by A. L. Moore
“Come on, Robyn,” Liam snapped. “You know how suspicious Tyler is. He wouldn’t trust me to walk her across the street right now.”
“The exchange takes less than five minutes,” Liam explained, turning back to me.
My hands were shaking uncontrollably. “I can’t believe this is happening.”
“It’s the best I could do,” he said between his teeth. “Tyler had something else in mind entirely.” I could imagine what that was, and Tyler would’ve undoubtedly played a much larger role.
“What was his plan,” Robyn asked, hopeful.
Liam shot her a look that would’ve silenced screams from Hell. “It wasn’t so different than you.”
“That’s ridiculous,” she said, anxiously wringing her hands. “Justice is legal. It doesn’t make any sense.”
“I’d wager it would’ve been enough to keep her mouth shut.”
Liam was right. The thought of my parents seeing me in some unspeakable act with Tyler made the tears start up again.
“So, let him screw her,” Robyn said, crossing her arms. “You know he’s going to anyway. When has Ty not got what he wanted?"
I gripped my stomach as dry heaves started to shutter through me.
“I’m sorry, Justice, but Liam knows I’m right. You should go ahead and get it over with, leave dealing to the professionals.”
“Robyn!” Liam snapped.
“I don’t want her freaking out with Jayson and landing him back in a cell,” she insisted.
“What’s the big deal, if she sleeps with Ty one time? The video won’t come out unless she spills.”
“Please don’t make me do that,” I said between sobs.
“Grow up, Justice,” she said eyeing me like a lioness ready to pounce. “It’s one time. You told me how bored you were with Mason. You can’t tell me you never faked it with him. Just lie there and let him do his thing. Ten minutes, you’re done. He’ll never know the difference.”
I shook my head adamantly, strands of hair sticking to my damp cheeks. “I never slept with Mason,” I admitted.
Liam’s eyes went from dark to smoldering. “Why didn’t you listen to me?” He was on his feet, yelling in my face. “I told you to stay away! To go back home, but you just kept coming back.” He threw his hat across the room, swearing. “Is this what you wanted?” I buried my face in my hands. “You’re better than this, Justice."
“So are you,” I said between sobs.
“No, I’m not! This,” he said, spreading his arms wide, “is who I am.”
Liam angry was not something I wanted to see. It was worse than being alone with Tyler. Liam was my saving grace. I needed him on my side. He was all I had.
He stalked around the room like a panther, raking his hands through his long hair before grabbing his hat and disappearing out the door. With Liam gone, I didn’t have the energy to sit up. Falling back to the bed, I closed my eyes, trying to keep my heart from combusting. Robyn didn’t speak again, and in the silence, my body shut down.
The next knock on the door startled me from a dreamless sleep to a nightmare. For a second, I thought I was at home in bed. Then, I saw Jayson, a black bandana tied over his head and his riding jacket in his hand. He looked sternly at Robyn as if daring her to argue and then motioned for me.
“You ready?” he asked me.
“What took so long?” Robyn said pursing her lips. “It’s been hours since Liam left.”
“My parents,” I said panicked. It had to be late. They were probably looking for me.
“Tom told them you were babysitting for his kids tonight,” Jayson said dismissively, motioning for me to get up.
I reached for my phone, but it wasn’t in my bag. “We can’t have anyone tracking us,” Jayson said. “You can have it back when we’re done.”
“So, Tom knows,” Robyn sighed, her hand on Jayson's shoulder. “Was he mad?”
“What do you think?” Jayson grimaced.
“How’s Liam?” Robyn asked, her face matching Jayson’s.
“What happened to Liam,” I asked, struggling to tie my shoes.
“Nothing that won’t heal,” Jayson said flatly.
“Is Ty okay?” Robyn chuckled grimly.
“Liam didn’t swing the first punch,” Jayson said, clearly not agreeing with his brother’s decisions. “He knew this one was on him.”
“Tyler hit Liam?” I asked reeling.
Jayson stood tall; his massive arms crossed over the chest of his black t-shirt. “He got what was coming to him,” Jayson said, slinging his arm across my shoulder as I passed through the door. “We can’t afford mistakes, no matter how cute the girl.”
