Vengeance in Bloom (The Love Unauthorized Series Book 2)

by Jennifer Michael

  Oh, shit. Burke.

  I don’t want this information.

  Crap. Crap. Crap!

  I’ll either be forced to rat on Teagan or lie to Burke. Fuck. What the hell did I walk in on, and why am I still standing here like a total pervert?

  Teagan pushes him off her with a rough whack to his chest. “You can’t just fucking kiss me, Kai. Your touch isn’t some miracle mental-recovery cure-all. You’ve steered clear of physical contact with me for two years. You’ve pushed me away more times than I can count.”

  She pushes against his chest once more. Kai rises from the bed and runs his hands over his face.

  “Fuck you. You can’t swoop in and try to fix me.” A tear falls and runs down her face.

  I take a slow step back, hoping neither of them notices me, but I’m too late. Kai turns to leave and then stops. His eyes lock on mine and widen with surprise.

  I’m caught.

  They’re caught?

  It doesn’t matter. There’s no slinking away. Awkwardly, I raise my hand in silent greeting. Kai ignores the gesture and storms past me while Teagan throws a nervous glance my way. Damn it. I can’t hide from this.

  I clear my throat and try to act normal as I take a step into the room. “Burke mentioned he thought you were strong enough to move around a bit. I thought you might like to get out of this room. Even go a little crazy and journey out to the deck.” I give her an awkward lift of my lips. “What do you think?”

  “Sounds perfect. Help me up.”

  “Uh, do you think we should ask Kai to help with getting you down the stairs?”

  “No. I don’t think we should ask Kai for anything.”

  I hold out my hand for her to take, and we journey downstairs. Teagan holds firmly on to my hand on her right and the railing to her left. She huffs and puffs the whole way down. Her face strains with each step, but she doesn’t complain. Getting downstairs and out to the deck takes us about fifteen minutes, every second of which I’m positive Kai watches in case Teagan needs help.

  Once I get her settled, I run back up to her bathroom and retrieve her case full of nail polish. I need something to do with my hands, and it would be nice for her to be pampered a little. I can do that for her by painting her nails. So, I sit and do just that.

  “How are you feeling?” I glance at her from under my lashes.

  Her skin is a bit pale but the bruises are fading.

  “I’m fine.” Her response is anything but convincing.

  “Do you want to talk about it, Teagan? You’re obviously not fine. Maybe you’ll feel better if you vent a little. If you don’t want to talk to me about it, you should talk to someone. Either way, you know I’m here for you, right?” I’m not sure which it I’m referring to—Kai or the farmhouse.

  Silence stretches between us while I continue to paint the purple color onto her nails. Teagan’s eyes slowly lift to mine. She’s hurting. Tears well in her eyes, but she blinks them away. I abandon the polish and throw my arms around her, pulling her tight against me. Her body shakes within my arms as she sobs. Rubbing my palm up and down her back seems useless, but the gesture is all I can manage.

  Her voice is hoarse and barely above a whisper when she finally speaks, “I’ve lost myself. Lying in bed all day leads me to feeling sorry for myself. I’m disconnected from everything that made me who I was. I don’t know how to find my way back from the darkness inside my mind.”

  “Teagan, what did they do to you at the farmhouse?”

  She pulls away from the embrace and carefully sits back in her seat. I don’t want to push her, so I let her take her time. If she wants to talk to me about it, she will. If she doesn’t, I’ll respect that.

  After a minute or two, she looks back at me and shakes her head. “I can’t. I can’t talk about it yet. I don’t want to, Paisley.” She pauses and closes her eyes in a long blink. “Nobody . . . hurt you? Nothing bad happened to you?”

  I bet she feels guilty, wondering why her and not me. Teagan’s heart is pure, and she wouldn’t wish anything bad for me. I can understand her confusion though. I don’t understand it myself.

  “No. Braelyn says the guy instructed his men not to harm me in any way. I don’t know why.” I wave her first hand away as I finish and then start on the next one. “I don’t know why they were cruel to you and not to me. Whoever is behind this is completely unpredictable.”

