by Reid, B. B.
Feeling myself tipping over that edge and remembering I wore no condom, I pulled out just in time, coming in my hand instead.
The next morning, when my hand drifted over the side of the bed where Tyra had been and found it cold, I realized I was alone. Sitting up, I listened for her, but the house was quiet as a mouse. My irritation was skyrocketing, already knowing she was gone, as I reached out for my phone.
I paused, seeing twenty dollars and a note waiting for me on the nightstand. Ignoring my phone and the money, I picked up the note and squinted at the words.
Last night was great. Buy yourself something nice.
xoxo Tyra
I quickly flipped her cheeky little note over because she had to be joking.
Just kidding! Had a job interview this morning. Caught a ride from Four to pick up my car. P.S. River’s been fed and changed.
I grabbed my phone to call her anyway, but then my son’s cry kept me from dialing. I headed to the nursery, and the moment he saw me standing over his crib, he cranked up the volume, crying even louder. I quickly changed his diaper before dressing him for the day. Immediately after, I began grabbing stuff to pack into his diaper bag. No way I’d be able to stay in this house without pacing a hole in the floor. Maybe I’d crack a few beers with Wren instead despite it being nine in the morning.
Last night had been an amalgamation of many things, and I wasn’t sure if they’d all been good or bad. This crossroads we were at just kept getting darker, making it harder to see the right path ahead. I grabbed River’s diaper bag and started to fill it when I paused at the folded sheet of paper inside. Setting aside the items I was holding, I plucked the note from the bag and unfolded it. There was only a name and number written inside, but it was enough to make my blood boil. What if her “interview” was really a date?
I crumbled the note in my fist.
Storming from the room, I located my old phone and opened the tracking app I never got around to deleting. If I hadn’t made myself perfectly clear before, I’d make sure Tyra understood every word I uttered this time around.
“YOU COME HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. CHARLIE’S one of our top girls here, and if she says to give you a shot, I’m not inclined to argue. When can you start?”
I never imagined a job offer making my gut pool with dread rather than relief. It wasn’t something I ever saw myself doing in a million years, but I also never predicted these circumstances, either.
“How about tonight?”
Neil, the club manager, didn’t seem surprised by my eagerness. Many of the girls who’d passed through those doors had likely been in similar straits. I couldn’t imagine anyone doing it for a good time. It was all about the easy money.
My new boss nodded as he shifted around some papers. “Tonight’s good. It’s a weekday, and we’ll need to train you, so don’t expect too much action on the first night.”
“I’m good with slow.”
The manager’s gaze raked me in that assessing way Charlie’s had before he shrugged. “Then enjoy it while it lasts, kid. You’ll be a favorite in no time.”
I slowly rose from my chair, ignoring the urge to tell him that I’d reconsidered. Rather than warning him about how wrong I was for this job, I heard myself thanking him for the opportunity. He simply waved me out the door, and I quickly obliged him. As I made my way toward the exit, I wisely kept my gaze off the huge platform in the center.
I could do this.
For River, I could do this.
I didn’t want to think about whether it would be enough to pay for River’s medical expenses as well as Harvard. Maybe Vaughn could help, but it wouldn’t be fair of me to put it all on him even if he could afford it.
I was in my car and a few miles down the road when I passed a familiar looking van. I glanced in my rearview in time to see the back lights as the driver slammed on brakes. A second later, it made a U-turn in the street and was barreling after me. Knowing it could only be my son’s father stalking me, I sighed and pulled over on the side of the road. Getting out, I met him halfway, trying not to snicker at the sight of him climbing from the minivan. I was the first to speak.
“Is River okay?”
“Who the hell is Charlie?”
I was frowning until he held up the paper with Charlene’s name and number. I didn’t bother telling him that Charlie was a nickname, though. Instead, I folded my arms. “Why?”
His brows dipped even further if that was possible. “Why what?”
“Why do you need to know?”
“Because I thought I made it clear that you weren’t seeing other guys.”
