by Rebel Hart
“John, take a breath.”
He sighed. “I can’t.”
“That was the wrong way. Take the breath in.”
He glared at me. “Ha. Ha. Ha.”
“Look, it’s just a house visit. Nothing to get your panties in a bunch about.”
He leaned forward. “Says the guy with two healthy legs good for running away on.”
I chuckled. “Told you not to come. But, no. You just had to.”
“I’m not stringing you out to dry. And I sure as hell--”
I chuckled harder. “Aren’t incapable? Says the man complaining about just that?”
I felt laughter mounting as my brother kept glaring at me. And for some reason, the look on his face made this all funnier. I pinched my nose to try and stop it. I felt it building up the back of my spine.
This is not the time to laugh. Get yourself under control.
“Sounds like a party in here.”
My father’s voice pierced through the moment and the laughter was gone. Toast. Dead, just like the rest of my father’s hits. John stood from his chair, wobbling around on his cane. And as I pushed myself out of the plush leather cushions, I watched my father head straight for the drink cart and pour himself four entire fingers of brandy.
Not good.
I peeked over at John as he watched our father down the drink. I mean, the man just tipped it back, opened his throat, and practically let it slide down. I’d only seen my father drink like that once in his entire life. And the end result wasn’t good for anyone in his wake.
“You two care for a drink?”
I watched him fill his glass for the second time before he turned to us.
“Nah, I’m good. John?”
He shook his head. “I’m the one driving.”
Dad nodded. “Suit yourselves. Though this impromptu house call must be serious if you two are declining free top-shelf liquor.”
I didn’t like the way Dad was studying me.
“You good, Max?”
I paused. “Why wouldn't I be?”
He narrowed his eyes. “That yellow on your face?”
I shrugged. “Not important.”
He turned fully toward me. “Who used you as a punching bag?”
I clicked my tongue. “Was kind of hoping you could tell me that.”
In the corner of my eye, I saw my brother go stiff. He straightened out his back and turned his shoulder toward the door. Like he actually thought we’d be able to make a break for it if Dad decided to come after us. It was do or die with our father. Always had been. And if he set his sights on someone, no amount of running would get them any further away than Dad wanted them to be.
I knew John wasn’t expecting me to come out of the gate so strongly. But I wasn’t here to waste anyone’s time. There were consequences, in and of themselves, for people that wasted this man’s time. And I was suspicious of my father’s motives. Always had been. I wouldn’t put it past the old man to be pulling strings in the background for some reason. Working his way away from the Red Thorns. Hell, even trying to dismantle us.
There came a time in every organization my father utilized where it eventually got torn down. People got shifted around. New faces came in and old ones mysteriously disappeared. That was how my father kept his reputation fresh and his hands clean. And the Red Thorns were the longest-running organization that had some serious dirt on the man.
Maybe he was doing this because he was done with our help. Maybe he was ready to take us all out. Maybe he had a new crew he was using. That would explain why we hadn’t worked in months. Why most of us were scraping the bottom of our savings accounts just to fucking eat.
Come to think of it, that last client we had was when things started going to shit. When that dumbass client refused to pay.
How convenient.
Maybe someone offered him a great deal of money to end my reign in the Red Thorns. Or maybe someone had offered him something sweeter. Power. Control. Ownership over something in exchange for my life.
I stared at my father for what seemed like decades. And when he smiled, the nape of my neck prickled.
“I don’t know what you’re trying to imply, son.”
I shrugged. “I’m not implying anything. I’m asking you a question. Do you know who’s coming after me?”
He chuckled. But he didn’t say anything. He just kept looking at me before he chuckled. Then, he’d stop. His eyes would find mine. And he’d chuckle again.
“Come on, John. There are no answers for us here,” I said.
I turned my back on Ashton before he spoke again.
“Your little club is just that, Max.”
I paused. “What?”
“A little club. That’s all it is. Maybe your parading around this town like you own the damn place has rubbed some people the wrong way.”
My eyes gravitated over to my brother and I saw fear in his eyes. I kept my back to my father, trying to seem unaffected by his words. I didn’t like the tone of them, though. That accusing tone. That gaslighting, manipulative bullshit he always pulled on people.
Not on me, though. “That what you think? Or is that what you’ve heard?”
I slowly turned around and faced my father again, watching as he threw back the rest of his second drink.
“You know my sources are always accurate.”
I snickered. “Sources. Got it.”
He shrugged. “You’re the one that came to ask. I’m sorry the answer isn’t more… fulfilling.”
“Yeah. Maybe. But, in any case, in this town, there’s only a handful of people with the manpower to send trained thugs after me. Twice.”
My father’s eyes held mine. “Perhaps you should consider the other threats more carefully, son.”
I ran my eyes down my father’s body, studying his posture. I took in the way he still held his glass, even though he was done with the drink. His shoulders weren’t rolled back, but squared off. Ready for a fight. His hands were always his tell, though. My father had this fidgety way about his pinky whenever he got waist-deep into a lie of his. And holding his glass gave that damn pinky something to do other than fly around in the air like it always did.
