Crown and Anchor Series: Book 1-4

by Kerri Ann

“He doesn’t care, you know that.” Plodding across the room, I can hear his ego ahead of his steps. Arrogant Anchor bastard. “Racing isn’t life like you, it’s a pastime to him. It’s about glory as usual.”

  Laughing at his answer, China leans on his every word. “So you had to work as they gallivanted around the Pacific Ocean with supermodels and celebrities?”

  “Yeah. Glad that boat sailed without me.”

  It takes them a moment or so before they traverse the expansive room to where I now reside, and hearing Doll’s voice sounding lighter makes my jealousy ramp back into overdrive. Not because I had intended on it being me out there seeing the finished bike first, but because I was going to fuck her nine new ways on that track. Yeah, he’s lambasted me for years, told others that I was the reason for Marnie’s death, and decided the cost of our friendship was not worth knowing the truth. He’d rather believe in bullshit. At one time, I’d thought better of him, but now? Fuck him.

  “See? You’re still here, Mason. Don’t know when you’re not wanted, I guess.”

  “Stupid prick. Glad to see you too.” Rising out of the chair, leaving my drink and food behind, I smile wide. He’s not getting the better of me, now or ever.

  Looking me up and down, he takes my measure. “Why you still here?”

  I laugh out loud. I won’t even answer that. If he’s stupid enough to forget I’m here for China, to keep her out of fucking jail, then I’m not about to explain it.

  “How’s your face?” Trellis steps in close, putting he and I back in each other’s space once more.

  “Great. How’s your teeth? You lookin’ to keep them all?”

  Tossing her hands in the air, she shakes her head from side to side. “You two gotta be kidding me? I’ve had enough of this. Har, I need a drink.” Pulling a bottle off the table, she guzzles back a mouthful of fire, then blows out a heavy breath. “Boys, you can join me and we’ll talk it out, or fuck off and let me enjoy this drama free.” Walking off toward the kitchen, leaving us posturing once more, China and Harlow squeeze between us with drinks in hand.

  Raising his brows, he chuffs out a laugh. “I’m game for a drink if you are, D.”

  Knowing I’ve been played again, I grind my teeth. I’m left watching Trellis gain the upper hand as I’m swearing under my breath. “Fucker.”

  And I follow like a stupid bastard.

  CHINA

  They can’t keep doing this all night long. Bullshit men, their cock fights, and the stupid need to define who’s right. Do I give a shit? No, not really. It means something to them and nothing to me. I know Marnie from the Anchor’s only, and only from the stories that Casper told me. But we’d never had direct contact. I know it crushed Trellis at the time, but other than being there for a friend, what can I do about it now?

  Trellis finally relented after I threatened his ass, telling me his version of the truth. I might believe him, but I know there’s always more than one side. Do I think these two have in any way finished their toe-to-toe happy stick measuring moments? Nope. I’m not that stupid, but I want to be drunk watching it happen.

  Walking away from the two of them, leaving them to stew in their own crap, I walk into the kitchen with Harlow, passing our so-called friends. I wanted this to be an epic party, and by Hollywood standards, it hasn’t disappointed. If I’m venturing through this sea of male bullshit, I need more to drink, and a friend to watch the naked Jell-O wrestling with. It’s easy to see the two men have a strong history of hurt, and maybe I can get to the bottom of it. Will they break the house? Maybe. But in less than a week, this is all mine. I can break it or sell it, it doesn’t really matter.

  Stopping mid-stride, thinking about it, the truth hits home.

  “What’s wrong, CD?”

  “It’s mine,” I say with a weird detachment.

  “What is, love?” Harlow tips her head, pondering my apparent pause.

  “Everything. This, it, that, those, and the rest of it.” I point to plates, the living room, and the back of the house. “All of it’s mine on my birthday. I never thought of it that way.”

  “What brought this on, CD?”

  “Them.” I point to the boys about to go at it in my living room. “My parents left it all to me, remember?”

  The look on Harlow’s face says it all. “Oh, fuck. D. I…shit.”

  Grabbing two glasses off the full counter of empties, partially empty, and bowls of food, Harlow turns to me with a half full bottle of tequila. “We need this.” Pouring us both a hefty helping of the clear liquid, we clink before downing it fast. No lime or salt required as this is the good shit.

