Текст книги "Masterpiece"
Автор книги: Xavier Neal
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Текущая страница: 4 (всего у книги 10 страниц)
Jovi
“Thanks Hayli,” I sigh dropping the newly taped box beside the others close to my closet.
Packing the things I use the least makes the most amount of sense. No need to be one of those last minute packers.
“Yeah.” She lets down her hair that's been pinned up all day. “No problem. I mean...helping ship my best friend off isn't the ideal way I wanted to spend my day, but there are worse ways I suppose.”
On a little giggle I shake my head. “Drama queen.”
“Watch it before you're packing the next batch alone,” she threatens.
She's full of shit. You know that right?
The two of us exit my bedroom and start towards the stairs. “You sure you don't wanna grab dinner or something really fast?”
“I'm sure,” Hayli replies. Quickly she drops her voice down to a whisper, “Besides I'm sure there's a street racer in mourning who is craving you for dinner.”
I blush at the same time I smirk.
Haven't seen him since we left yesterday and have barely had time to talk to him. Between car shopping that felt pointless, packing, and Hayli insisting I focus on her instead of my phone we've hardly even texted. No, he hasn't snapped back into his normal self quite yet, which is fine. He needs this time to mourn. I just...I don't know. I don't wanna lose him. I don't know if I can live without him. Scratch that. I know I can't.
“I'm working tomorrow, but wanna do something Thursday?”
Now would be a terrible time to tell her I'm getting married huh?
“I think I have plans that day, but I'll double check.”
“Sounds good.”
We hug and she disappears out the front door right as my phone vibrates.
Quickly I check the message.
Fiance: FIL still home?
Giggling at the shorthand I type back.
Me: Yes. I'll let you know the minute he's gone.
Fiance: Need you.
Me: Need you too. Soon.
Fiance: Not soon enough.
A deep exhale leaves me and I smile softly.
Looks like there's a touch of the old Merrick still in there.
I head for the kitchen where I'm guessing Nadie is. Rounding the corner, I'm thankful to see her scraping cookies off a pan, a small burnt smell lingering in the room.
At the sight of me she whines, “Why cookies? Why can't I ever bake them right?”
“At least you can bake them,” I counter. “You've seen what happens when I try.”
“Yeah.” A look of disgust on her face. “Your mother would weep at the sight of the those things you have the nerve to call cookies.”
The mentioning of my mother stings unexpectedly.
Ever since Ben's funeral yesterday, I've been thinking back to hers. Wondering if she would approve of the woman I'm trying to become. Of Merrick. Of Nadie raising me. I wonder if she would loathe what my father's turned into like I am beginning to. I wonder if she would be upset he didn't go after Nadie like he should've. For a good portion of the night that's all my brain could seem to wrap itself around. Needless to say I didn't get much rest.
Nadie puts the spatula down. “You okay?”
I fold my arms across my chest. “Just a little tired. It's been a long few days.”
“Why don't you take a minute and rest?”
“Need to finish packing a couple things before I call it a day.” After she nods, I ask, “Hey, where are the photo albums? I was hoping to take a couple with me. Ya know, in case I get homesick.”
Nadie's done a great job keeping actual albums as much as online ones. I guess that's her art craft. Ya know everyone has something. Even you. Even if you don't think you do.
“Which ones? The ones with your mom or after her?”
The question makes me shift uncomfortably. “Both?”
“Photo albums with pictures after her are in the living room in the bottom drawer of the coffee table. Before her are in your father's office. Second book case, second shelf.”
I hate how he does shit like that. Nadie doesn't deserve it. As much as I miss my mom and wonder what life would be like if she were still here, every now and again, she's not. I've accepted it. I've dealt with it. He's needs to too. Not put up walls to keep Nadie at bay. To keep himself from moving on. To keep us all from moving on.
“Thanks.”
I turn my heels to exit when she questions, “You do know he's in there, right?”
“Yeah...”
