Edge Of Retaliation : Books 1-3

by Bella Jewel

  “Sit down, I’ll make you a cup of tea and we can talk about it.”

  “Actually, Jo, I need to talk to you, it’s important.”

  She stares at me, her face showing the concern she’s feeling. “Is everything okay?”

  “Can we sit?”

  She nods, and we head in and sit on the sofa. I twist my body to face her and think about how the hell I’m going to get all of this out without breaking again. My heart feels like it’s lying under a heavy truck, and my stomach twists every few seconds to remind me that I’m going to hurt like hell once I’ve done what I’m about to do.

  “You’re starting to scare me, Callie. What happened tonight?”

  I briefly go over what happened with Mr. and Mrs. Yates, and what I heard after, and then I tell her what Tanner said when I confronted him about it. She listens, not saying anything, but I can see by the look on her face that she’s feeling hurt for me. I can’t say I blame her; it was a horrid night.

  “Okay,” she says, when I’m done telling her the events. “So you went and thought about everything. What exactly are you about to tell me?”

  I exhale and tell her the decision I’ve come up with. “I’m leaving, Jo.”

  She shakes her head in confusion. “Pardon me?”

  “I’m moving away. Where, I don’t know, but somewhere far away from here. From the memories. From the pain. From the constant reminder of what and who I am. I’m starting my life anew. For more than one reason.”

  She looks shocked. “You’re leaving? As in, forever?”

  “Yes, as in forever.”

  “What about Tanner?”

  My heart twists, and I look at her with an expression that tells her my answer.

  “You love him, don’t you, honey?” she asks, her voice soft.

  “I’m falling in love with him, yes,” I answer. “But his mom was right, he’ll forever see me as the girl who killed his sister, even if he doesn’t want to. One big fight, and it’ll come up. Not to mention, his family will never accept me. What if we fell in love and got married, I’d always be that person at the family cookouts, the one who ruined everything. I can’t live with that. I just can’t.”

  “If you leave, honey, if you just run ... It’s going to break you apart.”

  “It already is,” I whisper, my eyes burning with tears, even though I was sure I’d gotten rid of them all. “But there is another reason I’m doing this ...”

  She tips her head to the side, confused.

  “That gang, or whatever the hell they are, they’re going to come for us. We know they’re going to come for us. They’re going to make our lives hell. The entire situation is so dangerous it makes me sick. If I’m not here, if we’re all separated ...”

  “They’re unlikely to come after all of us,” Jo finishes for me, her voice soft. “I had the same thought.”

  “While we’re all together, we’re just a toxic bomb waiting to explode. Tatum and Tanner, they can handle themselves, but me ... I can’t take any more. Of the danger. Of the horror.”

  Jo nods. “You know, I’ve had the same thought a few times over the last few days. With everything going on with Patrick, and then there’s Tatum and the way I feel about him. It’s so complicated and I’m so tired.”

  “Then come with me,” I say, my voice suddenly a little more hopeful. “Come with me, Jo. Let’s start again, just me and you, somewhere new. It’ll make things on everyone so much easier.”

  She stares at me, and I expect her to say an automatic no and tell me all the reasons she can’t come with me, but instead she says, “I’ll think about it, I really will. It’s just ...”

  “You and Tatum?”

  She nods. “We’re ... I don’t know, there is something so strong there, especially after what happened. I have feelings for him, real feelings. Yet at the same time, I think the same thing. If I stay, if we remain here, danger is coming, and it isn’t going to let us go. I’m tired of danger, and pain, and heartache.”

  I reach over and squeeze her arm. “Just think about it, you know there’s no pressure, but I will say, having you with me ... It would make things so much better.”

  She leans forward and hugs me. “You’re my best friend, Callie. I can’t imagine life without you.”

  I squeeze her tight and pull back, swiping my tears.

  “Are you going to tell Tanner?” she asks.

  I shake my head. “No, honey. I’m not. It’s best if he doesn’t know where I go or when. It’ll only make it harder. He’ll only try to stop me. The idea of leaving him ... It kills me inside. It really does.”

