Betrayer, page 10
part #3 of The Shining Ones Series
“How was it?” he asked, pulling me back far enough to see my face.
“The same. Nothing’s changed. Not really, at least.” I shrugged out of his hold and made my way to the kitchen. The fridge door swung silently open as I reached in for the carton of juice, then shut again with the barest of whispers. I took a sip and waited at the sink, knowing that he’d follow me into the kitchen.
Seconds later, Adam appeared in the kitchen doorway. For once, he didn’t come up to me, but rather stood a respectful distance away, his eyes unreadable, his hands by his sides. Open and receptive, but he wasn’t going to make the move this time. It was up to me to decide what I wanted out of this exchange.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” he asked politely.
“No,” I said, shaking my head and trying to choke back my sudden sadness. “It’s hard to see her like that. The whole thing is just so damn hard. I feel…” I searched for the right word, then gave up. “I don’t know.” I sat my juice glass on the counter.
“You are bound to feel responsible, but you cannot change the outcome of what has happened, so why do you dwell on it?” He still hadn’t moved from his perch inside the door as I’d hoped he would.
Adam was right, of course. There was nothing I could do to change what had happened. All the wishing in the world wouldn’t make a difference.
“It doesn’t matter,” I replied, tired of revisiting all the sadness. “It’s about endurance now, and tying up loose ends. There isn’t much time left before Gabriel shows back up. I’m assuming she hasn’t contacted you since?” It was a good question. Gabriel Brightstar had disappeared as quickly as she’d arrived.
Adam shook his head and took another step toward me. “No, not that I expected her to. She came and said her piece, and I gave her my word we would be ready. There is nothing further to discuss until we arrive in Elizium. She knows this.” I snorted, causing Adam to give me a funny look.
“It’s that simple, is it?” I asked.
“Yes, it is,” replied Adam, making his way over to my side. He lifted my chin, his stare intense and uncomfortable. “My sister is not stupid. She knows full well that there is no way I will risk your life. She has guaranteed my compliance by guaranteeing your safety.”
I didn’t know what to say to that. It felt like I was a pawn on a chessboard, moved this way and that by an unknown player, never knowing fully what the next play would be and if I’d even stay on the board.
“But enough of that,” said Adam, caressing my cheek. “I have something I wanted to show you, something that may give you some happiness in the time remaining. Come.” He clasped my hand in his, tugging me around the refrigerator to the porch door. Without another word, he swung the door open and gently nudged me through. For a moment, I didn’t know what to say.
The porch furniture had been removed and in its place, Adam had recreated my art studio. My easel stood off to the sunny side of the porch, the set of drawers with my essentials nestled up against it. The stainless-steel table was a bit farther away given the porch layout, but it was a small inconvenience. All my canvases of Adam had been stacked neatly under a tarp to keep the elements off them. My studio stands and other bits and pieces were stored over in a corner. He’d tried his best to create a sanctuary for me, to give me an escape from the stress and sadness. It was almost too much.
I flung my arms around Adam, fighting back tears of gratitude. He laughed softly, squeezing me tighter before placing a light kiss on the top of my head. “Had I known your reaction, I would have dragged you out here first.”
I pushed back from his chest and gazed up into his face. He was still smiling. “Thank you. It’s perfect.” Standing on my tiptoes, I reached up to pull his head to mine, my lips searching out his before he could say another word.
A groan was his only response and so I kissed him again, this time pushing my tongue into his mouth. His hands crept down my back to my hips, pulling me into him. My heartbeat had accelerated, my skin finely attuned to his hands, which were now pulling at the hem of my shirt. He broke our kiss.
“I think it best to go inside before I undress you in front of the neighbors,” he said hoarsely, his lips swollen, his hair a mess where I’d grabbed it by the handfuls.
