Legacy: A Salvation Society Novel

by Rachel Robinson

  “Thank you, Marissa,” I tell my friend as she shoves cake in her mouth. “I’m not sure how you did this without me knowing but it means a lot to me. Even if I hate parties more than my mortal enemies. This was a nice surprise.”

  One sculpted brow raises. “It wasn’t hard. You’re busy getting stuffed every second you’re not working. You were really surprised?”

  I shhh my friend, holding a finger up to my lips. “Jesus, be quiet. You know better.” Looking over my shoulder, I realize no one is listening to us.

  “But really. You’ve been busy.”

  “Fine, fine.” I finish my martini and set the glass down on a table. “But I’m sure I had a few minutes for my best friend to tell me she’s dating a scary monster.” I hiss out the last two words. “Come on! What are you thinking?”

  She shrugs. “Maybe I’m not thinking. That’s so novel. I go with the flow and the sex is…well, the sex is good. No strings. Just sort of not worrying about what comes next and keeping things loose and fast.”

  I raise my brows. “You even sound like Dagger!”

  She laughs, tossing her head back. “Cool off. It’s no big deal. I promise. Don’t let it ruin your night.”

  “You’re not ruining my night. He is.” I lean my head to the side where Luke is still on the phone. “He’s acting weird tonight. Not that I expect him to be a certain way, because he can’t. No one knows.”

  “And you’re worried about me and Dagger? At least I don’t have to worry about who knows whom I’m sleeping with. You need to take a peek in the mirror, Ms. Sex Vacation in the Mansion by the Sea. It’s more scandal than sex with a scary monster.”

  I know she’s joking, but it hurts a little. Wasn’t that what London ended up being? My stomach roils. The comparisons are happening frequently and I hate that I can’t control them. It’s where my mind wanders without my permission.

  Dagger butts in, dirty martinis in both hands. “For you. And for the birthday guyrl.” He’s taken to calling me some girl guy hybrid. It’s mostly funny.

  “Thank you.” We clink glasses and I drink half straight away.

  “Where’s my boy?” Dagger asks, voice low.

  I close my eyes. “Haven’t spoken to him since the drive-in.”

  “He’s trying real hard,” Dagger says, touching his coifed hair.

  The bitterness slips. “To ignore me?”

  “Your fucking dad is here, Little Dempsey. Our boss. Try to remember this isn’t a normal party for normal people.” Oh, God. He’s right. This has to be weird for Luke. My parents, for as many times as I’ve told them nothing is going on with Hart, know the truth. I’m their daughter and they’d be awful parents if they couldn’t read between the lines.

  As if on cue, Luke strides up, blue eyes stormy and shoulders tight. “We have to go,” he rasps, setting one hand on my bare shoulder and the other on my waist.

  He realizes his mistake instantaneously and backs away, dropping his hands. A single moment too late. A glance around proves that at least ten people saw the innocuous touch that is anything but harmless. My dad is looking away, lips pinched. Shit. He witnessed it. Same with my mom. The embarrassed wish they were anywhere but here stares prove me right. My heart is hammering. Dagger flashes his white, scary smile and Marissa covers her mouth.

  “Well, that was the oops heard around the world.”

  Hart’s breathing rapidly as he looks at my dad. “Nah, I have one better,” Luke replies, cryptically, gaze focused on my face.

  “Why do we have to go? They just served cake. Mom said champagne is next. It’s early.” I look at my wrist where my watch should be, but it isn’t because we were in a rush.

  “Your apartment is on fire, Little Dempsey,” Luke says, looking at Dagger instead of me. “We need to go and it would be nice if we didn’t get anyone else involved quite yet.” Luke looks at my dad.

  “What? How do you know?” Why would Luke know something this big and awful before me? A shiver slides down my spine. “Who were you just on the phone with?”

  His neck works as he swallows. “Don’t worry about it.” Luke storms over to the back of the patio and hops over the waist-high iron fence.

  Marissa reads the panic on my face and hugs me in a rush. In my ear, she whispers. “Go. I’ll deal with everyone here.”