  Jo nods. “I understand. Ethan? Max?”

  I shake my head. “No, I’m going to just go. I’m leaving this life behind me, that means all the pain that comes with it. I’ll hurt a lot of people, I know that, but staying will hurt them all a whole lot more.”

  “Are you sure you don’t want to talk to Tanner? He cares about you, he really does.”

  I smile weakly. “I know he does, which is why he can pretend that what happened won’t bother him forever. But it will, Jo. It will. I couldn’t bear the day to come that he looks at me with hatred. I can’t ever let it get to that. This is for the best.”

  She hugs me again. “Give me a day, I’ll have an answer for you.”

  I hang on tight.

  And I pray.

  For a final time.

  11

  JOANNE

  “He’s still away,” Tatum tells Tanner, sliding a cup of coffee toward me. “Not sure how long, but they’re all behind bars for now.”

  “It’ll be a few years, if we’re lucky, gives us time to figure out what the fuck to do,” Tanner mutters, running his hands through his hair. He looks tired, and worn out, like he’s just had enough.

  I can’t say I blame him.

  “What if they send someone before he gets out? I mean, people with that much power could send someone our way, right?” I ask, glancing at the two men.

  Tanner ponders this for a moment, then says, “I doubt it. I’m guessing he’s looking forward to doing the job himself. He wants the challenge, I mean it’s a possibility we have to look out for, but if I were to bet on it, I’d say he’ll wait.”

  “Have to agree with you there,” Tatum nods.

  “Well, that’s good then,” I murmur.

  I look at the two men again, really look at them, and wonder what life will be like if I walk away from all of this. From Tatum, from this drama. Is it even fair for us to just leave them behind? To deal with this on their own so we can go safely, or is it smart? If we’re not together, it makes it a whole lot harder.

  I dare to ask a question that’ll give me some answers. “Do you think they’ll just come after you, Tanner, being that you’re the one they wanted, or do you think they’ll come after all of us?”

  Tatum glances at me, tipping his head to the side and studying me, then he gives me a small smile and looks to Tanner, who just watched the exchange.

  “I think he’ll come after us all. He wants me the most, no doubt, but we all put him where he is. Men like that don’t like to leave anyone behind. He’s not going to just take one of us and let the rest of us walk. That’s not how this works.”

  Just as I thought.

  I consider Callie’s idea again. Can I do it? Pack up everything I know and just leave, just walk away without looking back? Can I walk away from Patrick, from my family, from Tatum and these people I’ve come to know so well?

  It seems almost impossible, and yet the idea of starting again is scarily thrilling.

  “I should get going,” I say, my voice tired. I’m exhausted after going back to work today. The same thing, over and over.

  Maybe leaving is a good idea.

  Tatum stands. “Walk you out.”

  I say goodbye to Tanner and he tells me to let Callie know that he’s trying to call her. I know he’s trying to call her. I made up some excuse that she just needs a few days, and he understood that. L
ittle does he know she’s planning her escape, so to speak. I know it’ll bother him, hell, I’d go as far as saying it’ll hurt him, but I also understand why she’s doing it.

  She has been through so damn much.

  She deserves a break.

  When we get outside, I turn to Tatum and look up at him. His hand comes up and cups my jaw, his thumb rubbing over my bottom lip. “You and I are goin’ away soon, just us, yeah?”

  I exhale and give him a weak smile. “I wish I could, I really do, but until I sort everything out with Patrick, you and I spending time together will only fuel the fire.”

  “Fuck Patrick, he’s a fuckin’ piece of shit. He should be chasin’ a girl like you around the countryside, not fuckin’ making threats. You don’t have to give him what he wants, just because you’ve done so for your entire adult life.”

  His words shock me, and I step back. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Not tryin’ to hurt your feelings, Jo, but you gotta see that you constantly give in to that man. You tellin’ me that your whole world has been your choice? Everything you have now is what you wanted? He knows he can manipulate you, and he’s using that to his advantage.”