  Refilling and setting up two more shots, Catty and Hallee appear. “What are we celebrating, ladies? I figured the drinks so far have all been for the birthday, the sexy fuck monsters pummeling each other like gladiators, and those two.” She motions with a nod of her head to the semi-celebrities getting it on on the grand piano, as the diehard partygoer crowd eggs them on.

  “We were reminded that those two Neanderthals will destroy the house that Doll owns on Tuesday,” Harlow states, topping up everyone’s glasses.

  Downing it fast, allowing the heat to filter down my throat, essentially warming me from the insides, I watch the two men in attendance. I can’t stop watching them, realizing how damn sexy it is seeing them all heated and angered. Turning my chair fully, gazing at the macho bullshit contest, I ask the girls, “Is it wrong I like watching this?”

  “Is it wrong to watch your brothers getting naked and fighting? For you, yes. For me, that’s pretty. These two? With their history, it’s sexy as sin.” Laughing into her glass, it’s easy to see the alcohol is starting to affect our petite Chérie, Harlow. “CD, I could watch those two toss gloves for hours. You know my stance on Trellis.” He’s who she’d tie up to in the wine cellar of the mansion and never let out.

  Hallette herself has a thing for the big guys, like the rest of us, but she’s very particular in her purchases. Leaning across the counter, she licks her lips. “Shit, that man is a glory to behold.”

  “Hand me the booze. This really doesn’t interest me.” Cathryne downs two quick shots, turning from the antics. I’m not quite sure she’s into men. We’ve never asked her as she’s very private, but we’ve never seen her with a guy or talking about sex with guys. Until she wants to tell us, we’ll carry on.

  “How long do you think this will keep up? I have a date later, and if they’re going to knock each other to a pulp, I’d like to know it’s over soon.”

  “You’re meeting up with Trevor again?” Looking slightly despondent about the conversation, Harlow turns from Hallee with a fake grin. It still burns her about the night here. She’s a fickle woman and won’t let on that it did. She’ll hide it in dark humor, but I know my Harlow. It stung.

  “Yeah, we’re meeting up after shift.” Hallee is happy, so I have a hard time denying a friend, but I still feel like it was wrong. We always said chicks before dicks, and in a small way, Hallette betrayed a trust.

  Grinning like a fool, watching across the room, Hallee chirps, “So, are we going to stop them, ’cause that powder keg is about to go off.”

  Pulling my attention to the men, Hallette is right. They’re no more than an inch from each other, their noses a hairsbreadth away. One step closer and they’ll either kiss or kill each other.

  “Fuck, we better halt this. Phones are out again.”

  Tossing down another shot and moving away from the counter, were not fast enough to stop it. Trellis tosses a hard right hook, knocking Risen off guard, spinning him into a couch full of scantily clad women. Dribbling blood all over them, squealing their disappointment at having their outfits ruined, he rises with a look that could only be considered dangerous.

  “That’s enough, Anchor. I’ve had enough of your shit,” Risen yells out, strangling the words. He’s visibly upset.

  Running as fast as I can in heels, I pull up short in front of Risen. “Don’t.” Placing my hands on hi
s chest, I plead with him. “Don’t fight.”

  With a hardened gaze that could only be explained as hurt, he looks at me. “Why? Are you afraid for him, or for me, China?”

  Standing there quietly for a moment, I think of what he’s saying. “That’s it. Party’s over, everyone out.” I don’t remove my eyes from his. I stare directly into his angered gaze, holding him still. Peering out of the corner of my eye, all the unnecessary guests stare blankly for a moment, then slowly rise to exit.

  “Mason, let’s finish this,” Trellis grinds out, pulling the torn dress shirt off.

  “Oh, oh! Take it all off!” Harlow quips, grinning as she sits on the edge of the chaise. I don’t turn to her. I don’t need to. I know she’s trying to lighten the mood.

  “Har, be good.”

  “Fine, I’ll be good, but I better get a manly portion of the spoils of war.”

  “You’re exhausting,” I say, shaking my head, laughing at my friend.

  “I know.”

  Watching the remaining stragglers clear out, I give Risen and Trellis my full attention. I’m bloody tired of their shit, and I’m about to tell them so.