Adam didn’t wait on a response as he tugged on my hand and dragged me back inside to his bedroom. He closed the door behind us, the whitewashed door shutting with a quiet swish and click. The room was utterly silent except for our ragged breathing. He took a step toward me and then he was on top of me, his hand pulling my head back so his mouth could reach my collarbone, light kisses at first until I began to moan, then the gentleness evaporated like sea spray in the air. His mouth came down hard and demanding on my neck, his teeth grazing my neck then my earlobe as he sought out my mouth again.
“I will never tire of this,” he whispered against my neck, the tiny vibrations of his voice making it harder and harder for me to concentrate. “If I accomplish nothing else in this world, to have you like this is enough.”
I gave into him like I always did, letting the wave of pleasure from his words wash over me because I believed him. I wanted to believe that nothing mattered but us.
But he’d be wrong in the end. It would never be enough.
8
That afternoon, I went into work early.
My time was limited, and in a very short period, the restaurant had become home. I still missed Paddy’s some days, but there was something about the new restaurant that made Paddy’s pale in comparison. It wasn’t because Rockfish’s customers were more upmarket, or that we made more money by working fewer hours, or even because Haylee came to work with me. Those things helped, but the real difference was my dad. There was no denying that truth. While pain and suffering had followed in the wake of Adam’s arrival into my life, Joe had been the unexpected pleasure in the middle of all that bad.
And leaving him left a rotten taste in my mouth.
We’d come so far that it was hard to fathom leaving him behind once more. I understood his frustration. I was just as frustrated as he was—or even more so, because I couldn’t tell him the truth. Was I strong enough to walk away from him and everyone I cared about even if there really wasn’t a choice anymore?
I tried to swallow the knot forming in my throat.
“Hey.” Joe’s voice made me jump.
I turned to watch my dad drift over to me. He was back in a flannel shirt and jeans, which wasn’t too surprising given he didn’t need to be in a suit for another hour or two. I was still dressed in jeans and a t-shirt myself.
“I didn’t expect to see you yet,” Joe said. He stepped in to give me an awkward hug, then backed away.
“Yeah, I didn’t have anything else going on, and I wanted to make sure everything was squared away here,” I replied, glancing away from him.
“Right, well, I’m glad to see you anyway.” Joe shifted uncomfortably on his feet as he always did when he didn’t know how to deal with me. “There isn’t a lot going on. The guys are in the back prepping their stations, and everything is pretty good out here.”
An uncomfortable silence settled over the room.
My dad was all business now, and part of my heart crumpled right then, knowing he was keeping his distance in order to save himself from heartache. I had caused that, for both of us. Still, I tried.
“Okay, maybe we could go over the menus for next week and start reaching out to suppliers—”
My dad cut me off. “Oh, there is one thing. There was a girl who stopped in to see you.”
That made me pause. The only other girl likely to show up for me at work was Katie, and Joe already knew who she was, but I asked just to be sure.
“So it wasn’t Katie?”
“No, I would’ve said if it was.” Joe scratched his stubble, quiet for a second, then he shook his head. “Yeah, I’ve never seen her before. She was petite, a real beauty, but…”
“What?” I asked.
“It’s hard to explain.” He paused again. “She looked like a life-size porcelain doll and she had the personality to match. She wasn’t all there, if you get my meaning.”
Joe’s description of the mystery girl didn’t ring any bells with me. I knew a lot of people on the island, but not every single one. Plus, waitresses were rotating in and out of the local bars all the time, and the island was gearing up for high season. There could’ve been a dozen or more plausible explanations. But that didn’t mean I wasn’t cautious. No good ever came out of a stranger walking into my workplace.
“I’ve got nothing,” I said to my dad, shrugging. “Did she leave a message or anything?”
“Only that she’d see you soon,” he replied, his expression just as befuddled as mine must’ve looked. “I wasn’t really paying that much attention. I thought she was here for an interview, to be honest.”
“An interview?”
Joe rubbed the back of his neck, no longer looking at me. “Yeah, I’m starting to interview for your replacement.”
It shouldn’t have come as a surprise, but his words hit their mark. Like tiny barbs on a fishhook, they embedded in my chest, causing me to flinch. Already? My mind knew it was true while my heart still sat in denial, refusing to believe it. I cleared my throat, trying to act casual.
