Chapter Eleven
“How’s the new apartment?”
Allie turned and spotted Tiffany, her co-worker, a gorgeous brunette and the friend of Cuss’s who’d gotten her the interview. “Good. It’s small, but it suits, and it was ready for move in, so…” She shrugged. “Can’t complain.”
Tiffany laughed. “But Tyler had plenty to complain about. Is he still giving you a hard time?”
Tyler. Her brother. Her protector. When she told him she found an apartment, he flipped. She expected it. He wanted her to move into his house. She hadn’t been sold on the idea, considering they were both adults, and he liked to bring women home, but she told him she would consider it when he finished remodeling his house. She also agreed to stay at the compound during that time; except then, she had her run-in with Jace and his tap.
Staying had no longer been an option. She couldn’t control her growing attraction, and it had already gotten her hurt. She reacted stupidly and felt guilty about the way she treated him. He had every right to react the way he did. She’d been a bitch, and he was right. He was a single man. He could sleep with whomever he wanted, when he wanted. She knew better than anyone men did this regularly, even some who were engaged and married.
She made a decision to avoid him at all costs. To do that, she had to move out, regardless of her brother’s disapproval.
She smiled the fake smile she’d perfected. “Yeah.”
“I love it.”
She laughed. “Easy for you to say since he’s not your brother.”
“I think it’s adorable. Wish I had a brother like that. Actually, I wish I had a sibling period.”
Her phone vibrated. She plucked it out of her back pocket and read the caller ID. “Speaking of the devil,” she mumbled under her breath, bringing the phone to her ear.
“Allie, need a favor.”
At least, he wasn’t calling to list the reasons she should move back in, which he had done several times. “Ty, don’t know if you realize this, but I’m at work.”
“Aren’t you off in a half hour?”
She glanced at her watch, a half hour to four. “Guess you’re right.”
“You remember Della?”
Jace’s niece, she wouldn’t forget. “Yeah. Did something—”
“She’s fine, but her mom didn’t pick her up from school, and she isn’t answering her phone. The school called Trig. Must be on his bike ’cause he isn’t answering either, so the school called me to go get her, but I can’t. Do you think you could?”
“Ty, I don’t think they’ll let me pick her up. I’m not related, and they don’t know me—”
“I’m on her emergency contact card, and I told them you’re my sister. All you need to do is show them your ID.”
“Um, okay, but by the time I get out—”
“Don’t matter, Allie. She’s been there a while already.”
“What school is it?”
He gave her the information. She jotted it down and hung up. Her gaze swung back to Tiff.
“What’s up?”
“Jace’s sister didn’t pick up her daughter at school. They called Jace and couldn’t get a hold of him. Then they called my brother and he can’t, so he needs me to go when I get out.”
“How old is she?”
“Five.”
“You think something bad happened?”
She hadn’t, but now…
Since the night she caught Jace with his tap, she’d avoided him by working overtime, then heading straight into her room and staying there. On her days off, she had plenty to do. Namely, getting her California driver’s license, the plates for her car, and so on, it had been easy to avoid him. When she’d moved out, it became that much easier.
It was harder to avoid thinking about him, but she tried daily. Sometimes, thoughts crept in regardless of her attempts. Now, she was too worried about Della to even consider Jace, but Tiffany had a point. Something must’ve happened, if not to Jace, then possibly to his sister.
“She’s been waiting for an hour. The poor girl’s probably wondering if her mom forgot her. You should go now.”
She wanted to go the moment she heard, too. “You think Betty will mind?” Betty, her boss, the best boss ever, had a special way with kids.
“I highly doubt it. You come in early and leave late every day.”
She smiled and headed into her boss’s office. The moment Allie entered, Betty, sitting behind her desk, greeted her. Allie explained the situation, and Betty immediately hurried her out.
Arriving at Della’s school fifteen minutes later, she rushed inside, straight into the main office. When she parted the door, her eyes gravitated to the child wearing the school uniform, sitting silently, her head bowed.