“But you can see other women? Is that the double standard you’re trying to force on me? How did you even find me?”
“That’s for me to know.”
“Yeah? Well, so is Charlie.” I spun on my heel and started for my car. Vaughn, knowing he couldn’t stop me from walking away or dating if I pleased, didn’t stop me. I wasn’t about to let him bully me into being with him when he couldn’t even be man enough to admit that it was what he wanted. I mean, when was that ever acceptable?
Smart enough not to let Vaughn get me alone, I decided I needed some girl time. Vaughn, wouldn’t you know, followed me like a class-A stalker the entire way there. I guess it was his way of making sure that I didn’t meet with my imaginary beau.
The soreness he left between my legs seemed to intensify because while Vaughn displayed jealousy in the past, he’d never been so openly blatant about it. Last night had been amazing and all the things I remembered it being but more.
And that, unfortunately, was the issue.
I was hooked for him to line and sink me all over again.
I shook my head as I drove through the gates of the Manor with Vaughn on my bumper. If my son hadn’t been in the car, I would have slammed on my brakes to teach him another lesson. After parking, I waited for Vaughn to unbuckle and remove River from his car seat.
Missing my baby and wanting to snuggle and kiss him, I reached out to take him, but Vaughn turned his shoulder away, making my jaw drop. I watch as he continued walking toward the front door, and then they both entered the house.
Asshole!
When I stepped inside, I grumbled, seeing he had no problem relinquishing our son to Mrs. Greene—who, as usual, had been there to greet whoever came through the door.
“You two must be very proud,” she gushed as she held River.
“I am,” Vaughn murmured. He was gazing down at the baby with so much pride in his eyes.
“Yes, we are.”
Vaughn shifted his irritated gaze over to me, and I returned his glare. I didn’t give a shit how pissed or jealous he was. He wasn’t the one who went through labor and now bore the scar.
“You two stop that,” Mrs. Greene scolded. “You lost the right to act like children when you made one.” She held her hand out for River’s diaper bag, and Vaughn handed it over. She then told us where to find our friends before disappearing with River.
I frowned.
Although I liked Mrs. Greene a lot, I wasn’t sure I knew her well enough to leave her alone with my kid. I started to follow her when Vaughn seized my hand and pulled me in the opposite direction.
“He’s fine.”
“She’s a housekeeper, not a nanny and not our nanny.”
Vaughn sighed but didn’t let me go. We found Lou and Four but no sign of Ever or Wren. I figured Ever must have finally gone back to school. I didn’t want to think about how much work he’d missed. I sighed as longing filled my chest. I hadn’t appreciated the stress that came with college when I had it. It seemed so carefree compared to my life now.
“Oh, hell, no!” Lou fussed when we walked into the room together. “You’re both still alive? How is that possible?” She actually looked disappointed when her gaze met mine. “I was expecting the call to help you bury him any day now. What the hell, Bradley?” The longer she stared, the narrower her gaze got. “You fucked him, didn’t you?”
/> “How would you know that? Better yet, why is that your business?” Vaughn asked her.
Lou and Four gave each other knowing looks before their gazes pointedly fell to our joined hands. I hadn’t even remembered Vaughn holding my hand. It felt so natural. I pulled free of him before moving over to the couch.
“So tell us everything,” Lou demanded as if Vaughn weren’t standing five feet away.
Rolling his eyes, he stalked from the room. He’d probably realized he didn’t stand a chance on his own. Especially since I spent the next hour telling Four and Lou everything that happened between River’s homecoming party and now, leaving out the part of us having sex. I wasn’t yet ready to admit that even to myself.
“I don’t know…” I stubbornly kept silent as I watched Lou tap her chin. “There seem to be some elements of that story missing,” she insisted. “Perhaps a few hours and a couple of screaming orgasms?”
“Okay, we had sex.”
“I knew it!” Lou shot up from her seat before whirling on Four. “Pay up, bitch.” Four looked at me, disappointment in her brown gaze before forking over the cash she’d obviously bet Lou. “Don’t forget you owe Bee, too,” Lou announced, making my jaw drop.
