Tarnished Soul: A Nine Minutes Spin-Off Novel

by Beth Flynn

  “Brave and smart,” Christy announced.

  Lucy stared at her hands that were neatly folded in her lap.

  Christy leaned closer. “I’ll ask you one question, and all I’m asking for is your honest answer.”

  Lucy glanced sideways. “Okay. Sure.”

  “Do you care for him, Lucy? Do you maybe even love Brooks?”

  The mask fell as the tears flowed. Lucy cried harder when Christy scooted closer and wrapped an arm around her.

  “It’s okay, Lucy. Let it out. I’ve certainly shed my fair share of tears over Anthony.”

  “I shouldn’t.” Lucy sobbed. “I shouldn’t love him, Christy. He’s a criminal. He’s capable of doing horrid things.” She shot Christy a teary look. “He has done horrid things. He’s not hidden that from me. But…” She sniffled.

  “Is that why you’ve rejected him? If it is, I can understand. I guess I just need to ask what happened between you two? Did Brooks physically hurt you? I can’t imagine him doing that, but if he did, I’ll make sure Anthony knows you have a valid reason for dumping him.”

  Lucy stood up and looked down at Christy. She lifted her glasses to swipe at her eyes. “If you call shattering my heart into a million pieces, then yes, Jonas, umm…Brooks hurt me. But I didn’t dump him. He dumped me.” She sat back down. “I can’t help it, Christy. I love him. And I know he loves me. At least I thought he did. Now I’m not so sure.” Her shoulders slumped as more tears streamed down her face.

  Christy found her way to the kitchen. She returned with two napkins and handed them to Lucy. After wiping her eyes and blowing her nose, Lucy thanked her.

  “That’s why I’m here,” Christy admitted.

  Lucy’s forehead knitted into a frown.

  Christy smiled kindly. “There is no doubt Brooks loves you.”

  There was no mistaking the glimmer of hope in Lucy’s eyes when she asked, “How do you know that? Has he said something to you or Anthony?”

  Shaking her head, Christy answered, “No. But he hasn’t had to. Brooks is not himself and Anthony suspected the reason was because you’d hurt him. Not the other way around. It’s why he asked me to come talk to you.”

  “What do you mean he’s not himself?”

  Christy sat back down and sighed. She looked at the ceiling and contemplated her next words. “Brooks has been off drugs for years, but he’s always enjoyed an occasional beer. He’s gone from occasional beer to getting full-blown wasted. Anthony’s concerned that when that’s not enough to dull the pain, he might resort to drugs again.”

  “The pain?” Lucy questioned.

  “Of losing you, obviously.”

  “But he didn’t lose me, Christy. He rejected me. And I’m pretty sure I know why. It’s because…”

  “He thinks you’re too good for him,” Christy interrupted with a knowing nod.

  Lucy agreed. “That’s my only guess. And just so you know. It’s not true.” She then filled Christy in on the time they’d spent together and all the things Jonas had done for her since. Afterwards, she stared at a spot on the floor, depleted of energy.

  “There’s also talk around Camp Sawgrass that he hasn’t been acting like himself in other ways.”

  Lucy shook her head. “I don’t understand.”

  Christy tucked a stray tendril of blond hair behind her ear. “Brooks has been completely celibate. He has shown no interest whatsoever in the women. So much so that the gossip has reached Anthony’s ears. I can guarantee you that Anthony has never cared one way or the other who sleeps with whom, but when the women started complaining about Brooks turning his nose up at them, it caught Anthony’s attention.”

  Lucy felt her spirits lift slightly. Then she remembered something. “Maybe he’s sleeping with someone at his part-time job,” she offered with a dejected tone.

  “At Ruthies?” Christy laughed. “I highly doubt he’s sleeping with someone there. He’s too busy legally beating the tar out of guys.”

  “Ruthies?” Lucy asked. “That’s where he works? He never told me what he did or where he did it. Isn’t that a seedy bar on the outskirts of Naples?”

  “Yes,” Christy confirmed. “The name is deceiving, isn’t it? Sounds like it should be a family restaurant. But according to Anthony, one of his biker buddies anonymously owns it. And the manager hired Brooks to be a bouncer. And boy, is he taking advantage of being allowed to rough up some of the riffraff. I highly doubt Brooks is there for female companionship.”

