Expect the Unexpected

by L. M. Heidle

  Before he could continue a lecture I’d heard a thousand times I cut in, “What do you want? I know you didn’t call to chat, so get to the point.”

  “Fine, continue to be an embarrassment to me. You should be more like Anthony. I let you stay with your mom too long, it made you soft.” My jaw clenched and the hand not holding the phone fisted at the insult. He was always trying to get a rise out of me by either insulting my mom or me. He got sick pleasure out of it. I was seconds from hanging up when he got to the reason for the call. “I need you to dig around for me. I think this hit was about more than me being an assassin for your uncle. Start with the warden’s computer.” He thought since I was halfway decent with a computer I could hack into the prison. I probably could, but there was no way I was risking my future for him.

  Against my better judgment, I indulged him, “Why? Anthony was attacked too.”

  “Only because he stepped in. He wasn’t even in the yard when it happened. This was personal.”

  “Doesn’t mean it’s not related.”

  “Possibly, but I’d say this has to do with a botched job.”

  “Uncle Vito didn’t mention anything.” Not that he probably would.

  “This was a side job I did for Big Larry.” I knew he took side jobs, and I knew my uncle disapproved, but as long as it didn’t interfere with his business, he looked the other way. My interest wasn’t piqued because of that, it was however by the name Big Larry. He was the guy Eddie’s dad owed money to.

  “I thought you wouldn’t work with him.”

  “Money is money, son.” More proof he had no morals.

  “What would he have hired you for? He has his own goons.”

  “He needed the best.”

  Something wasn’t adding up here. “So what happened?”

  “The mark knew we were coming.”

  “Larry was with you?”

  “Yeah, and he paid for it with his life, not to mention I missed a bullet by inches.” I hung up on him as my mind worked overtime.

  What did my father and Larry have in common, besides being soulless, despicable men? It hit me like a ton of bricks. Jim, Eddie’s dad. I fell back on the bench in the weight room as I shook my head in disbelief. Eddie couldn’t be that stupid. It would definitely explain why he was in my face lately. I knew this was about more than Alex. He had nothing to lose because he’s on borrowed time. Going after my father was a death sentence, especially since the plan failed. My father was a very vengeful man. He’d get his retribution and use it as a warning to others. I ran my hand through my hair as I made my way back to the bag and started punching.

  Right. I knew it wouldn’t take him long to figure out it was Eddie, whether I helped or not. Left. That meant I had a choice to make. Left. Right. Did I help Eddie out of this mess or let him pay for what he started? Right. I continued doing different jab combos on the punching bag as I fought the anger slowly starting to take over. Why the hell would he pull this kind of stunt? Left. He knew what my father was capable of. Left. He’d kill him. Right. Hopefully without torturing him, which I doubted. He would want to make sure everyone got the message loud and clear that he was invincible, Right. Left.

  I hit harder and harder until blood started seeping through my wraps. I stepped back and dropped my hands, blood dripping onto the floor. As much hatred as he had for me, there was no way I’d let my father take his warped vindication out on Eddie.

  ALEX

  I put my hand on the handle and dropped it twice before actually making it into the diner. Trayton was sitting in a corner booth watching me. Of course, he’d seen me. I was apparently doomed to always make a fool of myself.

  His dimples were on full show when I walked up. “Those doors are tricky, huh?”

  “Shut it, or I’m leaving.”

  He held his hands up in surrender. “Shutting it.”

  I sat down, picking up the menu basically to hide behind. After I’d read it twice and he hadn’t said anything, I placed menu down. “Stop staring at me.” Nothing. Not even a small smile or lip twitch. His face completely stoic. “You’re being creepy.” The only reaction I got was his blue eyes twinkling. “Would you freaking talk already?”

  “Just following orders.”

  The busty brunette waitress interrupted us. I’m not actually sure she saw me. Her gaze never left Trayton as she shoved her chest out. Pretty sure she ordered her uniform two sizes too small because her girls were about to pop out. It wasn’t jealousy speaking, it was a simple observation. So what if she made me look like a fourth grader waiting on puberty? Big deal. It’s not like guys actually paid attention to that. One quick sweep of the diner proved I was delusional. Every man in here was watching her. Stupid big, obviously fake boobs.

