Damage Control

by M. S. Parker

  “Tell me.”

  I couldn’t, another moan choking out the words.

  He caught my wrists and dragged them from his hair, pinning them next to my hips. “Tell me what you want, baby. Do you want my mouth on you?”

  “Yes…please…fuck…yes. Your mouth, your tongue…you.”

  He flicked his tongue over me again, raked my clitoris with his teeth.

  Then he pushed two fingers inside me and pressed up.

  I came in a rush, startled by the suddenness of it.

  He was inside me before it was over, the thickness of his cock stretching me.

  “Look at me,” he said, tangling his hands in my hair and arching my head back.

  Blindly, I stared at him, whimpering as he twisted his hips and sent the head of his cock sliding and rubbing over my G-spot. Grabbing for him, I clutched at his sides, my nails sinking in deep.

  “I don’t want to think about being without you,” he said against my lips, only a second before he kissed me.

  I caught the words, clung to them. I wanted to ask him what it meant – did it mean anything at all?

  But he was stealing the breath and soul from me, riding me fast and I couldn’t think, couldn’t breathe.

  “Come for me, Piety…come.”

  Like I had any other choice.

  We lay curled against each other, the room dim and quiet, sweat drying on our bodies as we stared at each other in silence.

  It should have been awkward.

  There were no words spoken, nothing that I could think needed to be said in that very moment.

  I’d come to need him and it could either be the best thing that had ever happened…or the very stupidest thing I’d ever done.

  I didn’t know.

  But right then, I didn’t care.

  Snuggling in closer, I rested my head on his shoulder and sighed in satisfaction as he curled his arm around my shoulders.

  The silence, warm and comfortable as it was, stretched out, but it couldn’t last forever.

  Finally, Kaleb said, “We need to talk.”

  “I know.” Rubbing my cheek against his chest, I slid my hand up, then down his abdomen. Muscles jumped and clenched under my touch. Lifting up, I stared down in his eyes. “But do we have to do it now?”

  “No.” He cupped my cheek. I felt him kiss the top of my head. “We don’t have to do it now.”

  “Good. Because I’m not ready to.”

  “Me neither.”

  Nineteen

  Kaleb

  The earth had moved. Okay, maybe not literally.

  It wasn’t like there was an earthquake shaking Las Vegas.

  But as I laid there with Piety wrapped around me, I understood why some people talked about how being with a certain person made their entire world shake under their feet.

  She’d changed something in me.

  She’d changed me.

  I don’t know if this was what it was like to fall in love – maybe it was the start of it. Maybe it was something else entirely.

  I don’t know, but things felt…different.

  And I couldn’t tell her any of it.

  Whatever it was between us, it was only temporary, and I would be an idiot to think otherwise.

  Maybe I was an idiot anyway because instead of keeping whatever distance between us I could, all I wanted to do was grab up every second possible.

  My hand was in her hair, and I could feel her breasts moving against me with every breath.

  Nothing had ever felt so good in my life. Her hair was silky smooth, her body was soft and warm.

  “What are you thinking about?” she asked, her voice drowsy and soft.

  “The same thing I think about a lot these days,” I replied.

  “Your sister.” There was a world of understanding in her voice.

  I should have felt more than a little guilty.

  Camry should be on my mind.

  She wasn’t though, until now.

  But the guilt I knew I should feel wouldn’t rise and rear its ugly head. It would later, but for now, the only head rising was the one that had been driving me crazy around Piety almost from the get-go. Turning toward her, I met Piety’s eyes. “I’m thinking about you.”

  She pushed up onto her elbow and looked at me. “Really?” There was no surprise in her voice. She had a smile on her face that I’ve seen on my own more than once lately.

  “Yeah. I like thinking about you.”

  She laughed, and the sound was bubbly and soft. “I like thinking about you too.”

  There were a hundred other things I wanted to say, but before I had the chance to put even the first one into words, my cell buzzed, letting me know I had a call.

  Sighing, I reached for it.