  Lucy’s relief at knowing Jonas hadn’t fallen into the arms of another woman was fleeting. “I don’t know how I can help, Christy. He’s made it clear. He doesn’t want to be with me. Whether I believe his motive or not doesn’t mean anything. I’m not sure I’m the reason behind his change in behavior.”

  Christy’s posture changed when she addressed Lucy with a tone of authority. “You are so wrong there. Brooks isn’t a drunk. And as hard as this might be for you to hear, Brooks has regularly slept with every female at that camp for years. And here’s the clincher. Brooks accepted a job where he gets to beat on people.”

  Lucy looked confused.

  “Brooks has never needed a reason to beat on people, Lucy. He’s always done whatever he’s wanted. Lots of times he’s had to pay the consequences. I’m sure you know about his jail and prison stints. But that still hasn’t stopped him from being Brooks. Don’t you see? You’ve somehow seeped into his heart. He took that job so he would have an excuse to express his anger. He wouldn’t have needed an excuse if you didn’t have some influence over him.” She slapped a hand on her knee. “Don’t you see it? He’s never cared before you came along. Am I making sense?” she asked.

  Lucy blinked and adjusted her glasses. “You agree then that he loves me, and he’s angry that we’re not together?”

  “Oh yeah. No doubt in my mind.”

  Lucy shrugged. “Okay. We agree that he loves me. I can’t make him see me, Christy. I’ve already told him I’m leaving for a job in Atlanta come January. I gave him an ultimatum that if he didn’t come to me, I was leaving.” She sat up a little straighter. “And I will.”

  “He may not have come to you, but he will come when Anthony calls.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Look, what if we plan a way for you to be around Brooks in his setting? Somewhere that he’s comfortable. A place with plenty of witnesses. Witnesses that are his kind of people. Friends and acquaintances who might encourage him to give you two a chance. Who knows? If they think he’s good enough for you, he might start to believe it too.”

  “Like the people we saw at the movie theater?” Lucy wanted to know. She bobbed her head slightly as if warming to the idea. “Some of the men did seem encouraging.” A beat passed as Lucy contemplated Christy’s suggestion. “How could you manage something like that?”

  “I have an idea.” Christy gave her a conspiratorial grin. “Anthony has asked me more than once to marry him. Maybe it’s time I said yes. We can have the ceremony at Camp Sawgrass. We pick a weekend when we know X will be out of town.”

  “That’s Alexander, right?” Lucy asked. “The one who looks like Paul Newman on steroids with tattoos? I remember him from the restaurant.”

  “Yes!” Christy shouted. “X is dreamy, isn’t he? Those blue eyes of his are so striking.” She looked thoughtful when she added, “Anthony said he’s spending one long weekend a month away from the crew. My man is usually super intuitive about things, but he hasn’t figured out why X has been asking for time off, and since it doesn’t affect business, Anthony won’t ask. But I’m digressing here. I’ll find out when X’s next weekend off is, and I’ll plan a wedding at Camp Sawgrass. I’ll need a maid of honor.” A bright smile lit up her face. “And Anthony will need a best man. Alexander would be Anthony’s logical first choice since he’s first-in-command. Since X won’t be around, Brooks is the perfect candidate. And Anthony will make sure everybody at the camp is there to witness our nuptials.”

  �
�It sounds like a great plan, but I wouldn’t count on any of the women showing their support for me and Brooks. Some of those girls weren’t exactly nice. One in particular.”

  “You don’t need to worry about a thing. I’ll plan it all, and we can even make a date to go dress shopping. Please say yes, Lucy.”

  Lucy looked skeptical. “I’m just not sure he’ll get the encouragement you think he’ll get from all of his camp friends, especially the women.”

  “I can guarantee he will,” Christy replied. “Anthony will see to it.”

  When Lucy looked slightly puzzled, Christy added. “What Anthony says at that camp is the law. And I can promise you that nobody, not even Brooks, would risk breaking it.”

  Chapter 55

  Twenty-four hours of total sobriety. Twenty-four fucking hours of what Anthony had deemed a requirement for his wedding to Christy. Everybody at the camp received the same order, with the exception of X, who was lucky enough to be off on one of his monthly adventures.

