War Wounded (The War Trilogy #2.5) (4 page)

~ Chapter Four ~

~ Duke ~

“Hello?” I answer my ringing cell phone. I'm not sure of the number. Maybe it's another possible client.

“Hey, Duke, it’s Keith.”

“Oh, hey man, what’s up?” I reply, lounging back on my couch.

“I’m having a little pre-Christmas get together at my house on Saturday. You free?” Keith asks.

“Yeah, I don’t have anything going on.”

Which is true. I really don't have anything else going on.

“Sweet! Come by around six, I’ll text you my address,” he says, a little more excited than I would have expected.

“Okay, great. See you then.”

“Later.”

“Bye.”

Cool, this should be fun. I’ll get to hang out with someone other than Dennis and Tucker. Not that I don’t love those two, but it’s nice to have other friends also. A minute later, I get the text with Keith’s address. I text him back asking if I should bring something. His reply: Beer. Oh yeah, this is going to be fun. Maybe there will be some single ladies there that are looking for a hookup. It’s definitely been a while since I’ve gotten laid. It needs to happen, and soon.

Saturday rolls around fairly quickly. I’ve pretty much compiled enough evidence against Kyle. I’ve got pictures of him kissing a few different women. Every time I’ve followed him out, he’s hooked up with someone different. It’s never been the same woman twice. I also found out that he has a Tinder account, which is where he’s been finding all of his hookups. Dickbag. I plan to tell Arianna everything on Sunday morning.

I semi dress up for the “get together” as Keith called it, wearing nice jeans and a button down shirt. I knock on the front door of Keith’s townhouse, holding a case of beer under my arm. Keith opens the door a minute later and smiles brightly when he sees me.

“Hey buddy! Come in!” he says and steps to the side, opening the door wider.

I enter the house, stepping into a little foyer. Keith shuts the door and gives me a slap on the back.

“Glad you could make it,” he says.

I smile. “Yeah, me, too.”

I hold up a case of Heineken.

“I brought booze.” I grin.

He chuckles. “Nice. Let’s go stick them in the fridge.”

He takes the beer from me and motions with his head for me to follow him. So, I do. We walk into the kitchen where Arianna, Kyle, Jade, and some other guy are sitting around a table. Dammit. I really don’t want to be interacting with my client and mark socially. It’s just weird. But I had no idea they were going to be here.

“Kyle, Arianna, you know Duke, right?” Keith says as he puts the case of beer on the counter next to the fridge.

Arianna’s eyes widen slightly but she quickly covers up her surprise with a warm smile. “Oh yeah! Hey, Duke,” she exclaims with an over the top wave.

I bite back a laugh and wave back. “Hey, Arianna. Kyle.”

I shake the dirtbag’s hand, not because I want to, but for show. I can’t act like I hate the motherfucking cheater, that probably wouldn’t go over well.

“Hey, Jade…right? You were with Arianna in the coffee shop last week.” I fake ignorance. I met Jade once before and Arianna has talked about her a few times. I know who she is. But no one else needs to know that.

“That’s right. Hi again,” Jade says with a smile. “Duke, this is my boyfriend, Justin.”

“Hey, man, nice to meet you,” I say and shake his hand.

“You, too, Duke,” Justin replies.

“Damn, I feel like I should have brought a date,” I joke, making everyone chuckle.

“Nah, no worries.” Keith says. “I don’t have one either.”

“Oh great, so I’m
your
date?” I scoff.

Keith grins mischievously. “Only if you want to be,” he replies and sends me a wink.

I laugh, but I really don’t know if he’s fucking with me or if he really means it. Something makes me think that he may have been serious about that last comment.

Arianna pulls out the empty chair next to her. “Have a seat, Duke.”

I take her up on her offer, slip my coat off, and hang it on the back of the chair before I sit down next to her. Keith hands me a beer.

“So is this everyone?” I ask after taking a sip of my beer.