“You ready for that?”
With a shrug I answer, “As ready as I'm ever gonna be.”
“I'm here for you Jo'.”
You too? Thanks. Have I told you I appreciate that?
Nervously I approach my dad's office door. Instead of taking the two steps back my gut tells me I should, I push forward and stroll into the room that's never felt warm.
Today it feels extra chilly. Not quite arctic, but cold enough I feel I need a sweater. You got one I can borrow?
To my left are the wooden bookshelves, I know I need to grab the photo album from. To the right a long leather couch and coffee table with files stacked on it. Right in front of me, two seats in front of a large cherry wood desk covered in papers with him hovering over it rather than sitting.
Before I have the chance to ask about the photo albums, he snaps his head up from the photo he was staring at. His entire body seems to tense. Carefully he places the photo down and slides a hand in his pocket, eyes stuck on me.
“Yes?”
He really is almost always this impersonal. Well, that is of course unless he's making tyrant demands on how to conduct my life.
“I just..I just came to grab a couple photo albums to take with me.”
He nods. “Packing?”
“Yes.”
He nods again this time sliding his other hand into his pocket. “Is that what you and Hayli have done all day?”
“That and argue over how to decorate my new room. I'm all for simple colors and she seems to think I need to be a little more adventurous.”
He mumbles under his breath, “That's the last thing you need.”
Oh look. He's ready to fight. Wish me luck.
“Why? Because I was friends with Ben?”
“Is that all you were?” The accusation reminds me of Tyler's.
Scowling, I snap back, “Pretty sure I wasn't involved with him that way, but even if I was, that would've been my choice.”
“No,” he quickly denies. “You don't get to make those types of choices Jo'.”
“Who to date? I don't get to choose who I date?”
“I don't want you dating.”
“Well tough shit dad!”
Oh...Oh I could've said that better.
“Excuse me?”
“You don't get to pick who I date. Or who I fall in love with. Or my friends. I'm an adult.”
“An adult who lies to her father?”
“Who feels she has to!” I yell. “I have to walk on egg shells around you because I'm afraid that you're gonna lock me in this house and throw away the key! I have missed out on so much because I don't wanna hurt you or disappoint you or have to deal with the lengths you will go to to try to stop me from doing something you don't approve of!”
On a long exhale he shakes his head. “I don't approve of things that can harm you. And drug dealing street racers fit into that category!”
“And me having a car?”
“There are so many accidents-”
“And my dress being short-”
“Rape statistics say-”
“And my eating shellfish? Working a job in the evening?” His mouth moves but I cut him off. “There's always something to be afraid of and I'm tired of being afraid. I wanna live dad. And as much as it kills me to say this, that's what I'm going to do. From this point forward, I am going to actually live my life.”
He points a firm finger at me. “Not with trash like Ben.”
“You didn't even know him!”
“I know the case files on my desk. I know the crimes he's committed.”
“He's so much more than a case file.”
“And that's supposed to matter to me?”
Cold blooded much?
“Wow...”
“He was a pain in my ass, Jovi. The laws he broke. The tax dollar he's cost. The lives he put at risk-”
“He was a good person dad. He had a good heart-”
“I don't give a damn if he had the heart of saint! He still chose to live above the law. He chose to put his selfish ways above those of this city and that is a problem.”
“Kind of like you chose to put the needs of this city above those of your only daughter?”
He looks wounded by the words, yet I don't regret them.
They needed to be said.
“Jo'-” His voice is cut off by his work phone.
He hesitates to grab it, so I encourage. “Go ahead. Work always comes first.”
On a short grunt he answers it. “Hello?”
Knowing he's going to be a minute I lean against the edge of his desk moving the photos out of my way, so I don't bend them. In the process one in particular catches my eye.
“No. He's in jail for a reason Jon,” my father grumbles turning his back to me, which is when I pull the photo closer. “I don't care. He needs to be there.”
