by T. L Smith
“How are you feeling today?” Noah asks, nodding to my shoulder.
“I’ll be fine.”
“Good to hear. Because the station has already called asking when you’re going to be there.”
My phone starts ringing. I didn’t even realize I had it with me.
“Noah grabbed it,” Rhianna says at my look of confusion.
Picking it up, I answer the call. “August, oh, good. I’ve been calling, but you haven’t been picking up,” Paige says. “Are you at Rhianna’s?”
“Yes.”
“I’m at the door.”
I hear a knock, and Rylee opens the door to her brother and Paige standing there. Paige runs inside and wraps her arms around my waist, hugging me tight.
“Where does your father think you are?”
“With Beckham,” she says, pulling back. “Technically, I am. I am not lying.”
“You shouldn’t be here.” I look over to Beckham who’s talking to Rylee. “Take her home.”
Beckham glances at Paige. “I told her she wasn’t allowed to come. Her father even said so,” he states, making my eyes go to Paige.
“This is what got you into trouble last time.” She glances down at my words, avoiding eye contact. “Take her home, Beckham,” I tell him. “I’ll call you later, Paige.”
She nods and says no more, then marches out with Beckham.
“That was a little harsh,” Rhianna says.
I ignore her and ask Noah, “Should we go now?”
“Yeah, if you’re ready.”
My answer is a nod.
Once we get to the parking lot, I watch Paige get into her boyfriend’s car and drive away.
“You can ride with me,” Rylee says, coming up behind me.
“No.”
“You will ride with me, August Trouble. Get in my fucking car. Now. So we can talk.” I hear a faint giggle and know it’s her sister, so I sigh and get in. When we’re both buckled in, she starts the car and takes off with a squeal of her wheels.
“What do you want to talk about?” I ask, checking her out in my peripheral vision, while both of her hands are on the steering wheel and she’s clenching it tightly.
“I want to know what the fuck is going on. Tell me… who those men were, and why they were at your house.”
I scrub my hand down my face.
Fuck! I’m still so tired, even if it was one of the best night’s sleep I’ve had in a long time, lying next to her. I wonder if it was her bed or her.
“What?”
“Why did those men come into your house? Were they going to kill you?” she asks, her knuckles now white as she grasps the steering wheel.
“No. They came to hurt me. Scare me into doing what Josh wants me to do.”
Her eyes flick to me. “Josh, the guy from the bar? What’s he got to do with anything?”
“Yes, him. He runs the drugs in this city. No one can sell without going through him for product. There are other things he does, too.”
“Did you deal?”
“Yes, amongst other things.”
She nods at my answer. “Thank you for that. Now… tell me… what does he want you to do?”
“He wants me to work for him…” I pause as we pull up to the police station. “He also wanted to teach me a lesson for the last time I told him no.” She takes a heavy breath. “I ended up in prison,” I say while getting out and shutting the door and rushing off.
Before I reach the steps, she runs up beside me then blocks my way. “He set you up?”
“Of course he did.”
“You never robbed that store? Stole all that money? Hurt that man?”
“No. I was there, but no, I didn’t do any of that shit.”
“I believe you.” She says the words with such conviction and without a shred of evidence. Not once have I had someone believe in me so blindly—simply by my word. I’m not sure what to do with that.
“Thanks,” I manage to say. I push past her then head up the stairs to the police station.
I didn’t find out about the man who was robbed being seriously hurt until it was too late. But the biggest crime was destroying the property of someone wealthy and connected, plus stealing. Even though my fingerprints were on nothing, it didn’t seem to matter.
Josh had set me up.
I had to pay the price.
It was his punishment for me wanting to get out of this town and to stop working for him. The asshole didn’t like that I wanted out. I always managed to get the best outcomes for Josh from all his workers. His dealers never turned me down when it came to paying. And he’s now lost his edge since I’ve been gone. Not many people are scared of him now. He’s getting older, and the police are getting wiser.
“August.” I turn and look down at her. She’s standing at the bottom of the steps, staring up at me. “I like you,” she whispers, but I can hear every word she says. “No more friends.”
Before I can reply, Glenn steps in front of me. “Good to see you’re here.” He nods and holds open the door for me.
And with that, I look away from her, and it pains me to do so.
Noah pulls up to my place and parks the car in the driveway.
“She cares for you, you know.”
“I know,” I say, getting out.
I’m tired.
I’m over today.
Questions, questions, and more fucking questions. I fucking hate it. Last time, before they threw me away, there was no chance of them believing me. So my hope is slim that somehow I won’t become the bad guy in this situation too, even though they broke into my house.
“Get off the floor.”
She spins on her hands and knees then squeals.
Fuck, probably shouldn’t have snuck up on her like that.
“August, you scared me.”
“Yeah, well, you shouldn’t be on the fucking floor.” She gets up and wipes her hands on her skirt.
“I wanted to clean the mess. Noah said you’d be gone all day. I figured you didn’t want to deal with this bullshit as well.”
