Edge of Darkness

by Barker, Freya

  My blood boils at his disdain for his sister, and I struggle to hold back slugging the bastard’s pretty face.

  “You’re standing in your sister’s living room insulting her, you asshole. I think you’ve outstayed your welcome.”

  Instead of looking at me he glares at Lissie. “This was a waste of time. Dad thought maybe you would finally come to your senses and sent me to bring you home, but I see you’re still making poor decisions.”

  “Fuck you, Peter,” she hisses pulling from my hold. “And fuck that sanctimonious horse you rode in on. You’re so damn blinded by your own righteousness, you can’t even recognize a good man when he’s standing right in front of you.” It feels like a balloon expanding in my chest at her words. But she’s not done. “And for the record: the first time I came to my senses was the day I left Albuquerque. Best decision I ever made. Don’t pretend you’re concerned about me when all you fucking care about is the family reputation I’ve muddied.”

  “Nice language. I see your poor choice in friends is rubbing off on you.”

  That’s it. I’m done with this shit. I step in front of Lissie, my hands fisted at my sides.

  “Leave,” I growl. “Not gonna ask you again.”

  For a moment I think he’s going to put up a fuss, but with a last scowl at me he turns and walks out the front door. I close and lock it behind him before I turn to Lissie, who’s still standing in the middle of the room.

  “Come here, Beautiful.”

  She doesn’t need more encouragement and rushes into my arms.

  “I hate my family,” she mumbles into my shirt.

  “Not feeling a lot of love for them myself right now, Babe.”

  She snorts and I’m surprised to hear a chuckle.

  “You know, I could really use a drink right now.” The moment the words are out of her mouth she pulls back, her eyes big. “Shit. I’m so—”

  I swallow the rest of her words when I kiss her until we’re both breathless.

  “Don’t apologize for being real. Not with me.” I rest my forehead against hers.

  “Fair enough. But I am sorry for the awful things my brother said about you. None of it’s true.”

  I love how her big brown eyes are so expressive, it’s easy to read her feelings in them.

  “You already made that quite clear, Babe. Peter is a dick.”

  She turns out of my hold and walks into the kitchen, taking the always-present jug of iced tea from the fridge. She also starts pulling out the makings of a sandwich.

  “And he’s the mellow one,” she mutters, as she pours us a glass.

  “What the hell did he want?”

  “What they’ve always wanted: for me to quit the force. I’m a blemish on the impeccable record of generations of Bucco men joining the department. Especially after what happened in Albuquerque.”

  “What happened?”

  “I reported my captain for sexual harassment. I’d grown up with the man; he was a close friend of my father’s and well-loved in the department. He also whipped out his dick and threatened me to suck him off.”

  “You have got to be fucking kidding me. Let me guess, your family believed him over you.”

  “To be honest, I don’t think the truth even mattered to my dad or my brothers. My father told me to drop the charges against his friend or he’d make my drinking habit public knowledge. I didn’t even know he was aware I was self-medicating with alcohol.”

  “So you left.”

  “Got clean, got out of town, and stayed under the radar. Until now. I knew they’d be keeping an eye out through the old boys’ network.”

  She’s got eight pieces of bread lined up and is piling slices of cheese on half of them.

  “What do they want from you?”

  “Come home. Learn to knit. Marry one of their friends and pop out babies like I’m supposed to. Who the hell knows?”

  She’s agitatedly waving the knife she’s holding as she speaks. I grab her hand, take the knife, and finish slapping mustard on the other half of the bread.

  “They don’t have a single clue who you are, do they?”

  “None.”

  She pulls a large frying pan from a cupboard and sets it on a burner, while I stack the cheese sandwiches.

  “Hope we’re fucking done with unwanted surprises tonight,” I grumble, and she lifts an eyebrow in my direction as she drops the sandwiches in the pan. “Been waiting long enough to see what’s inside that pink little bag of yours.”

  “Afraid you’ll be disappointed,” she snickers.

