Sanctuary (RiffRaff Records Book 5)

by L. P. Maxa

  “Here you go, princess.” He held out his palm, showing me half a pill. “It’ll give you a little boost. You seem tired today.”

  I took the pill and swallowed it dry. It was most likely Ritalin, something to give me extra life to make it through this boring brunch.

  Judging from all the expensive cars lining the drive, I was about to be put on display.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Evie

  I’d had three mimosas that were way more champagne than they were orange juice. I was starting to shake a little. The expensive Waterford flute in my hand was in a precarious situation. I’d eaten. I didn’t normally eat at functions like this, but today I seemed to have Nicky’s voice in my ear. He thought I was too thin, and he wasn’t wrong. I mostly lived off protein bars and glowing green smoothies. Who had time to sit down and eat? Plus, the Adderall kept my hunger away for the most part.

  I put another bite-sized quiche in my mouth, chewing and swallowing without even really tasting it. I was eating to stay alive, to keep myself from getting sick when the pills wore off. Although, I was already spending the day with Collin; it wouldn’t take much for me to get more Vicodin out of him.

  “There you are, darling, come meet Mr. and Mrs. Prescott. They’ve been our neighbors for ages.” Collin’s mom, Marcia Metcalf, put her thin arm around my even thinner shoulders. “This is Collin’s girl, Evie James.”

  Mr. Prescott held out his hand. “So you’re his little rock and roll princess we’ve been hearing so much about.” He was older than the Metcalfs by a couple decades at least. He looked closer to my grandpa’s age, and his smile warm and kind. At least he didn’t seem like a philandering asshole. I’d already met about seven of those.

  I returned his smile, hoping it didn’t look as fake as it felt. This was my life; this was what I was good at. Playing my part, portraying the persona I’d perfect over the last two years. But suddenly, thanks to Nicky, I could barely stomach the feel of Collin’s hand on my back. “Guilty.” I laughed lightly, trying harder to pull myself together. “Although, I’m not sure how much of the rock and roll is true.”

  I tended to downplay the rock-star roots when I was with Collin’s parents. I could tell they liked it better that way. “Well the princess part is definitely accurate.” My boyfriend was faker than my friends. He put his arm around my waist, placing a chaste kiss on my temple. “She’s my princess anyway.”

  All the “Aw”s from the impeccably dressed adults made my stomach turn.

  I’d caught on quick that was the way of these people. Make it seem, outwardly, that you treated your wife like royalty, when the reality was you rarely saw her, cheated on her incessantly and thought she was nothing more than a gorgeous accessory. I swallowed past the bile rising in my throat and politely downed the rest of my drink.

  “You need another?” Collin reached for my flute, a sexy smirk on his face. Did he think if he got me drunk enough I’d fuck him? It was probably about that time, and I did need those pain pills. But I certainly didn’t want to.

  I placed my hand on his arm, and a peck on his clean-shaven cheek. “I’ll get it, hon.” I turned a beaming smile on the rest of the plastic people standing around us. “Can I get anyone else anything?” When everyone politely said no thank you, I took the out and walked away.

  I pulled my phone from my clutch while I was standing in line, more out of habit that any real desire to connect with anyone.

  Nicky the tattooed god: I woke up this morning with the strangest sense of déjà vu…and then I realized, I was once again ghosted by Evie fucking James.

  I giggled despite myself and my abysmal surroundings. Nicky must have programmed his number into my phone while I was sleeping. Little did he know that in my head I’d legit called him a tattooed god on more than one occasion.

  Evie: New number, who dis?

  Nicky the tattooed god: You’re hilarious after a good detox.

  I bit at my bottom lip. I’d been away from him for three and a half hours and I’d already, uh, retoxed. I felt guilty, I felt like I’d let him down somehow, even if he didn’t know it. I sighed as I moved up two places in line. Nicky shouldn’t have to deal with my crap. I refused to let my ugliness touch my family, and I wouldn’t let it taint his life either. I wasn’t his problem. It was something we both needed to keep in mind.

