Classic (Adrenaline Book 1) (7 page)

Merrick

“Merrick Jacob McCoy!” My full name reverberates through my room harsh enough to pop my eyes open.

Isn't there a law about yelling before 8 a.m.? Oh. Well there should be.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Madden's shouting increases.

Rolling over onto my back with a yawn I answer, “I thought I was sleeping. Is that a crime now?”

“I'm not in the fucking mood smartass,” he bites and shoves his black tablet in my face. “What the fuck are you doin' in this photo?”

I sit up slightly onto my elbows as my eyes adjust to the photo of me and Jovi kissing.

That was definitely a photo worthy moment. Hell, I replayed that shit again and again in my own head until my imagination took some liberties in undressing her. Didn't stop there either. My fantasy slowly started the direction of spreading her out on one of those tables from the event.

“How do you know that's me?”

“Are you fucking kidding? I've raised your big ass head since you were sucking your thumb. You don't think I know my own brother's head?”

“But it's the back of my head.”

“Merrick!”

“What! I was dancing with a girl and then I kissed her. I've done much worse in much more public places, this month alone. What the fuck is the big deal?”

“What's her name?”

“Jovi.”

“Jovi what?”

“I don't know.” I shrug. “She didn't tell me her last name. And when she didn't ask for mine I figured that made us even.”

Yeah. Yeah. Not even since we're career criminals crashing a cops charity event, but whose side are you on?

“Her name's Jovi Carter!” He continues shouting, but it's Knoxie leaning against the door frame in work clothes that catches my attention. If she's dressed for the shop but not actually in it, it really is before 8 in the morning.

“Morning Knox.” She tosses me a two finger wave, which when I turn back to Madden whose jagged scar is pulsating. “So her name is Jovi Carter. Why does it matter?”

“Read the goddamn title of the fucking article on the front page of the local newspaper!” He leans it down closer to my face and a lump in my throat grows. “Read it out loud Merrick!”

“Commissioner's Daughter Caught Kissing Mystery Man at Annual Charity Event.”

“The commissioner!” Madden echoes in blinding rage.

“Stop yelling,” Knoxie scolds.

He turns to her and yells, “It's the fucking commissioner Knox!”

“And just because you yell doesn't make him more important.”

I chuckle slightly, but by the way Madden snaps his head back at me, that's a terrible idea.

But you laughed...

“It’s not fucking funny Merrick! You are to stay the fuck away from that girl, do you hear me?”

A deep sigh comes out of me, but I don't reply.

“Merrick,” he says, his voice trying to calm down. “Commissioner Carter hates us on every front possible. We pay off his cops. We race on his streets. We transport drugs in his city.
We
are the biggest case on his desk as he tries to hunt us down. So I
need
you to put away your elementary school ways and really consider the consequences of going near that girl again.”

I knew this situation wasn't gonna be good, but I figured her father was just the average run of the mill badge....not...this. Fuck. Me.

“Do you hear me?”

With a heavy sigh I reply, “I hear you.”

“Merrick...”

“I fucking heard you.” I snap flopping my head back on my pillow.

“Come on, Madden. Now that you fed your baby brother his ass for breakfast, we gotta open the shop,” Knoxie encourages.

He tosses the tablet on the foot of bed before grumbling, “Of all the fucking women in the world...”

“Yeah. You all make poor choices in the women department. It's the McCoy way.” Knoxie winks at me as Madden walks past her.

She's definitely got that part right, but unlike my stubborn as fuck brother, I'm not gonna let my dream girl rot away without me.

Jovi

I decide to leave my hair down for class considering even after a good night's sleep the curls still look damn near perfect.

Alright. Hats off to Nadie. She really has that shit down to a science.

Picking up my brown shoulder bag, I toss it on my bed to stuff one of my art books and sketch pads inside. The heavy footsteps across the floor right outside of my door indicate dad's out for blood. Most likely mine.

It's so fucking early. I can't imagine how I sinned so early in his already less than perfect world.

My bedroom door flies open and he yells, “Jovi!”

“Present,” I sarcastically reply as Nadie appears over his shoulder.

“Is there something you want to tell me?”

“If Hayli doesn't drive faster I'm gonna be late for class.”

I hate not having my own car.

“You didn't wanna borrow my car?” Nadie questions.

“No.”

“We really should look at getting you your own,” she speaks up.

“I―”

“That's not with this discussion is about!” Dad snaps loudly. He raises his cell phone with a livid expression. “What the hell were you doing last night?”

Cautiously I take a step closer and try not to smile at the sight of me and Merrick kissing on the front page of the local paper.

Shame right? That's the emotion I should be shelling out. Not giddiness. Or pride. Or excitement. Bad Jovi. That was a bad Jovi...But damn that was a good kiss. And a really good picture.

When I don't answer, he harshly says, “You wanna explain to me why my daughter was acting like a tramp?”

“Nick!” Nadie shouts from behind him.

“Because I kiss a guy that makes me a tramp?”

“I don't even wanna know what that makes me,” Hayli's voice appears in the conversation as she rounds the corner into my room.

Hiding my snicker over Hayli's comment I pick up my bag. “Is it just kissing or any non-nun like behaviors that makes me a tramp, dad?”

“It's not a joke, Jovi,” he growls. “You were caught kissing a stranger! That's not...that's not how a young girl is supposed to behave! Especially not at her father's work function.”

Coldly I state, “I am not a little girl any more dad. Who I kiss and don't kiss if far from your business.”

“Of course it's my business! You're my daughter!”

“I'm your prisoner!” I mindlessly snap.

Oh...oh not well timed.

He takes a step back as if I burned him and guilt for what I said immediately sets in.

“How about we put this conversation on hold until dinner tonight?” Nadie suggests. “We don't want Jovi late for class.”

