Perfectly Toxic

by Kristine Mason

  He snorted and looked out the window. “Well, whatever the hell he is, the dude is crazy.”

  “Don’t call him that.”

  “Of course you would defend him. You’re just as crazy.” He shook his head and folded his arms across his chest. “I bet you loved how jealous he got, didn’t you?”

  “That’s ridiculous,” she said, but if she were honest with herself, the answer would be yes. Her husband chose his career—and she’d use that term loosely—over her. When she’d come into town to torture herself with sex and heated arguments, she and Cash had rarely left their home. Anymore, she had no idea if he still thought she was worth a barroom brawl.

  “That’s a crock of crap.” He sighed. “So what is he?”

  Sexy, bullheaded, the love of her life. “What do you mean?”

  He glanced to her. “Please don’t play dumb. If you’re not going to be honest, I’ll assume he’s an ex-boyfriend. And let me say, you made a good choice in making him an ex. That’s not the kind of guy who knows how to treat women right.”

  “He treated me just fine. He’s always been a gentleman. Would open the door for me, bring me flowers, take me to nice places.”

  Harrison chuckled. “Yeah, right.”

  “It’s true. Cash might be selfish when it comes to certain things, and he might have a bit of a temper, but he’s very generous.”

  “With his fist, I’m sure.”

  “He wouldn’t have hit you,” she said with less confidence than she projected. Several months ago, Cash had mentioned seeing a therapist for his anger issues and had assured her he had his temper under control. Today was the first time she’d seen him test whether those therapy sessions had worked. Thanks to Cash, she’d never think of magical unicorns the same way again.

  “Whatever. So how long did you date him?”

  “Five years. We stopped dating about three years ago.” When they’d married.

  She made a turn, bringing them closer to Cash’s garage. In another ten minutes she’d have to face his friends. Sure, they’d treated her great, but those men had known Cash for years. Their loyalty was to him, not her. She’d been friends with them by association. While she hadn’t planned on stopping at the garage, Cash had called when he’d realized she’d left without him, and informed her that they were picking up Sully, who’d also grown up in the same area as Cash and knew Frenchtown well.

  “How’d you meet?” Harrison asked.

  “I was stealing the car Cash planned to repossess.”

  “If you don’t want me to know, then just say so. You don’t have to lie about it.”

  She grinned. “Who’s lying? That’s exactly how we met. I was in the process of hotwiring a sporty little BMW, when this bulging hunk of a man knocks on the window.”

  “Bulging hunk of a man.” He wiped a hand down his face and chuckled. “Now I’m sorry I asked.”

  “I’m not. It’s a good memory.” Very good. She’d initially been terrified Cash was a cop. At the time, she’d been stealing and chopping cars for close to two months for a guy name Deuce, but hadn’t been busted. If she’d gone to prison, it would have killed Daddy. Plus, who would take care of Bobby? She didn’t want to think about how disappointed Barney and the Monahan boys would have been. Thanks to Cash, she’d quit the business. He’d showed her there were other ways to make money and life exciting. That loving him was enough of an adrenaline rush, and risking prison wasn’t worth the income she could make legitimately.

  “If you’re going to continue on with Bulging Muscles, I don’t need to know. Wait, you stole cars?”

  “Don’t judge me. You went to prison for robbing a bank.”

  He cleared his throat. “It was a virtual bank robbery. I did it with my computer, not a gun.”

  She shrugged. “You still did time. Whereas I didn’t.”

  “Because you didn’t get caught. And don’t act like you’re some innocent goody two-shoes. You’re still chopping cars. Then there’s the bodies in the swamp thing.”

  She pulled into the garage’s parking lot. “Let’s get a couple of things straight before we leave this car. These are very important. Like your life depends on it important.” She put the car in PARK, then faced him. “No one in Everglades City knows I was stealing. I want to keep it that way.”

  “But you chop cars and boats.”

  “That’s different. Barney, Ryan and Shane know all about it. It’s how my daddy kept a roof over our heads.”

  “You learned about cars from your dad?”

