Syren's Plaything

by Jennah Thornhill

  No, no, no. Why does this have to happen now, Max’s timing couldn’t have been more worse. If I catch him with chewing gum again, I’m going to shove it so far up his arse, he’s not going be able shit for a month.

  “On the bright side, the journos won’t recognize you now.” Max pipes up. Trying to make the situation better. It doesn’t.

  I couldn’t give a rat’s ass about the papers, it’s Karina I care about.

  I throw Max an evil glance over my shoulder, that arsehole needs learn keep his mouth shut. Liam, who’s always been the quietest out of the four of us must sense the tension brewing in the air, because out of nowhere he picks the hair I’ve just had cut off up from the floor and holds it on his head then starts trying to talk like me.

  “My name’s Johnny, I play guitar and I want to kill Max on a daily basis.”

  And just like that, we all double over laughing. The tension now long gone. Liam may not say a lot half the time, but when he does he always makes us laugh.

  The door to the studio swings open, and there stands K with her hands on her hips. Our laughter stopping immediately.

  “Oh shit.” I hear Connor whisper behind me.

  “Princess, what are you doing down here?” I ask. My voice giving away how nervous I am that she’s here.

  “Don’t you princess me, John boy.” She sneers.

  Fuck, shit and bollocks. She knows.

  I feel the blood drain from my face the second she utters those two words.

  My life is over, from this point forward everything I’ve done to keep this secret, the lies, the pretense wasn’t worth it. Because I can tell by the look of devastation on her face, I’ve just utterly shattered the one person who has ever meant more to me than anything or anyone in the world.

  I don’t know what to say to her, it’s like my brain and mouth have just stopped functioning.

  “What’s up Johnny? Didn’t you think I would ever find out?”

  Again, I hear Connor say behind.

  “Oh shit.” The gob shite just couldn’t keep it shut for a few more minutes, could he? No, he had to and land me in even more deep shit. Fucker.

  Things go from bad to worse when she realises he knew.

  “He knew?” She questions. More for confirmation than anything.

  “P... Prin... K. It’s not like that. Please let me explain?” I move forward, hoping that if she lets me near her she can see the real me.

  “Just stop! Don’t come near me. Do they all know? Have you all been laughing behind my back this entire time?” Her voice wobbles, unable to keep it together any longer.

  Allie steps from behind Karina, wrapping an arm around her best friend.

  “Can someone please tell me what the shitting hell is going on? I swear if you’ve been keeping shit from me Connor Blackwood, I’m going to chop your balls off and feed them to you. Just look at the state she’s in, she’s pregnant for crying out loud she shouldn’t be like this! So, someone had better start talking, before I take them scissors and start chopping.”

  Jesus.

  Who knew little Allie Whitbury could be fierce when she wanted. Which is not the point right now Johnny, get your head back in the game.

  “A... A… Angel, look it was…” She cuts him off with a wave of her hand, “You know what? Save it. I just hope whatever it is, it was worth it, in the first place.” She then turns Karina around and takes her back to the house. The whole time I just stay there like the dickhead I am and let her go.

  I don't know how I ended up back in the house after what happened in the studio, but I'm currently sat on the sofa nursing a glass of Jack that Max gave me over an hour ago. Allie and Karina aren't here, that much was pretty obvious when Connor found a post it note on the fridge telling him to go fuck himself. I felt like shit when I knew I’d ruined my relationship, knowing I could have ruined my best friends as well… let's just say I feel like I'm being gutted from the inside out. It wasn't supposed to happen like this, I was going to sit her down and tell her everything from the beginning. I could blame Max and his bloody chewing gum, that would be the easier option, but I can't. In the long run all this shit is on me.

  “Hey fucker.” Liam greets me from the living room door. Since we came back to the house, the guys have all stayed in the kitchen and out of my way.

  He flops down on the chair next to the sofa, he's wanting an explanation, I get that. I just don't know where to start with this whole fucked up mess.

  “Dude, I know you don't know what's going on and I'm sorry for that, I really am. It's just that it's a really long story and I don't have the energy or the patience to explain it all to you right now. I need to figure this crap out by myself and get my girl back.”

