by Wilder, L.
“Wait here,” I told her as I went inside to check things out. I was concerned that someone might have broken in, but as I looked around, nothing seemed to be out of place. I had an uneasy feeling, but I just couldn’t put my finger on why. I was about to check the security feed on my phone, when Harper walked in. “I told you to wait outside.”
“I think I know what happened.” She walked over to the small package we’d found on the front steps earlier that morning. As she picked it up, she said, “I must’ve forgotten to lock it when I brought this back inside.”
Before I had a chance to respond, my phone started to ring. Harper put the box back down on the table and made herself busy while I tended to my call. As soon as I answered, Nitro said, “Just heard from Big. I’m headed over to Frankie’s. Meet me there.”
“On my way.”
Harper’s voice was filled with disappointment when she said, “Let me guess. You’ve got to go.”
“Sorry, babe.”
“Will it take long?”
“No way to know.” I walked over to her and kissed her on the forehead. “But I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“Hold on.” She walked over to her purse, and then came back over to me with a set of keys in her hand. “Just in case it’s late when you get back.”
As I started for the door, I turned to her and said, “I really enjoyed today. I’ve missed having days like this with you.”
“Well, there’s plenty more coming your way.” She smiled.
“Lock up, and I’ll be back soon.”
As unhappy as I was to be leaving Harper again, I was eager to hear what Big had uncovered. Thankfully, it didn’t take me long to get to the warehouse. Since it was the weekend, traffic was light, and when I got to Frankie’s, most of the guys had already left. Pulling around back, I spotted Nitro’s car, but there was no sign of him. I headed inside, and as soon as I stepped through the door, I could hear Nitro’s voice.
I’d heard that tone before and knew he was ready to blow. “This is the end of the line, Frankie. You don’t have a choice in the matter.”
“You’ve got no say in this, Nitro. This place is mine!” Frankie shouted.
When I walked into Frankie’s office, Nitro was inches away from Frankie, and that little vein on the side of his neck was pulsing with fury. “It’s taken you exactly two months to fuck up everything your father worked for.”
“It’s not my fault that those motherfuckers stole the load, Nitro. There was no way I could know what they were planning. You can’t blame that shit on me.”
“Of course, it’s on you. It’s all on you. And the way I see it, you’ve got two choices. Step down and walk away with a shit load of money in your pocket, or find yourself six feet under. The choice is yours.”
Nitro wasn’t a man to make idle threats, and Frankie knew it. If he was smart, he’d tuck his tail between his fucking legs and walk out that door. Unfortunately, Frankie could be a little slow. Unable to contain himself, he stepped towards Nitro with his fists in the air and shouted, “I’ll kill you before I let you take what’s mine.”
Before Frankie reached Nitro, I lunged forward, grabbed him by the throat and slammed him against the wall. “Wrong fucking move, Frankie. You just took a step closer to the grave, brother. Is that what you want?”
His eyes dropped to the ground. “No.”
“Then, what’s it going to be?” Nitro growled.
A defeated look crossed Frankie’s face as his body fell limp against the wall. He looked around his office, and for a moment, I thought the poor sonofabitch was going to cry. Eventually, he let out a sigh and asked, “Who’s gonna take over the place?”
“Doesn’t fucking matter, Frankie. I’m waiting for your answer,” Nitro pushed.
“Fine.” Frankie stood up and started walking towards the door. “I’ll sell, but don’t come running to me when it all goes to shit.”
Once he was gone, I gave Nitro a second to settle down before I said, “That went better than I expected.” He gave me a disgruntled look and asked, “What’s the news from Big.”
He crossed his arms as he leaned against Frankie’s desk. “Turns out that the Blades have an ongoing dispute with a local rival gang, the Hoods. They got word about the shipment and decided to swipe it as a form of retaliation.”
“So, what are we going to do about it?”
“Nothing.” His phone started to vibrate in his pocket. Ignoring it, he said, “We’re going to let the Blades deal with them.”
“And our shipment?”
“We’ll just cut our losses on this one.” I was surprised by Nitro’s response. Not only had the Hoods stolen from us, but the Blades had tortured and killed one of our drivers. I figured he’d want to make them pay, but in the long run, I knew he was right. There was little to be gained by going after either of them. Besides, by the time they were done with each other, there’d be little left for us to go after. Nitro gave me a stern look as he said, “We just need to make sure this shit doesn’t happen again.”
Trust wasn’t easy to come by, so there were only a few people in the warehouse that knew Frankie was distributing illegal goods. That trust had been broken, it was time to find out who it was. “First thing we’ve gotta do is find out who tipped off the Hoods.”
“Exactly. It has to be someone on the inside … Not only did they know exactly when the truck was leaving, but they also knew exactly where the shit was hidden.”
“So, how do we find out who it is?”
“Big’s getting close. He’ll find him, and when he does, I want his fucking head,” he growled as he stood up and started towards the door. “First thing tomorrow, I want you to get with Jay. It’s time to find out if he’s got what it takes to take the reins.”
“And if he’s our rat?”