  She has to know that Kai and Burke would move mountains for her, and it feels good to officially let her know I would, too. We all have to be there for one another. Teagan doesn’t have to face this alone, and I hope, someday soon, she’ll feel up to letting one of us in. My bet is she’ll go to Kai when she’s ready.

  “Do you want to talk about the other thing?” I try to be casual, but it’s useless.

  “Yeah, I suppose you’ll want an explanation. What part exactly did you walk in on?”

  “The part where you two were kissing.”

  “I guess I should start at the beginning . . .” Teagan takes her hand from mine when I finish painting her last nail.

  I screw the cap back on and set the bottle down while she stretches out and lifts her face toward the sun.

  “I’ve been in love with Kai for as long as I can remember. That part is probably pretty obvious. I was a kid with a crush and then a lovesick teenager. Kai never gave me any indication he felt the same way back then. He was always there for me but never in a way leading me to believe anything between us wasn’t completely one-sided. I never thought he saw me as anything other than Burke’s little sister.

  “A few months after my eighteenth birthday, that changed. I went out with some girls and got drunk. I called Kai to come pick me up when the girls ditched me for some losers at the bar. He carried me up to my room and put me in bed.” She blows on her freshly painted nails. “In my drunkenness, I found the courage to make the first move. I grabbed on to his shirt and pulled him down to me. For five to ten seconds, Kai kissed me back, like really kissed me, but then he pulled away and rambled on with all the reasons we couldn’t—I was drunk, too young, and his best friend’s sister.”

  “Sounds like he was trying to protect you.”

  “I guess. He turned me down, but in the seconds he’d kissed me back, I knew whatever I felt between us wasn’t one-sided. Kai had wanted to kiss me.” The first real smile I’ve seen from Teagan in a long time lights up her face. “After that, I was relentless. I constantly teased him. When my brother’s back was turned, I’d run my hands down Kai’s chest or whisper dirty words in his ear when we were alone in a room together. I did everything I could think of to get him to break. He figured it out and started avoiding me altogether. I was determined.”

  “I’m assuming he gave in?”

  “Yeah, he gave in. I didn’t make it easy on him. Burke went away for a couple of days, and the first night he was gone, I was naked and waiting for Kai in his bed.” She blushes with the admission. It’s cute. “He didn’t even turn on a light when he came into his room. He just stripped down and jumped into bed, where he quickly figured out he wasn’t alone. He still tried to leave without touching me, but I was very persuasive.”

  How have they lived with one another with this between them?

  “Once he turned on a light, and I was there, naked and touching myself, he couldn’t resist any longer. He finally gave in. We had sex for the first time. Then, again, more times than I can count during the two days Burke was gone.”

  Holy. Shit.

  “Once Burke came back, Kai tried to pull away again, but for almost eight months, we’d still find stolen moments and time to be alone together. Then, we were almost caught. Well, we did get caught. Burke knew Kai had someone in his room. He just didn’t know that someone was me. I told him that Burke couldn’t know, and he hasn’t touched me in that way since—until today.”

  I knew the two of them were close, but I hadn’t expected they’d already crossed the line in this way. What the hell are they doing? How have
they remained so close with all this tension between them? The two of them deserve to be happy. If that’s together, then I’m all for it. Burke would have a hard time at first, and I think it might change his relationship with Kai a little, but he’d get over it eventually. He wants his sister to be happy. I’m positive of that.

  “Kai’s frustrated I won’t open up to him about the farmhouse. He’s been in my room every morning, trying to get me to talk to him. Every time we’d touched before, it’d felt like Kai couldn’t resist keeping his hands off me, like he had a pull toward me he couldn’t deny.” Her face scrunches up, as if she’s in pain. “Today, it felt like he was trying to use his touch to gain something. I get it, he’s grasping at straws, but I don’t want what happened to also taint my history with Kai. I won’t let them take that from me, too.”

