by L. A. Fiore
Lucien laughed, which was good because woman or not, I was tempted to leave her ass and let her find her own way home.
At the curb, she tried again, draping her arms around me her mouth seeking mine, which she missed. “Come back with me.”
“Sleep it off.”
“See if I suck you off again.” She snarled before glaring at Lucien and then she practically fell into the cab. I gave the cabbie the address, paid him and watched as it drove off.
“You good?”
“Yeah, and since you’re being so insightful this evening, any ideas on how the hell I end that shit?”
His hand came down on my shoulder. “Sorry, pal. I haven’t a fucking clue.”
Trace, Lucien and I were talking when Avery appeared. She’d been with the others dancing. You could tell she had had a few drinks, her cheeks were rosy and her eyes slightly glassy, but she wasn’t tripping over herself like Melody. Pulling out a chair, she sat down and reached for the pitcher of water.
“This place is great, Lucien.”
“You look like you’re having fun on the dance floor,” he replied.
“Yeah, but Darcy and Ember are like machines. I can’t keep up with them.”
Trace had a thought on that, and knowing him as well as I did, I knew exactly where his thoughts took him in regards to Ember and her stamina. He apparently didn’t think it was appropriate to share with his employee because he didn’t voice it.
Avery checked her watch and then reached for her phone. “I’m punching out.”
“I’ll take you home.”
That earned me her face. Her eyes didn’t immediately adjust, I suspected she was seeing double. I couldn’t help the grin; she was adorable when intoxicated. “What?”
“If you’re ready, I’ll take you.”
She had the most expressive face, her every thought was on display. She actually licked her lips. My cock grew hard. I wondered what she tasted like. Was she as sweet as one of her desserts? Somehow I knew that she was, suspected her flavor would be habit-forming too. I needed to tone back those thoughts since we’d be in my truck together and there were several reasons I couldn’t act on what my body demanded, namely she was my tenant and she worked for Trace.
“But you’re with your friends. I’ll catch a cab.”
The irony was not lost on me. My girlfriend demanded I leave, my tenant insisted I stayed. It wasn’t lost on Lucien either.
“Avery, we are going to the same place. I’ll take you if you’re ready. Besides Loki needs to be let out.”
Mentioning Loki was the magic word. “Loki, right. Okay, if you don’t mind.”
Did I mind having her all to myself in my truck? It was going to be an uncomfortable ride home and I couldn’t wait. “Do you want to say goodbye to Darcy and Ember first?”
“Oh yeah. I’ll be right back.”
I felt Lucien’s stare as I watched Avery disappear into the bodies on the dance floor. “Do not say a word.”
“I wasn’t going to.”
“Yeah, you were.”
He laughed. “Yeah I was, but you already know what I’m thinking.”
Yeah I did.
Avery returned, said her goodbyes to Trace and Lucien before waiting for me to do the same. It wasn’t until we were in my truck when she remembered Melody.
“What happened to Melody?”
“She was drunk, I sent her home in a cab.”
“I’m not surprised with the way she was pounding back those cosmos. I’m glad you decided to stay. Although next time you need to get out on the dance floor.”
“I’d rather watch.”
“Why?”
Because watching her shake her ass all night had been the finest form of foreplay I’d had in some time. Sure, I wasn’t going to act on that, but the sight was definitely one I’d like to see repeated and often. “I’m not much of a dancer.”
She snorted, the sound adorable and ridiculous. “Right. The way your body moves just from walking, if you ever got on the dance floor women would be dropping like flies. So damn sexy.” Her head snapped to me, my fingers were gripping the steering wheel because the urge to pull her across my lap was strong. “Did I just say that out loud?”
“Yeah.” That came out in a growl, but hell. I was only human and she was just too fucking tempting.
“Oops.”
My cock jerked in my jeans. Fucking Christ. I needed to get this temptress home and then take a cold fucking shower.
Her voice was so soft, almost apologetic when she said, “Thanks for the ride, Rafe.”
Thoughts of a different kind of ride flooded my head, so when I responded I sounded almost curt. “Anytime.”
Pulling down the drive, I thought about last night. I hadn’t heard from Melody this morning, didn’t think I would since she was playing the martyr. She’d avoid me, believing I’d eventually seek her out and apologize. I’d be seeking her out, but Hell would freeze over before I apologized. Once Dad was settled, I’d handle her. And Avery. I wasn’t lying; the woman could tempt a priest to sin, but it would be best if I didn’t indulge too much in those thoughts.
When I arrived at Sing Sing, I climbed from my truck and leaned up against it to wait. I couldn’t quite define how it felt standing outside a prison waiting for my father to be released. This moment had been a long time coming for him. Dad couldn’t have asked for a nicer day—the sun shining, mild, only in the sixties. The trees were all starting to turn colors and after seeing only shades of gray for so long, he might experience sensory overload. An alarm sounded seconds before the gates opened. Dad, carrying a duffel bag and being escorted by two guards, emerged from the shadows. He stopped, as soon as the sun hit his face, his head tilting back as he soaked up the rays. I couldn’t imagine how that felt, feeling the sun on your skin while being a free man for the first time in twenty-five years. After a few minutes, his focus shifted to me, a smile spreading over his face as he continued toward me.
