Tag: first in series

catch up

Olivia

Dawn rises, and with it Cliff returns. He’s wearing different clothes, and his face is haggard. I snuggle into his arms.

“Thank you,” I whisper.

He presses a kiss to the top of my head. “It looks good in here,” he says over me.

I nod. Beer Can did most of the work, but I helped a little. We used meat tenderizer and some enzyme soap to get the stains out of the carpet, then he peeled it back and scrubbed the concrete underneath. Luckily it wasn’t stapled—whoever did the carpeting just tucked it in a little around the kick molding. “Apparently my landlord’s even more of a cheapskate than I thought,” I say to Cliff.

But it worked in our favor. Beer Can collected everything—including my beloved MSI T-shirt—and put it all in a heavy duty garbage bag, promising that he’d take care of it. I didn’t ask how, and I don’t want to know.

Cliff ducks his head, meeting my eyes. “Are you okay?” His voice is husky.

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catch up

Cliff

The shrill ring of my phone jerks me out of a dead sleep. I sit up in bed, sweating. The club rooms are hot, as if the hormones from downstairs rise, permeating the ceiling that separates the two floors. Swinging my legs over the edge, I get up and crack a window. Cold air rushes in. Heavy lidded, I tip my head back and enjoy the wave.

My phone rings again. Silently cursing Lucy for choosing such a bone shattering ringtone, I scoop it from the nightstand.

The name on the display makes all of the blood drain straight out of my head. Before I even answer, I already know. Something is wrong.

“Are you okay?” I ask.

“Cliff,” she gasps. “Please.”

There’s no need for her to say any more.

I pull on clothes as I make my way through the small room, shrugging into my cut almost as an afterthought. I pound down the stairs and fly out the door. It’s as if my body has taken control, leaving my brain in my bed. By the time my head catches up, I’m flying down 63.

I ignore the speed limit and get to Olivia’s in under ten minutes. It’s probably more like five. Practically knocking the motorcycle over, I dismount and break into a run.

The apartment door is unlocked. I push my way in and look around wildly for her. My brain processes the scene in small increments.

Blood on the carpet in the entryway.

Shattered knick knacks strewn across the floor.

Olivia huddled next to her bedroom door, a gash oozing from her temple.

The Glock in her lap.

A man splayed in the center of the living room, a hole between his eyes.

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catch up

Olivia

By the time Lucy gets home from work, I’ve composed myself. I’ve even fixed my makeup and fed Dio some canned tuna. Watching him wolf it down soothes me in more ways than I can list. I sit at the table reading for one of my classes on my phone when she walks in.

Despite my efforts, though, she takes one look at me and clucks her tongue. “I’ll kill him. What did he do?”

Big sisters always know.

I’m not even sure where to start. I look down at my hands. “Hope you don’t mind that I brought a date.” I nod to Dio, who’s passed out in a heap of towels on the floor.

Lucy’s face transforms from concerned sister to laser-shooting rage dragon. “Cliff did that?” She looks from me to Dio, appalled.

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catch up

Cliff

Olivia kicks against me, the ball of her foot smashing against my shin. I release her, and hold my hands up, palms out. She whips around, fists up. They drop when recognition dawns on her face.

“You did work,” I say, grinning through a wince.

She sags against the closed front door, though, face pale. She sinks to the carpet and draws her knees to her chest.

“Liv?” I cross the distance between us and sit next to her.

Blinking away tears, she shakes her head over and over again. It’s a steady hand that brushes her hair out of her eyes, though, and I know my girl’s going to be okay. Still, I wrap an around around her and pull her close.

“Sorry I scared you,” I whisper into her hair.

Her head snaps up, though, as if she’s already showed too much vulnerability for too long. Those eyes ice over—a look I’m more than familiar with. Olivia is trapped in her own prison.

She lifts her chin. “What do you know about Mercer Reynolds?” A cold, calculating gaze searches my face.

“The name doesn’t really ring a bell,” I say, “but isn’t that your last name?”

“Mercy, then?” Her face is as hard as white marble, the usual contours of her cheeks gone.

I shrug. “Olivia, what’s this about?” I hug her closer, even though her body is rigid.

