Abiding Ink (Inked in the Steel City #4) (13 page)

“I’m glad we decided to go out,” Mallory’s mother said as they climbed the flight of stairs to their floor. “It took my mind off tomorrow.”

Mallory nearly froze in her tracks. “Took your mind off Christmas? I thought you couldn’t wait to have Danielle and Kevin over to celebrate?”

“I can’t wait to see them. I guess I’m just worried your father will try to stir up something.”

Here we go again
. As she emerged at the top of the stairs, Mallory felt like she was stepping onto an old, creaky carousel – one she didn’t want to ride. “He won’t, mom. I talked to him. He understands.” Maybe that was an exaggeration, but she was reasonably confident that her dad wouldn’t butt in and cause trouble tomorrow.

“If you say so. Anyway, the flounder was good. And I think the hibachi chef slipped us a few extra shrimp because of you. That new boyfriend of yours had better watch out.”

Mallory almost laughed, then found herself repressing a sigh as Tyler flooded her memory. As she thought of him, she couldn’t even remember what the hibachi chef had looked like. “I think you’re right about the extra shrimp. Maybe he was just feeling the holiday spirit.” After unzipping her purse, Mallory began to rummage for her key ring.

“Well, either way I—”

“You what?” Mallory glanced up at her mother.

“Our door is open. Did you leave our door open?”

“No.” A spike of anxiety pierced Mallory’s consciousness as she snapped her gaze to the door. Her eye was instantly drawn to the strip of light that shone where the door was open – if just barely – by about an inch. “I locked up. I remember doing it.”

She did. So what—

The door swung inward with a faint creak of hinges, and Mallory’s heart leapt into her throat as a shape appeared in the doorway. “Mom!” She threw out an arm without really thinking as the shape – a man – barreled toward them. Her hand hit something soft and she gripped her mother’s coat sleeve, attempting to pull her closer, out of the way.

She was too late. The stranger collided with her mother as he dashed past, ramming into her with one shoulder. She went down, and so did Mallory.

“Fuck!” He barked out an obscenity, his voice unfamiliar, and stumbled, nearly falling over the edge of the staircase.

As she landed on her rear, Mallory didn’t know where to look – at the man who’d just burst out of their apartment like a human cannonball, or at the open door. What if there was someone else inside? The thought pulsed through her, daunting, as her mother cried out, landing sprawled beside Mallory.

Thunk
. Something struck Mallory’s temple – something buttery-soft in texture but heavy.

Her mother’s purse.

Raising a hand to her head instinctively, she clapped her palm against the spot, gaping at the man who’d knocked them over. He was steady on his feet again, rushing down the stairs like someone had lit a fire under his ass. Too late, she remembered the pepper spray she carried in her purse.

Her bag had fallen by the wayside anyway – the only thing she’d held on to was her mother’s sleeve. “Mom, are you—”

“What’s going on out here?” Another male voice boomed down the hallway, familiar this time.

Theo. He appeared in the doorway to his own apartment, and half a second later, he was rushing toward them. “Mallory? Brenda?”

“Someone was in our apartment,” Mallory said. “He ran out…” Her head spun, more from shock than from the blow her mother’s purse had dealt her.

“Which way did he go?”

Mallory tipped her head toward the staircase behind them.

Theo took off with surprising speed, clambering down the steps.

Afraid for him, Mallory leapt up. “Theo! Don’t go after him!” She leaned over the rail, shouting.

She might as well have been talking to a wall. Theo ignored her completely, charging down the stairs and out into the parking lot.

The burglar – or whatever he was – was way ahead of him. By the time Theo’s feet touched the asphalt, the man who’d knocked Mallory and her mother over was leaping over the short hedge that bordered the lot. The sound of a motor came from somewhere nearby just moments later, followed by the unmistakable noise of a vehicle peeling away at well over the speed limit.

Theo swore – it was the first time Mallory had ever heard him do so – and turned around.