“Yep. You cool with playing some games?” Keith asks me.

I shrug. “Sure. I’m up for whatever.”

“Awesome. Be right back.”

Keith leaves the kitchen.

“I gotta take a piss before we start,” Kyle says then also leaves the room.

That’s Arianna’s cue to turn toward me and whisper harshly, “What the hell are you doing here?”

“I was invited! I didn’t know you were going to be here!” I reply in my own fierce whisper.

Across the table, Jade face-palms and her boyfriend Justin smiles curiously.

“What is going on over there?” he asks even though he most definitely heard what we said.

“Nothing, don’t worry about it,” Arianna mutters, waving a dismissive hand at him.

Keith returns with a box. I’m assuming it’s the game. I catch a glimpse of the name and groan.

“Hedbanz? Really? What are we? Five?” I complain.

“Oh, come on, Duke, it’s fun!” Jade giggles.

“Fine, but I need more beer,” I mutter.

Many beers and rounds of the game later, I’m feeling pretty good. And I’m actually having a great time, other than the fact that I’m sure as shit that Keith has been flirting with me. He’s been kind of touchy-feely with me and it’s starting to freak me out. He’s sitting next to me and his thigh keeps brushing mine. He's been grabbing my shoulder a lot, and he’s been bumping me with his shoulder, too. I don’t think it has anything to do with him being drunk.

“Uhhh…am I famous?” I ask when it’s my turn.

“Yes,” everyone answers.

“Am I…am I in movies?”

“No.”

I glance at the timer, shit! It’s moving too fast!

“Do I sing?”

“Yes!”

“Uh…uh…famous singer…John Cougar Mellencamp!”

Everyone busts out laughing while trying to say no.

“Time!” Arianna calls.

“Dammit!” I growl and bang my fist on the table.

I glance over at Arianna to see that she’s watching me, her brown eyes sparkling with humor.

“John Cougar Mellencamp? Really?” She chuckles.

“What? He’s a famous singer!”

“Yeah, back in the 80s and 90s,” she scoffs.

“Still famous,” I say smugly.

She rolls her eyes at me.

Everyone takes their turn but no one can guess what or who they are. Playing this drunk is ridiculous. Some of the things coming out of everyone’s mouths are so off the wall, it’s hilarious. It’s my turn again and I am determined to get this.

“I’m a famous singer…do I sing pop music?”

“No.”

“Do I sing country music?”

“No.”

“Do I sing rock music?”

“Yes!”

“Oooh! Can I dance?”

“Sorta?”

“Could be?”

“If you consider it dancing,” Jade mutters with a roll of her eyes.

“Jade! You can only say: yes, no, could be, or I don’t know!” Arianna scolds.

I’m getting close, I can feel it!

“I’m a famous rock singer who can kinda sorta maybe dance? Hmmm…”

I rack my drunken brain. It’s really hard to think when you’re drunk. A name comes to my mind and I spit it out, right before my time runs out.

“Am I Mick Jagger?!”

The table erupts. Keith is on his feet yelling, “He got it! He got it!”

I’m also on my feet. I do my best impression of Mick Jagger dancing that has everyone pissing themselves laughing. After a minute, I’m laughing so hard that I’m doubled over clutching my stomach. I can’t remember the last time I’ve had this much fun, especially playing a silly kid’s game. After we all calm down and sit back down, we continue with the game.

I’m having a hard time keeping my eyes off of Arianna. I’m trying my best not to stare, but she is so damn beautiful. Her smile lights up the whole room. Her high cheekbones are flushed, probably from the alcohol. She has the prettiest lips I've ever seen, and her laugh is contagious. My heart pounds every time she laughs at something I say. She’s pretty damn funny herself. I’ve had a lot of laughs tonight because of her.