“Della, sweetie?”
Della lifted her head. Her eyes, red and puffy, met hers. With a tightening chest, Allie strode to her and squatted so they were eye to eye.
“Hi, Allie.”
She wiped Della’s cheeks and whispered, “Hey.”
“Do you t-think something bad h-happened?” Della’s voice cracked, her little body trembled.
She wrapped her arms around Della, hugging her tightly. “I’m sure nothing bad happened,” she whispered, then sent a silent prayer she hadn’t lied.
“Ms. Holden?”
Drawing away, she focused on the secretary behind the desk.
“I need to see your ID, and then I need you to sign this,” she said, pointing to a paper.
She smiled, and signed Della out of school. Together, she and Della walked to her car. Once there, she situated Della in the back seat, buckling her seatbelt.
“Thank you, Allie,” Della whispered.
From the driver’s seat, she turned and smiled. “You don’t need to thank me, Della.” Wanting to make the beautiful, bright girl smile, she asked, “Are you in the mood for ice cream?”
Della smiled and nodded.
****
Trig pulled his phone from his front pocket. Noticing ten missed calls, his eyes widened. Riding, he hadn’t heard it ring.
“Fuck.” He scanned through the missed calls from Della’s school and Army. Just then, another call came in. He answered it.
“Brother,” Army greeted. “Where you been?”
“Riding.”
“Don’t know what’s up with Tina, but she didn’t get Della at school.”
“You get her?”
“Couldn’t man, on a guard.”
He checked his watch. “Fuck, brother. It’s four—”
“Allie got her.”
No, it couldn’t be. Allie hated him. She had reason to considering he’d hurt her, then been a dick. After that night, he’d wanted to make things right, but she hadn’t given him the chance. She hid out in her room, and the first chance she got, she moved out, into some crappy apartment in a crappy apartment building too close to the wrong side of the tracks. Army, in his fashion, pitched a fit, but there’d been no way to convince her. He settled for installing a deadbolt.
“What?”
“Allie got her. School called Tina. When they couldn’t get a hold of her, they called you. When they couldn’t get a hold of you, they called me. I called Allie.”
Allie. He’d been a dick to her, but beautiful Allie with her color-changing eyes had gone to pick up his niece.
“You there?”
“Yeah, yeah. I’m here.” He swallowed. “Where’re they now?”
“She called about half hour ago and said they were getting ice cream.”
Allie. Fucking beautiful Allie with her fantastic legs and full lips hated him, but she’d taken his niece to get ice cream.
“Bro, you there?”
“Yeah, I’m here.”
“‘Kay, so you know what’s up with Tina? You goin’ to handle that before you head to the compound?”
“Probably should, but I’m not. Gonna make sure Della’s good first. Then I’ll handle whatever needs handling at home.”
“Right, later.”
He hung up, revved his bike then rode off.
Twenty-minutes later, he parked outside the garage and quickly strode inside. He found Bud and Blaze under the hood of a ‘76 Mustang. Both of them wearing white grease-stained shirts.
“Della and Allie?” he asked without stopping.
Blaze took a puff of his cigarette. “Livin’ room watching cartoons or some shit.”
Giving half-assed greetings along the way, he quickened his pace until they came into view.
Allie sat, her back against the couch. Her eyes cast downward, looking at Della whose head lay on her lap. Allie’s fingers in Della’s hair, Della giggled.
Beautiful Allie, smiling softly at his niece made her much more beautiful. Made him think if he hadn’t screwed up, he would’ve enjoyed the same picture several times a week.
The sight left him breathless, sparking a deep, fiery ache in the pit of his stomach. He couldn’t do anything but stand there, watching them, waiting for the ache to dull.
“Trig!” Army shouted.
