by A. P. Jensen
Her phone rang. She glanced at the name on the screen and answered immediately. “Callie?”
“Can you pick me up?” Callie asked in a shaky voice.
Fear zipped through her. “Is something wrong?”
“No, I just… I need to get out of here. Please, pick me up.”
“Okay, I’m on my way.”
Juliet’s mind whirled with questions as she used the spare key to lock up Dominick’s house. When she pulled up to the Grant mansion, she was relieved to see Callie standing on the steps in a hoodie. Callie looked better, but that could have been an illusion, since she hid most of the discoloration with foundation. Dark lipstick hid the split on her lip.
“What’s going on?” Juliet asked after she got in the car.
“Please, just get me out of here.”
Juliet’s foot hovered uncertainly over the gas pedal. “Did Gray—?”
“No. Take me to this address.”
Callie handed over a piece of paper and Juliet frowned. “This is close to where Dominick lives.”
“Let’s go before Trina or Scarlet come to check on me,” Callie said.
“What’s wrong with Trina?” Juliet asked as she drove away from the Grant mansion. Her impression of Trina wasn’t good since she was married to Brent.
“She checks on me every hour. She’s treating me like a newborn,” Callie said.
Juliet relaxed. “How are you doing?”
“I’m dealing,” Callie said in an unusually testy tone.
Juliet drove in silence for a minute before she asked, “So, where are we going?”
“I can’t breathe in that house!” Callie choked and her hands twisted in her lap. “I can’t stop thinking of Mom. Before I got married, I tried to talk to Daddy about you. He broke my collar bone.”
The car swerved as Juliet looked at Callie. “He what?”
The only sound in the car was Callie’s harsh breathing.
“I hated the way he talked about you.” Callie shuddered and rubbed her pregnant stomach. “I couldn’t stand it and I just wanted to get away. I never told you how sorry I am.”
“It’s done, Callie,” Juliet said and stopped in the driveway of a small cottage.
Callie sniffled and wiped away her tears. “I can’t live with Daddy again even though he won’t do anything with Brent and his family there.”
“Did Gray say something to you?”
“He came to my room and told me I wasn’t going to divorce Freddy.”
Juliet’s hands flexed on the wheel. “And?”
“I didn’t say anything. He left and I called you. I can’t stay there.”
“You’re going through with the divorce?”
Callie nodded resolutely and stared at the cottage. “I’m meeting a realtor here. I called her right before I called you. I won’t let my daughter grow up like I did.”
They sat in silence for a few minutes as it continued to drizzle. Juliet didn’t ask why Callie hadn’t told Brent and Scarlet about Gray. Callie was in the same boat as her. Would their siblings believe that the man they idolized had a dark side? Juliet glanced at her sister who was bruised, pregnant and scared.
“What do you need?” Juliet asked quietly.
Callie took Juliet’s hand. “They won’t understand. I just need you to be, okay? I know I don’t deserve—”
“I’ll be here,” Juliet assured her.
Callie swallowed hard as a car pulled up beside them. An eager realtor led them to the stone cottage, which had a vintage feel to it. The house had a spacious, simple floor plan with three rooms, two bathrooms, a generous kitchen and living room. All the appliances were new and it had been vacant for some time, according to the realtor.
“Can you give us a couple minutes?” Juliet asked.
The realtor grinned. “I’ll be outside. Take as long as you need.”
After she left, Juliet found Callie standing in the middle of a room, staring out at the surrounding hills.
“What do you think?” Juliet asked.
“I love it,” Callie said. “This is going to be the nursery.”
Juliet nodded and did a walkthrough to make sure everything looked okay. When she returned, Callie hadn’t moved.
“Callie?”
“I don’t want to work for Grant Shipping anymore.”
Juliet’s brows rose. “Okay. What do you want to do?”
“I don’t know, but I can’t do it anymore. I wanted to quit years ago. I hate that job. I know Scarlet and Brent love it, but my heart’s not in it. I’ve been miserable for so long. I just want to be happy. I thought I deserved it when Freddy hit me. I’ve never been strong enough to fight back, to tell the truth.” Callie’s mouth twitched. “And then you came back.”
