“Chase and I have a history.” Her long fingernails, shaped like claws ready to scratch out the eyes of anyone who crossed her, tap against her teeth. “Actually, I’ve been involved with all of the Morgan brothers, some more deeply than others.” Tucking her bottom lip between her teeth, her eyes were blank as she traveled back to her memory, a devious smile cracking her face.
“Chase and Austin both gave me jewelry.” Hot pink tips stroked the edge of the pendant she has resting between her cleavage. “Dylan always chose to give me something he and I both needed at the time.”
I’ve avoided looking at the necklace, not wanting to feed into her attempt at making me run off in tears. But the temptation was too great and just like an accident on the side of the road, I dropped my gaze and took a look.
The heart shaped design is highlighted with diamonds on one side of the pattern. Knowing what I do about Chase, it’s worth a fortune. I wonder if he took her somewhere special, spoke soft words as he had her lift her hair so he could wrap the chain around her tiny neck. Did he profess to love her, give her everything she ever dreamed of? Did she thank him with a kiss to the cheek or by making him close his eyes in ecstasy as she pleased his southern region?
“I don’t see a ring on your finger, or any jewelry for that matter.” Her nose crinkled up, as her eyes scanned me up and down. “But I’m sure he takes care of his responsibilities.” Her voice lowered as she motioned to Grace. I’ve been looked down on the majority of my life, accepting the taunts and cruel words tossed at me by the kids at school. I’ve watched as cashiers stood in judgment when we would count pennies to pay for the loaf of bread or gallon of milk to get us by. My Granny used to tell me, “Best to let folks assume you’re stupid, than open your mouth and prove it to ‘em.”
On the opposite side of the aisle from the condoms are the cookies I needed, “Grace, I think we’ll stick to your brand of circus animal crackers and teething rings, cause this mess,” I tilted my head toward Portia, “is not my monkey, and not my zoo.”
Next time I give a second look to a handsome man, he better be on the bottle of a household cleaner or the cover of a trashy novel. Men like Chase, and it appears his brothers as well, jump into bed with girls like Portia, not caring about any scars they leave behind. They’re only concerned with the thirty seconds of pleasure they receive. Not that women like Portia are any different, looking for a man with an empty dick and full wallet.
My Granny didn’t give me much, but she had some solid advice on occasion. “Follow your gut, Audrey. It’s good for more than storing your breakfast.”
Love is deaf…you can’t just tell someone you love them, you have to show it.
“Hey, man, is the baby okay?” Austin asked as I walked into the office. I’d been running late this morning. Last night, my meeting with my contractor ran way past dark, as I was heading to Audrey’s afterward, Daddy called and asked for me to stop by the house. Jackson had been able to get a meeting with the current Circuit Court Judge who was rumored to be tossing his hat into the ring for state senate. Jackson explained the situation about repeat offenders such as Amy Campbell and how this could be his platform. Judge Adams said we had his attention. My late night gave way for my oversleeping this morning, causing me to rush around.
With all of the evidence found inside the house Ginny lived in, the feds had moved in and taken over the case. According to Daddy’s friend in Washington, what was once a piggyback on a breach had become a nationwide scam. Where Ginny went after the information to ruin the Morgan name, she ditched the plan when she saw she could make more money by creating a fictitious online dating service. It had been geared toward bringing single men and women together with a soldier she created…well almost. She used a number of the names she came across with the information she had. Her mistake, besides getting caught, was using the internet to commit the crime, guaranteeing a life sentence. She would be headed to a federal holding facility in the near future.
By the time I finished with him, it was well past one in the morning. Audrey would be asleep and would skin me alive if I woke Grace, her teeth had been giving her a terrible time and sleep was a premium.
“What the fuck are you talkin’ about? What baby?” I pulled out my phone, my heart in my throat.
“How many babies you got, bro?” Austin rolls his eyes. “Grace, you stupid fuck. Audrey called in this morning and said the baby was running a fever and she wouldn’t be in today.”
I’m on the phone before he can say another word, fear and confusion filling my chest. I should have gone over there last night or stopped by this morning, but I assumed I would see them both at the shop.