Allie turned and spotted him. Della sat up, then bolted off the couch, dashing toward him. Her body slammed against his legs, she wrapped her arms around him. He chuckled. Bending over, hands under her arms, he lifted her, pulling her against him for a hug. He then pressed a kiss to her forehead.
“How’s my favorite girl?”
“Scared,” she whispered.
He drew away to look into her eyes. They watered. “You remember what I told you, Del?”
She nodded.
“You don’t need to be scared ever again. You call me, and I’ll come and fix it.”
“You think Mommy’s okay?”
He hated this, hated his niece worried about her mom, hated his niece knew what it was to worry. At five-years old, she should be worried about dolls and school, not her parent. “I’m gonna check on her now. I wanted to make sure you were okay first.”
“But Mommy—”
“Del, I’ll take care of it, ‘kay?”
Slight and small, but she nodded.
He set her on her feet. “You stay here with Army.” “Naw, bro, I’m with you.” Army patted his back. “Allie can stay.”
Allie’s head shot up, her gaze darting to her brother.
“Don’t mind. Right, Allie?”
She shook her head. “No, I don’t mind.”
Army rested his weight on one knee. “Del? You gonna say hi or what? Didn’t miss me?”
She smiled widely, walked to him, and hugged him. “Hi, Ty.”
Army released her, stood, then winked at her. A second later, he met his gaze. “Meet you at the bikes.” He strode away.
He closed the distance between himself and Allie. “Thanks for getting her. Thanks for watching her, and thanks for staying.”
She fidgeted, looking away from him. “It’s no big deal.”
He hated she couldn’t stand to look at him, hated he’d made it that way. Pushing those thoughts aside, he concentrated on the positive. At least she was speaking to him. “It is to me, so thank you.”
She smiled, a sad smile. “You’re welcome.”
He looked at Della. “Be back soon, Del.” He then forced himself to walk away.
Outside, he hopped on his bike and headed for his sister’s apartment, steeling himself for what he’d find.
His sister, Tina, had been a good, sweet kid. They’d lived in a trailer with an alcoholic mother and a drug-addicted father, so it’d fallen on him to care for her. He did, never minded it. When their dad left, it was a relief and a curse. They no longer had to worry about their father beating the shit out of them, but their mother hit the bottle night and day, more so than before. As the years passed, she only got worse.
By the time he was fifteen, his mother spent all her money on booze, so he’d gotten a part-time job after school because Tina needed to eat.
When he graduated from high school, he made the biggest decision of his life. He needed a job that paid better, his grades weren’t getting him into college, and even if they could, he couldn’t afford it. He joined the United States Army. He hated leaving his eleven-year-old sister with their mother, but it was his chance to get Tina out of a trailer and away from their mother for good. He spent four years in the military. He called and wrote her as often as he could. He sent her money, and he spent his leave with her. After his four years ended, the country was still at war. Tina seemed to be holding her own with his monetary help, so he reenlisted, two additional years.
While away, Tina met a boy and got pregnant at sixteen. By the time Trig got back two years later, the father was long gone. Tina was seventeen with a five-month-old and hitting the bottle. He did what he could—got her out of the shithole trailer, helped her with Della, and made sure she got the help she needed.
She’d relapsed twice, and Della had borne witness to it once. It was never pretty. It tore his heart in two. She was his baby sister, and he knew, in a way, he was to blame.
Arriving outside the apartment building in ten minutes, he parked his bike, headed upstairs, and then opened the door with his key. The living room was small, a couch, a TV. Everything impeccably clean, so unlike the times she was on a binge, a good sign. He walked past the living room and into the kitchen. It, too, was clean, and there were no empty bottles. Another good sign.
He headed into her room, parted the door, and peeked inside. There, he found her, sleeping soundlessly, her dark hair sprawled across the pillow where her head lay. Dark circles underneath her eyes. Her phone beside her. He neared the bed, grabbed her phone. On silent. No wonder.
