Текст книги "Take the Fall"

Title Page

Copyright

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Epilogue

By Marquita Valentine

About the Author

The Editor’s Corner

Excerpt from When We Fall

Prologue

Seth

“You want me to drive?” I ask, trying to keep the excitement out of my voice. I don’t want to look like a complete tool in front of my girl’s older brother, but the last word cracks in my throat.

Shit.

Embarrassed as hell, I cough, like something got caught and was responsible for my soprano warbling, and run a hand through my hair before I start over. “I mean, I guess I can.” I shrug. “Whatever, bro.”

Jase Simmons, two years older at nineteen, slices his gaze to me. I’ve idolized him ever since I spied on him in his garage with his hand up Melissa Layton’s skirt. He’d been fourteen, a juvie regular, and a freshman in high school. Melissa had been eighteen, a homecoming queen, and a senior, but from the way she clutched his shoulders and moaned his name—their differences didn’t seem to matter very much. If at all.

Luckily, he didn’t think I was a perv when he caught me snooping. Instead, he took my scrawny ass under his wing, kept me from being beat up by the other kids in the neighborhood, and taught me how to trick out a car.

He tosses me the keys, and I catch them. “Cut the shit, O’Connor, and get in.”

Grinning, I slide into the tricked-out sports car. The driver’s seat is all black leather, soft and supple. I run my hands over the steering wheel, gripping it once before letting it go.

Despite this being my first time up, I know there’s no way I won’t win. Tony Johnson’s car has nothing on Jase’s Mustang, and Jase has been coaching me in my ’98 Nissan. Come tomorrow, I for damn sure will be driving Rowan to school in Tony’s Camaro.

“You done feeling her up?” Jase asks, listening to the police scanner a friend of his holds. Yeah, street racing isn’t exactly legal. Okay, forget exactly. It’s strictly illegal, and our asses could go to jail if we get caught.

But the thrill of it—the way my heart is pumping right now—there’s no way in hell I’m giving up my turn to race.

“Just getting to know her.”

“She doesn’t want you to know her. She wants to be driven.” He shuts the passenger side door. “So drive it like you borrowed it from a guy who will kick your ass from here to the Outer Banks if you wreck it.”

Blood drains from my face. “Don’t you mean stole it?”

“Hell, no.” Jase gives me a pointed look. “They’re waiting and betting on you to win.”

I glance out the window, watching as a group of people jostle for a front-row view as money exchanges hands. My stomach churns. I can’t let anyone down, especially not a crowd of people who don’t want to part with their money.

Sweat breaks out on my upper lip, and I swipe at it with my tongue.

A flash of sunshine catches my eye. My girlfriend, Rowan, stands directly in the middle. Her smile is so big that my heartbeat gets all crazy. I think I’ve loved Rowan for as long as I have known her. Considering that she punched me in the stomach in kindergarten for not letting her on the swing set first, that’s a long damn time.

“Staring at my sister won’t help,” Jase growls.

Oh, shit. He’s going to kill me. “I wasn’t staring.”

Jase laughs. “Rowan told me the two of you are officially dating.”

Instead of replying to that right away, I start up the engine. It roars to life before settling in to an idling purr. Best sound on earth. An image of a nude Rowan flashes in my head. She moans my name. Okay, so second-best.

Crap. I can’t think of Jase’s sister nude or moaning while I’m sitting right beside the dude. Sweat gathers at the small of my back and I take a deep, sustaining breath.

“Rowan really said that?” I ask all nonchalantly.

“Yeah.” He rolls down the window and lights a cigarette. The end of it glows bright orange. “She’s got bigger balls than you.”

Pretty sure those balls are mine. That girl owns me. All of me. “I was going to tell you.” Putting the car into gear, I inch it forward to line up with the Camaro beside us.

Jase grunts. “After the wedding?”

I haven’t asked Rowan to marry me, but I can see it happening. After she’s done with college, and I’ve worked long enough at my grandmother’s auto shop to become a manager.

