Secrets Behind Those Eyes

by S. M. Donaldson

  As Scarlet and I get ready for the concert he phone goes off again. She looks at it and tosses it on the bed.

  “Scarlet what’s going on? You have been staring at that phone all day.”

  “I was going to wait until we were back home but I keep getting these unknown number hang-up calls and I thought nothing of it. But this morning I got this text.” She pulls it up on her phone and hands it to me.

  When I read the text I’m beyond pissed. “Who in the hell do you think is sending you this stuff?”

  She looks scared. “I don’t know. I don’t know who would think I’m saying stuff about them. I mean I really hadn’t thought much about the phones calls. The wreck freaked me out, but I was really starting to think that maybe it was just someone who was too drunk. But now I’m really starting to freak out. The hang up calls were creepy, but now with that text it’s just-.”

  She’s starting to cry. “Baby I know and we are going to figure out who is doing this. What about the bar? You know the wreck did happen after work. Maybe some of those guys thought you saw something.”

  “Well I saw the owner and one of those nasty guys doing lines, but I never said anything.”

  I pull her into my arms. “It’s okay baby we’ll figure it out. Let’s just go to your brother’s concert and worry about all of this crazy shit after we get home. It’s obvious whoever is doing this is from Savannah so we don’t have to worry about them here.”

  She nods. “Okay just let me get my purse.”

  ~*~*~

  On the way to the concert I look over at her. “Hey so what’s up with your brother and that chick in his room?”

  She shakes her head. “I don’t know you heard him today. He says they are just bandmates, but I think there is more to it. But the way Gable is if he doesn’t want to talk about it he’s not going to.”

  “What’s so bad about her?”

  “Nothing. Well I mean she’s a good person it’s just drama follows Ivie where ever she goes. Her parents were crazy, like my life seems tame compared to hers. Her mom ran off when she was in elementary school with a pit boss from Biloxi or something. Then when she was around 15 her dad got locked up for smuggling drugs, money, people. Whatever he could in and out of the ports at home. She had to go live with her Aunt that had like five kids already and Ivie was always considered a pain in her ass. But she brought some of it on herself. Any guy who was covered in tattoos, had been picked up for something by the cops. Basically anything she could do to drive her aunt insane she did. When she was 18 the guys met her at a party her aunt had just kicked her out for the final time, they started talking music, invited her over to listen to them and within a few weeks she was part of the band. She moved in with Stoney for a little while until she met some guy and it’s been that way ever since. She moves in with a guy, when she moves out she stays at Stoney’s.”

  “Yeah but I mean most of that was her years ago. What about now? I mean she doesn’t seem to have a boyfriend now. Maybe she’s outgrown some of that.”

  “Maybe but last account I had she was dating some blown up gym rat or something. The boys wouldn’t say but I’m pretty sure he was running around on her and knocking her around.”

  “Damn that’s sad. Seems like she’s had it pretty rough.”

  “Yeah and I like her. I just worry about her being with my brother that’s all.”

  “Hey he’s probably just being a friend to her, which it sounds like she could use a few of them.”

  “Yeah I guess you are right. It was just weird walking in that room today and her there like that.” She shakes her head. “Whatever. Let’s just go enjoy the concert.”

  “Sure we can deal with all of the drama later.”

  She leans over and kisses me. “Sounds like a plan to me.”

  Chapter 27

  Scarlet

  Gable’s concert last night was awesome. I know it won’t be long before his band hits it big and are headlining their own shows. People were going crazy. They opened for Razor’s Edge and they’ve had billboard chart toppers. So I know being around them has helped their publicity, but that place was balls to the walls crazy. I’ve never seen so many girls trying to get my brother’s attention, hell there were some who even wanted Ivie’s attention.

  Now I’m heading back to my real world. I’m sad, I know I’ll see Gable in a few weeks but I’ll still miss him. That in combination with the fact that I have to go back home and figure out who in the hell is basically threatening and harassing me.