Cautiously I lift the photo. With a trembling bottom lip, I run my finger across it.
“I will not let him out as a favor. Jon, has it occurred to you that maybe he should be behind bars? Maybe he'll learn a lesson for once. Maybe this will stick.” There's a muffled uproar on the other end of the phone before he lets out a deep sigh of surrender. “Yeah! Fine! Fine! I'll come in, but doesn't mean I'm letting Tyler go.” There's a few more mumbles before he hangs up and looks at me. “I have to go in.” When I don't reply he questions, “Something wrong Jo'?”
Swallowing the lump in my throat I point to the photo. “That's a Lotus Elise.”
His voice hardens. “How do you know that?”
“I um...” Clearing my throat becomes difficult as I look up into his eyes. “We watched a movie with Ben one night and it had one of these in it.”
“What was it called?”
Taken off guard by the follow up question I shrug. “Adrenaline something. I don't remember the name.”
“Those fucking movies are all the same,” my dad grumbles. “Always show how much 'fun' it is and never the actual lives that get lost during it. One of the many problems with those movies. Encouraging the youth that that lifestyle's acceptable. Encourag-”
“This is a picture of Ghost,” the words clog my throat again.
“Haunting me as always.”
“Was this recent?”
“Few weeks ago,” he denies. “I just got it a couple days ago. It's hard to tell that's him, but I know it is. I know that mask. I know his build.”
So do I...
“Last documented sighting. This one was only caught because someone was trying to snap the car and happened to get the tiniest glimpse of him as well. Doesn't do me much good, but more evidence is more evidence.” Reaching for his coat he sighs, “I have to go back into the office to meet with Jon. Looks like Tyler's been arrested and he wants a favor to get him out.”
He's barking up the wrong tree. Dad breaks the laws for no one. Not even sure he's ever bent them aside from using his extensive reach to search for the person who caused my mother's death.
I nod and lower the photo back to the desk, casually sliding it under the calendar that stay on his desk instead of back in his file.
“But this conversation isn't over, Jovi.”
With my mind completely occupied on a different subject, I whisper, “I know.”
He gathers the photos he can see and shoves them back in the file before slipping them back in his briefcase. On the way out of the room he presses a kiss on my forehead. “I'll always do whatever I can to protect you. You're my little princess Jo', no matter how old you get.”
Softly I smile and let him exit the office before I grab the photo and a random photo album off the shelf to conceal the evidence that I need just as much as he does.
Did you know? Did you know this entire time? You knew this entire time and didn't say a goddamn thing? No it's too late now! Much too late!
I send Merrick a quick message giving him the go ahead to come over before preparing to have the worst conversation I ever will in my entire life.
Maybe if you would've been a good friend it wouldn't be this bad, but you weren't. You didn't even try to warn me! How could you betray me like that? How could you let him do this to me? Put me in this position. No! I don't wanna talk to you right now. Space. Just...go. Give me some space.
Jovi
It takes Merrick longer than he had planned to come over. In fact, I end up nibbling through an awkward dinner with Nadie before he even sends me a message finally telling me he's on his way.
The sound of his car grabs my attention before the sight of it. As he pulls up to the curb outside of my house, nausea rocks back and forth in my stomach.
God, I hope I don't throw up. Oh and you....I'm still not talking to you.
He climbs out, the disheveled look proof of the restless days he's been having. Instinctively my fingers reach out for him, but I quickly fold my arms across my chest, gripping the photo tightly.
Nope. Can't cave right now. Can't.
“Baby,” the whisper weakens my knees and trembles my jaw.
Fighting the urge to fall into his arms, I simply clear my throat.
Merrick gives me one glance before he questions, “What's wrong?”
My heart starts to race as the words do their best not to shake as they fall out of my mouth. “You promised if I ever asked you something you would never lie to me. That you would be completely honest. That if I asked you anything you would tell me.”
“Right...”
Bluntly I bark, “Are you Ghost?”
