by Bella Jewel
“You got a new number, and texted it to me. You could have called or at least sent a more detailed message.”
She’s right; I could have.
I chose not to.
“You’re right, but honestly . . . I just didn’t want to talk to anyone. It was a long night and I was really embarrassed by the things I said and did. But I’m okay now.”
“Did Dax do something to you? Drug you? I swear to god, Waverly, I’ll kill him if he did.”
I laugh. “You’re way too badass sometimes. Honestly, I’m fine. He didn’t drug me; it was another girl he had there. He was actually good to me and made sure I was okay. I promise you I’m not hurt.”
Not physically, at least.
My pride, however . . .
“Okay, but you have to be careful. It’s already a dangerous group you’re hanging out with without other girls messing with you. I’d never forgive myself if something happened to you. Alarick said some of the club members want you pulled out; they think it’s way too unsafe. What are your thoughts on that?”
“I’m not quitting now. You all put me in there for a reason. We all knew the risks. I’m in there and I’m going to find out what we need. I’m not giving this up, Zariah. So the club can back off on that one.”
“Yeah, listen, I agree, but you need to be extra vigilant right now. It’s a dangerous situation.”
“I know.”
We chat for a few more minutes, and then I tell her I’ll catch up with her soon and that I need to rest. I hang up the phone and exhale, glancing around my room. I get back to my washing and pull out the wet and muddy clothes I was wearing the night Mykel fucked me. I have tried so many times to forget that event, but no matter how hard I force it down, it keeps coming back up.
The way his cock felt.
The way his hard body felt.
The way he held my hands above my head.
The way he kissed me.
I’ve had one-night stands before, and none of them have ever felt as passionate as that. Sex with Mykel had this intensity that I’ve never experienced, almost like it was loaded full of emotions just desperate to be released.
I shake my head and throw the clothes into the washing machine.
Avoiding Mykel is going to be hard, but I’ll do what I can to stay out of his way while I’m forced to stay in this house with him.
Knowing he’s at the club, I decide to go and see if maybe I can get into that locked room. Is it wrong? Well, sure, but do I care? Nope. I want to know what secrets he’s hiding behind that door. Nobody locks one door unless they have something to hide. I’m staying in his house; I should know what he’s hiding behind there. What if he’s some sort of serial killer?
I mean, it’s happened.
I’ve watched true crime docos.
I walk up to the door and rattle it. He’d have a key for it, and I can almost bet he’d keep it in his room. I walk over to his door and push it open, stepping into space. I’ve not been into this area before; he always keeps the door closed. I peer around and am quite surprised at how tidy it is. I mean, it shouldn’t shock me. He’s a clean man—I’ve already figured out that much.
I walk in a little farther and take in his bed that’s made up with dark covers, blue and black. It’s very masculine. He’s got a desk against the window, and a sofa with a television in the corner. Other than that, it’s quite plain, and I’m guessing that’s exactly how he likes it.
I walk over the soft carpet and head straight towards the desk, where I rummage around a little to see if I can find a key. Nothing there.
I check his closet, which is very simple, filled with only the essentials. I don’t find anything right away but see a small box at the back that’s sitting behind a stack of shoes. I pull it out and open it while sitting on the floor. There are some beautiful photos of his parents, and I can’t help but feel sad at the pictures of them as a family. He lost his family, and he doesn’t know how—that must be hard.
I reach the bottom of the box and see a key. Well, would you look at that?
I pluck it out and stand, and place the box back before sneaking out of the room. I glance around as I head back down the hall, suddenly feeling really guilty about what I’m going to do, but I’m curious. I want to know what makes Mykel so damned bitter, so damned angry at the world. Mostly, at me.
There must be something about me that makes him feel like he doesn’t want to be around me. I want to know what that is and I hope this room will tell me more.