I’ve never had someone care so much for me, so much so that I take a step back from her. She sees what I do and steps closer. Not caring that I‘m trying to put distance between us at all.
“You’ve never had anyone help you, or even been in a relationship, have you?”
“No, and I don’t want one.”
“They can be good.”
“And you’re speaking from experience?” I bite back at her.
She takes that hit hard and steps back. “I may be the stupid one who stayed in a relationship that was well past its end date, but at least I tried. I tried to give myself to someone, to love them, because as humans we all need love, August.”
“Not everyone.”
Rylee’s eyes are hard as she steps up to me, until her feet are touching my shoes, and reaches for my face, pulling it so we’re at eye level.
I let her.
“Yes, even you. You need it more than anyone I’ve ever met.” She lets go and reaches for her shoes, slips them on, and steps off past me. “Goodnight, August. If you need me, you know where I live.”
I watch her walk out and drive away.
After she’s gone, I check around and note that she has cleaned the house. You can’t even tell that blood coated my entryway any longer.
Goddammit.!
I slam the door shut and punch the wall. Hard as fuck.
Chapter 21
Rylee
“Move over,” a deep voice rumbles next to me.
I open my eyes, but my room is dark. I know who it is straight away, though. His smell envelops me, and his hands wrap around my mid-section, putting me at ease with his touch.
“August,” I say, but he doesn’t say anything back, just pulls me to him. I go because I can’t think of a better place to be than wrapped in his arms. My head lies on his chest as his hand plays circles on my back. “Are you sore?” I ask him, my eyes lifting to his other shoulder
where I know he was hurt.
“Only a little,” he finally says.
I sit up and flick the lamp on next to the bed so I can see him. August isn’t wearing his shirt and only has on a pair of boxers. I reach my hand down and touch his taut stomach, and his eyes close for a brief second before they open again, staring at me.
“What are you doing to me?”
I don’t think he realizes he’s voiced those words out loud. I stand and drop my nightgown to the floor, and his eyes trace every part of me, watching me eagerly but not once moving. His eyes are drunk on me.
“When your hands touch me, it makes me feel alive,” I tell him.
Stepping to his side of the bed, I reach for his hand and place it on my stomach.
“Even the simplest touch.” I drop my hand, but his hand stays where it is. I watch him draw circles on my skin before his hand drops between my legs, tracing me.
“You don’t want this,” he says, but his hands don’t leave my body. “It would be a grave mistake to want more from me.” His finger enters me and slides back out. “You’re the rich girl from the right side of the tracks. I will be your worst mistake.”
“Or my favorite one yet,” I reply as his fingers grip my waist. I climb on his lap, and he grips me tighter. “Tell me, August, do you feel anything when I touch you?”
He stays silent as I watch him. I wait, not daring to breathe.
I’m eager for his words.
Hungry for them.
He never minces his words with me. It’s one of the things I like about him.
“You don’t want my words, rich girl. You want my body.”
“I want both. Now, tell me the truth… stop hiding behind them.”
He sits up fast, his chest coming into contact with mine as his hands wrap around my back, making it difficult for even a slither of air to come between us. He leans forward so our lips are almost within reach. “When you touch me, rich girl, all my pain is gone. It’s like it never existed. And you make me feel whole again.” I gasp at his words. “Is that what you want? You want me to become that person? One who tells you all those things?”
“No, I like you the way you are. But sometimes…” I lean forward, placing a soft kiss on his lips, “… it’s nice to know I’m not on this rollercoaster alone.” I kiss him with full force, passionate and strong, and he lets me. Not once does he pull back, and I try to be careful that I don’t hurt his shoulder when I touch him.
August moans into my mouth, and I push up on him until he reaches between us and positions himself right where I need him.
“Dangerous game,” he whispers as I lower myself onto him.
“All the best games are,” I murmur back.
August isn’t next to me when I wake. My bed is empty, and standing at my door is Rhianna. She holds two cups of coffee in her hands.
“You two were noisy last night. At least now I know we have that in common as well.” She laughs, stepping in and handing me a mug. I sit, taking the drink from her. “He had to leave with Noah to finalize some things. And you, missy, have to go to work. Dad called for you.”
“Shit.” I check the time and see it's way past the time I’m meant to start. I’m late. I’m never late. “Was he mad?” I ask, running around and reaching for the closest clothes I can find.
“No. He was worried.”
I’m over two hours late, that’s not like me. Ever. I slept hard. I haven’t slept in for so long, and it felt so good.
The door opens, and Rhi turns and moves out of the way and heads into the bathroom as August strolls in. I smile as I pull on my blouse and throw around a few things in my closet trying to find an appropriate pair of shoes. “I have to get to work. I’m late,” I tell him.
August folds his arms over his chest, leans back against the door, and watches me run around getting dressed. I manage to throw my hair up in a presentable bun as I slide my heels on.
“Do you have plans today? Maybe we can do lunch?” I ask August, making him scrunch his nose up.
