Hope to Lie (DeSantos Book 2)

by A. R. Case

  His cousin Lisa. Her boyfriend was the one who washed up dead near Chris’s shop. “Not that you need to fucking know, but she moved to Philly to live with her mother, and her mother is a nut job. So no.”

  Mills shook his head. “I don’t know what she saw in that guy.”

  “Neither do I, but it doesn’t matter, because he’s dead. And I don’t think you need to be asking about Lisa either.”

  “I didn’t mean for it to go down that way.”

  “Yeah? So you understand why I don’t want to help you out? You don’t exactly have a great track record. And messing with the Brigands? That’s suicide.”

  “Funny. You visited Crank, and you still seem to be breathing.”

  “Go fuck yourself, Mills.” Chris walked into his office and slammed the door.

  One of the fabricators was staring at Mills.

  “What are you looking at?” Mills scowled at him. The man ducked his head back down to his work. There weren’t many workers in the shop due to the holidays, and the other, nicer, DeSantos wasn’t there. A heavyset security guard let him out. He jabbered constantly. Mills didn’t like him either.

  Chapter 13 — Celebration

  The meeting with Hammond went south even before he brought up Vianne.

  “I don’t think you’re trying very hard, DeSantos.” Hammond was in the big chair. It deliberately was a few inches taller than the low chair he’d been offered. It was also twice as wide, with a tall, winged back. Chris knew the trick, but he was intimidated just the same. A lot of money was on the line. The discussion was now on even more money being bandied about. About ten million, if Chris’s estimations were accurate. The amount of money Hammond needed to purchase the properties near the water. Chump change for someone like Ellis. He was picky about who he worked with because of that.

  “He doesn’t think it will profit for ten years.”

  “It’s a fucking casino. What is the risk?” Hammond tossed both hands to the sides.

  Chris refrained from pointing out a past string of failures. “There is always risk in business.” It was the truth. Right now, his business was at risk.

  “If you don’t take risks, it isn’t worth it.” Hammond scowled. “Sometimes I think you’re not thinking big enough.”

  “Thinking big is your job. My job is to make your ideas look good, so people hand you money.”

  “Ha! At least you know your place.” His phone buzzed on the desk. “Damn.” He flipped it over. “Are you going to talk to Vianne, work this shit out, so she stops bothering me?”

  Chris glanced at the device which had buzzed twice more. “I’m not certain that’s a good idea.” He tried to divert the conversation. “About the north end signs, I think we can reduce the size of the display there; it should reduce overall spend by at least four thousand. It’s a parking lot.”

  “Listen, at least take her out for dinner. Then we’ll talk about that damn parking lot.”

  “She’d be better off with someone with a pedigree and trust fund. Happier too.”

  “Careful, boy. I’ll scrap the entire contract instead of just reducing pennies here and there.”

  Chris said what he had to. “I’ll set up a dinner.”

  Hammond pushed and Chris did what he always did. Bend. A part of him screamed in rebellion, and he tried to ignore it as best he could. The man’s specific words rang in Chris’s ears hours later when he got home. “An unhappy Vianne costs a hell of a lot more than a damned contract. Fix it, DeSantos.”

  Trouble was, to make Vianne happy would cost Chris more than the damned contract was worth. He sat at his desk and worked through projections if the contract was canceled. Added to it, was the money he was paying on the business loan he’d taken out to cover materials, and the columns turned red.

  He reached into the filing cabinet and stared at the envelope Crank had given him. If only he could be certain the offer was legitimate, he’d jump on this opportunity.

  “Have you seen my black nail polish?” Alexis walked past him to the kitchen.

  Chris closed the filing cabinet. He didn’t need to go down that path, yet. Vi was going to be out of the picture, and the contract was still solid. “It isn’t in your bathroom?”

  “Oh, right. Probably.” She walked past him again but paused. “You okay?”

  “Huh? Me? Yeah.” He turned back to his spreadsheet.

