by Karen Renee
He aimed an ugly smile at me. “I don’t need protection, Cassandra. Especially not from you.”
He turned and left, slamming the door on his way out.
I collapsed in my chair and deep breathed. Unfortunately, no amount of deep breathing would keep the heartbreak at bay. How could he be so irrational? Hell, what happened to the man who claimed to love me? If he loved me, why bite my head off that way? And what the hell was with throwing my father at me? He knew who I was, and where I came from. He claimed to be cool with all that, but obviously he harbored serious ill-will and insecurities about it.
None of it made sense. But all of it left me with tears of frustration and heartache.
WHEN I GOT HOME, I thought the worst part of my day was done, but I was wrong. When I got home I caught sight of the calendar on the laundry room door. My cycle was over two days late. I wasn’t entirely regular, but I normally started within a day or two of my expected date.
“Oh my God, can this shit get any worse?” I asked myself.
My phone rang from inside my purse. I dug it out to see Cecilia’s name on the display.
“Hello?”
“Um, Cassie, honey. Are you okay?”
I pursed my lips for a moment as I took in her question. “Um, yeah,” I lied. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Gabe came home, and I thought he’d tear the cabinet doors right off the hinges, he’s been slamming the things so hard. Brock’s got a migraine, and the two of them got into a shoving match because of it. Gabe won’t tell us what the hell’s wrong, and my only guess is that you either know what it is, or something is wrong between you both.”
I sighed. “Yeah. Something’s wrong all right.”
She sighed. “Screw it. I’m not sitting around with a grouchy Gabe, and Brock’s trying to sleep off his headache. I’m coming over there, that okay?”
My lips tipped up. “I suppose, but I’m not great company right now either, Cecilia.”
“I don’t care. When Brock and I were on the outs, Rainey hung with me and it didn’t make things all better, but it still helped. See you in five.”
I let Cecilia into my apartment and sat down at my dinette set. I couldn’t bear to sit on the couch because it reminded me of Gabe. If that made me a wimp, so be it; I just didn’t have it in me to care.
Cecilia settled next to me and patted my arm.
“When will I ever learn?” I asked.
“What do you mean?”
“The sweeter they are the bigger the jerk they are. God, Gabe was always so damn sweet. Like he could give me a toothache with his easy sweetness. But just like every other man I’ve been attracted to or who gives me the time of day, his jerkiness far outweighs the sweet.”
She pressed her lips together, and I could see she was debating what to say to me.
I shook my head. “You don’t have to say anything. I’m just thinking the next time, if there is a next time, I’m going to look for the biggest damn jerk and at least that way I’ll know exactly what I’m in for from the get-go.”
Cecilia chuckled and shook her head. “Don’t do that, Cassie. A man who’s a jerk from the start is only hiding one helluva bigger jerk deep down. I could be wrong, but I don’t think I am. Um, I know you know a lot about Gabe, but I’m not sure you understand how fiery those Sullivan men’s tempers can be. And he’ll come around. It will just take some time.”
I leveled a hard look at her. “Well, by then, it might be too late for Gabe. I might be in my twenties, but no woman has time for his bullshit.”
Cecilia did a long blink and sighed. “I know it doesn’t feel like it right now, but I think you two belong together.”
I barked out a laugh. “Not even a little bit, Cecilia-ba-delia.”
“Well, you’ve had enough,” she chuckled.
My eyes narrowed. “Except, we’re not drinking! That’s the other bad part to all this. My visitor hasn’t made an appearance. My fat ass might be pregnant with his kid. How awful is that?”
“Oh, honey. If you’re pregnant, that’s wonderful news.”
My eyes widened. “It’s anything but wonderful! I don’t need to be tied to Gabriel Clark Sullivan in any way shape or form. No way, no how.”
“Does he know you might be pregnant?”
“Yes, and no.”
Cecilia’s brows furrowed. “Um, clarify, Cassie. There’s no way he can know and not know.”
