Tak: The A**hole Club Series

by Ivy Harper

  “Okay, bye.”

  It wasn’t Dutch’s fault my prom fell on the night of Tak’s unknown incident. I hadn’t paid attention to much around that time.

  I released a heavy breath, rolling over to my side. There were a lot of things I wanted to forget about Bridge Lake. That night was one of them, my life became hell after prom.

  Closing my eyes, I tried to push down the memories that wanted to draw me in. Maybe tomorrow would be better, but I couldn’t think of anything better than being in the same house as my favorite singer and old crush. Eventually, I fell asleep.

  Chapter 12

  Not the Same

  Tak

  * * *

  Lying on my bed, I contemplated what I would do first to my bodyguard that morning. I’d slept in since I’d spent the night in the studio. Hearing the sound of my phone buzzing on my nightstand, I reached over and picked it up.

  Skittles: Come to the front door.

  I read the message, then read it again. The last thing I wanted to do was see Skittles.

  Since I’d been home for four days and no one had busted my door down, I’d thought they’d all silently decided to give me space. Obviously, my assumption had been wrong. This was the exact thing I’d been avoiding when I’d run to Rhet’s place.

  As I contemplated whether or not I would answer the door, my phone buzzed again. This time it was a call from Pit. I stared at his name before I answered.

  “Hello?”

  “We know you’re inside, kid. Come to the fucking door. Otherwise, I’m coming inside, and you’re not going to like what happens to you if I have to break in,” Pit nearly growled.

  “I’m coming.”

  “Good.” He hung up.

  “Shit.”

  I tossed my phone down and got up and dressed in a robe and pajama pants. Finished, I went out to let Pit and Skittles in.

  Ever since Pit had asked Skittles to marry him, it was like they were attached at the hip. I should have fucking known if Skittles decided to come confront me, he’d be with her.

  No matter how old I got or the amount of muscle I put on, Pit still intimidated me. I still couldn’t pick out what exactly Skittles liked about him. Maybe it was the whole bad boy persona he pulled off.

  I’d tried to work through the messed-up feelings I had when I saw the two together. It wasn’t like I wasn’t happy for them, but there was also this feeling of having someone precious to me stolen. I knew these thoughts were childish, which is why I hated feeling this way.

  They were both good friends to me. Skittles had become like the older sister I’d never had. However, the feeling of resentment was still there and then Luke had gone and decided to follow in their footsteps. Thinking this, I opened the door to the pissed-off expressions of both Skittles and Pit.

  “It’s only you two?”

  “The others are too busy to deal with our spoiled child today,” Skittles said as she walked in followed by Pit. Her colorful hair eye-catching as usual. “Besides, we’re enough.”

  Closing the door behind them, I then led them to my living room and took a seat. Instead of following my example, they remained standing across from me. I played it cool and asked, “So why did you come?”

  “Because you’ve been acting like a little bitch since Skittles, and I got together. Now this bullshit. It’s time we talk,” Pit said, holding back nothing. “Do you know how worried Skittles was when she saw the news? And then your little bitch ass decides to hide at Rhet’s like I, of all people, wouldn’t know where the fuck you were.”

  “Pit, enough,” Skittles said.

  The two shared a look. During their silent conversation, I felt my mood turn sour. It was shit like this that made me feel the ever-turning wheels toward a time where I would no longer be needed by any of them. One day I would call, and everyone would be too busy for Tak.

  My jaw clenched as anger swept through me. They finished their silent exchange and Skittles turned her attention to me.

  “Tak, I’ve been meaning to talk to you for a while.”

  “Oh?”

  “I get your family life was shit growing up, they abandon you, but that bullshit has nothing to do with who we are. I vowed to you a long time ago, you would always have me and the assholes, we’ll always be your family.

  “Just because Pit and I have changed our relationship, doesn’t mean we’re tossing you to the curb. Nothing changes with us. The day you became my little brother, you were stuck. No take backs. We’re all finally growing up, but that doesn’t mean I’ll ever stop caring about you,” Skittles said.