Mallory helped her mother to her feet while Theo climbed the stairs. “You okay, mom?”

“Yes,” her mother huffed, brushing a lock of hair out of her face. “Are you?”

“I’m fine.”

“Thank God.” Her mother clung to Mallory’s arm, though they were both steady on their feet now. “Is Theo—”

“He’s coming back up the stairs now.”

As if on cue, Theo appeared at the top of the staircase, breathing heavily. “You ladies okay?”

“We’re fine,” Mallory and her mother replied in unison.

An expression of relief flashed across his face, smoothing some of the wrinkles in his brow. “Good, good.” He dusted his hands on his pants. “I’m afraid I let the bastard get away. You’d never know it, but I ran track in high school.”

That had to have been more than thirty years ago. “He had a head start,” Mallory said. “Nobody would’ve been able to catch up to him with that kind of leeway. And you shouldn’t have gone after him anyway. He might’ve been dangerous.”

Theo shrugged. “Didn’t really think. Just went after him. Did he take anything?”

Mallory glanced sidelong at the door to their unit, which gaped open, spilling yellow light out into the hall. “I don’t know. Do you think that’s what he was – a burglar?”

“Mighta been,” Theo said, striding toward the door. “They say the holiday season is when theft levels are highest. Burglars are looking for all the electronics and stuff people have bought up to give as gifts, I guess.” He stopped at the threshold. “You two stay here – I’ll go in and check things out.”

A tiny sliver of fear slipped between Mallory’s ribs, as cold and sharp as an icicle. “Don’t, Theo – what if there’s someone else in there? We should just call the police.”

“I saw a van take off,” Theo said. “Pretty sure they didn’t leave anyone behind. Just to be safe though, you wait there with your mother.” He stepped inside the apartment before Mallory could protest.

“I’ll call the police,” Mallory said, pulling out her phone.

Minutes later, Theo emerged from the apartment. “There’s no one there. Looks a little messy, though – I’d say they were planning to make off with some of your stuff. You’d know better than me whether they took anything.”

Mallory exchanged a glance with her mother, drawing in a sharp breath. “Guess we’d better check.”

They managed to make a round of the apartment before the police arrived. Nothing seemed to be missing, although the DVD player lay on the kitchen linoleum near the door, cracked. The would-be thief had probably dropped it.

“Talk about lucky,” Mallory’s mother said. “Looks like we’re only out one DVD player.”

Mallory nodded. “I can’t believe someone broke in.” It wasn’t like they lived in a bad neighborhood. “Theo, did you hear them getting inside?”

Theo shook his head. “I had the TV on, though. Wish I’d been paying more attention – I mighta been able to stop them from getting in here in the first place.”

“Don’t worry about it. What you did – going after the thief and checking out the apartment for us – was more than enough. Thanks.”

Mallory’s mother nodded. “Thank you. You were so brave.” She smiled.

Mallory’s heart softened a little as she caught sight of the look in her mother’s eyes, and then as she watched her exchange a look with Theo. Admiration lightened her mother’s expression, and Theo looked pleased despite himself.

“It was nothing,” he said. “Just trying to be a good neighbor.”

The thing with Theo was that Mallory actually believed him, to a certain extent – he probably would’ve made an effort to help out any neighbor in the same situation. Still, something told her that something more than neighborly concern had propelled him after the thief and then into their apartment. Not that there was anything wrong with that.

Two officers appeared at the top of the staircase and Theo stayed to give them his account of what had happened.

Mallory’s mother seemed glad to have him there.

As Mallory breathed in a draft of night air, she realized two things: one, how cold it was, and two, that for all of twenty minutes, she’d forgotten about what a mess she’d made of things with Tyler. That was over now – even as she spoke to the officers who’d responded to her call and then retreated to the apartment to right the Christmas decorations the intruder had knocked askew, her mind was on the night before, not the present.

