by A. P. Jensen
“Cain, what are you doing?” she asked and rushed over.
“He can’t come with us,” Luester said lazily, “so he’s ensuring a way to track us down if we don’t bring you back.”
“Cain, you can’t...” she began as her stomach roiled. She couldn’t help thinking of Angel. She didn’t like the thought of any Unmemorables’ blood in a vial.
“I talked to Pop,” Jackie said, distracting her. “He’s not happy, but he wants to put a stop to this so he said he’ll see you. He won’t let Cain come. That’s a no brainer.”
Harvard pulled down his sleeve and eyed her. “Dressed to give Gerald a heart attack, hmm?”
Bam Bam grinned and opened his mouth to say something perverted. Before he could, she pointed a finger at him. “Not now.”
“We’ll be waiting outside,” Jackie said and they all trooped out of the house.
Raven watched Cain as he put the vials of blood in a tiny refrigerator beneath the stairs and locked it. When he turned to her, she had her arms crossed.
“You planned to take their blood all along,” she accused.
“I knew it would come to that eventually. Their hair keeps falling out of the braid.”
“You can’t just take...”
“I can.”
She cocked her head. “Excuse me?”
He prowled toward her. “You think I’m going to let you go anywhere with them when all I have are a few strands of hair on my wrist? Giving me their blood is nothing to them. If you remember, they attacked me and took a few pints of my blood without my permission.”
She couldn’t deny that, but she didn’t like it. “They’re my...” She stopped, unsure how to explain how she felt violated on their behalf.
“They’re your family,” Cain said and nodded. “I know.”
She bristled. “Not really.”
“They’re becoming your family and you’re beginning to trust them.”
She tilted her chin up. “Yeah, I do trust them. I know they’re mostly cons, but...”
He shook his head. “You don’t have to explain anything. After hearing what Rich did to them, I’m surprised they didn’t kill him on sight. My family is far from perfect.”
She met his eyes. “I think finding out why this woman cursed us is important.”
“It’s probably the best place to start.” His eyes roved over her and he didn’t look pleased. “Why don’t you dress like this when we’re together?”
“Because I like to be comfortable and I want to piss my dad off.”
He pulled her up against him. “I know you don’t like the thought of the Unmemorables giving me blood, but eventually you and I...”
She compressed her lips. “I know, but I don’t like needles.”
His mouth crooked. “It’ll be real quick.”
With the boots, they were at eye level. He kissed her and she wrapped herself around him. Someone pounded on the front door and she growled as she pulled away.
“You’re gonna wear these to bed tonight,” he said and ran a hand down the alligator boots. “They’re fucking sexy. If you weren’t going to see relatives, I’d make you change out of them.”
She stroked his cheek. “Possessive much?”
He slapped her butt and let her slide down his body, which made her grit her teeth and shift restlessly in the boots.
“I better go,” she said.
He kissed her again. “I’ll be waiting.”
He slipped a cell phone in her pocket and walked to the door with her. She hopped into the back seat of the SUV and sighed when Batman jumped in before Jackie could close the door. When Cain started forward, she waved him off and put Batman on the seat beside her. She was kinda liking the mini panther. He was a sweetie.
“You fucking tamed him,” Luester muttered in disgust as Cain watched them from the house.
Raven glared at the back of his head as he drove. “When Cain needs to fight, you’ll see he hasn’t changed at all.”
Bam Bam poked her in the back. “This is gonna be fun.”
“Why?”
“The other Unmemorables are jealous about the action we’ve been having. Most of them won’t get involved because they don’t want to piss Gerald off and they want to see results first.”
“You know, I may never produce results no matter what G-Ma said.”
“Oh, that’s great. Don’t forget to tell Gerald that,” Luester said sarcastically.
“It’s true. I’m fumbling my way through this. I don’t know what I’m doing. I think finding out what’s behind the curse is just a logical next step.”
“You need to act like you know what you’re doing,” Harvard cautioned. “They’ll eat you alive if you say you’re fumbling around.”
She scratched Batman behind his ears and he purred. “Which reminds me, exactly how hostile can I expect the other Unmemorables to be?”
“Most of them don’t like women and they hate that you’re an Unmemorable,” Jackie drawled. “And they’re jealous that you’re better looking than they are.”
“You know what would convince them is seeing you fight,” Bam Bam said and examined his fingernails.
“I’m not fighting,” Raven said and crossed her legs.
“Fight in those,” Jackie said and pointed at her boots.
“I’m not fighting anyone,” she repeated
“Then why did you ask to see Gerald? You think you two are going to have a heart to heart?” Luester snapped.
“Of course not. I know he doesn’t like me, but I need information, and since he knows the most about Unmemorable history, he’s going to have to cough it up.”
Happy shook his head. “You don’t know what you’re getting into.”
She had to brace her hand against the door as Luester drove on the freeway like a race car driver. “He owes me.”
There was a short silence.
“He may not think so,” Harvard said.