  “You never asked me how it went. Something is bothering the fuck out of you.”

  “What? Oh shit! No, I didn’t. How did it go?”

  “Well, after the floor opened up, flames shot out, and I was forced to sign with my own blood, I guess it was pretty typical.”

  He’d almost turned back to the spreadsheet. Her eyes held the mischievous glint of a lie and there was something about the pitch of her voice. “Were you offered a contract?”

  The glint turned into a full smile. “Not really, but they are going to take my demo to the label!” She started jumping up and down.

  Chris stood up to help her celebrate with a hug. “That’s amazing and great, and you are going to be a star. I told you so.”

  “I should be hearing from the agent next week after he returns to LA.”

  “Very cool. Did you want to celebrate?”

  Alexis stopped jumping to stare at him. “Like a party?”

  Chris glanced around. “Sure, why not?” He didn’t look as excited as before.

  “Isn’t it a bit too soon to celebrate? I mean he only agreed to shop it around.”

  “I think it is still amazing, so yes. A party.”

  “You hate parties. What about calling your brother, keep it small.”

  That got a smile. “I’ll call him, not certain if his wife is off work, but maybe they can come over.” His phone vibrated with a message. He glanced at it and then did a double-take. “What the fuck?” Vi had texted him a picture of her ass.

  “Nice cheek definition. I’d work on the second-rate lighting though. Maybe get one of those round lights.” Alexis was peeking over his arm.

  Chris deleted the photo. His phone buzzed again. This time it was a text. Wanna see more?

  He blocked her number. Then remembered the dinner he’d promised Hammond. His mood soured.

  “On second thought, how about we stay home and celebrate without the party? I’m feeling territorial.” Alexis leaned in to kiss him on the cheek.

  “You don’t mind? It’s also New Year’s Eve.” He put his phone on the desk, shoving away thoughts of expensive dinners with pushy company. He’d rather spend it with Alexis.

  “You realize what that means, right? Amateur night all over? Insanity, crowds, hoodlums running around blowing stuff up.” Firecrackers echoed off in the distance, verifying Alexis’s statement.

  “You don’t go out on New Year’s?”

  “It’s a horrible holiday, even bartending sucks because there’s always puke in the women’s bathroom.”

  “In the men’s, too. And they miss, a lot.”

  “Ew! So glad I haven’t had to clean up in there.” Her nose crinkled.

  “When do you turn thirty?”

  “Not for another lifetime, old man.”

  He laughed. “Seriously, when?”

  “Never. I am never turning thirty. Why does it matter?”

  Fireworks went off, this time, sending a trail of sparks that were visible in the glass that led to the balcony. “Because you’re getting old, not celebrating New Year’s Eve.”

  “Not celebrating New Year’s in a bar is smart, not old.”

  “True. Want to break open a bottle of wine and watch fireworks from the comfort of our couch?”

  “Absolutely, but I’m opening the bottle.”

  “Knock yourself out. You can pour, too.”