There’s a knock on the front door. We both turn to look, but I can’t see the door from my room, though August can. He instantly straightens, his arms falling to his sides. I step past him to see Anderson standing there, his eyes landing on August then falling to me.
“Rylee.” Noah turns to me, having answered the door, as my sister steps out of the bathroom.
“Oh, hell no. You should know better than to come to my house, you fuckhead,” she screams.
“Rylee, it’s Catrina,” he says.
“What’s wrong?”
“She had a heart attack. Can you come?”
August’s hand reaches out and captures mine.
Anderson’s eyes drop to the movement.
Catrina is Anderson’s grandmother, and she’s a good woman. Unlike his own mother. Anderson’s eyes are red, which they should be.
“Is she okay?” I ask because I do care. I like her—a lot. I have always had time for her.
“No. They don’t think she’ll make it another hour.”
“Then, why are you here?” Rhianna snaps.
I pull my arm free of August’s hold and reach for my keys.
“She asked for Rylee,” he says simply.
“Don’t…” August says next to me.
I turn to August and see him watching Anderson.
“I’m coming.” I don’t look back as I walk out the door because I don’t want to see the look of disappointment on any of their faces.
When we get to our cars, Anderson holds open the passenger door of his car.
“I should take my own car.”
“Please, just get in. I’m tired, Rylee.”
I nod, not wanting to argue with him. If his grandmother is dying, the last thing he would want to do is argue with me. So, I slide in, and he starts driving.
“How’s your mother?”
“Why was August Trouble at your house?” he replies, his hands squeezing the steering wheel.
“What? You don’t get to ask that! Anderson, how’s your mother?” I ask again.
“Do you take me for a fool?” he spits, and it’s then I note he’s not driving the right way to the hospital.
“Anderson,” I say, reaching for my phone in my bag. He snatches it from my hand and throws it in the back seat.
“You can’t call him to come to your rescue. He is scum. The things he used to do. How could you associate yourself with someone like that?” he says almost calmly. “You were meant to be my wife…” now his voice is rising to almost a scream, “… and now you make me look like trash.” He keeps on driving. Speeding down the street. My anxiety level rising with each second that passes.
“Where are we going?” My hands are shaking, and my eyes seem to be skirting around, trying to work out a way out of this situation I now find myself in. If I open the door, I could jump, but the car’s going fast and the outcome might not be good.
“To make you remember you love me, and we are it for each other.”
“Anderson, pull over. Let me out of this car right now.”
“No can do, Rylee. You’re mine, and you’re delusional if you think you belong to someone else. I let you have your fun with the trash, now it can take itself out, and you can come back home with me, where you were meant to be all along.”
He turns down a dirt path.
I know instantly where he’s taking me, to the place where I lost my virginity to him. It was a terrible night. I wasn’t ready. And now when I look back, I can see he pressured me into it.
How very different the two men are.
Here I was, throwing myself at August and he respectfully waited.
Where Anderson pressures me into things, like right now. He’s lying to get what he wants.
His hand touches my thigh and I jump, pushing his hand away, almost swatting it like a fly.
“Where is your girlfriend? You should be with her, Anderson.”
“She isn’t my girlfriend. You are,” he says
the last two words through gritted teeth.
His hair’s a mess. I assumed it was because he was upset, but now I realize it was all a ploy. I see his phone is sitting between us.
“I am not your girlfriend. We don’t work, Anderson. You cheated every chance you got. I was unhappy and going through the motions with you. Don’t you think we deserve more? You could be happy with someone else.”
“No. You’re what makes me happy.”
“Happy people don’t cheat, Anderson,” I tell him as he slows the car down.
“Is that what it will take? For me not to cheat?” he asks, glancing my way. “I’ll do it, but that means you will have to fuck me more, Rylee. Stop pushing me away.”
“That’s not what I meant, and you know it. I don’t want you.”
“You want him,” he growls. “Prison’s trash.”
The car comes to a stop, and he unlocks the door, getting out. As soon as he does, I reach for my bag, knocking his phone into it. I open my door and start sprinting. It's muddy because it rained last night, and because I’m in heels my feet keep slipping.
I hear him laugh behind me.
“I like to play catch and fuck. Is this what this is, Rylee? A new game? This is why I love you. You are always coming up with new things.”
I gasp as I try to catch my breath and keep going. I reach for his phone in my bag and try to remember August’s number without Anderson seeing what I’m doing. He answers, and just as he does, I’m tackled from behind and fall head-first into the mud. It covers my face and knocks the wind out of me as well. His laugh is the first thing I hear when I can’t hear anything other than my own breathing and a ringing in my ears.
“How do you want it?” he asks, tearing at my shirt.
“Get the hell off me,” I scream.
He leans down and comes close to my ear. “I’ll get off on you, then in you, then maybe I’ll christen your ass as well.”
I scream but it’s useless.
We’re out in the middle of nowhere, and unless it’s nighttime and the teenagers want to get lucky, no one comes out here during the day.
