Salvation and Secrets (5 page)

“Oh hey, Elena, Ana. Hope you don’t mind us crashing. Nate invited us. Just
us.”

I relaxed a fraction at her words and then honed in on the fact that Lydia had blushed as she said his name. I cocked an eyebrow at Elena, who just shrugged.

“The more, the merrier, right?” Elena chirped, taking her seat on Tyson’s lap.

Paul came up beside me and shoulder checked me gently. “You okay?”

“Yes, Dad,” I mocked, and he shook his head, a slight smirk playing on his face. “Come on, you’re on host duties with me.”

I followed Paul into the kitchen. It wasn’t on the same scale as Fallen House, but it was pretty impressive, all high-gloss units and state-of-the-art appliances.

“How did you guys score this house?”

Paul grabbed a couple of beers from the refrigerator and shrugged. “Jamie’s dad is loaded. Like I-can-buy-my-son-the-best loaded. He went to Marcus Donohue directly.”

“You’re shitting me?” I clasped a hand over my mouth. “Oops, sorry.”

Paul laughed. “No need to apologize; it’s just good to know there’s some normal in there somewhere.” The sparkle in his eyes told me that he was just joking around, but I was too busy storing the new piece of information about Marcus Donohue—apparently, the stories I’d spent the summer obsessing over really were true.

“You want a beer or soda?” Paul called, pulling me from my thoughts.

“Beer?” I wasn’t sure why it came out like a question. I wasn’t sure why it came out at all. Alcohol and I never ended well, but I was in good company and desperate to relax; to try to ignore the taunts of the small knife next to Paul. Its sharp edge calling to me.

“You sure?” He eyed me suspiciously, but I nodded and snatched the bottle from him, and started gulping it down.

“Hey, steady,” he said, his forehead creasing.

I swallowed hard and blinked away the bitter taste. “What? I’m just thirsty.”
And desperate to take my mind off that knife.
My eyes darted to the blade. Paul caught me and cocked his brow but didn’t say anything, just narrowed his eyes at me.

We stood like that, watching the other, in some kind of showdown. He was trying to work me out, and I was trying to prepare my excuse for my weird behavior.

“Cormack, you bringing those beers or what?” Tyson’s voice boomed through the house, and Paul blinked, breaking our standoff. “Coming,” he yelled back before grabbing the bottles off the counter and brushing past me without a word.

After finishing the rest of the beer, I rejoined the rest of the guys. Paul moved up to let me sit next to him, and I guessed he wasn’t as pissed with me as he made me feel. Since my meltdown at the stadium, something had changed between us. I wasn’t interested in him, not like that, but he seemed genuinely concerned about me. He cared—it was written on his face every time I looked at him. And I liked him. He was easy to be around, when he wasn’t throwing his puppy dog eyes at me. Besides, after everything that had gone down last year, he still wanted to be my friend. That had to count for something, didn’t it?

As the night wore on, I was surprised at how relaxed I became. Sure, the four beers might have had something to do it, but I was actually having fun. And almost managed to ignore the itch underneath the surface wanting a release. Almost. But being around Elena and the guys was helping. Even Lydia and Cassie made me laugh a couple of times. It was nice.

“So, hmm, Lyd, you want to come get that book you need?”

Lydia looked over at Nate with a strange expression. “Book? What book?”

“You know, that book. The one I said I’d lend you.” Nate narrowed his eyes, clearly trying to tell her something.

“Oh yeah, that book. Of course. I forgot all about it.” She almost jumped off the seat and ran to him. The rest of us sat trying to stifle our laughter at their poor attempt to be discreet.

They hurried out of the room, and we all exploded with laughter.

“They do know we totally know they’re not going to find a book, right?” Cassie snorted through her laughter.

“I’ve never seen Nate act like such a pussy. Wait until tomorrow; I won’t let him live this down.” Jamie high fived Tyson and they started plotting Nate’s demise.

“She really likes him,” Cassie whispered, leaning over to us.

“I think it’s pretty obvious he likes her, too. He hasn’t stopped watching her all night,” Elena added.

I listened but didn’t join in. My busy thoughts were elsewhere—faux leather, a storage closet inside Fallen House, and exactly twelve months prior.

The hard truth was that I could avoid Jackson and shut my feelings off, but he wasn’t a stain to be removed. He was a scar—just another one to add to the ones already marring my body and mind.

Chapter 6

~JACKSON~

“Come on, Jackson. For me?” Briony batted her eyes at me and tried to pull on my arm, but I shrugged her off. “No.”

She threw her hands up and scowled. “Lighten up, for fuck’s sake. It’s just a cheer thing. I need a date. It’s not a damn marriage proposal.”

“I can’t stand those things, and it’s not like you don’t have your pick of guys.”

“Isn’t that the truth, sis,” Braiden called from the sofa.

“Shut it,
brother
.” Briony flipped him the bird behind his back, and then refocused her attention on me. “Please, I’m begging.”

Fuck, she was not going down without a fight, and Braiden wasn’t doing shit to help me. In fact, he loved every second of it.

