Tak: The A**hole Club Series

by Ivy Harper

  “Yeah, go ahead,” I answered. More than excited to hear them play some more.

  A mischievous look entered his eyes before he bent down and brushed his lips against my cheek. The following silence after Tak’s bold move could be cut with a knife. I stood stiff and tense as he tossed his towel into my hands and went back into the studio room.

  I could feel the sting of everyone’s eyes on me. I turned around and found myself stared at by everyone in the room. All of them wore different expressions of shock.

  Ark looked at me as he walked back into the studio. Followed by a wide-eyed Jay and a head-shaking Omar.

  I dropped my eyes to my feet and walked over to the corner, retaking my seat. Ignoring the fiery glare from Chelsea. I wasn’t in a relationship with Tak.

  I wasn’t.

  Tak

  * * *

  “How long are you going to bully the poor girl?” Chelsea asked as she followed me into my bedroom.

  I tossed my sweaty shirt into the laundry basket.

  “I don’t know what you mean,” I said, feigning ignorance as I walked into my bathroom.

  The session had been longer than usual. It’d been too long since the last time we’d rehearsed. And for once, there hadn’t been any drama to make it tense.

  “I wasn’t born yesterday,” Chelsea said.

  I stuck my head out of the bathroom. “It’s not bullying if she likes it.”

  She shot me a look. “Does she? You’re willing to threaten her contract with you?”

  “What makes you think I care about that?” I asked. Stepping out of the bathroom with a towel around my waist. “I’ve never ignored a woman’s open arms, but if you’re afraid I’ll jump her. I won’t.”

  “I know, but kissing, touching, and giving her those hot looks. You’re not fooling anyone, you like her.” She shot me a curious look. “Not that I can think of why. What changed between you two?”

  I shrugged. It wasn’t really any of her business. I mean, no matter what I said it wouldn’t make sense. Jazz had this air about her like an R & B song that rocked me to sleep.

  Her presence calmed me. Even when my hands itched to try another pill, I’d hold back imagining her face. Sure, I didn’t want to grow attached, but something told me I already was.

  It was hard as fuck trying to balance my own nature with the desire I had for Jazz, but either way I didn’t want her to go anywhere. The idea of losing her brought forth this uncomfortable sensation in my chest, like something was pressing on it. However, I also didn’t want a babysitter.

  “Nothing, I’m just enjoying Kole’s gift. What’s the problem?”

  Chelsea glowered at me. “You’ve broken a lot of hearts and I usually don’t care, but I like Jazz. She’s a good kid, so if you’re going to do anything make sure you don’t force me to play the bad guy again.”

  “I promise not to make you play the bad guy. If it gets out of hand, I’ll end it on my own.”

  She weighed me with her hard stare before she turned to walk out of my room. “Good, because if you do, I’ll have your ass and you’ll have my two weeks’ notice. Now hurry up and get ready.”

  I watched her go, thinking over what she’d said. Hearing my phone buzzing on my dresser, I walked over and picked it up. “Hello?”

  “Yo, good news is, we got a lead. Bad news is, he’s dead,” Pit answered on the other line.

  “Dammit.” The fuck was it with my luck lately.

  “Yeah, and get this. He worked for your label.”

  I wanted to be surprised, but I wasn’t. “What was his name?”

  “Bradley Jones, he worked in your HR department. They paid his ass a grip to come for you,” Pit said.

  I closed my eyes briefly and pinched my brow. “Was he the only one?”

  “The cameras showed two others, but it’s been a bitch trying to get info on them. So far, only got information on the one,” he started to say when he was interrupted by something crashing in the background, followed by a man’s scream. “Shut that shit up,” Pit shouted before turning his attention back to me.

  He quickly relayed all the information I’d learned from Chelsea before telling me something I didn’t know. “From everything I’ve found this is starting to smell more and more like a professional hit. Someone with some money wants you gone. Whose Cheerios did you shit in?”