  “Don’t forget the boats.” When he cocked a brow, she smiled. “You need to promise not to tell anyone what I used to do in Tallahassee. Okay?”

  “Promise,” he said, looking out the front window. “Your ex is staring at me as if he wants to rip off my head. Maybe we should get out of the car. You can threaten me and make me promise you whatever later.”

  She waved to Cash, who glared at Harrison. “He can wait, this can’t. I meant what I said earlier. Other than working at the ice cream shop, Cash can’t know anything about what I’m doing with ATL.”

  “Don’t worry about it. I heard you the first time.” He gripped the door handle. “Great, Bulging Muscles is now walking to the car. Watch, he’s going to drag my ass out, then kick it.”

  She half-laughed. “Oh, honey, that’s just Cash trying to intimidate you. I’ve seen him do it plenty of times.” She exited the car and closed the door. “You’re supposed to open my door, not Harrison’s,” she said, just as Cash made his way to the passenger side.

  He looked up at her. Sunglasses hid his eyes, the firm set of his jaw told her he was irritated. “You’re right. I apologize.”

  The driver’s side window opened a crack. “Can you get him away from my door?” Harrison asked as he leaned across the seat and continued to roll down the window.

  She looked to Cash. “Let Harrison out before he has heat stroke.”

  “God forbid that happens,” Cash said, stepping away from the Camaro.

  Harrison quickly climbed out of the car, then met up with her. “He just wants to intimidate me, huh?”

  “You need to stop whining. The guys who work for Cash aren’t any different from him. Remember who you are and what you do for a living. You might not be as big as these guys are, but you’re tough in your own way.”

  “Thanks. I’m sure that was hard to say with a straight face.”

  She stopped him. “Why would you say that? I meant what I said.”

  “Why? Mel, you pick on me like I’m your kid brother. If you think back, you have issues giving a compliment.”

  Did she? “Not true. Two days ago I complimented Lola on her shoes.”

  He rolled his eyes. “You know what I mean. Something else…for whatever reason, you think you need to shock people with the things you say. What you do with your knives? I don’t get it. You’re this total girly-girl, yet you can’t let your guard down for a second to let anyone see who you really are. It’s like you have multiple defense mechanisms.”

  “Are you two coming?” Cash called.

  She held up a finger. “Are you taking online psychology courses or something?” she asked, irritated he took a simple compliment and turned it into a ‘let’s psychoanalyze Mel’ session.

  Anger flashed in Harrison’s eyes. “Forget I said anything.”

  “That’s a good idea,” she said, and walked toward Cash. She didn’t like to discuss herself, her shortcomings or faults, especially because Harrison was right. Before she’d walked away from her marriage, she’d been a different person. Nicer. Caring. She could still be nice, and she did care, but hiding behind walls of cynicism and bizarre eccentricities had helped keep her secrets secret. As for the knives? Daddy had taught her how to throw and wield one at a very early age. She could hit a bull’s eye from twenty feet away, and later use the same knife to dice vegetables like a professional chef. After growing up in a swamp, she’d also learned that knives came in handy if she encountered unwanted
critters—reptilian, amphibian, and mammals, humans included.

  “Why does he look pissed off?” Cash asked, nodding back toward Harrison.

  “You threatened to kick his ass.”

  Cash looked over his shoulder. “I dunno, he’s glaring at your back.” He gave her a nudge. “What’d you say to him?”

  “Nothing. I think that’s the problem,” she admitted, and realized she needed to not only evaluate her relationship with Cash, but herself. The ATL crew were her friends and pseudo family, and she didn’t treat them very well. They still didn’t need to know about her and Cash, or anything else that had happened in their relationship. Especially Ryan, Shane and Barney. They would wonder why she’d foolishly stayed married to Cash, and would be hurt that she’d kept so much more hidden from them.

  “You’ve lost me.”

  “Harrison is one of those talkie types. When I talk, I don’t always say the right things.”

  “I never noticed that before. I think you’re perfect.”

  “That’s because you want to get into my pants.”

  He frowned. “You’re right. You don’t always say the right things. Because I do think you’re perfect. There’s nothing about you I’d ever want to see change.”

