Jaded

by Tess Thompson

  “It might be a good idea to stay with friends for a few days. Just until they find him.”

  She could stay at Brody’s house. He had a full security system. Maybe she should hire the firm she’d hired to make sure Kara stayed safe on their honeymoon. But for Kara it was simply a matter of not being photographed. No one was after her if they didn’t know where she was. Not the case here. I’m a target.

  After she hung up, she stared at the crow. He seemed to have no interest in leaving anytime soon. She shivered and wrapped her arms around her waist. Maybe she should head over to the Mullens’ now? Kara was in the city with Brody, but Lance and Kyle were staying there. She would be safe with them and all that security. But leaving her house didn’t seem right. This was her home. No one had the right to invade it. Maybe one of the guys would stay with her. Who was she kidding? They didn’t want to leave their swimming pool and the guest rooms at Brody’s.

  Screw it. She was going on her walk anyway. Gorham wasn’t going to attack her in broad daylight. If he was even here, which he probably wasn’t. How would a guy like that get here, anyway? After prison, he probably didn’t have money. Would he? What happened to his wife? Did the money he had before prison remain in his accounts?

  What was she doing? Tying herself in knots. This circular thinking was getting her nowhere. She’d drive over to the Mullens’ and talk to Lance and Kyle. They could help her decide what to do. This meant sharing her past, but what were friends for anyway? Kyle had been through the ringer as a kid too. She didn’t know the details, but she’d always assumed it was bad, given the fact that he had no contact whatsoever with his family.

  For a fleeting moment, she thought of Zane. What she wanted was to go to him and have him put his arms around her. What she wanted was for him to move in here with her and sleep next to her every night. Nothing could hurt her then.

  Except the protector himself.

  By the front door, she tied the laces of her tennis shoes. She stepped outside and screamed. The head of a bunny stared up at her. Right there, on the doormat was the head, cleanly removed from the body. Its dead eye stared up at her. The rest of the bunny was nowhere to be seen. What or who had done this? The neighbor had a fat tomcat. They bragged that he killed moles in their yard. It had to be him. The cut was so clean it looked like the finest surgeon had done it.

  The finest surgeon. Doctor Stanley Gorham had had signs all over town that bragged that he was the finest plastic surgeon in Tennessee.

  She went back inside and locked the door. Shaking, she stood against the wall. Could it be from him? A warning?

  She ached for Zane. If only she could call him and tell him. But no. She had to stay strong. Brody was gone. Next best was Lance or Kyle. Gentle Lance would know what to do about the poor bunny’s head. What did one do with part of a dead animal?

  Lance answered on the first ring. He sounded breathless, like she’d caught him in the middle of a run.

  “Sorry to bother you,” she said.

  “Not a bother. What’s up?”

  Lance and his sweet face. Why couldn’t she be in love with him?

  Because he wouldn’t want you either. No one wants you.

  “There’s a bunny’s head on my mat,” she said.

  “Did I hear you right?” Lance asked.

  “Yeah. And it’s not funny. It’s horrifying. One eye just stared up at me. Ears pristine. Awful.” She shuddered.

  “Do you want me to come get rid of it?”

  “Yes, please.”

  “Honor Sullivan, I’m shocked. You’ve never asked for help ever in your life,” he said.

  “I know. But even I have my limits.”

  “I’ll be right over.”

  True to his word, five minutes later, Lance showed up. The back of his hair was wet with sweat and he wore his running clothes. She’d interrupted his exercise.

  “Do you have a shovel?” he asked.

  “In the garage, I think. My gardener uses it,” she said.

  She opened the door to her garage and followed Lance inside. The shovel hung from a hook with several other tools.

  “What’re you going to do with it?” she asked when they were back outside.

  “I’ll just toss it in the trash.”

  Fine. The trash. She could have done that herself. “I didn’t know if that was against the rules.”

  Lance smiled and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. He smelled like sea air and sweat. “I’m fairly certain the trash company allows dead animals. I mean, we throw leftover steak and stuff in there, right?”

