by Karen Renee
At ten-thirty a large black man unlocked the door to Domino’s. Seemed Ibanez had the day off, and when Slagle took his smoke break, he did it just to the side of the dry cleaners. I couldn’t assume Ibanez wouldn’t come in a little later, so I stayed in position but called Erica to kill some time.
“Hello, Clint.”
“Hey, Air. How are you doing?”
“Good. You?”
“All right. You still with Carlos?”
She chuckled. “You still with Irish?”
“Stop calling her that, Erica. You’re better than that.”
“Could say the same to you. You’re definitely better than that.”
I clenched my teeth. “We both did wrong, and that’s in the past, Erica. You’re twenty-four, know you’ve figured out life has a way of fucking things up no matter what you do.”
It took a while before she responded. “How about this, Clint? We’re both giving people a second chance. You leave me alone about Carlos, I’ll leave you alone about Raegan.”
I hated when she negotiated with me. “I’ll leave you alone about him if you tell me who fuckin’ hit you.”
“Not happening.”
“You said he’s bad. If it’s as bad as I think it is, then you at least need to give me a name so I can console Mamá when you’re laid up in the hospital.”
“Shut up! He’s gone, it’s over, and you’re overreacting.”
“Erica.”
“Clint.”
I waited.
“He’s with the Bloods,” she murmured.
My head fell back onto the seat and I closed my eyes. “Honey.”
“I didn’t know until things got more serious. It’s why I broke it off.”
“And why he hit you, right?”
She paused, then whispered, “Yeah.”
I bit back my own lecture.
“You’re disappointed,” she said in a low voice.
“Never,” I whispered. “I just can’t say much or I’m gonna fly off the fuckin’ handle.”
“That, I believe.”
A small grin pulled at my lips. “So, you gonna side with Mamá when she finds out I’m giving Raegan another chance?”
I loved to hear women laughing, but nobody did it better than my sisters, especially Erica.
She gave a sigh mingled with a moan before she asked, “So, you’re really giving her another go?”
“She’s not a carnival ride, Air. But, yeah, we’re gonna give this another shot. And really, what tore us apart to begin with was her living in New York slash refusal to move back home after pursuing her dream for a year.”
“Yeah, yeah, Mr. Logical. But if that were true, how could she have ever married somebody else? You’ve only been with four other women and couldn’t commit to any of them.”
I bit back the correction, that I’d been with five women, because the number didn’t matter. She was right about my inability to commit. Something held me back every time, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.
Something compelled me to answer Erica’s question. “My guess is that she knew she wouldn’t come back here, and when you know your life is in a different city, you do what you gotta do to make a life for yourself there.”
She scoffed.
“Besides, as a man, I can tell you Raegan catches the eye in a way other women just don’t. I wasn’t surprised that jackass asked her to marry him.”
She chuckled. “You know he’s a jackass, do you?”
I always marveled at how damn smart my sister was. “Sure do. When her mother reached out to me, I checked into what I might encounter if Rae ever brought him around. How long before you get back to classes, Miss Clever-britches?”
She sighed. “Maybe in the new year. Fall semester already started.”
My mouth threatened to bleed with the number of things I bit back during this conversation. “Well, if you need any help—”
“Right! Clint, you’re doing well, but you are not paying for my education. That asshole father of ours should be doing that.”
I shook my head. “Anyway, I’ll let you—”
“You can look into Raegan’s husband –back when he was her husband– but you can’t figure out where our father is and make his ass pay up?”
I lied. “Gotta run, Air. My subject just came out.”
“You’re lying.”
I grinned for a moment and wiped my face clean. “Far from it, hon. Talk to you later.”
I ended the call and blew out a breath. Anytime my profession came up she asked why I hadn’t hunted down our father. Thing was, she was two when he deserted us, and thank God for small favors. She thought finding him would mean money or some payback for his years of absence. No matter what Laura and I told her about how it was before she was born, Erica refused to believe it. Couldn’t wrap her mind around our mother taking a beating from anyone, let alone the father of her children.