  Her cackle had my attention returning to her, and instantly I felt like puking. She’d moved past pushing her boobs out, to having them inches from his face as she ‘showed’ him the specials. She was even talking to him in one of those sugary sweet, fake voices. Didn’t she realize how stupid she sounded? The only positive in the little display in front of me was Trayton ignoring her. His stupid eyes were twinkling again as he studied me. He was enjoying this. I narrowed my eyes at him, but that only made a grin spread across his face.

  When Bimbo the waitress finished with the specials, I cut in before she ‘showed’ him the desserts on and off the menu. “Yeah, so if you’re done flirting with my boyfriend I think we’re ready to order.” I probably shouldn’t have said that, but damn. I’m sitting right here.

  Shock was clearly on her face as she swung her head between Trayton and me. She finally settled on me, as a nasty smirk covered her face. “Seriously? You’re kidding right?”

  Trayton reached over grabbing my hand causing it to tingle. “Nope, so can we move past your pathetic display and order?”

  Her face turned bright red from embarrassment as she gritted out, “Fine.” I almost felt bad for her, almost. “What can I get you?”

  “I’ll take a cheeseburger and fries. I want the burger medium-rare, only one tomato, two pickles, and one leaf of lettuce.” You could see the irritation in how hard she pushed on the pen as she wrote. “Also I really like when the ketchup and mustard are evenly applied, preferably in a super eight pattern.” I bit the inside of my mouth to keep from laughing.

  “And to drink?” she said through clenched teeth.

  “Pepsi. Alex?”

  “Same,” I choked out. After the waitress had collected menus, she stomped off. Not something easily done in heels. “You do realize she’s going to spit in our food, right?”

  “Yep, that’s why we’re leaving.” He grabbed my hand again as he helped me up. “Wait for me by the door. I’m going to pay the bill.” I was so confused, but I did as asked. My stomach growled as he walked toward me, making him laugh.

  I hit him in the stomach. “Shut up. I didn’t get breakfast and you ruined lunch.” I didn’t mention it was nerves about lunch that prevented breakfast.

  He wrapped his arm around me. “Don’t worry, I’m going to feed you.” As we walked out more than one head turned our way. I self-consciously shrunk into him. He squeezed me a little tighter, leaning down to kiss my forehead. Pretty sure an entire zoo of butterflies on speed took residence in my stomach at that very moment. I didn’t say a word as he led me to his Mustang, but there was a small smile on my face the entire way.

  TRAYTON

  Boyfriend? Girlfriend? Usually, anything even remotely close to those words had me splitting. Her, though, I didn’t mind. I know she only said it to get the waitress to back off, but I still liked it. The fact that she got jealous had me grinning ear to ear.

  “What are you smiling about?” I darted my eyes to the right to see her staring at me. “How the color green suits you.”

  She looked completely perplexed. “I’m not wearing green.” It took her a second to get it. “I wasn’t jealous.”

  “Oh really? Then why did you tell her I was your boyfriend?”
>
  “Because,” she simply stated.

  “Because isn’t an answer.”

  She glared at me. “It was rude for her to ignore me like that. It had absolutely nothing to do with her rubbing up against you like she was a cat in heat.”

  “Uh-huh.” I pulled into a parking spot right outside the school food court. “Here we are.” She peered out the window obviously apprehensive about going in there, and that bothered me. I hated the idea that she didn’t want to be seen with me. “I figured we’d eat here so you won’t be late to class.”

  That had her head whipping to me. “How do you know I have class?”

  “The coffee shop. You ran out of there to get to class.”

  “Oh.”

  I got out, walking around the car to get her door. “I guess chivalry isn’t dead.”

