Perfectly Toxic

by Kristine Mason

  “Because I hate what she did to us, and I can’t stand the shame in your eyes.” She cleared her throat, tried to gain her composure, and failed. She slammed her hand on the table, and stood. If Harrison truly wanted to see how vast of an emotional range she possessed, he’d find out if he didn’t leave. “I cried for you because you’re my friend, and you didn’t deserve the humiliation Adeline tried to force on you. For whatever it’s worth, I left that room proud of you. You’d beaten her at her own sick game. You’re stronger than I think you realize.” Emotionally drained, she choked back a sob. “I think you should go.”

  “Of course you do.”

  Anger shoved all of her gushy emotions aside and moved front and center. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Before we went to meet Shane at the Tallahassee airstrip, Lola wanted to stop by and see you and Cash, and tell you about Rodney. Imagine our surprise when Cash told us you’d already left for Everglades City. He said something about you wanting to remain with ATL until we found Liam.”

  “I do, and there’s nothing wrong with that,” she said, tired of having to justify her decision. “What did Lola find out?”

  “GBI found two bodies—both males—buried in a barn on the Archer property. They’re still in the process of IDing them. They also found Florence Archer—the grandmother—dead in the cellar. Cause of death was multiple stabbings and eerily similar to the way Adeline had murdered her college roommate.” Disgust crossed his face. “Investigators noticed a fresh grave at the family plot. Since there were no records of a recent death in the family, they dug it up and found an infant. How much do you want to bet it was Adeline and Rodney’s baby?”

  “I don’t want to think about it,” she said, hating the couple more than she already did—if that were even possible. She still couldn’t believe that Rodney and Adeline were brother and sister. With the way they’d acted around each other, Mel had assumed they were a couple, not siblings carrying on twincest. Their sick relationship made her wonder what had happened to them as children. Had they turned to each other during childhood? Was their unhealthy relationship, their psychopathic ways, the result of bad parenting, or were they both just born wrong? They might never know, and she supposed it didn’t matter. What did matter was stopping what Adeline and Rodney had created.

  “Anyway, Rodney lawyered up, and we’re betting he plans to string us and GBI along just to screw with us. If you think about it, the man tried to commit suicide. He doesn’t want to live without his twin. So, what does he really have to lose?”

  Nothing, which could make this investigation even more frustrating. They had nothing on Liam, no DNA, no fingerprints—all of that had gone up in flames. They couldn’t even be certain Liam was his real name. “Does Lola have a problem with me staying on board?” she asked.

  “I doubt it, but you’d have to ask her.” He drained his beer, then rose from the chair. “I need to know something. How easy is it?”

  “How easy is what?” she asked, not certain which direction he was heading. Their short conversation had been all over the place.

  “For the past couple of months, I’ve been looking for a place to rent. There was one open at Barney’s trailer park. The price was right, but I couldn’t sign the contract. Vlad, his habits and his gator get under my skin, but if I left, nothing would be the same. Since you make leaving look easy, maybe you can give me some advice on how to walk out on my best friend without making him feel like hell about himself.”

  “You’re siding with Cash?” she asked, stunned Harrison would meddle in her personal business, but even more shocked Cash would tell Harrison, who less than a week ago was a total stranger, what was going on in his head. “You know what? You really need to leave. I’m not sure why you came here tonight or what you expected to accomplish, but I’m through with this conversation.”

  “I came here to talk about what happened with Adeline.”

  “Great, then check it off your to-do list. Mission accomplished. And while you were sharing your shame and guilt, if you’d also come here to insult me, you’ve managed that, too.”

  “I didn’t come here to insult you, and I’m not siding with Cash. I told you what he said to us. What I haven’t told you is what I said to him.”

  “And?” she asked, taking the bait. Leaving Cash this time around had been harder than any of the other times. But if Cash couldn’t understand why she needed to be here in Everglades City, then maybe he didn’t know her as well as either of them had thought.

  “I told him I wouldn’t put up with your bullshit. Then he started with the unicorns are magical crap and I knew I’d better get in the car before he clocked me.”

  Disappointment settled on her shoulders. “Thank you for that. You’re a good friend,” she said, not hiding her sarcasm. “Since you care about me so much, it’ll probably make you happy to know that Cash is planning to divorce me.”

  “Good move. I couldn’t see you two lasting if you moved back to Tallahassee anyway. You’re both too selfish and self-centered. And kids? You two are so bat-shit crazy, whatever rabid offspring you brought into this world would make Liam look like a helpless kitten.”

  She struck him. “How dare you talk about us like that?”

  “Maybe I crossed the line about the bat-shit kid thing, but I’m right on you both being selfish.” He rubbed his cheek. “What do you care? You’re getting divorced.”

  “Because I don’t want a divorce,” she shouted, and went to slap him again.

  He blocked the blow. “Then why are you here?”

  “I set Liam free.”

  “So what? I didn’t come back into a burning building to save your life so you could waste it on hunting a man you may never find, or who could kill you. I came back because I saw what you and Cash have, and I saw how much love there was between you.” He jabbed his thumb to his chest. “I wasn’t kidding. I want what you have. And it pisses me off that you could walk away from something not everyone gets a chance at in life.”