  “Hey what are you in such deep thought about over there?”

  I jump a little. “Oh I was just thinking about how crazy good Gable’s show was last night.”

  “Yeah babe they were pretty great. I think it won’t be long and they’ll be selling out venues all on their own. Don’t get me wrong Razor’s Edge was great but I actually liked the sound Gable’s band had better. I like more of the old school rock sound they have, but with a sexy edge. Ivie’s voice is like amazing.”

  “Yeah it is. So how do you think I can about finding out who this is harassing me?”

  “Well first of all I think we need to get your cell changed, but also I’m going to talk to the bastard that owns that bar.”

  “Please don’t cause yourself any trouble. I mean both of us probably wouldn’t look to favorable in the judges eyes right now, if we got into trouble.”

  “Yeah well I’m not going to let someone threaten you or hurt you. Do you understand me?”

  “Yes I do. I just think we need to be smart about this.”

  He takes my hand. “We will I promise.”

  The rest of our ride home is quiet, I nap while Ryder bless heart talks to his dad and Nelson on the phone about farm stuff.

  I wake up as we are pulling down the drive to Ryder’s house. “Babe I needed to go by my house and get some clothes, my car. I have stuff to do tomorrow.”

  “Yes I know which is why your mom packed some of your things and dropped them and the car off at my house. Plus she’s going out of town again and until this mess is sorted out you are not staying alone.”

  “Did she say where she was going? Hell she tells you more than she’s ever told me.”

  “Well I actually ask her. She’s going up to Augusta something about a meeting with some of the people from her retreats. She knows I don’t like you staying alone so we have an understanding. She lets me know when she will not be in town and I always have an emergency contact number for her. I think your wreck scared the shit out of her, more than she lets on. She wants to know that someone is taking care of you.”

  “I’ve been doing a fairly decent job of taking care of myself for years. Why now is she so concerned?”

  “Like I said I think the wreck, the fact that Gable is gone and he depended on him more than she realized when it came to you. Plus, she knows that I love you and would never let anything happen to you. Now come on lets go inside. I know you are dying to go check on your cow.”

  I smile. “Yes I do.”

  My phone dings, I almost dread it until I see it’s a text from Annabelle.

  Has Ryder talked to Judd lately?

  I look over to him. “Hey Annabelle is asking if you’ve talked to Judd lately.”

  “He told me their base would probably be on blackout for a few days, something to do with a sand storm coming in and some high rank officials coming through. Tell her don’t worry they can continue sexting or Skype sex or whatever they are doing soon enough.”

  “Ugh.” I text her back.

  Ryder says that he told him his base would probably be on blackout for a few days because a sandstorm was coming in and high officials coming through. That you’ll be able to continue whatever the hell it is you two are doing soon enough. LOL

  My phone dings right back.

  Okay it just worries me when we go on radio silence like this. Tell Ryder to get his damn head out of the gutter it’s not like that between us. We had our fling, but he’s my friend.

/>   I text back.

  Will do. We should do lunch this week I miss you.

  K. Will do.

  “She said get your mind out of the gutter, they are just friends, she was just worried about him. Which is true, she was going out on a date the other night. I guess he’s been seeing someone in his unit from what she told me, he told her.”

  “I think he’s killing time with someone in his unit. But whatever. Let’s go out and check on your cow.”

  I clap like a little girl. “Okay. I know you think I’m silly because I love that damn cow so much.”

  He shakes his head. “No I don’t.” He kisses me. “I think it’s cute.”

  ~*~*~

  We walk out to the barn and check on all the babies and their mommas. I check on Button who will still eat straight out of my hand. Nelson and Ryder talk about the cows that got sick. It seems they are all fine now and that it was narrowed down to one shipment of bad feed that was delivered.