  Before she could comment or fully digest his words, or determine whether he was being truthful or not, they walked through one of the open garage bays. She stopped to let Harrison catch up to them, or maybe because she needed his support more than she’d realized.

  “Well, I’ll be damned. It’s the Ghost of Christmas Past,” Sully said with a chuckle.

  Ross rolled out from underneath a Honda, and grinned. “Hey there, Mel. You’re lookin’ just as purty as ever. I hardly recognize you without a little grease on your face. Why don’t you grab a wrench and a creeper, and slide on under this car with me. We need to get you dirty.”

  Cash leaned close to her ear. “You do look gorgeous. But if anyone is going to be dirty with you, it’ll be me.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Nice line. I think you’ve been watching too much porn,” she whispered back.

  He leaned closer. “If I recall, that line had you spread out on top of a TransAm.”

  Memories of that night filled her head. She and Cash both underneath the TransAm. Brushing up against each other as he showed her how to change the oil. Her daddy had already taught her how, and she could’ve done it sleepwalking, but she’d been crushing on Cash so badly, she’d played dumb just to be near him. She’d been rewarded later. Small touches and lazy kisses had led to her on the hood of that TransAm and Cash’s head between her thighs.

  She sighed. They’d had great times together. But she was almost thirty-four. While she loved working at the boat shop serving ice cream, and loved being part of ATL, at this point in her life, she’d expected to be in a different place. She’d expected to be with Cash.

  A low whistle drew her attention to the corner of the garage where the office was located. Jude sauntered over, his eyes filled with worry, but a smile on his face. “Aren’t you a sight,” he said, drawing her into a bear hug when he reached them. “Good to see you, Mel. Who’s the guy?”

  She pulled out of the embrace and glanced over her shoulder. “This is my friend, Harrison.” She motioned for Harrison to step forward. “He’s here to help me find Bobby. Harrison, this is Jude, Ross and Sully.” She looked around. “Where’s Pete?”

  “Running an errand,” Jude said, glancing to Harrison.

  Harrison moved next to her and looked to the men. “What’s up?”

  “Kind of scrawny, don’t you think?” Sully said to Ross.

  “Yeah, name’s kind of snooty, too. Not the kinda guy I’d expect Mel to go for.”

  Harrison shoved a hand through his hair and turned to her. “You might want to tell them that I can hear them.”

  “We know.” Sully half shrugged. “What’s your point?”

  Harrison took a backward step. “Why are you friends with these people?” He shook his head. “I’m waiting in the car.”

  She grabbed his arm before he escaped, but he quickly pulled free.

  “I’ve had enough insults for the day,” Harrison said, then walked out of the garage.

  Her temper spiking, she turned to Cash. “Harrison’s right. Why am I friends with you people?”

  Cash snagged her hand. “You people? What’d I do wrong?”

  “You blew Harrison crap when we came to the house. Now you’re letting your employees do the same.”

  “I was jealous,” he admitted.

  Before the accident, she used to be turned on by Cash’s jealous streak. She’d never gone out of her way to make him jealous—that wasn’t her style. But she’d loved that her man looked out for her. Thinking back to those days, she had a lot of regrets. To her, jealousy was now synonymous with mistrust, and she wished she’d been strong enough then to question Cash, to ask him if he had really thought she’d cheat on him. She never would. Again—not her style. Maybe Cash, her big, strong, badass husband, was insecure. That could explain why he’d been so possessive of her.

  “Sorry, Mel,” Sully said. “It’s been a while, but we still like to look out for you.”

  “No, you’re looking out for Cash.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “FYI, Harrison is a good friend, so leave him alone.”

  Ross finally rose from the creeper. “I’m sorry, too. You want me to go talk to him?”

  “I’ll handle Harrison.” Cash looked to Ross. “You told me you heard Bobby was hanging in Frenchtown with Quinell, when was that?”

  “Two weeks ago,” he said, wiping a rag along his sweaty forehead. “A guy I know saw Bobby and Noah with Quinell. You remember Noah?”