  I thank her under my breath, even though I’m not sure what I’m thanking her for and smile and wave as I make my leave for the restroom, but then make a U-turn and exit through the front door and head to the parking lot, a lump in my throat. Luke is waiting for me with the Lambo idling. The passenger door rises and I get in and pull the door closed.

  “Tell me everything,” I order.

  He pretends to be fully occupied by driving. Which is fine, but in this confined space, my head is swimming in his scent.

  When we’re on the main road heading toward my complex, he tries to set a hand on my leg, but I push it away. “Hart, I’m serious. Why can’t I tell my parents? When you say on fire, do you mean like a small kitchen fire or a California forest fire blaze? What is going on? How do you know this is happening and I don’t?” I chance a look sideways and regret it. Luke looks angry. “Give me something.”

  He shakes his head as we round the corner, and unfortunately, he doesn’t have to answer one question. Smoke is billowing in mushroom cloud waves, dark and thick, exactly where my complex sits.

  “Aara, I don’t know how to say this.”

  “I don’t care how you say it, but you need to start talking.”

  We pull off the main road onto the street that runs along my condo complex and the fire engines and cop cars come into view, their red and blue lights blinding as we pull into the bustling parking lot. Not too different from the day when Henry was waiting for me, there are media vans everywhere and neighbors who I’ve never met before are loitering around in different states of dress. My building has thirty units alone, and by the looks of it, all three blocks of apartments are going to singe to the ground. Water is pumping from the fire hoses, but it doesn’t look like it’s touching the deep red, angry flames.

  With tears in my eyes, I turn to level Luke with my gaze.

  “Chase called me. He told me that Ch…one of my exes was angry at me. This might have been her doing.”

  “How did Chase know my condo was on fire before I did?” I inhale sharply when I remember to breathe.

  His eyes turn down in the corner. “This is why I don’t tell Chase shit, Aarabelle. This.” He waves an arm to my house. “This is why I wanted to keep you hidden away. This is why I wanted you to be a secret. He knew because they’re all fucking connected to each other. All of them.”

  “Who are connected other than Chase and your ex-club chick, Luke? Who is all?”

  He opens his door and smoke wafts into the cabin. I get out of the car and yell at him over the hood. He lets me. I’m hurling obscenities when a realization dawns.

  “You didn’t want my dad to know because you were responsible for this?”

  His back straightens as my accusation hits. “I was not responsible for this. Don’t you fucking say that.”

  I keep my mouth shut for fear of saying something I’d regret. Something I can’t take back. “I’m going to talk to the officers. When I come back I want details.”

  He shakes his head, leaning his elbows on the low roof of the car as he cradles his head. Hiding his face from view. I get as close as I dare because the smoke is suffocating even from the distance of the expansive parking lot. I hear words like arson. Accelerant. A total loss. My stomach sinks when I think of the only thing I care about that was inside my house. The books from my dad. I remind myself that I didn’t have a pet inside or worse, a family. I introduce myself after tapping an officer on the shoulder.

  He takes my information down on a notepad and doesn’t really offer much else. The investigation is still ongoing. Through the haze of shock, I see them across the parking lot. I’d call it a mirage of my worst nightmare excep
t Henry is running toward me, calling my name in that cursed accent. Trailing behind him is Aurora Ball in a white fluffy robe holding a small dog, her hair in curlers. What is my life right now? I look up to the stars. Is this the opposite of the best birthday ever?

  “Aara, love,” Henry says. “Are you okay?”

  I sigh. “I’m fine. What are you doing here?”

  He looks away sheepishly, his jawline prominent. I avert my gaze. “Your mom didn’t tell you? I bought a unit here to stay when I’m in town. I fell in love with the place and wanted to have something permanent in San Diego.”

  “Here.” I nearly choke on the solitary word. “Why here? Where I live?”

  He lifts one shoulder. “Well, doesn’t matter now, it’s sort of ash and smoke now.”

  Touché. “I can’t get rid of you. I don’t know why you just won’t go away, Henry. I hope now that it’s smoke and ash you’ll go far, far away and let me live my life.” Aurora is now standing by Henry’s side and he immediately grows uncomfortable, his jaw grinding. “Aurora. Nice night.”

