Drunk Dial (Hard Core #1) (Hard Core Series) (15 page)

“Wow.” That was an idiotic reaction, but I had no other words.

“She hated my guts after that. So did her parents. They blamed me for taking his life. And I did.” He sucked in a deep breath as though the very process of breathing was painful. “I took their son, their brother. What kind of man does that, York?”

“One who made a mistake.” I wanted to remind him that his friend had made the choice to get into the car, but I knew that wouldn’t assuage his guilt. “You paid your debts, man. I know it’s easier said than done, but you’ve got to find a way to let it go.”

I thought of Lacy’s ex again, who’d presumably paid his debt to society too. But his crime wasn’t like Dante’s. He’d intentionally tried to hurt the woman he claimed to love, the one he’d promised to protect for the rest of his life. There was no excuse for that.

“She’s getting married,” he said, sliding a newspaper across the desk.

“Who?” I asked, looking at the folded newspaper. There was a picture of a beautiful blonde on the arm of a yuppie in a dark suit, looking like they belonged in the society pages.

“That’s my ex.” He clenched his jaw as he pointed at the paper in my hand.

“She’s gorgeous.” I wasn’t sure if that was what he wanted to hear. Probably not. But it was true.

“Yeah, she is.” He sighed. “Inside and out.”

Dante obviously still had feelings for her, but after everything that had happened between them, reaching out to her must not be an option. “Have you seen her since the accident?”

“Only at the trial. I tried writing to her a few times when I was in jail, but I never heard back.” He glanced out the window as the sun shone brightly inside, reminding us that it was too nice to be cooped up inside, lamenting over things we could never change. “Not that I can blame her. Why the hell would she forgive the guy who turned her world upside down, right?”

“I was supposed to get to the gym today,” I said, knowing I needed to get my friend the hell out of this office before the walls started closing in on him. “But Ace had to hit it without me. You wanna go for a jog with me? I was thinking I’d get in seven miles at least. You up for a challenge, old man?”

He grinned as though I’d given him something he hadn’t known he needed—an escape. “Let’s see what you’ve got, hotshot.”

Lacy

Before my shift started, Laura told me my brother wanted to see me in his office.

“Hey, Ash,” I said, tapping my knuckles on the door before popping my head inside. “I heard you wanted to see me. What’s up?”

“I was about to ask you the same thing.” He pointed at the chair across from him. “Come in and close the door.”

“What do you need?” I asked, tossing my purse on the chair beside me.

“What the hell do you think?” he asked, sounding edgy. “I want to know if you’ve heard from him.”

I thought of the car parked outside my apartment, the caller who hadn’t left a message, and the hang-up from an unknown caller as I left the gym a couple of hours ago. “Not exactly.”

He frowned, leaning forward as he rested his forearms on the desk. “What the hell does that mean? Either you’ve heard from him or you haven’t. Which is it?”

“A few things have happened, but they may all be coincidences. I’m probably just being paranoid.” At least that was what I wanted to believe. “But I don’t want you to worry about me. I can take care of myself.”

“That’s what you said the last time,” he said, slamming his fist on the desk. “And you almost got yourself killed!”

I wasn’t used to having my brother blow up at me. We had our disagreements, just like all siblings, but we usually kept our tempers in check. Probably because we’d grown up with a mother who went off without much provocation.

“I’m sorry,” he said, running a hand through his dark, disheveled hair before reaching for a crystal highball glass filled with amber liquid. “I didn’t mean to shout at you. I’m just worried about you, Lace.”

“I know you are.” I leaned forward and touch his forearm. “But you don’t have to be. I can better defend myself now. Between the second Dan and the gun, I can—”

“I do feel better now you’ve earned your second degree black belt,” Ash said, running a hand over his face. “And I know you won’t stop there. But, sis, what if he catches you off guard? What if you don’t have time to react before he grabs you?”

I understood my brother’s concern. I would feel the same way if someone who’d tried to take his life was walking the streets again, but I didn’t want to live in fear. I wanted to believe that I was stronger than I’d ever been and able to fight back, if the need arose.

“Have you talked to Rachel about the two of you coming to stay with me?”