Juliet blinked. “What do I have to do with this?”
“I never saw anyone stand up to Daddy until you. You’re the only one that challenges him. I’ve always been so scared of being alone and now…” Callie threw her hands up. “I just don’t fucking care.”
The laugh bubbled out of nowhere. “Is that the first time you ever swore?”
“Yes.”
“I like it.”
“I do too.” Callie twisted her hands together and whispered, “Did you really kick Freddy’s ass?”
“He’s missing a front tooth, I think.”
Callie’s eyes bulged and then she began to laugh. They cackled like hyenas and wiped tears from their eyes. Juliet put her arm around her sister and hugged her tight.
“Everything’s going to be all right. You know that, right?”
“I’m beginning to believe it,” Callie said.
“Good.”
They talked to the realtor that said Callie could move within a week. Callie’s mood lightened considerably as they signed papers on the hood of the bug and she wrote a check for the deposit.
“I have no idea what I’ll do,” Callie said thoughtfully, “but I don’t want to be a secretary anymore.”
“You like to garden and cook,” Juliet said and pat her thigh as she drove. “You have time. Don’t worry about it.”
Callie didn’t move when Juliet stopped in the driveway of the Grant property.
“I heard you’re with Dominick,” Callie said.
Juliet shrugged. “Kinda.”
Callie turned in the seat to face her. “Dominick’s a good guy.”
“I know he is.”
Callie tilted her head to the side and studied her. “You really like him, don’t you?”
A blush crept from her neck to her cheeks and Callie clapped her hands together.
“Wow. Are you in love with him?”
Juliet shot her a scathing look. “Callie, please.”
“You deserve to be happy too, Juliet.”
Callie got out of the car. Juliet stared at the mansion and tried to ignore the flurry of nightmares. The thought of Gray threatening Callie, of trying to stop the divorce made her want to walk in there and confront, but there was nothing she could do. It was up to Brent to stop Gray.
Juliet found the business card with the name of her second client on it. Juliet wrongly assumed that Sumi wouldn’t answer at such an early hour. She forgot that farmers woke at dawn to work the fields before the afternoon heat. Sumi invited her over, giving directions like ‘past the chicken farm and the old dairy, past Ronnie Kaneshiro’s house, the green house on the right.’
Juliet glanced once more at the mansion and said a silent prayer for Callie before she headed to her client’s house. It occurred to her as she drove on the wet side of Waimea that for the first time in her life, she was going with the flow. Controlling everything with an iron fist didn’t work so she would let life do its thing and hope it didn’t screw her so bad in the end.
By the time Juliet plopped on a stool at Hunter’s Bar, she had a major headache. The morning had been a blur of information about the farm, Sumi’s finances, contracts with the hotels and stores and local gossip. There had been gentle probes abo
ut Juliet and her personal life, but Juliet kept everything deliberately vague, which didn’t bother Sumi in the least. Sumi was a cancer survivor who said the earth healed her. Her employees were a colorful lot of people who believed the same healing properties about the earth. Juliet spent most of her time trying to fend them off and get work done since they were friendly and curious. Sumi’s records, like Maile’s, were extremely disorganized. It would take time to get everything in order and also like Maile, Sumi used programs that did her no favors. Juliet left the farm with paperwork and two canvas bags full of produce.
Juliet settled her laptop and papers on the bar. The lunch rush was about to begin and once again, Hunter looked like he was going to have a fit. Every time the door opened to admit another person, he glared at them as if they were desecrating sacred land. Juliet couldn't understand how he stayed in business, but then again, Waimea had so few options and aside from Hunter’s blatant hostility, the bar was clean and the food tasty. Wasn't that why she came back twice despite his lack of encouragement?
“This ain’t no office,” Hunter growled when he paused in front of her.
Juliet gave him a no-nonsense look. “I want a beer and burger and you can deliver both. I have a headache so don't mess with me.”
