Dirty Money

by Michelle Love

  I have to laugh. “You would.”

  “So let’s go give him his damn truck and get my bike and you can tell him to fuck off forever. I can punch him if you want.” He kisses my cheek. “Only if you want me to.”

  “I do, but don’t. He was in a coma and I don’t know what all he had wrong with him so we’ll have to leave the physical stuff out.” I lean my head on his shoulder. “Thanks, though.”

  I feel good and bad, it’s odd. It’s a relief that he’s no longer a real issue in my relationship with Benny, but he’s still a man I loved once and he lied to me.

  We pull up to the motel and I find Gage coming out as soon as we stop in front of his little motel room.

  “Should I give him one more night here or what, Angel?” Benny asks me.

  “I really think you’ve already done more than enough for the ass.”

  He opens the door and gets out then helps me down. The perfume wafts out as we get out and I see Gage’s eyes go kind of big but he quickly loses the ‘oh shit’ expression.

  “Hi, Angel. You look great. Kind of like a pretty school teacher. Not like yourself much at all. But still pretty,” he says. He holds his arms out. “Can I have a hug?”

  Benny laughs. And goes to his bike and gets on it. Gage’s eyes follow him and he looks a little confused.

  I cross my arms and give him a nod. “You can have a hug if you really want to come that close to me. I wouldn’t advise it, though.”

  He takes a few steps back. “And why is that, Angel?”

  “I found a photo of you and Sandy.”

  He looks right into my eyes and says, “Who?”

  “You know the thing that makes me the maddest is that you would see a real relationship end just to have me take care of your ass for the rest of your fucking useless life.” I take a step toward him and he takes another back.

  “Angel, what are you talking about?”

  “I know Sandy, sweetheart. I went to school with her. I know her best friend, Patty too. And you’ll be happy to know that Sandy will be back in town soon. Try your hand at that again. The poor girl apparently was there for you at the hospital.”

  “Is that what she said? That girl’s a sociopath. A freaking liar, Angel.” He stands his ground as he goes on, “She told me her name was Melissa. I left town because of her. She was threatening to tell you that she and I had been messing around. She liked me. Wanted me. But I was faithful to you and she hated it.”

  His words, though most likely bullshit, do remind me of another boy in school saying something very similar.

  I look at Benny. “This may be a little bit true, Benny. What should I do?”

  “Fuck!” he says. “You’re too smart to fall for this bullshit, Angel.”

  Gage takes me by the arm and I look at him. “I did hide some stuff from you but it was for your own protection. She threatened to kill you. I left to get away from her. When I woke up at the hospital, she was there. Angel, I think she might have been trying to run me down or something. I think that’s why I wrecked. I came here to get your help because my parents left me with her. They believed all her lies and with my memory loss I kind of did too. She had that picture of us with my arm around her and all. But I don’t remember her. I only remember you.”

  Well, what the fuck do I do now?

  BLAZE

  It’s times like these that I wish I had a portable lie detector test!

  Angel looks at me with an expression that asks me what she should do. I want to say, ‘tell him to fuck off, anyway,’ but I don’t say that. “Fuck!” I look at Gage and see real sadness and worry in his dark eyes. “Get in your truck and follow us home. I don’t know how my parents are going to react to this shit. Get on, Angel.”

  She hurries over and climbs on back of my bike as she says, “I’m sorry, Baby. This is getting to be a real cluster-fuck, isn’t it?”

  Sarcasm is heavily laced with my words as I say, “You think?”

  She smacks me in the arm. “If it’s getting to be too much for you, I can…”

  I start up the bike and drown out her next words. I know what they are, ‘can leave.’ I shake my head and drive away as she hangs onto me.

  My mind is numb as I try not to think about how my parents are going to act when we bring home this man with his peculiar story and the fact he wants to take my girl away from me.

  It’s hard to keep my thoughts positive in nature. And when I pull into my drive and see another long black car there, I shudder.