“Hello?”
“Sweetness, what’s wrong with Grace? Austin said you called out. What can I bring you, Tylenol, soup? Is it her teeth? Or do we need to call the doctor? I can be there in five minutes, I’m leaving now”
“No!” Her raised voice froze me in my tracks and I shot a glance over at Dylan whose brows were raised. Audrey never lost her cool or shouted at anyone.
“It’s her teeth, but in case it is something else, I need you to stay away. Dylan and Claire’s wedding is in a few days and you need to stay healthy.” This may be Audrey’s voice, but I suspected something, or someone, was in her head. “I have plenty of food and medication for her. If it gets worse, I know where the doctor’s office is. I gotta go, Grace needs me.”
Dylan had his phone out and his arms crossed, a pissed off look on his face. His phone on speaker, the ringing tones echo in the shop. “Hello, handsome. Did you miss me, already?”
His face softens as he listens to her voice. “I did, but I do have a real problem on my hands.”
I leaned back against Audrey’s empty desk, the photo of the three of us on the porch from a few days ago, sitting beside her computer. Grace had discovered strawberries and instantly fell in love, her face was covered with the red fruit. She’d grabbed my face, sharing her sticky, messy hands. Audrey had her phone, snapping a photo I begged her to send to me.
“Didn’t you stop by Audrey’s last night?”
“I did, dropped off a bottle of numbing medicine one of my coworkers recommended. Why?”
“Well, she called out this morning, said the baby has a fever and she told Chase to stay away in case she is coming down with something contagious. Can you stop by there and check on them before you come home?”
“Fever is pretty common with teething, but I think the problem with Audrey isn’t the baby or the teething. My friend Kitty, you remember her?”
“Yes, the one who got married a few months ago. We went to the wedding, you got drunk and seduced me in the parking lot.”
“Yep, one in the same, except you were on top, so who seduced whom? Anyway, she was at the pharmacy last night, picking up a prescription for prenatal vitamins, when she saw Portia talking trash to a pretty girl with a baby in her cart. She said the baby had the most unique color of blue eyes, Portia alluded she should be glad the baby looked so much like Chase.”
“Sounds like Portia.”
“Portia was also at my dinner party the other night, she overheard your Momma telling the room how Chase had found Audrey and they had a baby together. Portia stayed in the corner mean mugging everyone. Until she grew a pair and tried to weasel her way into our bed. Now, I’m not saying this sudden change in Audrey is from Portia, but it seems a little too close for coincidence.”
I left the room, allowing Dylan some privacy to say goodbye to Claire. This was her last shift until after their honeymoon, although he had been trying to get her to quit all together.
“Chase Morgan.” The sound of the front door slamming and my mother’s sharp voice carried across the shop. “Mind telling me why I heard from Gloria Mercle, that my youngest son is shacking up with a porn star, when he has a family waiting at home?”
How much worse is this shit going to get? Gloria Mercle made a fortune from marrying well and out living her husband’s. She served on several
boards alongside momma, although I don’t believe they would call each other friends.
“Calm down, Momma. Chase is doing no such thing.” Dylan wrapped his arms around a furious Priscilla. “Your mortal enemy, Gloria, is just spreading hate, discontent and pure lies. It was your oldest, not the youngest, who spent some time with a porn star.” He could get away with saying shit like that to her, which was evident by the smile she’s trying to hide.
“Dylan, I hope one day you have a son who acts the same way you do, giving you sleepless nights and graying hair.”
“Careful what you wish for, Nana Morgan, you’ll have to babysit the demon spawn, after all.”
Slipping away from the family planning, I tried Audrey’s phone, only to have it go to voicemail. Maybe she turned off the ringer so as not to wake Grace. I reasoned with myself, knowing the situation was more serious than this. Audrey came pre programmed to expect the other shoe to drop. She automatically went into protection mode, saving herself, and Grace, from any pain in any form.