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catch up

Olivia

The sunlight slanting in through the front windows of the veterinarian’s waiting room does little to calm me as I pace the small area. Somehow, Dio survived the night. They were able to set his tiny bones and, after several imaging tests, determined that no damage was done to his internal organs. At least, none that won’t heal in time.

I just want to see him. The assistant already warned me that he’s heavily sedated so that he can get better, but I don’t care.

I didn’t sleep last night, and not because I was scared that Eli would come back. No tiny bell tinkled intermittently, letting me know Dio was prowling the apartment. It felt strange not having him there.

My phone vibrates in my bag. I tug it free and read the text from Esther: “We found tires. Waiting for the guys to put them on. Be back ASAP.”

But my shoulders only sag with partial relief. Esther was cool enough to let my rent slide for the month, that way I could afford both Dio’s care and the tires. But between that and stopping at Walmart last night to buy a new lock set for the apartment, I’m officially tapped.

Then there’s school to think about.

I resume pacing. I should be at my internship right now. For the most part, it isn’t really a big deal. I’m already behind. But eventually I have to return to campus, and I still haven’t figured out how I’m going to handle this.

The gun is a comforting weight in my purse, but it’s not like I can shoot Eli in the face in broad daylight. Nor will he try anything during the day, surrounded by hundreds of people on campus. Besides, as far as he’s concerned, right now I have no idea who’s stalking me. He’s still the nice guy from my photography class who let me borrow a camera and hangs out with me at lunch.

Which doesn’t make any of this any less disturbing.

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catch up

Cliff

When I wake up the next morning, the house around me is quiet. Rolling onto my side, sheets sliding against my naked body, I pat around on the nightstand for my phone. It’s after ten. I haven’t slept in this long in ages.

There are no missed texts or calls, but that’s no surprise. Only a handful of people have my phone number. One of them is at work, another is in class, and the rest of them are probably sleeping off hangovers. I smirk, thinking of my brothers’ somber faces as they headed into Church last night, drinks clutched in their hands. Someday I’ll be a part of that, too.

It feels good to belong to something again.

It feels even better to belong to someone.

Even if Olivia and I haven’t exactly called it, I feel it. Maybe it sounds sappy, but there’s a connection between us that I’ve never felt with anyone before.

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My hands are too full to put on my hips. “Dude, my father taught me how to shoot.” I don’t remember our dad ever taking Lucy or I to a shooting range. I hadn’t thought I remembered anything about my biological parents, but maybe I do.

catch up

Olivia

Cliff’s lips press to mine, an exchange of warmth. He smiles against my lips. I can’t help but smile back. I step away, though, the late night tugging me toward bed. I really do have an early morning ahead of me, but it helps to play hard to get. If I’m going to do this—really do this—I’m going to do it right.

As right as I can, anyway.

Sliding him one last smile, I unlock my door and step inside. Cliff drives away as I close the door behind me. I lock it and lean against it, still smiling. If someone ever figures out how to bottle this feeling, they’re going to be rich.

The apartment is mostly dark, lit only by a lamp in the living room area. Esther is either still at work, or out with her new boyfriend Donny. He picked her up earlier, since she still has no tires. He’s nice—I get why she likes him. Tall with deep bronzed skin, he has a kind smile, but there’s a bad boy edge to him. Something in those eyes. The guy could be a model.

I hum to myself as I make my way through the apartment. Esther and me, the two most unlikely people to ever fall in love. I stop in my tracks, shaking my head.

No, no. Not love.

“Damn it, Olivia,” I mutter.

I correct myself as I push open my bedroom door. We’re the two most unlikely women to ever settle down into actual relationships.

There.

The smile slides from my face as I flick on the switch.

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I don’t know why I expected her to understand. She can’t possibly feel what I do. Only when you become the monster do you understand the power that comes with taking a life. It’s still there, whispering to me.

catch up

Cliff

“So,” Lucy asks, strapping herself into the passenger seat, “what’s going on between you and my little sister?”

The way she says my little sister is so fiercely protective, I glance at her. The expression on her face is just as fierce, her brows furrowed, eyes slits that imply a threat behind the words. And I believe it.