“Keep your eyes on the road,” Robyn reminded him as she glared at me.
When I glanced back, I saw the panic gone from her face. Now she looked hopeless, like she had at the poker game before she’d drown herself in whiskey. I wondered if I looked the same. Nothing could be done about what was going to happen now. I was a ragdoll in a pen of rabid dogs, praying they’d take mercy.
Jayson’s bike was parked at the end of the long drive. I moved robotically, not looking up as I climbed on the heated seat. I knew Robyn was watching from the window; I could feel eyes baring down on us. I didn’t take hold of Jayson until the last minute. Death by highway was preferable to Robyn’s hands. Less painful.
Jayson drove slower than Liam but still too fast for me to relax my arms. It didn’t help that he was harder to hold on to. His body was solid like a rock and wider than Liam. My hands barely wrapped his stomach. Every time the bike jarred, I was afraid of falling off. The sky was dark, too dark to even guess what time it was. It had to be late. It was after ten before I'd fallen asleep. As Jayson weaved in and out of the few cars on the road, it started to rain. The small droplets stung my face at well over sixty miles per hour, forcing me to close my eyes. I couldn’t even see the road signs we passed. Jayson could’ve taken me off and dumped me, and I wouldn’t have been able to tell anyone where I was. At least the rain helped me stay alert. Despite the anxiety tying my stomach in knots, my eyes were still heavy and having them closed was making it too easy to go back to sleep.
The rain slowed to a drizzle before Jayson pulled into a shopping mall. The parking lot was deserted, lit by the dull orange glow from the streetlights. Jayson pulled around to the back where a dark SUV was parked next to a dumpster filled with overhanging rolls of carpet. It seemed fitting. I felt like trash, passing drugs off in an alley. Jayson steadied the bike on the kickstand, climbed off the bike and walked over to the driver’s window of the SUV. The man that stepped out was tall, even next to Jayson, and wiry. He reminded me of Tyler, until he stepped out of the headlights. His dark hair was cut short like the mustache that shaded his lip. Marco.
“Justice,” Jayson waved me over after whispered pleasantries were exchanged. I gripped the faded black duffel bag with both hands and shakily made my way over. “Open it up,” Jayson instructed. The zipper snagged halfway down, my trembling hand not helping. Jayson forced his hand inside the bag and pulled out one of the small baggies, offering it to Marco.
The white powder shined against his dark skin as he sampled it on his finger. He took the bag and tossed it to a guy who could have been a carbon copy of himself. I was careful to keep my eyes on the ground, staring at their polished loafers against the damp asphalt.
“How old is she,” Marco asked, pushing the wet hair from my face and stroking my cheek. He smirked, amused when I flinched. Then, he roughly grabbed my chin and forced me to look up.
“Seventeen,” Jayson said, putting his arm around me and drawing me back to his side.
“She’s yours?” Marco asked skeptically, his eyes baring into me.
“That’s right,” Jayson said, his voice strong and absolute. I wrapped my arm around Jayson’s waist.
“That’s strange,” Marco said. “When Tom called, he gave the impression she was fair game.”
What? Me? I looked panicked to Jayson, but his eyes we
re unwavering and focused on our company. Marco’s eyes were ravenous, looking me over like a lunch special in a store window. I turned my body into Jayson, cringing and holding onto him as if my life depended on, which it did. His body was every bit as rigid as my own, pushing me closer to the edge. Things had to be really bad for Jayson to be nervous.
“Aren’t they all,” Jayson chuckled darkly.
Marco looked to the SUV when the other man called his name and shook his head no. “That’s a shame,” he said suspiciously. “Be sure to bring her back…when the new has worn off.”
As soon as the SUV’s headlights swept across us, Jayson let me go. “Let’s get out of here before he changes his mind,” he said, firing the bike.
My mind raced on the drive back. I couldn’t stop thinking about the way Marco had looked at me, as if I weren’t human, as if I were nothing more than what was in that ratty duffel bag. His rough voice kept repeating in my head, making me hold Jayson tighter. If not for him… I couldn’t even finish the thought. The rain started again before we reached the house. I didn’t see the bikes, but I knew they were hidden in the garage. The shaking was so bad that Jayson had to lift me off the bike. I hugged him tightly around the waist, burying my wet face in his opened jacket. The shirt beneath was dry and soft but provided little comfort.