  She did. Skinny, lazy, big time gamer just like Bobby. He also used to work for Deuce. “What was he doing in Frenchtown? There aren’t many cars worth stealing.”

  “He stopped jacking cars when Deuce went to prison.” Ross shook his head. “Anyway, this guy I know…I ran into him at a party, and he told me he saw them with Quinell. But later he saw them waiting in line at Hope House.”

  “What?” Her heart beat quickened. Oh, my God. A homeless shelter. She should have forced Bobby to move back to Everglades City with her. She could have kept an eye on him, found him a job at the boat shop or with a fishing charter.

  Cash rested a hand on the small of her back and narrowed his eyes at Ross. “You didn’t say anything to me about a homeless shelter. Jesus, man, if I knew that, I would’ve dragged his ass to my house.”

  Ross shrugged. “The guy told me he saw Bobby and Noah standing in line, not going inside. I didn’t believe him anyway. The guy’s kind of a douche. And it’s not like Bobby didn’t have any money. He stops by and picks up the checks Mel sends.”

  “But why hasn’t he cashed the last two?” she asked, confused and concerned over this entire situation.

  “Sully,” Cash began, “head to my truck. Let’s find Bobby and let him explain.” He turned to Jude. “If you don’t hear from me in a couple of hours, send someone to check on Dolly.”

  “I’ll take care of her while you take care of your girl,” Jude said, glancing to her, and she realized it hadn’t been worry she’d seen in his eyes earlier, but resentment.

  Jude could kiss her butt. He might be Cash’s closest friend, but the man hadn’t been the one who’d played nurse to him, she had. Jude also had no idea how much leaving Cash had torn her apart. Not that she planned to explain herself to him or anyone else. Their relationship was their business.

  “I’ll follow you and Sully,” she said to Cash, then turned away and headed for the parking lot. When she walked through the bay, she saw Harrison leaning against the Camaro. “I’m sorry those guys were jerks.”

  “Let’s just get this done.” He pushed off the car. “I want to go home.”

  “Please accept my apology. I knew Cash might be…Cash, but I didn’t think those guys would act the way they did.”

  “Why should you ap
ologize for them? I do seriously wonder why you’re friends with them.”

  “I’m not. Not really. They’re Cash’s friends. I think they made fun of you on Cash’s behalf.”

  “Your ex did a fine enough job on his own.” His face hardened when Cash and Sully exited the garage. “We’re not driving with them, are we?”

  “No.” She moved to the driver’s side, then opened the door. “Once I find Bobby, I’m putting him in the car and taking him to the hotel. We won’t need Cash or his friends after that.”

  “Thank God,” Harrison said, climbing into the Camaro.

  Twenty minutes later, she followed Cash’s truck into an unfamiliar alley in the heart of Frenchtown. As Cash parked, then climbed out of the truck, she rolled down her window. “Leave the car here,” he said. “It’ll be fine.”

  A black man exited one of the brick buildings leading to the alley. He exchanged a drawn-out handshake first with Cash, then Sully, before glancing to her car and Cash’s truck. Cash slipped the man what she assumed was money, then turned toward her. He gave her a why the hell are you still sitting there look.

  “I guess that’s our cue,” Harrison said, opening the car door.

  She didn’t want to. Yes, she wanted to find Bobby, but if you wanted to get stabbed, robbed, shot, or worse, this was one of the best places in Tallahassee. She double checked the knife she had hidden in her dark-brown cowboy boot, grabbed her leopard print purse, then exited the car. “Who was that?” she asked Cash.

  “A guy I know from back in the day. He runs the bar we’re parked behind. He’ll make sure no one messes with our cars.”

  “What day would that be, and how can you trust him?”

  “When his dad was selling drugs to my mom. Don’t worry, about it. Quinell has a house a few blocks from here. Once we meet with him, we’ll turn around and head in the opposite direction. Hope House is also just a few blocks away.”

  “Will Quinell be armed?” Harrison asked.

  Sully grinned. “You never know.”

  “Are you two?”

  Sully cracked his knuckles. “Not necessary.”

  “I didn’t grow up in the best neighborhood. So I know a bullet packs more of a punch than…well, a punch.”