He dropped his duffel and before I could react, he pulled me in for a hug. It was quick, but I felt tightness in my chest all the same.
My voice was a bit thick when I said, “Welcome to the outside.”
“I’d kill someone for a decent cup of coffee.”
“I wouldn’t talk like that here.”
Laughing, he reached for his bag. “Thanks for picking me up.”
“How about lunch?”
“Food not served on a plastic tray. Yes. Lead the way. I have to meet with my parole officer at three.”
“We’ll eat first and I’ll take you. You’re going to need to ease into the twenty-first century by getting a cell phone.”
Dad laughed. “And Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. I mean shit it’s like a foreign language.”
“You’ll settle in.”
“Yeah I will.”
“For lunch, what do you want?”
“Italian.”
“I know the perfect little hole in the wall. Best Italian food in the city.”
An hour later, Dad and I were settled at the small place Ember had told me about. The food was ridiculous and the line was usually around the corner but since it was early, we didn’t have to wait.
I tried to put myself in his shoes, watching as Dad scanned the menu, but knew I’d never really appreciate what he was feeling.
“It all looks so good. I think I want the lasagna and garlic bread.”
“Good choice.” After the waitress took our order I asked him, “How’s it feel?”
“A little weird, a lot weird.”
“Can I ask you something?”
“Yeah.”
“Why didn’t your lawyer appeal? There were eyewitness accounts that you weren’t the shooter, accounts that you were even surrendering. I just don’t understand how you lost so much time for what amounts to a stupid mistake.” Lately, I’d been thinking a lot about Dad’s case. He’d made a mistake, absolutely, but to get the sentence he had seemed like the DA had been out for blood.
/> “Had the two I did the job with lived, I may have been able to cut a deal. But with them dead, they needed a fall guy because a man died.”
“It’s bullshit.”
“Consequences, Rafe. I made the decision to cut corners, to attempt to solve my problems the easy way. That’s on me. So yeah, I lost twenty-five years, lost that time with you, but the man who was killed, Jared Lincoln, he lost his life.”
“You know his name.”
“I’ll never forget it. His wife lost her husband; his kids lost their father. That’s something I have to live with. And even though I didn’t pull the trigger, I’m still guilty.”
That seemed harsh, but then in his shoes it was likely I’d feel the same.
“Anyway, I’ve been hearing some rumblings in regards to the job.”
“What kind of rumblings?”
“Interest in what Lucas was after in that vault.”
“Why would anyone care twenty-five years later?”
“I don’t know.”
“You’re thinking he went into that vault for something specific.”
“It’s the only thing that makes sense. And he didn’t get it. Whatever it is, it’s still out there.”
“That kind of sheds a different light on Lucas and the other one showing up dead.”
“Exactly my thinking. Lucas and Jackson didn’t have whatever it was they were supposed to. Whoever hired them didn’t like that.”
“Which means whoever wants to talk to you could be a killer.”
“It’s possible, but it could be nothing, it most likely is since the statute of limitations on most crimes has long passed.”
“Not murder.”
“Yeah, but that doesn’t make much sense. Covering a murder with murder. I think the person who took out Lucas and Jackson panicked. And having that hanging over their heads for twenty-five years, they aren’t going to be so eager to add to their body count by offing me: a recently released ex-con with a link to their original crime. I’m not worried. I don’t want you to be.”
I wasn’t so much worried as I was curious, but now was about Dad so I let the subject drop. Watching him as he looked around the restaurant, his expression one I couldn’t appreciate without having been in his shoes. It was a bit jarring when it finally settled that he was home. My dad was home and we’d lost enough time. “Stop by my house. Anytime. I’d like to show you what I’ve created.”
“I’d like that.”
Our lunches arrived; my dad’s eyes grew wide, as he visibly inhaled the incredible scents. “This looks amazing.”
I watched him, the joy over something most take for granted. As soon as he took his first bite, his eyes closed on a moan. “Fucking unreal.”
“Welcome home, Dad.”
His attention shifted to me, the smile fueled by another emotion when he said, “Happy to be home, Rafe.”
It was late, I needed sleep, but for some reason I couldn’t find it. Climbing from bed, I grabbed my robe and headed outside. I settled in one of my new Adirondack chairs and stared up at the stars. Mom had taught me that, to take a break sometimes and look up.
I was thankful to have this time to get settled before work started, to take a breather before jumping in. At the time, I thought the three weeks Trace had offered me was too much, but I was finding I needed it. I didn’t realize how stressed out I’d been until I started to decompress.
I had had a bit to drink last night, happily tipsy my mom would call it, but I remembered the ride home. It would be hard to forget since I had been in a simmering state of lust, enough that I blurted out how sexy I thought Rafe was…to Rafe. I should be embarrassed and a part of me was, but unavoidable since my IQ took a hit every time the man was near. And even lusting after my landlord, I couldn’t deny the flirty banter between us was fun, even comfortable. I’d never had that before with a guy, liking him as much as I ached for him. Rafe was so much more than a pretty face and I was beginning to discover that ‘the more’ was equally appealing.
