by Bella Jewel
“This is so hard!” Taj complains, wobbling on the board and falling off. “I’m never going to be able to stand up in the water. I can’t even swim properly.”
He flops down, arms crossed, frown on his face.
I sit down beside him. “You know, when I started surfing, I fell off so many times they used to tease me every time I went into the water. But I ignored them all and kept practicing, and eventually, I beat all of them. Don’t give up, son. Always keep fighting.”
Taj nods and stands, getting back on the board and practicing until he has himself balanced. Sunny is a natural and stands with pride on the board as he pretends he’s on some waves. Merleigh watches, big sun hat on, a smile on her face. When it’s her turn, the boys go and have a splash in the waves while I keep practicing with her.
I put my hands on her hips, sliding them around until my arms are around her and my lips are on her neck.
“I don’t think this is how it goes,” she giggles.
“Oh, fuck, I thought it was.”
She laughs and shoves her elbow backward. “We can do that later, right now you have to teach me how to ride some waves.”
I kiss her neck again, and then she turns her head and kisses my lips before slapping my hands from around her and snapping me back into action. I spend the next hour showing her how to get up on the board, and then we move into the ocean and practice there. By the time lunch rolls around, we’re all exhausted and head back to the cabin so she can get ready for work.
This would have to be the best day I’ve had in a very fucking long time.
Nothing could make it any less perfect.
At least, that’s what I think.
Turns out I’m wrong.
There is always something.
Always.
24
NOW – MERLEIGH
“I have to go and pick my son up from his father's place, he’s sick. Are you able to lock up for me? I know it’s short notice and you haven’t done it before, but it’s super easy.”
I stare at my boss and hesitate for a second. Not because I don’t think I can lock up, I’m just nervous I might do it wrong and someone will get in. Still, I’ve been on a few shifts where I’ve left when they’re locking up, I think I can manage it. I’m sure I can.
“Of course, that’s no problem. Can you just show me quickly how to do it again so I’m certain I’ve got it right?”
She nods and goes over it all with me. Then she tells me she’ll call me later to check-in, thanks me a hundred times, and leaves. It’s a quiet night so far, with only four customers in. I’m working with another girl who just started, too. Her name is Lennon. She’s a nice girl, the same age as me and she lives locally. Together, we manage to keep everything going until it’s nearly time to close.
We’re not serving meals tonight, so the chef isn’t here. We’re just serving pies, cakes, and sandwiches that we have in the cabinet, plus coffee that Lennon makes. We also have ice cream and milkshakes, so a few teenagers come in for that. Otherwise, it’s going quite well, and half an hour before closing, Lennon turns to me and tells me she’s going out the back to get some boxes to pack up the last of the stock.
I wipe down some tables and go back behind the counter just in time to hear the bell over the door jingle. I look up to see a man coming in. He’s maybe thirty, with scruffy hair and a handsome face, but it’s a face that is very cold. He looks at me and the moment his eyes meet mine, my stomach turns. All the alerts go off in my body and I’m suddenly very aware that this is about to be a very bad situation. I can feel it with every particle in my body.
He is bad news.
And we’re about to be trapped in it.
“I’m sorry, we’re closed,” I attempt to say, in hopes he might just turn around and leave.
“I’m looking for someone,” he tells me in a gruff voice.
“I’m the only one here, sorry sir.”
“No, you’re not. Miranda is here. I’m not leaving until I see her, go and get her and tell her that Tiger is here.”
Tiger.
That gives me shivers.
I’m about to tell him there is no Miranda here, but I hear Lennon’s voice come out soft and terrified from behind me. “Tiger?”
Wait? She’s Miranda?
“Surprise,” he grins.
This situation is dangerous, I can feel it in my bones, and yet I don’t know how to deal with it. I don’t want to aggravate this man, but I also know we need to get out of here. I glance around, without moving my head, to try and see where my phone is. It’s to my left on the counter, sitting down beside the till.
“Didn’t think I’d find you, did you darlin’?” he purrs.
“What do you want?” Lennon whispers. “I have a DVO out, if the police find out you’re here...”
“They’re not going to find out. Believe me.”
I shiver.
I take a small step towards the phone.
“If you take another step,” he growls towards me, “I’ll kill you both.”
He pulls a gun from his jacket and points it at me. I go still. Terrified.
“Please, she has nothing to do with this,” Lennon pleads. “Let her go.”
“To run to the cops? I don’t think so.”
“What do you want?” Lennon asks, her voice so shaky and terrified it breaks my heart.
“I want my wife, that’s what I want. You belong to me, angel.”
God.
He is terrifying.
And her husband.
“I’m not coming back with you,” she tries to make her voice sound stronger, but it doesn’t come out like that. It comes out broken and scared. “I left for a reason, and I’m not coming home.”
“You think changing your name and doing a runner is going to protect you? I found you, Miranda, and I’ll find you again and again. You belong to me, you’ll never escape me.”
“Please,” she croaks, “just let me go.”
This is escalating quickly, and I have no idea how to stop it.
“Come here,” he orders, taking a step forward.