Kyle is playing his part as loving fiancé. He’s gotten Arianna drinks, given her kisses, put his arm around her, all things a person does when they love someone. And, you know what? He may just love her. But he sure as hell can’t keep his dick in his pants. I just pray that he uses protection because who knows what kind of diseases he’s been in contact with.

Kyle’s phone bings and he calls a time out on the game to check his phone. He frowns then turns a regretful gaze to Arianna. “It’s work, I gotta go in.”

Arianna frowns. “Oh, what’s going on that they need you?” she asks, trying to sound innocent, but I can hear the suspicious undertone.

“Car accident, lots of victims,” he replies, without hesitation, but I still don’t believe him. By the look on Arianna's face, she doesn't either.

“But you were drinking,” Arianna argues. “How can you go in and treat people if you’re drunk?”

He chuckles. “Babe, I’m not drunk. I’ve been nursing the same beer this entire time.”

Arianna narrows her eyes at him as he stands. He leans down and gives her a peck on the lips. “See you later.”

“Okay,” she replies softly.

Really, what can she say? She doesn’t have any proof to accuse him of going anywhere else. Keith stands also. “I’ll walk you to the door. Gotta use the bathroom anyway.”

The two men leave the kitchen. Arianna immediately turns to me. “Follow him,” she hisses.

I raise an incredulous eyebrow at her. “Ahh, no.”

“What?! It’s your job!” she whispers ferociously.

“Two things, Beautiful. One, it’s my night off. Two, I’m drunk right now, not really a good idea to drive at the moment.”

She makes an aggravated noise.

“What the hell are you two talking about? What do you mean it’s his job?” Justin asks incredulously.

Jade sighs. “Duke is a private investigator. He’s been following Kyle to see if he’s been cheating on Arianna,” she explains.

Justin’s eyebrows shoot up as he looks at his girlfriend. “No shit?”

Jade nods sadly.

“Well, damn, Arianna. That sucks.”

“I just want to know. Duke, please, can you tell me what you know?” Her chocolate brown eyes plead with me.

I shake my head. “Now’s not the time.”

She bangs her fist on the table.
Oooh, feisty!
“Then when?”

“Tomorrow morning, I promise,” I assure her.

“Fine,” she huffs and crosses her arms over her chest.

Her very nice, very voluptuous, chest. I don’t know what size her breasts are but I’m thinking they are at least a D, if not a DD. I’d really love to bury my face…

“Duke,” Arianna snaps. “My face is up here.” Waving a hand in front of her face.

Shit! Was I really caught staring at her boobs like a high school kid? Damn, I am drunk. Jade and Justin snicker quietly across the table. I put my arm around the back of her chair and lean in close to her ear.

“You should take it as a compliment. You have gorgeous tits,” I whisper in her ear.

Arianna gasps, palms my face, and shoves me back. I chuckle when I see that her cheeks are flushed bright red.

“Pig,” she huffs.

I shrug non-apologetically.

Keith returns and we go back to playing the game. After about an hour, I take a bathroom break. I wash my hands and open the door to find Keith leaning against the opposite wall. I frown at the look in his eyes. It’s lustful and it’s directed at me. Shit.

Before I have time to say or do anything, Keith is on me. He shoves me up against the wall and crushes his mouth against mine. Holy fucking shit! I flail for a second before I get a grip on the front of his shirt and shove him back with enough force that he slams back against the opposite wall. I drag my forearm across my mouth.

“What the fuck, man?!” I squawk.

He pushes off the wall and stalks toward me again. “Don’t tell me you don’t want this,” he purrs.

Yeah, he purred.

I swallow back the bile that rises in my throat. I clearly have no problem with gay guys, hell, look at my best friends, but I really did not enjoy that kiss and I don’t want to experience it again. I hold my hands out in front of me to ward him off.

“Whoa, Keith. I’m not gay, or even bi. Guys are not my thing,” I state adamantly.

Keith hesitates, his eyes scanning my face as his brows furrow. “You’re not gay
or
bi?”

“No.”