by Leigh Lennon
“Um, Levi, we have a problem.”
“Yeah, what is it?” I asked, gesturing to a piece of paper in his hands.
“This was on the telephone pole.” He gave it to me, and it sent a shiver down my spine.
ARNOLD, I WON’T REST UNTIL YOU’RE GONE.
This time, it was a black marker. But the message was fucking clear. I. Was. His. Target.
32
Jordan
Scarlet had practically cried herself to sleep on my shoulder. I’d scooped her up and placed her in bed, promising not to start anything with Levi when he returned.
Watching the extra innings of the ball game and drowning my jackass-ness in a bottle of beer for making Red cry tonight, I was startled when the lock clicked and Levi opened the door. I turned to him, and he looked like hell. With disheveled hair and wearing different clothes, I knew he’d probably gone out on a call, but I wasn’t sure why. His buddy, Shirley, was there for the night. I wanted to stop him as he took a right that led into the kitchen. Opening the fridge, he grabbed a beer for him and an extra one, I guess, for me.
Giving me the cold one, I took it as he turned to sit in the corner of the room in the stiff upright chair we both normally hated.
“Was it a tough one?” I asked.
“Yeah.” He pulled a taste of his beer. “You have no idea.”
“Fatalities?” It was the doctor in me getting to the point.
“Um, no. Just another warehouse fire.”
I straightened. Some fucker was trying to hurt firemen, my fireman. Fuck, did I just call him my fireman?
We sat in silence and didn’t say anything when the Cubbies had men on both second and third base with no outs. He was not into the game, and I could tell, but it was reaffirmed when he asked, “Where’s Scar?”
I turned off the television. If my Cubbies won, it was really invalid compared to the events of the night. “Um, let’s just say she had a rough evening.”
He stiffened more. I couldn’t imagine anyone loving Red the way I did, but I ventured to guess Levi did. “What do you mean, Doc?”
Putting my beer on the table, I leaned forward. “How much do you know about her time in foster care?” She’d shared a couple things with us, but I don’t think it scratched the surface.
Clearing his throat, he began, “She’s only shared a little with either one of us. I know she was on the streets at eighteen, and Arden and Daimen found her and took her in. And what she has told us was fucking heartbreaking.”
“Yeah, I’m not sure how I fucking missed it—how scared she is of being abandoned. She thinks we won’t work out, the three of us. And she won’t choose between us, and for that reason, she’s convinced she’ll be left alone again.”
Levi stood ready to punch something. It was a shitty night for him, and I knew he was holding something back from me about the call, but I wouldn’t push. “Fuck, Jordan. This was the last thing I wanted. Shit! Do you know how much I love her?”
“I would wager to guess you love her as deeply as I do,” I replied coldly. His anger only remained under wraps because our redhead was asleep in the other room. “And I made it worse tonight, too,” I admitted.
Levi’s stone-cold eyes were replaced with a little grin that led to his eyes. “How hard was it to admit you were wrong?” I smiled at him, and something as simple as what I’d said changed things around.
“A little hard.” I took a deep breath. “I wish I could turn it on and off like you.”
His little smirk was gone, and I instantly was aware I’d said the wrong thing.
“What? Turn it on and off, that’s what you think? Just ’cause I like both men and women, I turn it off?”
“Fuck.” My outburst gave me a chance to think, but he wouldn’t let me talk before he got in my space.
“I don’t turn it on or off. If I could, this would be so fucking easy. But I can’t—that’s the problem. I’m falling for you. You think I want my heart to break for what we could have, but no—you’re too stubborn to take hold of your own happiness.”
He was in my space, his lips mere centimeters from mine. “I want you with every fiber of my being. But it’s you who turns it off because I know you feel it, too.”
Levi’s warmth against my mouth and my face was everything. The smell of the beer on his breath and the aroma of his aftershave brought my body to life, as alive as Red’s body did.