“Then, we’ll deal with him and give Ryder a go.” He opened the door and as he started into the hall, he looked back at me. “Tomorrow starts a new day, brother. Rest up.”
I wasn’t surprised that Nitro decided to buy out Frankie. Having full control of the land distribution would be a big step for the business, but it meant making big changes, working long hours and taking on new roles for all of us. When I thought about how that would affect things with Harper and me, I wasn’t so sure I liked the idea. I wanted to spend more time with her, not less. The time was coming for me to make a decision about my future—our future. It was time for me to put my priorities in order, once and for all.
CHAPTER 18
Harper
A fter spending a wonderful day and even better night with Max, I was disappointed to wake up to an empty bed. He’d gotten back earlier than expected so we were able to watch several episodes of Lost . It was like old times as we sat there watching our favorite show, and I could’ve sat there watching it all night; unfortunately, Max informed me that he had to be at work early in the morning. At the time, I didn’t realize he meant he’d be leaving before the crack of dawn. I ran my hand over his empty spot and sighed at the cold feeling of the covers against my skin. I missed the warmth of his body next to mine, especially now when it was so bitterly cold. Deciding it was time to put another log on the fire, I grabbed my bathrobe and wool socks, and headed into the living room. With the fire starting to heat up the room, I made myself a cup of coffee and looked out the front window. It was a chilly morning, but I still found myself wanting to take a walk along the beach. Giving into temptation, I bundled up and headed down to the shore.
Whiskey Creek had turned out to be a perfect spot for me. There were only a few cabins, maybe ten or so on the campground, so there weren’t many people bustling around as I walked along the water’s edge. I looked up at the gray sky, and in the distance, I could see dark, heavy clouds rolling in. Any other time, I might be a little nervous about a big snow storm, but thoughts of being stranded with Max for a few days had me feeling a little excited. As I continued down the beach, I remembered how we both used to love snow days. We’d pile
up on the sofa and spend endless hours in front of the TV watching movies, drinking hot chocolate, and eating fresh baked cookies. I was still thinking about all those moments, when my phone started to ring.
I reached into my back pocket, and when I saw it was my mother, I quickly answered. “Hey, Mom.”
“Hi, sweetheart! I know you’re busy, and I hate to bother you, but I haven’t heard from you in a few days. Your father and I were getting worried.”
It tickled me how she always found a way to throw dad into the mix. I think it made her look less intrusive if he was involved. “I’m fine, Mom, and you aren’t bothering me. You know you can call me anytime.”
“You say that, but I know you’re busy. I just needed to know that you were alive and breathing over there. I don’t like you being so far away.”
“Mom, I’m less than three hours from home. It’s not that far away.”
Her tone was a little short as she said, “I guess I’m just missing my daughter. Is that okay?”
“Yes, Momma. That’s fine.” I chuckled. “How are things going at home?”
“Good. Just busy. Your father’s been working on a big project at work, so he hasn’t been around much. I’ve been trying to get our winter clothes out … I’m sorry, dear. I know you don’t care about any of this.”
“Of course, I do. I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t.”
Her voice was filled with curiosity as she said, “You seem like you’re in a good mood.”
“Yeah. I guess I am.”
“Any particular reason why?”
I paused for a moment as I thought of how to tell her my news about Max. She’d never actually said the words, but I always believed that a part of her was relieved that he’d left after Brody’s funeral. Not because she didn’t love him. I knew she thought the world of him and loved him like family, but he was a big part of Brody’s life. Having him around would’ve only reminded her of what she’d lost, and while I understood it, I couldn’t help but resent her for it. I wanted her to miss him like I did. I wanted her to understand that my heart was broken, but I never got that from her. Instead, she encouraged me to go to college, to make new friends, and start a new life, while Max was just swept under the rug like a distant memory. I wasn’t sure how she’d feel about me seeing him. But the fact was: I was happy. I wanted Max in my life, and there was no point in trying to hide it. “I ran into Max a few days ago.”
“Max?” she gasped. “Wow. That’s a name I haven’t heard in a while. Did you talk to him?”
“Yes. I’ve actually seen him several times since that day.”
“How is he doing?”
“He’s doing really well. From what I can tell, he’s got a great job and a beautiful place and …”
I continued walking down the beach, trying to work up the courage to say the words that were on my mind. They were sitting right there on my tongue when she said, “You still love him.”
Surprised by her comment, I paused before I replied, “Yeah, I do.”
“And I’m sure he feels the same way about you.”
“He does.”
“Oh, Harper. I can’t tell you how happy that makes me. I’ve always hoped you two would find your way back to each other.”
Again, her words caught me by total surprise. I wasn’t sure what I expected her to say, but that was not it—not even close. “Really?”
“Yes, sweetheart. Really. I know it was hard on you when he left, but I truly believe he did the right thing,” she replied, confirming what I’d always thought.
“How can you say that?”