“I made Cain forget me so I could learn what the hell I am. The reason I have Clarity is because I had to learn or be captured by the Battalion. I don’t want to divide the Unmemorables. I just want a crack at a normal life where I don’t have to worry about whether Cain will lose my braid.”
“You have more of a life than any of us have ever had,” Happy said from the back seat. “Cain’s willing to wear your hair to remember you.”
“He’ll get tired of it,” Luester predicted.
Raven leaned forward and smacked him upside the head. Luester cursed and weaved on the road for several seconds before his vision cleared.
“Psycho bitch!” Luester exploded and shot her a venomous look in the mirror.
She smiled at him. “Oops.”
“Can you not do this with me in the car? I have a lot of fucking to do before I die,” Bam Bam said in a high voice.
“You realize when you break the curse, you can’t have a normal life?” Harvard said. “The Council and Battalion will always need people with our skills. We’re natural killers. Angel wants you and I can’t say I blame him since he’s watched you fight. If you break the curse, the only difference for you is that Cain won’t have to wear your hair or drink your blood, but you’ll be exposed to the Council and Battalion.”
Happy hit him. “Shut up, man. Do you want her to break the curse or not?”
“Why do you want me to break the curse?” When no one spoke, she added, “You live a charmed life. You can do whatever you want and you obviously have money. Most people would love to be in your position.”
“Its cool to sleep around, raise hell and not have to run from cops,” Jackie said, “but the only friends we have are each other. I want to have kids one day. I’ve met cool women that I actually wanted to get to know better, but that’s impossible.”
“I want to have my own business and be on the cover of Forbes,” Harvard said.
“I want to be an underwear model,” Bam Bam said and smoothed his hair back. “Get into relationships with actresses and models a
nd release a secret sex tape. How can any of that happen if I’m an Unmemorable?”
“I had a daughter before I got my vasectomy,” Happy said quietly, “I want her to know who I am.”
“And you?” Raven prodded Luester in the side.
“He’s been in love with the same girl since he was five,” Jackie said.
“In love?” Raven repeated, dumbfounded. Luester loved someone other than himself?
A muscle jumped in Luester’s jaw. He didn’t deny what Jackie said, and despite herself, Raven felt her heart melt a little. She stroked the side of his face and he jerked as if she shot him. The car swerved into the next lane and tires screeched and horns blared. Bam Bam prayed fervently in the backseat while Harvard grabbed the wheel.
“Stop fucking touching me!” Luester shouted.
“Aww, you’re human, Luester. That’s so sweet.” Because he looked so off kilter and she loved it, she leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “I’ll do whatever I can so you can make that woman miserable.”
“Fuck off,” he snarled.
Raven settled back in her seat and raised a brow at Jackie’s expression. “What?”
“There’s also Sunshine.”
“Who’s Sunshine?”
“He’s the youngest Unmemorable. He has autism,” Jackie said and ran a hand through his hair. “Ever since his mother gave birth to him, she hasn’t been the same. Most of the mothers who have Unmemorables get on with their lives without skipping a beat, but Sunshine’s mom is clinically depressed. Sunshine is always asking for her and its like they need each other or something. He goes to see her and she lights up for that hour, but as soon as he’s gone, she starts popping pills. Her brain can’t remember him, but her heart does.”
It struck her then that she wasn’t doing this just for Cain or the guys in the car. If she broke the curse, it affected everyone in the clan and the mothers who couldn’t remember them.
“Sunshine’s mom tried to commit suicide a month after she gave birth. We found her in time. After that, Gerald enforced the vasectomies.”
“Who’s Sunshine’s dad?” she asked.
“Big Daddy. Sunshine is Luester’s brother,” Harvard said.
“Big Daddy’s your dad?” she asked and tugged on Luester’s earlobe.
“Yeah, so?” Luester growled.
“He’s so nice and you’re such an ass.”
He shrugged. “I must get it from my mom.”
The rest of the drive was taken in silence. The houses and businesses became further and further apart. Luester turned off the freeway and rode along an isolated road until they pulled up to a pair of iron gates, which swung open as they approached. The estate was completely fenced in and luxurious. The Unmemorables’ headquarters was five stories high and came with an elevator, golf course, basketball court, theater, fully equipped gym and pool with a waterfall. Their “home” was large enough to accommodate the forty plus Unmemorables and their innumerable cars. Luester swept past the large water fountain in the middle of the driveway and pulled into the garage.
Raven frowned at a motorcycle, truck and sleek little car, which were wrapped with big red bows. Beyond that, she couldn’t see where the line of vehicles ended.
“Gerald bought us some toys for Christmas,” Jackie said in an offhand voice.
“You guys are spoiled brats,” she said sourly and got out of the SUV with Batman weaving through her legs.
“Don’t be jealous. It’s Christmas,” Bam Bam said and wrapped an arm around her neck.
“I don’t do Christmas,” she said. “Cain’s forcing it on me since I’ve never done it before.”
Bam Bam looked horrified. “You’ve never done Christmas?”
“And who the hell would I have Christmas with? Myself?”
“Wow. That’s depressing.”
