All In (16 page)

“Sick, Chase! You are fucking sick!” I said into the phone as Vice came out onto the porch.

“Real quick before I go, is Vice around?” I looked at him, and he nodded his head. He heard Chase on the other end.

I put my cell on speaker phone. “You're fucking psychotic, Miller,” Vice clenched his teeth.

“I have a wager for you, Jackson,” he paused. “My casino for your has been shop. We play at Nostalgia,”

Vice huffed. “I'm not wagering shit with you, Miller,”

“You sure about that?” Chase paused. “Every choice you make comes with a consequence, Jackson,”

“Wait,” I looked at Vice, placing my hand on his arm. “What do you mean has been?” He didn't answer me. “Chase?”

“It's true what they say about twins, isn't it?” Vice looked at me. Yup, Chase and I are fraternal twins. “You know exactly what's going on in my head,”

“What did you mean by has been!” I yelled into the phone. Please say he left Mad Tatter out of this. That is all Vice and Skip have. I felt my legs go weak.

“You made your choice. Three, two, one...” as if on cue, Chase's silence was filled with a boom, it echoing in the distance and through the phone. “And that, sister, is a has been,” he hung up.

“Fuck!” Vice slid the sliding glass door open rattling the window, and ran into the house, I followed him.

I was watching him pace the kitchen with his hands hands in his hair, face incredibly red, and he kept repeating the words, “I'm going to kill him, fucking kill him!”

“What's up, Vice?” Skip stood up from the chair.

Vice ignored Skip, he continued to pace. Skip looked at me. “Har?”

I was crying. “Um,” I sobbed. “I am so sorry, Skip,”

“Why? What happened?” He stood there staring from me to Vice, then me again. “Someone better tell me what the fuck is going on!”

I looked at Brenda, she knew something was wrong. She was staring at me, waiting for my answer.

“Chase,” I cleared my throat. “Mad Tatter, he um. He blew it up, too.”

Skip and Vice's cell phone both started to ring at the same time.

“What!” Skip answered his cell, walking out back. And Vice took his from his pocket, throwing it across the room. It shattered against the wall.

“Vice,” Brenda walked into the kitchen in an attempt to calm her son. “Please, calm down,”

He quickly turned to face her, his face was out of this world pissed off of all sorts. “Calm down? Seriously, Mom?” he started to pace again. “My life is falling apart because of her fucking twin brother!”

His words stung. I felt pressure in my chest as I started to cry, I think my heart just broke. “Is that what this is now? My fault, Vice?” I said calmly. Without a blink, a tear rolled down my cheek.

“It has to be someone's, it sure the fuck isn't mine, Harlow Jean Miller! I just want to be left the hell alone!” he stared at me with wide eyes, his hands were on his hips.

“Vice Christopher Jackson!” Brenda gasped.

“Okay, Vice,” I nodded. “I'll leave you alone, if that is what it takes to make you feel better,” I walked into the bathroom to get my bag. I wanted to drop to the floor and cry, but first I needed to get my things and leave, then I could fall apart.

I knew he was upset, and I knew that he didn't mean the things that he was saying. He needed time to breathe, and he needed time to figure out how to fix this mess my brother has created for him. Unfortunately, I was getting hurt in the process. I can't say that I'm not the next thing closest to Chase, being his twin sister and all.

I walked down the hallway, and Brenda was waiting for me, leaning against the wall. “He didn't mean it, sweetheart. He is upset,”

“I know,” I gave her a fake smile, suppressing my tears. I looked over her shoulder at Vice who was staring at me from the kitchen with apologetic eyes.

I took a step around her and a few steps toward him. “I love you, Vice,” I was crying now. His mouth opened to say something but nothing came out which ripped at my heart strings even more, bringing the pressure in my chest back with a vengeance. “But please, after all of this is over, don't resent me for what my brother has done. I couldn't handle it.”

“Harlow,” he stepped forward as I turned to walk out the front door.

“Let her go for now, son,” Brenda was behind me, she followed me out front door.

I was crying harder now by the time I reached my car. I opened the car door to my Capri and tossed my bag in the passenger side.

“Here are your keys, and your cell phone, honey,” Brenda handed them to me. “Are you going to the apartment?”