The hard line of his jaw and the creases in his brow gave me everything I needed to know, though.
“Tell me, Dad. When were you going to tell us you got a better contract with another crew?”
John’s voice piped up from behind. “Let’s just go. He’s not going to tell you anything.”
Dad pointed. “Listen to your brother out in the hallway, Max. He’s always had a better sense of what’s good for him.”
“Calling out our positions to your hidden men now, Dad?”
“John knows when to walk away. You’d do well to learn from him.”
“Why? So you can manipulate me like you can him?”
John snarled. “Let’s go. Now.”
I gritted my teeth. “I’m not walking away, John. And I’m not dropping this, Dad, until we get to the bottom of it. Blood doesn’t mean shit. Not if you’re the one coming for me.”
Dad smiled. “You know what? Good for you, Max. That’s the first thing you’ve ever said that I respect. And that I agree with. Blood doesn’t mean anything when stakes like this are involved.”
My nostrils flared. I knew that man was guilty of this. I knew he was behind it. I just didn’t know how to go about figuring that out. But now that I knew where the endgame was, maybe I could walk it back from behind. Start at the punchline, and trace it back to this point.
To where I had been jumped. To where I had been cornered on a fucking night out.
To where Dani got roped into this fucked-up nonsense.
“Max.”
John’s voice pulled me from my trance. “What?”
His hand fell against my shoulder. “Let’s go. There’s nothing for us here.”
Dad pointed to the door. “He’s right. You should go.”
I shook my head. “No. He’s no
t right because we should go. He’s right because there’s nothing for us here. Never has been.”
John glowered. “Max. Shut up and come on.”
Dad nodded. “Have a nice drive, you two.”
John practically tugged me into the hallway before I gave in. I drew in a deep breath as we walked through Dad’s mansion, with pictures and artwork and crown molding looming over our heads. I was lost in my thoughts as we walked out to John’s car. And I knew he was, too. John wasn’t silent too often. But when he was by choice? I knew something important was on his mind.
“Food?” I asked.
John unlocked the car. “How the fuck can you think about food right now?”
I ripped open the door. “I’m hungry. I didn’t have much pizza. I could go for something.”
“Yeah. Sure. Just tell me where to go.”
As we pulled down the massive driveway, I kept an eye on my side mirror. Just in case Dad was having us followed.
23
Dani
I was stuck in that place between being awake, but still being numb to the world. My 8 a.m. class had gotten cancelled due to the professor having a family emergency. So I had an extra two hours to sleep this morning. Which was well needed on my end of things. I’d stayed up much too late last night trying to polish up my paper and get it submitted. I wanted that thing in my professor’s inbox by the time he got back from his family emergency. I wanted him to see how serious I was about this class, even if I did have to ask for an extension on the paper.
And I hoped he saw that when he got back.
I cleared my throat as my body came to life and I rolled over. I pulled the covers up to my chin, curled my knees into my stomach, and settled in for a little more sleep. Five more minutes. All my body needed was five more minutes.
But I heard my phone vibrating underneath my pillow.
“No, no, not now.”
I heard Hannah yawning as I stuffed my hand beneath the cold cushion.
I tried pressing the side button to snooze my alarm, but it kept vibrating. I peeled an eye open and wiped the crust from my eyelashes as I pulled my phone out. Narrowing my eyes as the morning sun blinded me, I flopped onto my back as my phone continued to jiggle in my hand. The string of numbers flashing on my screen gave me pause. Someone was calling me, but I didn’t have their number saved.
Who in the world is calling me?
“Pick it up or shut it up,” Hannah groaned.
I rolled my eyes as my phone shot the person to my voice mailbox. But the second I put the phone on my chest, it started vibrating again.
“Dani? Seriously?”
I sighed. “I’m getting it, keep your panties on.”
With a voice thick with sleep and an eye still crusted shut, I picked up the phone call.
“Hello?”
The person paused. “Oh, my God.”
I furrowed my brow. “What?”
“I woke you up. I am so sorry. Your parents told me you had class at eight and ten thirty. I was hoping to catch you in between them.”
I pulled my phone away from my ear just in time to see my alarm flashing on the screen. I shook my head and muted the alarm before bringing the phone back to my face. Great. It was nine forty-five and I was on the phone with some random person.
I sighed. “Who is this?”
“I’m sorry. My apologies. This is Kline.”
I peeled my other eye open. “Kline?”
Hannah hissed. “Can you take that outside or something?”
I waved my hand at her. “I don’t know a Kline. How did y--?”
Oh. Him.
He chuckled. “I, uh, I got your number from your mother. You know how those things go. Your mom and my mom practically have our lives planned out already. First dates. Our proposal. The wedding. How many kids we’ll have.”
I rubbed my eye. “Kline. Right. Sorry. Uh, yeah. Mom did tell me about you. You’re the acupuncture guy.”
He chuckled again. “I’ve never had anyone call me that before, but yeah, I’m the acupuncture guy.”
I pushed myself up from bed and slung my feet over the edge. I had to wake myself up. I had to get a fresh set of clothes on and get my ass to class. I blinked slowly a few times, trying to pull myself out of my hazy trance. I watched Hannah turn her back to me, curling up tight beneath her covers.