  “What can I say, my mom raised me right.” Or she would have. I lost her too early to truly understand what she wanted for me, but on my tenth birthday, I was given a letter she’d written to me shortly before she died. She explained why she divorced my father and left the only life she’d ever known behind. She wanted more for me than a six by eight feet prison cell or worse, and the only way she knew how to do that was to leave. I’d never be completely out of the life because of my father, but her goal was to balance the evil with the good.

  Subconsciously she was the main reason I didn’t fight my uncle harder when he gave me the ultimatum of going to college or never join the family business. I’d been torn for years about what to do. Everyone expected me to join right after high school, and part of me wanted that. It wasn’t only the power and wealth that attracted me, it was also wanting to live up to the family legacy and prove that I was better than my father. The other part of me wanted to make her proud, to make a name for myself on my own. I think I’d found the perfect balance between the two with becoming the family lawyer. I only hoped she would be proud.

  TRAYTON

  Alex and I had just parted after our quick lunch when Eddie found me, or more like I was waiting at his car.

  “What the hell do you want, Russo?”

  I stepped closer, lowering my voice. “Do you have a death wish?”

  His angry glinted eyes met mine. “Is that a threat?”

  “I know what you did.” His face slightly paled, and he visibly swallowed. He knew he screwed up. “How could you be so stupid? Do you know what he’ll do to you? The stories about him being a brutal torturer are true, Eddie. He won’t take pity on you because Jim was your dad.”

  I skipped going into details because I caught sight of Alex walking toward us, an apprehensive smile plastered on her face. “What’s going on, guys?”

  I brushed nonexistent lint off Eddie’s shoulder. “Nothing.” Her brows furrowed as she watched us. I could tell by her lip biting and questioning gaze she didn’t believe me. She stepped around me to see Eddie better. “Eddie, are you feeling okay?”

  His skin was still slightly pale, and his eyes were moving over the crowd as if he was trying to find someone. I whispered under my breath, “He doesn’t know yet.” His body visibly relaxed with that information.

  “Yeah, I’m fine, Alex. Think I might be coming down with a stomach bug or something.” His eyes met mine briefly before he backed away. “I’m going to go home to try and sleep it off before practice.” His eyes scanned the crowd one more time, briefly stopping on me before he got in his car and drove away.

  Alex stepped in front of me. “What’s going on, Trayton? And don’t you dare tell me nothing. I know something happened between you guys.”

  I brought her closer to kiss her forehead before resting mine on hers. “It’s nothing to worry about. We sort of grew up together.”

  “So why aren’t you guys’ friends now?”

  “That’s a long story that I’m not getting into right now. Besides, aren’t you going to be late for class?”

  She glanced at her phone. “Yeah. I just wanted to make sure everything was okay. I’ll see you later.” With that, she rushed off to class.

  I pulled out my phone to message Eddie. I’d hacked into the campus computer systems last night to get Eddie’s cell number. It was slightly scary how easy it was for me to get in. I was tempted to find Alex’s information, but I was the good little hacker and didn’t. Anything I learned about her I wanted to be from firsthand experience, not information from a computer. I pulled up Eddie’s contact information and shot him a quick text.

  Me: We need to talk.

  Eddie: No we don’t.

  Me: We were friends once. Let me help you.

  Eddie: I’ve got things under control.

  He may have known my father, but he never truly knew who he was and what he was capable of. I knew Eddie, he was as stubborn as I was, so I couldn’t make him take my help. I’d wait until he realized he needed help, and until then I’d do what I could to keep him safe. I was tempted to ask my uncle for help, but that was the last resort. I wasn’t 100% sure he wouldn’t go after Eddie if he knew.

  ALEX

  It’d been a week since I’d had lunch with Trayton. We’d texted back and forth a few times, but that was it. I went from never seeing him, to seeing him frequently, to not seeing him again. I hated how much that bothered me. I hadn’t let any man—

  besides my uncle—close in over four years, and didn’t plan to anytime soon. Trayton, though, I could feel him worming his way in. The way I constantly looked for him, or how I’d been late to three classes because I ‘needed’ coffee, or the way I smiled every time he texted me. I wanted that heady feeling that liking a guy brought, but all I could see was the proverbial shoe ready to fall. You tend to quit seeing the glass as half full when your life has already been destroyed once.