It was my job to show her how solid we really are, how both shoes are welded on, and going nowhere. I could call the florist, or stop by a jewelry shop on my way over to her house, but Audrey was a country girl at heart. Flowers would sit on her kitchen table until they started to wilt, and then get tossed into the trash. Jewelry would set in a wooden box on her dresser, waiting for a special occasion or a tight situation and a trip to the pawnshop.
Getting her to toss out anything Portia had filled her head with wouldn’t be easy, but if I can wait days in the scorching desert heat for one man to make a move, I can do anything.
“Hey, Dylan, I’m going to head out for a little while.” I walked around the corner, pocketing my phone and keys.
Dylan is sitting at Audrey’s desk, the phone once again against his ear, his face is pensive as his hand is raised high in the air asking me to stop. Priscilla is wearing a worried look on her face, her eyes fixed on Dylan. “Hey, thanks for calling me. I’ll let everyone know.”
I can feel it in my gut, something bad has happened. Please, God, don’t let anything have happened to my Audrey or Grace. I pray internally. Dylan looks through the window over Audrey’s desk. Not much is out there, but she loves to have the natural light over her desk instead of a lamp.
“Dylan?” Momma coaches.
He turns to look at her, a worn and tired look on his face. “Sorry, just a lot to absorb.” Removing his boots from the desk, turning so his entire body is facing the two of us. “That was Preston,” he stops, and I’m confused as the only Preston I know works for Daddy and is up north in law school. “He’s been doing some interning with the Feds as part of one of his classes. Yesterday, he was called into the office to see how the transfer of prisoner from state to federal custody is done.” Dylan shakes his head, the areas between his brows pinched into a deep wrinkle.
“Long story short, this morning while the paperwork was being signed and the prisoner was being placed in shackles for transport, a fight broke out in the processing room between two rival gang members. Before the situation could be contained, one of the inmates, Boris Agron, smashed into the federal prisoner, trapping her against a metal bar that bolted the holding seat to the floor. She, Virginia Greyson, was strangled to death.”
Austin, who had been quiet since telling me about Audrey, turned back to the computer, his fingers flying across the keys. “Agron, Agron, Agron.” He chants as if trying to trigger a memory. “Mother—” He stops short, looking briefly at momma, who is shaking her head as she crosses her arms. “Boris Agron, a known member of the Kumarin crime family.” Spinning around in his chair, he points his index finger in Dylan’s direction. “You were on to something when you assumed Virginia was selling stolen credit cards to the Mafia. Andrey Kumarin, the eldest son, and next in line to lead the family, was recently spotted at a hockey game in Detroit. While it isn’t illegal to watch the sport, certain Federal officials were questioning his presence here in the states. If I had to guess, he and Virginia were working together, he assumed she would tell his family business to save her own ass, so he had his cronies shut her mouth…permanently.”
Dylan and I stare at one another, silently agreeing this had to be handled immediately. Audrey needed to know she doesn’t have to worry about Ginny getting out of jail and coming after her, or testify against her in court. For Audrey, this nightmare is over. As for the Russian dude, that would be a story for another time, something we wouldn’t bring up around the ladies.
Walking to where momma is seated, I kissed her gently on the side of her head. “I’ll see you at rehearsal dinner, I love you.” I assured her. I needed to get to Audrey, straighten out this mess and give her a sense of relief.
“Dylan, I will tell Audrey and see you later at your party.” He nodded, and then opened his mouth like he was about to say something, but changed his mind and waves me off.
“Chase,” Priscilla calls in her gentle tone. “When words fail us, music steps in to tell the story without confusion.”
“I don’t recall granddaddy ever sayin’ that one.”
“He didn’t, but I’m cut from the same cloth, just as you and your brothers are. Go find your words and bring her back.”
Moving on to the future without letting go of the past is like trying to catch a train with your arm tied to a post.
Grace seemed to grow by inches overnight. Clothing bought for her only a few weeks ago, were getting too small. Being able to take care of the problem on my own, without waiting for a payday or visiting the local thrift store, was a giant victory. Charleston has a plethora of shops geared for children, and my budget.