His hand cupped my erection, just enough for me to feel his touch on my groin. “This is not for Red. Not right now, anyway. This is all me.” He pointed down at my hard-on. “This is all for me, Doc. How can you deny yourself something that brings you joy? And fuck, I could take care of you.” He removed his hand from my cock.
He moved his head to my ear, whispering quietly, “I’m not talking about sex. You and Scar would be my focus. The two of you, me loving you. Me taking on your needs, your desires. You want breakfast in bed? You want me to bring you those gross peanut butter, banana, and chocolate chip rollups to work on my days off? You want me to massage your neck after a tough shift? You want to hold hands while we root for our Cubbies together.” His face was back in front of me. “All you have to do is say the word, and it will happen.”
In no time at all, he’d raised himself from my presence, and he was gone, exiting Scar’s apartment. He wasn’t going to coddle me anymore. He was going to make me do all the work.
33
Scarlet
I woke up with no one next to me. Why? I glanced over at my nightstand. The copy of The Giving Tree was sitting on it, reminding me of the promise both men made to me.
I was positive I missed something when I walked to the living room space to find Jordan sprawled on my couch with about a half a dozen beers on my coffee table. He was in his boxers with a blanket kicked off him. Both men were such hot boxes, always complaining I turned the heat up too much.
But now, I needed to know where the other part of us was. Gently giving him a nudge by kicking the couch, I remembered I was still upset over the shit he pulled last night at Dane and Cami’s house.
“Well, shit,” he began when his gaze fell on me, looking me up and down. “You’re still pissed at me for last night, aren’t you?”
I turned around, making sure I didn’t miss Levi in my space. Maybe he was in my guest room at the opposite end of my house. But I hadn’t seen his keys or wallet on my kitchen table where he always placed them.
“Well, I wasn’t still mad until I saw Levi wasn’t here. What happened?”
He sat up, and I walked around the couch to sit near him. “Jordan?” I pushed.
“He gave me an ultimatum, and when I didn’t respond the way he wanted, he went home, telling me to figure it out.”
I crossed my arms. “And what do you want?”
He didn’t stop to think. “I want you. Fuck, Red, I’ve only wanted you.”
I stood, giving me space. “I don’t believe you, not for one second. I’m calling Levi, and you better as fuck figure it out by the time he gets here because we will not survive if you’re not honest.”
He was now in my space. “Are you giving me an ultimatum, too? Are you telling me I need to pick him to have you both?”
I pulled at his hand, bringing him near me. “No, not at all. But the bottom line is you can’t have us both when you’re not honest with yourself.”
“Red?”
I was mad. My nightmares were coming true. And it just wasn’t Jordan. Instead of letting everything happen naturally, Levi pushed him. Maybe Jordan needed the push, but only time would tell, and it was more than I could handle—if this perfect life was taken from me. They were what I wanted—I knew it, but they didn’t quite understand my fear of abandonment.
“What?” My tone didn’t hide my mood.
“Can I come in?” Walking toward the door, I opened it. Jordan held out his arm, and I let him hold me. “Red, I’m so sorry.”
I couldn’t say anything. I only cried into his neck.
&nbs
p; “Is Levi on his way?” It was six in the morning, and we had plans to leave for the lake house, but first, I needed reassurance they wouldn’t disappear on me.
“Yeah, he said he’d be over soon. Couldn’t sleep.”
Jordan tipped his head back and crashed his lips to mine. We didn’t say anything. I let him lead me to the bed where he pulled up my nightie and started stroking my clit when his tongue began to lick my pussy.
“I love you, Red. I’d never purposely hurt you.” He was taking breaks between his words. But it was our closeness I needed. It was this closeness I desired. Until I heard, “Well, fuck, isn’t this a sight for sore eyes?” Jordan’s head popped up, and I only watched him watch Levi.
“I was just getting her ready for us, LT. Want to join in?”
Levi was naked before he reached our bed.