As much as it annoyed me that she defended our father in that way, I saw him leaving as the biggest favor that asshole ever did for us. Had our father stuck around long enough for Erica to remember his violence and hatred, she wouldn’t be the vibrant, fun-loving girl we loved.
So, if I ever ran into that son of a bitch again, leaving us before Erica could fully cogitate would be the only thing I thanked him for.
Growing up, Erica accused Mamá of playing favorites with me. I thought she might be right, but if she was, it was because of how I stepped up to defend and protect Mamá, but Erica had no memory of that. Laura tried to enlighten her once, but all of us had inherited Mamá’s stubborn nature and Erica refused to hear any of it.
I was so wrapped up in my thoughts, the sharp thunk of knuckles on my window made me jolt. The person stepped back, and looking up, I saw it was Carlos standing outside my vehicle. He wore an Orlando Magic baseball cap, a white wife-beater, and jeans slung so low they defied gravity. I jerked my head to the side and as he rounded the hood, I unlocked the doors so he could get in on the passenger side.
“Why you followin’ me, Ramsey?” he asked, as he closed the door.
I clenched my teeth for a moment. “Not followin’ you, jackass. I’m watching someone who works in this area.”
“From your car, you’re watching someone? Coulda swore I just saw you on your phone.”
What did my sister see in this asshole?
“What do you want, Carlos?”
“Wanna know why you’re staking out my favorite corner store.”
I couldn’t tell him who I was watching, and not just because I knew he’d run his big mouth about it.
With a closed-lip smile, I looked over to him. “Like I said, I’m doing my job, Carlos.”
He squinted at me, but before he could ask me anything further, I spoke.
“Who’s the Blood Erica was with before you stepped in again?”
He looked away from me, his face stony as he tried to hide from me. “Don’t matter. That’s over.”
“Asshole hit my sister. I’m gonna make sure he knows how over it really is.”
His muddy brown eyes hit mine and the fire in them surprised me. “Don’t. Won’t do anybody any good.”
“Carlos, she’s my blood.”
The fire in his eyes amped up a notch. “He’s not just bad. He’s really fuckin’ bad, man.”
Ice ran through my veins again. I bit out, “Who is he?”
“Not tellin’ you. It’ll make shit worse.”
My hands itched to grab him by his shirt, but as if he knew my intentions, Carlos opened the door and left.
“Sonuvabitch,” I whispered.
Chapter 13
Pleased with Yourself?
Raegan
NORMALLY, TANYA TOOK her brood home before five in the afternoon. However, I knew they would stick around longer because of the light in her eyes when I asked for a red dress.
She had bopped over to her house for the dress, came back within twenty minutes, and insisted I try it on, but wouldn’t hear of me
not giving her and Mom a sneak peek of it.
I wandered into the living room in the dress with my feet bare.
Jared looked up from his toy cars. “Miss Raegan, you look pretty.”
“Thank you, sweetheart,” I murmured.
“That’s not what Clint’s gonna say,” Tanya muttered.
“Only if she finds the right shoes,” Mom said.
I rolled my eyes. “I’m sure my black sandals will work.”
“Not those flip-flop looking shoes,” Mom said.
“No, Mom. The pointy-heeled shoes.”
Mom nodded her approval. Tanya settled into the couch like she was right at home.
Now, it was closing in on five-thirty and I overheard Tanya asking Mom what was for dinner.
“I don’t know, dear. Whatever it is, I’m sure it’ll be low in sodium, which means low on taste.”
I shook my head. “It’s not that bad, Mom.”
She barked a humorless laugh. “I haven’t seen you eat much of it, missy.”
Tanya grinned at me. “When is Clint picking you up?”
I tilted my head a smidge. “He said before seven.”
Her grin became a beaming smile. “I should do you hair!”
