Permanent Lines

by Ashley Wilcox

  The elevator chimed open with our next visitor, the doors opening to reveal Micah and Maddy, holding hands and smiling goofily at each other. Immediately, I looked towards Kayla, realizing that she still didn’t have a clue about them.

  She was staring, confused by Maddy’s presence and their closeness, I’m sure. “What’re you doing here?” she asked Maddy as she walked over to them.

  Maddy and Micah looked at each other guiltily. I stayed where I was; I had nothing to do with this and I was staying the fuck out. I had my own laundry list of troubles. I turned to Miles to see what he was up to. He was at his normal spot in front of the windows, but he wasn’t looking out lost in space, he was now turned, facing the show that was about to begin.

  “Well, uh …” Maddy started, her hands fidgeting with each other. “Micah and I are sorta … dating.”

  Kayla’s expression was priceless; she looked like someone had just told her the craziest shit ever. Her neck stretched forward but she tilted her head slightly, as if she didn’t hear her sister correctly, her eyes bulging open as her gears, clearly moving at mach speed in her head, processed Maddy’s words. I wanted to laugh, but managed not to. I woulda gotten hit or something for that, so I zipped my lips shut, crossed my arms, and leaned back in my chair. Shit was gonna get fun real soon, and today was the perfect day for such entertainment.

  Amelia appeared from the corner and I motioned for her to come to where I was sitting, silently encouraging her to sneak over. Some crazy shit was about to go down—no need to worry about the mafia, Kayla could do circles around them when she was pissed. Amelia looked at me, confused, but practically slid along the wall until she was standing between my legs with my arms around her waist and my chin sitting on her shoulders.

  “Kayla’s just finding out about Maddy and Micah,” I whispered in her ear.

  “Uh oh!” She giggled and settled in against me, ready to be entertained.

  She smelled fucking amazing, fresh from the shower with the scent of floral soap clinging to her skin and hair. I kissed the inside of her neck, making her squirm and me smile. This girl! I just couldn’t get enough.

  “Stop!” She giggled again glancing over her shoulder. “I’m missing the show.”

  I snickered. I could honestly sit there and play with her all fucking day as long as that smile was on her face the whole damn time, but I was nice and stopped. There was a pretty damn good show going on in front of us that I didn’t want to miss either.

  “Wa-wa … wait,” Kayla tried to find her words, “you guys are together?” She moved her finger back and forth between the both of them.

  Maddy nodded her head as Micah just stood there. What a pussy!

  “How long?” Kayla asked.

  “Like four months, I think.” Maddy looked at Micah for clarification; he nodded but didn’t say anything.

  I was gonna have to have a little talk with him. He was being a fucking tool not owning up to their relationship. Though, I guess he’d seen Kayla in action before. Maybe they’d discussed and decided this was Maddy’s fight.

  Kayla put her hands on her hips. “And I’m just finding this out now, why?!”

  “Because of this.” Maddy put her hand out to Kayla like she was revealing letters on Wheel of Fortune. “We knew you would freak.”

  “Well, yeah!” I could see the temperature rising in Kayla, her cheeks going from pink to red to flaming crimson. “You’re my baby sister, and he’s—”

  “Hey now!” I called out from behind them, making all eyes turn to me.

  “You knew this?” Kayla turned, fuming.

  Fuck!

  “You fucking knew!” She didn’t wait for me to respond. “How could you have known and not told me?!”

  I tilted my head slightly to the side and gave Kayla an “are you serious?” look.

  She looked to Miles for support next, annoyed.

  “Sweetheart, I don’t think it’s an awful situation,” he said.

  I was impressed with Miles. He usually kept his comments to himself and very rarely challenged Kayla. But by damn, he was. This was getting fucking amazing.

  “How do you figure?” she raised her hand in Maddy’s direction. “She just … you know!”

  Maddy got burnt real badly in a shitty situation that involved Kayla’s ex recently. It got messy and turned up the mommy protection with Kayla to keep Maddy safe. I couldn’t actually believe that Maddy had managed to get out and see Micah, since Kayla was on her ass all the time.