  “I wonder about that.” I felt the anger that had been simmering in my gut rise when she mentioned my family. “You see, I know for a fact once people start changing it doesn’t stop. Promises are nice to hear, but when it’s time to keep them, I doubt that they’ll be kept.”

  Skittle’s expression darkened. “Make me flip your ass. When have I ever failed you? When have any of us ever left your ass hanging? You really think you can’t count on us?”

  I didn’t answer her, letting my silence speak for itself.

  “You know what? I don’t know what else I can do to prove to you we aren’t going anywhere,” Skittles finally said, sounding tired.

  I looked back at her.

  “This time, it’s not about you or Pit or any of the other assholes. It’s something I have to work through on my own. Right now, what I need the most is for everyone to back the fuck off and stop trying to help me.”

  I felt like I’d gone back to the teen who’d pushed everyone away so they couldn’t hurt him by leaving, but for my sanity, it was the only thing I could think to do. I pretended not to see the hurt in Skittles’ eyes. However, I wouldn’t change what I said, even if Pit punched me.

  “You know what, let’s give the kid what he wants,” Pit said, his expression cold. “Yo, since you want us to leave you alone, we’re out. Call us when you’re ready to grow the fuck up, find your balls, and want to face your demons because this pussy shit ain’t it.”

  He flexed his fists before he grabbed Skittles’ hand and pulled her along with him. “Wait, Pit. Hold on,” Skittles yelled as she twisted, trying to get out of his hold. “We can’t leave him like this.”

  “Yes, we can. You can’t always be his mother,” he said. “It’s time he figures this shit out on his own.”

  He pulled the front door open and left. I could still hear Skittles yelling at him as they hadn’t shut the door behind themselves when they left. I leaned back and blankly looked ahead.

  “Mr. Jensei?” Jazz slowly walked around the corner. Her curious gaze looking from where Skittles and Pit had left to me. “Are you okay?”

  Looking at her worried expression, I felt oddly less messed up. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

  “Who were they?” she asked as she walked deeper into the living room. My eyes were immediately drawn to every step she took in her tight leggings and the peek of stomach that flashed me from her crop top.

  “Friends. What are you doing?” I asked, trying to change the subject.

  She gave me a small smile. “Just looking around to get my bearings in your house.”

  “Why, when you’re only going to be here for a few days?” I said just to see the angry flush come to her skin.

  “Well, I believe I’ll be here a lot longer than that,” she said. I enjoyed watching her try to hold back her temper.

  I came to my feet and walked over to her. “There’s a difference between being positive and being delusional. We’ll figure out which one you are by next weekend,” I said, stopping in front of her.

  She lifted her chin. “We surely will.”

  I dropped my eyes to her lips. As if sensing danger, she deliberately put space between us and narrowed her eyes on me. “I’ll be continuing my tour of your house, please call me if you need anything.”

  I quirked a brow. “And what if I need you now?”

  She gave me an insincere smile. “I hope it’s for s
omething that’s covered in my job description.”

  Right as I was going to tell her just what type of job it was, the sound of her phone going off distracted her. She pulled her cell phone out.

  “Hello?”

  I frowned as she quickly left the living room. Shit. I couldn’t catch a break.

  I decided to go back to my room and get some more sleep before I fully committed to driving my bodyguard crazy. I walked over to the still-open front door and closed it, pushing what happened between me and Skittles to the back of my mind.

  I’d address it once I had my head straight. I just needed time.

  Chapter 13

  Heiress

  Jazz

  * * *

  “Hey, Julius, what’s up?”

  Julius was another cousin of mine who lived in the brownstone. He was a prosecutor who spent most of his time in his office located downtown. He also did some work for my uncle Carter under the table, but that was to be expected since he was part of the Liberiu family.

  “When are you coming by your office?” he asked.