“No,” Lennon says, her voice strong. I admire her strength, but this man is dangerous and her standing up to him now is only going to make him lose it. “No, I’m not going. You need to leave.”
He laughs, showing a row of perfect white teeth. “What did you say?”
“I said no,” she tries again.
“Lennon,” I whisper, pleading with her to stop.
I know how men like this work. They’re dangerous and they don’t back down. It’ll only make him angry and when that happens, he’ll do something stupid. I can’t have my friend killed here tonight, but that’s what’ll happen if this doesn’t stop soon.
“No, you need to leave,” she tries again, squaring her shoulders.
She might be doing that, but I can see her terror.
“Get over here,” he growls, waving the gun at her. “I will start shooting. You’re coming with me.”
“No,” she tries again, “no, I’m not.”
He lunges towards her and she side steps, trying to escape but he’s too quick. I’m shoved out of the way as he grabs at her, his hands going around her throat. She screams as he starts to squeeze. Her face goes red as she gasps and claws at him. Where is the gun? Where is it?
I see it on the floor, to my right. I could reach it, but I’ll have to go past them.
Lennon screams again, thrashing.
“I’ll fucking kill you, bitch. You won’t get a second chance in this world without me,” he roars, shaking her, his hands tightening around her throat.
“Stop!” I scream, grabbing at his arms, trying to stop him.
He uses his elbow to slam me out of the way.
It’s the exact chance I need. I drop to the ground and crawl towards the gun. I pick it up, stand, spin around, and aim it at him. “Let her go or I’ll shoot!”
He doesn’t even flinch.
Not a single movem
ent.
He squeezes harder. Lennon is gasping for breath now, her face going an ugly shade of purple. He’s going to kill her. Seconds, she’ll be dead. I’m frantic and screaming, roaring at him to stop but he isn’t even hearing me. Lennon has stopped screaming now, and her eyes roll back.
He’s bellowing about killing her.
I don’t think.
I clench my eyes shut and pull the trigger.
The gun goes off with a loud bang. A mighty thump has me opening my eyes to see him slumping down to the ground. Blood. So much blood. It’s splattered everywhere, mostly all over Lennon who is now on the ground, her eyes closed, her body limp. No. No.
I drop the gun and run towards her, dropping to my knees and grabbing her shoulders in my hands, shaking her. “Lennon, please wake up.”
She’s not moving. Her skin is still a dark shade that’s terrifying. I shake her again, and then I feel for a pulse. She has one, she’s still alive. I kick myself into action and start CPR. Within a few seconds, she’s gasping and her eyes flutter open. She croaks and makes a whining sound. Then, she looks at me and whispers my name.
“You’re okay. It’s okay,” I say, over and over, almost robotically.
Then I look over to the man on the ground, face down, blood pouring from a hole in his head. I killed him. He is dead and it’s because of me. I just took a life. I drop to my knees, trembling. Lennon sits up slowly, looking ill and like she’s struggling to move. She glances at Tiger, and then looks at me and starts to cry. “You saved my life.”
“He’s dead,” I sob. “He’s dead.”
She stares at him.
I need to think.
I don’t know what to do, but I have to do something.
I push to my feet and go to the front door, locking it.
Then, I pull the shades closed, walk numbly to my phone and call Bohdi.
“Hey beautiful,” he answers.
“Bohdi,” I sob. “I need help.”
“What’s goin’ on? What’s happened? Talk to me.”
“I...I killed him.”
“Who? Fuck? Who baby?”
“Please come. Call Alarick. Please.”
“I’m coming. Hold tight.”
I hang up the phone and walk back to Lennon, who is in the same spot, her eyes blank and she stares at Tiger. She looks at me and I sit down beside her, putting an arm around her shoulders. “It’s okay, it’s going to be okay.”
“You saved my life. You did that for me.”
“He was going to kill you,” I say softly. “I had no choice.”
She hugs me tight, pressing her face into my chest. I hang onto her until Bohdi bangs on the front door, bellowing my name. I stand slowly and walk over, unlocking it to see him outside. The second he sees me, his eyes widen. I know I’ve got blood all over me because I’ve been holding Lennon who was covered in it.
“Are you hurt? Fuck. What happened?”
“I’m not hurt,” I whisper.
Then I step aside and he walks in to see the mess on the floor, the mess that was left by me. I did that. I killed that man.
“What happened?” Bohdi asks.
“He came in looking for Lennon,” I say in a quiet voice. “He was her ex or something. She had run away from him. He found her. He started choking her, and I couldn’t stop him. I threatened to shoot him, but he didn’t stop. He was going to kill her. I didn’t think, I just shot him. I killed him, Bohdi.”
Bohdi grabs me and pulls me close, wrapping his arms around me. He holds me so tight I can barely breathe, but I need it. I sob hysterically into his chest, and he hangs on until I stop. Then, and only then, does he pull back and get to work.
“Go and find a blanket to cover that body, and get your friend cleaned up. Alarick is on his way, we’ll fix this. It’ll be okay.”
“I’m going to go to prison, and...”
“Look at me,” Bohdi orders.
I look at him.