“I love your sister, Jase. She’s not just a—”

“You can stop at I love your sister,” he says, cutting me off. “I don’t need to know any more than that. And since I haven’t heard you running your mouth about whatever extracurricular activities the two of you have been up to, I’m content to let you live.”

The phrase for now is implied. “I totally respect her.”

He slices his gaze to look at me, a smirk on his face. “Does that mean she’ll be a virgin on her wedding night?”

I almost choke. “Uh…ah…” Rowan and I have been having sex for five months now. I’m her first and she’s my second. Actually, she’s my last.

Jase punches me in the side. “I’m fucking with you, but if you get her pregnant—then it’s a shotgun wedding. If you hurt her, then a bullet to the balls. You got me?”

I got him. In fact, I’m completely terrified of him. Most people I know are terrified of him. Except my grandmother…she loves Jase. So much so that he’s the head mechanic at her shop. He is an amazing mechanic. I’m pretty sure he can take an engine apart and put it back together in his sleep.

–

A girl wearing a plaid skirt and a white shirt with the ends tied in the middle of her very impressive cleavage steps in front of our cars. The headlights shine right on her as she flashes a seductive smile.

Her hands shoot up into the air. “Ready?” she shouts.

Tony guns his engine, his maniacal laughter louder than anything. The sound makes my skin crawl. Actually, Tony himself makes my skin crawl. He’s twenty-nine years old and still hangs out with the high school crowd—that’s fucking weird.

“Shut the fuck up, Johnson,” Jase shouts, flipping the other driver off. Then he turns to me. “Two turns left, then a hard right, before a quarter-mile stretch.”

I flex my fingers and nod. Jase cranks up STP’s “Dead and Bloated.”

“Go!” Plaid skirt girl’s hand drops down.

I hit the gas and manage to break out in front of Tony’s Camaro.

“No braking in the turn,” Jase shouts.

I nod. My knuckles are white as I grip the steering wheel. Adrenaline pumping, I shift gears, and the Mustang shoots forward.

Jase bangs on the dash. “Two car lengths ahead. You can do this, O’Connor.”

I’m equal parts exhilarated and terrified I’ll screw this up. What if I lose?

“Get out of your head, Seth. Nothing good in there right now.”

I slice my gaze to Jase, and then back at the road. The hard right is up next. “I got this.”

“Don’t say shit like that,” Jase grouses over the music. If I hadn’t been driving, I’m pretty sure he would have smacked the back of my head to emphasize his point.

Tony suddenly pulls up beside me, and I blink. “Where in the hell did he come from?”

“Pay attention.”

Tony edges ahead of me. The right turn is only a few hundred feet away. I let up on the gas a little and Tony surges. His taillights are in my peripheral now.

“Why the fuck are you slowing down?”

Because Tony’s speeding up, and he’s going to spin out on the turn. “Trust me.”

Jase blows out a hard breath, and I can practically hear his teeth grinding. If this doesn’t work, then Jase will hand me my ass. And I like my ass; I like sitting on it. More specifically, Rowan likes my ass. I like it when she digs her fingers into my cheeks when I’m inside her.

“Fine,” he bites out.

Tony and I make the hard right. His car spins out, making a wider half circle than needed. That’s my cue.

“See. Ya.” I downshift and stomp on the gas pedal.

Jase’s Mustang rolls across the finish line, engine purring. I barely pull up the e-brake before jumping out. Banging the roof of the car, I let out a yell. The crowd goes wild, some groaning because they didn’t bet on the rookie.

While Rowan collects the money we won, I do a little victory shuffle.

Jase joins me, his smile as wide as mine, but he doesn’t celebrate like I do. That’s fine with me; I don’t care how damn goofy I look or sound right now.

I just fucking won my first race. And Tony Johnson’s Camaro is mine.

Mine.

I don’t bother to pay any attention to Tony as he parks his Camaro a short distance away. He probably needs a little time to find the pink slip to sign over to me and cry.

Poor bastard.

Rowan jogs to me, looking fine as hell in her tiny shorts and tank top. There’s lace at the top, highlighting the best-looking pair of tits I’ve ever seen. And by the way she’s smiling at me, I know I’ll be getting up close and personal with them tonight.