I put the key in the lock and it opens. Taking a deep breath, and trying to calm my racing heart and nerves, I step inside the room and flick on the light. What I see is not what I expected. Not in a million years did I expect to find this. It’s like I’ve exited the house and stepped into a detective’s office. On the wall, there are pictures, articles, notes and strings attaching people to places, just like you’d see when the police are trying to figure out who was behind a murder or vicious crime.
I walk over, completely fascinated by the scene in front of me.
Right in the middle of the wall is a picture of Mykel’s mom and dad. Coming off them are strings leading to different places and people. I glance at the strings and see most of them connect to places in and around New York. That’s odd; is that where his parents ended up? Does he know where they are or is he just clutching at straws? There are some people on the board I don’t recognize, but they have names. There are three men, all of who look very powerful and dangerous. Beside them are notes, information about times his parents contacted them, things like that.
I keep staring, but there’s so much to take in.
My eyes home in on a picture of woman. She’s beautiful and young, maybe only my age. She’s got a big question mark beside her, and on the little note next to her, it says, ‘What do you know?’
Who is this woman, and why is Mykel looking into her?
Beside the picture is a name: Harlow McKennon. I quickly pull out my phone and take a picture of the entire board before I get caught in here. I want to keep looking at it; I want to see what exactly it is Mykel is searching for. One thing is for sure: I was right about him. He’s got some big secrets and whatever they are, they’re consuming him.
I leave the room and make sure everything is locked up just the way I left it, and then I go back into his room and place the key in the box and put it back exactly as I found it before leaving the room. When I get back to mine, I pull out my phone and glance at the picture. So many unanswered questions. Obviously, something happened to Mykel’s parents, and he’s determined to find out what.
Were they killed?
Were they kidnapped or did they leave by choice?
And if they are, what exactly is it that made them leave everything behind?
Amongst everything else that’s happening right now, I’m more determined than ever to find out what lies behind Mykel’s impenetrable gaze.
He’s got a whole lot of secrets, and I’m desperate to find out more.
Even if it does get me into trouble.
What’s a little trouble, right?
9
WAVERLY
I place my hands over the pipe that’s suddenly spurting water all through the kitchen. Making a squealing sound, I try to stop the flood happening under Mykel’s sink that I just found after taking a walk outside to clear my head. Within seconds, I’m drenched and water is already soaking the kitchen floor. I open the cupboard and to a busted pipe spraying everywhere. I’m lucky I came home when I did, because it looks like it’s only just burst.
With another squeal, I try to find something I can shove over the end of the broken pipe so I can go on a hunt for Mykel’s water and turn it off. Goddammit. Nothing is within grabbing distance and this is going to start ruining things in a second. I let the pipe go, and water sprays at me again. I tear off my shirt and stuff it into the cupboard door when I close it to try and stop more water coming from the cupboard while I go and find the tap.
&nb
sp; It doesn’t work. I’m now shirtless and the cupboard door busts open and water sprays at me again. I scream and just as I do, the door opens and voices trail into the house. Oh thank god. Thank god. “Help!” I cry out. “There’s a busted pipe!”
Within seconds, a bigger than expected group of bikers come around the kitchen counter to see me on my hands and knees, trying to do my best to stop the flow of water. I’m wearing nothing but a pair of short shorts and a bra. I’m sopping wet and the whole kitchen is covered in water. “I came home to find it like this. Hurry, you need to turn the water off.”
Mykel moves quickly, going outside. Alarick gets down on his knees beside me, and I can see the grin on his face. “Do not laugh, Alarick,” I warn him.
He helps me try to stop the water by covering the spray with large hands until Mykel can turn it off.
I hear chuckling behind me and see Cohen, Bohdi, Briella, Merleigh, Kendric, Samson and Cova all standing, staring down at me, grinning. Briella giggles the loudest, and then they all full on laughing just as the water goes off. I release the pipe and stand, no doubt looking like a drowned rat. Alarick stands behind me. “Do not laugh at me,” I warn again, waving my finger at them.