  She pulls an ugly face. “I told Henry not to buy this crappy condo in the first place. Now maybe next time he’ll listen to me. That townhouse in La Jolla was so much nicer. It had a pool and it was on the beach. I’m going to call the realtor and see if it’s still available. Ugh, what a nightmare.” Her English accent is way less attractive than Henry’s.

  She’s oblivious. Laughably so. A hundred people lost their home, maybe their lives, and she’s worried about a pool. I close my eyes and inhale deeply, then cough.

  “You weren’t even living here anymore, I didn’t see any sense in looking somewhere else. You know how quick real estate goes around here.” He looks behind him to see where Aurora went before asking, “How did you get here?” Henry peers around my shoulder and sees Luke. I mean, I assume he sees Luke because terror washes across his face. I love it and I hate it at the same time, because right now I’m pissed.

  “You know why I’m not living here? You made it a circus! It’s bad enough being in the limelight for the training and my career, but then you brought your show pony publicity circus to my door. Literally to my door. I couldn’t stay here because I didn’t have a choice!”

  “It’s worth repeating,” Henry says, gesturing to the buildings in flames. “Not that it makes a difference anymore.”

  I sigh, defeated. “Don’t you have an interview to give, Henry? Better yet, an angry heiress to indulge?”

  I sense Luke before he sets his hand on my waist. “The one and the only Henry Durnin?” Luke growls. He eyes his worn-out band tee and sweat pants. “You lived here?” At least he gets the tense right. Henry confirms as much and Luke introduces himself as my friend. Annoying, but required. “We should get going, Aara. Your phone is blowing up in the car.”

  Such a pragmatic request when my house is literally in flames.

  “I want to talk to Aarabelle first,” Henry inserts and crazily doesn’t seem to regret his word choice even though he should. “Excuse us for a few moments, please, Mr. Hart.”

  Luke laughs, one hand pressed on his stomach. “Talk then, but I’m not going anywhere unless she tells me to.” He looks at me. “You going to tell me to leave, Dempsey? You want to be alone with him?”

  If I wanted to hurt him, I’d say yes and order him away, but I can’t.

  “No, he stays,” I say to Henry.

  “He ya bodyguard or something?”

  I look away. “Something like that. What could you possibly have to say to me at this point?”

  Henry shuffles his feet and once again looks behind him. “She’s not here, Henry. She won’t hear what you say.” I fold my arms across my chest.

  “But he will.” He nods his head at Luke standing watch, pretending not to listen to every word we speak.

  “So what?”

  He takes a step closer to me and I lean away. Ash is raining from the sky, but I get caught in his gaze. Like I did so many times before. In that place that defies all fucking human logic. I open my mouth to say something, but close it again when I realize I don’t know what will come out.

  “It’s hard to tell you I still love you and I made a mistake when your friend looks like he wants to cut off my head and then shove it into my chest cavity, Love.”

  I stare blankly. Stuttering, I reply with, “What did you say?”

  “I said I love you Aarabelle and the only reason I said yes to this tour was because I wanted the chance to see you again face to face. I knew there wouldn’t be another way. To see if the spark between us is still there. It’s there. I can feel it. Just say the word and I’ll drop Aurora. We can go back to the way we were before I was a blasted ninny. I made a mistake. I’m sorry, Love. I’m so, so sorry. Please take me back.”

  I swallow hard and try to fix the emotions boiling together—separate them into neat mental containers so they don’t cause me to say or do anything rash. Peeking over my shoulder, I find Luke is staring at me, rage simmering so close to the surface I know it will explode any second. He blinks once and looks away, but I see his chest rising and falling and I recognize that he’s not angry. He’s scared of my reply to Henry’s question. Because his ex-girlfriend, or whatever, burned down my house, which is a long conversation for later. Does he assume my love is so fickle? I’m lost in thought, flipping through responses and weighing the consequences of each. It’s taken too long, and I hear Hart start to walk away. I reach back and grab his wrist.