  I walk over to the bag she dropped on the loveseat and peek inside. She bursts out laughing when I fish out the phone and the small box, lifting the lid.

  Over grilled cheese sandwiches, she reminds me she’s a trained police officer and this is part of her job. That still doesn’t mean I have to like it. The idea a few small disks are supposed to keep her safe isn’t nearly enough reassurance.

  I’m still grumbling when she drops our dishes in the sink and grabs my hand, dragging me to her bedroom. When she drops to her knees, her eyes on mine, as she deftly unbuttons my fly and frees my cock, I’m already halfway over my snit.

  The warmth of her mouth as she takes me deep inside has me forget my own name. She braces herself with a hand on my thigh, while rolling my balls with the other. I only narrowly escape blowing my load down her throat as I abruptly pull out and yank her to her feet. In a scramble both of us are naked in seconds. I topple her back on the mattress and pull her hips to the edge, spreading her legs open.

  “James…”

  The softly whispered plea and her darkly flushed pussy are all the invitation I need. I wrap a hand around my hard cock, brush her wet folds with the tip and poise it at her entrance.

  As I slide inside the hot grip of her body, there’s no room in my mind for anything other than her.

  CHAPTER 25

  Lissie

  WHILE YUMA HAS been busy at the apartments dealing with plumbing issues that turned out to be much more involved—apparently parts of the complex have to be retrofitted with new pipes—I have been either helping Nosh with his house, or showing the group picture around to anyone willing to take a look.

  I haven’t discovered much, other than I need to really start learning some sign language to make communicating with Nosh easier. He doesn’t want to be bothered with electronics, so the handy cell phone app I’ve seen Luna’s boy, Ahiga, use is wasted on the old man. He prefers simple pen and paper, but that method is slow.

  Paco vaguely recalled seeing Dani with Chains, but that would have been prior to last summer, so not exactly new information. What I need to find out is what happened to her after that man died. Yuma mentioned Ginger had recognized Dani, and told him she was with the Moab Reds. Maybe she has more information.

  Although I’m not looking forward to talking to the woman who shared more with Yuma than I care to think about.

  “Wapi?”

  The young guy lifts his head from where he’s stocking the fridge behind the bar.

  “Yeah?”

  “Do you know where I can find Ginger Franklin’s number?”

  The silence is immediate, as every head in the clubhouse seems to turn to me. Nosh taps me on the arm and slowly shakes his head before grabbing his notepad.

  What do you want with her?

  “I want to ask her about Dani.”

  He shrugs and scribbles some more.

  Your funeral

  Ouray ambles over and hands me a scrap of paper with a phone number.

  “You can use my office, darlin’, but a word of caution: Ginger sometimes shows her teeth.”

  “Y’all can stop worrying. I already know what she’s armed with, and it’s not gonna stop me from finding out what happened to my friend.”

  “Fair enough,” he says, lifting his hands.

  I bring my phone into Ouray’s office and close the door. Taking a deep breath in I dial the number.

  Just as she a
nswers with a sharp, “Who’s this?” I realize this call will likely be recorded by the FBI. I hope to God she doesn’t bring up her past with Yuma.

  “Ginger?” I used my perkiest voice. “It’s Lissie. We met a while ago at the Arrow’s Edge clubhouse?”

  “Yes?”

  It’s not a ‘Hey, how are ya’ but at least she didn’t hang up.

  “I understand you knew my friend, Dani?”

  “Didn’t know her, but I’ve seen her around at the Reds’ clubhouse.”

  “Can you tell me anything more? When was the last time you saw her? Or who she was with?”

  It’s quiet on the other side for a few beats before she comes back with a question of her own.

  “Whadda you want with her?”

  I don’t need to fake the emotion that fills my voice as I answer.

  “I want to find out what happened to her. Her body was one of the ones found at the Wildcat Canyon construction site.”

  “She’s dead?” I don’t bother responding to that and Ginger doesn’t seem to expect it. “Damn. Sorry to hear that.” She sounds genuine.

