Pouring myself a glass of wine, and grabbing my chocolate, I join him in the living room. I sink down on the couch getting comfortable comfortable. I get the feeling this is going to be a hard conversation for the both of us.
The look of hurt and betrayal in his eyes makes my heart weep.
“Royce, I’m sorry. I…”
“Don’t apologize to me. It's okay I don’t like it and thought of you with him is enough to make me want to kill a man. But don’t be sorry. I blame myself. I did this by not being honest. If I had told you everything from the start, we wouldn’t be in this mess.”
“You can’t blame yourself for my poor judgment. Now I want to know Tiffany’s part and if you aren’t going to tell me then…this conversation is through.”
“I told you it isn’t my place. But if I must tell you I will. Tiffany has a thing with Jake. She was in on the plan. She took your jeep on purpose so she could help stage her being taken. She’s been in a suite at a casino the whole time.” I smooth her hair and wait for her to get angry, to deny that Tiffany would ever do those things, but she doesn’t. Brandi looks at me with love and trust.
“Go on, I need to know the rest.”
“Brad and Jake work for Parker. I cut my ties with the mob after Elizabeth died. I do work in security, but only for Johnny Magic. Jake and Brad double crossed me, I don’t know how deep Tiffany was in. You’ll have to talk to her, and make your own judgment.”
“The guy that does all those illusions?” I ask with a smirk and raised eyebrow. The idea of Royce working for him makes me snicker. I did not see that coming. “That explains so much. I was beginning to believe the magic man had a crush on me. Was it you sending me those tickets to his show?”
“Yeah laugh it up, I know you want to. I wanted to see you so I sent you tickets to where I’d be. Even if I was working it meant you were near me. Anyway, things are about to get confusing. So if at any point I lose you just tell me to stop.”
“Okay…” I’m not sure how I can be any more confused than I already am.
“When you started training to be a Lucky 7 girl, I knew it would only be a matter of time before Parker would see you, and without a doubt see your striking resemblance to Elizabeth. I didn’t want to go through it all again. My heart couldn’t take it. I have been working with the detectives who handled Elizabeth’s death. They have been trying to bust Parker and his family for years. I had to break up with you for the case. I’m sorry. I knew there was a possibility Parker could hurt you. I hope you can forgive me babe.” He grabs my hand and squeezes it so tight.
“I wanted justice for Elizabeth, and the child I might have raised. The cops assured me nothing bad would happen—that you wouldn’t be hurt. But then things happened with Charlie and Kline that put you in danger, and I had to step in. I couldn’t chance losing you. I saw you and I saw him—Parker watching you that night after Kline fought Killer. It made me angry. I was jealous so I started chasing after you, because I wanted him to know you were mine. All the old feelings came back to me. I got a rush from knowing I had something he wanted. And then everything went to shit. I became blinded with getting back at him. I blame Parker for Elizabeth’s death just as much as he blames me. I’m sorry I used you Brandi, but I mean it when I say that I love you.”
I jerk my hand back as though he has burned me, because he his words have.
“But you loved revenge more.” I cock my brow out him daring him to tell me differently. I appreciate his being truthful, but it doesn’t make it any easier to hear it. Jumping up, I need to get away from him. I no longer feel the need to hear the rest. It doesn’t matter who did what. Parker and Royce both played an equal part in this sick and twisted game. I was merely a play thing for both of them, but not anymore.
“Royce, I would like you to leave now, and I don’t want you to come back. You…Parker, I feel sorry for both of you. If the two of you either come near me I swear to you, I will kill you both. The mob or my brother will be the least of your worries. Tell Parker you both have about a six-month head start, because I can’t answer for what my brother will do once he has recovered.” I am holding the door open for him; it’s the last courtesy I will ev
er show him.
Royce
She doesn’t mean it. She needs time and I will give it to her. I fucked up. Kline was never meant to be hurt in this. Now he is fighting for his life, if he dies I don’t think Brandi could handle it. This time the police will do their job, and Parker will pay for hurting the people I love. I just have to figure how best to proceed from here. I know the first thing I need to do is get all of Brad and Jake’s shit out of my house.
I get into my rental car feeling broken.
Brandi will forgive me…she has to.
I won’t lose her.
She will move past this in time, she hast to or this was all for nothing.
Life is twisted and love is ugly, but I’ll fight for her.
I’ve been fighting for her this whole time, and I will never stop.
Parker
“Damn it!” I beat my hands against the dash of my car. I could have had her before I took her to the hospital. I could see it, she was ready to say she believed me, but then she hesitated. She looked at me the way that Elizabeth looked at me when she told me she slept with Royce, my best friend…
My head hurts… I miss her… I know what needs to be done. Last time, I fucked up, but this time will be different.
“Motherfucker!” I watch Royce leave Brandi’s apartment. It’s over he’s gotten to her, and now I’ve lost her again. I smack my chest, fuck it hurts so bad. Royce should be dead right now. I did everything right this time, but shit still didn’t turn out the way it was supposed to. I even took Brandi to make sure she wouldn’t be in his car. Brad and Jake fucked that up too. They were never supposed to hurt her. Then I had to drug her to keep her from waking up too soon.
If I could have had more time with her she’d be with me. Fucking Royce, he is always in my way. I never should have taken him in. I treated him like family, and he repaid me by fucking my girl. I should be the one holding her—Brandi’s— hand while reassuring her that everything is going to be okay. The cops haven’t come for me yet, but I am sure it is only a matter of time before they make the connection. I can’t buy my way out this time. I never meant to hurt Elizabeth. She wasn’t supposed to leave me. Royce should have died that day, not her and my baby.