“Oh?”
Joe finally lifted his head, his face a mask of worry and guilt. “I didn’t have a choice, Poe.” He struggled to keep his voice even-keeled. “With it being early days at the restaurant, I can’t do it by myself, even with Haylee Jane. You know how much I wanted it to be me and you, but I can’t risk the restaurant. There’s too much tied up in it.”
And there was the rub.
I wanted the same thing he wanted. It’d taken me a while to get there, but his wish was mine, too, which made my desertion even bitterer. I tamped down my frustration and smiled at him. It took everything I could muster, and I dug my fingernails into my palms. “I totally get it, Dad. It’s okay. You’ve gotta do what you’ve gotta do.”
He patted my shoulder before dropping his hand back to his side. “It’s not my first choice, you know.”
“I know.” Another awkward pause passed before I could find the words. “Anyhow, it’s all good. I should get to it.” Grabbing my clothes and bag off the hostess station, I hurried toward the kitchen and anything that took me out of Joe’s sphere. I wanted a distraction from the stress, not a reminder of it.
And of course, once we opened, the running of the restaurant took over like it did every night. We were still packed out, and it was a good sign we’d continue to stay busy, but I needed to talk to Haylee. It was time to tell her. I couldn’t put it off any longer. But not at the restaurant. Somewhere where we could really talk.
“Hey, what are you doing now?” I asked casually as I cashed out Haylee’s tips at the end of the night. The beep of the till as it tallied and then spit out the night’s earnings in one long tape filtered out as background noise in an otherwise quiet space.
“I dunno, probably going home, girl. It’s late.” Haylee shrugged.
“Do you mind coming back with me to Adam’s for a bit?” Haylee started to make up an excuse, but I reached out and touched her arm. “I know it’s not comfortable for you to be around him, but please, for me? I’ll ask him to go out.”
“Okay, but I don’t wanna be hangin’ around him, Poe. Something about him still don’t sit right with me.” Haylee wasn’t going to elaborate, and the restaurant wasn’t an appropriate venue for that conversation anyhow.
“That’s fine.” I ripped the tape off and paper clipped it to the folder for the bookkeeper. I was officially done for the night. “Let’s get out of here. Ready to go?”
Haylee picked up her bag from the counter. “I’ll follow you.”
Five minutes later, the conversation was a different one. Haylee refused to budge from her car until I talked Adam into leaving, and that was proving to be more difficult than I’d imagined.
“Look, it’s just for a little bit. I know it’s your house, but I need some Haylee time.” It was the third time I’d said it, and it was getting old fast. I crossed my arms and huffed. I had no idea why it was such a big deal anyhow.
“We need to talk,” Adam persisted.
I paused to give Adam the once-over. Even when we argued, I couldn’t resist him. His jeans hung low on his hips. His t-shirt had ridden up just enough that I could see a thin line of pale skin before the waistband of his briefs disappeared below his belt. He stood barefoot, which didn’t detract from his overall appearance. Even his frown and the deep V between his brown eyes couldn’t keep me from desiring him. My mind wanted to wander back to the previous night, but I didn’t have that luxury. Haylee was still waiting.
“And we will, as soon as I’m done talking to Haylee.” I ran my hand through my hair, momentarily distracted by its shortness, but then shook it off. Grabbing Adam’s hand, I tugged him toward the door. “Give me thirty minutes, that’s all I ask.”
Adam sighed but opened the door anyway. He turned to give me one last meaningful look. It was intense and direct, giving me goosebumps, his tone unwavering when he spoke. “Fine, thirty minutes, that is all, but I shall stay on the porch and will not be dissuaded on this.”
“Fine by me,” I said as I waved to Haylee to come in. “You can patrol the perimeter of the house every ten minutes if it makes you happy. Knock your socks off.”
Adam gave me a confused look, but Haylee was already jogging up the porch steps, avoiding Adam like he had the plague. She scooted past me and into the house. Adam’s expression changed to annoyance. “Thirty minutes,” he muttered.
