Kline looks like he is seeing red and Charlie is his target. My brother might not be ready for marriage and babies, but that doesn’t mean he don’t have feelings for Tiffany. She’s my best friend, more like a sister. “So what do we need to do to get her back, Charlie?” Kline spits at him. His chest is heaving with fury.
“Best case scenario is we set up a meeting and buy some time. You win or lose your fight this weekend depending on the take and we pay what we owe. Then they give her back, no harm no foul. Worst case they rough her up a bit for an example.”
“Not good enough Charlie. That could be Brandi you are talking about. Would you be so unruffled if it were her? Do you even care? Tiffany has a family; they are going to notice she’s missing.”
“Look they don’t know they’ve got the wrong girl yet. That’s the only thing we got working in our favor right now. I know a guy… he might know where they are holding her. If we are smart about it, we might be able to steal her back. Give me an hour then meet me at the office.” By the office he really means a storage unit on the back side of town.
For the first time ever I do believe Charlie actually made sense. How did that happen? Kline seems to be pleased with Charlie’s plan for now. My mother on the other hand is a weeping mess. As for me, I think I am in shock that I could have been taken against my will. I feel guilty because I am sad that Tiffany was taken, but at the same time I’m still glad that they didn’t get me. I am a horrible person and I’m going to hell.
**
Kline left over three hours ago to meet up with Charlie. I am freaking the hell out. I’ve called my mom over thirty times and she knows less than I do about what’s going on. If Charlie gets Kline killed or if those goons hurt Tiffany, I’m going to kill the fat bastard. How do they expect me to just sit here while my best friend has been taken as insurance? I still think there is something to this whole mess that they aren’t telling me. I’m all dressed up with nowhere to go…story of my life.
My phone rings but it’s not the call I am hoping for. “Hey Royce, how’s work going?”
“Went good. I ran into a few snags, but nothing I couldn’t handle. I’m off now. I’m pulling up to your place, since you didn’t stay put like I asked.”
I hesitate before answering him. Should I tell him about Tiffany? I know Royce will keep his mouth shut, and I need someone to keep me company before I go insane with worry.
Before I can say more, Royce is knocking on my door. Eagerly I greet him with a kiss. I try to explain to him about Tiffany. Telling him how Kline ran off to be her shining white knight and that I’m scared. Everything just comes out as a big clusterfuck of words that make no sense.
“Slow down and start from the beginning.” I curl up in Royce’s lap as he rocks me in the easy glider.
I take a deep breath “So okay…You know how Charlie owes out a lot of money. Earlier today I went to check on things, and I overheard Charlie having a heated discussion over his payment. I hid and tried to get a look at the guy because his voice sounded familiar, but I couldn’t get a good make on him. Anyways, I went to see my brother today at the gym and he blew me off. Are you following me so far?” Royce nods that he is so I continue. “When I came home Tiff was here and we decided that we were going to have a girl’s night, and I let her take my jeep to go home to get ready. Well... she never came back. The next thing I knew my mom and Charlie were here making sure I hadn’t been kidnapped as collateral. Long story short, Tiff has been taken in my place and now my brother is out doing Lord knows what to get her back.”
“Let me get this straight, the Garretti brothers took Tiffany thinking they were grabbing you?”
“Basically yeah. I’m worried about Kline though. He has been gone for almost four hours.” Royce pats me on my back rubbing soothing circles with the palm of his hand.
“I am sure they will both be fine. And look at me.” He holds my chin forcing me to meet his gaze. “This is not your fault. It’s Charlie’s. I think it’s time we talk about a lot of things Brandi. I haven’t been completely honest about my life before we met.” The expression on his face tells me I am about to hear a lot of things that I am not going to lik
e.
Using all of my energy I try to remove myself from being seated in his lap but he just holds me closer. “I need you to listen. And when I am finished if you ask me to leave I will.”
“Fair enough.”
“I worked for some bad people Brandi.” Please don’t say it… “I work for the Garretti brothers as an enforcer. They won’t hurt Tiffany as long as they think she is you. I’m sorry, I have wanted to tell you for a long time, but Kline asked me not to. He said you would be safer not knowing. I respected his choice as your brother. But I should have been honest from the start. That is why Kline has never liked me. He has always known that I wasn’t good enough for you. Being with me puts you at risk. There is a lot of blood between me and the brothers, I barely got out with my life.”
“I need a moment.” So many emotions and questions are fighting with one another inside of my head right now. I need a shot. “Want a drink? I need a drink before you go any further.” He shakes his head no, and I take a seat on the couch across the room from him. I can’t have him touching me right now; I can’t stand the thought of it.
“Babe, I ended things with you before because I was getting in too deep, and I was afraid that they would someday use you against me. I need to tell you things about Elizabeth and Parker Garrett.”
The mention of Elizabeth and Parker stops me cold. Does Royce know Parker? Is he the guy from Royce’s story? I think I’m going to be sick.
“When Kline threw the fight with Miller, I knew then that Charlie was on the hook. I lost you for nothing. It didn’t matter that you weren’t with me you were still in danger…” He hangs is head in his hands. “On second thought pass the bottle. A shot sounds good.”
I know he knows I slept with Parker, but in my defense we were not together at the time. I know it doesn’t make it okay. “Royce, I’m sorry.”
“Okay.” he laughs softly. His eyes bore into mine and I know that no matter what he says or how much I love him; it won’t be enough to save us from all that has happening.
I stand and reach the bottle of whiskey to him. Nothing like liquid courage to keep the truth coming, I’ve always heard the truth comes out when people are drunk.
“I wasn’t honest with you from the start and I know that is where I made my first of many mistakes with you. The first time I saw you in the gym, only five months had passed since the accident that took Elizabeth. You looked so much like her, I almost couldn’t believe it. I felt like the clouds had parted and heaven was giving me a second chance to do things right. I should have told you that.”
“Yes, you should have mentioned I looked a lot like your dead girlfriend!” I snap. Guess I know why Parker was attracted to me too. Wow, what a shot to the ego.
Royce