  “I’m fine, K,” Maddy told Kayla sincerely before looking up at Micah, smiling. “He’s good to me,” she continued in a softer tone.

  Amelia nestled in closer to me. It was pretty fun to see Micah and Maddy like that. As pussy-like as is sounded, it was heartwarming. Micah was my best friend. He could be a dumbfuck sometimes, but seeing him happy was a cool sight to see—and with Maddy, no less. She’s a good girl and I was happy for them.

  Kayla stood there for a minute, speechless. I wanted to say something again, but I wasn’t gonna get myself any deeper than I already did—I was sittin’ with my tail between my legs at the moment.

  “I love her,” Micah finally spoke up. About fucking time, dude! “I would never hurt her.” He looked at Maddy with his last statement.

  Kayla let out an exasperated sigh. “I swear to God,” she said, peering at Micah with a warning glare. “If you ever make her cry, I will—”

  “I won’t,” Micah cut her off with a confident grin, wrapping his arm around Maddy’s shoulders and pulling her into his side, kissing her temple. “I would never.”

  I stood, clapping to clear the air. Amelia started laughing at my awkward interruption.

  “How ‘bout a big, congratulatory group hug?” I suggested, full of sarcastic enthusiasm.

  “I’m still mad you.” Kayla glared at me before walking away with her arms crossed over chest.

  “Well then.” I turned my focus to Micah, extending my hand. “Congrats, buddy. You made it through the crazy family.”

  He chuckled along with Maddy.

  “I can fucking hear you, Merrick!” Kayla called from the other side of the room.

  I shook my head. “Girls have the best goddamn hearing, I swear!”

  All seriousness returned when the up arrow on the elevator lit. We all looked around, knowing that the only people that knew about this situation were already sitting in the room. Miles, Micah, and I, cavemen inside us all, stood almost simultaneously in front of our women. My stomach was in knots when the doors started to open. For a second I wondered if Miles had a gun in this place … I would think so, and it was probably a good fucking idea to know where that was.

  A man in a suit stood on the other side, noticeably nervous. Miles immediately stepped forward calmly.

  “Stewart,” he said as he made his way over to the guy.

  My body instantly relaxed. He must be the ex-FBI guy that had been helping us out behind the scenes.

  Miles shook his hand before turning to include me. “Merrick, this is Stewart Cummings. He knows a lot about what we’re facing.”

  I held my hand out to shake his. “Nice to meet you,” I told him. His shake was stiff and authoritative, which matched his body structure. He looked to be in his late fifties with silver hair, well-built and broad with little body fat, just as I pictured an FBI agent.

  “You too,” was all that he responded.

  Miles crossed his arms over his chest with an intrigued look. “So, what brings you here, Stewart?” he asked with all seriousness.

  I looked at Miles, puzzled. I didn’t know he wasn’t expecting him. I guess maybe kind of, since Miles looked just as nervous as the rest of us when the elevator opened, but once he announced who he was, I assumed he was a part of the planning for the evening. Now I was nervous as fuck. He wasn’t supposed to be here and I needed to know why.

  “I think the ring is onto us,” he began.

  Miles’ hands dropped to his pockets and took a step forw
ard. I knew he wanted to keep this conversation somewhat private from the others, but I wasn’t going anywhere.

  “Continue,” Miles told him.

  “There was an unknown black Town Car parked outside of your residence.”

  Miles’ jaw visibly clenched.

  “No one exited, but it sat there for a noticeable amount of time. Curt and I followed them, keeping a reasonable distance between us.”

  “Who’s Curt?” I interrupted. I knew that as far as Miles and Stewart were concerned, this was all need to know, restricted, but I wanted to know everything about everything and everyone involved.

  “My partner,” Stewart answered.

  I nodded. Fair enough.

  “Did you see where it went?” Miles asked.

  “To the art studio.”

  Miles rubbed his face in frustration as I shook my head, ready to blow.

  “How the hell did they figure this out?” I asked to no one in particular.