Instantly, relief mingled with guilt. He thought the worst, thought she’d gone back to her old ways when she’d just overslept. Anyone who knew her would get that. She worked full-time and attended college part-time. With a five-year-old, it meant she practically never slept.
He sighed heavily, running his fingers through his hair, and pressed a kiss to her forehead. She blinked, then shot up in bed. He managed to pull away before her head collided with his.
“Oh, shit! What time—”
He placed his hands on her shoulders to still her. “Got Della. She’s good.”
She glanced at the clock on her bedside table. Her face fell; her eyes watered. “I’m a horrible mother.”
“You aren’t a horrible mother. You overslept, and you overslept ’cause you’re overworked, and fuckin’ exhausted.”
She shook her head. “I bet you thought I’d started drinking again.”
He exhaled. “Terrified you were, but it doesn’t matter. You aren’t.”
Tears effortlessly spilled down her cheeks. “Della’s probably scared, too,” she whispered.
The sight pained him. He rubbed the tears away. “It was more than a year ago.”
“Yeah, J, but she remembers. I know she does. The way she looks at me sometimes, I k-know.” Her voice cracked.
“You had a problem. You toughed it out—”
“I’ve relapsed before. You know—”
“It’s in the past, Tina. You can’t think about it. You can’t think about the mistakes. It’ll only lead you where you don’t wanna go.”
She nodded. “Where is she? Is she upset?”
“She’s with Allie.”
“Allie?”
“Yeah, Army’s sister.”
“Right, I remember. Del mentioned her. Said she’s very pretty.”
No, she was fucking beautiful, but he couldn’t admit that.
She wiped her face and stood. “I should go get her.”
Army appeared at the threshold to the room. “Naw, called Allie. She’s on her way.”
Tina’s gaze shot to Army. She flushed. “Hi, Army, sorry to have inconvenienced you and Allie.”
“Not an inconvenience. Allie loves kids.”
She shrugged. “Well, thanks.”
“Listen, you need me to watch Della a couple more times a week?”
His sister looked at him, shaking her head. “J, please, don’t. I’m her mother. She’s my responsibility, and you already do—”
“Tina,” he said in a tone she wouldn’t take lightly. “She’s my niece. I love her. I’m the only male figure she’s got—”
“J, don’t fucking start with this shit,” she snapped. “I appreciate everything you do, but she’s not your kid. I know I’m a fuck up, but taking her away—”
“Fuck, Tina.” He threw his hands up in the air. “Will you just fuckin’ listen to me? You’re not a fuck-up. I’d never take her away from you. I admire you. You’ve never taken the easy way out. You could’ve had an abortion. You could’ve put her up for adoption. Yet you fuckin’ kept her, you fuckin’ care for her and love her. You’re overworking yourself to pay for school and working overtime to get it done. Why can’t you fuckin’ let me help you?”
She reared back, her eyes widening. “You pay half my rent and leave money in my wallet. You take Della almost every Saturday while I’m at work, and during the week you drop by at least three times, often, with groceries. Please explain to me how I’m not letting you help me?”
“I pay half your rent ’cause you refuse to live with me. For the same fuckin’ reason, I drop by three times a fuckin’ week and buy groceries.”
“J—”
His eyes narrowed. “Don’t fuckin’ give me any more lip, Tina. You know that shit pisses me off.”
Looking away from him, she pinched the bridge of her nose. “I love you, J. You’ve always taken care of me, but it’s time for me to grow up, handle things myself. You do plenty, and I thank God every night for you, but you can’t do more than you already are. She isn’t your kid.”
He had enough of this conversation. “You’ve been a grown up for six years, Tina, and you’re only twenty-one. You should be partying with friends, living on a college campus somewhere, going out on dates and living life, yet you’re raising a kid by yourself, working two jobs, taking courses online. I’m twenty-nine, and I’m a man, and I’m your fuckin’ brother, so you’re gonna take the help I give you, and you aren’t gonna give me lip about how she isn’t my kid.”