  Grandfather!

  When I stop, Angel asks, “Who do you think is here now?”

  “By the chill that ran down my spine when I saw the car, I’d say it’s my grandfather. So this should be one fucking awesome day.”

  I get off and hold out my hand to help her. Once she’s off, I pull her into my arms. “Need a hug, Baby?” she whispers.

  “I need a hell of a lot more than just this hug, but I’ll take what I can get for now. This is going to have to be handled delicately. Let me do the talking, Princess.” I let her out of the hug and take her hand, leading her up the sidewalk as Gage hops out of his truck.

  He looks in awe as he looks up at the huge, log cabin style mansion. “Fuck me, Angel. I know you’ll never leave this guy!”

  I smile and hope he’s right. “I hope she won’t, Gage.”

  Angel makes a nervous laugh which is so unlike her. “Let’s not talk about that. Benny’s parents are here and someone else too. He thinks it’s his grandfather. They’re from New York and filthy rich so don’t be offended if they come off snobby, as they can’t help it.”

  I stop and look at her. “When did you get so damn understanding, Angel?”

  “I’ve always been that way. I get it. There’s more than one way to live life. They can’t help where they come from just like the rest of us can’t,” she says as she starts walking again. “And the truth is, I can’t wait to meet your grandfather. I’m sure he’s nothing like you’ve told me he is. Your parents sure weren’t as bad as you said they were. Your father is adorable and your mother is so June Cleaver.”

  I get a lopsided grin because she thinks of my mother just like I do. We’re so much on the same wavelength, it’s cute.

  In no time at all, I see us becoming that couple who can finish each other’s sentences. Order food for the other and pick out the perfect presents for one another.

  I take in a deep breath before I open the door.

  “Okay, you two, just keep it low key. Don’t get into any of this story with these people. They’ll only judge you very harshly. It’s what they do.”

  Angel looks at Gage, who’s walking on the other side of her, and says, “Don’t let him freak you out, Gage.”

  He gives her a nod and we head inside. No one is in the great room where I thought I’d find them. “Mother, Father,” I call out.

  Then I hear some playful yapping coming from out back and look at Angel. She looks back at me with fear in her eyes. “Oh, no! You don’t think they went out there, do you? Cuddles will rip them up.”

  Gage’s eyes go all bright. “Cuddles is out there?”

  He starts to haul ass toward the sound and Angel shouts out at him, “Gage, wait for us or you’ll get lost. This place is enormous.”

  “I found a map!” I hear him call out.

  I forgot the floor plans are still on that table by the stairs.

  She giggles and leans her head on my shoulder as I run my arm over her shoulders and she says, “He found a map. That sounds so funny.”

  We walk to the patio doors and get there just in time to see him open them. My jaw drops as I see my grandfather petting the dog. My parents are outside too and the dog seems comfortable with them.

  “Cuddles,” Gage shouts.

  The dog stops wagging her tail and turns away from my grandfather. Her expression goes to one of confusion for only a moment then she makes a b-line for Gage, who’s holding out his arms. She flies into them and he hugs her as she licks his
face and makes odd yips.

  Angel sighs, “She missed him.”

  “It looks like I’ve lost her,” I say, quietly.

  Angel whispers, “She used to scratch at the door and go outside to look for him when he left. That’s when she started sleeping in the bed with me. It was like she was waiting for him to come back. But he never did.”

  She’s just watching him and their dog and I feel left out. And then my time to feel sorry for myself is over as my grandfather says, “Now who do we have here? The prodigal grandson has been found.”

  They come back inside as Gage goes out to play with the dog. They all introduce themselves as they pass each other and I offer no explanation to who the man is.

  My grandfather cannot stop looking at Angel. She smiles at him and extends her hand. “Hi, Mr. Worthington, I’m Angel Jennings.”

  He takes her hand and I try to keep a hold of her shoulders so she doesn’t hug him like she did to my parents but I can’t as she slips away somehow.