The look on his face gives it away before his mouth does, but that's not enough. I don't want a look. I don't want to be right. I want be wrong. I want to be so wrong that it hurts to breathe. Merrick wets his lips slowly and adjusts his baseball cap, silence still swaying between us.
Finally he replies, “Yes.”
The three little letters are enough to have me slightly doubling over with instant tears. Shaking my head I simply whisper, “How could you...”
“Baby-”
“Don't you fucking baby me!” I snap harshly. His bottom lip lands between his teeth. “Is that why you wanted to be with me? So you could keep an eye on how close my father is to finding you?”
“Fuck no,” he rushes to say. “I had no fucking idea he was your father before you said it! And by the time you did it was too late. I was...I was already in love with you.”
“Don't...”
“I was in love with you the first time I set eyes on you-”
“Stop...”
“I couldn't explain it then. There was just something, Jovi. Something about you I wanted. Something about you I needed.”
Wiping away the fallen tears, I shake my head. “I trusted you. And you lied to me.”
“I didn't lie to you.”
“On a technicality!” I can tell the blow goes straight to his chest from the way his body seems to curl forward. “You damn sure weren't honest with me!”
In a quiet voice he tries to plead, “Jovi I'm sorry-”
“No!” I shout. “Sorry isn't gonna cut it, Merrick! This isn't a forgotten date or a missed phone call! You're a criminal! A most wanted one at that! And you were just gonna marry me without so much as mentioning it?”
He sighs, “I didn't...I didn't...” Watching it become harder for him to breathe, makes it even harder for me. “I was...I was gonna tell you.”
“When! Minutes before we said 'I do'? Seconds after I signed the paperwork? Before the birth of our first child? Our third?”
His face softens. “You want a big family?”
I did. I wanted a bunch of little McCoys running around.
“That's not...that's not important right now, Merrick. Why didn't you tell me sooner?”
“Because I'm not that person anymore.”
“Really?” I sarcastically laugh. Shoving the picture in his face I snip, “Because this was just a few weeks ago. So I beg to differ.”
Staring at the photo he whispers, “Where did you get this?”
“My father's fucking office.”
His mouth tries to harden. “How'd you know it was me?”
“A girl doesn't forget the car that she rode in the night she lost her virginity.” Coldly I press the picture against his chest. “That's the only thing I regret as much as falling in love with you.”
“You don't mean that,” Merrick croaks, tears sticky in his own speech. “I know you don't.”
“That makes one of us,” I whimper. “I don't even know you, so how could I be in love with you?”
“You do know me!” He shouts tossing the picture to the side. “You fucking know me like no one ever has! Like no one ever will.” Taking a step towards me, he begs, “Please don't give up on us yet Jovi. Let me explain. Give me a chance to tell you everything.”
Slowly I shake my head and wipe away the tears that are still falling. “No.”
“Jo-”
“No, Merrick,” I deny softly. “Just go...”
While I'm expecting a stronger fight, I'm surprised when he backs up slowly towards his car. “Fine.”
“Fine,” I echo.
“But this isn't over.”
In a low uncertain voice I argue, “But it is.”
Merrick slams his car door before accelerating harshly down the road and around the corner. The sound of his screeching tires burns my heart. Clutching my aching chest, I turn around and head for my front door. Just as my hand prepares to touch the knob, I'm grabbed from behind. Desperately I start kicking. I take a sharp breath to scream when a damp rag covers my mouth and nose. After just a few short inhales, my eyelids start to get heavy. Another struggle comes out of me seconds before the blackness lures me away.
Merrick
You ever get to a point where you just can't fathom life getting any fucking worse than it does? Yeah I'm tired of being fucked in the ass again and again. I just...I need just one single moment suspended in time for me to just...fuck I don't know. Not hurt so much?
Walking through the front door after an unplanned drive around town for a couple hours, I'm surprised to see all my brothers and Knox scattered around the living room.