  I’m pissed off, to say the least.

  Maybe I’m overreacting, sure, but his words cut me to my core. Perhaps because they’re the truth, or perhaps it’s simply because he’s making me out to sound weak and pathetic, like I can’t defend myself. Which isn’t the case at all. Gosh, if only he knew the things I’ve done against Patrick’s wishes in our time together.

  “You’re wrong,” I snap. “Patrick does not have control over me. I’m not the confrontational sort of woman, and he’s my husband so I hold a little respect for him, but I do not let him call all the shots.”

  “That’s the case,” Tatum says, his voice low, “then tell him you’ll take what you’re fuckin’ entitled to, and not some bit of shit on a piece of paper that he’s only doin’ so you don’t get what he knows you can.”

  “I’m not a gold digger,” I growl, crossing my arms. “I don’t want much.”

  “Know that, Jo. You’re readin’ me the wrong way. I’m simply sayin’ you shouldn’t lay down and let that man ride you the way he has been. Tell him to go fuck himself.”

  I shake my head, frustrated. “I’m tired, I’m going to go home.”

  “Jo,” he says, when I turn and walk toward my car.

  I turn back and glance at him. “You think you know me, Tatum, but you don’t. You really don’t. Goodnight.”

  I walk off without another word.

  Callie’s idea is looking more and more promising by the second.

  “SERIOUSLY?” I GASP, staring down at the newspaper in front of me. A picture of Tatum and I standing in his front lawn, his hand cupping my jaw and his expression that of love and affection.

  This had to be taken when Tatum and I were together last, which was almost two nights ago. Someone must have been there and taken this picture, and the only way they’d know I was there is if Patrick gave them the information they needed.

  A huge caption outlines the picture "Billionaire finds wife having an affair."

  “You’ve got to be shitting me!” I yell in frustration, reading the rest of the article in horror.

  He can’t honestly be this desperate, right? So desperate he wants me taken down so heavily? To keep all his things? To avoid having me get anything at all?

  Frustration deep in my chest has me throwing the newspaper across the room, just as Callie walks in. She glances at the paper on the ground, then exhales. “You saw it then?”

  I meet her eyes, fists clenched. “I saw it all right. He can’t be serious? Did you read that article?”

  Callie nods. “Yep, they’ve made you out to be the real villain. Cheating on him, going after his fortune, he’s a smart man. Smarter than I thought. He’s not willing to part with his stuff, is he?”

  “This is exactly what I suspected when I avoided leaving him for all those years. He’s trash. The purest form. I can’t believe he’s doing this.”

  My phone starts ringing on the counter and I glance over to see my mother's name flashing on the screen. Close my eyes, I spit out a curse. “They’re never going to stop. His family. My family. They’re going to demand so many damned answers. I don’t need this; I don’t need more stress after everything that’s been happening.”

  “Listen,” Callie says, walking over and placing her hands on my shoulders. “It’s going to be okay. It’ll blow over. They’ll calm down.”

  “It won’t, Callie,” I whisper, shaking my head. “It won’t, I promise you that. His family will lose their minds, my family will, too. They’re not going to believe me when I tell them I haven’t done anything; they’re already pissed at me for not living with him anymore. They’re going to take his side, like they always do. He’s going to have a damned swell time with this.”

  Callie gives me a kind smile. “I’m sorry, honey. You don’t need this on top of everything else.”

  “No,” I mutter, grabbing my phone and dialing Patrick’s number. “No, I don’t.”

  “Hello, Joanne,” he answers in a casual tone, as if he hasn’t just plastered mine and Tatum’s face across the entire damned city.

  “What is wrong with you?” I hiss. “Seriously, Patrick, what the fuck is wrong with you.”

  “That’s not a kind way to talk to your husband.”

  “Stop,” I growl. “Stop with your little act. I can’t believe you told the media that story, a story which, mind you, is not fucking true.”

  “It is true, you and I both know it is. I’m tired of fighting with you, Jo. I offered you a good deal, and you wouldn’t even consider it. I’ll do this the hard way, if I have to.”