  I entered my room and closed the door behind me. “I should be there tomorrow, why?”

  “Dutch told me you wanted to talk to me about Senator Harrison.”

  “Yeah, Clark has been sending me emails since I got back from Vegas about meeting the man and his son. I have little interest in doing anything involving him, but it’s a red flag, nonetheless. I need to know why he thinks my getting closer to the Harrisons will help him.”

  “Got it, I’ll come by your office. Can you let the others know I won’t be home for a while? Uncle Carter is going to be making moves soon against the Ripaldi family, which is going to increase the work I’ll have here at the office.”

  I laughed. “I’ll tell them, but you already know what Trisha’s going to say.”

  “The same shit she says all the time. That Uncle’s going to ruin my chance of ever meeting anyone and I’ll never get married. My chances are ruined even without him, my own work is time-consuming on its own.”

  “Completely agree, talk to you later.”

  “Yeah, see you tomorrow.”

  Finished talking with Julius, I tossed my phone onto my bed and looked over at the two suitcases that sat at the end of my bed that I needed to unpack. I walked over to them and grabbed one. I would put my things away and once done, I’d make something to eat.

  Since it was my second day on the job, Chelsea had let me know I could spend it getting comfortable with my surroundings.

  And since I was off tomorrow, I decided to take care of everything in-house today.

  * * *

  ***

  * * *

  A half an hour later my stomach felt like someone was pinching it. Placing the last of my folded clothes into the drawer, I decided to go make something to eat. Walking out into the hallway, the house was silent.

  Making my way toward the kitchen, I relaxed when I saw he wasn’t there. At least for a few minutes I wouldn’t have to deal with Tak’s advances and provocations. Entering the kitchen, I opened the fridge and looked over the items in there.

  Thinking it over, I decided to make pastrami sandwiches with a French onion soup dip. I took out the pastrami meat, mushrooms, provolone cheese, and an onion. Placing the ingredients on the counter, I walked over to the pantry and grabbed the hoagie bread out from where I’d squeezed it next to Tak’s large supply of Twinkies.

  My mouth watered as I thought of what it would taste like once I was done. I got to work and soon the smell of my French onion soup filled the kitchen, along with the pastrami sandwiches that were baking in the oven. Seeing that everything was cooking fine, I turned my attention to cleaning up after myself.

  Hearing someone enter the kitchen, I glanced up and frowned to see Tak hovering over my soup pot. “Do you need something, Mr. Tak.”

  “Oh, baby, no. Don’t call me that,” he said in a fake pained voice when he looked at me. He had gotten rid of the loose pajama pants and robe. Replacing them with a loose T-shirt and ripped jeans. “I’ve already reached thirty. I don’t need you adding years to me by calling me Mr. Anything.”

  “I’ll remember that,” I said, thinking that the man could make anything he said sound sarcastic.

  “What is this you made here?”

  “French onion soup,” I said, cleaning off the cutting board I’d used and placing it in the dish rack next to the sink. “It’s going with my pastrami sandwich.”

  “Mm, sounds good.” Tak walked over to the fridge and pulled open the door. He reached inside and took out a bottle of water. “Can you make me a plate too?”

  “There might not be enough,” I said to pay him back for tossing me in the pool. “And I’m not sure you’ll like it. Maybe you should order something instead.” I tried to maintain a polite expression.

  “Oh.” He turned away from the fridge and walked over to the stove and opened it. “Look what we have here, more than enough for us to share.” He looked back at me. “You weren’t planning on starving your kind boss, were you?”

  I didn’t even have the energy to roll my eyes. The word little and Tak shouldn’t even be in the same sentence. “No, the thought never crossed my mind.”

  Closing the oven, he walked over to my side and tapped my shoulder with his bottle of water. “Something tells me you’re being sarcastic.”

  I glanced at him. “You could tell?”

  A wolfish smile took over his face. “I like a woman with a talent for sarcasm, makes things interesting.”