  “He might be frustrated, but it’s clear he cares about you. You know that Burke would come around if you guys were honest with him, right?”

  Teagan looks back at the house, and my eyes follow. Kai is standing near a window on the second floor, looking down on us. The stress and worry are etched in every line on his face.

  “Kai wanted to tell Burke about us a long time ago. He came to me about it after we were almost caught. I told him no.”

  “But why?”

  “I was scared. Scared of how Burke would react. Scared of ruining their friendship. Scared Kai and I wouldn’t make it once we were no longer a secret. Kai ended things between us, telling me he couldn’t continue any longer unless we told Burke. I panicked, and then Kai pulled away.”

  We both glance back up to the window where Kai stands. He must know our topic of conversation is about him.

  “We’ve avoided the topic ever since. I’ve watched girls come in and out of his bedroom since.” She winces, and jealousy takes over her voice. “That part really hasn’t been fun, but I guess I’m to blame. Kai wanted to be with me, and he wanted to tell Burke. I am the one who walked. Now, I’m even more scared. I’m not the same girl Kai snuck around with back then. I’m not even the same girl I was a few months ago. Kai and I don’t have a future.”

  She may not be the same girl, but that doesn’t matter to Kai. He cares for her as much as ever. It’s Teagan who needs to be able to see that.

  Burke

  “How did things go with Teagan?” Burke questions.

  “She went outside for a while. I think it helped a little. She’ll need some time though.”

  “Did she talk to you about it?”

  “No, not really.” I evade.

  I nod, knowing that not really, really means a little, but I don’t push. Teagan needs to open up to someone. I don’t need to know the details. Actually, I’m not sure I could handle the specifics. Her screams from the live feed were enough to haunt me.

  “We need to talk. Something happened today.”

  “Crap, I don’t like the sound in your voice.”

  “It’s your foster dad, Joseph Collins.”

  “Joe? He’s the one who’s been doing all this?”

  If only it were that simple.

  “No. He has nothing to do with the kidnapping or the threats—at least, not that we know of. Callen found him skulking around the house this morning. He’s trying to blackmail us.”

  Paisley shakes her head and doesn’t seem surprised in the least. “I never thought he’d put one minute of his time or any effort into looking for us. Why now?”

  “From what I understand, one of his buddies was one of Braelyn’s clients for a short time. The guy recognized her and told Joe. He went to find her but found you instead. He then set his target on you once he saw you were staying here.”

  Paisley and Braelyn grew up in the next town over. Joe’s lived there his whole life. It’s likely he knows who Kai and I are. Even if he doesn’t, it’s safe to assume we have money when you look at the house we live in.

  “Where is he?”

  “The warehouse. They’re waiting on me to decide what to do with him.”

  “What’s he using as blackmail?”

  “I don’t know. He said he’d only tell that to you, face-to-face.”

  “Looks like we need to head down to the warehouse then.”

  “We will in a few. Do you know where Kai is?”

  “Uh, I’m not sure.”

  “Go find him for me and fill him in. I’ll meet you by the front door in a few.”

  I need a drink before I deal with this. This is a man Paisley ran away from. He wasn’t good to her. Now, he’s back and creating more problems. I debated on even telling Paisley he showed up. A large part of me wanted to dispose of him without her ever knowing, but in order for us to be in this together, then I can’t keep things from her. Not big secrets like this. It is going to take a lot for me not to rip this guy apart on sight. I’ll have to hold off on killing him.

  I drink three fingers of whiskey and set the empty glass on the counter. I feel a bit calmer as I head to the door to wait for Paisley to join me.

  “Are you ready?” I ask with my eyes locked on Paisley.

  “I guess so.” Paisley answers with uncertainty in her voice.

  Paisley stares at the warehouse from the passenger seat of my car. Inside is a man she once ran from and the girl she ran with. Both have betrayed her. What could this guy possibly have to hold over her head?

  “You don’t have to deal with this if you don’t want to. I can take care of it, make sure he won’t bother you again.”