  “What’s the real story?” I ask Risen.

  “I told you, Doll. He had Marnie killed! And it’s about time he dealt with the consequences of it.” Moving closer to Risen, crowding me, Trellis looks ready to kill.

  “Look, Tre, I have your side of the story. I won’t repeat what you know as I want to hear it from Risen. So back the fuck up.”

  “Fucker isn’t a cop anymore, Doll. What makes you think a criminal fucking bastard like him will tell you the truth?”

  “Because despite what you say, he hasn’t done anything wrong to me. Nothing has shown me that he’s evil or spiteful.”

  “Oh. This is getting good,” Harlow sings. Downing another shot with a mischievous expression, Cathryne takes the liquid courage from her.

  “That’s enough for you, missy.”

  “Really? Come on, we’re just getting to the good part.”

  “Sit there and behave,” I say.

  Curling her lip out, faking the disgruntled child look, Harlow finally quiets. God, I love that woman and her light.

  “Now, Risen, you may not want to tell the story, but I’m sick of this constant fighting with you and Trellis. You weren’t about to fix this shit boys, so I’ll make you.”

  “Doll?” Trellis is annoyed, but it doesn’t sway me.

  “Tre, I love you like a brother. Stop dickin’ me around and let’s get to the bottom of this. My house, my rules.” Pausing, the girls giggle and I realize the faux pas. “Fine, it’s not my house yet, but in less than a week it is. So shut the fuck up.”

  Moving so I’m close enough to kiss, I heel up on my tippy toes. “Risen, I need the truth. Your version or the policeman’s version. Either will do, but I need it.”

  “Why?” he asks quietly. “Haven’t you already heard it from Tre?”

  Touching his face, I rub the blood away. “Haven’t you figured it out yet?”

  “Figured out what, China? Trellis has been like family, and I’m a distraction and a jailor. So what is there to figure out?” He spits out. He thinks I chose Trellis over him? Fuck. I knew going out to the bike without him was going to be a problem.

  Thumbing his stubble, staring into those brilliant eyes, I feel absolutely horrible that I’ve made him feel that way. “I need to hear it from you, the whole truth.”

  Looking over his shoulder at Trellis, he nods his head. “He doesn’t know the whole truth and he doesn’t want to know. Trust me on that.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean? I know the truth. You had her murdered! What else is there to know!” Trellis is so mad, you can see the veins popping all over his face. And I thought my brother had anger issues.

  Turning, I harden my gaze. “Tre, I want to hear what he has to say. And if he knows something you don’t, are you telling me you don’t want to hear it?”

  Losing a bit of steam, Trellis softens. “No, I do. Doll, I’ll listen because you’ve asked me to. But when he’s done, if there’s nothing new, I’m finishing this.” Picking up his discarded shirt, he plunks himself on the chaise beside Harlow. She beams with excitement.

  “What say we all have a seat then, huh?” Cathryne walks past us to sit on the couch too.

  “Yeah, I can do that, but China, I’m telling you he doesn’t want to.”

  Placing a chaste kiss on his cheek, Risen relaxes slightly. “I get it. But if I were him, I’d want to know it all.”

  RISEN

  This is going to suck fucking cock. I’m not looking forward to the outcome of this, but China is asking and for some reason, I can deny this woman nothing.

  Touching my face, asking me sweetly, I knew she wouldn’t relent until I caved. Why can’t I say no? Because you’re in love with the woman, dumbass. Three weeks of close quarters, years of admiring from afar, and amazing fucking sex, that shit will do a number on any hot-blooded male.

  As everyone picks a spot on the chairs, couches, and reclining bench, I try to think of where to start. Do I start at high school when everything started going to pot, literally? Or do I start when she was killed?

  “Are we going to need more to drink for this, because if we are, I’m taking that bottle of sweet ass tequila back, Catty.” Reaching for the bottle, Cathryne peels it back from Harlow’s greedy grasp.

  “Nope. No more drink.”

  “Fine.” Sitting cross legged, reclining on the bench, she glowers at Cathryne for invading her happy buzz.