The sound of the gates opening turned my attention to the drive as Rafe pulled up and parked next to my car. Climbing out, he noticed me immediately.
“Avery? You okay?”
“Yeah. I couldn’t sleep.”
“I’ve got to get Loki. I’ll be right back.”
It was dark so he wouldn’t see me staring and I did stare because I had a pulse. Melody was a fool. She wouldn’t keep Rafe, not acting the way she did. And how nearsighted of her, trying so hard to hold him close and yet behaving in a manner that would push him away. Loki came from the house, right to me and in a gait that could almost be called a run.
“He likes you.” Rafe said as he followed behind him.
“I like him too. You know if you’re going to be out, he can stay with me. Melody was wrong to offer for me, but I’d enjoy having Loki for company.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, it doesn’t make sense for him to be in there alone and me to be here alone.”
“He’d like that.” Rafe settled on the chair next to me and stretched his long legs out in front of him. We sat in comfortable silence for a while and then he said, “My dad got out of jail today.”
I didn’t immediately appreciate the significance of his statement since it was said in such a matter-of-fact tone. When it did click, I almost snapped my neck with how fast my head jerked in his direction. “You say that like you’re sharing what you had for lunch. That had to be weird for both of you. How did it go?”
Meeting my gaze, he didn’t answer right away and I’d have given Nat’s life to know what he was thinking because the expression on his face could definitely be described as tender. “It was good, strange. All day I tried to put myself in his shoes, free after twenty-five years, no longer looking through bars. He was a little uncomfortable I think, but there’s so much he wants to do. Overwhelmed too, all the possibilities and now being free to pursue them. And being around him again, it felt good.” He lowered his chin a bit so our eyes were nearly level. “Are you sure you’re okay about him coming for visits?”
“He’s your dad.”
“He’s also an ex-con.”
“I’ll admit, when you first mentioned that your dad was in jail, I was a bit nervous. I don’t know you. You don’t know me and we’re in pretty close quarters here. Not to mention I’ve never met anyone who’s been a guest of the state, but I get a good vibe from you and you clearly love your dad, so I’m following your lead on this.”
It was because I was staring at him that I saw his reaction, even as slight as it was, to my observation regarding his affection for his dad. “I don’t think it’s fair to leave you with that impression. I barely know my dad.”
“I won’t argue that, you may even feel resentful and bitter since twenty-five years is a lot of time to lose, but there’s love there too or you wouldn’t have picked him up today. And I know this because my sister hates my father, she’d step over his body before offering him aid.”
“Why?”
“My father is very selfish. You probably know your dad better than I know mine and my dad doesn’t have the excuse of being incarcerated for the past twenty-five years.”
He seemed to have a thought on that, one I was curious to hear since he looked annoyed, but I didn’t want to think about my dad, let alone talk about him. “What does a man do as his first act as a free man?”
“I took him to a little Italian place that has the most amazing food.”
“Yeah, food. I think that’d be my first move too.”
Rafe shifted a bit, his green eyes flashing in the most mischievous way. “Really, food first?”
A tingle started at my head and went clear down to my toes. If Rafe were an option, food would definitely be a distant second but to him I said, “That would be a close second.”
He laughed, the sound so fabulous, the tingle was replaced with a heat that damn near burned me. “If he ever gets a craving for something sweet, let me know.”
; “Yeah?” But it was the way he said it, a familiarity that I really wished we had.
He was involved with someone and sitting out here like this, sharing like we were, it’d be easy to forget that. Standing, I rubbed Loki’s head. “Absolutely, anytime. I think I’ll try for sleep. Night, Rafe.”
“Night, Avery.”
Sitting at the bar in Allegro, I waited for Lucien to finish his conversation with his bartender Tara, so we could discuss what Josh had learned about the two who had done the robbery with Dad. Learning there was still interest in the case, I grew more curious about how they died. Dad didn’t think there was anything to worry about, I was of a similar mindset since twenty-five years was a long time—the dust had settled—but it couldn’t hurt to have the full story. My thoughts drifted to Avery. Coming home last night after such an intense day and having her to talk to, felt good. I hadn’t been completely sold on the idea of someone invading my personal space, and Avery, despite her words that I wouldn’t even know she was there, was a bright presence you couldn’t ignore and yet I liked that she was what she appeared—sweet, thoughtful, a bit of a nut, but she listened and she cared. And her penchant for getting herself into trouble, it didn’t annoy me; I actually looked forward to discovering what crazy scheme she came up with next. Uninhibited and free, she lived life with abandon and I’d admired her for that. The fact that I was also in a constant state of arousal around her didn’t hurt. Just visualizing peeling her clothes from her body to the prize underneath was keeping me up at night, but Avery was also my tenant and she worked for a friend, which could be tricky if things didn’t go well. I couldn’t lie though; the sexual tension combined with genuinely liking her was a heady fucking combination.
I was pulled from those thoughts when someone settled next to me. Darcy. She’d been married to Lucien for three years. Even with the passing of time, and the birth of their daughter, sparks still flew when they were in a room together. I was happy for Lucien and Darcy, happy that they had found their way back to each other.
“Hey, Rafe. What brings you here?”