“You are not going anywhere. I’ll fix this. I will fuckin’ fix it. You are not going to prison, and neither is Lennon.”
“How can we not? The police will come, and...”
“Merleigh, trust me, we’ll fix this. Go and help your friend, you hear me? Get it together and trust me. I got you.”
I nod, wiping my tears. I take a deep breath and I do as he asks. I have to keep it together because if I don’t, I’m going to fall apart. Lennon is falling apart, she needs me to be strong. I clench my eyes, take a long, long breath and then I exhale and walk past the body, and the girl sitting on the ground in shock. I go out the back and grab two blankets and some water.
I find Lennon first, and wrap the blanket around her. She takes it, tears running down her cheeks. Then, I lay the other one over the body, fighting back my emotions in a way I’ve never had to before. I breathe through it and when he’s covered, I turn and face Bohdi, who is on the phone talking in a hushed voice.
I sit beside Lennon and I wait.
Alarick, Mykel, Kendric, Samson, and Cohen arrive just over two hours later. By now, it’s later at night and the streets are quieter, hopefully not drawing any attention to the café and everything going on inside it. It’s times like these I’m thankful the front windows have shades that can be drawn, so nobody can see in. Bohdi had me turn the front lights off and the ones at the beginning of the room, so it looked like it was closed.
Alarick is the first to walk over, lift the blanket and stare at the body beneath it. Then, he turns to me. “You okay?”
“I killed him, Alarick. I killed him.”
He squats down in front of me. “You are not going down for this, I promise you that. We are goin’ to sort it out. What’s your name, darlin’?”
“Lennon,” Lennon whispers, looking up at him.
“You goin’ to be a problem for us, Lennon?”
She shakes her head.
“We can make this go away, we can make sure both you and Merleigh walk out of this, but I need to know you’re not going to get the guilts and go to the cops. You do that, it’s over for all of us and I can’t have that.”
“He beat me for years,” Lennon says, her voice shaky. “He made my life a living hell until I finally left and changed my name, started a new life, and even then he still found me. He was going to kill me, if it wasn’t now it would have been sometime in the future. My lips are sealed, I give you my word.”
“I’ll take your word. Now, you two girls are going to leave and we’re going to deal with this.”
“But there is so much blood and-” I say, glancing around.
Alarick grins. “Blood is my specialty. You don’t need to worry. Nobody will ever know he came here. By the time this café opens in the morning, it’ll just be like you spent a little too much time cleaning the night before.”
I swallow. “What if someone saw him come in and not go out? What if a missing person's report comes out about him, and people trace him back to here? I...”
Alarick takes my shoulders in his hands. “Then I’ll deal with it. You do not need to worry about those things, Merleigh. I promise you. The only thing I need from you two is to tell me if there are security cameras here.”
I shake my head. “No, they failed a few weeks ago and they have been waiting for new ones to arrive.”
Alarick nods and then straightens. “Well, then this will be easier than we thought. Lennon, give me any information you can about this fucker, and then you’re going to go home, clean up and get yourself together. Not until you give me the clothes you’re wearing, Mykel has a spare pair for both of you. We don’t want anything to link you to it.”
Lennon nods and then slowly stands. I help her when Mykel gives me the spare clothes. We take a great deal of time making sure we don’t get any blood anywhere in the bathroom as she changes out of the bloodied clothes she’s wearing. I do the same, and then we put them in a bag and hand them to Kendric who disappears with them. I don’t know what he’s going to do with them, and honestly, I don�
��t want to know.
I just want this to be over.
More than anything, that’s what I need.
“C’mon, I’m takin’ you two home,” Bohdi tells me, putting his arm around my shoulder. “You’re in shock.”
“Are you sure this is going to be okay?” I ask him softly.
“Alarick knows what he’s doin’, baby. You gotta trust him.”
I glance at Alarick and he gives me a low nod before he and the guys get to work cleaning this place up. I give Alarick the key and he promises to have it back to me as soon as they’re done so I can hand it over in the morning.
Then Bohdi takes me home.
A little more broken.
A little stronger.
A little less afraid.
BOHDI
“Situation is under control,” Alarick tells me over the phone, four hours after I have returned to Merleigh’s cabin. “Nobody will ever know anything that happened here. We’re goin’ to deal with the remainder, we’ll see you at the club in the morning.”
The remainder being the body.
“I’ll bring Merleigh past in the morning, boss.”
“She doin’ okay?”
“Not really. She fell asleep after a long shower, but she’s not doin’ the best. Keeps cryin’, sayin’ she’s a bad person, feelin’ like shit. She’ll come good. Lennon is here, too, didn’t want to be alone. She fell asleep, but I imagine it’ll be a long few days for both of them.”
“You did the right thing callin’ the club, and she did the right thing callin’ you. Tell her that.”
“Will do. I’ll see you in the morning.”
I hang up and turn to where Merleigh is sleeping on the sofa, curled up onto her side. She looks like the weight of the world is on her shoulders, and I understand why. What she went through would shake anyone to their core. She’s strong but that threw her, and it’ll take some time to process.
I walk over and sit beside her, swiping a piece of hair from her face.
