LOCK

by Debra Anastasia

I went to my knees and met him halfway in the middle of the bed. Like this, on our knees, we kissed. And then it switched. It went from playful to serious. He kissed me deeper. His hands skimmed my back and grabbed my ass, pulling me against his chest.

  “Ember,” he breathed my name before kissing the crown of my head, then my nose, then my lips gently.

  “Lock,” I said his name and kissed his chin.

  “If I’m the lock, you’re the key.” He arranged my legs so I was straddling him again and then used the motion of falling on the bed to enter me. I threw my head back. He was perfection.

  Chapter 62

  Lock

  LYING ON HER BED with her on my chest, I thought my heart would explode. I wanted this with her. I was shit for planning for my future since my dad had gone to prison. She made me a superhero. Her eyes on me made me stronger. Smarter. Stupider, too.

  I had it for her so bad. Felon’s story hit me in the balls, because I was starting to wonder if I was doomed to repeat it. My brain fought me.

  I ran my fingers through her hair. “I miss the colors.”

  “You’re my colors.” She grabbed my hand and put it on her breast. I slid it over to feel her heartbeat. “Do you trust Felon?”

  She was thinking, too. Hoping, too, maybe.

  “I trust him with your life. And that means more to me than mine.” I kissed her forehead and she rolled her hips.

  “God, just being near you turns me on.”

  And then I handled her all over again. There’d never be enough. Making love to her was like dipping my dick into heroin. I wanted it all the time. I was pretty sure I would die to get a taste.

  The clock on the wall told me our evening was nearing an end. We had to talk about more stuff. Prepare us for the eventuality that all of this was going to shit. Cosmo was a gay man in love with Felix, or so it seemed.

  His father was going to react. Shit. Olin had kidnapped Ember, knowing she was Mercy’s sister. He had a big, giant pair of balls. It was either because he was good at what he was doing or crazy. Maybe both, which made me more afraid than anything else.

  Chapter 63

  Ember

  I HELD THE BEDSPREAD around my naked body as Lock disappeared into the closet. It was not lost on me that my fiancé was hiding in the closet and my lover was coming out of one.

  I closed the door and sat back down on the floor. I needed to come up with a plan. A plan that was so good that it could save him. Save my brother and Animal and T. I felt despondent. I was only a nineteen-year-old chick. What the hell was I going to do? When the solution hit me, I bit my bottom lip. There was something that I could do that none of these guys could. Maybe I was onto something. It’d require me to do something I never thought I could. It made me braver, though. His love and my plan were doing good things to my head. I had to do what my mother hadn’t.

  Exhausted from our night of making love, I tossed on a nightgown and crawled into bed. When I got up to check the heat, because it was sweltering in my part of the house, I ran into Cosmo.

  He handed me one of the cold bottles of beer he was carrying. They already had the tops popped off. “Here, take this. I’ll grab Felix another.”

  I took the bottle and tipped it back for a swallow. The thermostat was set at eighty degrees. I tapped the beer against the display. “We cooking meat here?”

  Cosmo raised his eyebrow. “We certainly have some hot sausage upstairs.” I couldn’t help but laugh. His grin in return was beyond carefree.

  “It can’t last forever, though, right? I wish it could.” I pushed the button down until the numbers read seventy.

  “It maybe can? Like after you and I get married? We can sort of do what we’re doing now? And well, after a few years, I’m sure the watch will lighten up. We do a few outings like this, show that we come back and can be trusted?”

  I heard the word “years” and I felt it in my soul at the same time. Being with Lock was so much better than it was before he was coming to my room. But it was far from the life I wished I could have with him.

  “That’s a lot of time and what-ifs.”

  The door opened above and Felix stepped out onto the landing, smiling and without his glasses. He looked much younger that way.

  “We can talk about it when we go back home. I think we can make it work. Stick with me, Ember.” And with that, Cosmo trotted back up the stairs. Felix took Cosmo’s beer from him, but snatched his hand and pulled him back into the room before Cosmo could go back downstairs to get another.

  Maybe there was a crazy way to make it all work. Not ideal. And pretty dangerous…but maybe.

