by Kerri Ann
“They took her to Anchor Holdings. There they beat her a bit more, and left her to die in the vacant yard. Sun beating down, hemorrhaging from a miscarriage, she died at Anchor with a note attached to her torn and stained shirt.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake. Don’t leave me hanging now. What happened?” Harlow bursts out, peeling the bottle out of my grasp. No one stops her. No one cares if we all get blotto to erase the pain anymore as it doesn’t matter.
Speaking up, Trellis finishes part of the story. “I got a call from Marnie. She needed me to meet her. She sounded so out of breath and worn out. I told her I was out at the shipyard working on something for Tarrant and I couldn’t leave. It was just after our parents’ accident, and I was stuck in obligations. She was quiet for a minute, then said she’d make her way the docks. I joked that I’d hoped it was for a bit of tail, but she didn’t laugh it off like usual. I was so sidetracked, I didn’t notice she was distant.” His fire is gone, the danger subsided, and I feel we might have found a spot to fix this hurt.
Motioning to Harlow, Trellis takes the bottle, gulping down heaping amounts of the liquid fire. Seeing an opportunity, Harlow tucks into Tre’s side to comfort and console him, in her unique and innate way that I’m coming to like. She’s quirky, but full of soulful care.
“Maria called me. She informed me where to find my stowaway. In her sadistic way, she thought I might be able to collect Marnie before the buzzards arrived. Her words, not mine.” Looking at Trellis, the steam rises once more, “Anyway, when I arrived I found her tied, gagged, and bound to a chair. The note said she was a present from Maria, with her unique signature for the crew. My tattoo. While I was removing the ligatures, Trellis showed up. Seeing the paper, the Espositos Familia crest, Tre automatically assumed that with me being her hound, it was a fault of mine. That I had fucked-up. That this was a warning and a reminder of who was in charge. I never corrected Trellis in his assumption. It was easier to see me as the devil, and him as the white knight. So I left and never looked back.”
“Fuck me. You’re just all kinds of fucked-up.” Clipping off sharp words that bite and harm, Harlow is still in full form. The girls, of course, admonish her once more, but she just keeps up the barrage. “Look, it’s simple. If Marnie had dealt with her financial shortcomings,” she turns to me, “and that you’d told him the truth, Risen, then it would have been different. Then Marnie would still be alive.” She paws at Trellis’ leg, comforting him. “You two could possibly still be friends, and Maria may not have had a hold on her, but shit happens. Everything has a purpose, for fuck’s sake. Without this happening, would you be a cop, Risen?” I shake my head. “Would you have met my girl here and fallen in love?”
Fuck no.
Wait. Am I in love?
Pondering it for a few moments, I carefully answer. Giving Harlow ammo I’m learning is dangerous. “No. I don’t think things would have turned out the same. Everything has a purpose and a time.”
Sitting back, feeling absolutely full of herself, Harlow grins, pulling the nearly empty bottle back to guzzle its remains.
“Deep, Confucius. Fuck me,” Hallette says, checking her phone. Rising from the couch, she addresses China, requesting a hug. “CD, love you to bits. Party, awesome. Boy fight? Sorry. Man fight? Fantastic. Ensuing sad story? Epically fucked-up, but I get it. Hurt feelings all around.” Hugging her friend, she whispers in her ear, then pulls away to give the rest the same attention. “Love you, ladies, but I got a date. ’Night, boys.” Waving, she leaves the house in a whiff of perfume and consumed alcohol.
“I hope she’s got a ride.” Catty mumbles.
“Yeah, Trevor is picking her up here. I gave him the gate code weeks ago.”
Looking to Trellis, I see he’s still caught up in the whole truth about Marnie’s death, and that honestly, the only person responsible was Marnie. I’m hoping he doesn’t drive off. Actually, I’m hoping that he stays here at China’s for the night. I have this deep foreboding feeling that he’d do something utterly stupid if we weren’t around to watch him.
Seeing the same as me, China speaks up. “Tre, take Jamieson’s room for tonight. No one will bother you down there.”