  “Is that what this has come to? All those years of marriage?”

  “Yes,” he says simply.

  “You’re going to push me into a fucking corner here, aren’t you?”

  “Yes.”

  I grit my teeth and hiss, “What’s the deal?”

  “Oh, you want to hear it now?”

  “Patrick, for fuck's sake, what’s the fucking deal? Do you want the drama of all this to follow you around or do you want me to sign the damn paper so we can both get the hell out of each other's lives?”

  He goes silent for a minute, then says, “I’ll give you ten million in cash, we’ll sell the house, but you can have the furniture, I don’t need it. You can keep your car and any savings you currently have in our bank accounts. I keep the business and everything else that comes with it.”

  I blink a few times.

  It’s a good deal, better than I first thought, and right now, I just want it all to go the hell away. “Deal,” I say, not even coming back with a negotiation. Patrick is a rich man, I could get double, probably triple, hell even more, but I don’t want to.

  I just want to be free.

  I’m so damned tired.

  So damned drained.

  I’m sick of this place.

  “I’ll send the papers over for you to sign.”

  I hang up the phone without another word and turn to Callie, meeting her eyes and saying in a strong, determined voice, “When are we leaving?”

  It’s time to kiss this place goodbye.

  Once and for all.

  NOW

  Two years later

  12

  CALLIE

  “I’m here, I’m here!” I say, rushing through the front doors of the incredibly awesome tattoo shop Jo just got a new job at.

  She’s been wanting to learn to tattoo for such a long time, but she’s not been able to get a chair anywhere, or a place willing to look at her stuff. She’s always been an incredible artist, even back when we were younger, but she’s never done anything with her talent. Her marriage to Patrick was always at the top of her list, keeping her busy.

  “God, could you be any later?” she gasps, flicking her hair to the side and studying me with those piercing eyes. “My fi
rst day in the chair, my first client, and you’re bloody late?”

  I give her a big grin, just as the back door opens and the guy who owns the shop comes out. I stare at him, like I do every damn time I come in here, which to be fair is only twice, but god, he has the power to stop you in your tracks. He’s ... I don’t know ... terrifying. Beautiful. Gorgeous. Everything above.

  He is a solid six-feet tall, and is built like a statue, with thick biceps and broad shoulders. He’s covered in ink, the eccentric designs running all the way down to his fingers. No doubt under those clothes, too. His skin is olive, the prettiest damn olive I’ve ever seen. The rest of him though, damn, it’s not pretty, it’s fucking perfection.

  His hair is dark, maybe a chocolate brown, maybe even closer to black, it’s hard to tell. It’s thick and it’s long, flowing down to his shoulders in that messy, sexy, Viking kind of way. He is sporting a heck of a beard, which only adds to his masculine, dangerous features. His lips are full, his eyes are the palest and yet most stark green I’ve ever seen, and he has a scar running down his left cheek, it’s not overly pronounced, but it sure does add to his look.

  He would be a perfect match to be on Game of Thrones, only they’d probably kill him off too quickly, so I’d say that’s a very bad idea.

  He’s too sexy to be killed off.

  The best part? Oh, the best part is ... He’s part of a biker gang. Yep. A motorcycle club. A bunch of gorgeous men, who all look like him, at least, that’s what Jo told me, and they own a chain of tattoo shops. This one being the main one. When I first found out, I freaked out, until Jo told me that she’s perfectly safe working there, and that the club business has nothing to do with the shop.

  She likes it here.

  I can see why.

  Alarick. That’s his name.

  That’s his damn perfect name.

  Alarick.

  Shivers.

  I glance at him as he walks over to us and stops, crossing his big arms. Jo told me he’s the President of the club, I don’t know the name, but oh boy, imagine him leading a pack of wildly gorgeous men on bikes? That’s something I’d like to see, no doubt about it. Alarick doesn’t say a lot, and he’s super broody, but he’s fair and that’s all Jo cares about.