A few hours ago when Grace first woke, her fever and fussiness gave us an excuse to lay back in my bed with a teething ring and soft music playing from my phone. She quieted fairly quickly, and we both drifted off to sleep. Now, she’s a ball of fever free energy and, since I have the day off, I think this is the perfect opportunity to head out and tackle the issue of ill-fitting clothing.
With Grace strapped in her car seat, and my sunglasses in place, I turn around to back out of the driveway when a white Lexus blocks my path. “What the—” I’ve been working on filtering what I say, living with a small sponge who has been trying out different sounds, is sometimes complicated. I pray, faithfully, she doesn’t speak the word fuck before something much more acceptable.
Lainie stepped out of the car, her long hair whipping in the refreshing afternoon breeze. Putting my car into park, I opened the door as she approached. “Hey, is everything okay? You’re not taking Grace to the hospital, are you?” The panic in her voice was real. I had felt bad for leaving her party early and called her on the phone to apologize. She brushed it off, admitting she and Austin spent most of the party barricaded up in his old room christening it.
“No, she’s doing so much better this afternoon. It’s just her molars trying to poke through.”
Lainie lowered her head to look into the back seat, “Hey, Miss Grace, you hanging out with your momma today?”
Grace was kicking her feet as fast as she could, babbling in her own unique language only she understood. “Actually, we’re headed out for some much needed clothes shopping—she’s been growing like a weed.”
Standing up straight, she looked at me with a smile. “Audrey, I know you had a run in with Portia. I heard she said some pretty nasty things, but I’d like to give you some free advice, from someone who’s been where you are—letting the ghosts of her past haunt the future. Come on, I’ll buy you two lunch, and then we can put a serious dent in the local economy.”
Lainie followed us to a strip mall not far from the house. As I pulled Grace from the back seat, she started pointing to Lainie. “Come here, darlin’. Give me some practice for when my turn comes.” My eyes bulged, as I assume what she’s saying. “No, Miss Audrey, I’m not pregnant yet. It ain’t for lack of trying, though.”
Settling into the restaurant with its bright walls and kid friendly sur
roundings, the waitress sets us up with drinks and crackers for Grace. “Have you eaten here before?” Lainie quizzes, her eyes on her menu.
“No, I don’t really eat out much.” I respond honestly.
“We didn’t either growing up, not that there was much around for us to choose from. Even so, when you’re broke and the water is about to be shut off, you don’t really care about a restaurant.”
“I didn’t know, you were—” Not wanting to assume anything again, I let the word hang in the air and her finish.
“Poor?” She added simply.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean…”
“How could you know? It ain’t like we’ve had much time to get to know one another. I mean one day you’re working for the family, the next you’re sleeping with one of the brothers.”
My anger is instant and I become defensive, deciding this lunch is a mistake. “For the record, I’m not some…” I look to Grace who is flirting with the baby behind us, “…slut!” I whispered the word, feeling offended. “I haven’t slept with anyone since I was four months pregnant with her. If I have it my way, I won’t ever to do that again, with anyone.”
Lanie reached across the table, taking my trembling hands in hers. “You know, you still have this passion in your belly in the form of hate. Lucas may be dead and gone, but you’re keeping him alive by hating him this much.” Leaning closer to me, her eyes are full of truth and tenderness. “After my attack, I started seeing a therapist, she gave me several tips on how to evict the memories which haunt you. For me, it was going to where the attack happened, and telling Cash exactly how my life would go on, while he rotted in hell for all eternity. I took the power he had over me back, crushing the chains he had shackled me with so I could move on. You need to find something, some way of letting him, and all of the bad things he did to you go.”
We were silent for a while as she let me think about what she had said. She played with Grace, helping her eat a few crackers, and then kissing her salty fingers. “There’s one more thing you need to know, and we can get to the fun part of the day. Portia can take a simple conversation, such as hello, and turn it into anything that makes her look good. Now, I’m not going to steal Chase’s thunder when it comes to what was said last night, but I will tell you this. Portia has always wanted attention, whether it be from the men she allows to touch her or from the women she thinks will react to her lies. Don’t feed the trolls, Audrey, and believe me, Portia is the biggest one under the bridge.”
Absolute Valor (Southern Justice #3) Page 25
