Keeping Wicked (The Mitchell Brothers Book 3)

by Kathryn L. James

  Three hours later, my phone hadn’t rung.

  I called his cell again and this time, I didn’t leave a message.

  Another two hours passed

  It was four-thirty in the afternoon and with shaking fingers I called him again. On the third ring, it went to voicemail.

  “Hey, this is Leah. Call me back… I’ll be waiting.” It took longer than I’d planned to hit the red circle ending the connection.

  I lay on the couch staring at the phone, willing it to ring, until I didn’t have a thread of patience left. In a rush, I Googled, The Brooke of Dallas.

  I barely gave the operator time to address the greeting.

  “May I speak to Garrett Michell please?”

  “One moment.”

  A female with a tight voice answered. “Good afternoon, this is Sylvia, how may I help you?”

  “I need to speak with Garrett please.”

  “May I ask who’s calling?”

  “Leah Wright.”

  “I’ll need to take a message. Mr. Mitchell is unavailable at this time.”

  “Tell him it’s Leah Wright. If he’s truly not in, can you transfer me to Brooke? And don’t bother making up an excuse. They will want to talk to me.”

  “One moment.”

  Only a few lyrics of music played before I closed my eyes praying Brook or Garrett picked up. “Leah. This is Garrett.”

  “Hey, I’m trying to reach Chad and he hasn’t returned any of my phone calls. Have you talked with him today?”

  There was a long awkward pause mixed with a few sighs. “He’s not where he can talk to you tonight. He’s on a date—”

  “I’m so sorry for taking up your time, Garrett. I shouldn’t have called.” I hung up.

  Chapter 37

  “That’s it. Get up, get dressed because we’re going out. Zane’s going to be in a long surgery case tonight and I’ve already told him we’re going to The Blue Cactus.” Carli walked inside my bathroom and plugged in my curling iron.

  “I’ll pass.”

  “I’m not taking no for an answer. You’re not going to hole up in your house and wallow. You look like shit and I’m the friend that won’t let you go around looking like death warmed over.”

  “A night out won’t fix this.”

  “A little tequila will fix everything.”

  “I… just don’t think so.”

  “Get your butt up, take a shower, put on some make-up. You’re going to get a little dose of Carli to help get you out of this funk you’re in because that douchebag isn’t worth it.”

  I closed my eyes knowing she was right. Chad and I were over. I’d spent the last nine days moping over losing him, but the truth was he lost me. I could have stayed around and kept sleeping with him, hoping he would love me back, but he was never going to love me. He was in it for the sex.

  “What are you going to wear?” I asked and in return she flashed a wide smile.

  “Whatever I find in that closet of yours. While you’re in the shower, I’ll lay some outfits on the bed for you to choose from.” She winked and I shook my head because that meant the choices would all be short and revealing.

  The bar was set up in an old warehouse and music rumbled into the parking lot. Inside was like stepping into an old saloon with three different bars. Rows of people lined the huge oak dance floor, moving in sequence.

  “Zane taught me some of the line dances. They’re pretty easy.”

  “I don’t know anything about country music.”

  “After a few drinks, we’ll give it a try.”

  I laughed but it felt empty. I wondered if I would ever feel happy again.

  “Is Zane coming if he gets finished at the hospital?”

  “No. He’s going to be really late.”

  “He doesn’t care that you’re at a bar without him?”

  “No. He knows I’m with you. He trusts me and has reason to. I would never cheat on him.”

  “I’m happy for you,” I said and I meant it. I was glad Carli had found love.

  “Thanks. There’s a table over there.” She pointed and led the way.

  She sashayed across the room wearing a baby blue dress made of soft cotton with an appearance of denim that she spotted in my closet.

  We had a great view of the dancefloor and as soon as we sat, a waitress sailed by promising to come back to take our order.

  “Since when did you start hanging out in country bars?”

  “Zane likes to come here. Geez, that man can dance.”

  “I didn’t know you two-stepped.”