  “Fuck if I know, I’ve been living a peacefully high existence. Shit, I haven’t even fucked since before Vegas.”

  I wasn’t lying, I’d kept to myself over the last two years. Aside from spending time with the crew and Skittles, I’d been pretty quiet.

  “Right, well, I’m going to look into the other dude. I have Roman looking into the money trail and once I find something, I’ll contact you.”

  “Got it.”

  The line went dead. Thinking over what Pit told me, I decided to grab a shower and figure out what my next step would be to get my hands on the fucker after my life.

  Chapter 33

  The Past

  Jazz

  * * *

  I stared at myself in the mirror. My human-hair wig had been done in wavy curls that reached the middle of my back. The makeup was elegant and highlighted my gray eyes.

  Only three days ago, I’d been basking in Rejected One. After that I hadn’t thought it would be so easy to sit back in this chair and go back to being an heiress.

  “You look good as always,” Aaron said from the doorway behind me.

  I turned around in my vanity chair and watched as he swaggered into my dressing room. He wore a tailored suit and leather shoes that had been polished to perfection and his hair had been freshly cut. I stood up, the Dolce and Gabbana black-lace heels holding my feet comfortably. I gently straightened my black cocktail dress, avoiding the row of gold buttons running down the front of it.

  “Forgive me for not thanking you for your compliment.” I made my way toward the door, stopping by his side on the way I gave him a dirty look. “Make sure you remember I’m only giving into you because of that picture. The minute you misplace it, I’ll make you regret threatening me.”

  “Oh, that’s a scary look. Don’t worry,” Aaron said. “I wouldn’t ruin the only thing I have to put a leash on you.”

  I offered him an unfriendly smile and looked at the breast pocket of his coat. “Don’t get too cocky. I know a bit more about you than you think. Maybe you should start thinking about the things in your life you don’t want anyone to know.”

  I walked past him and into the hallway of the house I’d sworn never to return to. The mansion was a visual representation of my father’s desire for attention. Garish and over the top.

  A display of his self-conscious need to show off his money. As I walked down the hallway, I passed overpriced paintings and ornate statues with missing limbs. For my father and his wife, everything they stuffed into their home was a show of wealth and power.

  I saw it for what it was. A desperate ploy to demonstrate their wealth to the top one percent. The entire house smelled of nouveau riche desires.

  They were frantic to stay in this world of gilded gold and money. Sadly, they didn’t know they’d already lost the game from the beginning.

  I reached the top of the steps and immediately felt the wave of attention from the people below. The look in their eyes a little too much like a starving hyena. I lifted a hand and thoughtfully flicked the end of one of the heavy gold earrings. I descended the staircase and spotted my father surrounded by his usual sycophants.

  He stood near the back by the refreshment table with my stepmother. She was lovely as usual, wearing the latest Siriano creation. Her figure was slim and tight.

  Upon first meeting her, it was hard for others to believe she’d given birth to two kids and was swiftly approaching her fiftieth birthday. When her gaze landed on me, she smiled. I didn’t bother hiding my own distaste when she grabbed my wrist. After all, if a family wasn’t dysfunctional, could it call itself normal in this circle?
/>   “My dear, Alicia. We were just talking about you?”

  The only reason I didn’t shake off her hand was because of the people around us. She drew me closer to the circle. The few people that had been huddling around had already scurried off and it was only Senator Harrison, his son and a man I didn’t recognize still there.

  “I’ll be in touch with you at a later date,” the stranger said, handing my father a card. I barely got a glance of it before my father took it and placed it inside his suit pocket.

  “I’m sure,” my father, Clark said with a slight frown.

  Without another word, the man left. For a moment, I watched him go, wondering who he was. My focus moved away from his retreating form when my stepmother’s voice drew my attention back to Senator Harrison and his son.

  I only remembered him due to my father’s constant push for me to meet him. “This is Gerald. Your father was telling him about your time as an exchange student in Spain.”