  “Thanks. We lost touch over the years but she was a good friend, so if there’s anything you can tell me, it would be helpful.”

  “Like I said, I’ve seen her around, but never paid much attention. We’ve been at their clubhouse a few times over the years for parties, but not since last year, so any time I’ve seen her woulda been before then. Some of our guys have friends over there, though. I can ask around.”

  “That would be great. Thanks, Ginger.”

  It’s quiet for a minute and then she goes there. I’d been bracing for it.

  “So…you and Yuma?”

  “Me and Yuma,” I confirm, not giving her more than what she puts out there.

  “He used to be such fun,” she taunts, but I’m not biting.

  “Alcohol can make it look that way.”

  “Nothing wrong with a drink,” she says defensively.

  “Not if you don’t need it to forget what you’re doing.”

  The silence on the other side stretches until she finally says, “You’re not as prissy as you look, are you?”

  I’m not quite sure whether to take it as an insult or a compliment.

  “Not nearly.”

  All I hear is a snort on the other side and then dead air.

  I’m thinking I may have won that round. I’m wearing a smirk as I walk back into the clubhouse.

  “Not the look I was expecting,” Ouray says with a grin. He’s sitting with Nosh at the table where we’d been having lunch before.

  I shrug. “She struck. I countered. She wasn’t prepared for that. I’d call it a win.”

  Nosh scribbles on his pad before turning it to show me.

  You’re a surprise Lissie Bucco.

  My smirk spreads into a full-fledged smile as I follow him back to his house.

  We spent the morning clearing out what used to be Yuma’s room so we could paint it for Ezrah. It had been a bit of insight into Yuma’s childhood: pictures, school yearbooks, an old Green Day poster, and even a sports trophy or two. This afternoon we’re painting it the light blue-gray I picked out.

  Nosh still hasn’t told anyone else what we’re doing this for, even though a few of the guys have been in to see what we’re doing. It’s not up to me to share so whenever someone would ask me, I just shrugged.

  We’ve just finished the first coat, and I’m rinsing out the rollers in the bathroom when my phone rings. I quickly wipe my hands on my jeans and pull out my phone.

  “Hello?”

  “Is this Lissie?” It’s a woman but she’s keeping her voice low.

  “It is.” I pull the phone away and quickly check the number. I don’t recognize it. “Who’s this?”

  “You called about Dani last week?”

  “Yes,” I respond cautiously. If this is the same woman who answered at the Moab Red’s clubhouse last week, that conversation ended quite abruptly.

  “She left some of her stuff behind. I stuck it in a box. Do you want it?”

  She sounds rushed and a little out of breath. I’m scared she’ll hang up again so I answer quickly.

  “Uh, yeah, absolutely. Where are you? Can I come pick it up at the clubhouse?”

  “No! Don’t come here. I’ll figure something out. I’ll text you.”

  “Hey, what’s your name?”

  “Tammy, but I gotta go. I’ll text.”

  She hangs up before I get a chance to answer.

  Half an hour later I get a text.

  Telluride at Cafee. 4:30.

  It’s two o’clock now. I’ll have to hustle if I want to make it to Telluride in time.

  Okay.

  I barely have a chance to hit send on my response when my phone rings again.

  “Hello?”

  “FBI Agent Jasper Greene here. Lissie? We need to talk.”

  Yuma

  “Where’s Lissie?”

  Nosh puts down the roller.

  “Got a call and had to leave. Said she’d be back later. Police business.”

  Damn.

  These past few days have been a clusterfuck. Two apartments flooded, tenants up in arms because of the unscheduled repairs to the water pipes, and we’ve barely even started. Twenty-two units and in the past couple of days only four got done. I had to be there to let the plumbers into the apartments, and then patched up the holes they left behind. The whole thing is requiring far more patience than I have.

  When Wapi showed up this afternoon, I told him I needed a break and rode here on my bike, hoping maybe I could take Lissie on a ride.

  “When did she leave?”

  “Couple of hours ago.”

  Shit.

  “Well, don’t stand around. Grab a roller.”