My brows furrowed. “That really isn’t necessary, Tanya. I appreciate it, but it’s just a date. Not anything—”
“Bullshit,” Mom snapped.
My mouth dropped open for the briefest moment. “Mom! Jared doesn’t need to learn that word from you, and it certainly doesn’t need to be the first word Marcus utters.”
Tanya scoffed. “Puh-leeze! I say far worse than that when driving I-4. And you need to listen to the words of your Momma!”
I gave her my dead-eyed dirty look. “Been listening to Michael Franti much?”
She grinned. “You know it!”
I shook my head. “This isn’t—”
“Then why did you need a red dress, Raegan Anne?” Mom asked snidely.
I pursed my lips and looked to the side.
“Exactly,” Mom said.
Tanya twisted her wrist and her Apple Watch lit up with the time. “All righty, seems I have just over an hour to get your gorgeous red hair in tip-top shape. Let’s go, woman.”
I shook my head while I followed her to the bathroom.
Half an hour later, I was dolled-up and dressed-up in a red velvet long-sleeve dress. Clint was likely to lose his mind because this was not a dress I would buy for myself. It featured a deep-V, to the point I had to lose my bra, because I was bustier than Tanya was before having kids. I usually went out of my way to blend in and not draw attention, but the sequins set on top of the velvet meant everybody would notice me. Luckily, the dress was short and had ruching at the waist, which hid my belly pooch. The dress was tight, but the off-center slit allowed me wiggle-room to walk in my stilettos.
When I came out of my room, the doorbell rang. Gabe stood at the front door with a large pizza box in hand.
I opened the door and his eyes widened. “Damn. Clint said he was taking you out, but I got a feeling he’s gonna rethink that.”
I smiled. “Thank you, I think. That’s the most round-about compliment I’ve ever received, if that’s what you were getting at.”
Gabe came inside, closed and locked the door and faced me again. “Yeah. You sure you want to go out in that?”
I laughed. “I don’t have many other options for dancing, since he refused for me to go out in jeans.”
He shook his head and walked further into the house.
“Pizza!” Jared yelled.
Gabe pointed a finger gun at Jared. “You got that right, little man. But I’m not sure if you’re gonna like it.”
As I entered the living room, Mom gave me a long assessing look which shone with approval after a moment. Then she asked, “Where’s Clint find these boys?”
“He’s Brock’s brother, Mom,” I reminded her.
“Well, that’s plain to see, dear.”
“Okay, well, do you want to eat at the table, or should I bring a plate to you?”
She semi-glowered at me. “I can get up and move, dear. It’ll do me some good anyway.”
A knock came at the door, and I thought it might be Clint, but Tanya said, “I bet that’s Kyle. I told him to bring a cheese pizza with him. Had no idea Gabe would be here with Hawaiian pizza.”
Mom gasped and I stifled a groan. “Enjoy it while you can, Mom.”
“Bet your ass, I will. We got any beer?”
Gabe bounded to the kitchen doorway and nearly collided with Kyle. “I knew I forgot something! Sorry, man, but warm beer is criminal.”
“Damn right,” Kyle muttered.
Mom grinned at me. “I owe Clint a big kiss.”
“One beer, Mom. Or I’ll owe him a piece of my mind.”
Gabe returned carrying a twelve-pack of Blue Moon Lite Sky. I looked down the hallway and watched Clint sauntering in.
His lips set in a firm line. “Thought I told you not to go shopping.”
“She shopped from the House of Lorden, which is to say, my closet, Clint,” Tanya said from her perch on the couch, where she was giving Marcus a bottle.
Clint turned his head, but I still heard him mutter, “Fuck.”
“Don’t you like it? And her hair is fabulous, even if I do say so myself.”
He sent a fake smile Tanya’s way. “It’s a stunning dress, Tanya. Problem is, it’s a little too eye-catching and —”
“She isn’t changing,” Mom called from the kitchen, a can of beer in hand.