  Thinking that high school, namely senior year is the best place to start at, I sit back and start. “This isn’t for you, Tre, this is for the ladies who need a crash course on the subject. You can correct me if you want after, but let me get out how I see it played.” Looking at Trellis, his mask of murder is still set in place. He still wishes to beat me to a pulp. You’re not going to be happy, buddy.

  Tre nods, waits, and sits in place with fire fueling his thoughts. Here it goes.

  “So, in high school, I was a bit of a rebel. I was an asshole and I didn’t care who got hurt as long as my crew were on the upside of the receiving end. Knowing how cops thought, how to get around things that would land us in jail was part of what made me irreplaceable to the family. Using it to my advantage I ran the kids that pushed drugs for Maria Esposito. I was the heavy hand, and I muscled my way through the school without fault. I never touched the drugs that were dealt, but some of our friends were into it. Rich kids want for nothing. Money was never an issue so I made good cash. I directed things. Everyone, including Trellis, thought that Marnie was the good girl. She dated the captain of the football team, Trellis Anchor, my best friend.” Checking to make sure everyone is listening, and that Trellis is still calm, I organize my thoughts about that time.

  “Marnie wasn’t doing drugs, but she wasn’t one of the richer kids, so she dealt. Mainly it was perc’s or steroids for the jocks, but she never wanted you to know, Tre. She made me promise you wouldn’t find out. She wasn’t doing it for status, she wanted to buy you something.”

  Automatically, Trellis’ hands fidget, his eyes widen, and understanding becomes clear. She wanted to buy him a promise ring. The same ring he’s twirling incessantly on his left hand. Looking over, his expression softens a touch. Possibly, he’ll listen to me. Maybe.

  “Anyway, she did that for our full senior year. That was before I dropped out to run the heavier stuff for Maria, and before you went off to university. On weekends, when you’d come home to visit family, she was visiting her players, topping them off and hooking them on her supply chain longer.”

  “She didn’t need to.” Trellis states, a little calmer, but not much. “If you knew, why didn’t you stop her?”

  “It wasn’t me. She was one of Maria’s favorite runners. Maria never had to worry about a run, never had to worry about payments, and never worried about her commitment to the family. Maria made it easy for her.”

>   Looking at Trellis, I see he’s on the edge of his seat. He’s ready to rise up and take another shot at me. “Do you remember the weekend you took her away to see friends in Hawaii? It was spring break, and you took your parents’ yacht.” He nods. I know it wasn’t just a weekend, because she got sick and they had to stay in Maui for more than a week extra. “That weekend cost her. Maria had a shit fit. She lost it on me, and pretty much told Marnie if she wasn’t able to finish her run by the week’s end, then there would be consequences.”

  “She wanted to go home so bad. I thought it was just because of the illness. Because she wanted to be home, in her own bed, or that she was afraid of missing school time because break was almost over. I talked her into skipping out on the next few weeks and took her on a vacation, where I proposed.” The girls had been silent until now, but as the picture becomes clearer to all of them that Trellis had her away too long.

  “Maria came knocking when you got back, so she hid out at my place. There wasn’t much I could do. I could only hold her off for so long. Hiding her wasn’t hard, but even I couldn’t stop Maria from doling out her justice. It was inevitable. I couldn’t help her.”

  Trellis’ head is in his lap, the severity of every step, every move, every missed moment with Marnie made him see the bigger picture. Things he hadn’t known of were now the most important pieces to the puzzle. “She was pregnant. Did you know that?” His voice is quiet. Almost serene in its tenor.

  I’ve quieted too. “Yeah, I knew. She told me.”

  Smacking her hands together, Harlow breaks the silent moment. “So what happened? I swear you drag out a story, buddy.”

  “Harlow!” the girls yell in unison, tossing pillows at her head.

  Ignoring her, even though I know she’s just trying to cut the tension, I keep going. This is the part Trellis knows, but they don’t, and I might as well spell it out. “Maria sent a couple of the not so nice guys to visit her at my apartment. After roughing her up for a bit, they dragged her to the docks.” I look over at China. She knows where this is going, and you can feel her empathy, her pity for Trellis. To tell the rest of the story, it hurts me more than it does Tre. Picking up the bottle of absconded tequila, I swig a monster mouthful, wiping away the remnants.