“Are you guys serious?”
“Yeah, totally.” There was zero remorse in Lou’s tone when she spoke. “Four here was the only one who thought you’d resist temptation.”
I sat back and folded my arms because what could I say? “Guys…what should I do?” I asked once Lou finished counting her money.
Four was the one who spoke when Lou just stared. “What do you mean?”
“About Vaughn and me?” Neither of them seemed surprised by my question—even Four, who thought I’d hold out on forgiving Vaughn a little while longer. I wasn’t sure I had just yet, but I was finding it harder and harder to say no to him.
“Do you want to be with him?” There was no judgment in Four’s gaze though she’d barely spoken two words to Vaughn since I caught him with my sister.
“No.”
Lou tapped Four on her arm with the back of her hand. “Ask her again, and maybe this time, she’ll tell the truth.”
I felt myself growing annoyed, not with my friends, but with myself. “He fooled around with my sister, Lou. I’ll never forget that.”
“No one is saying you have to. Look, I don’t condone cheating for any reason, but at least Vaughn’s were noble if not misguided by like ten thousand miles.”
“Noble?” I frowned at that. “What are you talking about?” How could anyone think that what Vaughn did was even remotely okay?
Lou’s eyes widened in shock, and for once, she had nothing to say as she tucked her lips inside of her mouth.
“Nice going,” Four snapped. She then turned to me. “Have you and Vaughn not talked about what happened?”
“Sort of.”
“And did he tell you why he and Selena…”
I took a deep breath, and it shuddered out of me. “Yeah. He told me the night of the party that he was bored.”
“And since then?”
I shrugged. “We’ve argued, but really, what is there to talk about?”
“Sweet baby Jesus.” Lou rolled her eyes toward the ceiling. Apparently, she’d found her voice again. “I don’t know who’s dumber, but maybe you both deserve to be alone.”
“Lou!” Four barked.
Lou blinked in surprise before covering her mouth. “Oh, shit? Did I say that out loud?”
“Yup.” Surprisingly, I hadn’t taken offense. Lou was that friend everyone needed. She always told the truth even when you didn’t want to hear it.
Taking my hands, Lou got this vulnerable look in her eyes that no one, except Wren, got to see very often. “We can’t tell you what’s in your heart. We can only tell you to follow it, but before you can do that, you need all the facts. Talk to Vaughn and get them. If you have to tie him down and torture it out of him, so be it.”
“Are you saying there’s another reason Vaughn messed with Selena? How do you know that?” I demanded before she could respond to my first question.
Lou shrugged, looking smug. “We figured that out right around the time he kidnapped and killed his father. I figured if he’d go through all of that trouble just to be with you, he has to love you, and a man in love doesn’t desire other women.”
Heart stopping in my chest, I pulled my hands from hers before shooting to my feet. Four had her face in her hand as she shook her head, so she was no help. “I’m sorry…what?”
I found Vaughn in the kitchen, where he was devouring a turkey sandwich. Lou had refused to talk after dropping one too many bombs, and Four had advised me to find Vaughn. So I did.
“Your father’s dead?”
Vaughn’s head swiveled toward the entrance where I stood. He seemed to be debating what to say before nodding and turning back to his sandwich. “He died a week ago.”
Even knowing the less than stellar relationship he had with his father, I was still startled by his composure. Figuring he was giving into some macho need to hold his emotions back, I walked over to him and wrapped my arms around his muscled torso. I felt his abs contract, the only reaction he gave. “I’m so sorry. When is the funeral? I’ll go with you if you like.”
“There’s not going to be a funeral.”
“What do you mean?”
“I had him cremated and dumped his ashes three days ago.”
I let him go and stepped back. Vaughn turned his head, watching me carefully. There was no grief in his green gaze. Suddenly, I remembered Lou’s words. She’d spoken them minutes ago, yet I’d already forgotten them. “We figured that out right around the time he kidnapped and killed his father.”