  She disappeared into the kitchen. He realized he said, �
�Our.” And it didn’t scare him.

  ~~~~~~~

  The next morning

  Two empty glasses were on Chris’s nightstand. A second bottle was almost empty and had gotten ruined sitting open all night. Alexis was on top of him. Her soft snores were cute. He breathed in, testing for a hangover. No tell-tale headache. That was good. Alexis stopped snoring and shifted on top of him. He felt her tense.

  She’d bolt off him any second now. Chris waited, not moving. Her hand slid down to his waist, then around to his ass. The scars there tingled under her fingers. She sighed and snuggled into him.

  He let out the breath he was holding and slid his hand up the bare skin of her leg and over her ass. She hummed. He stroked her skin, getting bolder about touching her.

  “I’m awake.”

  “Figured as much.”

  “Is it okay I touch your scars?” she asked, her face still smushed against him.

  “Absolutely.” Hell, if it made her relax knowing it was him, she could touch anything. “I’ve got another one under my left arm.” He couldn’t reach around her far enough to point but tapped her bare back in the general direction.

  She slid her hand under his arm, and along the underside. “I don’t feel it.”

  “I meant on my chest, under the arm.”

  She moved her hand to the right spot. It tickled and he flinched.

  Her head popped up, and she quickly wiped the drool off her skin, and then his. “Is this another bullet wound?”

  “Scar. Your face was on the entry point, that healed up pretty well. The exit wound, not so much.”

  Alexis traced the skin on his chest, moving to the portion of the muscle where they’d stitched the skin closed. Then she touched the spot under his arm. Her head tilted to track the angle of the scars. “Holy shit.”

  She put her ear over his heartbeat, then moved her fingers over the entry point.

  “You’re lucky to be alive.”

  Chris shrugged as best he could, as he was lying on his back. “It missed everything vital except a portion of the lung. It collapsed, but they got it working again pretty quickly.”

  “You are not real,” she whispered.

  “Am too.”

  “Are not.” Then she tickled him, right in the vulnerable spot under the scars.

  “Stop, you’re…ack!” He was careful not to hurt her but trapped her wicked hands. “Evil woman.”

  She laughed at him then sobered. “I like waking up on top of you.”

  “I like you waking up on me, too. Even the drool.”

  Alexis rolled her eyes and then moved off him to sit up. “What time is it?”

  Chris closed his eyes and shifted to get more comfortable. “Don’t care. It’s a holiday.”

  “You mean you are taking the day off? Holy shit.” She pretended to gasp.

  He opened one eye. “If I made people work today, I’d face a lawsuit. Even the stock market is closed.”

  “It is?”

  He nodded.

  “It is so amazing you know stuff like that.”

  “Like, adult stuff?”

  She swatted him with a pillow. “Shut up. No adulting, ever!”

  He grabbed a pillow of his own and began to defend himself. “Never ever!” he added, bouncing on his knees.

  Alexis laughed and pulled him down on top of her for a kiss. “I love you.” Her eyes opened wide. “Dammit. Forget I said that!” she slid out from under him and began hitting him with the pillow again. He caught it with his hands and held on.

  “I’ll remember it when you’re gone, okay?”

  Her eyes glistened with the moisture that hung there. “You will?”

  The pillow dropped down, and he slid his hand along the skin of her jaw, not to wipe any tears away, because they hadn’t fallen, but to hold her just the same. “I won’t ever forget you. You’re kind of unique, you know?”

  She smiled. “So are you.” To prove her point, she touched the small scar near his heart.

  “If you tickle me again, it will be war, you know that, right?”

  The glint in her eyes got brighter. “I’m not going to tickle you.”

  Damn it if she didn’t lie.

  Chapter 14 — Territory

  Thursday open jam night at the Cave, Tony was able to come as back up, just in case the Brigands showed up. Chris took a table to the side of the room. It was close enough to the stage and had a wall at his back. All of it was unnecessary as no one from Ghost’s crew showed up.

  Alexis worked with a guitarist on some original music, and between the rotations, they tried out some of the techniques.

  “She’s good.” Tony leaned over to tell Chris.

  “It sounds even better than when she was working on it last week.”

  “You’d better marry her before she gets away.”

  Chris shook his head. “Not going to do that, Tony.”

  His brother shook his head.