His glassy gaze is filled with tears. The whole history of what he understood as truth has come crashing down, and I feel bad for him, but at the same time, I feel relieved that it’s off my conscience. I never was, nor was I ever, a part of her demise. Sure, I could have got her out of it, but she liked the money and what it allowed her to do.
He rises off the couch, slowly, with a heavy heart. “I’m gonna...go sleep. I’ll see you in the morning.” Turning to China, Tre kisses her forehead. “Happy Birthday, love.”
Hugging him tightly, tucking herself into the crook of his arms, you see the rattle of a gasping breath rising to the surface. Trellis is about to crack.
With a fake smile, he steps back from the girls venturing my way. No longer am I anticipating a hit, a fight, or a nasty word. I think an understanding has been reached.
“You should have told me. I was your best friend.”
“You weren’t about to listen to me then. You can’t say—”
“You’re right,” he interrupts. “I wouldn’t have. But it would’ve been nice to know that you tried to help her, and my sons.”
I’d known that she was pregnant, but not with twins. Another set of Anchors. Without another word, he steps around me, traipsing to the stairs with a heaviness on his soul.
CHINA
“Lovely party really. Epic, CD.” I pick up a few of the empties. “Cathryne, help me clean up this mess. I need to find another bottle of that tequila.” Carting them off to the kitchen, Harlow and Catty leave us standing there all alone. It feels awkward and forced.
I knew there had to be more than what Tre was saying. Knowing in my heart that Risen isn’t a heartless bastard is one thing, but to believe he was capable of torturing a friend? No. That, I knew, had misunderstanding written all over it.
Speaking of love. When Harlow mentioned that on the off chance that Risen loved me, I saw a flash of something crest his features. Was it fear of being shoved into something that is more than he feels? Or was it recognition of what his feelings indicated?
Deciding to ignore that for the time being, and leaving Risen to his pain, I follow the girls’ lead. I gather up empty glasses, scattered tissues, and plates. There may be maid and catering service for this house, but when I’m feeling tense, I’m not leaving a mess.
Piling the discarded detritus, Risen moves toward me, and places his hands on mine. “China, we need to talk.”
Great, just what I need to hear. ‘Thanks for the hospitality of your body, but I don’t do relationships. Harlow is wrong. By the way, I’ll be clearing out soon, so how about another quick night of fun to send me off?’ Nervously, I set the plates down. I’m not showing how I feel.
“Doll, do you believe me about everything? It means something to me that you do.” His sincerity is endearing, it almost makes me…hope. There’s no hope, Doll. Everyone leaves you, so why would Officer Risen Mason be any different?
Schooling my features, I wait for the other shoe to drop. “Yeah, I knew there was more to it than what Trellis said. Knowing Tre and the Anchor’s for most of my life, doesn’t mean he’s the messiah. His word isn’t gospel to me. Everyone is infallible, even the Crown’s and Anchor’s.”
He still hasn’t come close enough to touch, leaving a sea of space between us. I’ll bet so he can let me down easily. Did I think of anything as preposterous as love? No. But feeling that I hurt him by venturing to the garage without him, and how he looked disappointed, it was a stone in my stomach. Now that stone has grown friends, weighing me down for the inevitable kiss off.
Raising his hand, he tips up my chin to look him in the eyes. Risen’s features are mixed. “China, I know what Harlow said—”
“Don’t sweat it.” Plastering a perfected smile on my face, I tell Risen, “I didn’t think anythi
ng of it.” Turning away, I begin to gather up the stacked plates. Spinning to take them to the kitchen, Risen blocks my exit.
“Are you always this much trouble, Miss Crown?” With a grin, he swipes a finger across the edge of my mouth.
I hold the plates still as I react to the touch. Risen removes them from my hand and lays them back on the table.
“Hey, I—”
“China, shut up.” Dipping his large frame, he places his mouth over mine. I melt into his embrace like a fool.
Like a lovesick fool.
JAMIESON — THE PAST
The biting winds as trees whip past at breakneck speeds, cutting the snow’s harsh edges with my board is the best feeling. Well, besides this.