  I’m rubbing Button when Ryder walks up behind me and puts his hands around my waist. “Hey you ready to go inside and settle in for the night? I’m kinda tired and I have to meet Nelson out here at 4 in the morning.”

  I lean back into him. “Sure let me get Button his treat and I’ll be ready.”

  He laughs. “Okay get him his treat.”

  After getting Button a treat and closing the gate, Ryder and I make our way back to the house.

  As we enter the bed room Ryder turns quickly and picks me up, I instinctively wrap my legs around his waist. “What are we doing?”

  He grins. “Shower. Because you are a very dirty girl.”

  He carries me in the bathroom. “Oh I’m a dirty girl? Well I think you are a very dirty little boy.”

  He grins as he sits me on the counter. “Baby you know there isn’t anything little about me.”

  I slide off the counter and strip out of my clothes while I watch him strip. As soon as his boxer briefs come off I drop to my knees and take him in my mouth. That damn piercing does it for me every time.

  “Shit babe. That feels awesome.” He pulls me up and I let go with a pop sound. “But before I blow I want to fuck you in my shower.”

  I squeal as he turns the water on. It’s so cold my nipples automatically perk up until they almost hurt. He takes one of them in his mouth roughly as he thrust into me. “Oh God Ryder.” I feel his piercing inside me. It always drives me right to the edge as soon as it hits the spot. “Ryder I’m about to come.”

  “Good because I’m so fucking turned on this won’t be my best time. This is definitely going to be a quickie.”

  We come together, he sits down on the shower bench. I’m still straddling his lap. “I love you Ryder.”

  “I love you too babe.”

  Chapter 28

  Ryder

  “Damn boy you look rough.” Nelson chuckles when I walk through the barn doors at four in the morning.

  “Thanks, you look like one big freakin’ ray of sunshine yourself.”

  “Hey. You should be in a good mood if you’re tired for the reasons I’m guessing you are tired from.”

  I laugh. “Thanks Nelson.” If he only knew that I got about two hours of sleep because we couldn’t seem to get enough of each other and when my alarm went off I really could’ve went another round with her, but I didn’t have time.

  I spend the morning going around with Nelson to our different farms. We are checking the feed shipments to see if any are from the same group that caused the cows at home to get sick.

  Which I can’t stop worrying about Scarlet and whoever is threatening her.

  We pull into a small café to grab some lunch. Once we sit down he looks at me. “So are you going to tell me what’s goin’ on in that head of yours? I see the worry all over your face. Your daddy gets the same look.”

  “That obvious huh?”

  “Yeah. Look I know Judd is who you normally talk to. I know that you don’t trust many people and truthfully son I can’t blame you. But why don’t you give me a shot at the job until Judd gets back home.”

  I nod. “Okay.” While we eat our blue plate special I explain to him all that’s happened to Scarlet.

  “I agree son. We need to figure out some way to get to the bottom of it.” He looks at me curiously. “I do have one question. Do you think whoever is doing this might be involved in the cows getting sick?”

  I shake my head. “No it seems like that was narrowed to the one shipment of feed, plus you know there is so much security footage of the farm I think we’d have caught something.”

  He nods. “I get your point. So what are you going to do about Scarlet?”

  “Well, we are going to change her phone number and I’m going by to talk to that asshole she used to work for.”

  “Don’t get yourself in trouble Ryder. The judge may not be so lenient next time.”

  “Yeah I know. She said the same thing.”

  “Well listen to her. I tell you a secret son. When it comes to common sense, women are mostly right. After twenty-five years of marriage I’ll admit that.”

  I laugh and shake my head. “Thanks Nelson. For the record, you listen and give out advice like Judd.”

  “Huh, I taught him everything he knows.”

  ~*~*~

  I pull into the parking lot of Silver Moon. It’s still kinda early so I know there won’t be many people in the bar. As I walk in I see the older lady working that was worked with Scarlet. “Hey is Danny in?”

  Lana looks up. “Yeah he’s in the back we aren’t open yet though.”