  “It’s fun.” She started giggling then began frowning. “Oh shit, I’m sorry we keep talking about Zane.”

  “I meant what I said, I am happy for you.”

  The waitress stopped at our table and took our drink orders and then scurried off through the crowd. Looking around, there was a damn buffet for sex on a stick in the packed bar. I surveyed wide and broad shoulders, chiseled jaws, five-o’clock shadows, and some grabbable asses, but none made my heart pick-up speed or sent tingles down my spine.

  Before I knew it, I had finished off one jumbo margarita with extra tequila and had started a second. I welcomed the little bit of numbness the alcohol provided.

  “I’m going to the girl’s room. You good?” Carli called out.

  “Better than good.” I wriggled my eyebrows. “You’re right. This is exactly what I needed.”

  “Told you.” She laughed before taking off.

  Biting into the alcohol infused orange slice that came with the drink, I breathed in the same cologne as Chad’s. Scanning the crowd, my throat constricted, knowing he wasn’t there. I couldn’t stop wondering where he was. What was he doing? Was he still with the girl he had been on a date with?

  How fucked up would it be to call him and put a damper on his good time? No woman wants another to call while she’s with him. I let out a giggle thinking how fucked up that would be for me to do it.

  Carli was nowhere in sight and I quickly pressed “Asshole”, his new contact name and waited for him to answer.

  Except he didn’t. I listened to his voice recorded message but pressed end before leaving a message. Then dialed it again, only to listen to his voice once more. I knew I was never going to get over him. I was never going to be able to forget him and when I hit end pain rushed through my entire body.

  One last time, I hit his new name again and unexpectedly, he answered with silence. I could hear his breathing and I wanted to scream at him to say something—anything, say something.

  “Are you with her right now?” I yelled into the phone over the music. Thank all the stars above, the band blared, so no one paid the slightest attention to the bat shit crazy conversation I started.

  Nothing.

  Only his breathing.

  “Answer me, you fucking coward!”

  Nothing.

  Heavy breathing as if it were a struggle.

  “Are you with her?” I repeated.

  “Fuck!” he mumbled so low, it was barely audible.

  I sat frozen staring at the tiny cracks in the table and running my thumb along the jagged line in the stain.

  “You. Left.” He let out a guttural low groan. There was a chaotic sound filling my ear, like something heavy falling to the floor.

  “Yes, I left. What did you expect me to do?”

  “You. Fucking. Left.”

  And the line when dead.

  He hung up.

  I pressed redial, but it went straight to his voice mail without ringing. He’d turned his device off.

  Carli slid into the chair and frowned. “What?”

  “I called him. Something’s wrong.”

  “I left you alone for a few minutes and you freakin’ called him?”

  “Something’s… not right.” I sat up straight.

  “Calling him is what’s wrong!”

  “I gotta go. I… gotta find
out.” I swayed when I stood but quickly grabbed the back of my chair for balance.

  Thankfully, Carli didn’t argue, but I knew by her expression she was agitated. I loved her and her brutal honesty. Hell, she’d been the best therapist and bodyguard. She followed me outside and then grabbed my hand.

  “Honey, what did he say?”

  “I think he may be hurt.”

  “Why do you say that?” She became serious.

  “Because there was all this noise, like something punching the walls, things falling over, and he… he kept saying, ‘You left. You fucking left.’”

  We climbed in her car and took off toward my house.

  “Are you sure it wasn’t something on the TV?”

  “Positive. He sounded terrible.” I called five more times, all going to his voicemail.

  “Do you have his brothers’ or their wives’ phone numbers?”

  “No. When I spoke to Garrett earlier, he was at the hotel.”

  “Does your dad have any of his emergency contacts?”

  “It’s eleven o’clock. He’s sleeping.”

  I friended Brooke on a social media platform and in seconds she accepted, which meant she was awake. I typed out the message with my phone number and prayed she saw it.

  “Can you please call me? It’s urgent.”