“Yes! Yes! Yes!” she screams as I pound into her, all while smacking her ass. I love the look of the red welts that rise. Pushing her body into the wall, flattening her chest against it, my hips piston faster and faster knowing my end is near.
“More, Whiskey, more! Please!” she pants, smiling through the abuse.
“Hold on.” I spread her legs wider and grip her hips tight. The woman in front of me is taking everything I’m giving her. Her squeals, screams, and moans push me toward my end with a fervor.
Slapping her ass cheek again, I watch as the red lines rise. Knowing I’m seconds from release, my body takes over and my mind clears of all thoughts but this moment. In and out. In and out. The animalistic need controls me. With a few final thrusts, my body shakes and shivers. Grinding out, growling my end, my need is slaked.
For the moment.
Grunting as I pull back from her body, holding the condom in place, she whines when the fullness ends. “Whiskey.”
Moving away toward the trash, I wrap up the package and toss it away before wandering off to start the shower, leaving her standing in my bedroom.
With the water rushing out, I don’t hear her come up behind me. Wrapping her arms around my body, she kisses my back. I’m ignoring her because when I’m done, that’s it. I always ignore them. They don’t matter.
“Hey Whiskey, what do ya say we hit the far trail after? There’s an abandoned cabin up there, and we could—”
“Sorry,” I say as I open the shower door, “I have other plans today.”
“Well what about tomorrow? I could—”
Walking into the shower, I turn back to face her. “Look, it was fun…” I pause because I can’t remember her name. “It was fun, but it’s done.”
“Jessica. My name is Jessica.” She’s pissy that I just fucked her against my wall after meeting her only a few hours ago. Hell, what did she expect?
“You walked up to me at the lift and asked for a ride. What made you think I cared what your name was?”
“Whiskey, I thought we had fun?”
“Yeah, we did, and it’s done.”
All women are needy and greedy. “I don’t do relationships, and you’ll never find me hanging around for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. I don’t date.” I close the door to the shower. “But thanks for the fun.”
I don’t turn to look to see if she’s still there. I don’t worry that she’ll take something before she leaves as a souvenir, and I don’t doubt that she’ll throw something because they all do it. I’m so used to it now, I don’t even balk at the damage.
When I’m done cleaning up, I exit the shower with only a towel and a smile. Walking into my spare bedroom, I find my Aunt Janie, smiling. It’s a fake, but it’s a smile nonetheless.
“Another one bites the dust?”
Shrugging my shoulders, I head out of the room and dress. My room is down the hall, but I don’t bring girls to my suite. It’s my refuge. This is where they all get a piece of me, and I keep them separate from where I find peace.
“You know at some point, something is going to happen to you. The great Jamieson Crown will bow at the feet of a woman that will crush his ass. Your head will spin so fast, no amount of pussy will keep you entertained. She’s going to cause you grief, and I’ll stand back here, smiling and watching it all unfold with a shit-eating grin on my face.”
My aunt is totally wrong. Nobody cares for me but me. No one will ever get past this cold heart again, and no one will ever shatter my soul. Been there, done that. It ain’t happening again.
I go with bypassing the conversation we have every time one of these girls leave. “What’s on the docket today?”
I don’t worry about dressing around my aunt. She’s seen me naked more than dressed. Pulling on a pair of tracks, leaving them low, I toss on a T-shirt.
“You have training with the Olympic team tomorrow, but there’s nothing today. Why don’t you hit the hills for a while? I can call in the chopper. Just have some you time, Jamieson.”
“Yeah, I might do that.” It’s always me time. I’m always alone, and I like it that way.
“Did you see that Doll won another race yesterday?”
My little sister is taking the motorcycle world by storm, just like my little brother. The two of them are devils on two wheels, just like I’m a devil on a board. Give me snowcapped mountains and I’m satisfied. And that’s why I’m alone. I need the cold, they need the heat.
“Yeah. I saw Dad won another one, too.”
“You know, you should go visit soon. Isn’t Wyatt’s nineteenth birthday coming up?”