“I thought you didn’t want to know,” I reply, treading carefully. My hands grip the steering wheel, and I wish that we could just get on with it. Asking Lucy for a refresher course on driving a car involved way more pride swallowing than I’d bargained for. It’s not that she was mean or anything. I just feel like a loser.

Lucy taps her lower lip. “I guess I don’t. But I also do.” She twists in her seat to face me. “Does that make sense?”

“Of course it does.” I glance around the industrial park. Too many memories here. Ironically enough, it was my father who taught me how to drive when I was fifteen. I just never got my license.

“Just promise me something,” Lucy continues. “Be . . . careful with Olivia. She’s not really the settle down and get married type.”

I snort. “And you are?”

“Of course not.” She scowls. “But you are, and Livvie breaks hearts for a living.”

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The phone vibrates in my hand—an incoming call.

He’s actually calling me.

I take a deep breath before answering, so that I don’t sound as pleased as I feel. “Hey,” I say, my voice casual. Only my heart jackhammering in my chest betrays the emotions swirling through me. He called, he called, he called, my pulse drums out.

catch up

Olivia

I can’t help but sing while getting ready for class the next morning. Part of me feels like an asshole for kicking Cliff out, but Esther really was coming home, and I didn’t want to deal with her questions. Neither of us have ever brought a guy home before—usually I go to their places. I’ve also never slept with the same guy twice.

Cliff has me breaking all kinds of rules.

I throw on sweats and my high top Nikes, then toss my hair into a frizzy bun. With such wild curly hair, I’ll never have one of those cute messy buns that straight-haired girls rock. But I’ve managed to make it my own.

I’m supposed to work tonight, but I’ll come home and shower first. Still, just in case, I wing my eyeliner and dab on mascara. Looking at my reflection, I shake my head at myself. The odds of me running into Cliff today are pretty low. This is totally absurd. After another moment, I shrug and add lip gloss.

My hand is on my bedroom door knob when I hear a door slam. Frenzied shrieks and Spanish gush from my roommate’s mouth. I throw my door open and Esther barrels into my room.

Between high school and my roommate, my Spanish is pretty good, but she’s talking way too fast. Tears streak her cheeks, and she clutches her phone in her hand. I lead her to my bed and sit her down. After bringing her an ice cold glass of water, I calm her enough to talk.

“My car,” she gasps, her hands shaking. “Someone slit my tires.”

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Twenty years without sex makes for a lot of pent up frustration.

I’d like to think I’m not stupid enough to do anything that will land me back in prison, but when it comes to Olivia, all my blood rushes out of one head and down to the other, and all my sense drains right along with it.

Stomping her foot, she tosses the cigarette into the street. “Just take me home and fuck me.”

“Get on the fucking bike, then.”

catch up

Cliff

Even though I’m taking it easy, wind whips my face as I cruise down 63, Olivia tucked against my back. Beer Can’s motorcycle lessons might’ve been rigorous, but it’s already second nature to me. Or maybe it’s just my blood, the tide finally coming in and reclaiming the shore.

Still, I’m not great with turns just yet, so I plan to just take her straight down and then back. I ease into a gas station, teeth gritted. If I dump us, I’ll never forgive myself. We make it in one piece, though, even if my turn was too wide. Beer Can promised I’ll get the hang of it, that I’ll be flying up and down the back roads with the rest of the club in no time. If I don’t, I guess they’ll realize their mistake and turn me out.

Balancing the Screamin’ Eagle between my legs, I shut the engine off. It continues to vibrate through me, my blood singing. This whole thing should be unnerving, but I’m thrilled. Every step into the club just draws me in deeper. But I’ve promised myself I’m not going to be like him. I’m already better.

Instead of climbing down, Olivia remains snuggled against my back. “That was nice,” she murmurs.

She’s so warm. The wisps of her spirit wrap around me, claiming me. This woman is going to completely undo me if I can’t have her. I want this moment to last, but she’ll think something’s up if I linger. I have to let it be exactly what it is: a ride. Nothing more, nothing less.

Untangling myself from her arms, I swing off. “Need anything?” I ask, nodding to the gas station.

She shakes her head dreamily. “I’m coming in with you, though. It’s cold.”

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