  “This is the head of a real, live bunny.”

  “Should we take a photograph of it first?” Lance took his arm from her shoulders and walked over to the horrid sight.

  “What’s wrong with you?” she asked.

  He grinned. “You’re no fun at all.”

  “I think it’s that cat that lives next door. The big fat one with the giant paws.”

  “Likely suspect,” Lance said. “Like most male creatures, he must be in love with you. This is a symbol of his love.”

  “Has he not heard of chocolates?”

  “That’s the Easter bunny.” Lance scooped the head into the shovel and headed toward the side of the garage where she stored her garbage and recycle bins.

  The Easter bunny. That just made it worse. A poor, innocent bunny, just hopping happily along. “I’m sure it was the cat.” Her voice shook when she said it. By the way Lance looked over at her, she knew she’d given herself away.

  “Who else would it be?” Lance asked, all humor drained from his face. “Why did you say it that way?”

  She swallowed. “No reason.”

  “Tell me.”

  “You might need to come in for coffee,” she said. “It’s a long story.”

  She went inside to fix him a cup while he put the shovel away and closed the garage. Just as she finished pouring, he entered the kitchen. He’d put on a sweatshirt and a ball cap. “Sorry, I’m a mess,” he said.

  “No problem. I’m sorry to have ruined your run.”

  He settled into a chair at the table. “Seriously, Sullivan, what’s going on?”

  Lance was one of the only people in her life who called her by her last name. It made her feel like one of the boys.

  “It’s probably just me being paranoid.” She described the situation with Gorham, including his release.

  “Christ, it’s not just you being paranoid. He said he wanted to go after you. This was a warning.” His voice shook almost as violently as her hands. “You have to come stay at the house. Just until they find this guy.”

  “I hate to leave my house. What if he breaks in and ruins things?”

  “We’ll get the cops to watch it. But you’re not staying here.” Lance took his cap on and off several times, staring at the floor, obviously thinking through options. “Maybe we should hire a private detective to try and locate him.”

  “Isn’t that what the cops are for?”

  “I guess. I don’t have tons of confidence in our local crew. There aren’t that many of them, for one thing.”

  “True.”

  “Get packed up. We’ll talk it through with the rest of the Dogs and decide what to do.”

  All the Dogs? That meant Zane too. How could she explain she didn’t want to see him? Best to keep it to herself and not make a fuss.

  “Why didn’t you call Zane?” Lance asked.

  She twisted her ponytail around and around her finger. “What do you mean?”

  He tilted his head and smirked. “Come on. Everyone knows what’s going on with you two. We know he took you out last night.”

  “Well, maybe it’s not going on after all. Our date didn’t go that well.”

  His face fell. “Really? What happened?”

  “We’re just not compatible.”

  He seemed on the verge of saying something further but decided against it. Lance wasn’t a fool when it came to women. He knew when to keep his
mouth shut. Unlike Zane.

  “I’ll get cleaned up and pack some things,” she said. “Expect me around noon.”

  Lance crossed his arms over his chest. “I don’t think so. I’ll wait and escort you myself.”

  “What am I supposed to do? Be a prisoner at the Mullen compound?”

  “It’s not so bad there. If you can stand hanging out with Kyle and me. Anyway, it’s just temporary. Go get your stuff.”

  “Fine. But can you just keep this from Zane for the time being?”

  “Why?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “He’ll want to know, Honor. The guy’s in love with you. Are you too stubborn to see that?”

  She looked away. “There’s stuff about me that he can’t deal with.”

  “Impossible.”

  “Trust me on this. First test and he failed.”

  “Test?” Lance asked. “Why are you giving him a test?”

  “Because.”

  “You are the most stubborn woman in the world,” he said.

  “Is there a test to prove it?”

  “I’m hardly the expert on love or anything, but not everything is black and white. Maybe cut the guy a little slack.”

