by J D Worth
My whole body slacks. “Cal—”
“Don’t, Audrey!” He glares at me. “I warned you once, and this isn’t ’bout fuckin’ ’round no more. You cannot fall in love with Mace because his life is here. He can’t leave Haven when he has ole Abe to care for. He has his garage, which is their livelihood. He’s making his dream of restoring bikes happen. Mace’s future remains in Haven. Yours is back in New York!”
“I know, and I can’t help how I feel. Love found me of all people! I have no choice but to go back.” I erupt in a heap of tears and yank the postcard off my fridge. Shoving the welcome home cryptic message into his face, I ask, “Who sent this to me in New York a week before the wedding? Someone wants me to stay here.”
Cal places his hand to his forehead as he checks the postcard out. He slides the card over to me. “Honestly, I don’t know.”
“Do you think Mace sent this to me? He was waiting for my arrival at the resort.”
“He nicked the dossier, and you were checked-in almost a week before you actually arrived. We thought you were just hiding in your suite. So no, it couldn’t have been Mace.”
I place the postcard back on my fridge as Cal hangs his head low. “Who has an old typewriter?”
“Drop it, Audrey! You can’t fuckin’ stay anyway, so the postcard really doesn’t matter. I gotta go see my momma while she’s in town. I wish I could stay and continue this discussion until you get it through your pretty little head.” Cal gives me an urgent look. My eyes water again. “Shut it down, Audrey! Shut it down before you destroy all of us. Mace would fuckin’ drown for you. You’re the only one who can stop that from happening! I know you’re not a selfish person, so don’t disappoint me now.” The screen door slams behind him. The stark reality of the situation settles over me. I’m left standing alone in my cottage. By falling in love with Mace, I could destroy him and everything we’re both working hard to achieve. Where do we pick up from here?
26
I clear the hall corner with a laundry basket, halting in my step, catching Mace gazing at me through the screen door. His hands hang from the front doorframe while he angles his body forward, waiting for me. This is the first I’ve seen him since the falling out we had. Cal and Mace have given me breathing room all week. Cal was right about us. Mace told me he would follow me back if he could. I have to keep reminding myself this is temporary, including the ease of settling into the simple existence that belonged to my mother’s family. I’m on borrowed time, living a life not meant for me. I can’t bear to destroy anyone’s life here. Life has carved out a complicated future for me, and I’m destined to run an empire one day. The first woman on Wall Street to do so, and I’m planning to rewrite all the fucking rules.
“Princess, you’re killing me here.” Mace groans, stepping into the cottage, glancing over my tiny cutoff jean shorts and white bikini top.
“Laundry day. All my other decent clothes are in the wash.”
“Put the basket down.”
I drop the basket on the island as the lines in my forehead crease. I wave my hands over the skimpy outfit as I exhale. “You know this isn’t my normal dress code. This is as close to trophy wife—”
“Yeah, you couldn’t if you tried.” Mace smirks while his fingers dance along my bare waist. “I’m not an eloquent man. Not in the least bit. Nor will I pretend I spent any damn time at a museum, but I know art when I see it.” My belly fills with butterflies as his eyes rake over every dip and curve of my body. “You are a sculpture yet to be carved. A masterpiece waiting to be painted. A thousand sonnets swirling in the mind of a poet.” My face flushes as my head captures his words draping around me like a love song. “You are perfection.” Mace follows with a kiss worthy of all those beautiful sentiments.
“Mace…”
He runs his nose up my neck. “Cupcake again?” The notion of sweet lotions helps me recall reality. We are mere earthbound creatures, not based in myth, or fairy tales. My feet hit solid ground while our bodies connect, experiencing the same epiphany of love together. “You always make my days better, Princess,” he says under his breath, adding a lingering kiss on my head.
“I’m sorry I placed you in that situation the other day. I was feeling insecure, pushing boundaries I knew I shouldn’t have. I was being massively unfair to you. I promise to be more respectful in the future.” I swallow down my unease, clearing the air between us.
Wincing at me, Mace breaks the enchanted spell. Shoving an imaginary cement wall between us, he hovers back by the door, his hand already pressing against the screen door. I tumble from his marble pedestal as he’s ready to bolt.
He asks, “Have you seen Cal today? I’ve gotta reach him and haven’t been able to track him down yet. Martin thought he was hitting a rental up the coast, but planned to work at his cottage if he finished early.”
“No. Is everything all right with Martin and Aiden?”
“Yeah, nothing to do with them. I’m just having one of those shitty days. Couldn’t possibly happen at a worse time.”
“Sorry to hear that. I haven’t seen Cal since the last time you were here. Did you try Payton? She said Cal’s been joining her this week during her lunch breaks.”
“Already ran down the list. I have a feeling his crappy cell battery died again. Look, I gotta head to Northport right now. If I don’t show back up here by nine, you tell Cal I had to hit the circuit as soon as you find him.”
