"I didn't do nothin’.”
"You sucker punched that girl after you raped her and now you're letting your coach take the fall. You're a real prick you know that?"
"I didn't do it!"
I lift up one of the lighter bats. The black and grey aluminum one.
"Say you didn't do it again, and Mindy is first."
I wouldn’t actually hit Mindy Newton with a baseball bat. I think the woman is his grandmother and is probably eighty years old, but he doesn't know that. I'm sure he looks at my height, my ink, my scars and thinks that I would do exactly what I say. At least that's what I'm counting on.
"Coach Pearson was there. I mean...he was yelling at her too."
I swing the bat towards Tommy's head but stop it in mid-air. He flinches and covers his head with his hands like I knew he would.
"Pussy." I laugh. "Say that shit again, and I will visit Oliver next. He works at the mini mart around the corner from your house right?"
"Wait–"
"I'm listening."
"I'll go tell my lawyer that I'm recanting my statement, but you have to promise to leave my family alone.“
"No need to waste his time. You'll go straight to the station and confess."
"I need a lawyer first!”
"After your confession. And let me warn you right now, this isn't a negotiation. This is a ultimatum. You feel me?"
He hesitates for a moment. So I lift all of my bats and rest them on my shoulders, staring at him square in his eyes.
“I’ll go right now,” he acquiesces.
“Right answer, homie. I’ll follow you to the station.”
SLOAN
"So how are you holding up?" I ask my mother.
I've talked to my sister Dawn at least three times a day since the news broke about my father, but have yet to speak to my mother about it. She doesn't like to talk on the phone. She's more of a "let's meet and have drinks" type of person. So we’re here together meeting at a local restaurant near her yoga studio.
"As good as can be expected. Some of those yoga hussies are talking about me behind my back in class, but I'm ok."
"Namaste, bitches.” I say while bowing my head and motioning the prayer sign with my hands.
My mother cracks a smile.
"So how did you find out?" she asks.
"He came by the apartment."
"Oh, so he finally visited you in your love shack?"
"He doesn't know that Cutter bought the building yet. Not unless you told him?”
"I didn't."
“I figured as much.”
"So what did he want? He came all the way over there to tell you about the incident?”
"He wants Cutter's help."
"Of course. Typical Dan. He wants help from the same man he won't even acknowledge.”
My mother pauses to pop a few mystery pills into her mouth and washes them down with some ice water.
"I know, but I guess desperate times called for desperate measures."
"So is Cutter the one who got him off then?”
"What?"
“Didn’t you hear? Your dad is no longer a person of interest. The police told us last night and the news broke just this morning.”
“How? I mean I know he has a great group of lawyers, but this seems almost like a miracle. It was looking bad there for a while.“
“It wasn’t anything the lawyers did. The kid confessed on his own.”
"Which kid?"
"Tommy Newton. Even thought he’s pleading not guilty to rape and murder, he did admit to hitting that poor girl in self defense. His confession simply proves that he’s a liar. So it’s just a matter of time before they build a rock solid case against him.”
“Wow.”
“I know– I can't believe that I had that little rapist over my house for spaghetti dinner."
"You cook now?"
"Uber eats."
“Oh…well this is great news, but you seem kind of callous about the whole thing. I mean dad was in serious trouble for a minute there. He may never shake the stigma of being a murder suspect. His reputation is ruined.”
“Reputation?” she scoffs. “Well there's a part of the story that I'm sure he conveniently left out when he came running to you for help.”
"What else?"
"There was another girl at the party. The friend of the dead girl. Your father was seeing her."
"What do you mean seeing?"
“Exactly what you think I mean. Evidently she's someone he's been “visiting” when he travels to Boston. He's been there at least four times over the last three months. Supposedly she was at that party with your father. To see your father. I guess they were busy in another room which is how her friend ended up drunk and alone and getting raped by some of the players. From what I’ve been told, the victim, I mean that poor girl, accused your father of setting her up. That’s why she confronted him.”
Oh my God.
“She thought dad set her up to get assaulted? That’s crazy.”
“People start to think irrationally when alcohol is involved.”
"And how do you know all of this again?”
"Your father told me."
“He told you all of this? About the girl and everything?"
"He tells me mostly everything after the fact, and I don't expect you to understand why he does or why I listen or why I stay, but you will one day when you're married."
I hope I never understand this type of twisted dysfunction.
My parents were in love once. I know because I'm pretty sure I saw glimpses of it as a little girl, but mostly because their courtship was documented ad nauseum in many of the celebrity magazines back in the day. But based on my father's long time bad behavior, I'm not sure what their marriage has become now.
At this point I guess it's a marriage of convenience, because there is no other explanation for why a woman as beautiful and intelligent as my mother would continue to put up with my dad's chronic womanizing.
My marriage is going to be a lot different. That I’m sure of.
"I'm sorry, mom. I really am."