“Thank you,” I breathed.
Jayson’s hold on me was strong and just what I needed to remain upright. He was doing more than keeping me standing; he was keeping me together. I opened my eyes, surprised to see everyone outside. Robyn’s face was flush with life again, her fists clenched, ready to take mine away at any second. I should’ve let Jayson go. I should’ve been afraid, but Robyn didn’t seem as threatening as what I’d just come from. Keeping one arm strong across my shoulder, Jayson maneuvered us toward the rear door. Tyler rounded the corner and suddenly I was falling. Jayson charged at Tyler. Liam quickly swept in to take Jayson’s place, or I’d have been on the ground for sure.
“What was that, man?” Jayson yelled.
John and Alec were quick by Tyler’s side, but he waved them off. “What’re you talking about?” Tylor asked feigning surprise, but cautiously taking a step back.
Jayson was fuming, his voice shaking with anger. “It looks like your uncle agreed to trade off more than ice. You know I don’t get involved in that shit.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Tyler said at the same time Liam let me go.
“You’re a fucking liar!” Liam stormed, shoving Tyler nearly to the ground. “Tom doesn’t take a piss without your approval.”
I steadied myself against the brick of the house in a daze. Robyn stood close by in pajama shorts and a tank top, her arms crossed protectively against her chest. Her eyes didn’t move from Jayson. John and Alec were partially hidden behind an overgrown bush, ready to step in if necessary. Jayson and Liam could’ve been breathing fire, and they wouldn’t have looked more menacing. Tyler stood strong with determination in his eyes. There was no way he was going to back down with everyone watching. The scene was surreal. The shouting so loud, I hoped someone heard and called the police. I felt like I was out of my body. Watching someone else’s life.
“Back off, Liam,” Tyler said evenly, his fists clinched by his sides.
“She didn’t want your punk ass, so just trade her off to Marco,” Liam snapped.
“You made her a problem,” Tyler reminded him, looking a little unsteady himself. “If you’d kept your hands off her.”
“I haven’t touched her!” Liam held his arms wide. “Is that what this is about, your ego?” Liam shoved Tyler again, hard. “You want to hurt me?”
“If I wanted to hurt you, you wouldn’t still be standing,” Tyler sneered.
“Look guys,” Robyn intervened shakily, trying to get an arm between them. “Justice is fine. Nothing happened. Let’s just forget it.”
“Marco wants her,” Jayson said, pulling Robyn out of the line of fire. “Told me to be sure to bring her back,” he said over his shoulder to Tyler.
“I’m not going back,” I said with every ounce of volume I could manage.
“It’s not that easy,” Liam said flatly, glancing at me and then back to Tyler. “Tom’s not about to lose his cozy little setup.”
"So, what does that mean?" I asked, my voice scratchy from crying so much. They didn't have to say anything. I could tell by the look on their faces.
I would have to go back.
Chapter 13. Captive
It took John, Alec and Jayson to pull Liam off Tyler. Liam’s eyes were the most intimidating I’d ever seen them, his chest heaving as he threw another punch, hitting air. Tyler’s face was a bloodied mess, but he was unrelenting. With one eye nearly closed and his lip split down the middle, he refused to give an inch. He kept coming back at Liam as if his wounds made him stronger. It was like watching a superhero. If the superhero were Satan himself. I couldn’t help but wonder who would’ve walked away had the fight continued.
Once Jayson had a strong hold on Liam, Alec and John left with Tyler. The neighbors next door were on their porch gawking, and every dog on the street howled and barked at the commotion. Liam shoved into Jayson’s shoulder on his way into Robyn’s house. As upset as I was with Tyler, I was on Jayson's side. Pounding Tyler's face was only going to cause trouble for Liam. It wouldn't get me out of this mess. I glanced across the street to make sure my parents hadn't caught wind of anything, and thankfully, the house was dark. I could've probably gone home, but I didn't want to plant any doubt in Tom's story. My parents didn't need any more reason to talk to him. I didn't want them involved with him at all.