I take a step, slip in the water, and land on my ass with a cry. The laughter becomes hysterical. Booming male laughs and feminine female giggles all fill the room. I just let myself fall onto my back, close my eyes and exhale, pressing my hands to my face. “Why does this shit always happen to me?”
“Why are your clothes half off?” Mykel asks, and I pop my eyes open to see him kneeling down beside me and reaching in beneath the sink.
“I was trying to stop the water. You’re welcome.”
“With a shirt?” he asks me. “A shirt was going to stop the rapid flow of water from a busted pipe?”
Well, when he puts it like that . . .
“I was desperate,” I say, sitting up and glancing down.
I’m wearing a crop top and my nipples are so hard they’re budding out through the white material. It’s a freakin’ wet T-shirt competition and I’m the only competitor. Mykel’s eyes drop to my breasts and when I look at the other guys, there are more than one set of peepers on them. I cover my breasts and cry out, “You bunch of perves!”
“Babe.” Cohen chuckles. “You got your tits on display. We’re goin’ to look at them.”
“They’re not on display!” I protest. “I had to use my top to . . . oh, never mind. Help me up.”
Cohen steps over with a chuckle and reaches a hand down to me. I glance at Mykel as he helps me up and see his eyes are locked on mine in a rather intense stare. I’ll never understand this man for the life of me. Never.
When I’m on my feet, I cover my breasts with one arm and give a sheepish wave with the other. “What are you all doing here?”
“We’re havin’ a night off,” Kendric tells me, holding up a bag of marijuana. “You can’t come to us, so we’re comin’ to you.”
“Is that weed?” I ask, my eyes smiling before my mouth does.
“Fuck yeah it is.”
“And we’ve got alcohol. Lots of alcohol.” Briella grins.
“God yes. You all read my mind!” I nod, smiling. “Let’s get this cleaned up and get this party started.”
“Sounds good to me,” Briella claps. “Merleigh, Cova and I will grab some towels.”
“You ladies got this sorted. I’m goin’ to set up.” Kendric waves the little bag and then walks outside.
“Slacker!” I call after him.
Bohdi and Cohen give Mykel a hand to fix the busted pipe and once we’re all cleaned up, I get changed into a dress and a pair of Converse, and run a brush through my hair. Yep, I’m the girl who wears Converse with a dress, I also don’t give a crap because you gotta be who you gotta be. I spray some perfume on and then head downstairs to the back patio where everyone is sitting.
Mykel has the grill going, and the smell of cooking burgers makes my stomach rumble. I find a seat and pull it over next to Merleigh. She smiles at me when I sit down. “How are you, honey?” I ask her.
“I’m going well. How are you? I heard what happened the other night. I’m so sorry.”
“Yeah, it was a bit scary. Did anything like that ever happen to you?” I ask her, curious.
She nods. “I got drugged once, but it was from the man who I was being sold to. He drugged me and then took care of me so I’d trust him.”
Oh, well, now that’s strange.
“Do you think that’s what Dax did?” Briella asks, leaning forward.
“Of course he did,” Cova mutters. “That’s what he does.”
Cova is still broken, so damned broken. Briella told me she can’t stop loving the man who paid for her. Briella’s worried Cova’s going to do a runner to get back to him. She’s come down from her drug haze, but she’s still not happy about being here. Briella is trying hard to make her see that life here isn’t so bad, but she doesn’t want to be part of it.
I understand that.
Her mind is a very fragile place and for years, she’s been used.
She was favored by the man who took her, and he tricked her into believing he was the best thing for her.
I haven’t spent near as much time with Dax as she did with her captor, and yet I ended up kissing him and then feeling the same confusion. Imagine that happening for years.
My heart aches for her. It really does. I hope we can convince her to stay and be with us in this better world.
“I don’t actually think he did,” I say. “I think it was one of the other girls.”