  She shakes her head, telling me what I already knew. She wants to deal with this. I respect that. I admire it.

  “It’s decided then. Let’s go.” I exit the car first and she reluctantly does the same, but she stands motionless next to the car. I go to her side and take Paisley’s hand in mine. Together we walk, but she stops me just before I open the door.

  “I can’t fathom what he possibly thinks he can blackmail me with. He barely saw us when we were still living in his house unless he wanted to take out his anger. What could he know?” I open my mouth to respond, but she rushes to cut me off, “We’ve been hit left and right with surprises. I have no idea what he has up his sleeve, but I need to know you’re on my side, no matter what he says. Before we go in there, I need to know whatever you hear won’t change how you feel about me.”

  I tug on her hand to pull her against me. “Baby, there’s nothing anyone could say to change how I feel about you. You know I’ve done horrible shit, and you see beyond that. Your skeletons are safe with me. I’ll take them to the grave. There’s nothing you could’ve done that could taint the way I love you.”

  Her teeth release the bite against her lip, and the small frown lines in her forehead smooth. Time to face whatever is waiting for us.

  “Okay, let’s go.”

  Inside, we find Joe sitting, secured to a chair a few feet from Braelyn, who is in a similar situation. Both are gagged. Braelyn is calm and collected while Joe growls and fights against his bindings.

  A team of men lines the corners of the warehouse. Callen stands stoically behind his captures with his arms folded across his chest. We have an audience for whatever is about to go down.

  I let Paisley take the lead. These are her skeletons. She needs to uncover them herself. I’m confident about her physical safety with Joe secured, a team around her, and me watching over her. Paisley closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. Her hands clench at her sides while she prepares herself to face the man she ran away from all those years ago. Joe watches her with an intensity that has me wanting to pluck his eyes out and shove them down his throat. I stand beside Joe because I don’t want her touching him in order to remove the gag. I wait until she’s ready to hear what he has to say before releasing his voice.

  “Six years. I lived in your home for six years. You never once showed me the smallest amount of care.” Paisley’s eyes finally open, and she glares at Joe. “We were dirty, hungry, and living in fear. You kept us from an education. You let your drug addict friends leer at us and
cross over any line they could. We were your punching bags whenever you were coming down off your high or couldn’t get your next fix.” She glances briefly at Braelyn, who is watching her carefully. “Living with you was so bad, Braelyn and I had to escape. We chose an uncertain life on the streets over living within your four walls. You have the balls, the audacity, to come search me out and threaten me? Do you even have a soul?”

  She nods her head my way, and I release the gag from Joe’s mouth. He spits, and drool dribbles down his chin. Then, he does something to set my insides on fire. He laughs. Paisley has confronted him with all the harsh truths built up inside her, and he doesn’t show one iota of remorse. He laughs in her face. A deep smoker’s cough erupts between fits of howling guffaw. Paisley’s face blanches, and my temper rises inside me, attempting to burst free.

  “Stop being a dramatic bitch. You were an unwanted child, and I gave you a roof over your head. You two left for reasons that had nothing to do with me, so don’t pretend any different.”

  “We left to escape you. There were no other reasons.”

  “That’s the sob story you tell. I’ve known the truth for a long time. The two of you are manipulative whores who get through life by using people and taking down whoever gets in your way.”

  That may be true about Braelyn, but he has Paisley severely misjudged. I look at Braelyn to see if she shows any recognition to his ramblings, but she gives nothing away.

  “Is your blackmail as deluded as your memory of the past?”

  “I wanted money. Your boyfriend here has lots.”

  He’s not getting a dime from me.

  “I brought years of Braelyn’s documented psychotic behavior, a thick file full of stuff reported to her social workers, but I see that information would’ve been useless anyway since she’s bound and gagged next to me.”

  Paisley has no idea what he’s talking about. She knows nothing of the documents he has on Braelyn. Her eyes shoot back and forth between the two people who should’ve been her family.