took her hand. “Yes, it’s fine. I think I’m ready to leave. Are you ready?” He didn’t want to hear anything else about how Darek and Bay were going to protect him or how this killer was going to dismantle everything he cared for then take him out after he suffered.
He felt ashamed for not noticing what had been happening to his friends. He hadn’t attended the meeting in New Orleans and not taken any of it seriously. He entertained the guys’ theories but had put himself so far above it all that he had assumed he was untouchable.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” said Darek. “You two have a good one.”
Bay nodded. “Tomorrow, my friend.” He held out a hand and then gave Raven a curt nod.
“Come on.” Ethan led her away.
“What was that all about?” she asked as they weaved through the crowd.
He looked back and met her eyes. “Just them informing me how my life is in danger.”
“I told you that days ago.”
“No, you told me about something I didn’t think could possibly touch me. I had no idea you had been shot, no idea that you had been with Finn and Seth and half of my other friends.”
“I told you I knew them.” She picked up her pace, but he came to a sudden stop, turning to face her.
“You didn’t tell me you fucked all of them.”
“I like sex. I was hired to sleep with you, remember?”
“For twenty grand of Bay’s dirty money.”
“Do you want me to keep following you, or would you rather I go home to my dirty hotel room that he owns? I didn’t lie to you about anything. I didn’t tell you everything because we’re still getting to know each other. And in case you want to compare notes, I didn’t ask you about every woman you’ve slept with in the past five months, which I’m sure totals way higher than your Zodiac friends.”
He took her hand and pulled her along. “Let’s get the fuck back to my place. Then we’ll talk about it. I’m not mad at you. I’m mad at myself.”
They hurried to the front where he was able to duck into the rental before anyone saw him. He started the car and hurried back across town.
On the way, Raven sank down in her seat. “I’m sorry I gave you the abridged version of my involvement.”
“It’s okay, really.” He took the on-ramp and sped out onto the freeway, looking for the next exit that would take him back to his hotel, which wasn’t far.
“No, it’s not okay. And I shouldn’t have told you how much Bay paid me. That was not cool.”
Ethan glanced over and looked at her skirt, which went halfway up her thighs when she sat. “Maybe you can make it up to me when we get back to the hotel.”
Raven smiled. “All of you Zodiacs are just alike.” After flashing him a sly smile, she turned her attention to the window beside her where the city lights blurred as they passed by.
Chapter 20
Bay
Bay spent a long night tending to Mia, who’d gotten sick after too many shots, but he dragged her out of bed early anyway to get her ready for her surprise.
He had secured a deal that would make things more official. He hoped it would light a fire under Mia to think professionally, and not so much about who she needed to rub elbows or do shots with.
“Why did you bring me all the way down here? The gala is across town.” Despite the way she felt, which she’d told him about every five minutes since they’d left the house, Mia looked like a million bucks.
Her pink dress and tall heels fit her body like a glove and made her look like a beautiful flower. Bay couldn’t help wanting to bruise her petals. “You’ll see soon enough. I don’t know why you have to complain all the time. Can’t you trust me?”
“I do, Bay. I just feel horrible.”
“One more time, Mia, and I will put you over my knee, and unlike the other spankings I give you, you won’t like it.”
“I don’t want to fight today, Bay. It’s supposed to be a great day, the biggest day of my life, and I have to feel like this.” She made a sour face and rubbed her temples.
“Do not be sick in my car, Mia. I swear if you vomit, I’ll take you straight home and you’ll spend the day in bed. This is what you get for drinking with those imbeciles.”
“Those imbeciles are going to further my career, and don’t worry. I was already sick at home. I didn’t want to get anything on this dress. I’m just waiting for the meds to kick in.”
“Meds? What the hell did you take?” He didn’t want her to be a bumbling idiot or a slobbering ragdoll. “I swear, if you start acting like a fool, I’m leaving the event.”
She gave him a sideward look. “Just a couple o
f pain pills for this headache.”
“Jesus, Mia. Did you eat anything?”
“Bread. And I have crackers in my purse.” She patted the bag in her lap as Bay parked on the street in front of an empty shop.
“We’re here,” he said, opening his door.
Mia got a curious look on her face. “Where?”
“Come inside. I’ll show you.”
“I go shopping in this strip a lot. I used to get coffee here.” She pointed to the building. “Are you taking me shopping?” She looked down the strip as if she were going to choose a store.
“No, I want you to go look at your new boutique. I bought it the other day.”
“Wait, you bought the coffee shop for me? For my store?” Her mouth dropped open, and she bounced up and down until she got a little unsteady.
“Whoa, don’t pass out on me,” Bay said with a chuckle. “I guess that means you like it.”
“It’s perfect.” Her face grew red, and suddenly, she waved her hand in front of her face and sheer panic set in her expression. “Oh, Bay, I don’t know what I’m doing. I want a boutique—I really do—but I don’t know where to start.”
“Relax. I’ve made some calls. I’ve got a bead on some of the people we need to talk to today, and all you have to do is be quiet and keep your cool. As long as you look confident, people will worship at your feet. I know you can do that.”
“You want me to pretend? I can pretend all day, but what if they start asking me questions?”
“Tell them you’re bored with that. Be indifferent.”
She smiled. “I can do that.”
“Good girl.” Bay leaned in and gave her a kiss. “You’re going to make this work. All I need are your ideas for you to own it, and I’ll throw money at the rest.”
She breathed a sigh of relief and fell against him. “I’m so glad you’re rich.”