34
Levi
Scarlet lay on her bed, her ivory skin glorious to our eyes. I was on one side of her with her nipples between my fingers. My head was close to Jordan’s with his fingers inside Scar. Though mine were working my girl’s tit and his were working her clit and cunt, our eyes never wavered from one another. Through her moans, I could sense Scar’s eyes on me, too.
A minute, maybe two passed as we stared at one another. Another second or two passed, until my lips found his. And for the first ten seconds, he kissed me back. His tongue dueled with mine. Once my free hand touched his shoulder, the kiss ended, and he pushed off the bed until the wall stopped his flight from me.
“Doc,” I began. What was I going to say? Sure, I had a shit ton on my mind, but before I could say anything, his body came barreling over Scar to get to me. It was not in the I need you now kind of way. No, by the rage of his gnashing teeth, this was the I’m going to kick your ass sort of attack. After the first punch to the face, I was on the defense, and my fist contacted with his jaw as he’d done with me. A screech from Scar didn’t stop us when we rolled off the bed, taking her with us.
He was on top of me, the lucky bastard, and it was the only reason he got another sucker-punch in. I pushed him, and then I was on top of him, punching him in the face. I swung my hand back again when Scar’s pleas stopped me.
“Fuck you, assholes! Stop it, stop it fucking now.” With my body covering Jordan’s, I stopped just before my fist reached his jaw again.
I turned around, and Scarlet was cowering in the corner, holding her wrist. Even from far away, I’d had enough experience with wounds and broken bones that my body stilled. Her face already had a bruise cascading down the left cheek, and she was holding her arm in a way which confirmed it was broken.
“Holy shit, Scar.” I released Jordan from my clutches and hurried to her. She kicked at me with her legs.
“Stay the fuck away from me, you asshole.” The tears on her face had to be from both pain and the sheer shock of watching Jordan and I beat the shit out of each other.
“Scarlet, beautiful, we need to get you to the hospital,” I began when her long legs continued kicking me away.
“No, stay the fuck away from me.” She went to stand but winced, trying to pull herself from the floor.
I raised my hands in the air. “Okay, I get it. You’re pissed, and you have every right to be.” I grabbed my cell, hitting the contact button. Jordan stood, trying to get to Scar, but she kicked him, too. I could call Elliot, but that thought had me pushing another number.
In three seconds, I heard an almost out of breath Andrew answer the phone, another deep voice in the background yelling, “This better be good, Arnold.” I knew the voice, the new executive working with Daimen and Arden.
“Sorry, Andrew,” I began, Scar still screaming at us in the background.
“Levi, is that Scar? What is wrong with her?”
What do I say? “Yeah, we screwed up, Andrew. Your brother and I, can you come get Scar? She needs to get to the hospital. Judging by the swelling, she broke her arm.”
“What the fuck?” Andrew asked. “I’m in the building, but I’ll tell you what. You and my brother better get the fuck out of the apartment before Brock and I get there, or I won’t be responsible for what we do to you.”
Tossing a pair of jeans to Jordan and grabbing my own, I looked at Scar. “Shit, Scar. I’m so fucking sorry.”
Jordan hadn’t said much, only watching on with the same guilt that was in my own eyes. “We better go, Jordan. Your brother is not fucking around.”
“We can’t leave her,” he pleaded.
“Get the fuck out of my sight. Right fucking now!” Scar screamed.
I tried to pull him, but he yanked his arm back from my grasp. “We need to, just for now. I think we’ve done enough.” I was out the door, looking at Scar.
“Just go, please,” she pleaded. She turned her head to Jordan with the same request.
We were out of the apartment just as Brock and Andrew were about to knock on it. “You fuckers better get out of his sight right now, or I won’t be able to stop him.” Brock’s message was clear. Andrew didn’t look at his brother when Jordan hesitated to say something. Brock, who I’d come to find out was protective in his own right, placed a hand on Andrew’s back to escort him into the apartment. When the door was opened just enough to allow both men access, I heard Scarlet crying. And although both Jordan and I were taller and broader than Andrew, in his rage and anger, I think he could have taken us both on.