  I get no reply from him, he just sits there with his fingers tapping on the chair arm and with his right ankle resting on his left leg.

  Taking a sip of the Jack, I enjoy the burn as it slides down my throat. I just want to get blind drunk, hoping and wishing the liquor takes away this crushing pain I have in my chest, and then I wake up from the nightmare I currently find myself in. But I don’t, it’s not a dream, it’s happening now. And there’s nothing I can do about it.

  Out of the blue, Liam shifts from his position to standing in front of me. He has a look of seriousness on his face I've never seen him have before.

  “You know what John, I may have a laugh and a joke with you guys, that's because to me you’re my family and I love my family massively. What you guys don't know is, I know what it's like to lose someone you love so much you think your heart is going to stop. I know the heavy crushing pain you’ve got going on in your chest and you think there's no way out of it. Thing is dude, whatever it is you’ve done to her you can fix it, I wasn't given the chance to fix mine. I’ve never spoken about it, I probably never will, it’s still too raw for me even though it happened a long time ago. Just know if you don’t at least try, you could end up regretting it for the rest of your life. You’ll tell us when you’re ready, right now though your priority is Karina and your baby. You need to put that Jack down and go fight for what's yours because one day mate, you never know when it's all going to be taken away from you.”

  Well, fuck me.

  I sit there with my mouth gaping wide open, I've never, not once, heard Liam talk like this. The man sure has some issues we didn't know about. He heads back to the door before stopping and turning to me.

  “You ever tell anybody about this and I’ll break your favorite guitar.” I make a ‘my lips are sealed’ motion over my mouth and he leaves me alone once again.

  Liam was right about one thing throughout his little one to one with me, Karina and my baby are my priority. Slamming the glass on the coffee table; the contents spilling over. I get my sorry arse of the sofa and just walk out the front door, I don’t tell the guys I’m leaving I haven’t got time. They’ll know exactly where I’ve gone, and that I will call them if I need them for anything. Right now, this is my mess, not theirs. I have to do this alone.

  Pressing the fob to my car, it unlocks, and I jump in, pressing the engine start button the second my backside graces my leather seat. I have no time to lose, I’ve wasted enough already wallowing in my own pity party. When I look up to look in my rear-view mirror, I see Connor standing on the steps watching me. He just gives me a sharp nod of his head, his way of silently telling me he has my back if I need him and to bring my girl home, where she belongs.

  Pulling my car up to the front of my building, I jump out not bothering throwing my keys at Mickey the valet, I’m more than likely going to need them again if she isn’t here. High tailing it through the door and straight to the lift, I thank my lucky stars it’s already at this level and I don’t have to wait for it. Standing in the lift, I tap my foot slowly losing the will to live. It may have been on the bottom floor when I called for it, yet ever since I got on its stopped on what seems like every level of the building.

  Bloody typical, especially when I’m in a rush.
>
  When it finally stops on my level, I push past the dude who smells like he eats marijuana for breakfast, lunch and dinner and sprint to my door.

  Letting myself in, relief floods me when I see Allie sitting at one of the bar stools in the kitchen. Instantly she’s throwing daggers at me, I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s plotting my death in her head either.

  “Where is she Al?” I ask, I say as I make my way into my apartment, and into the kitchen where she's sat on one of the bar stools.

  She sighs heavily, her shoulders rising and falling with every pissed off breath she takes.

  “You know something Johnny O, for someone who I thought was not the complete dickhead out of the four of you, you’ve certainly screwed this up haven’t you? This shit I would expect from Max maybe, but you? Never in my wildest dreams did I think you were this fucked up.”

  I get she’s angry, I’ve hurt her best friend I would be the same if it was one of the guys, but right now I need to see Karina, not stand here getting a lecture.

  “Al, I know your pissed off with me, I get that I do. But I need to talk to her.” I tell her.

  Just as she goes to open her mouth I hear the voice that stole my heart again.