  Evie: I can’t talk right now. I’m at a party. Sorry I left, but you were sleeping…I know you had a long night taking care of me, and I didn’t want to wake you.

  Nicky the tattooed god: You didn’t want me to make you stay. You didn’t want to see the truth reflecting back at you in my eyes. You’re sick Evie and you need help.

  He was right. I shouldn’t have yelled at him at his shop the other night, but what I’d said was true. I was fine before I saw him again. I was the life of the party. I was the girl everyone wanted to be. Or wanted to know. Or inadvertently hated.

  But either way, I knew where I stood. I knew how to manage my schedule and meet people’s expectations. But after one evening with Nicky, I was shaken. Down was up and up was down. I was a mess and my life seemed revolting. It was revolting.

  Nicky saw me, and he made me take a good hard look at myself.

  But I couldn’t talk about all of that. Certainly not right now when I was surrounded by my boyfriend and his parents. And I was high on two different forms of speed and half a bottle of champagne in.

  Evie: The truth reflecting back? That’s a little deep for a text conversation.

  Nicky the tattooed god: Well, either way, I was prepared this time. I took your driver’s license. You want it back? Come and get it.

  Evie: I can just go get another one printed.

  Nicky the tattooed god: Oooo…not your real one little bird. I took your hella impressive fake. Good luck getting served in whatever bar you plan on passing out in tonight. You look like you’re sixteen, and they’re cracking down on MIPs around these parts.

  Evie: Around these parts? What are you? The sheriff? I’ll just go get another fake. It takes two hours. Tops.

  Nicky the tattooed god: Yeah, that’s not going to work either. I’m assuming, since you have the cash and the connections, you got yours from Maisy? She’s an old friend, and she’s not giving you a new one.

  Evie: You suck so hard.

  Nicky the tattooed god: See you soon J

  Evie: No. You won’t.

  I shoved my phone in my purse and ordered another drink. I downed it then got one I could gracefully sip on for the rest of this garden party on crack. We didn’t usually stay at Collin’s parents’ house too long. He tended to get bored and restless. He needed to be seen at more than one brunch on a gorgeous summer Sunday. And for the past few months I’d been on his arm at every single one. I knew not to look a gift horse in the mouth, no matter how badly I wanted to punch it in the face.

  “Last one, princess. We’ve got to get out of here.” Collin’s grip on my arm was punishing, his tone irritated, but his smile flawless. “I have a round of golf with Thad and Britton.”

  Good. Then I wouldn’t have to spend the rest of the afternoon playing nice to get what I needed.

  “After golf you’ll need to meet us for drinks at the club.”

  Well, shitballs. I put a loving look in my eyes. “No, thank you.”

  His grip tightened, his fingers digging into my bare arm. “You play your part, or I’ll stop playing mine. Is that understood, princess?”

  Logically I knew that I should knee him in the balls and walk away. But my need for the pills wasn’t logical. It was…essential to my survival. I’d never had a problem playing along with Collin before. Our relationship had felt like a game, and we were both in a constant struggle to win the upper hand. After seeing Nicky, though, things had changed. I didn’t want to play anymore.

  I kept my sweet smile on my face. “You do know that you aren’t the only person in Dallas that has extra pills lying around, right?”

  “I’m the only person
in Dallas who knows exactly how desperate you can become when you’re out.” He moved his lips to my ear. “And I’m the only person who knows exactly how gutted you would be if your daddy found out about your little problem.” He placed a soft kiss on my neck and I clenched my teeth to keep from gagging.

  I pulled away, meeting his steely gaze. “I don’t think my daddy would be the only one disappointed to learn about their golden child’s extracurricular activities.” I glanced past him, sending his parents a small wave. Checkmate, asshole.

  “Fine.” I refused to wince when his short nails dug into the flesh on my arm. I would never give him the satisfaction. “You come and be on your best rock princess behavior for drinks at the club, and I’ll give you the Vicodin.”

  “I go home alone after the club? And I don’t have to come anywhere near your dick?” I wanted to make sure we were on the same page. I’d learned my lesson when it came to Collin Metcalf.