  “Stop,” I tell him, meeting his eyes. A mistake, now that the disappointment is crystal clear. “You stay.”

  “Henry,” I say, forcing myself to stare him in the eye when I say it. “I never loved you. You never loved me. Not the way you were supposed to. You did the unthinkable when you let me fall for you without any intention of loving me back.” Henry’s lips turn down. I go on. “When I realized what equal love felt like, it changed the way I viewed the entire world.” Gently, I squeeze Luke’s hand. “Sometimes in love you only get one chance. There aren’t second or third tries. You have to get it right the first time. I can’t even be sorry because you failed so horribly at loving me. I’m strong enough to catch myself, but this time I didn’t have to.”

  “But,” Henry tries to butt in, but I hold out my free hand. A large piece of ash floats down and lands on the tip of my ring finger.

  “I’d burn everything to the ground if it meant preserving true love.” I shake my hand to flick off the airy remnants of someone’s possession and swallow down a fiery, gritty feeling. “Aurora is waiting for you,” I deadpan when he doesn’t sling back a rebuttal quickly enough. Her white, furry slippers are gray now and her face is contorted in agitation as she shuffles next to Durnin. “I care so little, I won’t even mention what you told me.”

  Henry winces. Either from my words or from Aurora Ball screeching into his ear. Her almond-shaped eyes land on Luke and her face transforms with wonder. The pit in my stomach blooms into dread. Aurora is a virus. I wonder if she knows it, or if it’s a trait she was born with.

  Luke tugs my hand, and I take a step backward toward where I know I should go.

  Henry clears his throat and looks up through his lashes. “Happy Birthday, Aarabelle.”

  A cell phone has been vibrating in Luke’s pocket the entire time we’ve been here. The police officers are clearing the parking lot and blocking off the entrance, and we make it back to the bright yellow Lambo with seconds to spare.

  Hart is driving aggressively, bobbing and weaving around parked vehicles to make it to the exit. He’s talking to someone, his cell phone cradled between his shoulder and ear because he has to shift gears. I’d say something, but I can’t forget the way Aurora looked at Luke. Is still looking at his car as he maneuvers us away. Her eyes alight with challenge. Lust. Retribution.

  “Don’t let anyone in. Are we clear? No one,” Hart’s command cuts my thoughts. “I’ll be there in twenty and I’ll be the one to approve people.” There’s silence while he l
istens to whoever is on the other end speak. “Rip up the fucking list and burn it.” A pause. “Well then torch the fucking computer and buy a new one. We’re starting from scratch and I’m not taking any chances.”

  When he notices I’m staring at him, mouth ajar, he hangs up, tosses his phone into the back seat and tentatively slips his hand onto my thigh. I leave it there for a second, debating on throwing it off and asking him to explain everything. Like my body is his reward for honesty. That’s not the kind of love I want. Equal, I think.

  Instead, I set my hand on top of his, interlacing our fingers. “Who do we need to kill, Hart?”

  His laugh is pained, but at least it’s a laugh.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Luke

  Aara deserved a real birthday. One that didn’t go up in flames. What she got in its place was disaster on every front imaginable. After we left her burned apartment complex, I drove us home where her friends and family were supposed to be waiting. On the drive though, she decided she didn’t want to talk to anyone and feign interest in small talk. I gave her space while she talked on the phone nearly the rest of the night. First to Marissa, only because I heard Dagger’s name hurled around. Then her parents because her tone changed to worry. I’m not sure who else she spoke to as I worked out across the hallway, doing my best to seem busy and intent on my workout.

  We didn’t talk about deployment. About living on the same ship and not being able to touch each other. Or be real around each other. Or the fact that she would be my boss. Or any of the other things that goes along with a taboo relationship in the world’s most stringent, dangerous profession. We should have. We’re on a ship now. Other than those working the mess hall, two intelligence officers, and the captain, the rest are SEALs. Marissa happens to be one of those officers and I know for a fact Lt. Williams had something to do with that tasking so Aara would have a form of support in the ship filled with men on her first, official assignment.