  _______________

  The week in the cabin was heaven compared to what I’d been through. Felix and Cosmo had the topmost floor to themselves. For the most part, they stayed up there. Felon had arranged for Lock to have the “flu.”

  His “flu” was being upstairs and living with me for the week.

  We had sex, made love, and fucked. All different flavors of making the most of our time and our bodies. It was the worst idea, because with every hour we spent together, we realized how much we were missing when we were apart.

  He was hilarious. His stories about being a young kid in his neighborhood were amazing and heartbreaking. He loved his sister so much. His mom was a spitfire. His father was a good man who did a hard job, and it was devastating that he was in prison for murders he didn’t commit.

  And then there was Lock. His big mouth got him into a lot of trouble. He let me draw him. We binged on some of the movies that were stocked in the TV. He showered up here, with me. There were a few games of strip poker. So much cuddling. We held hands all the time. We danced. It was like we were trying to fit an entire lifetime into a week.

  “You’re the inhale; I’m the exhale. One is useless without the other,” he murmured with his head on my naked chest.

  I learned what he looked like growing his five o’clock shadow. We both sucked at cooking. The pantry at the cabin was stocked. We kept the blinds tightly closed, despite the breathtaking view. Though it was supposed to be a skiing trip, none of us hit the slopes.

  The morning everything changed, we were starting the routine. I was in the small kitchen attached to my room, wearing nothing but Lock’s T-shirt. He was wearing his sweats and sitting shirtless at the table. Toast and eggs was the attempt today. A loud thwack made us both turn our heads. I turned off the stove. Lock was up in a second, headed toward where he thought he heard the noise when it sounded again.

  It was coming from my closet. Felon shouted up, “Get down here, kid. Olin’s in the driveway.”

  I didn’t even know Felon could talk, but Lock didn’t seem alarmed. He kissed me quickly. “Get dressed. Hide anything that gives us away.”

  He kissed me deeply and then dropped into the vent. I slid the cover over the top. I rushed around, doing what he said, making it look like I was here by myself. Then I realized that Felix and Cosmo didn’t know.

  Shit, shit, shit.

  I ran out onto the landing and looked down the stairs. The door was opening. Olin pegged me with his creepy stare. His fur jacket was dusted with snow. I sprinted up the stairs. As I banged on the door with a flat hand, Olin was starting up the stairs. What the hell I thought was going to go on, I wasn’t sure.

  When Felix answered the door in a towel, I felt my stomach drop. Then Olin arrived behind me, pushing me roughly through the door. Cosmo was sitting, dressed in the kitchen. He stood when he saw his father.

  “Dad. What are you doing here?”

  “You’re gay. You good-for-nothing, slippery little asshole.” His father advanced on Cosmo.

  He’d changed. Olin. He wasn’t treating Cosmo with reverent kid gloves anymore. This was not the relationship between a spoiled boy and his adoring father.

  The murder was back in his eyes. He slapped Cosmo across the face. Cosmo shook his head. “No. Dad. It’s not like that. We really enjoy his company. Ember and I. We really like it.”

>   It sounded hollow in my ears, and I knew it felt hollow in Olin’s evil soul.

  Lock was outside the door with Felon and Volt. Skinny was nowhere to be found. I had put on soft sleep shorts in my haste. Cosmo’s two bodyguards stood behind him. I turned toward Lock. Felon had his hand on his arm.

  I shook my head. No, don’t come in. I’ve got it, I told him with my eyes. With my begging gaze. My heart was pounding in my throat.

  If Cosmo died, I died. That’s what I knew for sure. Olin raised his hand to hit Cosmo again. Felix caught the old man’s wrist. There was fight in Felix’s eyes.

  “Don’t hit him.”

  Olin ripped away from Felix’s grasp and grabbed his bodyguard’s gun. I saw the mask of rage. The one I’d been dreading.

  Olin put the gun to Felix’s head and pulled the trigger. I screamed because I couldn’t not. I would see the snap back of his head over and over and over when I closed my eyes. Laura. Now Felix.

  Lock was behind me, picking me up off the floor. I didn’t realize that I had fallen to my knees. I felt like I was scrambling, trying to run, but my feet wouldn’t take me.