  She shoved both hands through her hair, and turned away. She’d been telling herself much of the same during the seven-hour drive home, but had kept countering herself with images of Liam, with the guilt. Pictured the coldness and anger in Cash’s eyes. The hurt in his voice, his final ultimatum had played over and over in her head, drowning out whatever music she’d had blaring from the Camaro’s speakers.

  “I thought about turning around and going back to Tallahassee dozens of times during the drive home,” she admitted, and reached for a paper towel to dry her face and blow her nose.

  “Why didn’t you?”

  She looked away to hide her own shame. “Because I said things I didn’t mean, and I knew I was wrong.”

  “Call him and tell him.”

  She shook her head. “Maybe tomorrow. I know Cash, and I know when not to push him.” Plus, he could decide that their relationship was too much work, and that being alone was easier. He could look at her leaving as a green light to still do repo jobs.

  The doorbell rang, and relief eased the tension in her shoulders. “That’s Barney,” she said, now glad she’d called him. “If you don’t mind, I need to be alone with him.”

  He gave her a sad, half-smile. “I’m sorry I pushed you the way I did. But if I’d tried to get you to talk out your issues with Cash, I knew you’d shut down on me. You like going for the throat, so I figured I’d get your attention that way.”

  She looked to the handprint she’d left on his cheek. “Your plan worked. Sorry I hit you.”

  He offered his hand. “Friends?”

  She pushed his hand away and hugged him. “You don’t think it’s wrong of me to choose Cash over going after Liam?”

  He pulled back. “The only thing you’re guilty of is caring. Nothing more.” The doorbell rang again. “Talk to Barney about it. He’s good at giving advice.” He headed for the door. “But you might have to listen to a half dozen Vietnam stories to get it.” He opened the door, then grin
ned. “Cash?”

  Mel’s heart raced. Cash in Everglades City? He’d never once set foot there, not for a vacation and certainly not to convince her to come home. She hurried toward the door to see for herself, then came to an abrupt halt.

  Cash stood on the stoop, the wariness in his eyes matching her own. “What are you doing here?” she asked, then went into self-defense mode. “Let me guess. You came for your bike.”

  “I came for my wife.”

  Chapter 22

  “HARRISON, YOU NEED to go,” Cash said without looking at him. He couldn’t tear his gaze away from Mel. Her puffy eyes, red nose, tear-soaked face. Had she been crying because of him, or because of what she and Harrison had gone through yesterday? Either way, he was the one who should be here comforting her, not Harrison. He should have shoved aside his pride and ego, climbed in the Camaro with her and come to Everglades City to help her work through what she’d experienced inside the House of Archer.

  “Yeah, I’ve gotten that a lot tonight,” Harrison responded, then left the house.

  Once Harrison’s car had started, and tires crunched over gravel, Cash took a step forward. “Aren’t you going to invite me in?”

  She nodded and hugged herself, moving back to give him plenty of room to enter. “Why are you here?”

  “I already told you. I came for my wife.”

  “The wife you want to divorce.” The pulse point at the base of her throat beat hard, yet her face remained cool, passive. “I need a better answer, so why don’t we play a game and raise the stakes,” she suggested. “I ask you a question, if you answer right, I’ll lose a piece of clothing. If you’re wrong, you do.”

  “I know the rules. But I didn’t drive five hundred miles to play games or for sex.”

  “It’s exactly four hundred and eighty-two miles,” she said, her voice rising. “I should know. Until today, I’m the only one who’s bothered to drive it. And who said anything about having sex?”

  “You’re the one who wants to get naked.”

  “No, I want to strip everything standing in the way of us. Whether it’s your hang-ups or mine. I want them gone.” She hugged herself tighter. “I don’t want a divorce, but it’s not fair for either one of us to keep using it as a threat.”

  He instantly relaxed. She’d said what he needed to hear. He didn’t want a divorce, either. “I couldn’t agree more.” He closed the door, then stepped into her small living room.

  The ranch-style home she’d been renting was tiny, claustrophobic and not what he’d expected. Hell, he’d bet if he raised his arm, he could touch the ceiling. The walls were in need of repair, same went for the old, scuffed-up hardwood floors. Like a badass bounty hunter in hot pursuit, the regret that had been tracking him from Tallahassee, caught up with him, wrapped bands of guilt around his chest and throat, left him unsure of what to say. He’d planned his speech. He’d had it all laid out in his mind. One look at her tears, a quick glance at the house his wife had been living in, and he couldn’t do anything but wallow in self-disgust.

  Then he remembered the money he’d been sending her every month. “Is this the best you could do?” he asked.

  “Are you referring to yourself or the house?”

  God, she knew how to twist the knife. “You know damned well I’m talking about the house.”

  She looked to the chipped ceiling. “I can’t believe that’s the first thing you’re going to ask me.”

  “Why’s it so unbelievable? Between what I send you monthly for your portion of the garage, your jobs here…you could afford something better than this.”

  “What I do with my money isn’t any of your business.”

  He took a step forward. “I’m your husband. It damned well is my business.”