“I’ll wear something very, very sexy.” Briony inched closer and I instinctively stepped back, hitting the wall.

Braiden almost spat out his beer. “Too much info, Briony.”

I called over to him, “A little help?”

“Just take her, for fuck’s sake. Then I won’t have to listen to her bitch anymore.”

Double fuck.

“See, even Braiden thinks it’s a good idea.”

I should have known he’d take her side. He had been trying to hook us up since junior year at high school.

“Briony, you’re like my sister, for fuck’s sake.”

Briony bristled, flicking her hair off her shoulder, clearly trying to draw my eyes to her tits. “I am not your sister. Do I look like your sister?” She was pushing me, trying to get a rise from me. She had been doing it all summer since shit died down after Ana.

Ana.

Just thinking her name sent an electrical pulse rushing through me. I missed her so fucking much. Missed just being near her. And now I had to deal with Briony and her fucked-up views of almost-sibling relationships.

“Actually, don’t answer that. But you’re taking me. I won’t take no for an answer. Not this time.” Briony reached out for me, brushing her fingers across my chest, and the urge to gag hit me and I had to swallow it down.

It was an impossible situation. Before Ana, I brushed her off, no questions asked. But now, I was under scrutiny. My loyalty to the family had been called into question, and any slip-up meant I would have to face the consequences and risk turning everything into shit. Not just for me, but the people I cared about. Ana…Otis…Velma. Braiden would not accept my disloyalty. He just wouldn’t. He had made that clear as fucking day.

Knowing I had no choice, I scrubbed a hand over my jaw. “Fine. When and where?” Briony’s eyes lit up and she started to open her mouth, but I cut her off. “But Bri, it’s strictly business… got it?”

“Whatever you say.”

But the smirk in her voice told me that she had no intention of listening to me.

~

The road was pitch black. Not even the headlights cut through it, and my whole body hummed with adrenaline. It was always the same when we ran errands for Uncle Marcus. For as much as I hated being involved with the family business, I couldn’t deny the buzz. The one flowing through me, making me feel alive.

“So where’s the drop?” I asked Braiden, as he navigated the Jeep through the darkness.

“Somewhere on the edge of Tillamook. The GPS will get us there.”

“Who’s the handler?”

Braiden shrugged. He rarely knew the details, just stormed into whatever his dad asked him, and then some. I, on the other hand, preferred to be prepared. Being prepared could be the difference between things going according to plan and things going to shit.

My eyes stared into the black abyss, my mind empty, focused only on the task at hand. There wasn’t time for distraction when you were handling Donohue business. Something flashed in the side mirror and my eyes darted to the rearview mirror to check it out. “Did you see that?”

“What?” Braiden replied.

“I thought I saw lights… a tail?”

“Man, you’re paranoid. There’s no fucking tail.” Braiden slowed the engine and turned his head checking out the road behind us. “See, nothing.”

He was right. Whatever I saw wasn’t a car. The road was empty for miles in both directions.

Ten minutes later, Braiden turned off the main road and followed a dirt track into the middle of nowhere. My eyes scanned our surroundings, trying to focus enough to make out where the hell we were, looking for exits, landmarks, any sign of life.

“This is it. X marks the spot.” Braiden laughed, and I wondered how in the hell he was always so laid back at these things. I wasn’t scared, just always prepared for the worst. “Grab the gear out of the trunk, and I’ll wait at the meet spot.”

I did as he directed, retrieving the two bags from the trunk and meeting Braiden up ahead of the Jeep in a small clearing.

My heart beat furiously and there was ringing in my ears as the adrenaline pumped through me. We only waited a couple of minutes before footsteps approached us from the left.

"Donohue? That you?" a familiar voice called out.

"Over here, Perkins."

I breathed a sigh of relief. Perkins was a regular. We dealt with him a lot, and my defenses stepped down a notch.

Perkins came into view, his black jacket blending into the night’s sky. "Money's in the bag. Unmarked twenties."

Braiden nodded at me and I stepped forward, dropping the two bags at his feet. He threw the smaller bag at me, before hauling the bags over his shoulder. "It's a pleasure as al-"

The sound of tires screeching came out of nowhere and my hand shot out to Perkins, but he shrugged me off, startled.

"This isn't me. Is it you?" he accused.

Braiden's face searched for the car, the veins in his neck pulsating with anger. "It's not us. Go, NOW."

Perkins started to run, but the flash of headlights blinded him. He stumbled and rolled just in time to miss the oncoming car. I grabbed Braiden and yanked him to me, clutching the bag.

"Who the fuck is that?"

"Who do you think?" I snapped, watching the car pull a donut and start toward us. "There's only one fuck crazy enough to pull this. Calder."

The car was headed straight for us. We would never outrun it. Braiden planted his feet and squared his shoulders. The guy either had no fear or a freaking death wish.

I braced myself, but the car swerved at the last second and the passenger door flew open. The guy blindsided me out of nowhere and snatched the bag. As I hit the ground hard, he made off toward Perkins.