“That’s what he told me, too,” Cova mutters. “It wasn’t the other girls; it was him. It’s what he does. He makes you trust him. He makes you think you’re special. Then he sells you and walks away without even blinking.”
My heart twists.
“Did he . . . did he ever try to kiss any of you?”
They both look at me, and judging by the shocked looks on their faces, that would be a no. Which means I’m right in sensing that the way Dax is with me is not how he was with them.
“No,” Merleigh says. “No, he was never affectionate. He made us trust him, took care of us, but he never touched us . . .”
“No, never,” Cova agrees.
“Did he kiss you?” Merleigh asks.
I swallow and suddenly, I’m terribly embarrassed. I don’t want to tell them that I let him kiss me, that I was weak. I don’t want them to look at me like I’m pathetic. Because that’s how I feel right now—pathetic. I let a man who has ruined their lives kiss me. The worst part is, I kissed him back. For a moment, I fell for his charm and caved. I feel incredibly stupid for that.
“He did,” I finally tell them. “It was quite shocking.”
Merleigh frowns. “That is strange. Maybe you are different . . .”
“Maybe,” I murmur, needing a swift change of subject.
“Did you kiss him back?” Cova asks, her voice tight.
“No,” I lie, and it feels like it lodges in my throat it’s that foreign.
I hate lying.
I hate it.
Cova studies me as if she knows I’m fibbing, then she stands and says, “I’m bored of this party already. I’m going home.”
“You should stay,” Briella pouts. I can feel her disappointment. She’s trying so hard to have Cova fit in, but she’s just not. She’s got her mind elsewhere, and it’s going to take some time to correct that.
“No, I’m tired. See you later.”
With that Cova turns and walks out the door. Merleigh stands and smiles down at Briella. “I’ll take her home, then come back. I’ll make sure she gets there safe.”
Briella gives Merleigh and grateful smile, and then the two of them leave. When they’re gone, I glance over at Kendric and say, “Where’s that weed? Let’s do this.”
With a grin, he pulls the little bag from his jacket and announces, “Let’s get this party started.”
Yes.
> Let’s.
MY MIND SPINS IN HEAVENLY delight as all the weight of the world is lifted off my shoulders. There is nothing better than feeling like you can just fly when you’ve been trudging along for weeks. Things finally seem a bit light and airy, like nothing in the world could hold me down. It’s incredible. If it weren’t for the fact that I’d risk addiction, I’d probably do this every single day.
We’re all sitting in a circle in the living area, the room a little hazy even though we have all the windows and doors open. The air that’s trickling in is cool, and the music we’re playing is at a perfect volume in the background. Briella is sitting in between Alarick’s legs, and Merleigh has come back and is sitting beside Bohdi, the two of them deep in conversation.
I’m beside Mykel, and Kendric is on my other side with Samson and Cohen sitting next to him. We’re all chatting, and laughing, and passing the smoke around. We’re about to run out, and Kendric hands the smoke to Mykel, who takes a long inhale before realizing that there isn’t enough left to keep passing it. His eyes swing to mine, all glassy and gorgeous, and then, without warning or question, he leans in and crooks his finger, indicating I should lean in closer.
I do, my mind spinning blissfully. He brings his lips so close to mine. The whole world feels like it stops. Locking eyes with him, I prepare, knowing exactly what he’s going to do.
Slowly, he lets the smoke trickle from his lips and as it does, I breathe it in. The moment is so incredibly intense, I feel like we’re alone and not a single other person is here. Like the universe has just shut everything else down. My eyes stay locked on his and I keep inhaling the smoke that he’s breathing into my mouth.
My god.
I want him.
I want him so damned badly my whole body aches.
I know I shouldn’t. I know that wanting him is dangerous for my soul, because his heart doesn’t lie with me—it lies with another girl in this room. Yet I find myself unable to stop as I lean forward just a little more. Mostly to see what he’ll do, and partly because I want his lips on mine more than I want this smoke he’s currently blowing softly into my mouth.