  Jonas might’ve tried to find an excuse as well if Anthony hadn’t asked him to be his best man. How do you turn down one of your only friends who also happens to be your boss?

  “You clean up nice, Brooks,” Anthony said from next to him.

  “Not like I had a choice,” Jonas muttered in reply. He allowed himself a moment to survey the space. He’d never attended a wedding but had to admit that Christy’s skills in turning the rundown camp into an attractive outdoor venue were admirable. And it didn’t hurt that Anthony owned a landscaping company. Jonas had never seen so many plants and flowers in his life. Christy even had the smarts to hire out some of the bartenders and servers from Ruthies to handle the liquor and food for the reception. They were a good choice since they would be used to dealing with this kind of crowd. His eyes wandered to the bar that had been set up at the camp’s old BBQ area. Anthony had made it clear that as soon as the vows were said, the club was welcome to as much drugs, booze, and food as they wanted. Jonas spied several bottles of whiskey and knew he’d be draining them in record time. Since saying goodbye to Lucy at the Waffle House, Jonas had been wallowing in misery. He wavered between working his agony off at Ruthies or letting himself get shit-faced. It was the only way he knew how to deal with the pain of letting go of the only woman he would ever love. Thoughts of Lucy heightened the ache in his sober heart. He needed Christy to walk down the aisle pronto. The sooner they said their vows, the sooner he would be able to drown his pain.

  “Are you gentlemen ready?” Hobie asked from his place next to them on the temporary platform. Jonas had been surprised to learn Hobie was an ordained minister. When he’d asked the seasoned biker about it, Hobie admitted he’d fallen away from his calling due to an incident he’d never shared. “Maybe I’ll tell you about it one day, Brooks,” he’d told him.

  Nat King Cole’s “Unforgettable” was the cue for Christy to walk down the makeshift aisle. Jonas’ earlier irritation evaporated as happiness for his friend overshadowed his own misery. He had to admit she was a beautiful bride. Even though she wasn’t wearing a traditional white wedding dress, she looked stunning. She approached them slowly, carrying a spray of flowers. He leaned sideways and whispered, “I would’ve been honored to walk Christy down the aisle for you, Bear. Doesn’t seem right that she doesn’t have anyone to give her away.”

  Anthony slapped him hard on the back and squeezed his shoulder tightly. “That’s okay, Brooks. It doesn’t matter anyway.” Before Jonas could comment, Anthony added, “You’re not here for mine and Christy’s wedding. We’re here for yours.”

  Chapter 56

  Hidden from view, Lucy watched as Christy slowly made her way toward Jonas, Anthony, and Hobie. Lucy remembered Hobie from the gas station and had met with him more recently to discuss the ceremony. His skin was tanned and weathered from age and the sun. He had a gray scraggly beard and wore his long hair of the same color in a ponytail. He looked every bit the grizzled and hardened biker, with one exception. His eyes. There was a kindness and sadness to them that pierced Lucy’s heart. And after hearing his story, she knew that he didn’t participate in the gang’s more unsavory activities. He was only there for one reason. He had nowhere else to go.

  She watched as Jonas’ eyes landed on Christy. His expression went from one of aggravation to admiration, and Lucy could only hope he would look at her the same way. She watched as Anthony slapped him on the back and squeezed his shoulder while saying something. She could tell from the look on Jonas’ face, he’d just been informed of the true intent of the wedding ceremony.

  A warm breath in her ear reminded her, “Don’t worry, Lucy. It’ll be all right.”

  She gazed up at X and gave him an uncertain smile. “I hope you’re right.” She swallowed before adding, “There are a lot of things that could go wrong.” She was referring to the large throng of bikers who’d gathered for the nuptials. Even though they were there at Anthony’s insistence, there were no guarantees in Lucy’s mind that they’d behave. Christy had deliberately not ordered chairs since the ceremony would be short. Plus, she knew when the partying started, it was a safe bet any chairs she’d rented would get destroyed.