  I know my parents would want me to move on and be happy, but sometimes that’s easier said than done. Things had gotten better year by year, but I was still hesitant to risk my heart with a guy. That tends to happen when your brother refuses to see you, a friend I’d grown up with slowly disappeared, and a man who left me completely, even if it wasn’t by his choice.

  I wiped a single tear away as Kass breezed in. “We’re going out tonight,” she announced as she plopped down beside me.

  “Have fun.” I so didn’t feel up for a night out. I also might be waiting to see if Trayton texts me. It was official, I was pathetic.

  “Nuh-uh. You’re getting out of this apartment.” With that, she stood dragging me up with her. “And if you argue I’m taking the phone that’s been attached to your hand this week.”

  “You’re a brat you know that, right?”

  “I prefer best friend, but whatever gets you moving works.”

  By the time we walked in the place was packed. People were easily three deep at the bar. After twenty minutes of getting shoved around and groped, we made it to the bar. I promptly considered moving to another section, even if it meant getting groped again. The bartender in front of us was the definition of sleaze, from the way his greasy hair was pulled back to the way his eyes followed every woman as she walked away.

  He licked his lips as he stared at Kass’ chest. She snapped her fingers and sassed, “Eyes up here, buddy.” He lazily shifted his eyes up. “Two beers please.”

  “Coming right up, sweetheart.” She put her back to the bar, facing the stage after she rolled her eyes.

  It was sad because he wasn’t a bad looking guy. Maybe someday he’d learn women didn’t like to be leered at. After I watched him grab our drinks—a girl can never be too careful—we found a table with a bunch of girls from our old dorm. It was fun to catch up with everyone. It amazed me how much people changed from freshman year. Whoever said that you find who you truly are in college was right.

  After sound check, the opening band took the stage. They weren’t horrible, but they’d definitely never make it big. It was annoying as hell how all they played were covers of ‘80’s hits. By the time the headliner took the stage, I was close to throwing my beer at the stage in anno
yance.

  Thankfully the headliner, Cockroach, was better, slightly. They were at least good enough to dance to, so Kass and I made our way to the dance floor after two songs. I was content with dancing at the edge, not Kass. She barreled to the front, pissing people off left and right. I tried apologizing as she bumped into people, but after the fourth explicative I stopped trying.

  My hands went in the air as my body flowed to the rhythm. Music had always been my release, a way to express my emotions. My brother used to joke he knew when to avoid me or ask for a favor based on the song I was listening to. For instance, if I’m listening to rock at deafening levels, steer clear.

  After the accident, music went from my release to my therapy. I listened to Van Morrison’s Brown Eyed Girl over and over. That was the song my dad used to sing to my mom because it was playing when he met her. Then there was Mom’s favorite, David Bowie Be My Wife, the song my dad used to propose. Heck, I even played Trip’s dumb Fight for Your Right by the Beastie Boys.

  Kass and I jumped around like idiots for another couple songs when I felt it, or I should say him. A shiver ran up my spine as the air around me shifted. Followed closely by the hairs on my arms standing up like I’d been electrocuted. I felt the smile lift to my lips as I turned to see him. . .

  With a blonde hanging on him. And that ladies and gentlemen is the shoe dropping. My smile fell as I inhaled sharply at the stab of pain that hit. I had no right to feel betrayed, but that’s exactly what it felt like. This moment right here, this is why I didn’t let my guard down. You can’t get hurt if you didn’t invest. My gaze went from her to him and just like before everything disappeared like we were the only two in the bar. My heartbeat pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears as warmth spread throughout my body.

  The moment was broken when I stepped back in shock as the realization of what was happening hit me. Through our brief time together I’d let myself fall a little for him. Seeing him like this was good, though. It reminded me that relationships weren’t worth the risk because in the end, he would leave. I let myself meet his gaze one more time as I slightly nodded before turning away.