Discerning Mace’s level of concern, my breath quickens. “I’ll make sure he gets the message.” What does he mean by the circuit?
“I’ve got some business to take care of for the old man, so I may not be ’round for a while. Got me?” He’s been so busy anyways, I don’t see him much as is. He motions with his finger for me to come closer. I sway towards him. He sweeps his arm around me and places a lingering kiss upon my head. “Promise me no matter what you’ll find your own way. There will come a day when I’m not gonna be ’round you. I gotta know you’ll still fight for your own future. Even at your weakest point, you have to be strong. You may not like the prospects, but that’s life.”
I furrow my brows. His behavior is striking, almost as if he’s ending things with me. “Mace…?”
His hold tightens. I shiver from the inside out, petrified to let go. “Shh … just promise me.”
“I have my own plans. I’ve come this far not to follow through. I’ve learned so much from you this summer. I need to write my own playbook.”
He lets out a deep breath. “Good. Remember that when life gets hard. Your moral compass is just fine, Princess.” He gives me a quick peck before jogging out to his Jeep. A coil wrenches within me as I watch him take off without making eye contact with me. I’ve never seen Mace teetering on the edge like this. His words hinted that he’s going away, and I won’t see him again before I leave.
I go about my day, using my nervous energy to clean the cottage. I call Cal several times, but he never picks up. It’s past seven when I dash to his cottage the moment his truck pulls in.
“Hey, Goof, what’s got your yoga pants on fire?” He snickers as he steps out.
“I’m hoping you heard from Mace today.”
“Nope, my phone went dead awhile back.” He cuts his eyes to mine. “What’s going on?”
“Mace stopped by earlier, looking for you. He said if he didn’t show up here by nine to make sure you knew he hit the circuit in Northport, whatever that is. He explained he has to take care of some business for Abe. Cal, I’ve never seen him on edge like this before. He was alarmed.”
“Shit!” Cal vaults out of his truck. “What else did he say?”
“That … he might not be around for a while?” I take in a shaky breath. “Is he planning on leaving because he pretty much said his farewells to me?”
Cal slams his fists on the hood of his truck. I rock back on the heels of my feet. “Audrey, I’m gonna need to borrow your cell to remotely check my voice mail. I’m gon
na also need your car. My truck has a bum tire. I don’t wanna risk a blow out after coasting home as is. That’s what took me so long to get here.” He scampers towards my driveway. I nearly jog just to keep up so I can hand over my cell. He calls his voice mail as he continues to swear aloud.
“What’s going on, Cal?” I search his eyes, demanding answers.
“Looks like Mace is taking the fall for Abe again.”
“What can I do to help?”
Cal stops so quick his body jars back. He looks me square in the eyes. “Drop it, Audrey. This doesn’t concern you at all! I already told you once that he’s dealing with some bad shit. Things like these don’t have good outcomes if you get me.”
“Right, Mace told me his garage and home are in jeopardy.” I stand in front of him, blocking his path. Cal’s brows shoot high. “But you can help him. How? By getting into a fight and landing in jail, or worse. I’m incredibly talented with numbers and money. I’ll find a solution to his dilemma so he doesn’t have to lose either.”
Cal pushes past me. “Mace would fight for me, so I’m gonna do the same for him. He’s my brother. We have each other’s back no matter what, and you got Harvard in the fall. We had this same damn conversation not even a week ago.”
My stark laugh punches through the thick, residual heat. “Yes, and I can guarantee no matter what, I’m still going to Harvard this fall. Don’t you think I owe this lifeline to Mace if I can help him? To help you?” Cal stops again and assesses me. “I realize what you said last week was correct. This isn’t about me staying.”
Cal rubs his hands over his stressed face. “Shit! I can’t believe I’m doing this, but you’re right. We got more of a chance walking out in one piece with you on my arm.”
“Walking out in one piece? Explain now, please!”
“Mace punched Anton at the bar ’cause he had a hard-on for you.”
“Yes, and what does this Anton have to do with anything?”
“That’s where we’re heading tonight. We’re going to see Anton. Could you sweet-talk him? Get us in to see Mace?”
Fuck! Mace is dealing with the mob as we speak. My stunned gaze lands to my feet. He took the time to stop by my cottage to say goodbye to me earlier. My mind races. I’ll try anything to save Mace. “Anton was wearing a tailored, designer cut suit. His haircut is expensive. His cologne is top-of-the-line. I don’t know the brand, yet I’ve encountered that scent in my circles before. He has a faint accent. I believe Russian, yet he’s a native English speaker. He’s educated, well-spoken, and has the ease and mannerisms that dictate how assured he is of himself. Mace punched him in the face, and he registered less than five seconds of shock before composing himself again. He remains collected, yet this behavior is … forced.” I hold my breath. You don’t want to be around Anton when he loses his shit.
“Audrey, you hear yourself? All that after only meeting the guy for thirty seconds.”
It’s true I gathered that information the first time I met the Russian mob boss. I don’t dare tell Cal about Anton’s terrifying second meeting with me at the motel. “Cal.”