  Her arms go around him as his eyes go wide and my father chuckles then he says, “She’s a hugger, Father.”

  “I can see that,” Grandfather says as he lets her hug him then looks her up and down when she lets him go. “My, you are a nice-looking young woman. What do you see in the hippy, here?”

  She laughs and comes back to me, taking my hand. “You mean this rascal? There’s so much to see in him. He’s sweet, kind, sincere, loveable. I could go on and on.”

  I have to grin and pull her into my arms and kiss her cheek. Another thing that has my grandfather’s eyes popping. “Sweet? Benjamin?” He shakes his head.

  “Come, let’s sit in the great room and visit,” Angel says as she pulls me along with her to the large room at the front of the house. She takes my grandfather’s hand with her other one and pulls him along too. “I’m so glad you could make time to come visit us. I’ve been dying to meet you, sir. It’s such an honor to have a man of your great accomplishment in our home. You’ve built such a wonderful legacy for your family. You see, I want to learn as much as I can from you, if you’ll indulge me, that is.”

  She makes us sit on either side of her as she pulls us down on the large leather sofa. My grandfather asks, “And why do you want to learn from me?”

  “You see, I’m about to hold a Master’s Degree in Engineering and want to build motorcycles. I’d like to have my own company and would love to learn how you managed to do such a remarkable job building yours,” she says as she leans back and I run my arm around her shoulders and have to kiss her cheek.

  “An engineer. I see. That’s something to be proud of, young lady. You have very high expectations.” Grandfather sits back and smiles.

  Wow, a real smile!

  Angel laughs a little then says, “I see no reason to have anything less than the highest expectations when you’re talking about the most important thing in your life. It’s the most important thing, providing your family with a firm foundation to build upon. Don’t you think so?”

  He blinks at her a few times then looks at me. “Don’t let this one go, Benjamin.”

  “I have no plans to, Grandfather.” I look at her and want to smother her with kisses.

  Angel snaps her fingers. “You know what would be fun?”

  I shake my head. “What, Baby?”

  “If we had us a big old bar-b-que.” She looks at my parents. “You all will be spending at least one night with us, won’t you?”

  “Well, I…,” Mom says then looks at my father. “It wasn’t a thing we’d planned on.”

  My grandfather continues to floor me as he says, “If you invite us to, then we will. It would be rude not to accept the invitation.”

  “Fabulous!” Angel claps her hands. “I’ll invite my grandmother. My parents live in California or I’d have them over to meet you all too. And I’ll hire a really great chef to make our dinner. He’ll be so over the top excited to cook for you all. He has his own restaurant in town and is famous for his steaks.”

  I’ve never been more certain about anything in my entire life. This woman is the one for me!

  Then Gage walks in with the floor plan of the house in his hand.

  “Hey, Angel, I overheard you talking about having a party. Am I invited too?”

  My grandfather looks at the man then back at Angel. “Who might this young man be to you, my darling girl?”

  My eyes go wide. My grandfather does not use such words.

  Angel answers, “Oh, he’s my old boyfriend. The story is crazy, and I’d bore you with the details. But he has a problem and we want to try to help him with it.”

  “Plus, I love her and want her back,” Gage says.

  “Dude!” I shout. “Not cool!”

  “Well, I do,” he says, a lot quieter.

  Angel pats my grandfather’s leg. “Don’t worry. I love Benny with all my heart.”

  “That’s good to hear, Angel,” he says then looks at Gage again. “Well tell us your big problem, Gage.”

  Gage sits on the floor, Indian style and starts telling his story. I’m kind of shocked and can tell he does have residual effects from his brain injury as a few words he says oddly and his eyes blink rapidly about every twenty minutes.

  Angel grips my hand as Gage tells us that this young woman named Melissa came on to him one day as he ate lunch at Bell’s Diner. She even came to their house once, telling him Angel said she could borrow some clothes. She put on some and said she needed to take a picture to send to Angel’s phone to see if it was okay to borrow them.