  Cosmo’s face lost all emotion, as if watching Felix crumble to the floor was attached to his human feelings. And then he started to scream. Low and deep.

  “No. No!”

  I stepped back as if the horror was something I could get away from. Felix’s head was a mess. It was very clear he’d stopped breathing. Stopped living. Stopped loving.

  “You useless old fucking shit!” Cosmo stepped toward his father, rage unbridled. One of the bodyguards stepped up to him. No one was touching Olin.

  Olin had lost his mind. “Felon. Kill her as well. We’ll start from scratch.”

  He pointed at me, and I felt Lock’s grip tighten on my arms. I shook my head no. It was an idea. A horrible one. But an idea.

  “I’m pregnant with Cosmo’s baby,” I uttered the words and then started to pray. Pray that no one else knew about Lock. Prayed that Cosmo wasn’t going to rat me out in his grief.

  “That’s right. Fuck you, Dad. She’s got the next heir on board. How about fucking that?” Cosmo lurched forward and grabbed me. Lock was reluctant to let me go.

  I felt like I was going to pass out. I wasn’t breathing. We weren’t breathing. Olin’s eyes had prominent red veins. The air was thick with emotion and decision. And Felix’s murdered body.

  I felt a rush of nausea and I covered my mouth. I made it to the trash can where I hurled. I felt someone rubbing my back. I peeked over my shoulder to see Cosmo.

  When I turned, Olin was straightening his jacket. He painted a garishly inappropriate smile on his face. I grabbed the hand towel off of the oven and wiped my lips.

  “This is great news. Great news. Glad you were able to knock her up. That’s marvelous. So let’s assume the wedding will go on as planned.”

  Olin strode forward and took my hand. “This is good. We’ll get you the best care possible. You’ll come with me now. Of course.”

  He tugged me behind him. Felon stepped in front of Lock. I couldn’t see what was going on between them, but as I was pulled down the stairs and pushed into the limo that had quietly brought death to our door, I realized I was being kidnapped from my kidnappers. And I wasn’t safe anymore.

  Chapter 64

  Ember

  ON OLIN’S PLANE I was in the seat in the back. Olin was ignoring me. His two huge bodyguards kept watch over me. I felt chilly and tried to warm myself up. The larger of the two bodyguards on the plane stood and got me a thin airplane blanket. I nodded when I took it, my mind replaying the horror of the last few hours. I’d just reacted to the situation. I knew if Cosmo died, I was next. And there had to be a way to keep Lock and me alive. Claiming to be pregnant worked. But I doubted it would buy me much more time before the wedding.

  I’d saved my life and hopefully Lock’s, but just for a little while, only as much time as it took to get a pregnancy test. Once Olin realized I was lying, it was over. And Cosmo had tried to help, but he was an emotional basket case. The thought of watching Lock die was terrifying. I felt sick again. I tried to bat it down but took off running for the bathroom. After I dry-heaved, one of the bodyguards offered me a water.

  I sat back down in my seat, my mind swimming in irrational thoughts. Maybe I could jump out of the airplane. Maybe I could attack them all right now.

  Without Lock I was losing it. His presence had been my only balm. A way to calm myself. The plane started on its descent. It was time to pay the piper. As we disembarked the plane, I was starting to feel faint.

  “We’re going to take a quick pregnancy test to make sure you weren’t lying to save your hide.” Olin patted my back and I pulled away.

  I expected a test from the drugstore, but instead, we were at an Urgent Care. A blood test. I was doomed. This was it. This was the way it ended for me. I searched for a pen to maybe write a quick note to Lock, to Nix. Tell them I loved them both. In the waiting room my gaze was drawn to a sick kid blowing his nose. Such a normal sight on an unreal day.

  Olin stayed with me. I’d had a wild thought. Maybe I could attack the nurse. Run. But when the woman walked in, she looked like everybody’s grandma. She was sweet with me, though clearly confused by Olin’s presence. She handed me a cup for a urine sample and explained that she would also be taking a blood test.

  I hopped off the table and took the cup. I glanced at the exit door on my way to the bathroom, but the exam room door was still open. I could feel Olin’s stare on me.