"Braiden, he has the bag. Get to Perkins," I shouted, trying to push myself up off the ground. Braiden shot off after the passenger, and I righted myself ready to follow them.

"Not so fast." The words didn’t cause me to freeze; it was the click of the barrel loading that did. "Don't move."

I slowly turned to face Calder. His eyes burned with crazy, and I inched my hands up in surrender. "Cole. Think this through."

He pressed the gun nearer and said, "Don't fucking speak. Merrick, you got it?"

"Yeah,” a voice called from the darkness, and I tried to look out of the corner of my eye, but it was useless. Everything merged into one big oblivious shadow.

"Both down." A guy came into view carrying all three bags. "We better get out of here before they come to." His eyes widened when he noticed the gun trained on me.

Calder's eyes darted to his accomplice and he ordered, "Get in the car, Merrick."

"But-"

"I said get in the fucking car."

Merrick stalked off, leaving just Calder and me. And the gun.

"Tell Donohue this makes us even." He backed up toward the car and started to fold himself into the open door. "Oh, and Pierce? You really shouldn't let your property wander around unguarded. Especially on our territory."

I didn't have time to consider his threat. My eardrums exploded as the shot rang out in the desolate field. My hands moved instinctively to my ears, as I watched the car speed away.

"Braid? Braiden?" I called out frantically, moving further into the darkness.

There was a grumble up ahead and my eyes adjusted enough to see two figures lying on the ground. Perkins was out cold still, but Braiden was coming around.

"Calder's a dead man." Braiden groaned, clutching his head.

I reached down and yanked him to his feet, just as Perkins started to rouse. "Wha-what was that?"

"Our problem, not yours," Braiden growled, helping him up.

"They stole Maconey money and the coke. It's a Maconey problem, too, Donohue."

Braiden pounded his fist into the air. "Fuck. Dad will lose his shit."

Perkins cracked his neck from side to side and eyed me. "Take care of him; don't let him do anything stupid. Maconey will be in touch."

I nodded and pulled Braiden away before he did anything stupid.

“Get the fuck off me. I’m okay.” Braiden shrugged out of my grasp and brushed himself off. “How the fuck are we going to explain this to Dad? No money and no coke.”

We reached the Jeep and climbed in, and I lay my head back against the rest. “We just tell him the truth. He’ll find out one way or another. Perhaps he can reach out to Declan. Cole said this was him getting even, but I have a feeling things are only just beginning.” There was something about his veiled threat.
Don’t leave your property unguarded,
he had said.
He could have only meant one thing: Ana. I had almost launched myself at him to beat the meaning out of him. Except I couldn’t alert Braiden because it would only give him more ammunition against me. No, I had to sit on it—it was between Calder and me. There was no way in hell I was going to let him lay a finger on Ana, even if it meant going against Braiden and making myself a presence in her life. I just had to work out how to do that without actually doing it.

~

“Jackson, get my coat?” Briony laid her hand on my arm and squeezed gently, batting her made-up eyes at me. I grimaced, forcing a nod. It was easier than telling her to get her own damn coat.

We had been at the mixer for over three hours and it was unbearable. If the tux wasn’t already cutting off my air supply, Briony’s constant over-the-top flirting would have. There was no denying that she looked hot; the black dress clung to her delicate curves like a second skin, and every guy in the room had a boner for her. But it was Briony—the girl I grew up with, fought with over the last cookie, ganged up against Braiden in water fights and played pranks on. I didn’t see her like that. Plus, the girl was a crazy bitch. I had seen her rip out guys’ hearts and then set Braiden on them when they broke hers. I didn’t think anyone had ever told her no—except me. But it didn’t stop her from trying, and since Ana, she had been coming on stronger and stronger.

“Thanks, babe.” She beamed at me, slipping into the fur-lined coat, as she said goodbye to her friends.

“You guys should totally come to Portland with us this weekend?” The girl with the short dark hair said, and Briony smiled, flashing her perfectly white teeth at her. “Oh, we’d love to, but we have plans.”

The fuck we did. I was just about to set her straight when she brushed up close to me and kissed my cheek. Her lips lingered for a second before inching toward my lips. My stomach bottomed out, and I pulled back slightly to look at her, my eyes boring into her. I wanted to puke.

She had taken it too far. The whole night she had played up our relationship, failing to correct anyone when they had assumed we were together. I shrugged her off my arm, said a curt goodbye to the small group, and headed for the door. Air. I needed air before I really lost my shit.

“Jackson, wait. I’m sorry.”

I spun on my heels and faced her. “What the fuck was that, Briony?”

“I got carried away. We were having a good time, and it was nice. It felt right.” The color drained from her face and her eyes filled with what looked like regret.

“I told you it was just business. You took it too far back there.”

Something flashed in her eyes and she squared her shoulders. I knew that look; she didn’t regret anything, and she was readying herself for a challenge. Briony Donohue didn’t take no for an answer, and she looked like she was done hearing me turn her down.