Clint narrowed his eyes at Mom. “You want her in this get-up, or do you want her to be able to get up in the morning, Penny? And seriously, Sullivan? You gave Penny beer?”
Gabe looked abashed. “What? Raegan said she could have one. I’ll keep her to just one.”
Mom turned her head toward Gabe, muttering, “As far as they know.”
Clint scowled at me like it was my fault Mom had a house full of people and a beer in her hand. He cleared his throat, and even though he turned his body to be subtle, I noticed he adjusted his pants.
He turned back to me, a questioning look on his face. “You ready?”
I grabbed my purse and a small overnight bag from under the end table. “Sure am.”
Clint
AFTER I CLIMBED IN my SUV, I adjusted in my seat and I saw Raegan smirk. “You pleased with yourself?”
Her brown eyes held sympathy. “No. I can go change if you—”
“No,” I clipped out. “Does Tanya want that dress back?”
She shrugged, and I couldn’t keep myself from glancing at her chest. I didn’t know if it was because I knew her body so well or what, but I knew she wasn’t wearing a bra.
“That didn’t come up in conversation, Clint.”
I started the engine. “Text her. Find out.”
“Why?” she asked, rummaging through her purse.
I glanced her way before I put the vehicle in gear. “Because if she doesn’t, I’m rippin’ the fuckin’ thing off you the first chance I get.”
She turned her head and exhaled sharply. “Still a Neanderthal,” she muttered to the window.
I put my hand on her thigh and slipped it under her dress. “Still a man who doesn’t want other men looking at what’s mine.”
Her defiant eyes met mine. While neither one of us could read minds, I saw it plain as day she wanted to ask if she was mine again, but she held back. Her lips twisted in an almost skeptical way before she faced forward. Reluctantly, I pulled my hand free of her dress and looked back to the road, but I bit my tongue to keep from laughing. She knew she was mine, and that knowledge made my dick harder than seeing her in that dress did.
And that was what made me a Neanderthal.
“How much did you look into me?” she asked in a low voice.
I debated putting this off but knew that wouldn’t fly with her. “Not as much as you think. I knew you were married, that got around to Mamá from your mother’s s
tylist. However, when Penny wrote me, I had to know if you were still married or if you had children.”
I felt her eyes on me. “You couldn’t just ask Mom that?”
My lips pressed together of their own volition. I unpressed them to say, “I’m not someone who shows his weaknesses. Plus, I didn’t want to put Penny in the middle.”
From the corner of my eyes I saw her chin dip. “How would you put Mom ‘in the middle?’”
My chest jerked with my silent chuckle. “Penny ever say she thought of Trey as the son she never had?”
I glanced at her, and those brown eyes were even wider than I thought they’d be.
“Yeah,” I whispered.
She sighed and looked out the windshield.
I rubbed her leg with my hand. “That’s the last we’re going to talk about the past. For tonight anyway.”
“Okay,” she whispered.
I pulled up at a stop light, leaned over to grab her chin and gently guided her face toward mine. With an inch between our lips, I said, “You look fucking gorgeous, Rae. I’ll be lucky if I don’t end up in a fist fight, where we’re headed after dinner.”
Her lips quirked a little before she shook her head. “No, Clint. You’re wrong. I’m not that sexy in this dress. Especially since it highlights my—”
“You say anything derogatory about your luscious curves, I’m gonna spank you.”
She rolled her eyes. I wanted to chastise her for that, but I kissed her instead. Since we were at a traffic light, I had to keep it short, but I loved kissing her now more than ever.
RAEGAN SLID HER ARM around my waist after I put my arm around her shoulders when we left the Kres Chophouse. Then she leaned into me as we walked, just like she used to do, and I smiled.
“So, the PI business must pay well. You’re living not far from Mom’s neighborhood and you can take a girl to a fancy chop house.”