  Miles didn’t speak, but Stewart did.

  “We’re trying to connect the pieces, but at the moment we’re unsure.”

  “We need to get in touch with Joey,” Amelia said from behind us, startling both Miles and I. We had no clue she was listening.

  “I’m not sending my fiancé in there,” Miles was quick to respond. “Not now … not when they could already have her on watch.”

  Kayla didn’t argue or even budge when I glanced over Amelia’s shoulder to see her response. I think she already understood the severity of the situation. She and Miles could be under the radar now.

  Fuck!

  Stewart left soon after delivering the news. Miles and I both thanked him and he assured us he would keep us posted with anything else out of the ordinary. We were back in our circle, back to square fucking one. Sending Kayla into the gallery was a no go now—if there was any possibility they were on to us, there was no way we were letting that happen.

  “I want to do it,” Amelia announced in a confident, no bullshit voice.

  I looked at her like she was on crack. “No fucking way!” I only glanced at her when I said it. It wasn’t up for discussion. I knew my girl was a toughass and could hold her own, but no … there wasn’t a chance in hell that I was allowing her to go in there.

  “Hear me out,” she said, not dropping the subject.

  I stood, my hands locked behind my head as I began to pace. “It ain’t happening, baby,” I repeated.

  No one else spoke, just watched. I could tell they all wanted to know what Amelia had to say, but I could give two shits. Call me controlling, but I wasn’t sending the love of my life in to some guido-infested mob squad that wanted her blood. I might be crazy, but it wasn’t fucking happening.

  “Merrick! Just stop for a minute,” she pleaded. “Please!”

  I stopped where I was and took a deep breath. It was going to take some crazy ass control to even listen, but I loved her and didn’t want her to think that her voice meant nothing to me … even though whatever point she had to prove wouldn’t change my mind. In my head, it was a done deal.

  “We can freeze the cameras right before I go in,” she began to explain. “You said yourself that Micah is smart with security, and we have Stewart too, right, Miles?” She looked at Micah and Miles as she said it to get their consent.

  “Stewart is at our disposal,” Miles assured her.

  Micah nodded. “Y-yeah …” he fumbled with his words at first, “it wouldn’t be a problem; I can get her wired and everything.”

  I rolled my eyes. I couldn’t believe that I was even listening to this and that my best friend was going along with it.

  “Perfect. We’ll wait until we see everyone leave,” she continued. “Sunday dinner is always at five. It never changes and everyone goes to it.”

  I took another breather, closing my eyes and pinching the bridge of my nose. This was hell to even listen to.

  “Joey will freak as soon as he sees me, knowing that I’m not safe there. He’ll be short and to the point, allowing me to tell him quickly what’s up, and make sure he’s in. We’ll unfreeze the cameras as soon as I’m safely in a car. I’ll be in there five minutes, tops!” She finished with a bright smile, like she just put the tail on the donkey with her flawless fucking master plan.

  “No,” I answered simply before I looked around to everyone else, shaking my head. “No. Any other ideas?” I asked.

  Amelia stood, cheeks flaming. “I’m doing it!” she shouted, her hands on her hips. “I’m sick of watching everyone put themselves in danger when this is my situation. It’s not up for discussion. Either you’re in or you’re out.”

  I was shocked. She had never spoken to me like that and I’d never felt even a pinch of threatened by her. Now here she was, standing up to me with a no bullshit look and tone. If I wasn’t so fucking worried about her getting hurt, I’d throw her over my shoulder and make the best motherfucking badass love to her, but this was a serious moment, so I had to stop thinking with my cock.

  I shook my head of the mixed emotions flooding my brain. “I don’t have a choice in this, do I?” I asked, my voice scratchy and somber.

  She smiled, seeing me giving in. “Nope.”

  I took two steps forward so that we were close enough to where I could lean in and whisper into her ear, “We’re fucking tonight, and you’re gonna keep this badass attitude the whole time.”

  She snickered as her cheeks grew even more flushed. “Does that mean you’re in?” she asked sweetly.