  She glared at him and crossed her arms over her chest. “I told him I’m infertile and he bolted. How’s that for a test?”

  Lance flinched. “What? Honor, I had no idea. I’m sorry.”

  She shrugged and twisted her hair into a ponytail before letting it fall. “I had cancer when I was younger and had a hysterectomy.”

  “You had cancer?”

  “It’s not a big deal. I’m fine with it. But Zane wants a family and I can’t give him that.”

  Lance removed his cap and swept his mop of dark hair from his forehead. “No. That isn’t Zane. He would never give up on love just because of that. You jumped to a conclusion. I know how you can be. So quick to anger and distrust.”

  “You didn’t see how fast he ran out of here.” She sounded like a sullen child even to herself. Yes, she was quick to anger, but life had shown her exactly how appropriate that reaction was.

  Lance rubbed his right temple. “Maybe you just shocked him. Men aren’t good with this kind of thing. I mean, other than Jackson. We need time to process stuff, especially serious stuff. You need to talk to him.”

  Was Lance right? Could she let herself be vulnerable again only to be crushed?

  “Maybe,” she said.

  “Go get ready. I’ll wait for you.”

  He reached inside his shorts pocket and pulled out his phone. “I’m going to text the Dogs and let them know we need an emergency meeting.”

  “But Brody’s busy.”

  “He and Kara are on their way home for a few nights. And Zane will be there. That’s just how it’s going to be. You’re family, Honor, and this is how we deal with it.”

  Family. They were the closest thing she would ever get to one.

  “Fine,” she said.

  “Fine.”

  Chapter Nine

  Zane

  * * *

  ZANE SAT ACROSS FROM his friends in Brody’s study. After he finished explaining about the property and his idea, as well as the investors he and Honor had met with, Kyle shook his head in what could only be interpreted as disgust.

  Brody’s expression was that of hurt, not anger.

  “So, let me get this straight. He offered to sell it, but only to you,” Kyle said.

  “That’s right,” Zane said.

  “Dude, I can’t believe you would do that,” Kyle said. “Why would you go to anyone else but us? We want in for tons of reasons, the least of which is to help you out.”

  “Not cool,” Brody said.

  “I don’t want to use you guys for your money,” Zane said. “And that’s what this feels like.”

  “You know how many times I’ve tried to talk that guy into selling?” Kyle asked.

  “This town is our home,” Brody said. “The business stuff aside, what you have planned would be great for the community. If I didn’t go in, it makes me look like the douche everyone thinks I am.”

  Zane hadn’t thought of it that way.

  “This town’s more important to me than ever now that I have Kara,” Brody said. “I want to make sure she’s safe here, and the people of this town are a big part of that. We don’t want outsiders coming in here and investing in our businesses.”

  “Good point,” Kyle said.

  “I hate being the poor guy,” Zane said. “It bugs me.”

  “You’re hardly poor,” Kyle said. “You own the only successful eating establishment in town.”

  “All my money goes to Dad,” Zane said.

  “I don’t know why you won’t let me help out with that either,” Brody said.

  “No. Not that. It has to be me.”

  “Well, then let’s make this plan of yours work,” Kyle said. “We can each buy a third of the share of land and the brewery. That way we all win. Brody looks good. I get richer. You get to fulfill your dream.”

  “When you put it that way, it sounds so simple,” Zane said.

  “It is, dummy,” Kyle said. “That big chip on your shoulder makes you overcomplicate what’s very simple. Business and success is all about who you know. You know Mr. Hollingsworth so you get the property. Brody and I know you, so we get a piece of the most coveted land in Cliffside. You know us, so you get partners who have the capital to do this thing right.”

  “Somehow it feels like cheating,” Zane said.

  “You know how hard I’ve worked to get where I am?” Kyle asked.

  “Sure,” Zane said. It was true. Kyle worked at a relentless, almost feverish pace. It seemed like the more land he owned, the more he wanted.

  “But the truth is, I’ve used every bit of luck presented to me over the years. Who do you think gave me my first loan?” Kyle asked.