  Spain? Right, I’d gone there for a month when my father had started pushing for me to move back in with him. After realizing I had no intention of playing nice with his bastards and whore wife, he stopped. Unfortunately for Gerald, my stepmother had lied to him about why I went to Spain.

  “Yes, and what did you tell him?” I asked. “I hope none of my embarrassing stories.”

  “She told me you spent more time on the beach than in the classroom. There’s nothing embarrassing about that,” Gerald cut in.

  I finally gave him my full attention and in response he offered me a smile. It was one filled with privilege and probably the cocky belief he was the most handsome man in the room. It was a smile that stirred up an old memory of mine.

  “Did you use to go to Bridge Lake High?”

  Gerald’s expression turned thoughtful. “Yeah, how’d you know?”

  I managed to keep my expression pleasant as I asked, “Did you go to prom?”

  He laughed, shaking his head. “No, actually at that time me and a few of my idiot friends decided to prank a few girls. Instead of meeting them at the dance we all skipped and went to Ol’ Ren’s to bowl and hang out. I sometimes wonder whether they went or not.”

  “Well, I can clear that up for you. I did go to the prom. Of course, once I realized that you asking me was nothing more than a prank, I left,” I said and enjoyed watching the confusion take over his face.

  “What?”

  “You said you wondered if the girls you asked to go to prom actually went,” I explained as his face slowly drained of color.

  “You must’ve forgotten my name, Alicia Roarke. At the time most people called me Alice or Weirdo Alice. I liked coloring my hair a variety of shades then and I wore thick glasses. Probably why your crew thought I’d be an easy target to prank.”

  Gerald looked from me to his father, who looked like he’d just eaten a bitter fruit.

  “This must be destiny. If I’d known you and Gerald knew each other, I would have sent you an invitation for his return party. He just got back from closing a major deal with a large production company in China,” Senator Harrison said, his smile tense. “Maybe the two of you can catch up with each other. Seeing as how you used to be classmates.”

  “Yes, it’s been almost fourteen years since you guys went to school together. Why don’t the two of you go off and talk some more,” my father added, sending me a warning look. It was clear he wanted me to stop talking and kiss ass already. I wasn’t interested.

  “No, I think it’d be better for me to get some air. It feels a bit stuffy.”

  Without another word, I walked away. I zeroed in on the farthest corner of the ballroom. I was halfway there when someone grabbed my arm, stopping my escape.

  “Whoa there. You’re not planning on running away, are you?” Aaron said as he walked around me to block my path. I curled my fingers into a fist, trying to control the urge to punch him.

  “Let go.”

  Apparently, seeing the anger on my face, he released my arm. “Okay, okay, but you can’t leave yet.”

  “And why can’t I?”

  “Because he made a bet with his loser friends that you would come. If you leave now, he’ll lose money,” Gloria, my half sister said as she approached us.

  She wore a green gown that was slit high on her right thigh. Her light golden skin matched perfectly with her gold jewelry and gold heels. Aaron shot her an annoyed look.

  Gloria ignored it as she continued. “I told him it was a stupid idea and a waste of time.”

  “And I told you to mind your business,” Aaron retorted.

  “What you’re doing is my business.” Gloria looked from him to me. “I think we’re the only two who can see just how ridiculous our family is. Right, sister?”

  “I would first have to think of us as a family.”

  A cool look of amusement covered Glorias face. “Is that so? Well, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. It’s not like I don’t already know how you think. You’re the real thing and we’re nothing more than fakes, dressed up to look rich in the eyes of the people here.”

  “I don’t think your fake,” I said. “I actually don’t spend too much time thinking about you two at all.”

  And it was the truth. I’d much rather spend my time thinking about my cousins or Rejected One. I held little interest in my two half-siblings.

  Aaron liked flaunting his father’s money around. Nothing but greed and the fear of it all ending filled him. He had no talents—and if he had them—living in his father’s shadow had choked them out.