  “Not when you’re living four hundred and eighty-two miles away.” She dropped her arms, then stabbed a finger at his chest. “You forfeited that right.”

  “Only according to you. You’re the one who left.”

  “Old news. But in case you forgot, you never tried to stop me or attempted to get me to come home.”

  “I’m here now,” he shouted, unable to contain his frustrations. “Christ, Mel, doesn’t that mean something?”

  Tears filled her eyes. She swiped them away, then hardened her jaw. “First question: for two years I’ve been hoping you’d show up here and ask me to come home. Two years,” she repeated, her voice shaking. “Why are you here now?”

  “Because we have unfinished business to discuss and I didn’t want to do it over the phone.” Not a lie, but not necessarily the truth.

  “Wrong answer, lose the shirt.”

  “How do you know it’s wrong?” he asked, pulling his shirt over his head. “You don’t know what’s going on in my head.”

  “Because I know you. During the past two years you could have come here to see me, try to talk me into moving home, but you didn’t, not once. You’d call, send flowers, cute notes with my share from the garage, but you wouldn’t dare get in your truck and come here. For you to do it today, it’s for more than to discuss unfinished business.” She glanced away and ran a hand through her hair. “I don’t want to fight. I just want the truth.”

  When she met his gaze, he knew he couldn’t deny her what she deserved. The hurt, the apology, the uncertainty in her eyes tore at his heart. He’d known fear, but not this kind. Yesterday, he’d been afraid Mel could be killed. Today, he was scared she’d finally push him out of her life for good. No more occasional weekends, no more phone calls. No more love or chance for a future.

  “The truth,” he repeated. “I’ve never loved anyone but you. I don’t think anyone but you has loved me. Well, maybe Dolly, but I feed her.”

  Tears welled in Mel’s eyes as she gave him a small, watery smile. “That’s not true.”

  “Which part? About me loving you, or you loving me?”

  “Don’t ever doubt that I love you,” she said, her voice strong and holding conviction.

  “I never have, but I took your love for granted.”

  She gripped the hem of her pink tank top, then whipped it over her head. “You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting for you to say that,” she said, tears slipping down her cheeks. “Your turn.”

  “I don’t want to play a game.” He wrapped his hands around her waist, brushed his thumb along her soft skin. “I want you in my arms. I need you to tell me you’ll give me another chance to prove I can be the husband you deserve.”

  She reached up, and pressed her palms against his chest. “I said things I didn’t mean, and I broke my promise to you.”

  She had, and after Mel had left, he’d told himself she was the one who now had to apologize. Then Harrison, Lola and Vlad had stopped by, and he’d been given a dose of reality. Mel was part of a team. When he’d refused to give up his job, she’d paved her own way—successfully. She wasn’t just a cleaner. She was an important member of an organization whose mission was to give justice to those the regular authorities couldn’t always help. Who was he to tell her she couldn’t work for ATL? If he hadn’t been such an insecure fool, she wouldn’t have had to go back to Everglades City in the first place. She wouldn’t have joined ATL.

  “You did promise you’d quit, but I get why you want to stay on with ATL. I won’t lie, I’m not happy about your decision. But I’d be miserable without you.” He would and had been for years, which was why he’d make any sacrifice necessary to make their marriage work. Even the business he’d worked so damned hard to build. “How do you feel about me selling our portion of the garage to Jude and moving to Everglades City?” he asked.

  “What?” she asked on a gasp, and gripped his biceps. “Are you out of your mind? You can’t sell the business. The garage might’ve been up and running when I came on board, but I’ve invested sweat equity into it, too.”

  She had, working late hours with him, Jude and the boys. Helping with advertising, the accounting, making sure they had good suppliers. Not to mention working
on cars.

  “I can set up another garage here,” he suggested.

  “This is a fishing town and tourist spot. If you’re going to have a successful garage, you’d be better off going north into the Naples area. Then you’re up against other garages or big name franchises. It’d take years to get established.”

  “Sounds like it’d be a mistake to try to move here,” he said, disappointed with her reaction, and how easily she’d dismissed his attempt to solve their long distance problem. Now he wondered if distance wasn’t the real issue. “If we were still playing the game, you’d lose your shorts for your answer.”

  “Are you kidding me?” she asked, her forehead wrinkling in confusion. “You shouldn’t have even asked the question in the first place. And it’s the right answer. You can’t give up the business for me.”

  He shrugged, tried to act as if his stomach wasn’t a mess, or that worry wasn’t wrapping around his throat. “It’s a business. Like I said, I can start another one. But I can’t lose my wife.”

  When she looked away, he touched her chin. “Or is this your way of telling me you don’t want me here?” He prepared himself for the rejection he’d feared was finally coming. All of the years he’d been worried she would come home and live with him as his wife, only to discover he wasn’t worth the effort, had just been a long period of procrastination. By continuing on with the repo business, keeping her a state’s length away, he’d been prolonging the inevitable. Now he had his answer. He didn’t doubt that she loved him, but she couldn’t live with him. Even if it was on her turf. He wouldn’t give up on her, though. He might leave here hurting, but at least he’d head back to Tallahassee knowing he’d done and said what he could to keep their marriage intact.