“They’re my mistakes, J. I don’t regret them. They gave me Della, and she’s my baby. I love her, but she’s a kid and kids are hard work. This is my burden,” she whispered, her eyes trailing away from his.
Shit. He hated that’s what she thought, so fucking far from the truth. His fault. If only he’d been there, if he’d never left…
He lifted her chin with his finger until her eyes met his. Shaking his head, he corrected, “My mistakes. Should’ve been here.”
Her eyes widened and welled. He hugged her before they trailed down her face. “You’ve been here. Always.”
His heart clenched. He kissed the top of her head. “Love you, too, kid.”
****
Allie arrived at the apartment building, a ten-minute drive from the compound and parked in an empty guest spot. She helped Della out of the back of her black Camaro, relieving her of her book bag, and took a deep breath, bracing to see Jace again. She hadn’t been prepared the first time, so she had little hope she’d be prepared this time, but a girl could hope.
After days without a glimpse, she’d forgotten what the flutter in her stomach felt like, how it intensified with every passing second. She’d forgotten how handsome he was. His broad shoulders and muscled arms, his so rugged, striking, and pronounced features. She’d forgotten his rough voice and her reaction to it.
Walking into the elevators, she pressed the third floor. Della led her to the apartment. They knocked and waited. A moment later, an older version of Della parted the door. Her gaze glued to Della. The woman, who had to be Jace’s sister and Della’s mother, was younger than her and beautiful like Della, same dark hair, eyes, and soft smile.
The brunette kneeled and embraced Della. “Baby, I missed you so much.”
“I missed you too, Mommy.”
“So sorry, sweetie. I overslept.”
The brunette, still holding Della close, stood and met her gaze. “Hi.” She held out her hand. “I’m Tina. J’s sister.”
She shook her hand and smiled. “I’m Allie, Tyler’s sister.”
“It’s nice to meet you. Della’s told me nice things about you. Please come in.” Tina took several steps away from the door allowing her in.
“Oh, I…I should—”
“Allie, come in,” Tyler shouted from inside. Not a second later, he walked into the living room and met her gaze. “Ordered pizza.”
She cursed, silently. She didn’t want to see Jace, really didn’t want to share dinner with him either, but from her brother’s tone, it wasn’t a request. She didn’t want to fight him in front of Della and Tina. Having no other choice, she nodded and headed inside.
“Thanks so much for picking up Della. I fell asleep. My phone was on silent, and well…I’m sorry to have inconvenienced you. I don’t—”
Allie placed her hand on her arm. “It’s okay. Della and I had a great time. I may have spoiled her appetite though. Took her for some ice cream after school.”
Tina laughed softly, shrugging. “That’s okay. J does it all the time. Please have a seat.”
She looked around the small living room that led into a dining room and kitchen. It was nicely decorated, not expensively but homey. She took a seat on the couch, placed Della’s book bag at her feet, and rested her folded hands on her lap.
Tina sat across from her in a chair and hauled Della on her lap, hugging her. “It’s time for homework.”
“I already did it. Allie helped me. I need you to sign it.”
Tina looked at Allie, smiling. “Thank you.” She turned her attention to Della. “Let me have a look.”
Della reached for her book bag, pulled out her homework assignment, and handed it to her mother.
Tina scanned the assignment then signed it. “So, you recently moved here?” She handed Della her homework. Della placed it in her book bag, then rushed out of the room.
“Yeah, from New York.”
“Big city, never been. Is it like the movies?”
She laughed. “I suppose.”
“Always wondered what it’d be like,” Tina replied. “You know…you look familiar. I guess you just have one of those faces.”
She flushed. Feeling the heat of her brother’s eyes, she ignored him. “That’s probably because you saw me on the news.”
Tina’s eyes widened.
She shrugged. “It’s kind of a long story, but when I left, my former fiancé reported me missing, so…”
“Oh…sorry, I didn’t mean to pry or…”
She smiled. “No need to apologize. I volunteered the information.”