  “I’m ready mofo, let’s go, I…” Karina comes to a complete stand still in the living room when she sees me there. Dropping the bag, she has in her hand, with a loud bang to the floor, she straightens her shoulders then glares right at me.

  “I have nothing to say to you, and I certainly don’t want to hear what you have to say. It’s most likely going to be a lie anyway; our whole time together has been one big fat lie. So, you can save your breath, I’m leaving, I can’t handle anymore.”

  Bending at the knees, she picks her bag up, ready to leave.

  “You ready?” She asks Al. Utterly blanking me.

  Allie looks between me and Karina, she knows I’ve screwed up but the confliction on her face tells me, she wants to stand by her friend, yet she thinks K should stay and listen to me.

  Allie doesn’t get to answer her, when there’s a knock on my door. What the fuck now. Allie goes to stand by Karina in the middle of the open plan living room, wrapping her in her arms.

  I let out a growl, before yanking the door open. What I see makes me die a thousand deaths on the spot. There in my doorway is none other than Dominic… but he’s not on his own…. Standing in front of him, held in his grasp is... Laura.

  Fuck, fuck, fuck!

  He might as well hold a gun to my head, as nothing would make this situation any better than it is now. I’d rather die now, than have Karina hate me, because she will. Dom will do anything to make that happen. That is now clear, he never wanted us to be together. He was just keeping me on side, till he could figure out his next move.

  When I saw Laura this morning before going to Connors, I reassured her she was safe and that he wouldn’t ever find her, that she was worrying for nothing. As far as he was concerned she was dead. End of. She told me something didn’t quite feel right, I should have believed her.

  Just how wrong was I?

  “Dad?” I hear Karina say from behind me.

  Well if this isn’t one big cluster fuck, I don’t know what is.

  And if Dom doesn’t kill me, Connor will. Yet again his woman is in danger, only this time it’s my fault.

  “Karina, I’m so glad you’re here sweetheart. I’m not as stupid as you all think I am.”

  Releasing Laura from his hold, he throws her in my direction. She falls over the threshold of the door and straight into in my arms. I catch her just in time, good job I did, otherwise she would have hit the floor, face first. When I gather her up into a standing position, I can see she has a bruise forming under her right eye, it didn’t take him long to get back to his old ways again.

  Bastard.

  I should’ve known everything he said the other day was total bullshit, I can’t believe I actually fell for it. Making out he loves his daughter, and that he wants what’s best for her, in order for her to be happy. I’ve been around him for years, not once has he ever got the better of me, that was until now, I’ve been so focused on Karina and the baby, that I never saw this coming.

  Men like Dominic Vale don’t change.

  “What the fuck are you doing here?” I ask him, even though I have a pretty good idea.

  “I think we both know why I’m here John Boy.” He says as he makes his way into my apartment, before closing the door like he owns the place, and the way he says my name has my stomach in knots, he’s got a plan up his sleeve. He wouldn’t be here if he didn’t. And I have a funny feeling he’s going to let the cat out the bag and reveal all. Why would he be here, in the same room as me, Karina and Laura. And now, not only have I got Karina and my unborn baby to keep safe, there’s also Allie and Laura. If I know Dom as well as I think I do, then he’s not here alone. I’m outnumbered and out of ideas. Trying to play the hero just wouldn’t cut it, I need to be smart about it, and not give away that I’m trying to form some kind of plan in my head.

  “Dad, what are you here for? And who’s this woman? And why didn’t you ever tell me that this was John? The John?” I can tell by the look on her face that she’s confused, and clearly, she hasn’t got a clue that the woman she’s talking about is in fact her mother. That is until Laura looks over my shoulder and they come face to face. There’s no mistaking that Karina is her daughter as they have so many features the same.

  “Karina… my baby… I…” Laura tries to speak, but not able to form any words, clearly seeing her daughter after all these years has a massive effect on her. No one could blame her, she hasn’t spoken or see her daughter since she was fourteen years old. And I know it was the hardest thing that Laura ever had to do. But it needed to be done. For everyone’s sake.