I roll my eyes and walk past him. “Nope. Wouldn't want me dumb and trampy.”

“This isn't over. I―” his sentence gets cut off by his ringing cell phone. Looking down at it he grunts, “I have to take this.”

“You always do,” my mutter is followed by Nadie kissing me on the cheek as I pass her by. Trying to force a smile on my face for her, I say, “See you when I get home.”

Without another word to him I take off down the stairs beside Hayli. The minute we're in her SUV, she ceases all movements.

“You kissed some random dude at the event last night?” Her voice hits a high pitched octave. “And you didn't tell me?”

“I was going to this morning, but if I would've known I was gonna get caught on camera, I wouldn't have bothered waiting.”

“Right.” She giggles. “So tell me about him. And start at the beginning...”

Question is, what happens when the beginning and ending to the most magical unorthodox thing you've ever done in your life, is wrapped up in the same moment? Ugh. How pathetic is it that running away at a party for a few minutes and then kissing some guy is the craziest thing I've done at 21? Yup. Hayli's definitely right. Gotta live a little more.

Merrick

I arrive in front of Vinnie’s solid gray stoned two story house in the middle of your average suburban neighborhood.

He has this whole best place to hide is in plain sight policy. I don't disagree, but come on. Vinnie basically runs the biggest underground gambling network not only in the state but in the lower half of the country, yet he lives next door to a stay at home soccer mom whose little boy he plays street hockey with some afternoons. Just goes to show, you never know who your neighbors really are.

After a sharp knock on the door, a petite blonde girl in work out shorts and a sports bra opens the door. “Hi Merrick.”

“Krissy.” I greet Vinnie's other girlfriend, who's also his right hand. “Vinnie busy?”

“There's always time for the McCoys.” She widens the door for me to enter. Locking it behind me she adds, “He's in the main living room.”

“Merrick,” he welcomes me without looking up from the stacks of cash he's counting or separating on the wooden coffee table in front of him.

At the rate his fingers are moving, it's hard to know which one.

Strolling into his living room, I comment, “You look busy.”

“Always.”

With a crooked grin I drop down to sit next to him.

Not slowing down his movement he asks, “What do you need Merrick?”

“What makes you think I need something?”

“You only make house calls when Ben has fucked himself too deep into a debt he can't follow through or when you need a favor. Considering the fact he wasn't around last night to get himself up shit creek without a paddle, that means you need something. So speak faster.”

“I need help finding a girl.”

“You need help?” Vinnie takes a moment to chuckle.

It's not fucking funny. Don't laugh.

“
The
Merrick McCoy needs help finding a girl? Don't chick’s pussies just open for you like flowers with just a look?”

“Poetic Vinnie.”

“Krissy had on some bullshit chick flick this morning.” He moves over a stack and demands. “What are you looking for in a girl?”

“Not just
any
girl. A
specific
girl.”

“Keep talking.”

“I met her last night at the cop charity event Ben had us crash--”

“Which explains why he wasn't in my face betting on the underground. Got a name?”

Oh I have more than a name. She comes with a fucking warning label.

Nervous, I adjust myself. “Jovi Carter.”

“Krissy, bring me my tablet!” He yells finally finished with whatever task he was doing with the wads of cash spread across his table. Adjusting himself on the dark brown leather couch he starts muttering to himself, “Jovi Carter...Jovi Carter...”

Does your heart thump a little harder every time he whispers my girl's name? What do you mean she's not mine yet? We've met now. You see they don't say no often, right?

Krissy hands him his device, and he instructs, “Grab Shelby from the pool please and have her change. We need to hit the Bankman.”

“Yes, Vinnie.” She plants a kiss on his cheek before going onto her new given task.

I don't know many guys who can make having two girlfriends who know about each other work. Crazy thing is Vinnie doesn't just make this shit work. He excels. And they all love each other. See. Love is a real fucking thing.

His fingers key in his password before he hacks his way into the information highway. “What exactly do you want? Address? Cell?”

“A place I can run into her.”

Vinnie grumbles under his breath something before his fingers come to a halt. Slowly he drags his face up. “You want me to find a way for you to 'run into' Commissioner Carter’s only daughter.”

With a mischievous smirk I nod. “Yeah.”

“You know the charges for kidnapping are way worse than those of street racing and gambling.”

“Thank you for that,” I sarcastically remark.

“Does Madden know about this?” He flashes me the newspaper photo.

“Oh he knows. Has chewed me out. And banned me from seeing her.”

“Which is why you're sitting here on my couch needing a favor.” He sighs and shakes his head. “I'll get you what you want, but I need something from you.”

My eyes glance over at Krissy and Shelby who begin pushing the stacks into large yellow envelopes.

“I told you Vinnie. I'm not racing in Lake View. The heat there isn't worth the payout. Ever.”

I'm not like my cousin. Trouble for the sake of trouble doesn't give me a boner. I'm smarter about my illegal activities. I have to be.

“I know. It's not about that. Had a racer approach me last night at the fight. Wants to try his hand at you in a few weeks.”

“Muscle or sports?”

“Sports.”

I have more fun playing with muscle cars, but happen to drive sports cars better. Comes in handy considering most of the cars I move for The Devil are exotic beauties.

“Payout is gonna be huge.”

“He stand a shot?”

“Would I lead you into a loss?” Slowly I start to smile. “I get paid when you get paid. And obviously.” He waves a hand at the girls who are stuffing away his last batch of cash. “I like to get paid.”

“Get me to my girl and I'll get you your win.”

My proposition pleases Vinnie by the way he gets a crooked grin and his fingers start moving across his tablet again.

No. This is not what it looks like when doing a deal with the devil. Trust me. You'll see what that looks like soon enough.