Robyn’s house was eerily quiet after all the turmoil outside. I’d seen people fight before, mostly kids at school, but never like what had just happened. I couldn’t shake the images of blood on Liam’s cheek and the sound of his fist connecting with bone. It might have helped if the TV had been on, but I didn’t have the strength to look for the remote. I headed straight up the steps to Robyn’s room to change and figure out where I was supposed to sleep. She hadn’t tried to kill me outside, so I was probably safe. Besides, Jayson was with her. She tended to be civil with him around. I jiggled the doorknob, but it was locked. “Robyn,” I whispered against the door, but no one answered. I hoped for my sake, she was making up with Jayson. Having Tonya on my case was enough without tacking Robyn on, too. I dragged my aching feet back downstairs. The living room was dark and smelled stale, despite the back door hanging wide open. I took a quick look outside before shutting out what little light brightened the room. I didn't want any reminders of where I was. I stretched out on the couch. The leather was cold and slick against my bare legs, and it didn't help that my clothes were sopping wet. My khaki shorts bunched uncomfortably beneath me. I tucked my hands between my thighs and curled into myself. I had no clue where to look for the thermostat and there wasn't even a throw blanket, like on my couch at home. I wanted my coat and a bowl of soup, at least a dry towel, but it didn’t look like I was getting anything I wanted this summer. Shivering in the darkness, I shut my eyes.
"Are you okay?" Liam's husky voice startled me. He sounded gruffer than usual. All the yelling must have worn on him.
I opened my eyes to find him sitting on the edge of the coffee table in front of me. "Just cold," I answered, the leather crackling as I scooted up against the arm of the couch. “Are you okay?” Besides a cut above his eye, I would’ve never been able to tell he’d just been in a fight.
He squeezed the sleeve of my shirt and water dripped over the cushion. "Justice, your clothes are soaked," he said, shaking his head.
"I didn't bring any, and Robyn's door was locked,” I said sleepily.
He scowled and pulled his shirt over his head. Thankfully it was clean and not the one smeared with Tyler’s blood. “Put this on,” he insisted.
"I hate that you’re caught up in this shit," he said, looking toward the door as I struggled with my wet shirt.
I dropped the sopping shirt to the ground with a thud and pulled Liam’s black t-shirt over my head. "I know, but it's my fault,” I countered, pulling my hair free as he turned around. “Like you said, I didn't listen to you. I snuggled into his shirt, tempted to pull my arms and knees inside, too. It was still warm from his body and smelled of him.
"I just hate you got into it with Tyler, twice today, because of me."
"I got into it with Tyler because Tyler's a douche," he said defensively, his elbows resting on his thighs. "You had nothing to do with that. He was a douche long before you came along.” A slight smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
It was easier to talk to Liam in the dark, where he couldn’t see the havoc his closeness caused my body.
"I thought Tyler liked me."
"He did. He does,” he started. “As much as Tyler likes anyone."
"Then why…"
"It was Robyn," Liam cut me off. "She told Ty I had something going with you."
I plopped to my back. Of course, it was Robyn. “Why would she do that?" Robyn didn’t even know about the kiss.
"Robyn is just looking out for Robyn," Liam said evenly, his eyes taking in my legs when I arched my knee. "If it makes you feel any better, she feels bad about it now." His eyes slowly made their way back to my face.
"I'll try to remember that when Marco has me turning tricks on the corner.” Liam wasn’t amused.
“Tyler was baiting her,” he pointed out. “Sending you off with Jayson. I could've handed off to Marco same as Jayson, but Tyler wouldn't listen. He read a lot into my covering for you.
"Jeez, Justice, you’re shaking," he said, rubbing the length of my arm and creating more goosebumps than he prevented.
"I can't get warm," I said, scooting up to a sitting position and hugging my knees.
"You've been through a lot,” he said, his long fingers wrapping my wrist. “The adrenaline is probably not helping with the shakes. I'm surprised you’re still awake.
“Why don't you take the other bedroom? I'll crash here on the couch."
I shook my head. I didn’t want to trudge back up those steps again. The couch was cold and wet, but its proximity to the exit made it much more appealing than any bed.