No. I can't fucking have another McCoy pow wow like this.
Madden growls, “Where the fuck have you been?”
Unable to hold back my own anger I toss my keys on the bar. “I went for a fucking drive. In my fucking car. To try to clear my fucking head.”
He strains his body to stay in place. “Why didn't you answer your goddamn phone?”
With a shrug I reply, “Because I didn't feel like fucking talking.”
Shaking his head disapprovingly he starts, “Merrick-”
“Save it, Madden,” I cut him off. “My best fucking friend in the world died two days ago. My fucking fiance hates me. I can't take a fucking lecture right now and with all the bullshit life keeps dumping on me, I don't deserve one.”
Drew questions from beside Destin on the couch, “Did you say fiance?”
I nod.
She still is. She was just angry. Confused. We're still getting married. On Thursday. What? We are. Don't...don't argue with me about it. We are! I know she wasn't wearing her fucking ring at all. I know! Don't fucking remind me!
Madden's jaw ticks, but he doesn't reply. Instead he grabs me by the back of the neck and pushes me forward towards the living room. Without a word, Destin types on his keyboard revealing an image that makes me thankful his hand is where it is. My knees buckle as I try collapse in place, which is when he grips me tighter and coldly states, “Lecture time.”
Jovi's body looks lifeless. As still and stiff as I imagine Ben's did.
What the fuck have I done?
Merrick
On a soft cry her name comes out, “Jovi...”
“The Devil wants a word with you,” Madden announces, his grasp tightening to the point I'm not sure if it's to help me stay on my feet or punish me.
If I make it out of this alive, I might just take myself out of the equation now known as life. I can't do anything fucking right. And every time I fuck up someone dies. Is she dead? You saw her body. You really think she's still alive? You're right. She is...She has to be.
“Focus,” Madden mumbles under his breath as The Devil enters the shot, sitting on the bed beside her.
As soon as he smugly smirks I snap, “If she's dead, I swear to God you're fucking next.”
He chuckles and shakes head. “I think you're the last person in a position to threaten someone.”
Don't agree with him! It's not fucking helping!
“Now that I have your fucking attention...wait...do I have your attention now, Ghost?”
In a low grumble I confess, “Yes.”
“Good. Let me start by saying I didn't want to have to do it this way,” The Devil teases. “But since I did I would like to add, I don't fucking appreciate being ignored.”
“I had...family issues.”
“I don't fucking care.” My face tightens. “I don't care if you lost both your goddamn arms and a leg! What I care about is my fucking package.” Not responding forces him to raise his voice. “Where is my fucking package McCoy?”
Calmly I state, “Police impound.”
Madden's thumb digs in deeper.
So that one was to hurt me for sure.
“But you knew that,” I sigh. “That's why you have Jovi.”
“That's the only reason I have the fucking Police Commissioner's daughter,” he corrects. “I thought about taking you-”
I lunge forward. “Trade me!”
Madden yanks me harshly backwards grumbling, “No fucking way.”
The Devil smirks. “See how this is more fun for me?”
Evil fucking bastard.
“Here's the deal Ghost. I want my package delivered. All pieces of it. You have 'til Sunday. I want my package no later than 2 P.M. No bullshit time extensions. If you are a minute later you won't like what I do next.” Before I can say anything he adds, “And no cops. Don't forget every one of those bastards you would call in for a favor works for me. You fucked up. You fix it. It's not their job to clean up all of your fucking messes.”
They do clean up quite a few for us and The Devil.
“No later than 2 McCoy. She's a little too young to die, don't you think?”
“You're not gonna kill her,” Drew argues immediately regretting it.
“Nope,” he smiles so slickly, vomit in my stomach surges upward. “Merrick is.”
My eyes widen. “No the fuck I'm not.” The Devil strokes the side of Jovi's face and I growl, “Don't you fucking touch her.”