“You?” I had to grip the island for support. My legs felt like they’d give out at any moment now. “How? Why?”
“Does it matter?”
“It does if you’re going to prison. What about River?”
“I did it for River,” he snapped. Tossing his sandwich down, he stood and yanked me into him. “And you.”
I shook my head as guilt turned my stomach and heart until I was overwhelmed—guilt over unknowingly causing a man his life and woe for Vaughn feeling like he had to go to those lengths to be with me. “I didn’t ask you to—”
“That’s the thing you need to understand. You’ll never have to ask me to protect you.”
“Protect me from what?”
Vaughn’s gaze flashed with impatience. I didn’t fight him as he led me through the family room that had been deserted into the breakfast room and through a door out onto the veranda. We were away from prying eyes and ears. “My father isn’t racist,” he announced. “He’s far worse, and I don’t say that lightly.”
“What could be worse?”
His hand lifted and brushed the tear I hadn’t realized had fallen away. I couldn’t help but be sad for Vaughn. “Hating you because I love you.” Vaughn took his hand away, and I almost snatched it back. “He would have taken the one thing that kept me whole and then used me to wreak that same havoc on the world.” I stayed where I was when he moved toward the stone railing. Something told me he needed the distance to share what I could only imagine was his shame. “My father couldn’t kill me, so he spent my entire life searching for the perfect pawn. Someone I cared about enough to make me come to heel. Sometimes I wondered if my mother left me and moved to Paris, not to save herself, but so that he couldn’t have it. Even if she’d been here, I wouldn’t have been allowed to care for her.”
“Your mother’s alive? You never talk about her. I thought that maybe she…”
“That she’s dead?” He shook his head as he stared at the green lawn below us. “She’s alive, but she might as well be a stranger. I haven’t seen or heard from her since I was six.”
I gulped at that. With his father dead, Vaughn was as good as an orphan—unless he decided to reach out to her. I already knew his pride wouldn’t allow him to, so I hoped that, eventually, whe
n she heard of his father’s death, she’d be strong enough to reach out to him.
“Your father wanted you to work for him…what was it that he wanted you to do?”
Vaughn studied me for a long while, debating how much he should reveal or if he should reveal anything at all. His father was gone, and he still didn’t feel safe. Was it a sin to hate the dead? If so, I’d burn for sure. “Have you heard of Thirteen?”
Warily, I nodded. I wasn’t sure where this was going. Surely, Vaughn’s father—I couldn’t finish the thought for fear of knowing the answer even when the man was dead. Everyone feared Thirteen, even people like me who’d been lucky enough never to encounter that kind of danger. Or so I thought.
“He was their leader.”
I pressed a hand to my stomach, feeling it twist and turn. It was so much worse than I imagined. “He wanted you to murder people?”
“And sell guns and drugs and…people.”
“People?”
Slowly, Vaughn nodded. “Thirteen is responsible for nearly ten percent of the trafficking in and out of the United States—women, men, children. It doesn’t matter to them.”
“Did you do any of this?” When he simply stared at me, I had my answer. Children? What if it had been River? My legs almost collapsed from under me. Sensing this, he closed the distance between us and held on to me.
“I wish I could make excuses and say that I didn’t have a choice, but the truth is I did choose, and I chose to keep you safe. I was willing to do whatever it took to make that happen.” Instead of pulling away, I clung to him tighter. I was glad Franklin Rees was dead because I just might have killed him myself. “And when River was born,” he continued, “I knew bowing to my father wouldn’t be enough. One of the expectations he’d made clear to me was that I would have sons to take over when I fell. He was going to do to River what he did to me, and I couldn’t let that happen. I no longer had a soul to protect, but I had you and River. It was more than enough.” His eyes moved back and forth as he searched my gaze for resentment and disgust. “But if it makes you feel any better, I didn’t pull the trigger. I didn’t actually murder my father. I simply commandeered fate and made it work for me for a while.”