  It showed only a number, but I recognized it. Setting my jaw, I answered, careful to keep my voice neutral.

  Stefano’s voice was lazy, arrogant in a way. Nobody will tell me no, he seemed to think. “Dude. Kaleb, you don’t sound too happy to hear from me. Why is that?”

  Because now I’m thinking about you instead of the woman in bed with me, I thought. I didn’t say it though. “Don’t know what you mean, Stefano. It’s a delight to hear your voice.”

  “Yeah, it shows.” He laughed, amused. “Look, I was just…you know, checking in. Wanted to make sure you hadn’t thought about taking off and leaving your sister to hold the bag. You wouldn’t want to do that, would you? Leave your sister holding the bag?”

  Fury flooded me. I fought the need to hit something – like Stefano’s face.

  “I don’t plan on leaving her, Stefano. I’m working on the problem.”

  “So you’ve found a way to come up with the rest of the money you owe me?”

  The money I owe you? He was unbelievable. It was some made up figure he’d foisted off on me and now…

  Slowly, I sat up, easing away from Piety and staring at the wall as I willed myself to stay calm.

  Completely unaware, Stefano continued to talk. “See, you better work fast. Otherwise, the price will just keep going up and up.”

  “I want to see my sister.” My eyes burned, and the fury bubbled in me like acid. “I want to see my sister and make sure she’s okay before this goes any further.”

  “Nah, that ain’t going to happen,” Stefano said confidently.

  “Then…” I sucked in a breath, blew it out through my teeth. “You know what? Fuck you. You’ve got my sister dancing like a puppet on your strings, but I’m not your puppet, Stefano. I’ll help her, but I want to make sure she’s okay first. If you can’t make that happen, then shove that money I gave you up your arse and don’t expect to see a penny more.”

  I disconnected the call, feeling sick as I rubbed my shaking hands over my face, wondering how bad I’d just fucked things up.

  “What did I do?” I whispered.

  Turning to look at Piety, I said it again. I tried to stay level, but it came out as a shout. “What the fuck did I just do?”

  She rose from the bed and came to me, reaching up to cup my face in her hands.

  “I think…” she said slowly. “You did exactly what you had to.”

  “No, I…I…” A torrent of disjointed words came bubbling out, and she leaned in, kissing me softly.

  “You did what you had to. You want to make sure he’s not screwing you over, and you want her safe. If that’s her pimp, then that’s what they do. He’ll push you as far as he knows he can push you. You just made it damn clear you’re nothing like your sister.”

  She sounded calm, strangely grounded, and I felt like I’d explode into a thousand sharp, jagged bits.

  I went to say…something.

  The words died as the phone rang. I went to grab it, but my fumbling fingers knocked it to the floor. I didn’t answer until the third ring. “Yes.”

  Stefano was laughing. “Well, I’ll say this, mate…you’ve got balls. Tell you what. I’ll let you see your sister. Then you pay me my money.”

  �
��I’ve still got to collect it,” I said, my mouth going dry. I’d see Camry, know she was okay.

  “That’s fine, that’s fine. But you keep this shit up, boy? And the price will continue to rise. You got me?”

  “I got it.” Swiping the back of my hand over my forehead, I looked at Piety.

  She met my eyes, a steadying influence.

  “Where do you want to meet?” I asked. “Somewhere public. No offense, but I’d rather swim bloody and mangled with a great white than be someplace private with you.”

  “Aw, I’m hurt, Kaleb. And here I thought we could be friends. But that’s fine. I’ll text you the place. But Kaleb…?”

  I started to lower the phone, but now I pressed it hard against my ear. “Yeah?”

  “You bring a cop, and you’ll be sorry. Camry will be even more sorry.”

  “What if he freaks about you being here?”

  The cooler night air whipped my hair back from my face while blowing Piety’s long locks into hers. She held my eyes steadily. “He told you not to bring a cop. I’m not. You brought your wife. And trust me…he won’t mistake me for a cop.”

  Taking my hand, we started in a circle around the top of the hotel. We were back at the ride where we’d come the day after our crazy wedding.