“Jordan?” I questioned.
“Stay the fuck away from me, Levi.” He headed to the stairs as I found my way to the elevator. What the fuck just happened?
35
Jordan
I’d been home an hour, unable to sit, unable to think about what I’d just been a part of. My actions hurt Red. It was more than just the physical pain; it was the emotional pain, too. I was holding my phone in my hands, willing Andrew to text me to alleviate my guilt.
After ten missed calls and about thirty texts from Levi, I called my brother.
Brock picked up on the first ring. “I’m just saying, you don’t want to talk to your brother right now. I had to convince him not to call Daimen and Arden. If he had, one would be in your face right now and the other in Levi’s. Hell, his own sister might be more dangerous than those two.” He stopped to let all this sink in. He was right. Elliot would take out Levi first, then come pounding on my door next.
“Don’t you think I feel like shit for what happened to Red? I deserve your wrath and a beatdown. But, can you tell me if Scar is okay?”
He took in a deep breath, blowing it out into the phone. “Physically, she’s okay. A broken wrist. And a nice shiner to the face. But emotionally, she’s a wreck. You two—this agreement was to put her first. I know a little about her time in foster care. How could you two let it get this far?”
“Brock, I’ll own up to my actions, but I’d been clear with Levi, there was no him and me. And he kissed me. He fucking kissed me.”
He chuckled into the phone for a second and then was quiet. I waited for something, anything. Finally, he filled the silence. “You are fucking delusional. I know for you, it’s black and white. You’re a man of science. You over analyze everything and overthink. Plus, with Andrew gay and Kayla a lesbian, you think there is a clear choice. But being fluid is not a bad thing. As I grew up, I never could have imagined admitting to liking men. My dad was as masculine as they got. Hell, I’m rather masculine. It took me a long time to come out, and it shocked the shit out of everyone. But if I found a woman to love, I wouldn’t fight it. Love is not always about genders and clean crisp lines. Fluidity is not a bad thing. That man loves you—I know it, Andrew knows it, Scar knows it. You love him, and again, we all know it. It’s time you accept it.”
His speech was delivered a lot less in the I’m going to kill you kind of way I thought Brock Spaulding worked. His concern would always be for my brother. And my brother was hurt I would damage Red the way I had.
“Listen, Jordan, I have a very clear opinion on this. Either you admit what you
already know and accept you love a man and woman alike, or you let them both go. And don’t try to act as if you haven’t sent him mixed signals because I’ve seen it. Sure as fuck you have, so don’t for one second deny it. Yeah, Levi shouldn’t have kissed you, not without your permission, but did you pull away immediately or did you let your mind mess with you?”
I didn’t respond, and my brother’s boyfriend continued, “Yeah, that’s what I thought. First things first, you need to be respectful of the fact that Levi is worried about Scar. You call him, don’t text him, and tell him what I told you. If either one of you gets within a hundred feet of Scar or Andrew, you will have me to deal with. You understand me?”
“Crystal,” I replied.
“Okay, I’d leave Scar be for now. She’ll be in touch once she’s ready to face you. And I’m telling you right fucking now, don’t make me get involved.” He ended the call without even a simple goodbye, leaving me with the phone in my hand—willing myself to do the one thing I know I should. Lessen Levi’s worry.
Levi picked up on the first ring. “Jordan?” It was a question, but he knew it was me. It was awkward. Why wouldn’t it be? We had been beating the shit out of each other three hours earlier, and the woman we loved was in the hospital—from our hands.
“Levi, I don’t want to talk to you about what happened. But you deserve to know—I spoke with Brock. Andrew was back with Red. She has a broken wrist and a black eye. He said it was minor, and she was more upset than physically hurt.”
He remained silent. Not even a peep could be heard on his end. I waited for ten seconds. “Well, I’ll go.”
“Wait, Doc.” His words were rushed, getting them out before I ended the call.
“Levi, I can’t right now.”