“Yeah, Audrey?” His voice breaks as he swallows.
“Think of Anton as a dragon tonight,” I warn, “Expect his bite to be worse than you anticipate. However intimidating that may be, remember dragons have chinks in their armors.”
“Anton happens to sit upon a golden throne and won’t let you forget his position either. That’s why Mace is in this mess to begin with.” Cal grabs my wrist, hurrying me into the cottage.
I shuffle my feet. “I need more information.”
“Anton’s a number man in his own right, and you may be onto something with the business side of things. You’re telling me to look for the first sign of his vulnerability, which we use to get Mace out.”
“Yes, absolutely. Everyone has a weakness. Wait, we have to get Mace out? We’re not meeting up with him?” My throat slowly closes in as the mission becomes more dangerous by the moment.
“Audrey, I told you he was in some serious shit. This is what happens when things go bad in situations like his.”
“Right.” We’re dealing with the Russian mob. I clench my teeth so tight my jaw hurts. Anton even put me on the table, willing to renegotiate with Mace.
“I’m playing on Anton’s weakness by bringing you along. He has a thing for beautiful women. Come on, you gotta dress the part. Do you have a slinky dress? I sure as hell hope not, but I gotta ask.” He huffs, tearing a path to my bedroom. “You could wear a paper bag and impress the hell outta him like you did with me a second ago. Reading people must come naturally to you?”
“I wish it didn’t. You’re in luck with the dress part. My stepmother, fashionista extraordinaire, packed plenty of sleazy aspirations.”
“Guess that explains the same yoga outfits.” Cal holds up a tiny black slinky dress. “This is gonna have to work.” He squints at me with one eye.
“I know.”
Cal shakes off a body shiver. “You’re gonna need some killer heels.” He snags my peep toe kitten heels from the shoe organizer. “Can your ankle handle the strain?”
“My sprain was over a month ago. My ankle will be fine for one night. However, those heels were part of my school uniform and don’t work with that dress. I’ll text Violet and borrow the ones I gave her earlier.”
“Tell her we’ll be there in ten.” He stops by the dresser and picks up the wedding diamond hairpins sitting in the jewelry dish. “Are you fond of these?” Light sparkles off the row of diamonds.
“No, I was with Georgina when she picked out those pieces at Tiffany’s for the wedding party. Why?”
“They’re gonna be your Benjamin for tonight.” He looks guilty for even suggesting the diamond offering in the first place. I’m not in New York where I have a protective barrier around me. My throat clamps up again, discovering how far Cal is planning to go by asking for the diamonds.
I blow out a controlled breath. “They’re worth an easy five grand, and I don’t care what happens to them.” How deep are Mace’s troubles?
“All right ’cause a hundred dollar tip ain’t gonna cut it. You understand what I’m saying here?” Cal implores. Whatever we’re walking in to isn’t going to be good if he’s outfitting me with diamonds as a payoff. “Drive to the resort as soon as you’re done. I’ll meet you out front. Wear your hair down, bring your wallet, and don’t forget those hairpins,” he says before taking off.
My hair is thrown back in a ponytail, so I do a quick shampoo. I change, having to forgo a bra since I don’t have a strapless one. Stopping short of mid-thigh, the little black number clings to me. I keep pulling the hem down. There isn’t much material, so I sigh in frustration. I pass the ace of hearts on my nightstand and have a kneejerk reaction, tucking the card into my wallet for good luck.
Cal comes out of the resort in a button up dress shirt, dress pants, and a suit jacket. There must be a dress code where we’re going. I recall Anton was the first person I saw outside of the resort to wear a designer suit.
I jump out of the driver’s seat, letting Cal take the wheel. “How long have you worked security here?”
“For a couple of years. The pay is good, but the job is only part-time. Mace and I get to use their gym, which is the only reason we work here to begin with. We have our own keys for the off-season to walk the premises for security checks. In exchange, we have free reign of the gym all year and a small monthly token pay check.”
“I can imagine the only decent gym around here would be much closer to Northport.”
“You got it.” Cal comes to a wrenching stop outside of Violet’s house. She runs from the house and passes the shoes through Cal’s window. “We’ll catch up later, Violet, okay?” Cal says.
“Jax is working tonight. He’ll be in Northport till eight if you need him,” she replies, sensing trouble is brewing.
“We’re good. No blowback,” Cal says. She nods
in understanding. Cal circles around her neighborhood, slowing down by a small, rundown ranch that must be Mace’s house. There are no lights on or vehicles in the driveway. Cal grows more concerned by the moment as he curses out Abe.
Spinning out of the neighborhood, Cal shifts in his seat, unsettled. “Look, its best if you don’t ask any questions. The less you know the better off you’ll be. You gotta leave your cell phone in the car ’cause you can’t get a signal. I can’t believe I’m bringing you along. This has gotta stay between the two of us, Audrey.”