“Yeah, but she’s not into it,” I said, trying to read his reaction. “She doesn’t think Ace would like it.”

“Who gives a shit whether her new boyfriend likes it?” he asked, cutting his hand through the air. “Her safety is on the line here too.”

“Ash, do you have feelings for Rachel? Is that why you want us to come and stay with you? So you can maybe reconnect with her?” I’d never asked my brother that because I hadn’t considered it a real possibility until now.

He looked at me as if I was high before he laughed. “Are you crazy? I had my chance with that girl.”

“And you blew it.” Even if Ash couldn’t see it, I could. Rachel loved him, and he’d treated her like he’d treated every other girl. In my opinion, that could prove to be a mistake that haunted him for the rest of his life.

Without denying my claim, he asked, “So things between her and Matthews are getting serious?”

“He spends almost every night at our apartment.” I felt a modicum of guilt when he reached for his drink. “So I guess you could say that.”

“He better treat her right.” He drained his glass before slamming it on the desk. “She deserves a man who can give her everything I couldn’t.”

Stunned, I watched my brother walk out of the room. I wondered if Rachel was the only one who’d fallen hard in that relationship.

***

After picking me up from work, York was quiet on the drive back to my place, so I felt compelled to tell him the truth. “You didn’t have to pick me up tonight. You’re not responsible for my safety, York.”

His eyes were dark as his hand curled tighter around the steering wheel. “Some sick fuck might be out to get you, Lace. You really think I’m going to let him come at you again?”

I was causing everyone in my life undue stress, and I hated it. I was used to taking care of myself, and it had been years since I let myself feel like Jordan’s victim. This shit had to stop. Now. “Take me home.”

“I am,” he said, looking confused.

“My home.”

“No, Ace texted me to let me know Rachel’s spending the night at his place since you’ll be at mine.”

“But I won’t be at yours.” Between my brothers and York, I felt like a fifteen-year-old whose parents still hired a babysitter when they stayed out all night. “I’ll be at my place. So kindly take me home.”

He scowled as the light turned red and he was forced to slam on his brakes. “Come on, babe. My bed’s bigger than yours. I’ll never be able to stretch out in that thing.”

Since mine was only a double, he was probably right. But since I didn’t intend to share, I didn’t see the problem. “I’m going home alone. To sleep. I assume you’ll be doing the same.” I didn’t want to think about what he might do if he didn’t go home. Or
who
he might do if I pissed him off enough.

“What’re you talking about? We’re spending the night together.”

“No, we’re not.” I didn’t mean to come off as an ingrate, but I didn’t want a man in my life who thought he could call all the shots. I’d had that before, and one of us had almost landed in the morgue. “I need to be by myself. To think.”

He turned into my parking lot, his eyes casing the place for any suspicious-looking vehicles. “What do you have to think about? And why the hell would you want to be alone when you know you’re in danger?”

“We don’t know that,” I said, trying to be reasonable. “All we know for sure is that my ex is out of prison. For all we know, he could be on a Greyhound headed east.”

“He’s still on probation.”

“How do you know that?” I asked, turning to face him when he pulled into a parking spot near the front door and cut the engine.

“Your brother told me.”

“You talked to Ash again? When?”

“Not Ash. Cooper.”

I stared at him, trying to decide if he was messing with me. “You don’t even know my brother.”

“I do now,” he said, shrugging. “He passed by my place tonight. We had a beer, got to know each other better.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Shouldn’t I be the one to decide when it was time for the guy I was dating to meet my family? I reached into my purse for my migraine medication. “How did that even happen?”

“What’s wrong?” he asked when I reached for the water bottle in one of his cupholders and downed the pill.

“Migraine. Now you answer my question.” I was starting to see the familiar spots dancing behind my eyelids and suspected it wouldn’t be long before I blacked out. I wanted to do that in the privacy of my room, without York hovering.

“I called Ash at the club. He gave me Coop’s number. For the record, your brother seemed glad I called. He’s relieved you have someone like me looking out for you when he can’t.”

“Someone like you?” A muscle-bound, hot-headed jerk whose hands were lethal weapons?

He obviously realized he was testing my patience because he shrugged, trying to play it off. “You know, someone who can take care of you.”

