by Kerri Ann
Locking up and strutting through the crowds, I hear my name a few times. Smiling, I acknowledge a few as I pass. Stepping through the doors, I see the desk kid I met before, and Gruber. The two are selling the damaged boards and merchandise with a massive sign behind their head that says, ‘Cold as Ice Fire Sale.’
“Hey!” I yell over the din.
Seeing me, grinning wide, Gruber shouts back, “Hang on, Whiskey.” Watching him hand over the merchandise to someone, he skooches out from behind the counter.
“You see this? Pretty amazing, huh?”
“What the fuck is going on?” I ask him, just as a group of teenage girls giggle loudly, attempting to garner my attention. Ignoring them is increasingly hard, as they try to take pictures beside me, like I’m Shaq or something. I move away from them, further into the store, away from the cash desk.
“The insurance called two days ago, said that the cash was already deposited. I asked what we should be doing with the stuff. You know, boxing it up to send away or something, and he said to sell it, toss it, it didn’t matter. So, I made up the sign with the store next door and did a bunch of quick fire sale promos on Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook. This?” He waves his hands around the crowd. “Is all because of that. Pretty awesome, if I do say so myself.”
He’s pleased as punch, and I can’t see any reason not to love it. “Fuckin’ smart, Gruber. How’re the sales going?”
“Actually, that’s the best part. Most of the damaged goods were gone yesterday. All these people are buying new equipment. I’ve already gone to deposit close to fifteen grand, and it’s only two o’clock.”
Holy shit! “You’re fucking with me?”
He laughs. “Nah, not a lie. This is all just fucking gravy.”
Now I’m smiling. “Wow. Nice marketing, man. Keep up the good work.” As I’m saying this, my phone vibrates. “Hang on,” I tell Gru, grabbing my phone out. It’s not a number I know so I answer. “Yeah, go ahead.”
“Mr. Crown? Mr. Jamieson Crown?”
That’s never a good sign. “Yeah, this is he. Who is this?”
“This is Mr. Johns from Weber Crematorium. We’ve had a…well, I’m not quite sure how to tell you this?”
“Spit it out. It’s not like she can get up and walk away. What’s wrong?”
Huffing into the phone, he sounds stressed. “Mr. Crown, we’ve had an accident here.”
“What kind of accident could you have at a crematorium, Mr. Johns?” I’m thinking he’s mixed her ashes with someone’s dog, or that they burned her wrong.
“Well, sir, she was the last into the system. And, um, the crematorium is now...on fire.”
“Isn’t that the whole point of a place that burns things? A fire?”
“Yes, sir. That would be true, but normally, we don’t set the building on fire and burn the remaining clients at the same time.”
Fuck me! My mother couldn’t just go, could she? Had to take a building with her.
Now, I’m the one huffing.
“I guess Marca Crown just had to have one last hurrah. Nothing like a party to send you off, Mother, right?”
JAMIESON
“This is shit even I couldn’t think up.” Telling Wyatt that our mother’s ashes we’re now mixed in with other various people, pets, and vagrants, was not an easy task. The last thing I wanted to do was add stress to his life. He’s just getting his shit right, and telling Doll? Shit, I’m scared to see how she’s going to react.
Watching Wyatt use his opposite hand, trying to pack his bags up, is downright painful. I offered to help him, but he’s a stubborn brute and won’t even accept help with the simplest shit. He’s stressed today, and I have no idea why. Fuck, he was this way before I even told him about the crematorium. Something’s off. Something’s definitely off.
Circe is sitting to the side, staring, not saying a word. Not talking. That in itself is fucking scary, if even she can’t calm him.
“What’s going on?” I ask the two of them, hoping at least one will answer.
“Nothing,” Wyatt chirps off quickly. Yeah, something big is going on. I know it’s not them breaking up, because the rock of Gibraltar is still on her finger. The engagement ring he gave her last week has to be at least two carats. Her skinny fingers can hardly hold the thing up. I’m happy for him, really, but seeing the two of them on edge makes me itchy.