  “Well I need to speak with him. It’s a private matter.”

  She tosses the bar towel on the counter and takes off toward the back. “Fine.”

  A few minutes later Danny comes out from the back looking pissed. “So what can I do for you?”

  “Well it seems my girlfriend Scarlet was ran off the road after she left work here one night. Also she’s been getting some very harassing phone calls and texts. You or maybe your “clients” know anything about that?”

  “What exactly are you getting at boy?”

  I lean onto the bar. “I think you know exactly what the fuck I’m getting at.”

  “I think you might want to get the fuck out of here before you have to be carried or the ambulance needs to be called.”

  Lana steps in. “Hey look here Danny might be a dickhead, but he’d never hurt that girl.”

  “What about that asshole who groped the shit out of her one night and then she saw him cutting lines with Danny here? What about him?”

  Danny braces himself on the bar. “Look you tell her to forget she saw that and I’ll check with that guy to make sure he leaves her alone. Another piece of advice son. Don’t waltz up into a place like this with that attitude or they may have to search to find your body. You get me?”

  I flip him off as I’m walking out the door. “Yeah. Yeah. I fucking get you, I’m just not scared.”

  I storm out to my jeep never looking back at the bar. I tear out of the parking lot throwing gravel everywhere.

  I decide to stop at a small jewelry store on the way home. The lady behind the counter stops me. “Sir Can I help you find something?”

  “I don’t really know what I’m looking for yet. I want to get my girl something special for Christmas.”

  “Like perhaps an engagement ring?”

  “Ugh no, we aren’t quite there yet. Don’t get me wrong we will get there but I don’t want to scare her off.”

  “Well. Have you thought about maybe an open heart necklace or a promise ring?”

  “What exactly is a promise ring?”

  “Well it’s kinda like a pre-engagement ring. It’s basically saying that you want to commit yourself to her and her alone, but that you guys aren’t quite at the engagement stage yet.”

  “That sounds perfect. Let me look at those.”

  I look around at some small rings. I pick one finally that is a simple infinity band with our initials in
side of it.

  I’m so pumped from ordering her ring that I decide to stop by a small local florist and grab her some flowers. I know she’s gonna be pissed with me when she finds out that I showed my ass like that. So call it a little extra

  I walk in looking at the small bouquets of spring flowers. She’s not a rose’s kinda girl.

  As I reach in the cooler to grab another bouquet to look at I hear someone snicker behind me. “Well well well if it isn’t Ryder Abbott boyfriend of the year.”

  I turn around to see Kelsie. “I’ll take that title.”

  She puts her hand on her hip and sneers. “So how exactly does a guy go from being one of the biggest whores I know to being head over heels in love?”

  “I guess it’s all about finding the right girl.”

  “Yeah well Scarlet certainly seems to find the right guys with the right amount of money every time.”

  “She doesn’t care about my money.”

  “Yeah well trust me I think she’s killing time with you until Dustin gives her a chance again.”

  “I don’t think she’d give him the time of day.”

  “Hmm I guess you never know.”

  I grab the bunch of flowers and turn for the counter. “Here’s the thing I think I do.”

  After paying I go out to my jeep and make my way across town to the small campus she is at today.

  I find a spot close by her car and wait for her to come out of class. I spot her walking with a guy. A guy that just happens to be Dustin. I almost explode when I see them hug and he kisses her on the cheek.

  They smile and wave to each other as they are parting ways and I’m at my boiling point by the time she makes her way to me.

  She walks up smiling and I can’t help it. This whole situation just pisses me off.

  “What the fuck was that about Scarlet?”

  Chapter 29

  Scarlet

  Needless to say Dustin was the last person I expected to be waiting for me outside of my class but here he is.

  “What do you want Dustin?”

  “Look Scar I don’t want anything. I just have a few things to say.”

  “Yeah well I really don’t want to listen to them.”