  I stepped back and glared at her, taking a second before I answered. It was taking everything in me to not say the fuck with it, and demand that she not do it, but I knew she was being serious. I knew she was doing it regardless. I had to be on board. I had to be there for my girl … I told her I always would.

  I swallowed hard before exhaling in defeat. “Yeah,” I said, barely audibly. “I don’t like it, but I love you, so … yeah.”

  Her hands went to my cheeks before she kissed me like I told her I wanted her to tonight. Apparently she didn’t care who was watching, and I certainly could give a fuck either. It was fucking crazy hot and got a rise out of my manhood instantly. She knew my weakness, and did I care? Fuck no!

  She finished with a little nip at my bottom lip then gave me a hot ass smirk that made my insides crave a whole lot more.

  “So …” Micah interrupted awkwardly. “Is this the plan then?”

  I took a step back, dropping my chin to my chest, rubbing my face with both hands as I did. I couldn’t believe what I was about to agree to. “Yeah,” I said, looking back up, but only at Amelia, whose face was glowing with appreciativeness that I was going with her plan and trusting her confidence, “I guess it is.”

  We went over the game plan daily for the next couple of days. We planned the car ride there, the second the security would freeze, what Amelia would wear, how she was going to be wired that night … no detail wasn’t thought out or rehearsed. It was scary as shit and every day we practiced I got a little more nervous.

  Miles and Kayla shacked up with us just to be safe. It was a good fucking thing that the place was bigger than the average house because living under house arrest with Miles and Kayla wasn’t top on my list as super fun things to do. It was necessary, though, since we weren’t sure what the guido-fucks knew and how close they were watching Miles and Kayla.

  It fucking pissed me off that everyone’s lives were being uprooted. Kayla and Miles had to work from home, and me, well, who the fuck knew what was going to happen with my bar.

  Miles and I had spoken about the damage and what I could do after, but what it all boiled down to was how the situation played out. There was a chance we all could be living on a secluded island next week. Who the fuck knew?

  By Sunday, nerves in the apartment were at an all time high. None of us really spoke or did anything to occupy the time. Of course Kayla tried to pull out some board games, trying to make the most of our time together, but call me crazy, playing Scrabble
wasn’t sounding very appealing at the moment.

  “I’m going to go lay down,” I told Kayla with a tight grin, standing from the couch.

  She sighed, losing the battle of having a game day, attempting to lift the spirits in the apartment. I leaned in and pecked her forehead. I knew she only meant well.

  “After this shit is over, darling, I’ll play Connect Four all goddamn day if you want.” I took a step back. “Just not today.”

  She smirked, understanding, but continued with her rally for laughter. “You’re just afraid of getting your ass kicked by a girl. Don’t worry, I get it.”

  Her tactic worked, putting a grin on my face. “That’s exactly it,” I kidded before reaching for Amelia’s hands to pull her up from the couch. “Maybe you should get in some practice by yourself, because let me tell you, I’m kickass at Scattergories, and I promise to school your ass in it when this is over.”

  “Yeah, okay,” Kayla said from behind us as we started to walk towards the hallway. “Keep blowing steam out of your ass, Drake.” She made sure to have the last word before Amelia and I disappeared. I didn’t respond. Today, I’d let her win.

  Just after three, Micah and Maddy showed up. Shit was starting to get real. Operation “Kill that Motherfucker” was getting closer and closer to commencing.

  At four, Micah started to wire Amelia up. I watched inquisitively beside them.

  “Watch the eyes, fucker!” I scolded when my girl’s tits were in his face—covered by a bra, but on display no less.

  He glanced up briefly, shaking his head, before looking back down and taping the wire to her chest and upper body. “I’m taken, dude.”

  “They’re nice tits, girlfriend or not,” I boasted.

  He didn’t even look up that time, but shook his head again. Amelia snickered, amused by my insinuation. I shrugged my shoulders and winked. They were mine.

  “All right.” He stood up when he was finished, prompting Amelia to start buttoning up her shirt. “She’s covered,” he added before walking over to the laptop that was up and running on the kitchen island.