  “Yes, princess.” He wrapped both arms around my waist, pulling me flush against his hard-on. “I’ll give you the pills, and I’ll get the help to take care of this before we leave.”

  “Deal.” Drinks at the club wasn’t such a bad time. His friends were the worst, but in a completely reality TV sort of way. They made me laugh, and they worshipped the ground I walked on. I could use an ego boost after Nicky had pretty much told me I was no longer attractive to him.

  Collin took my hand, leading me back over to his parents. “Would you guys mind keeping my girl company for me? I need to go return a call from the dean.” I busied myself with my mimosa so I could hide my eye roll in my glass. The dean? How fucking pretentious could one college student be?

  “Of course, dear.” Mrs. Metcalf took my hand from Collin, looping it around her own. “You take your time—I want to introduce Evie to the ladies on the hospital board.”

  Fucking fantastic.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Nick

  Evie still hadn’t come to get her fake driver’s license. I’d thought I had her, I thought that she would come back. I could see it in her eyes last night—she knew she was in trouble. She knew she needed help. I’d taken her ID figuring that maybe all she needed was an excuse. Nope.

  It was now ten at night and I was sitting in the shop calculating the minutes until I could go home and pass out. There was no reason for me to close the doors today. There was no one at home who needed me. I should count that as a blessing. I should be glad that I didn’t have to deal with her problems. But I wasn’t.

  Every time the bell dinged above the door, I’d look up hopeful that it was Evie. That she’d come and apologize for leaving this morning. Or she’d offer to buy me dinner as a thank you. Or she’d simply shrug and I’d know that meant that I was right. That she wanted me to help, that she wanted to get better.

  The bell chimed and my hope soared once again, even though I silently begged it not to.

  “I was told to walk in and ask for some dude named Bleu.” A pretty girl with red hair and a short miniskirt was standing in the lobby, one hand on her hip and one eyebrow raised.

  I turned over my shoulder, calling down the hall. “Yo, Bleu, you got a walk in.”

  Bleu came out and eyed the chick, taking in her painted nails and her perfect complexion. “Someone referred you to me?” I could hear the annoyance in his tone and I kicked him under the counter.

  Bleu hated to work on girly girls. They were his least favorite…to tattoo. In bed? They were his jam. But Bleu didn’t mix business and pleasure, and other than Evie, neither did I. We’d learned our lesson early on.

  “Yeah, my friend Evie James.” The fact that Evie referred this girl to Bleu and not me was a little odd, since I was the only person here who had ever touched her skin with a needle. The redhead pulled a piece of paper out of her purse, unfolding it and smoothing it on the counter. “I’m Maykin, by the way.”

  “Bleu.”

  He and I leaned down to study the image at the same time. I could tell that she was the one who drew Evie’s last tat. You could see it the shading and the bold lines. Bleu’s jaw dropped open and I couldn’t help but chuckle. Maybe Evie had sent this girl here knowing that Bleu would be annoyed as fuck. She did it to teach him a lesson, because the tattoo Maykin wanted was nothing short of spectacular. It was a carousel horse, ornate and vintage. The piece would take hours, days even.

  My oldest friend cleared his throat, obviously shocked. “Okay, yeah, we can get started tonight.”

  “I want it all, tonight, one sitting.” She threw a giant stack of bills on the table. “I know this is pretty detailed, so I’ll pay you extra for the overtime.”

  Bleu picked up the money, thumbing through it and giving it a rough count. He pulled four twenties out and handed them back to her. “There’s generous, and then there’s stupid.” He took the drawing and headed toward his workspace. “Let’s get started.” Bleu was strictly business when it came to the females he inked. We both knew that the euphoria we gave these chicks from getting tattooed was an easy way to get laid. And neither of us would ever exploit it. Except for that one time. With Evie.

  And look where that had gotten me.

  Maykin threw me a wink when she passed, disappearing into the room next to mine. And once again, I was left alone. Alone and desperately wanting to know what Evie was doing. Was she okay? Was she high?

  Never in my twenty-six years had I ever thought about a female as much as I thought about Evie James. I’d thought about her after our night together. I’d thought about her before I knew she was in trouble.