I sighed. “He went in ungloved. I told him I needed to get a morning-after pill. I’m not even sure if I could’ve gotten one or not. But, he did everything he could to keep his swimmers in me! Can you believe that shit?”
“Knowing you’re not on the pill?”
I nodded once. “Yes! In fact, he said something about how funny would it be if he got married before Vamp or you and Brock.”
She laughed nervously. “Brock and I are serious, but we’re nowhere near engagement and marriage. Gracious.”
“Well, he fed me one helluva line about how if I was pregnant it wouldn’t be the end of the world, but a beautiful beginning or some shit. I’d like to march over there and make him eat those damned words.”
She sighed. “I’d almost encourage you to do that, but Gabe’s temper was off the charts, honey. Did either of you say things were over?”
My lips pulled to the side with skepticism. “No. I think that’s the only reason I’m not a full-on blubbering mess. Yet, I’m so unaccustomed to us arguing like this, it feels like the end of everything. Does that even make sense?”
She rubbed my forearm. “It makes complete sense, Cassie. You’re in uncharted territory with Gabe. And vice versa, though as stubborn as those Sullivans can be, he’d never admit it, I’m sure. So, don’t assume the worst. Okay?”
I nodded and offered her a wan smile. “You’re right. Thanks. Maybe I’ll text him—”
Her eyes widened. “I know that sounds like a good idea, but I’m telling you, Cassie. Those guys say the worst things when they’re pissed. I have no idea how pissed Gabe is, except he was willing to shove his brother around about it, and I haven’t seen them get physical that often. And the only times I did, it was because Gabe was being a jerk to me or about me.”
I sighed, then opened my mouth to say something, but Cecilia beat me to it. “I’m gonna head back over there. You’re completely wiped, it’s written all over you, so you take a bath or something. Have a cup of herbal tea and get some sleep.”
28
Can’t Say I Feel the Same Way
Cassie
TUESDAY TURNED OUT to be worse than Monday, and when I was done with classes, I called in sick to work. Ryan wasn’t available so I left word with Wendy that I wouldn’t be there.
Cecilia’s words about taking a bath last night hit me again, and I thought that sounded like a fabulous idea, but as I looked at my bathroom vanity I remembered I’d left my favorite brush at Gabe’s. That was the reason my day started off on the wrong foot. Not having my best brush meant I struggled with my hair twice as long because of all my tangles. It forced me to put my hair in a ponytail, and wearing my hair up all day led to a headache.
Part of me was willing to sacrifice the brush in order to avoid him. However, I couldn’t replace the brush since, when I realized it was my favorite, I had returned to buy another, only to find they were discontinued. So, I really wanted that brush back.
I texted Cecilia asking if she was around. Her schedule was crazy, but her days off were random compared to other jobs and I crossed my fingers that she was home.
She texted back, and I called her to let her know about my dilemma.
“Just come by,” she replied.
“Cecilia, I don’t think—”
“Honey, he’s not here right now. I gotta run soon, but if you hurry—”
“I’ll be right there, and I have his key, so I can lock up if I’m holding you up.”
I could hear the smile in her voice. “Sounds like a winner. See you in a bit.”
Five
minutes later, she answered the door dressed for work. “Sorry, Cassie, I’d stick around for five minutes while you do what you need to do, but I didn’t realize how late it is. You sure you have the key, so you can lock up behind yourself?”
I nodded. “I’m sorry, Cecilia. I didn’t mean for you to run late because of me.”
She shook her head, throwing her purse strap on her shoulder. “No biggie. Later!”
When I walked into the bathroom, I didn’t expect to see my brush front and center, but I also didn’t expect a completely clean counter either. I pulled open the two drawers on either side of the sink and found Gabe’s electric razor, shave cream and a disposable razor in one drawer; and three tubes of hair gel, a pick, and a cheap round roller brush in the other. I opened the cabinet doors, but found only cleaning supplies, cotton balls, and a box of tissues.
“Well, shit,” I whispered to myself.