"Nothing new right? He's going through some sort of mid-life crisis, and he isn't seeing things straight. He thinks this girl, this child, might be his soulmate. He wants to see her through this. Be there for her as she mourns for her friend. Never mind what his family may want or need. Never mind the bad publicity and the whispers I get behind my back."
"You should leave, mom."
"And give some twenty year old bitch my life?"
I didn't think so.
"Mom, I'm getting married in August.
"This August?"
"Yes."
"Is marriage what you really want?"
"It is."
"Even after everything I’ve just told you?"
"Cutter is nothing like daddy. He is everything a husband should be."
"You're not dazzled by the dick are you?"
"Mom!"
"I've seen Cutter without a shirt and basketball shorts on. He is definitely something to look at. But make smarter choices than me, Sloan."
"Trust me I am."
"You might be right, because I don't know why that Newton boy would confess unless he had a really good reason to. I'm thinking your fiance had something to do with it.”
“Cutter? Uh-uh.”
“Why not? He loves you and helping people in trouble is what he does for a living.”
“I didn’t want him involved in our family mess, so I never asked him for his help. In fact I haven’t really said much about dad’s whole case to him. I wanted distance from it, and dad has always been able to weasel out of trouble by throwing money at it.”
"You know, Sloan, even though your father is an immature jerk most of the time, he loves his family. He always has."
I give my mother a look like she just grew three horns out of her head. My father can do almost anything to her, to us, to himself and she’ll still find a way to defend him.
“Uh, I guess, but he loves himself more."
The server places our drinks down and my mother takes a sip of her iced tea as if it were a shot of vodka.
"I know I seem like a rock to you, Sloan. Emotionless. Steady. Unbothered. But I'm not. I've been with your father from the very beginning. When he was in college and blew out his knee, there were no guarantees that he would have a pro career, but it didn't matter to me. I would have stayed either way. I loved him. But he's betrayed me so many times that I've lost count, and all that I have left is you and my philanthropy work."
“So why are you defending him?”
“I’m not. I just don’t want you going through life thinking that your father doesn’t give a damn about you. He loves you, he’s proud of you, and in my opinion he’s been a pretty good father. He’s just a terrible husband.”
My mother begins eating her meal in the methodical way that she always has since I was little. Protein first, veggies second, a small forkful of her starch third, and then a sip of unsweetened iced tea with lemon to wash it all down.
She's absolutely miserable. I wish for once that she could be happy. Genuinely happy.
Like I am.
"Do you think dad will leave you for this girl?"
"Leave me?" she scoffs. "He was never going to leave. He's just planning to set up house with her. Sleep at home during the week and sleep wherever he sets up house for her on the weekends. He's with her right now. In Boston. As soon as the police gave him the all clear, he was on the first smokin’ out of Philadelphia.“
I almost spit out my mouth full of Shirley Temple, which I ordered as a joke, because I couldn't wait to see my mother's face when I tied the stem of the cherry into a knot with just my tongue.
"You can't be serious."
"That's what he said."
I place my fork full of fish down, and cross my arms on the table top.
"He's not invited to my wedding!"
My mother grins.
"Sloan...don't be so dramatic."
Me: Did you have something to do with getting my dad off the hook?
Cutter: Where are you?
Me: In an Uber. Answer the question.
Cutter: Why are you asking me that?
Me: Just. Answer. The. Question.
Cutter: Maybe.
Me: I didn't ask you to do that.
Cutter: You didn’t have to.
Me: What did you do?
Cutter: It wasn’t actually me. I knew about it of course, but it was all Stone, and he was glad to do it.
Me: Really? Stone did it?
Cutter: Yep.
Me: So I guess I have to be nicer to him now?
Cutter: That would be great, yes.
Me: But I rather be really nice to you when I get home in about fifteen minutes.
Cutter: How nice?
Me: Roll your eyes in the back of your head nice. On my knees nice. Arms tied behind my back nice.
Cutter: Get the fuck home NOW!
Me: I'm cummmin...sir.
CAMDEN
It seems as if every time Jade needs me, I'm no where to be found. I’ve spent every waking moment in the hospital, yet the moment I go on a store run for her, she's rolled into emergency surgery.
I ran six city blocks in record time after getting her text. Green juice flying everywhere. My heart beating furiously through my chest. What if she's frightened I thought. What if the surgeon doesn't know what he's doing. Why is it an emergency? Is she dying?
When I ran to the floor she was on and saw Doctor Dickhead casually talking on his cell phone at the nurse's desk I almost lost it. I wanted to throttle him. What was he doing in the hallway talking to who the fuck ever? Why wasn’t he with my girl?
Luckily one of the residents interceded and explained what was going on to me.
Jade was having an ectopic pregnancy. Which is dangerous and her life was at risk. The baby, our baby, would never survive in the fallopian tube, so they had to perform the surgery to remove it. She could have children in the future if she wanted.
She wanted me there before they took her in for surgery, but they had to make a quick decision. Waiting was not a good idea.