But I knew she was still listening.
“Dani?”
I cleared my throat. “Yes. Sorry.”
“So what do you say to their plan?”
I snickered. “I’m a bit young for kids.”
He snickered. “Well, I was going to take you out to coffee first. You know, do things the right way.”
“Like getting my number from my mother before you even know what I look like?”
“Oh, you better believe pictures were exchanged. You’re very beautiful, by the way.”
I blushed. “Oh. Well, thank you.”
He chuckled. “No thanks needed for the truth. So what do you say to our first date?”
“To what?”
“Our first date. Coffee. Would you like to get some with me?”
He’s got a nice laugh.
I felt groggy. But, more than that, I felt cornered. On the one hand, this was what I wanted, right? A nice man. A nice husband. A clean-cut house in the suburbs. A pearl white SUV for me to drive our three kids around in. He fit perfectly into my future plans.
But—Max.
Max was everything I didn’t know I needed. And I was already too deep into him to start back-peddling now. Maybe in another life, I would’ve considered saying yes. Maybe, had he come along a bit sooner, I would’ve gone out to coffee with him. But I loved Max. And there was no turning my back on that. I gave Max my word, and that meant something to me.
“I’m sorry, Kline. My mother can be very pushy at times, and she kind of gets ahead of herself when she sees something she wants. I’m actually seeing someone currently. And I don’t think it’s fair to him for me to accept a coffee date with a stranger.”
He paused. “Oh. I--I didn’t know that. My mother didn’t--she didn’t say anything like that. Do your parents know? Or something? I mean, not that it’s any of my business.”
I snickered. “No, no. It’s fine. It’s new. And it’s… kind of out of the ordinary for me. But I’ve told him that I’m not seeing anyone else but him, and that means something to me.”
“Of course. I’d never want someone to go back on their word like that.”
“I’m glad you understand.”
“You sound like a wonderful girl.”
I ran my hand through my hair. “Eh, you know. I try where I can.”
He chuckled. “I’m sure you do more than try.”
I blushed again. “But you know, if you want me to keep your number around, I can hand it out to some of the nice girls on campus. You know, if strange women are your thing.”
“No, no. That isn’t necessary. To be honest, this is pretty out of the ordinary for me. Usually my parents are very pushy with this kind of thing. But your picture just…”
I slipped off the edge of my bed. “I appreciate the compliment. And I’m sorry you got wrapped up into this.”
“Again, you don’t have to apologize. He’s a lucky man.”
I smiled. “Thank you. I’m a lucky girl, too. And I am sorry for the position you’ve been put in. Believe it or not, my parents don’t know every little detail of my life.”
“Good for you. Keep a bit for yourself. Because if there’s anything we need when growing up with Korean parents, it’s a bit of privacy.”
I giggled. “You’re right about that one.”
He chuckled. “You have a good day in classes. And, if things go south with you and your guy, give me a call. I’d still love to take you out to coffee.”
I grabbed my mug. “I’ll keep that in mind. Thanks.”
I hung up the phone and tossed it on top of my bag. I set about making myself some coffee to wake
me up before my ten-thirty class. But as the coffee percolated into my mug, I felt a pair of eyes on me.
“Morning, Hannah.”
She shuffled around. “Who was that?”
I shrugged. “A guy my mom wants me to go out with.”
“Did you say no?”
I slowly looked over at her. “Gee. I don't know, Hannah.”
She sighed. “Dani, what if he’s a good guy? What if you just passed up your opportunity to--?”
“I mean, he probably is. He sounds like a good guy.”
“So why not give him a shot? Just a shot. That’s all I’m asking.”
“No, Hannah. What you’re asking is that I slowly migrate myself away from Max because you don’t approve of him.”
“Can you blame me for that? I mean, look at the guy. It doesn't take a genius to know he’s into some shady shit. You really want yourself getting hurt because of his actions? Because that’s how you get yourself killed.”
I rolled my eyes. “I need coffee before this conversation.”
She sat up. “Or maybe you just need to listen to me for once.”
I picked up my mug. “No. For once, what I need to do is listen to my heart. Listen to my gut. Listen to what my own body is telling me. My entire life has revolved around what others want me to do. You, of all people, know that.”
“I’m not dictating your future here, Dani. I’m just trying to--”
“Save me? Do me a solid? Get me out of trouble I’m not actually in?”
She threw her hands in the air. “How can you not see the trouble that comes with this guy?”
I sipped my coffee black. “Hannah, I’ve had enough of this shit. I’ve chosen Max. That’s final. If you don’t like it, find another roommate. Or, better yet, I’ll put in for a transfer.”
She scoffed. “Now look who’s getting all worked up over nothing.”
“Over nothing?”
I placed my coffee down and glared at her.
“Over nothing, Hannah? You mean to tell me that giving me the cold shoulder for days, blowing up my phone and yelling at me once I get back, constantly chastising me for my decisions, and ultimately jumping down my throat every second you get is nothing? You’re really trying to sell that to me?”