Proud he's ruffled me up as much as he has he says, “Killing the Commissioner's daughter is not on my to-do list and if it needs to be done, I'm not stupid enough to leave a trail back to me. I am smart enough to leave one that they'll trace back to you Mr. Merrick McCoy. I suggest you don't fuck me over on this one. Oh! Might wanna act quickly. Cops hunt for their own twice as hard as they do anyone else and there may be clues to hint them your direction.”
Without giving me the opportunity to say anything else the screen goes black. The new sight frees the gate for me heave the contents of my stomach all over the side of the couch closest to Daniel.
“Damn it!” he shouts shooting up. “Aim!”
Coughing up the remains of the emotions I swallowed, I start to choke on it.
Seems like a fitting death sentence. Don't you fucking save me. Don't encourage anyone else to either.
Madden pounds me on the back releasing the last of the vomit onto the couch. Once it's free, I cough and cough as I turn around to slide my back against the backside of the couch. Tears start pouring out of me uncontrollably. The combination of the two actions seems to be ripping me apart as the misery tries to murder me.
For a few minutes no one moves. No one asks any questions. No one scolds me. No one even tries. For just a moment I'm allowed to feel like the piece of shit I've become.
And I have. I am nothing to be proud of. Not even fucking sure if I ever was.
Suddenly I feel a coolness on my forehead, which lifts my eyes to Knoxie who's squatting in front of me. “I'll clean up the other mess too, but you owe me new sweats.”
“If I make it out of this alive, I'll buy you anything you want.”
“When.” Madden squats down beside her. “I am not losing another fucking family member. Not to The Devil and damn sure not to the cops.”
Surprised at his calmness I try to apologize, “I'm sorry-”
“Fuck that,” he bites. “Start fucking talking. And start at the fucking beginning.”
Suddenly Triple D appears behind him, all three with their arms folded across their chest.
There's a certain fear meets security when Triple D unites with Madden like this. Most of the time, Drew has his side, Destin gets mine and Daniel lands wherever he does, but right now, division doesn't even look like a word in their vocab.
Clearing my throat, I gently nudge Knox's hand away. “When I met Jovi, something happened to me. I don't know exactly how else to explain it other than love at first sight.” My jaw trembles to smile. “And she's all I've been able to see since. Not cars. Not the job. Not working for The Devil. Hell, I should've taken Ben's explosion at me as a wake-up call, but I didn't. The only thing I was concerned about was Jovi.”
“We know all this,” Drew states. “We were there.”
“Yeah, but...” My voice fades as I look back down at my shoes. “There's something about Jovi. Being with her. Being around her. It doesn't just make me wanna be a different guy. It makes me wanna change my whole fucking life. I don't wanna be a street racer any more. I don't wanna work at the shop. I wanna go away with her to school. I wanna start college. I wanna live with her. Have a future with her. I wanna leave this Devil bullshit behind, so...so I asked Jovi to marry me.”
Madden grinds his teeth before turning to Knox. “That's what you went to the mall for that day.”
Knox hesitates before he answers, “Yeah but-”
“You knew my baby brother was about to run away and didn't fucking think to tell me.”
“I-”
“How could you fucking do that to me, Knox?”
“To you?” She shrieks standing up. “All the bullshit you put me through and you have the balls to ask me why I didn't tell you your youngest brother isn't a complete moron like you?”
Madden stands up sharply. “I swear-”
“Enough!” Daniel raises his hand. “One Maury episode at a time. This episode is all about the bad-ass criminal who was dumb enough to fall for the cop's daughter. Now that we've had a sneak peak of next week's episode...finish Merrick.”
Leave it to Daniel to try to lighten the situation. Daniel...or Ben. Fuck, I miss Ben.
Swallowing the new anxiety from fucking up their relationship I continue, “She said yes.”
“Of course she said yes,” Drew mumbles.
“But I didn't want to be still involved with The Devil, so I went to him and made him an offer.” Seeing Madden's face pale I finish with, “One job. Just me. He agreed with the stipulation I had to do it in broad daylight with no mask.”
