Authors: Maya James
"Are
you going to stop playing and tell us whose bills these are and why this is
important?" I demand.
He
takes a breath—and that freaks me the fuck out!
"The
one on the left, that's Arthur Shea's," he says.
"And
the one on the right?" Lena asks.
"Sam
Parker," he says completely monotone.
"Trisha's
Sam?" I choke. My pulse is suddenly racing, and I literally feel the color
run out of my face. "How is he connected to any of this?" I ask
through a pale expression.
"I
don't think he is, not directly," Justin replies.
"There's
no way that's a fucking coincidence, Justin!" Lena barks and I couldn't
agree with her more.
"No,
it's not a coincidence," he agrees. "It was a warning or an
assassination attempt."
"On
who?" I ask, hearing the sudden, frigid fear in my own voice.
Justin
looks at me with sorrowful eyes. "On me, Warrior. Sam got his call from
that number the night we took care of him. Someone working for Author Shea knew
about our personal business and tipped Sam off that we were coming—obviously
hoping he would get a shot off before we did."
"But,"
my throat is nearly closed with fear, "who knew we were going after Sam
that night?"
Lena is
absolutely furious, like she might explode. "Only us—only Panther!"
SHAIN IS PREPPING THE
Hawker to return to New York before we are even off the
plane. The car service is putting our bags in the trunk of a town car, but I've
made it clear that I'm not going anywhere until I've had a chance to check in
with Trisha. My anxiety about leaving her is at its summit.
"Are
you an ass?" That's what I get from Trisha. "You've taken great care
of me, and I'm so grateful, but now your wonderful boyfriend is taking care of
you for a week. My wrists are perfect and I'm making all my meetings. Forget
about me for the week; I'll be fine, I promise."
"You
promise about the meetings?" I ask.
"Girl,
do I have to hang up on you?"
I
think she's doing fine!
We stop
and check in at the Hampton Inn, the same place he had arranged for Shain and
his fiancé on Christmas Day. Of course my parents wanted us to stay with them,
but Justin had insisted we not put them out. Tonight he's made all the plans; we're
picking my parents up after checking in and taking them to dinner. He calls it
his pre-thank you.
At my
parents, it's almost a replay of Christmas. They meet us out on the walk with
wide smiles and wider hugs. Winter is still coming to a close, so their jackets
are not as heavy.
The
site of my Dad giving Justin a buddy-hug throws me for a loop, but I can count
on Mom for distracting everyone with her over-concern for me.
"Oh
my God! Justin you're right; she's worn down to nothing," she exclaims
while her arms are still wrapped around me, as if she can feel a difference
through my clothes.
"Leave
her alone, she's fine," Dad says in my defense. "Let her go so we can
get in the car. You have all week to smother her."
We're
in the car when Justin asks my Dad about his business, a copier and printer sales
and service company he's had forever, when I hear my father telling him it's
being sold.
"What
do you mean it's being sold?" I hear myself asking desperately from miles
away.
Why
do I feel like my childhood was just given away?
Both
Mom and Dad are smiling brightly. "Just what he said," Mom says
proudly. "We're selling it and retiring—finally!"
I'm
stunned. "I don't know whether to be happy or angry," I say
mindlessly. "Did things go bad?"
"No,"
Dad chuckles. "Things are great; you're grown, and your mother and I are
tired of doing it. We brought it to its peak and we're getting out while it's
fantastic. Last month I took the three biggest accounts the Conti brothers had
and became the biggest shop in the area. They hated Donny, the older brother,
hated his unethical service contracts."
Dad
looks at Justin proudly while Mom hugs his arm like a schoolgirl.
"His
younger brother came to me, told me he's always admired me and my business. He
said that his brother is a crook but that he was the controlling owner. He said
he would cut all ties with his brother if I would let him buy in with us
because he wants to do business our way. Anthony was always a good guy. I asked
him how serious he was and how big of an investment he was prepared to make.
Long story short, he has enough backing to buy the whole damn thing. As soon as
our lawyers are done, I'll have more money than I'd dreamed of retiring on, and
Anthony will have the business he needs to finish crushing his brother out
completely."
I'm
still in shock.
"Mr.
Powers, that's great! Congratulations!" Justin is saying somewhere in the
fog of this confusion. I feel him grasp my hand gently to reassure me
discreetly. He knows I'm upset, but he's trying to help me see the good in
this.
Mom
laughs, "Honey, this is a good thing. Your father and I deserve this after
all these years. This company has been seven days a week, all hours of the day
and night. We've earned the right to slow down and enjoy things before we're
not healthy enough to do it."
I feel
my eyes get wet. "Are you sure?"
"Positive!"
Dad barks. "We've already started looking for that condo in the Keys we've
been bullshitting about for years. It's actually going to happen. Enough
talking and dreaming—I want to
do
it."
"Okay,
that does make me feel better," I admit. "I've been telling you guys
to do this for years. I think I'm just shocked by the suddenness of it. You
guys haven't mentioned it once lately."
"And
now we are," Mom says with a giggle. That's enough for me, just seeing her
so damn excited. She's waited long enough, they both have, and she's so damn happy.
"So
we have some celebrating to do tonight?" Justin asks, eager to have
everyone happy again.
I
smile. "Seems so."
"I WORKED RIGHT THERE
for a year during high school,"
I say to Justin as I wave an excited finger toward a small pet shop we we're
passing. "Before I went to help my parents at their place." We're not
headed anywhere in particular today, just driving around in my parent's car
while I show him childhood memories he's only heard about before now; the
middle school I went to, the playground Dad took me to when I was small, which
is also where I had my first kiss with a boy.