“I’m so proud of you,” she squeals, launching herself into my arms.

I bury my face into her hair. She smells and feels so damn good that my skin gets all tight. “Does this mean I can sneak into your room tonight?” I whisper in her ear.

She nods. “I’m gonna show you such a good time, lover boy.”

I straighten, taking her gorgeous face in my hands. “You know I love you, right? I’d do anything for you.”

Her nose wrinkles, freckles dancing across it as she does. “I love you, too, Seth.”

I know she does, but sometimes it feels like the love I have for her is like air or water—something I can’t live without. I have no idea what I’d do if I couldn’t have Rowan in my life.

Die, most likely.

“Fuck you, Tony. I’m not a cheat.”

Rowan’s head turns and so does mine. A few feet away, beside Tony’s car, he and Jase are shouting at each other. Fingers are pointing and Tony’s shoving against Jase’s chest.

I start to go and join in, to see if I can help diffuse the situation, but Rowan grabs my arm. “Don’t. Let Jase handle it.”

I frown.

“Not that I don’t think you can handle it,” Rowan quickly adds, mistaking my frown for displeasure at her words.

“Don’t worry about it,” I say, then kiss her forehead. “I’ll stay right by your side until Jase needs me.”

Rowan steps closer to me, wrapping her arms around my neck. She grinds slowly against me, barely moving against my hardening dick. “I need you. We could find a dark corner.”

Picking her up, I head in the opposite direction, away from the crowd and the argument. Rowan’s legs wrap around my waist. She kisses her way up my jaw, stopping at my ear to nibble. My eyes start to water.

“Slow down, wildcat.”

In response, she starts sucking on my earlobe. Rough brick bites into my hands when I hit the wall of an abandoned factory. Rowan tugs at my shirt, helping me pull it up and over my head. I cup her breasts, feeling her nipples harden.

“You looked so hot driving,” Rowan breathes. “I want to ride you while you drive us around. I want to feel you so deep inside…and the vibrations from the engine will make me come so hard.”

My heart slams against my chest. This girl…God, she knows how to amp things up. “Tomorrow,” I promise. “You wear that skirt I like and no bra. I’ll let you do whatever the hell you want while I drive.”

Rowan giggles and I smile, then stare into her eyes. “I really love you.”

“Why do you keep saying that?” She tilts her head to one side. “I know you love me.”

“Because after my conversation with your brother, I—”

“FIGHT!”

“Oh my God,” Rowan says, shoving at me. “Put me down.”

I let her legs slide down, and turn. Jase and Tony are going at it. Punches are being thrown and there are grunts, curses, and shouts. It’s too dark and the guys are built too much alike to see who’s whaling on who the most.

“I need to—”

Rowan hands me my shirt, and I kiss her. Hard. “Don’t let that perv hurt my brother, Seth.”

Pulling the shirt on and letting it fall, I stride in their direction, my heart slamming against my chest. “I won’t.”

Suddenly, one of the guys falls to the ground. I break out into a run, shoving my way past the crowd that’s forming around them.

Jase is on the bottom, arms up to protect his face as Tony pummels him.

“Pretty boy like you needs a lesson,” Tony grunts.

“I can’t help it if your girlfriend liked walking sideways so much, that after one night with me, she came back for more.”

Yeah, that’s going to help. But that’s Jase. He doesn’t give a shit and will taunt the hell out of anyone—including a cop.

I grab Tony’s shirt, yanking him away from Jase. Tony swings wildly. Pain bursts from my lip and a warm liquid trickles down. Obviously stunned, Tony freezes, his eyes all wild.

“Stay out of this, kid.”

“Shit.” I swipe the blood away and glare at Tony. “What the hell’s your problem?”

Jase tackles Tony from behind, and they both go sprawling in the dirt. I jump into the fray, trying to pull Tony off of Jase. Suddenly, everything speeds up.

“He has a gun,” someone shouts.

Who has a gun?