  It seems she tricked him into getting into the shot with her and somehow got him to put his arm around her and then she used the picture to blackmail him.

  He wasn’t about to give in until she threatened to kill Angel if he didn’t leave her. That was when he came up with the story about wanting to travel the world. Only he was going to go to Texas and stay with his family until he could figure out what to do about the crazy chick.

  But he was in the motorcycle accident only hours after leaving town and when he finally woke up, the crazy Melissa was there. Only she was telling him they had a strong love and he and she were leaving Sturgis together.

  She told him she was right behind him in her car and saw the accident that was caused by some debris on the road. She stayed by his side and made even his family believe her story.

  Sioux Falls is where she got a job and rented an apartment and he moved in with her when they let him out of the hospital. Little by little his memory started returning and Angel was the only person he remembered loving. And he knew he’d never leave her and had never really had anything to do with Melissa.

  As he ends his story, I look around to see my parents and grandfather captivated and cannot believe it. Angel holds my hand tight and looks at me. “Benny, what should we do?”

  I shake my head and find myself further surprised as my grandfather says, “We have to get this woman to admit what she did.” He looks at Gage. “And, I’m sure you do love Angel, but she had no choice but to move on and you have to accept that. I’m sure you two can remain lifelong friends. But nothing more than that.”

  Gage frowns then says, “You’re right. I know you are.” He looks at Angel. “The truth is, I never made you glow the way you do with him. You never looked at me like you look at him. Your eyes light up and your voice even changes when you talk to or about him. So, I’ll take your friendship if you’ll give it.”

  Angel looks at me and smiles as she asks, “Would that be alright, Benny? Can I be his friend?”

  I look at her a long time then at him. “Can you keep your hands off her?”

  His lips quirk up into a half-smile. “I think she’ll make sure I do.”

  I run my hand over the top of her thigh. “She damn well better.” With my cursing, I cut my eyes to be ready for my grandfather to tell me how it’s not allowed but am stunned when he smiles and sits back.

  Angel hops up and pulls me with her. “We have a few calls to ma
ke to get things ready. You are all feel free to look around the place.”

  She keeps going until we’re at the door to our bedroom where she takes me inside and closes the door then turns back and pushes me against it. Her mouth is hot on mine.

  I run my hands down and cup her ass in them, picking her up. She wraps her legs around me and I walk over to the bed with her. Pulling my mouth away, I toss her onto our bed.

  She’s panting as she looks up at me. “Strip.”

  I do as she’s said to, then push her dress up and this time I rip those white lace panties right off. I flip her over and yank her back to me then slap her ass, nice and hard.

  She moans out, “Oh, do it again, Benny.”

  I do it again and slam my hard cock into her soaking wet depths. “You’re so fucking perfect, Baby. So fucking perfect.”

  “No, you are,” she says. “Baby give me five more. I want to see your hand print on my ass when we’re done.”

  “You are one naughty girl, Angel.”

  “That I am.”

  ANGEL

  After some much-needed Benny and Angel time, I managed to make the phone calls needed to get this party going and expect my grandmother to arrive any minute.

  Freddy’s already brought a small staff with him and is in the kitchen preparing dinner. It feels so odd being the hostess of such a shindig. I never saw myself in this role. Not ever!

  I also never saw myself sitting around with both my current boyfriend and my former either.

  The doorbell rings and I get up to answer it, sure that it’s my grandmother. Without looking through the peephole, I open the door and there stands a version of Sandy Whitehead. Or Melissa, as Gage knows her.

  “Sandy?” I ask as I look at the girl who’d been blonde but now is a brunette with dark brown eyes and pale skin.

  “No, I’m Melissa and I’m here to get my fiancé.”

  “You’re Sandy Whitehead. We went to school together. You were a couple of grades ahead of me but I do know you, Sandy.” I look her dead in the eyes and I can see she’s got a lot of anger.