  Gloria was different. She was shrewd enough to build her own business and join a circle of like-minded women business owners.

  “You’re both nothing more than the result of a man who can’t keep his word.” I looked from them to their parents. “I know where to place my hate, trust me.”

  “You should really move on,” Gloria said. “Isn’t it time you let it go. It isn’t like Dad killed your mom. She had an accident and honestly holding this grudge against him won’t get you anything except disappointment.”

  I didn’t say anything, only looked at her. I made sure she could see all the hate and anger inside of me. She blanched and Aaron stepped in front of her as if to protect her. Seeing this, I looked away.

  I spoke softly, so only they could hear me. “Those who are uninvolved should keep their opinions to themselves.” My stomach tightened from the amount of bitter bile that filled it. “This is more than hate. I don’t need the children of an adulterer to tell me how to feel. My kindness is the only reason you have what you have.”

  I turned on my heels and walked away. I didn’t stop until I reached the veranda doors. I pushed them open and the minute I stepped outside, I felt like I could breathe again.

  The black sky spilled out before me and the lights of Vander City lit the world at my feet. I focused on breathing through the swirling mass of anger and hate pulsing inside me.

  “Let it go?” I repeated in disbelief.

  I stared down into the yard of this lavish house my father had bought for his whore. He’d taken money my mother had given him out of love and thrown pearls before swine. While treating his actual family like they were maggots at his feet.

  Yelling and arguing with my mother to release him from their marriage as if she’d been the one who’d asked to marry him. He’d pushed and pushed her until she ended up nothing more than a broken doll at the bottom of the steps of our home.

  I would never forgive him. One day, I would rip everything he loved from his hands and laugh. I would drag the entire Bennington family down to Hell, but it wasn’t time yet.

  I needed to first finish dealing with Tak’s problem. Once I’d finished with that then I’d turn my attention back to my father. For now, I would let Clark Bennington roll in his arrogance and false pride like a pig, before I took it all away.

  I calmed down and fixed my dress. Soon my father would pay for everything he’d done and more. I just needed to bide my time and patiently wait f
or the chance to reveal everything about him to the public and put a final nail in his coffin.

  Chapter 34

  Pleasant Vibe

  Tak

  * * *

  The sound of the door opening reached me from my seat on the couch. I’d spent my time thinking over who could hate me enough to want to kill me. I soon realized the list was fucking long.

  At some point, I’d gotten up to get a beer, hoping it would dull the oncoming headache. It didn’t. After a few minutes passed and I hadn’t written down another name to my list, I realized I was waiting for Jazz.

  The mansion felt empty without her there. Jazz had asked for this Friday off from Chelsea and I hadn’t thought anything of it. However, I wished I’d told her ass to stay home.

  I’d told myself I wasn’t growing attached, but knowing Jazz was about to come through the door filled me with relief. She entered the living room, her short curly hair a mess around her head as she snuck in. I watched in amusement as she stopped to undo her heels and take them off.

  Seeing the high heels in her hands caught me off guard. I’d only ever seen her wear those ugly flat sensible shoes. I was irritated that I’d missed the sight of her lovely ass swaying back and forth above those tall daggers.

  She released a low moan of relief as she rolled her ankles. Her tight black cocktail dress was pretty nice and hugged her curves. Immediately, I wondered who’d she’d met in such a nice dress. I felt like I’d eaten shit.

  “Looks like you had fun.”

  She jumped and whipped around. “Shit, Tak.” She pressed her hand against her chest. “What are you doing hiding in the dark?”

  I covered my mouth so she wouldn’t see the shit eating grin I wore. Some of my earlier annoyance melted away seeing her disgruntled face.

  “I wanted to test my bodyguard’s reflexes.”

  She rolled her eyes, walking toward her wing. “I don’t know how you say half the shit you do with a straight face.”