  “Give me a second.”

  I shoot Lissie off a quick message.

  At Nosh’s. Where are you?

  It’s after five by the time we finish painting my old room. I’ve checked my phone several times to see if Lissie sent me anything back. Looks like she did receive my message, but no response. We clean up, leaving the paint trays and rollers to air-dry and head over to the clubhouse for a bite.

  “Mr. Yuma!” Kiara comes running at me and I scoop her up easily, setting her on my arm. “We’ve gots hot dogs!” She points at the barrel grill where Ouray looks to be cooking a selection of meat. “Nana made tater salad and broccoli salad, and if I eat a bite of both we gets to make s’mores after.”

  “Tater salad, huh?”

  “And broccoli salad,” she adds and pulls a face. “I don’t like that, but Nana says it’s good for me and makes me grow big and strong. Do you like broccoli salad, Mr. Yuma?”

  I grin at her. “I do. How do you think I got this big and strong?”

  “Kiara!” Lisa comes outside, carrying the little girl’s jacket. “Told you not to go outside without your jacket.

  “I’ve got it.” Brick walks up to her and grabs the jacket from her hand before walking toward us. “Come here, Princess.” He plucks the little girl from my hold and tucks her under his arm, carrying her to a picnic table while she squirms and giggles. “Now you need to listen to your nana,” he gently scolds her, as he sets her on top of the picnic table, tugging the jacket over her skinny arms. “Otherwise, you’ll catch a cold out here and then there ain’t gonna be any s’mores, hear me?”

  “Yes, Mr. Brick,” she answers in a little voice.

  He zips her up and lifts her off the table, setting her on her feet. “There, now you can go play.”

  She immediately runs off to where her brother and the other young kids are kicking a ball around.

  “Another goner,” Nosh signs, shaking his head as he starts inside.

  I walk up to Ouray.

  “What brought the cookout on?”

  “Ahiga got to pick dinner. He picked meat on the grill.”

  “Where’s Luna?”

  “Working late. They picked up a couple
of suspects today they’re questioning. Be good for this case to be over.”

  “It’s probably where Lissie went off to as well. Nosh says she got called out on police business.”

  “Wouldn’t surprise me. Sounds like it’s all hands on deck.”

  Guess I shouldn’t expect Lissie back soon either then.

  I update him on the progress at the Riverside before I wander off to join Tse and Honon, and bum a smoke.

  “Where’d you leave the woman?” Tse asks. “Fucked that up already?”

  “Fuck off, asshole. She’s working,” I grumble.

  “So what’s with Nosh and his reno all of a sudden?” Honon wants to know. “Can’t remember the last time a paintbrush touched that house.”

  “He’ll tell y’all when he’s ready. Not mine to share.”

  “Jesus, that’s what your woman’s been telling us. We’re worried about him, man.”

  “Trust me, brother. He’s okay. It’s just his way to work through things, but he’s got a purpose. You don’t have to worry.”

  “Soup’s on!” Ouray yells, walking inside with a big aluminum pan full of burgers, steak, and hot dogs.

  It’s instant mayhem. The kids stampeding into the clubhouse, adults filing in. I take one last drag and toss my butt in the can before trailing them inside. Instead of heading for the table where a crowd’s already formed, I head over to the bar where Nosh sits.

  “Want me to grab you a plate?”

  He answers with a nod.

  When I get my turn at the table, I load up two plates and go sit next to him at the bar.

  “Want to sit at a table?” I know he asks for my sake and I appreciate it, but we’re good where we are.

  “Here is fine.”

  Partway through dinner Ouray walks up, and the expression on his face has me immediately on alert.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Luna just called. It’s about Lissie.”

  CHAPTER 26

  Lissie

  THE MOUNTAINS ARE beautiful.

  I really haven’t taken the opportunity to explore beyond the immediate area around Durango. Even though Telluride is not that far as the crow flies, driving there takes two, two and a half hours, because of the mountains. I’d love to take this drive again some time, without the anxiety I’m feeling now.