“Can’t say I feel the same way,” a male voice said from the doorway, making me jump.
I turned, and Asher blocked my way out of the bathroom. My mind froze for a moment before I got myself together. “You can’t be here. I have a restraining order against you.”
“How was I supposed to know you’d be at my buddy Gabe’s place? You’re the one in violation of the restraining order, Cassie. Gabe and I work together.”
My eyes narrowed, and I remembered Wendy saying she’d processed paperwork for a new employee on Monday. Ryan had meant to have me do it on Thursday before he started, but it’d slipped his mind.
I raised my voice, “Get away from me, Asher.”
He raised his hand and I vaguely noticed he held something shaped like a gun, but I knew it wasn’t a gun. Then everything went black.
Gabe
I THOUGHT I’D HAVE a clearer head about my problems after some sleep, but I didn’t.
Maybe superstition wasn’t what had kept me from sharing with Cassie about my investment plans. The look on her face when she saw it was me talking to Pruitt. You’d have thought I broke her heart by investing in that club. Then my damned temper got the better of me when she said she was trying to protect me, when the entire point of sacrificing my money was to protect not just her, but her father, too.
She couldn’t tell me why investing in the club was a bad idea, and that made no sense. How could it be a bad idea for me to invest when her father was already invested in it? That angered me the most. She grew up learning about investments, but did she think I knew nothing about money?
Tuesdays and Thursdays were going to be a bitch the next fourteen weeks. My major was Recreational Management, but there was nothing recreational about my classes. In some ways I was excited about that, because the challenging classes meant my interest would be held the entire semester.
My reflex was to call Cassie, but I wasn’t ready to talk to her yet. She hadn’t exactly done anything wrong to me, but at the same time, she hadn’t done anything right by me either, since she wouldn’t tell me why I was making a bad investment. Then again, I couldn’t tell her why it was imperative for me to invest in the club.
As I walked into the apartment, I noticed my bathroom light was on. That was unusual, because Brock didn’t often use it, and since she’d only been living with us for two months, to my knowledge Cecilia hadn’t ever been in it.
As I stalked to the small space, I saw the drawers were open as were the cabinet doors. I dialed Brock on my cell.
“I’m working, Gabe.”
“You or your woman hunting for something in my bathroom?”
“Gabe, like I said—”
“Brock, I just got home, the light in the bathroom was on, both drawers are pulled open and the doors to the cabinet are both wide open. What the fuck? If you didn’t do it, why the hell would your woman need to be in here?”
He sighed. “Give me ten minutes, maybe twenty. Since her shift hasn’t started yet, I should be able to reach Cecilia. I don’t think she would’ve done that though. You been through the rest of the place?”
A prickly feeling crept up the back of my neck. “No. But I’ll do that now.”
“Call you in ten.”
I had no weapon, but I still took my time going through all the bedrooms and checking the balcony. When I realized I hadn’t checked the laundry area, I grabbed a butcher knife and checked there too, only to find an empty room.
“What the fuck?” I whispered.
I put the knife back in the holder, and my cell rang.
“Yeah, Brock,” I answered.
He didn’t say anything for a moment, but he sighed. “Was the door locked when you got there?”
“Brock. What aren’t you telling me? Cut to the chase.”
“Cecilia let Cassie in before she left. Cassie said she had a key, and could lock up afterwards. She wanted a brush she’d left behind. Cecilia didn’t lock the door behind herself because she didn’t think it would take Cassie but two minutes to get her brush and get out.”
That prickly feeling wound its way around my chest. “Cassie was here,” I whispered.
Brock sighed again. “Yeah. Was her brush in the bathroom? Maybe she was being vindictive... though that doesn’t seem like her.”
“No,” I said in a low voice. “That damn brush is in my duffel because I had intended to spend last night at her place until all hell broke loose.”
Brock was speaking but it was clear he was talking to Clint or someone he worked with at Otero-Silva Investigations. I took in a deep breath, and almost missed what Brock said.