  Dylan walked in with a girl under his arm. She had bright pink hair and didn’t look old enough to be in the club. The bouncer checked her ID and she was turned away. Dylan, instead of going with her, waved goodbye and moved to the stage. As he did, he scanned the crowd or the lack of crowd. He saw Chris and Tony. His face turned from smirk to frown. He glanced at the stage where Alexis was performing. Something was going through his head. He turned from the stage and approached the table.

  “Is this like, your new thing, being her tool boyfriend or some shit?”

  “Hi, Dylan. Tony, this is Dylan, he’s a bassist sometimes, but don’t hold it against him, he’s always an asshole.”

  “Fuck you.” Dylan spat on the floor.

  Tony laughed. “We’re celebrating.”

  Dylan scowled. “What? Your gay wedding at the Unitarian church?”

  Chris rolled his eyes. “That line is older than you.”

  “Alexis’s got an agent,” Tony interjected.

  Chris nudged him. “Not now, Tony.”

  “What?”

  Dylan watched the exchange. Then glanced at the stage where Alexis was in deep discussion. “You’re serious?”

  “No.” Chris slammed his empty drink down and got up from the table to get another. “You want another one, Tony?” His brother tipped his almost empty beer glass at him and nodded. Chris glanced at Dylan, “And I’m not buying you one, because you’re a fucking drunk, in addition to being an asshole.”

  Tony whistled as soon as Chris’s back was turned. “He doesn’t like you at all. What the fuck did you do?”

  “Nothing, man. First time I ever met him, he punched me.” Dylan rubbed his jaw as he said it.

  “Huh. You jump him from behind or something?”

  The glance to the side gave Dylan away. “I didn’t do nothing.”

  Tony stood up. He had about five inches on Dylan, and at least forty pounds of muscle. He flexed his scarred hand. “I don’t like you either.”

  Chris came back as Dylan scattered. “What did you do?”

  His brother knocked back the dregs of his old beer and accepted the new one. “Nothing. Kid practically pissed his pants just because I stood up.”

  Chris wasn’t paying too much attention to his brother because he was watching the stage. Dylan was there, laughing and joking with the guitarist Alexis had been working with, and he was also smiling at Alexis. She said something off mic to him, and he nodded, asking another question. Alexis glanced over at the table, where Chris and Tony were standing. Even at this distance, Chris could see the glint in her eye.

  Sure enough, seconds later, Alexis launched into a whopper of a story if her arm gestures were an indication. The guitarist watched a little shell-shocked, and a hint of a smile on his face, but Dylan? His face hung on her every word.

  “Watch my drink.” Chris handed hi
s brother the glass and stalked to the stage. Alexis saw him coming and wrapped up her story.

  Dylan replied, “So, when is the tour?”

  “Buy a ticket with everyone else,” Chris growled. “Hey, Alexis,” he leaned in for a kiss. She slipped him tongue but ended it too quickly.

  “Are you getting bored?” she asked.

  Chris took a breath and let it out. “I’m good. Just feeling territorial,” he said the last part as quietly as he could.

  She held his face in her hands. When he finally made eye contact, she searched them for answers. A smile broke over her face. “You nut.” Her next kiss was a bit longer.

  “Get a room,” Dylan grumbled.

  “You ready to rock?” she asked the other musicians on stage.

  She picked up the microphone and asked the same question of the meager crowd. They perked up. “Some of you already know this, but guess who has an agent?” She pointed at herself. “This one is for all you out there who are coming with me.”

  Alexis winked at Chris. Then she launched into one of her originals. Her heart went into the lyrics. The people who had been hanging around at the tables moved closer. Tony joined Chris at the edge of the stage. The rag-tag band, including Dylan, got caught up in the excitement of the moment. With easy practice, she morphed right into another song perfectly suited for the moment. Two more songs, both covers, and Alexis motioned one of the other singers onto the stage to join her. The kid was maybe twenty-two, but with her support, they rocked the crowd. Not a soul was sitting as Chris scanned for a tell-tale jean vest or another sign of Brigands.

  For once, Karma left them alone. He hoped it would last.

  ~~~~~~

  Saturday

  Once again, Alexis was outside with Crank’s dogs. It was colder today, and she wore one of Chris’s parkas.

  “I don’t know why you think I’d be able to help you with this. It should stay in the family,” Chris said to Crank.

  “You’re more trustworthy than any of those numb-nuts, except maybe Double B. But he’s an idiot when it comes to money.”

  “Get a financial advisor, then.”

  “I don’t want no damn suit. I want you, and fuck you about not being family. You know damn well how I feel about that.”