Hunter mumbled something under his breath and slammed through the double doors into the kitchen. Juliet's phone rang. She glanced at the screen and wanted to pull her hair out. On a burst of temper, she answered.
“What do you want?” Juliet demanded.
“I want you back,” Chad said.
Juliet was tempted to break the phone into a million pieces, but that wouldn't knock any sense into him so she resisted.
“Chad,” she said deliberately, “we're done. I'm not coming back to you. What you did was underhanded, spineless and sneaky. I will never trust you again so stop calling me. Good luck with your company.”
Hunter came out of the kitchen in the middle of her speech and shook his head as he went down the bar, refilling drinks and handing out cold beers. Juliet was about to hang up on Chad, but his next question made her pause.
“Are you really Gray Grant’s adopted daughter?” he asked quickly.
“What do you care?”
“He’s a billionaire, Juliet.”
“Really?” Juliet drawled sarcastically. “I didn't know that!”
“What I mean is,” Chad said deliberately, “you must have a share in his company. Even if you're not blood, you're legally adopted so—”
“I was never in his will,” Juliet informed him crisply. “He never accepted me as a real daughter. If you’ve been calling me because you think I'm rich, you're out of luck.”
There was a pause on his end, long enough to make her realize that she hit the nail on the head. How could she not have seen through him to the weak, cowardly man beneath? She had been so desperate for a partner, for someone to believe in her that she chose her own downfall.
“Isn’t it enough that you have my company?” Juliet charged acidly.
“Juliet,” he said in a conciliatory tone, “don't be mad about this. Maybe in the future, I can bring you back on as COO or—”
“Chad, I'm done. Don't call this number again. We're over.”
Juliet hung up, closed her eyes and let out a long breath. There was a loud thunk. Juliet opened her eyes to see a cold beer in front of her and Hunter’s back as he went into the kitchen. Juliet focused on Sumi’s paperwork for the farm. Chad would laugh himself silly if he knew what type of work she was doing. Chad had money and connections, but not the brains or dedication to build his own business so he stole hers instead. Chad wouldn't be able to relate to people that worked as hard as Sumi, Dominick or Maile. He wouldn’t know passion if it bit him in the ass.
Too angry to focus on anything, Juliet drained her beer and went into the kitchen. Hunter opened his mouth to say something, but she didn't give him the chance. She grabbed a tray and swept into the bar. The patrons watched her as she stomped around, retrieving glasses, plates and bottles. While Hunter delivered meals and refills, Juliet searched the kitchen for a rag. When Hunter barged in, ready to blast her, she swept past to wipe tables. Hunter came after her, but before he could shout, someone dropped their glass, spilling wine over the floor.
“Shit,” Hunter bit out.
“Something’s burning,” Juliet said mildly.
Hunter cursed and ran back into the kitchen as Juliet located a broom and dustpan to clean it up. As the bar got even busier, Hunter didn't have time to argue. Juliet moved her things into the kitchen so someone could take her place at the bar and snatched a plate from Hunter’s hand.
“Do the next order,” she snapped and waltzed out.
She placed the burger in front of the customer and was about to turn away when he said her name. Juliet turned back and looked at the man carefully.
“Bobby?” she asked cautiously.
He beamed and spread his arms wide. “I knew you wouldn't forget your prom date from freshman year. Give me a hug.”
Juliet gave him a hug, but when she would have stepped away, he wrapped an arm around her waist with a familiarity that startled her. He introduced her to the rest of the guys at the table, other acquaintances from a lifetime ago.
“What’s this about you and Dominic Bryson?” Bobby asked.
Juliet raised a brow. “What do you mean?”
“You two serious?” another man asked.
“Why do you care?” Juliet asked defensively. That was the thing about small towns. Everyone knew everyone's business.
“We all work for him and he's been in a good mood lately.”
Juliet opened her mouth to make a sassy comment, but Hunter passed with three plates and a murderous expression tossed her way. Juliet wanted to throw her hands up in the air. He bitched when she helped and bitched when she didn't help. God!
“Is there something going on between you and Hunter?”