  Abruptly, somebody stepped in front of us, half crashing into Piety. “Hey, watch…”

  The words died in my throat as I realized who it was.

  “Camry,” I whispered.

  My sister gave me a brittle smile and then looked over at Piety. “Ditch the rich bitch, and we can go talk, Kaleb.”

  “Hi!” Piety ignored the insult and held out a hand. “I’m Piety. Your sister-in-law.”

  Camry looked at her for a long moment, then at me. Finally, she shook her head and muttered, “Whatever. Come on. I don’t have much time.”

  We ended up in the nearest restaurant, sitting in a booth.

  “What do you want, Kaleb?” she asked, her voice cool.

  “What do I…?” I cleared my throat. “What the hell does that mean, what do I want? I’m here to help you.”

  She lifted a shoulder and started to pick at the metallic blue polish on her nails. It was a shade or two lighter than the skinny-strapped top she wore, and it kept falling over one bony shoulder.

  She looked like she hadn’t seen a decent meal since she’d left home.

  “Are – have you been sick?” I asked carefully.

  “What?” She lowered her hands and stared at me.

  “You just…you look like you haven’t been eating.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Oh, puh-leeze. I eat when I’m hungry, not because the clock says I should. I refuse to be one of those cows who no longer can’t fit into a pair of old skinny jeans.”

  “You’re right,” I said, keeping my voice neutral. “You’re not a cow. A skeleton might work, but a cow? Not in a hundred years. I’ve seen refugees in better shape than you, and I’m serious about that.”

  She flinched but covered it quickly with a brittle smile. “Fuck off, Kaleb.” She directed her next comment toward Piety. “So… just how did you come to be?”

  Piety narrowed her eyes and took a deep breath, then seemed to relax as she exhaled. “Well, once upon a time, my mommy and daddy decided they wanted a little girl…” Piety stared at her with big, wide eyes.

  The sharp retort caught Camry off guard, and in the end, Piety ended up laughing.

  “Wow. Aren’t you a bitch?” Camry said.

  “Takes one to know one. Or so they say.” Piety thanked the server who appeared just then, passing out drinks. Beers for both of us, but a double bourbon, no ice, for Camry. “I mean, maybe I’m off base here, but I thought you’d have some appreciation for the brother who came here to help you out, but all you’re doing is being a bitch yourself. I guess they show love differently in Australia.”

  For a moment, just a brief one, Camry looked shame-faced. Then she tossed her drink back. “You know, I’m pretty sure I don’t need his help.”

  “So, you weren’t ten thousand in debt to a drug dealer?” I snapped.

  She opened her mouth, then shut it, her teeth clicking together with the gesture.

  “I gave up my job, Camry. Back home. I was this close to talking Mac into letting me buy him out. It was all I’d ever wanted, and now I’ve lost my chance.” I smashed my fist into the table, the fury I’d been suppressing all this time rising and grabbing me by the throat. “This close. And now it’s gone.”

  “So go back!” she shouted. “Tell him to give you your job back. I didn’t ask for your help.”

  “The hell you didn’t!” I shouted back, feeling sick. “A dozen times at least. Remember those night time phone calls when you blubbered, half out of your mind, about how much trouble you were in?”

  “I was high,” she said. “Just…just go.”

  “I can’t.” I felt…used. Stupid. “Or, hell…I could, but the job’s gone. He’s already sold the store. If I go back, I start all over again. I gave it up for you.”

  She stared at me.

  I waited for a sign. For something.

  “Yeah, well.” She shrugged. “You didn’t have to. I’m fine.”

  Piety covered my hand, squeezed. “Then I guess he doesn’t need to pay the other ten grand.” From the corner of my eye, I saw her staring at my sister. But there wasn’t disgust on her face. It was…pity. “I mean, I guess you heard that your john wants additional money. But if you’re fine, then I guess you don’t need anything more?”

  Camry opened her mouth, then closed it, looking at me, then at her. “Bitch, why don’t you mind your own?”