  Inside the bathroom, I did what was necessary. As I opened the little metal door to place my sample inside, I saw a piece of paper.

  “If you need help and don’t feel safe, please tell one of our staff that we are out of paper towels.”

  The bathroom had a hand blower. It was clever. There was no need for towels, but it wasn’t something that would stir an alarm.

  My mind began racing, trying to figure out what the best decision would be. I didn’t want the kindly nurse killed. And I had no doubt that Olin would order his men to do just that. I thought of the kid in the waiting room with the stuffy nose. I didn’t want to put him in danger either.

  But I knew I wasn’t pregnant. Or if I was, it would be too soon for a test to give a positive result. When I came back into the exam room, I felt like I uttered the sign’s words while someone had my throat in a chokehold. But I got them out.

  The nurse didn’t react. Maybe she didn’t know about the code phrase?

  “Are you two related?” She checked her chart.

  Olin responded, “Yes, I’m her father.”

  There was a way about her, so in charge of her space and environment, that when she handled Olin, he listened.

  “Sir, you can’t stay in here. She and I will have to discuss her menstruation at length.”

  I tried not to let my excitement show.

  She ushered him out the door and then closed it. She pulled her phone out and set it to a loud white noise app. Then she came close to me.

  “What’s going on?”

  Her gentle brown eyes went steely. From caretaker to superhero. I had chills. I couldn’t ask to be saved. That wasn’t going to work. But maybe, just maybe, she could help me.

  “That man I’m with? It’s okay. He’s okay. But I need him to think I’m pregnant. It’s the only way.” I touched her forearm. She had to trust me. And not overreact. I was taking a huge risk. Maybe too huge.

  “I can help you get away. I have ways. We can admit you. I can get the cops here.”

  She spoke in between her sentences, regular questions about my period. She was good at this. Really good.

  “If you want to save me, please tell him I’m pregnant. It’s everything I need right now. If I’m not, I’m in danger. And it’s not just me. It’s other people, including you and everyone in the waiting room. There’s a little boy out there. Please. Just tell him that I am, and I promise you I will be okay.” I held my hope in my chest with my breat
h.

  She assessed me once and then twice. Then she cued up the needle. She tapped the vein she needed and extracted the blood. I had flashbacks to Felix. Flashbacks to Laura. The nurse left, saying she’d have the results soon. Olin walked in behind her.

  I felt faint again. Olin snorted and then stepped closer. “Feeling unsure? Honestly, I picked you for this very reason. To create an heir. Cosmo has been a disappointment. I kept hoping he would be more.”

  I gave Olin a tired stare. “You’re the very worst. I hate you so much. Fuck you.”

  Olin’s eyes rolled into his head. If the nurse didn’t do as I asked…who knows what would happen next.

  In less than ten minutes, the nurse came back into the room. She looked hesitant, but said what I needed her to.

  “I have good news. You’re pregnant. Congratulations.”

  I snapped into the role. I covered my stomach with my hands.

  Olin started to clap like this was great news. Like he’d waited all his life to hear it. “Oh, you’ll marry Cosmo. And soon. This’ll be fascinating. Look at you! Managed to get a baby in you, after all.”

  Olin put his hand on my back and helped me down from the table. I was an asset now. I squeezed the nurse’s hand as I went by. She’d just saved a lot of lives, at least for a little while. I didn’t even catch her name.

  Chapter 65

  Lock

  COSMO FEYBI WOULDN’T LET go of Felix’s body. Felon was tracking Olin, or so he said. I was trying to run and stay at the same time. It was like I was going to tear myself in half.

  I could run away. That was a choice now. But then I wouldn’t have access to Felon anymore. Or maybe I would. Felon showed me his text from Olin. He was taking Ember to the doctor. A blood test. I sent a message to the emergency cell service that Animal had made me memorize. I gave them all the information I could.

  I got a quick response:

  Stay with Cosmo.

  And that was all I had to go by. Cosmo’s deep, repetitive sobs were horrible to listen to. His pain was so acute. You could almost see his heart trying to beat around the blade of the knife.