Juliet rolled her eyes. “He needs help.”
“Hunter?” Bobby said dubiously. “He doesn't want anyone’s help.”
“I don't care if he wants help. He's going to get it,” Juliet said. “Enjoy your food.”
Juliet stomped into the kitchen. Hunter kept his back to her and said not a word. Juliet fantasized about bopping him on the head with a mallet before she decided to make another pass around the bar with her tray. When she came back, she snatched two plates from Hunter’s hands and delivered them so he could do drinks.
By the time the lunch rush was over, Juliet's feet were sore. She retrieved her things from the kitchen and sat on the far side of the bar. She set up her laptop and got to work. Juliet jumped when Hunter dropped a plate in front of her so hard that fries scattered everywhere.
“Asshole,” she muttered before she took a bite of her burger.
Juliet was halfway through her meal before she became aware of a man staring at her. When Juliet made eye contact, he rose and came towards her. Hostility wafted from the stranger. The lunch rush had long since passed. The bar only had several patrons and Hunter was nowhere to be found.
“Can I help you with something?” Juliet asked.
The man was bald with a filthy construction shirt that had holes around the neck. He was overweight and had a large ketchup stain over his belly. Although he smelled strongly of beer, his eyes weren’t glazed from intoxication. So, what was the deal? The guy looked at her as if she stomped over his mother's grave.
“I guess I shouldn't be surprised that you don't remember me,” he said.
She searched his face, but couldn't place him. “I'm sorry. Do we know each other?”
“You fucked me,” he said flatly.
Juliet jerked. “Excuse me?”
He leaned down until he was less than a foot away. The disdain on his face was so blatant that she wanted to turn away.
“Do you remember the schmuck you played around with the month you left with Kai?”
Juliet’s stomach plummeted. “Todd?”<
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He threw his hands up in the air and said loudly, “It's a miracle! She remembers me. I guess I did something right.” Todd slapped his hand on the bar, making her jolt. “The night your mother died, people told me you were fucking Kai in a field and had been cheating on me for weeks with different men. Rumor is that Kai got you pregnant, you went home to tell your parents and your mommy couldn't handle the truth and slit her wrists out of shame. Others say you demanded a part of your inheritance. When you didn’t get it, you threw a fit, so much so that your Mom lost it. No Grant has ever confirmed what really happened that night, but everyone knows it ends the same. Now I hear that you’re fucking Dominick. Doesn't he know you had to move to the mainland because you’ve been with everyone on the island? You haven't changed at all. Once a slut, always a slut.”
Juliet went cold with shock. Todd continued to rant, but she couldn't hear over the sound of her own heartbeat. She stared with detached fascination at Todd who edged closer to her with each word out of his mouth.
“That's enough.”
Todd turned wrathful eyes on Hunter. “Stay out of this.”
“Closing time until dinner,” Hunter said. “Clear out.”
Like an automaton, Juliet closed her laptop and gathered her paperwork.
“Still think you're better than everyone else, don't you?” Todd taunted, ignoring Hunter. “I heard Brent hates you so much he offered six figures to get you to leave.”
Juliet froze.
“It's true, isn't it? You thought you could come back and act like nothing happened? Let me tell you a secret—no one’s forgotten who you are and what you've done.”
The last patrons dashed outside when Hunter pulled a bat from under the bar. She was vaguely aware of Todd making an aggressive move towards her and tensed.
“Todd,” Hunter’s voice was clipped.
Todd paused and gave Hunter a long look before he walked out the door.
“Why didn’t you tell him off? I saw you wail on Freddy,” Hunter said.
“Todd didn’t say anything that was untrue,” she said and walked out of the bar.
There were no cars in the parking lot. She walked around the building and headed towards the bug, which she parked in the back. She was so focused on getting to her car that she didn’t sense danger until it was too late. Someone hauled her backwards so viciously that she dropped the laptop and stack of papers. Hard hands whirled her around and she saw Freddy. Violence shimmered around him like a heat wave. Fear grabbed her by the throat.