“You’re packing like there was a fire in the closet when I entered, so start telling me, or I’ll punch you in the jaw. Or I’ll tell that nurse of yours you had a relapse. She’ll be in here so fast with a syringe, you won’t know what hit you, Casper.” I’m sexually frustrated, I’m annoyed that things are worsening, and if these two don’t start talking, I’m going to lose my shit.
Just as I think Wyatt’s about to talk, sister dearest storms into the room with her jailor slash boyfriend in tow. “Hey. What’s the big fuss you needed me to come here, Whiskey? And why is Wyatt packing in anger?”
Halting, Wyatt turns to us with fire in his eyes as I respond to Doll. “Fuck if I know why he’s steamin’ hot. Circe isn’t speaking either.” Looking at her, arms crossed and lips tight, I swear we’ll never get to the bottom of this without a serious family fight.
Traipsing in, Doll heads straight to Circe. It’s amazing how things have changed. It used to be Doll’s full attention was on Wyatt, but now she’s looking to the girl before the brother.
“Hey man, good to see you,” Risen says, offering out a hand.
“You, too. She keeping you on your toes?” My little sister can be a handful. No, she’s a basket full of grenades with one pin pulled.
Rolling his eyes, he chuckles. Doll innately knows she’s about to be outed. She turns and glares at Risen before placing her attention back on Circe. “More than you know, brother. More than you know.”
She’s had her ankle monitor off for a week now, and has been back to racing. Risen and her hooked up somewhere along the incarceration, and voilà! Love. Or, at least a heavy like.
“How’s the training going?” I ask. The reason I ask is that he’s been training right alongside her. He was once a cop, her cop, but that’s another story. Risen, he too has the racing bug. He tried out one of the cars at the house while they were holed up, and she noticed he had a knack for it. So Dad’s best friend and race partner has been working with him in one of Dad’s old Indy cars. Ben said he’s a natural.
“Yeah, good. Doll just cheats—”
“I don’t cheat! I use the full track to my advantage. Your problem is you can’t run the inside like I can. Pussy.” Rising up and leaving Circe stewing in the corner still, China tucks herself into the side of Risen. She’s happy, so I’m happy. Even if I know the history with him and Tre, I don’t bug it. That’s not my fight. Trellis and he will work it out eventually.
Turning my attention back to the pissed off brother in the corner, I watch him shove his shaver and toothbrush in the bag. We can’t leave him like this. I need to get him to tell us what the hell is going on. “Wyatt, this shit has got to stop. You can’t just keep bottling up crap when you’re pissed. Let us help you.”
Piping up, China tries her own approach, as he’s still not answering me. “Ghostman, look. Whatever the fuck it is, tell us. It can’t be that bad.”
Muttering, Wyatt pipes up, “You don’t know how bad this shit is.” He points to me. “You are gonna be so pissed.”
“What the fuck did I do?”
Slamming clothing into the bag, he turns to Circe, clearly upset with her about something. “Ask her. She’s running off to see Carli and won’t tell me why.”
Pardon?
“You’re pissed off at Circe because she’s going to check on her friend?” China spews out, pissed at him.
“She won’t say. I’ve never held anything back from you, never. And you won’t tell me something that clearly has nothing to do with me,” Wyatt seethes.
“Why are you running off to Carli? What’s got his panties in a twist?” I ask.
Looking up from the floor with an apology clearly written on her face, Circe speaks. “I promised her I wouldn’t tell you, and she made me swear not one Crown goes with me. I’m sorry.”
“Circe, if you’re marrying into this family, there are never secrets.”
“Sorry, I can’t. She asked me to swear, and honestly, she wanted me to lie but I couldn’t, so I’m just not saying anything.”
Okay, now I’m pissed. “Does it have something to do with us? Is that why she made you promise no Crowns come with you?”
Her eyes blaze wide for a split second. She’s hiding something huge.
“What if we guess it? You’re not really telling anything if we figure it out,” Risen suggests. His cop skills of interrogation are coming in handy. Hopefully it works, because I’m at a loss.
“Well, if you guessed it, and I didn’t state it aloud, then I’m not telling you. But, you have to promise not one of you comes with me.” Circe is visibly afraid we’ll figure it out, and even more afraid that we’ll follow. Dammit, now I definitely want to know.