I catch a glimmer of metal in Tony’s hand and I pause, but that tiny second gives Tony enough time to hit me with the gun and shove me away. Dazed, I roll to my back, stars sparking in my eyes. But I don’t let that keep me down. I lunge for the gun again, and the three of us wrestle for it—Jase and I trying to work together.

The gun goes off. I fall back, and a woman screams.

“Rowan?” I whisper. Despite my pounding headache, I turn to the side and see Jase holding the gun, a look of shock on his face.

Tony lays motionless, his chest barely moving. “You’re fucked now, Simmons,” he laughs. Blood leaks out of the corner of his mouth.

“You pulled the gun on me. You hit Seth with it,” Jase says, but his voice is nothing like I’ve heard before. He actually sounds…scared. “I didn’t mean to, but you were going to shoot—” He swallows and lets the gun fall to the ground.

“Yeah, I was going to, but you can’t prove a thing now,” Tony rasps.

Sirens blare in the distance. The crowd disperses, people running everywhere. Rowan stays, though, her face pale.

“Get my sister out of here,” Jase growls.

But I don’t move. I can’t move. I’ve never seen someone get shot, much less lie there dying.

“Seth,” Jase roars, snapping me out of my trance. “Move your ass and get my sister out of here.”

I look at Rowan; her eyes are wide. She’s fucking terrified. “Oh, God. Jase, you can’t get in trouble for this. You’ll go to jail, and they’ll take me away.” Tears run down her cheeks, completely cutting at my heart.

“Rowan, honey. It’ll be okay,” he says, but we all know he’s lying.

Rowan scrubs her hands over her face. “You two leave. I’ll take the blame.” She holds out a hand. “Give me the gun.”

“Are you insane?” Jase shouts, shoving her hand away with a groan.

Images of Rowan in prison flood me. Her sweet, innocent face swollen with bruises and her eyes turning hard. My imagination runs wild with all the things that could happen to her. There’s no way I can let her do this.

“I’ll tell the cops I did it,” I blurt.

Jase and Rowan both look at me in surprise. Jase shakes his head. “No. You have to take care of my sister. You’re the only guy around here I trust to be with her.”

The sirens grow closer.

“Rowan.” I manage to get to my feet. “Go. Take your brother with you.”

Indecision plays over her beautiful face before it turns hard. “You can’t make me choose between the two of you. I won’t.” She crosses her arms. “You go down; we all go down.”

“Jesus, Rowan. This isn’t a fucking movie.” Jase winces, grabbing his ribs. “Son of a bitch.”

“Cracked a few?”

“Or broke them.” He stands slowly and breathes out. His face turns white. “Fuck, that hurts.”

“Rowan, leave,” I say. “I’ll stay here with Jase.”

She shakes her head. “Nope.”

Before I can argue with her anymore, the cops show up. They take one look at the four of us, mutter the words, “Simmons boy,” and then break out the handcuffs.

Rowan

SIX MONTHS LATER

I’m sitting in the holding cell with Seth. He’s wearing a standard orange jumpsuit. His face is swollen on one side, the skin around his eye on his good side is mottled purple and green, and his lip is busted. Every last injury is due to a paperwork error that had put him in the general population. The stupid guard took great pleasure in telling me how much a pretty boy like Seth caused a ruckus.

Bile rises and I force it down, taking a deep breath. I can’t imagine the horror he’s been through, or how he must feel right now. Only, while his feelings matter to me, the rest…I don’t view him any differently.

He’s still the guy I love. The guy I want to take home with me. The guy I gave my virginity to, and the guy I want to spend the rest of my life with.

“How are you?” I ask and immediately want to smack myself. How do you think he is, Rowan? He’s in prison!

“How do you think I’ve been?” he says, his gaze sharp.

I shrink back a little. “I’m sorry—I didn’t think.” Taking another breath, I try again. “I miss you.” Since he’s been here, my life has gone to crap. And Jase…Jase is here at Western Prison, too—serving time for attempted murder.

God, if I could go back and shoot Tony Johnson myself, I would. The two men I love the most are behind bars because neither of them would listen to me.