  “I am. He’s my husband, and you’re jerking him around.”

  I opened my mouth, but before I could say a word, Stefano arrived and sat next to my sister. He eyed Piety.

  “Who’s the broad, Kaleb? Are you bringing her as a trade for your sister? I might just take you up on that.”

  I tensed, about ready to lunge to my feet and beat the man in front of me bloody.

  He could tell too.

  Leaning in, he kissed Camry. She didn’t so much as blink.

  “Having a good dinner, baby?” he asked.

  “Fine, thank you,” she said woodenly.

  “Satisfied now?” he asked me.

  I just stared at him.

  “I guess you can see that she’s alive…healthy.” He nuzzled her cheek, let his hand slide lower. “Now it’s time for you to quit jerking me around, or the price will just keep going up…and up…up. Fuck me over and see what happens.”

  He stood and snapped his fingers at Camry.

  “Hey,” I said as they walked out, keeping my voice level.

  She looked back at me.

  He didn’t.

  “It was good seeing you too, Camry. Always great to catch up,” I said, not raising my voice an iota.

  She flinched but followed the asshole out the door.

  Twenty

  Piety

  “It’s not personal,” I said softly, covering his hand with mine.

  He stared out the small rectangle at the world below us, although I knew he wasn’t seeing it.

  I didn’t think he was going to respond. Several minutes passed before he finally looked over at me. “How can it not be personal? He talks about her like she’s nothing more than a slab of meat, right in front of her, and she just takes it.” I growled. “Then she talks to me like I’m nothing to her, and I’m the one who’s supposed to get her out of the mess she’s in?”

  “No.” I leaned in as much as I could. We’d booked a flight back to Philadelphia, although I’d had to convince Kaleb there wasn’t much he could do here that he couldn’t do back east. Finally, I told him he might be able to do more for her if Stefano didn’t know what he was up to.

  I’d been reaching, but it had gotten him away from the people who were manipulating him so badly. I brushed his hair back. “Maybe you’re not supposed to dig her out of this mess. It’s not
easy to save someone, who doesn’t want to be saved.”

  “So I shouldn’t pay?” His jaw went tight.

  “I can’t answer that.” I didn’t think he should, but I wasn’t going to tell him that. “That’s got to be your decision, but I can tell you that he’s jerking you around. As long as he thinks he has you on a leash, he’s going to use it. And Camry is…well, she’s your leash.”

  He stared at me hard and tension pulsed, beating in cadence with my heart. Finally, he looked away and swore. “Fuck. You’re right. What else am I going to do though? Leave her to deal with that prick on her own? She hasn’t been able to do it so far.”

  “Maybe she hasn’t been trying.”

  Pale, icy eyes cut to me. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “It’s just…” I sighed and looked away. I hated this. “Kaleb, did she seem like she was scared of him? Frightened? Desperate to get away?”

  “She…that’s bullshit, Piety. She’s the one who called me.”

  “I know.” The airline attendant approached, and I lapsed into silence until she’d gone by. Biting my lower lip, I struggled for the right way to explain this and hated that I felt so uncertain. “Kaleb, he’s got her so suckered in right now, if he asked her to dance the hula naked on the front lawn of the White House, she’d get herself shot trying. That’s how johns and dealers work. She’d do anything to keep him happy, because by keeping him happy, he keeps her happy.”

  “So…” He blew out a harsh breath and tugged his hands free. Reaching up to scrub his hands up and down his face, he groaned. “Are you telling me you don’t think he’s been threatening her at all?”

  “Hard to say. But…” I lifted a shoulder. “She looked like she was maintaining pretty well. She wasn’t high. If she was in such bad shape that she ended up in debt to the tune of ten grand, I think she would have been looking worse than she was. Which would leave her in not great shape for his…um…other business. That makes her valuable to him. Johns love a girl they can string along and still profit from.”

  His eyes flew to mine and blood stained my cheeks.

  “How do you know all of this stuff?” he asked, voice rough.