Pulling up a chair, China is excited. “Okay, this will be kind of like charades, I guess. Or…ohh! Hot potato.”
“China,” Risen sighs, exasperated.
Waving him off, and turning her full attention to Circe, she concentrates. “Okay, so Crown’s aren’t allowed to go, and it has something to do with Whiskey.” Turning to me, she asks, “What did you do to piss her off? Why won’t she call you and tell you herself?”
“When did this become about me? I didn’t do anything to her. It’s not like she was pissed off when she left.”
“So, she wasn’t mad. But why not call you?”
Chicks. “I haven’t called her and she hasn’t called me. So what?”
Turning her attention back to Circe, she asks another question. “Is she mad at Whiskey?”
Looking skyward, trying to keep her mouth shut, Circe bites down on her lip.
“Fine. No speaking. Okay, I’ll keep trying. So she’s not mad at him, but he’s done something.” Sitting quietly for a moment, tapping her fingers on her chin, China is enjoying this way too much.
“James, I didn’t know you two were even hooking up. When did that happen?” Wyatt asks me.
“We met at Indy, and we’d seen each other a few times in the hospital in passing, so we went to lunch. We hooked up once. Nothing crazy happened. Nothing like your crazy kink shit you’re in to.”
Smirking, Wyatt grins and winks at Circe.
“Not now, Ghostman. Not now,” China huffs. Jumping up from her chair, she dances around like her hair’s on fire. She’s giddy. “I figured it out! I figured it out!”
Risen laughs and slaps her on the ass. “Well share with the rest of the room. Don’t hold out, woman.”
“Not here, man. That’s my baby sister,” I tell him.
Raising his hands in defeat, Risen laughs deep. Fucker. Like I needed that vision.
Moving over to Circe and hugging her tight, China whispers in her ear. Circe’s eyes bug out before she nods.
“Yes! I am the best at this game.” Spinning back toward me, China looks like the cat that ate the canary. “You are gonna be so pissed. And happy. Damn happy. But so pissed.” Slapping me on the arm, she smiles, laughs, then says, “Dad.”
I’m stunned to silence, taking in what she just said. Wyatt takes a seat on the bed. Circe puts her head in her hands, and Risen blinks, like, fifty times.
“What did you say?”
“There’s about to be another Crown!” Smiling, she sits down on the edge of the bed, crosses her legs, and says, “Now, how about someone tell me why we were meeting here?”
CARLI
Are you fucking kidding me! Come on universe, toss me a frickin’ bone already!
I’m sitting in the doctor’s office after hearing the results, completely floored by the answer. It’s true. I’m fucking pregnant.
Like I needed this shit! This is so unfair.
Once the doctor tells me what vitamins I’ll need, offers tips for the nausea and gives me follow up appointments for the next few months, I’m free to leave. They don’t kid around here. This shit is figured out, given a schedule, and even confirmed what I already knew, that the timing of conception was from the illustrious Mr. Jamieson Fucking Crown and his amazing sexual antics. Which means no real guessing game on date of arrival. Nine months from the day I left LA or close to.
After lunch yesterday, I sent my sisters off with their handlers and told them both there was no way I was pregnant, and if they ever spoke it again I’d be leaving dead bird heads on their pillows. I’ve done it before, and I’ll do it again. They know to live in fear.
And now that I know that Miori has a direct link to Kato, you know I’m using that shit to my advantage, too. Old bastard. I’ll win at this game whether he knows it or not. And I know I’m carrying a crass, overpowering, overbearing, cynical man’s offspring, so you can bet your ass I’ll play the hormones card too.
When this revelation came to light, I was needing food relief. I think I ate a full gallon of mint chip ice cream, and at least a half a box of Oreos. I told Kato I was moody after seeing my sisters, and that I just needed my friend here. Relenting after some growling noises, Kato decided that he’d personally bring me to gather my friend.
With Circe due to land any minute, I’m nervous to see her. “The flight is just taxiing to the hangar. She shouldn’t be long now, Obayun.” Fucker. Grinding my teeth, I smile sugar sweet.