I wiped my cheeks, a sob escaped. “Yeah,”

“Just give him some time to calm down, okay?” she looked me in the eyes. “He doesn't hate you, he loves you,”

I nodded, giving her a tight squeeze then hopping into my car. Brenda watched me start the car and back up. I leaned forward and looked up at the apartment. Vice was standing in the bedroom window staring down at me, he mouthed 'I love you', and I pulled away.

It was only a ten minute drive from Vice's place to the new apartment which I was thankful for, I was exhausted from all of the nights events. Seeing Vice say 'I love you' from the window as I pulled away made me feel better inside and confirmed even more than I already knew, he didn't mean anything he had said. He just needed to collect his thoughts and figure out how to deal with this huge situation.

I unlocked the door and went inside, it was now nearing six in the morning. I dropped my bag to the white shag carpet, and laid across the black microfiber sofa, laying my head on a zebra throw pillow. I closed my eyes, my mind remembering the look on Vice's face as I drove away. I eventually cried myself to sleep.

I was startled awake by the sound of clapping next to my head. I quickly sat up, Chase was standing above me clapping his hands in my face.

“I loved that dramatic exit you made,” he smiled. “You were crying, and Vice's crackhead momma was right behind you to pick up the pieces. Though, I think the best part was Vice confessing his undying love for you from the window,” he touched his hand to his chest. “It was... so sweet!” he pursed his lips.

“You are ruining my fucking life, Chase!” I threw the zebra pillow in his face. He didn't even blink, he just sat there in his pretty-boy jeans and pale blue polo shirt staring at me. “Get the hell out of my apartment!” I threw another pillow. “Now!” Something different was sparkling in his eyes and it wasn't the same Chase I was used to. I saw hate, jealousy, anger, and rage... For the first time in my life he truly scared me.

“Don't want to upset you in...” he gestured towards my stomach. “whatever state that you're in, but, you're coming with me,”

“Fuck you I am, Chase! Get out!” I grabbed one of my sandals from my feet and threw it at his face. He took a step closer and I screamed. Throwing another sandal, I pegged him on the mouth. His lip was bleeding.

He touched his fingertip to his lip, then smiled as he studied the red on his finger. “I didn't want it to have to come down to this but, hey... it is what it is, sister.” he shrugged. His face scrunched up and the next thing I knew, wham! I was out cold.
Chapter Eleven

Vice

I stood in the window and whispered 'I love you' to Harlow as I was watching her leave, taking a piece of my heart with her. I wanted to stop her and tell her how sorry I was for the things that I had said, but I was so angry inside at Miller that she didn't deserve to be in the crossfire and I needed some time to figure out how to handle this. I needed to make things okay, and I would rather do it with her away from the all of this bullshit, somewhere she could relax and get some rest. I knew she was going to the new apartment, and I would go and talk to her later this afternoon.

“Hey,” Skip said from the doorway behind me. I turned around.

“Who was that on the phone?”

“That was the uh,” he swallowed hard. “That was the city, they said to give them an hour or so and to head down there so they can ask us some questions and to have our insurance agent meet us there, too. They said everything is gone, man,”

I plopped down on my bed, the smell of vanilla and cotton candy clawed me from behind. I took a deep breath and dropped my chin to my chest in way of defeat.

“What the fuck am I supposed to do, Skip?” I sighed.

“Where is Harlow?” he took a seat next to me on the bed.

“I messed up, I yelled at her,” I ran my hands down my face, I was exhausted mentally, and emotionally.

“Why did you do that?” he nudged me with his elbow.

“I had just found out about the shop from Miller and I lost it,” I shrugged, there was no excuse for it. “I pretty much told her that it was her fault because it was her twin brother,”

He gaped. “They're twins?”

“Yup,” I sighed.

“You're a dick, Vice,” he said in monotone.

I glared at him. “Thanks,”

“Just keepin' it real,” he stood up with a groan. “Hey, no worries about the shop. Insurance should take care of all of it. Mad Tatter will be up and running in no time,”

“Hey, Skip...” He turned around. “where's my mom?”

“She has my phone on the back patio, she said she needed to make a phone call to 'fix some shit',” he laughed. “Whatever the hell that was supposed to mean?”

“Hm...” I fell back onto my bed. Whatever.