  There was something about her, something that had crawled under my skin and then never left. Seeing her yesterday had thrown me for a loop. At first I was a little bit angry; she seemed snotty, like she was better than everyone around her. And then I’d been intrigued and slightly turned on, which made sense because I still jacked off to the memory of the night we spent in my bed.

  But then she’d gotten undressed and she’d started to shake. I’d felt her bones under my fingers and I’d become concerned and sad. I was pretty sure by this point, I’d felt every emotion possible when it came to that little bird.

  ***

  “Mayk?”

  “Evie?” I’d been in my office working on expenses when I’d heard the bell on the door. We were closed, but Bleu was still here working on the redhead. “How did you get in here?”

  She was standing in front of me, about to walk down the hallway to find her friend. She looked beautiful, the deep front of her long dress showing off the majority of her chest. Her hair was down, and her eyes were wide.

  “The door. It was open.” She made a move to stride past me and I gently grabbed her arm. She was so thin, I was almost afraid to hurt her.

  “Wait.”

  “Mayk said the shop was closed. I figured you’d be at home.” She pulled away, her eyes on the floor. Guilty. She was acting guilty, which could only mean one thing. Wherever she’d gone when she left me this morning, she’d used something to help her survive it.

  “I had some paperwork to do.” I put my finger under her chin, making her meet my gaze. “And my house smells like disinfectant.” I wasn’t trying to make her feel bad; I was trying to make her laugh. I was trying to make light of the night I’d spent helping her get all the pills out of her system. “I thought you’d come by today.” Only for her to put them all back in. I should be pissed, livid even. I’d spent hours rubbing her back while she vomited. I’d made soup. I was worried and disappointed and scared. But I wasn’t mad, not really.

  “I, uh, I had plans.” She headed down the hallway, slipping from my grip. “Maykin, where the hell are you?”

  “You have a lot of plans for someone who doesn’t have any real friends.” I followed her like a crazy stalker. Like a man obsessed with a girl that was nothing but bad news waiting to happen.

  She stopped short and I grasped her shoulders to keep from plowing into her. “Look. I didn’t ask for your help Friday night, and I’m
not asking for it now. I had plans I couldn’t get out of today.” Her body was tense, and I knew this because I had yet to stop touching her. “Believe me, I got away as soon as I could.”

  What did that mean? “Were you kidnapped?”

  Evie sent me a withering, sassy sneer. “Yes. I was kidnapped, but they let go. Yay me.” She moved away from me, crossing her arms over her chest. “Now, where is Maykin?”

  “She is on the third hour of a six-hour tattoo. You can’t barge in on her.”

  “No worries, we needed a break.” Bleu was suddenly standing outside his door, a bottle of water in his hand and a question in his eyes. “Your girl is in there.” He gestured into the room with his free hand.

  Evie shoved past me and closed the door behind her with a little more force than absolutely necessary.

  “What’s your deal with that girl? She seems like a fucking hot mess, bro.” Bleu drained the rest of his water and tossed his bottle across the room, sinking it into the small black trashcan by the front desk.

  “We’re old friends.”

  “No you aren’t.” He pointed between himself and me. “You and I are old friends, which means I know all your ‘old friends.’ What gives?”

  “She needs my help.”

  “No fucking doubt she needs help. But why is she your concern?” He leaned against the wall, waiting patiently for me to start telling him the whole story. Bleu joked around ninety percent of the time. So when he got his serious face on and asked a real question, he wouldn’t stop until he got a real answer.

  “That’s the girl I hooked up with a couple years ago.”

  “The girl? The skull-tattooed virgin? No fucking way. That girl was like classically trained ballerina beautiful.” He jerked his head toward his workspace. “This one looks like she does expensive coke in the Hamptons morning noon and night.”

  I shrugged, lips pursed. “Same chick.”

  “Damn.” He winced. “Rich kids and their rich speed.” He pulled a small Red Bull out of his back pocket, cracking it open. “Well, let’s go make sure she’s not letting my client snort lines off her ass.” He opened the door with flourish. “All right, Midge. Time to get back to work.”