Jace walked into the room. She couldn’t help it. She looked in his direction. His eyes met hers and held for a moment before she forced herself to look away.
“So what do you do, Allie?”
Thankful for the distraction, she said, “I work at the daycare center off Main Street.”
“Oh, so you know Tiffany?”
She smiled. “Yes.”
“We went to school together. We were pretty close in high school, but since then we’ve drifted apart. With a kid, you know, doesn’t leave much time to hang out with friends, priorities change and well…We’re still friends. We just don’t hang out like we used to.”
“Well, if you ever need a sitter, I’m available. I love kids, and Della’s a great kid.”
Tina smiled. “Thanks.”
“Food’ll be here in a few.” Her brother headed into the dining room and took a seat. Jace followed suit.
“Are you going to the cookout? It’d be nice to know another person there who’s unattached.”
“The cookout?”
“Yeah, she’s coming,” Tyler said.
She looked at her brother, narrowing her eyes. “It’s funny you should say that considering this is the first I hear about a cookout.”
Tina’s eyes twinkled with amusement.
“I was gonna pick you up on Sunday and take you,” Tyler said, nonchalantly.
She schooled her features and forced herself to soften her voice. “What if I have plans?”
Tyler, looking confounded, stood. “What’s the big deal?”
The big deal? She didn’t want to go anywhere Jace would be. More than likely, the cookout was a club event. If this cookout was like their Friday Night Fiascos, she could potentially catch Jace, who she wanted to avoid, in the act again.
“Ty, I don’t even know what the cookout is.”
“The club has a cookout once a month. It’s Sunday, and you’re coming ’cause I’m picking you up.”
She’d been right. A club event, which meant Jace would be there. She didn’t want to go. “What if I have plans?”
He lifted a brow and crossed his arms over his chest. “Do you?”
“That’s not really the point.”
“Don’t matter—”
“Tyler—”
“Allie, why are you riling me?” He had the nerve to look abashed.
“Why are you riling me?”
Tina’s laughter filled the room.
She glanced at her and couldn’t help but smile. “Does he boss you around like this, too?”
“No, but I have a stubborn brother, too. I’m quite familiar with these arguments. I have to admit it’s funny when someone else is being bossed, not me.”
She could see that, so she smiled. “Jace does this to you often?”
“Yeah, and there’s no use fighting it. These stubborn men always get their way.”
“Why are you talking about us like we’re not here?” Ty asked.
Allie’s gaze shot to her brother. Mocking anger, she smirked. “Because we’re ignoring you.”
He let out an exasperated sigh, threw his hands in the air then took a seat. “Don’t get what the big deal is.”
“The big deal is you can’t… Never mind.” Tina had a point. No matter how many times she explained, he wouldn’t understand. Still, it peeved her. “I may decide to go on a road trip Sunday.”
Tyler shot out of his chair. “I won’t let you leave.”
Jace’s gaze shot to Ty. He tensed.
“Oh, yeah? How do you plan to do that?”
“Easy. I’ll sleep on your couch.”
Damn. He could even if she didn’t let him in. When she moved in, she gave him a key. “I’ll change the locks.”
His hands turned to fists. He clenched his jaw. She grinned.
“Allie.” He pronounced each syllable, his tone firm.
“Fine, I’ll go, but I’m not going because you want me to. I’m going for Tina.” His narrowed eyes didn’t soften, so she smiled and added, “There’s a big teddy bear underneath that temper.”
He fought a smile for several moments, and suddenly, he burst out laughing. “Don’t say that in front of the guys.”
She turned to Tina, whose mouth hung open. Tina shook her head. “Can’t believe it. Never seen that…” Her eyes filled with glee. “You’re amazing, and you have to teach me how to do that.”
“Shit,” Jace muttered under his breath.
Her smile widened. “I’ll teach you everything I know.”