“Wait. What did you just ask Clint?”
“Gabe. I don’t think—”
“Tell me what you said, Brock,” I growled.
“I asked him if he knew when Asher Craddick got out on bail.”
“Fuck,” I yelled.
“God damn, Gabe. What is your problem, yelling in my ear. You knew she had an issue with that asshole.”
With the hand not holding my phone I made a fist and punched toward the wall but pulled it at the last minute. “Brock, I knew his first name was Asher. I had no fuckin’ idea his last name was Craddick. Hell, how do you know his last fuckin’ name?”
Brock hesitated, and I made a noise prompting him to talk. “The case I’ve been working with Clint and others, we’re investigating Club Eclectic. When Craddick went in for a job and got it last week, Clint told me.”
“And you didn’t think to tell me,” I shouted.
“You’re working at the club too, I couldn’t tell you.”
“Fuck me. Cassie works there too! You assholes weren’t going to let her know about her ex working at the same place?”
“Our client was going to take care of it.”
“Great job,” I deadpanned.
Brock ignored my sarcastic barb. “Was the door locked, Gabe?”
I blew out a breath. “Yes. I know it was, Brock.”
“Then maybe he doesn’t have her.”
Moving into the bathroom, I caught my reflection in the mirror. To say I looked rough would be a massive understatement. I wiped a hand down my face, but it didn’t help.
“You know that isn’t the case, Brock. No way Cassie would leave things like this. He’s got her, and I don’t know shit about where he might be or where he might take her.”
I heard car doors closing in the background. “Don’t think about that shit right now, Gabe. We’ll be there soon.”
That didn’t make me feel any better. “Should I leave the room the way it is, Brock? Or can I close up these drawers and shit? I mean, the cops aren’t gonna be able to tell us jack, am I right?”
I heard Clint talking in the background, but couldn’t make out what he said. Then Brock replied, “Yeah. Leave it like it is. We’re five minutes away, bro.”
Less than five minutes later, Brock and Clint came in. They looked at the bathroom and Clint closed the doors and drawers. I had my temper in check by a thread, and I knew Brock could see it.
Clint stepped out onto our balcony and shut the door
behind him.
“What the fuck is he doing?”
Brock looked to the balcony and back to me. “I don’t know. But he knows a fuckuvalot more than I realized, which means he’s even better at his job than I already gave him credit for. So, let’s let him do whatever he’s doin’.”
I slammed a fist onto the counter. “Brock, I’ve got to do something!”
He crossed his arms on his chest, but moved closer to me. “I know, Gabe, but right now—”
“Wait,” I interrupted. I dug my keys out of my pocket. “I have her emergency key. I can go check her place—”
Brock shook his head, but I turned on my heel. I got one step forward before Brock caught me up short in a chicken-wing hold. I planted my feet and tried to throw him over, but my damn brother was bulkier than I was and I couldn’t manage it, even with sheer rage on my side.
“Boys, boys. This shit ain’t helping,” Clint said from behind us.
Brock kept hold on me, but turned both of our bodies to Clint. “This asshole wants to go to her place. He has her emergency key. I don’t want him goin’ anywhere half-cocked.”
“Good. Gimme the key, Gabe.”
I shook my head. “No. She’s my woman, I’m takin’ care of her.”
Clint’s jaw shifted a touch. “No. Give me the key. You aren’t trained, and you don’t need to get hurt in this shit.”
“I’m damn well comin’ with you,” I bit out.
“Didn’t say you weren’t. Now give me the damn key so we can get on with this shit. I gotta report in to the client, and he’s not going to be happy.”
I handed Clint my keys, but I narrowed my eyes at him as things began to come clear to me.
“You’re investigating her bitch of a mom, aren’t you?”
Clint’s eyes gave it away because he didn’t look at me, and he was always a straight-shooter. So him looking to Brock meant he suspected Brock of telling me something. I felt Brock moving behind me ever-so-slightly, and I knew my brother was shaking his head.