She shoved him away and walked from the garage to the Playboy Mansion. She wasn’t surprised to see a group of hostile men waiting for them. Their eyes flicked from her, down to Batman and then to her entourage. The last time she was here, Gerald put her on blast in front of everyone. No one defended her and she left in tears. She wasn’t the crying type, but the confrontation pushed her over the edge. She’d be damned if she shed a tear today. In fact, if anything, she’d be the one causing them to cry. She saw Ace and would have approached him if he didn’t look so pissed. Anyway...
Luester, Jackie, Happy, Harvard and Bam Bam crowded around her in a show of protection, which touched and irritated her at the same time. These men weren’t only bound by the same curse, they were bonded with her through blood. Why should anyone have to defend her at all? She met the other Unmemorables’ stony expressions with a challenging one.
They walked into the foyer and she looked from the elaborate water fountain to the double staircase that curved up to the second level. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Batman slink toward the kitchen and Happy took off after him to protect his turf. Big Daddy came around the corner and pushed his way through the onlookers who toppled like bowling pins.
“Raven!” Big Daddy picked her up in his arms and squeezed the breath out of her. He set her down and whistled when he saw her boots. “Want to piss your daddy off, eh?”
She smiled and shrugged.
“Been getting into trouble, I hear,” he added.
“Just a little.”
“Here, I’ll take you to Gerald’s office,” Big Daddy said and waved off Jackie. “I can take her, and if anyone lays a hand on her, they’ll be invalid for a month. I already told them.”
Big Daddy led her down a hallway to the right and they passed the game room, gym and theater where they put her on trial last time. Her heels clicked on the marble floors and drew the immediate attention of the men in the rooms. All talking stopped, and if she didn’t have such good self-esteem, she would have been crushed by the malicious looks directed her way. The sound of weight lifting and music from pinball machines faded as they traveled to the back of the house.
There was a plush black chair in front of double doors. Big Daddy gestured her to sit and did a fast knock before he entered and closed the door behind him. She bounced her foot and hated the trickle of nerves. Gerald was intimidating and cold. He had treated her like trash the last time she saw him and the shame of that banished her nerves. When a bunch of guys gathered in the hallway to gawk at her, she flipped the bird.
The door opened. When she got to her feet, Big Daddy pushed her back down. “He’ll call you in when he’s ready.”
Big Daddy walked away and she crossed her arms across her chest. She sat and sat and sat. She was sure it was a deliberate ploy to piss her off and it was working. She pulled her cell out of her pocket and saw a text from Cain.
How’s it going?
She typed back, Dandy.
Let me know if there’s trouble.
She put the phone away as a young guy came around the corner, talking to himself. His head was bowed and he had a book under one arm. She waited for him to look up so she could give him a “fuck you” smile. He was over six feet tall and very thin. He had a Beatles haircut and when he looked up, she saw that he had sherry-colored eyes. He smiled at her and it was so genuine that she just stared at him.
“Hi,” he said.
“Hi.”
Without saying another word, he took the book from under his arm and opened it. He pulled a pen from his pocket and began to sketch.
“I like superheroes,” he said.
“Do you?” she asked cautiously. “What’s your name?”
He didn’t answer, just continued to draw while his sherry eyes flicked from her to the paper and back.
“Are you here to save us?” he asked.
Raven opened her mouth to ask another question and then realized who he must be. She mustered a smile and nodded. She hoped she looked confident. “I’m here to help.”
“My mom misses me,” he said.
Raven’s heart went out to him and she blinked several times. “I’ll fin
d a way, Sunshine.”
The door opened and Gerald stood in the opening. “Off you go, kid.”
Sunshine smiled at Gerald without a trace of fear. “I like her.”
Sunshine walked down the hallway, humming the theme song for Indiana Jones. Gerald curled his lip at her and left the door ajar as he went back in. She rolled her eyes and walked into a traditional office complete with floor to ceiling bookshelves and an executive desk that was neat as a pin.
“It’s nice to see you again, Pop,” she said sarcastically and dropped into the chair in front of his desk.
Gerald was dressed in jeans with holes at the knee. He was in his mid-fifties and had a buzz cut, dark skin and the same hazel eyes as her. He looked tough as nails. She knew to command the respect of the other Unmemorables, he had to be.
“You’re distracting my men,” Gerald said.
She raised a brow. “Distracting them from what? Lifting weights and watching The Godfather?”
“They have duties,” he said icily.
“What kind of duties?”
“That’s none of your concern. You need to stop messing with their heads. You’re giving them false hope and trying to recruit them for the Council.”
She cocked her head to the side. “I don’t even like the Council, so if one of the boys wanted to join, I’d try to talk them out of if. I’m not trying to recruit anyone. Personally, I don’t think you, the Council or Battalion is appealing.”
“And you think Cain’s going to leave the Council for you?” he asked in disbelief.
“He already has.”
Gerald scoffed. “He wants to learn the Unmemorables’ secrets and then he’ll take you and all my men to the Council. When are you going to open your eyes and see that he’s using you?”