"Of
course you did," Justin teases. "You were probably busy feeding
rainbows to the unicorns."
That
makes me laugh. "Fuck you," I snarl playfully.
My
parents were cleaning up from the overly-abundant breakfast they'd made this
morning, insisting we don't even attempt to help. They remind me this was down
time for me. Justin wanted to help them too, but they kicked him out with me,
told him it was his job to get me out of the house. That was a few hours ago
now.
After a
few turns, we're in a small neighborhood that I know well. We pull over and sit
here for a minute while I stare down the street.
"That's
where Steve grew up; his parents still live there, in the red cape on the
right." My voice is small and insignificant.
I feel
Justin's sympathetic arm loop around me. "Do you want to go see
them?" he asks carefully. "I can go with you, or stay in the car,
whatever you need."
I don't
answer him. I can't decide what I should do.
"Maybe
this helps, or maybe it doesn't, but just remember that it was not the same guy
that came to New York. Their son went missing and was never seen again, not
even by you," Justin says softly.
He's
right. I can't give Steve's parents anything that might help them. I don't know
what happened to their child, the one they raised, the one they're longing for.
That thing that came for me, it wasn't their son. At best, seeing me might
unearth feelings and memories they had a hard enough time burying.
My
shoulders drop. Justin feels it happen and understands that I can't see them.
He pulls me close to him and kisses me on the top of my head gently. "As
you wish, Warrior." His comfort and strength warms me.
Driving
away doesn't end the sadness that has seeped into my chest.
"You
should call Melissa, tell her we're picking her up for lunch a little earlier
than we planned," Justin tells me firmly. "I think you could use your
girlfriend right now."
Oh, God
yes! I could totally use her smiling face right now.
"SO, TELL ME ABOUT
Tommy," I say as cheerfully as I can. "Are you
still in touch, or did you decide to hit it and leave it?"
Melissa
blushes and laughs. "That remains to be decided," she says as a tease.
"We have been in touch, mostly by text, but I'm not sure if it's going
anywhere. He's thinking of visiting his family in Pittsburgh next month, so
we'll see."
"You're
arranging a booty call," Justin laughs.
Melissa
only blushes.
"Oh
my God," I squeal. "You totally are, aren't you?"
"Maybe,"
she says with an innocent tilt of her head. "He wasn't half bad on New
Year’s, got the job done—twice."
"Nice,"
I say high-fiving her across the table.
"Seriously,
he was very nice," Melissa continues. "I'm just not sure how to make
it work from so far away. I don't see me moving to the city, but I can't ask
him to move back. For now, I'm just keeping it light because I don't think it
can be much else."
Maybe I
made things harder for her; I only wanted her to have some fun.
Justin
grabs my hand again under the table. "Was it all worth it, though?"
he asks, being so blunt that he made me cringe.
"Oh
hell yeah!" Melissa shrieks. "I had the time of my life."
My eyes
land on Justin's and I see a large hint of JP in them right now. His reassuring
face, and the way he squeezes my hand, tells me he did that to show me the good
I did before I dwell on any bad.
Always
looking out.
The
waitress came with our drinks, interrupting us. Melissa used to waitress here
herself and it was always one of our favorite places to come and hangout, it still
is.
"New
York was the best and meeting Tommy was wonderful. Seeing you two, the way you
love and look out for each other, that was the highlight. I only want what you
two have," Melissa says. "I'm completely jealous."
Justin's
face has a hint of pride that makes me swoon. When he sees his effect on me,
his pride grows along with his boldness. His hand burns a hole through mine.
"Tommy
is good for now and a great guy, but both of us deserve better. Everyone
deserves what you two have. Tommy isn't it and he knows that too," Melissa
tells us. "Charity, when you and Justin met, it was immediately intense—even
if you guys tried to deny it. And what's even more amazing is that all these
months later it hasn't stopped in the slightest way, in fact, it's gotten
stronger. I see you looking at each other; you two melt into each other every
minute.
That's
what I want! I think I deserve it."
I lean
to her and hug her, feeling a mix of hope and excitement—for her and for
myself.
"Speaking
about infatuations," Melissa quips after I let her go, "how are Lena
and Terrence?"
"Crazy
in love," I answer. I see Justin nodding his head in agreement beside me
as he reclaims my hand under the table.
"That's
terrific," she squeals, practically clapping her hands.
I know
Justin looks at Lena like a sister, so I lower my voice. "She's been
walking funny and smiling about it."
Trisha
laughs right out loud and Justin can tell exactly what I said. He grumbles
comically at us.
"Seriously,
she's on a whole new planet," I admit proudly.
"I've
never seen her so happy," Justin says suddenly. "I can't thank you
enough, Charity. You gave her the one thing I couldn't get for her. I didn't
know enough about the heart before you came into my life."
Big
fucking swoon!
"That's
so wonderful," Melissa chirps. "You two kill me. I'm going to go
vomit now."
I
ignore her and kiss him lightly on his full lips.
"How
is Trisha doing?" Melissa asks.
"Better,"
I tell her. "Her strength is returning and she's done with physical
therapy."
"No,
I meant how she's
doing
."
I get
her. "Not great. She has no trust left in anyone, and it's probably going
to be a long time before that gets any better."
Melissa
drops her head. "Can't blame her—that fucking piece of shit! Did they find
him yet?"