“To ruin you,” Drew sighs.
“To put you away,” Destin adds.
“To end you,” Daniel follows.
“Yeah, well that shit wasn't easy. I was shot at-”
“Where?” Madden interrupts. “Where did you go?”
“Some property in the middle of nowhere. The dude was a complete lunatic. He had his guard hunt me like a fucking deer-”
“Snake's Ranch? You went to Snake's Ranch?” Madden grumbles and starts to shake his head. “Are you fucking insane?”
I think given all the shit I've done lately, the answer to that is yes. Don't...don't agree.
Clenching his fists he grouses, “You took something from Snake? Fuck...”
“Why do you know who that is?”
“Because unlike you I actually know some shit about the enemy,” Madden growls. “What did you steal?”
“Nothing! All I had to do was get the keys and bring it back. Mind you, I had to find the keys in the maze of bullets being sprayed at me, before I could do that.”
“You don't know how lucky you are you didn't get shot. Snake's right hand is ex special forces.”
Explains the precision.
“I don't know how lucky I am? Are you fucking joking? I was the one hunted like Bambi!”
“At least Bambi was adorable,” Knox adds.
“He's adorable,” Destin defends me. “You know, it's funny how much in common you have with that cartoon deer.”
“Can we fucking focus please?” Drew snaps. “What happened after you left Snake's Ranch?”
“I had to bring the Hot Tottie back to The Devil, which I almost did except I got caught on the way back for having no tags. That kind of lead to a...man hunt for me.”
“That news report,” Destin says slowly. “They were hunting you?” When I nod he rolls his eyes. “Oh this is bad. So fucking bad.”
“My fiance is on a fucking timer to live. I know this is fucking bad!”
“Don't yell at me,” Destin demands. “I didn't fuck up!”
Before I can snip back Madden shakes his head. “All this bullshit for some girl...”
Feeling an anxiety clench in my chest, I try to not to launch at my brother. “She's not just some girl! That's like saying a Van Gogh painting is just some piece of art instead of a Masterpiece.”
Madden shakes his head again. “It is.”
I take a deep breath and shut my eyes.
Hitting him in the face once fucking hurt. Not real sure if that's what stopping me from hitting him again or if it's the fact I don't wanna make this situation any goddamn worse. Though I'm honestly at a point I'm not sure things can get any goddamn worse.
When I open my eyes I look at Knox. “Saying Jovi is just some girl is like calling Louboutins just shoes.” She shudders at the thought and I look at Triple D. “Or saying a Confederate Motorcycle is just a bike.”
Daniel points a harsh finger at me. “You bite your tongue.”
Looking at Madden in his eyes, I end with, “Or calling dad's favorite wrench just a tool.”
He looks away, but remains silent.
“Jovi is so much more than just some girl. She's...that final touch that makes my life a masterpiece. The little detail, that without it, I'm nothing more than just another prison sentence waiting to be served.”
“Go get cleaned up,” Knox instructs with a soft sigh. “I'll take care of the couch and your brothers will get started on a plan to save your life.”
“And my girl?”
“That's what I said.” She winks. “Now go.”
Madden holds a hand up to stop me. “If you were supposed to deliver a Hot Tottie, why did he say he wanted his package?”
The realization slams my ass back against the edge of the couch. “Fuck...”
“Do you have any idea where that package is in that Hot Tottie?”
Shaking my head I deny, “It didn't even register that he-”
“Sloppy,” Madden snips. “That's fucking sloppy, Merrick.”
“I-”
“Go,” he demands rubbing the top of his head. “Go get cleaned up.”
I give my family, who is ready to go to war for me, one last look. The people who are ready to risk their lives, their freedom, their safety, to save mine.
That may be what family is for, but I'm tired of putting them in this position. I'm gonna be the one to fix this. I have to be. If anyone deserves to pay with their life for this it's me.