The surgery went well.
There were no complications.
She was in recovery.
She would be moved into a regular room in an hour or so, and I could wait for her there. Which I didn't do. Because I had to make a stop first.
"Hey, little star."
"Hey."
"How ya feeling?"
"Like a mack truck ran me over and then backed up again."
"Well you look goddamn amazing."
"You're a liar, Camden King.”
"Yeah, I am." I smirk.
She winces in pain after giggling.
"Stop laughing if it hurts,” I tell her.
"Stop making me laugh."
"I spilled your green juice all over Sansom Street, so you’re shit out of luck.”
"Thanks a lot. I was thirsty."
“Who told you to go into surgery while I was getting it.”
"I'm sorry, Cam. You can say it if you want."
"Say what?”
"I told you so. I was pregnant."
"That's not how I wanted to be right."
“Yeah.”
“We’ll try for real when we’re ready.”
“Sure, when we’re ready, but in the meantime I think we’re going to have to use condoms."
"We're not fucking ever again if this is what can happen. You scared the fuck out of me.”
She winces again.
"I told you not to make me laugh."
"What's so funny about that?"
"You and I never having sex again?"
"I won't if it means putting you at risk."
"At risk of dying from dick withdrawal.”
Now I laugh out loud.
"Ok, maybe we'll just give it a few weeks."
I bend over and kiss her forehead.
"I give a good blow job. That should hold you over."
"Jade."
"Hmmm?"
"What am I going to do with you?"
"Everything."
I kiss her carefully on the mouth this time.
"Get better soon. We have a wedding to go to."
“Damn, did they set a date while I was in surgery?”
“Something like that. It’s the third Saturday in August."
"Sweet."
"And now..." I bend down on my knees and lean over on her bedside. "We need to set our own date."
I pull a small red box out of my pocket. While Jade was in recovery I took an Uber a few blocks over to Jeweler's Row and picked out a ring. A princess cut diamond, with the highest clarity I could find, size five.
"Marry me."
Jade's mouth spreads in a smile. With IV's running through her veins, she lifts her slender arm and places her hand on the side of my head. Tracing her thumb across my eyebrow.
"Yes."
"I love you so much, lima bean.”
"I love you too."
I lift up and kiss her gingerly. Only giving her a smidgen of tongue. I mean she did just get out of surgery. I don’t want to hurt her.
"Cam?"
Oh crap, did I just hurt her?
"Yes, baby."
“I think we both need a breath mint."
I laugh out loud again.
My girl is going to be just fine.
CUTTER
AUGUST
I think my bride is secretly a sadist. It was her bright idea to house the groomsmen on one side of Roman’s yacht and the bridesmaids on the other for the last twenty-four hours. Every man on this boat despises her. The women probably do too, although they’d probably never admit it.
Roman, Elizabeth, and baby Masterson graciously lent us the yacht for our impromptu summer wedding. We invited a little over one-hundred and fifty guests and one-hundred and twenty-two were able to make it.
I haven’t had my hands on Sl
oan in close to a day and a half, and I’m itching to see her. To marry her. To fuck her. To love her.
“You’ll see her soon, brother. You want a drink?” Camden offers me a highball of scotch and water.
“Then I’ll taste like scotch when I kiss her.”
“You taste like scotch all the damn time. What does it matter? She’s going to marry you regardless.”
Stone snickers over on the side.
“What are you laughing at?” I ask.
Over the last few months we have gotten to know our brother a lot better, and so I feel more comfortable giving him shit in the same way I give it to Camden.
“You can’t go one day without her?”
“When’s the last time you didn’t sleep next to your woman?”
“Last fucking night thanks to your bride.”
“Ooh, someone sounds like they’re a little pissed as well!” I tease.
“When are you going to make an honest woman out of that sweet girl?” Camden asks.
“After my probation is over.”
“That’s a long ass time,” Roman interjects. “You think she’s going to wait for you that long?”
Stone cuts his eyes at Roman. Those two are slowly but surely beginning to understand each other.
“She’ll wait.”
“Better hope so. Tiny is a keeper.”
“Her name is Ariana, asshole.”
Okay, maybe Rome and Stone have a little work left to do. They’ll get there.
“Excuse me.” Someone knocks then pops their head into my cabin. “Hello?”
It’s my brother’s computer geek friend, Samar.
“Hey, Samar. Come on in.”
“Hey, there. I just wanted to tell you that everyone is seated and the officiant is ready.”
“Thanks, man. How’s your woman liking the ship?” Camden asks.
“She loves it. Thanks for inviting us and thank you for everything you did to get her over here from India. You guys are the best.”
“No thanks necessary, Samar. Glad you’re on board. I mean that literally and figuratively,” I say.
We all laugh.
“Well, brother. Let’s go get you married.”
I eagerly throw on my jacket and take a last minute swig of Roman’s very expensive scotch. I’m ready.
Promised to a King Page 8