  “It wasn’t a big deal,” Brody said.

  “It was to me. Someone starting out with zero will stay at zero unless he swallows his pride and asks for help,” Kyle said. “Now I’m in the position to offer help to you and to increase my portfolio at the same time. I’m actually truly pissed you didn’t come to us first.”

  “Honor thought that would be the case,” Zane said. “I guess I was only looking at it from my point of view.”

  “Pride’s one of the seven sins, bro,” Kyle said.

  “So is greed,” Zane said.

  “You got me there. Guilty.” Kyle grinned. Clearly, remorse was not in the jail cell with him. “I’ll buy up as much of California as I can and then head north to buy Oregon and Washington.”

  “Understand this,” Zane said. “I want to run things my way. I’m the one who knows this business.”

  Kyle put up his hands in a gesture of surrender. “Dude. Say no more. I believe in you five hundred percent. Whatever you say, goes.”

  Brody nodded in obvious agreement. “I don’t know how to do anything but play football. You guys know Honor manages all my business dealings. You’ll have to work with her, Zane, but I don’t think she’ll feel inclined to get in your way. None of us know the first thing about the food and beverage business.”

  “Tell us again what she said to the investors,” Kyle said. “Man, I admire her brain. I wished she worked for me instead of this idiot.” He gestured toward Brody.

  “She’s not available,” Brody said.

  Honor Sullivan. Could he ever get away from her?

  Kyle’s phone buzzed from the table. He picked it up and glanced down at the message.

  “That was Lance. He says we need an emergency meeting,” Kyle said. “Something to do with Honor.”

  “Honor?” Zane asked.

  “She needs our help,” Kyle said.

  “All of us?” Zane asked.

  “What the hell? I thought you two were finally getting it together,” Brody said. “What happened last night?”

  “We had a misunderstanding.”

  “What did yo
u do?” Kyle asked.

  Zane sighed and pulled one foot over his knee. “It’s complicated.”

  “If you’re too stupid to snap her up, I have no sympathy for you,” Kyle said.

  His tone took Zane by surprise. There was no hint of humor or teasing, only a simmering anger.

  “Who are you to talk?” Zane asked. “You use women and toss them aside like yesterday’s garbage.”

  Kyle grimaced. “I’m me, yeah. I never claimed to be anything but me. I’m not interested in getting married or having anything serious. Women know that going in. I’m not the one who has such obvious feelings for a woman—a great woman, by the way—and yet, not an ounce of courage to actually go for it.”

  “Shut it, Kyle. Seriously,” Zane said.

  “Truth hurts, doesn’t it?” Kyle asked.

  “You guys, stop,” Brody said. “This isn’t the way we talk to one another. We’re the Dogs. Thick and thin, remember?”

  “Thick head, you mean,” Kyle said.

  “What’s it to you anyway?” Zane asked.

  “What’s it to me?” Kyle sputtered and jumped to his feet. “Isn’t it obvious? Honor’s my friend and I’ve stood by and watched you treat her like crap for the past few months. To me, that’s the worst kind of cowardice.”

  “What the hell does that mean?” Zane sprung up from his chair ready to fight. He would knock Kyle halfway to next week if he uttered one more word about cowardice.

  “It means that you got your little feelings hurt and started acting like a spoiled child.” Arms folded over his chest, Kyle glared at him. “Honor deserves better. She deserves a man. A real man.”

  “I’m going to hurt you, I swear to God.” Zane balled his hands into fists at his side. “Wipe that judgmental look off your face.”

  “You guys, this is ridiculous. What’s wrong with you two?” Brody stood now too, alarm stretching the muscles of his face into a pained grimace.

  “What is it, for real, Kyle? Do you have a thing for her?” Zane asked.

  “Don’t be stupid,” Kyle said. “She’s so obviously in love with you that no one else has a chance.”

  “But you want one, don’t you? Another notch in your bedpost, is that it? Because that’s not what she is to me. I love her.”