“Thanks, Jiji.” And a big fuck you to you, too.
Smiling in the mirror, I pop the door, only to be hit by the humidity. Yeah, Japan is totally like LA for the heat, but the humidity is a new one to me. It’s sticky, my clothes always feel damp, and my hair ends up feeling filmy fast. Walking into our private receiving area, watching the plane taxi up, I see the moment the doors open. Feeling a sense of relief as Circe steps out, I’m excited after months of not having my best friend around.
Seeing me through the glass, she’s smiling, but it’s not in a good way.
Turning around on the stairs, instead of just walking down, Circe pauses. Shit, I have a bad feeling that her racer joined her. Watching him pop his head out the door with his arm in a sling, he gingerly steps down. As I push the door open to step out and greet them, I’m kind of surprised. Following behind is China—not one of my favorite Crowns—and her would be jailor, Risen, a guy I met a few times. I found him totally sweet, and I’m kind of wondering why he’s here too.
Stopping dead in my tracks, I watch with fear as the man with the gritted teeth, sexy beard, steely eyes, and straining looks steps out. His eyes are trained on me, exploring and asking a thousand questions. Oh, I could have done without him. This is going to end badly for someone, and I’m glad I have the people behind me to bury my mistakes if necessary.
Okay, so not truly. But as I walk toward the inevitability of the conversation with Jamieson that I dread, there’s an excitement at seeing him once more.
CARLI
It’s like a bad joke. Yay me! I’m about to find out firsthand what motherhood is like, and I get to deal with a pissed off mountain of a man, too. Epically fun!
I’d rather bargain hunt.
Watching each of them saunter across the tarmac, I’m trying to figure out how fast I can submit a new flight plan to send them home. Actually, they’re rich as fuck, so they can charter their own goddamn plane.
“Carli! Oh my God, I’m so happy to see you!” Hugging me tight, I revel in the comfort of my friend. I’ll send these asses packing asap, and I’ll keep Circe hostage. I have the facilities if need be.
I whisper into her hair. “I’m so glad you’re here. I missed your twisted ass.”
Giggling lightly, she too whispers, “Yeah, ditto, but my ass isn’t about to get bigger from baby weight.”
Pushing her back from the hug, I grin like an idiot. “I’m so damn glad you’re here.” As we’re not alone in our little bubble
, I attempt the full on ‘raging psycho bitch’ face at the interlopers invading my high. “I see that when I said don’t let any Crown’s come with you, it was on wasted breath.”
Walking into the cool of the building, “Yeah, about that. It wasn’t—”
“It wasn’t her fault, Carli. She was packing, Wyatt was stewing, and we kind of used charades to figure out what the whole crazy cloak and dagger was about,” China offers, smiling brightly. “I figured it out, and you know, the rest is history as we’re all here.”
“Yeah, still not seeing the reason why all of you are here, though,” I sigh, taking in the room full of people.
“So this is how it goes,” China chirps. “We were there, meeting about something else, which I’ll get to it in a second, when Circe was pouty and Cas was frowny. It came down to Cas wouldn’t let Circe out of his sight. Nurse Sali and Dr. Callie made us swear Wyatt wouldn’t be left alone. That’s because he’s still as frail as a paper doll. No offense, brother.”
“None taken,” Wyatt laughs.
“And because I wanted to see you, as I’ll be an Auntie China, then it meant that Risen would have to be here, too. Ya know, broody cop instincts about danger and trouble, blah, blah, blah.” Looking at him, and his apparent frowny face, as she called it, is darker than Jamieson’s. Yep, definitely hung up on her.
She points to her brother. “Then this Viking…well, he has a vested interest in the mother in question, it seems. And I didn’t want to miss the fireworks.” She jumps up and down, slapping her hands together. “So let’s get something to eat ’cause I have the feeling this is about to get exciting.”
JAMIESON
To say it was a long flight is one thing, but to step off a plane in Osaka in high humidity was another. It added twenty pounds to me, and immediately caused me to sweat it off.
Then to see her standing there, gorgeous as ever, awestruck and surprised by my appearance...well, let’s just say I’m not the only one with surprises, am I Kaori?