Shit. I should send him a card, or a stripper gram. That would piss of Mother. “Yeah. I’ll give him a call later.”
“You have a break in a few weeks, so why not go visit? Give him a present in person.” She’s always trying to repair the rift, but nothing ever will. We’re just too different, and the past has ruined us all.
“Call the chopper, I’ll head out in a few.”
Knowing I’ve just shut down on her, Aunt Janie purses her lips and walks away. I don’t even have to look because that’s what she always does.
I wish I wasn’t alone. I wish I had my family, but it was torn apart long ago, and I’m not the one to fix it.
JAMIESON — PRESENT DAY
“Fuck me ten ways to Sunday! No, you don’t get it. If I don’t have that whore on the plane in twenty minutes, I’ll be the one giving him a handy.”
I can easily hear everything she says, mainly because of her volume. She’s definitely making the poor soul on the other end of the phone piss their pants.
I like women like her, women with fire. Only thing is I’d just left my brother Wyatt’s hospital room, and the very last thing I need is further chick drama after my sister’s pouting. Dealing with family has been a strain on my patience. I’m in California after all, the worst place for someone like me to be. I’m here for my family after the death of my estranged mother and hospitalization of my little brother after a car accident that nearly cost him and his girlfriend their lives as well.
I’d rather be home in Colorado with hard packed snow and easy women. Women with sass are fantastic, but I want easy after the troubles of today.
This one sounds like heaps of trouble.
Her tone is husky and familiar, but that happens a lot when you’ve screwed as many women as I have.
Honestly, I’m not a nosy fuck, and I really couldn’t give a shit what this girl is talking about—so vividly in a public hospital, I might add—but I find I’m intrigued as I round the hall toward the elevator bank.
Waiting around the corner as I listen like a stalker, I hear her say, “I’m so pissed.”
Stepping around the corner, I lean against the wall, checking her out from head to toe. As she paces, continuing to talk wildly into the phone, I know who she is immediately. She’s in a neat gray pant suit, black heels with the telltale red insteps, and a light gray, fluttery, see-through shirt showing her pretty gray bra that showcases her rosy nipples. Her jet-black hair is pin straight and pulled into a high ponytail.
Well, shit.
Beautiful as always, Carli.
“I know it doesn’t matter. I just hate that she shushed me out the door like a common garden r
at. She’s my friend and I deserve to see her. Her boyfriend’s sister shouldn’t be allowed to tell me off. If I ever cared to involve—”
Turning, she sees me. Her eyes widen, her stance stiffens, and those baby blue eyes glare daggers at me.
“I’ll call you back.” She abruptly ends the call and directs her full attention my way and I smile. Actually, I give her a sarcastic grin that I’ve learned gets me into heaps of trouble when I use it.
Right now, that’s exactly what I want.
“Carli, nice to see you again.”
“Asshole,” she sneers. She neatly places her phone into a slot in her shoulder bag, which is dangling close to the floor, treating her twenty-thousand-dollar Louis like gutter trash.
Stepping close, I reach past her, selecting the down button for the elevator and ask, “Were you here turning tricks?”
“Were you here visiting a ski bunny?” she quips back without looking at me.
“Snowboard, Carli. I ride snowboards.” Smirking, I run my tongue along my teeth, remembering the last time this fireball and I crossed paths.
“I’m sure you’re not picky,” she mutters.
Trying to hold her ground with a mean, sullen stare, I step in even closer so she has to look up. Breathing by her ear, I get a whiff of her perfume which is goddamn intoxicating. It’s that floral shit I normally find to be a turn off, but fuck, it’s nice on her. I know I’m playing a dangerous game of chicken, and I’m not sure who’s going to win this shit as Carli can give me a run for my money. And I know she’s enjoying this, just like I know I am.
“Let me remind you what it is, Carli. It’s long, wide, hard, and meant to be ridden for hours.” She doesn’t flinch, but looks straight up at me, throwing off the heat of a thousand suns. I’m taunting her. Carli’s as insatiable as they come.