  I’d barely pressed send when my phone began ringing.

  “Oh, thank God, you called.”

  “Leah, what’s going on?”

  I spilled our story including the reason I left. “Do you know where he is?”

  “He’s at his home in Fort Worth. Garrett said there’s a board meeting in the morning. Listen, I’ll have Garrett drive over and check on him and I’ll call you back.”

  “I want to go to him, Brooke. I wasn’t sure where he was.”

  “He’s at his ranch. I know because Garrett said he had the board packet delivered to his house. Call me back if you need anything.” She paused, “And Leah, don’t give up on him. I know Chad, and I know he’s in love with you.”

  “I’m worried he’s going to throw me out.”

  “Not a chance… well maybe at first. Be prepared to be persistent. Sometimes it takes the Mitchell brothers a little longer than it does the girls. They’re born with some type of love-blocking DNA that’s hell to breakdown.”

  “Thanks for helping me Brooke, and I’m so sorry to call so late.”

  “We were still up. Garrett is outside in the pool swimming laps and I dipped us some ice-cream. Make sure you text me tonight or call tomorrow with all the juicy details.”

  “I will.” I smiled.

  Chapter 38

  The taxi pulled into Chad’s long driveway. There wasn’t a light on, and the half-moon shining on the pastures was the only lighting.

  I handed the fee to the driver and closed the door behind me.

  My heart galloped in my chest as I stopped at the heavy mahogany door with a large bevel Texas star. The taillights of the car faded away and I sure hoped Brooke was right and Chad was here.

  I slid the pad of my finger on the surface of the glowing doorbell without pressing hard enough for it to sound. It was dark inside, not a light on, and I hoped I hadn’t made a wasted trip.

  “What the fuck are you doing here?” Chad slurred in the angriest tone.

  I flinched and whirled toward his voice. The illuminating moonlight cast enough light to see his chiseled jaw tick. He lay on the cushion of the swing with his long legs hanging over the end. Down on the stained concrete porch, a bottle of whiskey lay on its side along with an empty low-ball glass.

  “Are you drunk?”

  “What do you want?” he bit out and I instantly regretted the decision to come.

  “I thought we could talk, but I can see it was a bad idea. If you want, you can come by my place tomorrow?” Tears burned my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.

  “Ha! You had your security throw me out. You want to talk? Say what you have to say, then go. Better go ahead and get your cab on its way back so you don’t have to wait.”

  “I don’t want to have this conversation while you’ve been drinking.”

  He rolled off the swing, trying to catch himself with his feet but landed on his knees. The bottle took off rolling across the porch and landed in the shrubs.

  “I wanted to talk to you yesterday, but… actually you’re yesterday so that about sums it up.”

  “I’m yesterday?” With my heart in my throat, I repeated his cold words back to him.

  “Yesterday. That’s all you’ll ever be. I’m going inside. Go and don’t come back.”

  “If you mean that, I’m leaving, and I won’t ever be back. We’ll be done, Chad.”

  “Like I said, you’re yesterday.” He said calmly and then opened the door and slammed it so hard behind him I flinched and let my back fall against the logs on the front of the house.

  Bile burned my throat and I felt like I was going to vomit. It was too much. Never in my wildest dreams did I think this was going to turn out like this. None of it made sense. He’d been persistent in trying to contact me—even almost arrested because he wasn’t giving up. Hell, he’d called Dad and that in itself was a gamble with his own life.

  Then a loud crash came from inside and a thud followed by him yelling out, “Fuck!”

  Why couldn’t I ignore him… call a cab… and be yesterday’s girl? Another sound of disaster echoed from inside drawing me to my senses.

  I twisted the door handle and found it unlocked. Even in the darkness, I could see things spread about the floor in the living room. The bookcases were empty, and the contents were scattered all over the living room.

  Using the flashlight on my cell, I tiptoed around books and decor, making my way to his bedroom where I found him on his knees on the floor. I didn’t say anything when I reached him and he didn’t resist when I slid my arm around him, drawing him to his feet.