  I swallowed, trying to keep my eyes above his collarbone as the smell of his cologne entered my nose. Dammit, he was too close. He stared into my eyes with those deep brown eyes of his, derailing my train of thought.

  I was angry and irritated with him. I had to remember this was the man who’d decided to make it his mission in life to get rid of me. I had to do something to break whatever was stirring up between us.

  “And I like a man who doesn’t throw me in a pool when we first meet,” I said, putting space between us. I walked around him over to the oven and turned it off. “The foods done.”

  I’d thought he’d go back to his room while I made his plate or at least leave the kitchen. Instead, he watched me move around the entire time. Just as I went to pick up two bowls, he asked me a question.

  “How old are you?”

  “Huh?”

  Tak

  * * *

  Watching Jazz move around the kitchen filled me with a strange sensation of warmth. I’d barely used it over the few years I’d lived here. Aside from hosting a few parties, and having Skittles over, the kitchen barely saw any action. Most of my meals were ordered from a health club in the city.

  She reached up and pulled an escaped lock of her short hair behind her ear. I’d pretended not to notice the pointed looks she’d been sending me since I’d taken up a permanent spot next to the counter. It was amusing to watch her try to hide her thoughts.

  It was obvious she wanted me to leave so she could finish making my plate without me observing her. The longer I watched the more curious I grew, which is why I blurted out such a random question.

  Recovering, she answered. “Twenty-nine, a few months behind you, I think.”

  She wasn’t that much younger than me.

  “Are you originally from Vander?” I asked watching her pick up the two bowls and place them next to the pot.

  She paused for a second. “No.”

  I tapped my index finger against the kitchen countertop. “Then where are you from?”

  “I was born near Bridge Lake,” she said as she finished pouring the soup into the bowls and set them down on the plates that held our sandwiches.

  “Oh, then you’re from the same town as me. We might have even met before.” I tried to think if I’d ever met a Ryland, but I gave up shortly after. For me, Bridge Lake was a place that held only dark memories.

  “I doubt it, I left and moved in with my aunt and uncle when I was a
teen.”

  Replacing the ladle into the pot, she then pushed one of the plates toward me.

  “Here you go, I hope you like it.”

  She picked up her plate and headed toward her room. I stepped in front of her. “You’re not planning on making me eat alone, are you?”

  Jazzy’s confused expression was starting to grow on me. “I… I wasn’t really planning anything. I was going to watch a movie and eat.”

  “Then let’s watch it together.” I took her plate and picked up my own. “Grab me a beer out of the fridge and let’s hang out.”

  Biting her bottom lip, she squinted her eyes in suspicion.

  Donning a phony innocent look, I said, “I promise I’m not up to anything. I just want to hang out with my new bodyguard. Is that so wrong?”

  “Again, the same bodyguard you’re trying to have fired by the end of the week,” she said, sounding skeptical.

  “Look, would you join me if I said I promise to not pull anything tonight in exchange for your cooking for me?”

  I could see the cogs working behind those lovely brown eyes before she finally answered. “Fine, I’ll hang out with you, but only if you agree that I can punch you if you try anything.”

  “Agreed,” I said. Those delicate little hands of hers probably hurt a lot less than taking a punch from Luke.

  “Cool, let’s do it then.” She gave me a bright smile.

  I pretended my stomach hadn’t tightened the minute I saw it. I turned around and walked toward the entertainment room on my side of the house. I heard the fridge door open, followed by a clinking sound before she followed behind me.

  “What movie were you planning on watching?” I asked when she reached my side.

  “Dawn Of The Dead, I’ve been really into zombie movies lately.”

  An hour later as a rotting corpse limped across my flat screen and our dishes sat empty at our feet, Jazz cuddled into my side completely knocked out. Her nose wrinkled every time one of the characters released a high-pitched scream. Instead of waking up, she simply snuggled closer to me.