Neither of them would let me take the fall.

Guilt overwhelms me, so my gaze lowers and I stare at the table, then the floor…anywhere but at the man sitting across from me. He doesn’t look at me like he used to….In fact, I think he hates me.

A full five minutes of silence pass before I finally speak again. “Why won’t you talk to me?”

“What do you want me to say? Thanks for making me go down for you and your brother?”

“That’s unfair, Seth. Jase has to serve seven years. That’s a hell of a lot longer than nine months,” I snap and then take a breath. This hasn’t been easy on Seth; he’s not like Jase. I have to remember that.

When Seth was sentenced, it was like the boy I knew faded away. He wouldn’t talk to anyone, including me, afterward. He let the guards handcuff him and lead him away, without looking back.

“But he didn’t get the shit beat out of him, did he, the first night and every night for a week until a paperwork mistake was corrected?” Seth blows out an angry breath. I bite the inside of my cheek so hard that blood spills into my mouth. “He doesn’t have to join the fucking Marines and get sent off to war to reduce his jail sentence, does he?”

“You could always get your lawyer to contest it,” I say softly. “Everyone knows Judge Smith gives creative judgments.” But because he’s been on the bench so long and has accumulated so many friends in high places, no one dares to question him.

“Yeah, right, Rowan. Keep dreaming.”

“I’m only trying to—”

He pounds his fist on the table and I jump. “Quit trying to do anything but listen to me. I got a death sentence from some crackpot judge who wanted to make sure I never pulled something like this again. I’ve never been in trouble in my entire life, Rowan. Who’s going to take care of my grandmother now? You?”

Miserable and helpless, I nod as tears spring to my eyes. “Yes. I’ll take care of her. I’m already living with her. Miss Myrtle took me in after…everything,” I say quietly.

“Good.” The fierce look on his face fades a little, and I ache to take him in my arms. I want to make him feel better. I want to assure him that everything will be okay. “Promise me you’ll take care of her,” he says.

I reach out, grab his hand, and squeeze it tight, but it’s entirely one-sided. “I promise. I swear I’ll take care of her, Seth.”

Finally, finally, his hands cover mine as he lifts them to his lips. He breathes in, eyes closing. “Promise me one more thing, sweetheart.”

“Anything.” I mean it. I’ll do anything for him if it means he’ll keep loving me. If it means he’ll stop being this guy I don’t recognize.

His eyes open and my breath catches. They’re like obsidian. Hard and cold. “Don’t ever come see me again.”

A cry escapes my mouth before I can stop it while the rest of me is frozen and hard, like a statue. Only on the inside, I’m crumbling. I’m dying.

“Please don’t be this way,” I whisper brokenly. “Please. I’ve already lost Jase. I can’t lose you, too.”

He rises to his feet. “You already have.”

I watch as he calls for the guard to come get him, as he’s handcuffed once more and led away.

Jumping up, I run after him, but another guard puts out his hand.

“Don’t you fucking touch her,” Seth barks, jerking back and putting himself between the guard and me. Hope springs in my chest. If he didn’t care about me, why would he bother to say that? “Unless you like going to prison for a crime you didn’t commit.”

Stunned, I stare up at him. Seth’s dark eyes search my face, like he’s trying to memorize it. This isn’t the boy I love, but he’s in there. I know it. Finding my nerve once more, I take a step toward him. “Seth, I—”

The guard clears his throat. “You can’t go with him, Miss.”

My lips tremble as Seth turns away without another word and walks out the door. “I love you, Seth,” I cry, right before the door closes.

My knees give, and I crumple to the floor, sobbing. This isn’t over, I silently vow. I’m not giving up on us.

If Seth won’t let me visit him in prison, then I’ll find another way to keep in contact and let him know how much I care. I won’t let his change in attitude toward me drive us apart.

All I have to do is remember who Seth really is. Who he’s been since we were children. Who he’s been since he first told me he loved me.

Wiping my tears away, I stand and then grab my purse. When I leave Western Prison, it’s with a sense of purpose.

I’ll get Seth back, no matter what.