“Listen to me carefully.” I leaned in even though my vision was starting to fail me. Pretty soon everything would be hazy. “I can take care of me,” I said, thrusting a thumb at my chest. “I don’t need you or Ash or Cooper acting like my goddamn bodyguard!” I threw the door open and almost did a face-plant on the pavement when everything went from gray to black.

York grabbed the back of my shirt, hauling me back in the truck. “Wait right there.” His voice was filled with concern. “Do not move a fucking muscle, Lacy. I mean it.”

I knew he was pissed. I was too. But as far as I was concerned, I had good reason. He didn’t. He inched my door open, and put my arm around his neck before lifting me and cradling my body against his.

“I can walk.” Though I wasn’t sure that was entirely true. Walking when I couldn’t see two feet in front of me had always posed a challenge.

“Would you just relax?” he asked, sounding frustrated. “I know you don’t want to let anyone take care of you. I get that. But for Christ’s sake, you can’t even see to walk. Am I right?”

Instead of dignifying that with a response, I released a weak breath and rested my head against his shoulder, surrendering. For now.

“Keys?” he whispered when we were outside of my third-floor apartment.

“In my purse.”

Since my purse was slung over my shoulder, I felt him reach inside it, which was no easy task while he was using the wall to help support my weight. He finally fit the key in the lock and lowered my body to turn the knob and push it open. Once we were inside, he kicked it shut.

“I’ll be fine now,” I murmured, grateful he didn’t feel the need for lights as he carried me down the hall to my bedroom. “You can go.”

“Yeah, nice try.” He laid me on the bed, then pulled off my boots and my tight jeans, which was no easy feat since I wasn’t much help.

I was left wearing my bra, a racerback black tank, and black G-string, making me wonder what he thought of my attire. I cracked an eye open, but the meds still hadn’t worked their magic. I couldn’t see much of anything yet.

“Where are you going?” I asked when I heard him cross the creaky hardwood. Even though I’d told him to leave, I had to admit I was nervous about being left alone now that I had a full-blown migraine that had left me temporarily sightless.

“Just to get you some water and a cold cloth,” he whispered. “I’ll be right back.”

I tried hard to stay awake, but fatigue got the better of me. My last thought as I drifted off to sleep was thankfulness that York was there.

***

I woke up to the smell of coffee… the only thing that could have coaxed me to open my eyes.

I could feel his presence even before I saw him. He was watching me, trying to decide if I needed him.

“Hey,” I said, pushing my hair out of my face as I tried to sit up. Then I noticed the tray on the small chair in the corner of my room. He’d made me pancakes with strawberries and whipped cream. Damn. If he kept that up, I’d be head over heels in love by the end of the week.

“Hey, yourself,” he said, his lips quirking when I snatched the coffee from his hands. “Feeling better?”

“Much, thanks.” Unlike some people who suffered from migraines, my headaches thankfully didn’t put me out of commission for days. “I’m sorry if I was a bitch last night, York. I—”

“Food first,” he said, reaching for the tray. “Then we’ll talk.”

“I know we didn’t have the stuff for this,” I said, gesturing to the loaded plate. “You went to the store?”

“Yeah, just a quick trip. I couldn’t sleep, so I waited ‘til sunrise, then headed out.”

I looked at the other side of my bed, which didn’t look as though it had been slept in. “Where did you sleep last night?”

“On the couch,” he said, brushing my hair out of my face with a tender caress that made me melt just a little.

“I’m sorry. That couldn’t have been comfortable.” I offered him a strawberry dipped in cream, which he declined, claiming he’d already eaten. “You could have slept in here. I know the bed’s not very big, but it beats the couch.”

“You were pretty clear about not wanting to sleep with me last night,” he said, obviously trying hard not to look hurt as he raised a broad shoulder. “I was trying to respect your wishes. Besides, I wasn’t sure if you felt nauseated from these headaches, so I left a bucket by your bed and tucked you in.” He pointed at the half-open door. “I left the door open though, just in case you needed me.”

My eyes focused on the bucket by my bedside because I was afraid if I looked at him, I would tear up like a wuss. Damn. No man had ever cared for me the way he did, and instead of thanking him, I kept giving him a hard time.