I laid there thinking about the look on Harlow's face when she asked me not to resent her for her brothers choices. I would and could never hate her no matter what it was her brother did to me. I love her, and my unborn child more than I could ever love anyone else in my life. I will always do what I need to, to make sure they have the happy life that they deserve. I am kicking myself in the ass as so far, I have done a damn shitty job of it. I fell asleep thinking about how bad my ridiculous words had hurt her.

I woke up at around noon, dragging myself out of bed to get a cup of coffee. I wanted to take a quick shower and go pick up Harlow. I vowed to myself right before I fell asleep that I would never let her walk out of my life again, even if it were for six hours, I didn't give a fuck.

“Good afternoon, son,” my mom said, smiling from the couch. Her make up and hair was done, she was dressed in a nice pink sundress. I still couldn't believe that this was my mom sitting on my couch looking like the 'All-American Mom'.

I smiled. “Where is Skip?”

“He went to meet with the insurance agent. He didn't want to wake you up,” she set the newspaper down next to her with a heavy sigh. “They said the explosions, including the one at the shop was intentional. They don't know who did it and are asking if anyone knows anything to call the Vegas police department,”

“I don't know what to do, mom,” I poured myself a cup of fresh coffee, then taking a seat next to her on the couch. “If I call the cops, he will post bail and make my life a living hell. There has to be another way to stop this,”

“This is all because you won't play poker in his casino?” she looked at me. “This is getting out of hand, son!” she was becoming very upset.

“I know,” I took a drink of my coffee. “What I need to do is call his ass and ask him what exactly it is that he wants from me,” I stood from the chair, heading to my room to grab my cell phone. I will call him and do whatever it is he asks, just to be left the hell alone so we all can get on with our lives. I felt sick inside that all of this with Chase has stemmed from me refusing to play at Nostalgia. Not only is it me, Harlow or my mom that he is fucking with. It is now involving Skip, too.

“Wait, this was at the door for you when I went to get the paper,” she held a manilla envelope with 'Jackson' written in sharpie on the front. Chase...

“How long ago, Mom?” I took it from her hands and opened it up, it was a DVD of some sort.

“Oh, about an hour or so ago?” she shrugged. “Let's see what it is!” she rubbed her hands together excitedly.

“Mom, this isn't going to be a good thing. It's from Chase Miller,” I stuck it in the DVD player.

“Oh,” she pursed her lips.

I felt my palms start to sweat, and my legs felt weak. I wasn't sure what this DVD was going to show me, quite frankly, I was scared as hell. But I can tell you that nothing is this world could prepare me for what I was about to see.

The movie started as absolute chaos inside of Nostalgia Casino. Chase was yelling “Get the fuck out!”. A pistol in his hand was hoisted in the air as men and pin-up chicks were running around like a heard of buffalo, screaming. I watched as Chase walked toward the camera.

He knelt down in front of it. “See? I am doing this all for you, Jackson. I'm clearing it out so you get the personal experience,” he laughed, standing up and facing the screaming people. “Get out!” he shot a round in the air. His body guards were shuffling people out the front and side doors. In less than two minutes, the place was empty.

“Jackson, welcome to Nostalgia!” He picked the camera up, placing it on himself as he walked around. His blonde hair sticking up all over the place. “Excuse the craziness, it usually is fairly calm around here,”

“What are you doing, Miller?” I whispered aloud.

“I know you have never found an interest to come in here, Jackson. But, I think that my establishment has something of great interest to offer you,” he grinned widely.

He walked through the multiple tables and past the main bar, I saw a black opening against the back wall, above it was a bright, neon sign that read 'The Lily Room'. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, this definitely has something to do with Harlow Jean. I felt it in my stomach, I wanted to vomit. He entered into the dark room, and I couldn't see anything. All I heard was the rustling of the camera and Chase breathing incredibly hard.

“What the fuck, fat ass! Turn the fucking lights in The Lily Room on!” I heard. “Sorry, Jackson. Technical difficulty,” he laughed.

“He is crazy,” my mom commented, shaking her head.

“Shh, mom,” I glared at her.

“Sorry,” she held her hands up staring at the screen.

I watched the dimming back lights go on first, and then the rest lit up The Lily Room in sync. My eyes landed on a very scared, shaking Harlow bound to one of the leather chairs that surrounded the multiple tables around her. She had a gag in her mouth and was blinking like crazy as her eyes adjusted to the lighting.