  Alexander looped his arm through hers and said, “Nothing will go wrong. Brooks has been miserable, Lucy. He may act like he’s not on board at first, but that’s all it’ll be. An act. You stand your ground up there, young lady. You’re a beautiful bride, and you’re exactly what Brooks needs in his life. Even if he’s too damn stubborn to admit it.”

  Lucy was practically mesmerized by eyes that were so icy blue they almost appeared white. “Thank you, Alexander. Not just for walking me down the aisle but for pretending this was your weekend away so Jonas could fill in for you. He’ll be surprised when he sees us coming toward him.”

  X shook his head. “He won’t even notice me after he lays his eyes on you, Lucy.”

  As they slowly made their way toward the temporary altar, Lucy reflected on how she’d arrived at this moment. She’d been genuinely happy that Anthony and Christy’s wedding would give her at least one more opportunity to spend some time with Jonas. Christy had instantly jumped in with both feet, and Lucy had been flattered when she sought her advice on everything from a wedding song to the types of flowers Lucy preferred. It wasn’t until the day they were to pick out their dresses that Lucy discovered something that would change the entire course of their plan.

  They’d stopped for a quick lunch on their way to the bridal shop when Christy admitted over a sandwich and iced tea that the wedding wouldn’t be real.

  Lucy couldn’t hide her shock. “What do you mean it won’t be real?”

  “I’m not ready to get married and Anthony knows it. He’s been on board for the mock wedding this whole time, so don’t look so devastated for him. This is a chance for you to spend some time with Brooks, remember?” she asked with a grin.

  “Yeah, but a wedding? Maybe a double-date would’ve been easier and less expensive.”

  Christy waved her comment away. “This is more fun. Don’t you think?”

  The memory was put on pause when Lucy’s eyes locked with Jonas’ as he stood next to Anthony. He was too far away for her to read the emotion behind them, but if body language was a tell-all, she knew he was not happy. She almost faltered in her step, but remembering the exact moment over lunch when the plan had veered off course gave her a new determination. She’d started internally fuming when Christy shared that Anthony had offered to give up his lifestyle for her. Lucy’s ire wasn’t aimed at Anthony and Christy’s circumstances but at Jonas. She hadn’t asked Jonas to give up a darn thing. Nothing. All Lucy had wanted from him was an acknowledgment of his love and to give their relationship, their future, a chance. She’d never asked for a commitment. She’d never asked him to give up his beloved motorcycle club or criminal activities. And it was at that precise second that a new proposal had formed in her mind. Jonas had tricked her and insisted she spend thirty days with him at the cabin. Lucy was
now turning the tables. By her account, Jonas owed her thirty days and she was going to take them. Christy had seen the wheels turning behind Lucy’s intelligent eyes and seemed relieved when Lucy respectfully asked for a change to their well-thought-out strategy. Christy signaled the waitress for their check and leaned across her plate. “I knew you’d figure out what my goal has been all along. Let’s go pick out your wedding dress.”

  When Lucy and Alexander arrived at the raised dais, she saw Anthony nudge Jonas, who offered her his hand. Taking it, she slowly made her way up the steps and took her place. She steadied her gaze at Jonas, and not being able to read the sentiment behind his eyes, had an instant thought that maybe she’d taken this too far. The moment was fleeting as she proudly raised her chin and refused to look away. As promised, the vows were short and before Lucy knew it, Jonas was walking her down the steps. She’d not seen anything in his expression that hinted at how he was feeling. It was as if he’d instantaneously invented and perfected the mask of indifference.

  It was then that the crowd swarmed around them, and she found herself being gradually distanced from Jonas. She could hear some of the encouraging words being tossed at him but couldn’t hear or gauge his responses. She was being surrounded by her own group of well-wishers. Surprisingly, the first one came from the nasty woman at the movie theater.

  “If I’d known you were a friend of Christy’s, I wouldn’t have said the things I did,” she admitted.

  Lucy wasn’t sure how to reply, so she just smiled.

  “As far as male prospects are concerned, around here, there are only three at the top of the food chain. I guess you can imagine most of us had our sights set on Anthony for a while, so some of us weren’t real thrilled when Christy showed up.” She stopped to light a cigarette. “But Christy has been very good to us. We owe her for how some things have changed for the better here.” She took a long draw and blew out a stream of smoke that mingled with her sickly sweet perfume.