“Because it’s the truth, sweetheart.” She paused for a moment, then continued, “You were so young when you fell in love with Max. You hadn’t had a chance to experience the world. There was so much you didn’t know. You hadn’t learned how strong and independent you could be … And it was important for you to do that, Harper. Every person needs to know what they’re really made of. You survived losing your brother. It was hard, but you got through it. You went to college. You got a great job, an apartment, and now, you’re a successful author. No one helped you do those things . You did it all on your own , and now, you know exactly how strong you really are, and your relationship with Max will be better because of it.”
I couldn’t have been more wrong about my mother’s feelings towards Max. “I’ve never thought about it like that. I guess I finally understood why you were okay with him leaving.”
“I’m not saying that it didn’t hurt, Harper. I loved that boy. Your father loved him, too. When he left, we both felt like we’d lost two sons, but I’ve always held on to the hope that he’d find his way back to us, and to you .”
“Well, I guess that day has finally come,” I told her as a big smile spread across my face. “And I’ve got to say, it feels really good.”
“Does this mean we’ll get to see him soon?”
“Hopefully. He’s been really busy with work, but I’ll let him know you asked about him.”
“Please do. I’d really like to see him, and I’m sure you father would, too.”
I suddenly got the strangest feeling that someone was watching me. I turned around, looking in every direction, but no one was there. “That’s weird.”
“What?”
“Ah … It’s nothing.”
“It didn’t sound like nothing. What’s wrong?”
“I’m just being weird. I thought someone was out here with me, but there’s nobody around for miles.”
“Where are you?”
Knowing she would worry, I told her, “I’m out taking a walk on the beach, but I’m about to head back inside.”
“What are you doing outside? It’s freezing outside, Harper.”
I turned and started walking back towards the cabin as I answered, “I just needed a little fresh air. I’m heading back now.”
“I hope so. You know they’re calling for snow,” she warned. “And you really shouldn’t be out there all alone. Who knows who’s out there—”
“Mom,” I cut her off. “I’ve already told you, there’s no one here. It was just a funny feeling I got. It’s gone now, and I’m almost back to the cabin.”
“Good. Now, I want you to stay on the phone with me until you get back inside.” Before I had a chance to argue, she asked, “How’s the book coming along?”
“I don’t know. You know how it is when I get close to the end. I keep second guessing myself and wondering if I’m making a mess of it.”
“You worry too much, Harper. Your readers are going to love this book. You’ve grown so much as a writer, and I think this may be your best one yet!”
“Thanks, Mom. I’m really glad you think so.”
“I know so. Now, I know you want to spend time with Max, but don’t let things with him distract you from—”
“I won’t. In fact, I’m back at the cabin and I’m about to get to work on it now.” I opened the door and told her, “I’ll send you what I get done later tonight.”
“Great. I’m looking forward to reading it. I love you, and I’ll talk to you soon.”
“Love you, too. Bye, Mom.”
After I hung up, I took off my coat, grabbed another cup of coffee, and sat down at the table with my laptop. I’d written several chapters over the past week, and I needed to check my notes to make sure I was still on track, but when I reached for my journal, it wasn’t there. I got up and started to look around the kitchen and living room, but it was nowhere in sight. Then I remembered that I’d kept some of my notes on a flash drive, but when I went to look for it, I realized it was missing, too. I depended on those notes. They were my crutch. They helped me remember the little things, like special dates and the ages of side characters, but it also contained my outline of how I wanted the plot to unfold. When I combed through all the drawers and still came up empty-handed, I started to panic. Hoping he might know where it could be, I picked up my phone to call Max.
When he answered, I said, “I know y
ou’re busy, and I’m really sorry to bother you, but have you seen my little red journal?”
“Your what?”
“My little red journal. It’s a little book where I keep all my notes for the book.”
“I haven’t seen it.”
“Are you sure? It was sitting on the kitchen table, and now, I can’t find it or my flash drive. Maybe you picked it up and didn’t know it.”
“I don’t think so, babe. Is it important?”
“Umm … yeah, but don’t worry about it. I’ll find it.”
“Try not to worry. It’ll turn up. And if it doesn’t, I’ll be there in a few hours, and I’ll help you look.”
“Okay.”
“Hey.”
“Yeah?”
“It’ll be okay. We’ll find it.”
There was something about the sound of his voice that made me believe him, and even if we didn’t find the journal, I knew it would be okay. “Thanks, Max.”
“I’ll be there soon.”
After I hung up the phone, I searched every nook and cranny in the cabin, but still couldn’t find them. I stood there looking at all the open drawers and overturned cushions, and I silently cursed myself because of the mess I’d made. I didn’t know what I was thinking. The notes were important, but not finding them wasn’t the end of the world. It would take some time, but I could rewrite my notes, recreate my outline, and finish the book as planned. I needed to pull it together, and stop acting like a deranged lunatic. I also needed to clean up the cabin, but time wasn’t on my side. The room was getting darker by the minute, so I knew the bad weather was rolling in fast. Since I was almost out of food, I decided to leave the mess for later and headed for the grocery store.
Before I pulled out of the driveway, I sent Max a text message:
Me:
I’m headed to the store. Do you think you’ll be back for dinner?
Max:
I should be.
Me:
Okay. Good.
Max:
Does that mean you’re cooking?
Me:
That’s the plan.