  Wobbly, he helped make his way to the bed where two more empty bottles of whiskey sat on the bedside table.

  “Geez, Chad, how much did you drink?”

  “Every night since you left,” he slurred, then gently lifted his hand to my face. “I wanted you to be mine.”

  I almost told him I was his, but it wasn’t a good time. He was either Jekyll or Hyde, but he wasn’t the same man as he was minutes ago. He slumped, almost falling over onto the bed as I drew his shirt over his head.

  “You can’t stay,” he mumbled.

  “I want to stay.”

  “You’ll only leave.”

  “I won’t leave.”

  “You’re like her, you know?”

  “Like who?” I froze.

  “Daria.”

  I didn’t know who Daria was, but I didn’t like her.

  “She left.”

  “I won’t leave.”

  “How did you get here?”

  “The cab. Remember?”

  “I’m going to lay down.” He closed his eyes and fell back onto the pillow. “Stay.”

  I took his shoes off and left his shorts on. Carefully draping the lightweight covers over his body, I drank him in and slowly brought my lips to his for a soft lingering kiss.

  “You won’t remember any of this tomorrow.”

  I crawled in the bed beside him, clothes and all, and curled next to him. I wondered what direction this would take in the morning, but for now, I wanted to be next to him—even if it was one last time.

  His breathing became regular and peaceful as I lay there holding onto every minute I had until morning would dawn reality.

  Chapter 39

  I wanted to open my eyes, but I was too afraid the comforting feel of fingers sweeping hair out of my face was a dream. I wanted to lean into the feathered touch and breathe in the masculine intoxicating scent that I knew all too well.

  Please don’t let me be dreaming.

  Tenderly, long fingers pushed the locks behind my ear
and then they gently caressed soft strokes over my cheek. I lay so very still, too scared to move. My heart thud and I longed to reach and touch him, but I wasn’t ready to face the possibility of this being nothing more than a hallucination.

  “I know you’re awake.” Chad’s tone was husky with reserve, and he pulled his hand away.

  Keeping my eyes closed, I whispered, “I’m afraid I’m dreaming and if I open my eyes you won’t be here.”

  “Open your eyes. It’s my house. My bed. And I’m here.” His touch didn’t match the annoyance in this tone.

  Slowly, peeking through my lashes, his appearance made me flinch. He looked disheveled and deeply troubled. I couldn’t see any trace of the powerful, arrogant man I knew. He looked like a haunted stranger. A weeks’ worth of stubble covered his jaw, and cold ice replaced the warm honey flecks that usually twinkled in his eyes.

  “What are you doing here?” he demanded.

  His touch had been so warm and right, but his chilled words contradicted the tenderness in his tone.

  “You told Dad there were unsaid things and I also heard you were persistent with the security guard and police.”

  “A lapse in good judgement.” His lips tightened.

  It was so obvious he didn’t want me here. The words he’d thrown in my face last night came back full swing and this time he was sober when he said them.

  Yesterday.

  He said I was yesterday.

  If he had not made the first move and came looking for me, making it clear he wanted to see me, I would never have come.

  You’re yesterday.

  He exhaled hard as if he’d had enough and then rolled out of bed. Without giving so much of a glance at me, he left the room and closed the bathroom door behind him.

  Silent seething anger, hurt, and humiliation settled in my gut and sliced into my heart as I bolted from the room making arrangements for a ride with a few clicks on my phone.

  How fucking dare him? Touch me tenderly as if he had the right, only to dismiss me so easily. My father was right, I did deserve better and somehow, someway I would convince my stupid heart.

  I fiercely wiped the tears as they rolled down my cheeks and kicked a leather pillow out of my way. The great room looked as if a tornado had ripped through leaving nothing but a cluster fucked mess in its path. Shards of glass lay scattered about from a picture ripped from the wall, books, papers, empty whiskey bottles, and multiple high ball glasses were disseminated all over the floor.