I didn’t even reply as I shut the door and turned to find Haylee eyeing me up from the middle of the living room. She hadn’t sat down yet, her skinny arms wrapped across her chest as she glanced around the room, taking inventory of Adam’s living room. She looked about as comfortable as a three-legged dog in a race.
“Wow, you’re movin’ on up, girl.”
I shrugged, feeling suddenly conscious of the attention. The glamor of Adam’s house had worn off for me, but for Haylee it must’ve been like walking into a show home. The white sofas, the chrome-and-glass coffee table, the polished floors, art on the walls she and I would never be able to afford. It was a reminder that we were out of our league.
“It’s just stuff, and it’s not even my stuff. Sit.” I motioned to a couch. “Can I get you anything?”
Haylee snorted. “When did you become the happy homemaker?” she asked before taking a seat.
“About the time my life went up in flames and you started shacking up with Andre,” I quipped right back.
Haylee sighed. “You know I would’ve been here after the fire if that man hadn’t kept me from his front door.” She jerked her head toward the porch where Adam was no doubt counting down the minutes before he could kick Haylee out.
“I know,” I replied, sitting down next to her. “I don’t want you to feel guilty about that. There was nothing you could’ve done. I had Daisy to deal with and Birdie was already around because Adam called him. It wasn’t pleasant, trust me.”
Haylee didn’t respond right away, but when she did, her words were laced with sullenness. “But you still called Katie to take you to the hairdresser’s instead of me.”
Haylee was jealous of Katie? It made no sense. I shook my head. “It wasn’t like that. She just happened to be the right person for the job. Although…” I paused, pointing to my head. “I’m not so sure about that now.”
“I know you say that and all, but she’s like a wart on a witch’s ass. A nuisance and always there.” Haylee grunted and looked away, but I couldn’t help it. I laughed.
“Haylee Jane!”
“What?” she challenged, crossing her arms for good measure. My initial attempt to soothe her ruffled feathers had fallen on deaf ears. I needed a more direct approach apparently.
“Katie will never replace you,” I replied, driving the point home with my index finger to her chest. She swatted me away. “Got it?”
“Fine,” Haylee grumbled.
“But that’s not why I asked you to come over.” I took a deep breath, feeling my temperature spike with the oncoming anxiety. What I was going to say next wasn’t going to be easy, and there was no way to sugarcoat it. “I need a favor. I need you to look after Joe because I’m leaving.”
“What?” Haylee bolted up off the couch, her shock evident in wide eyes and an open mouth.
I felt embarrassed by the admission, but plowed on anyhow in a rambling kind of way. “I’ll need you to take Daisy for me, too, because Birdie will be on tour. Maybe even store some of my art stuff for me, but I can always put it in storage if—”
“Uh-uh. No.” Haylee shook her head frantically, then jabbed a finger at me. “Tell me what is going on right now.”
“I can’t,” I said quietly.
“That ain’t gonna cut it with me, girl. I’ve had just about enough of all this cock ’n’ bull bullshit you’ve been feedin’ me. We’re still best friends, right? Then don’t cut me out.” She stood in front of me with her hands balled into fists on her hips. She was pissed.
“I have to go away for a little bit to sort something out. I don’t know when I’ll be back. That’s all I can tell you, Haylee. Any more and I don’t know what’ll happen. You know I’d tell you if I could.” I cringed at her reaction. I’d known it was going to be bad, but I didn’t know it would be like this.
“I’m tellin’ you, Poe, if you don’t tell me what in tarnation is goin’ on, I’m gonna—”
But she never got her chance to finish the threat because Adam had stormed through the front door and back into the living room, a thunderous look painted across his face. It was going from bad to worse.
“It is time for you to leave, Haylee Jane.” Adam’s voice was thin and tight as a wire.
“You don’t get to tell me how this plays out,” retorted Haylee Jane, her anger now turned toward Adam. Her temper was firing on all cylinders.