  “M... Mum?” She takes a step forward but stops. She’s now starting to piece things together. This is the worst day of my life, I can see everything unfolding right before my very eyes, this is going to break me. And… well fuck knows what it will do to Karina. Dom is going to break me, by taking everything and anyone I love away from me. I can’t let that happen, I will do everything in my power to make sure of that.

  “I don’t understand… I thought she… you... were dead?” She’s looking from her mum, to Dom and then her eyes land on me for answers, answers I really didn’t want to have to tell her.

  “Dom, please don’t do this.” I plead with him.

  “Do what John? Tell my daughter that she doesn’t really know you at all, that her baby… your baby is going to have a monster for a father. Do you want me to carry on?” He looks me dead in face, with a sly grin.

  “I’m nothing like you Dom. I’d never do half the things you have or get your handy fucking men to do.” I glare at him.

  “Well… we'll see about that, what are you prepared to do to keep your little secret just that. A secret.” He’s playing me, but I won't give in that easy.

  “I was always going to tell her, I just didn’t know when, I’ve never been given the right the moment.” This isn’t a lie, but it doesn’t stop me from panicking now, more than ever.

  “Well how about you start now, Johnny.” I spin on my heels, looking at Karina as she speaks. “I think now is the perfect time for you to tell me exactly what is going on here. And why the fuck my dead mum is now in the same room as us, who is very much alive.” She stands looking at me with her arms folded.

  “I think I’m going to leave you all to it.” I hear Allie whisper.

  “Nobody move.” I look back at Dom, who has now pulled a gun out. “Take a seat Allie, enjoy the show.” He points to the sofa with his gun.

  “Let her go Dom, she has nothing to do with any of this, she doesn’t need to be here and we both know it, so just let her leave.” I put myself in front of the gun, so it’s pointing at me and not Karina or Allie.

  “We both know I can’t do that. She’ll open her mouth or even worse call the police. I can’t have that…” He
gets cut off by Karina.

  “Please dad, for me. Let her go.” She’s now pleads for her dad to listen to her.

  “Sorry darling, but I can’t do that, if she sits down and shuts up, then nothing will happen to her.” I look over my shoulder and see Allie slowly sit herself down. I just hope that she does indeed keep her mouth shut. At least till this is all over and done with. How long that will be, I haven’t got a clue.

  “So now that we’re all on the same page, shall we begin?”

  “Dominic just say whatever it is you want to say, and get it over with, will you.” Laura says, it’s the first words she spoken since being here.

  “Oh, I’m not saying anything, Johnny is. So….” I get where he’s going with this, there’s no getting out of it.

  “What do you want me say Dom?” I grit my teeth at him, the gun still pointing at me.

  “Oh, I don’t know. How about you start with, how you were supposed to kill her mother, but you didn’t have the bollocks to.”

  I hear shocked gasps behind me, I know there from Karina.

  “You were going to kill my mum?” I hear her whisper.

  “No, it wasn’t like that, I swear. I was never going to kill her, it was his way of testing my loyalty to him. And because he could never do his own dirty work himself, he ordered me to do it.” I want to get close to her, but I know if I do, I’ll put her and our unborn baby in more danger. So, I hold myself back, as much as it pains me to do it, I do. “If I didn’t do it, he would have killed me and your mum.”

  “The day you told me you were leaving, the same day you promised me you were coming back. That was the day when my dad gave you job wasn’t it?” I hang my head in shame. “Answer me!” She screams.

  “Yes, fuck sake, yes it was!” I roar at her, my hands rubbing my head. If I had hair I’d be pulling it out now.

  “I don’t believe this. So, when you left me you were planning on killing my mum?” She looks over at her mum, as the tears start to fall.

  “It wasn’t like that. I swear I was never going to do it, I’m not the monster that Dom is making me out to be. When I left you, I was waiting for Laura to be alone without any of his guard dogs watching her. That’s when we came up with a plan to fake her death. If we didn’t, well then Laura wouldn’t be here now. And if he found out I hadn’t followed through on his order then I wouldn’t be here either, so I had to leave. I couldn’t risk coming back, it killed me leaving you there princess. Dom was planning on killing your mum...not me.”