Christmas Day at the DeHaven household was a little crowded and very familiar. Music played in the background, the same Christmas tapes – yes, tapes – Tyler’s mom had been playing every December since her kids had been in diapers. The house smelled like turkey and everyone was drinking eggnog. Non-alcoholic eggnog – it was only eleven o’clock in the morning.

Tyler harbored suspicions that Dustin alone had poured rum into his eggnog, but didn’t say anything. His little brother had been on pins and needles ever since the night before, when his girlfriend had texted him and said that she’d call him the next day after she broke the big news to her family. Tyler figured he could cut him a little slack. It was Christmas, after all, and he had his own life to worry about.

Okay, he had Mallory to worry about. As he grabbed a sugar cookie from a tray his mother offered him and stuffed it into his mouth, he thought of Mallory on his kitchen counter. His mouth watered at the remembered taste of sugar kissed off of her skin, and his cock hardened halfway, making him feel like a dirty fugitive as his family paraded around him in bulky Christmas sweaters and “The Little Drummer Boy” played in the background.

“Remember when you were little and you used to sing along to this one, Ty?” his mother asked, standing in front of him with the half-full tray of cookies balanced in one hand.

“No,” he lied.

“Well you did. It was
so
cute.” She sighed. “I miss you guys being that young. When am I going to get some grandbabies?” She tapped him teasingly on the arm, arching an eyebrow.

Tyler nearly choked on his half-chewed cookie. For half a second, he had to resist the urge to inform her that her wish would be coming true in a few months – whether she liked it or not. Then an entirely different thought sprang into his mind: Mallory, pregnant.

Holy shit
. The image was erotic in a way he wouldn’t have admitted to anyone, even if they’d held him at gunpoint. Chalking it up to an overdose of holiday cheer and family time, he did his best to push the crazy notion away. “You know mom, just because I’m the oldest doesn’t mean I’ll be the first to have a kid.”

He felt a sudden pressure on the back of his head, and turned slowly to see Dustin gaping at him from across the room, a stricken expression on his face.

Tyler turned rapidly, locking his mother in eye contact before she could notice the fact that Dustin looked like he’d just been smacked across the face. “I mean, Kassie will be done with college in a couple years. She might meet someone and settle down.” He shrugged, trying to sound offhand. “Or Dustin might.”

His mother frowned, looking decidedly more mom-ish than grandma-like as her chin-length brunette hair bobbed, exposing earrings shaped like Christmas bulbs. “Kassie’s only twenty. And Dustin’s…” She shook her head. “Never mind. I guess I’m just getting sentimental.” She sighed. “I can’t help but think of what it was like when you all were little and thought this was the most exciting day of the year. Now you’re all grown up.” She turned away with a wistful expression, foisting her platter of cookies on Tyler’s grandfather.

“What the hell, dude?” Dustin’s breath rushed hot and rank against Tyler’s ear, carrying the distinct scent of rum.

Ugh. Tyler leaned away. “Relax. I didn’t say anything.”

“You almost did.” Dustin frowned, his expression accusing.

“Back off. Has it occurred to you how nice I’m being? I could blackmail you – threaten to tell your secret unless you serenade mom with ‘The Little Drummer Boy’ or something.”

Dustin flopped onto the couch like his bones had been replaced by jelly. “This sucks. I thought Hailey woulda called by now.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket and stared at the dark screen.

“She’ll call.” Tyler frowned as Dustin’s woes hit a nerve. He didn’t like to admit it, but he felt a lot like Dustin looked as he sat on the couch, purposely ignoring his own phone. He’d called Mallory the evening before, but they hadn’t talked long. Someone had attempted to rob her apartment while she’d been out and she’d seemed upset. Which was understandable, but he felt like a douche because he hadn’t been able to help.

He’d asked if there was anything he could do, had even offered to come over, but she’d insisted that a neighbor had helped and that the police had done all they could. And then she’d rushed off the phone.

He’d gotten the same distant vibes from her that she’d given him that morning, and he didn’t know whether he was right to feel disappointed or whether he was just being a jackass, expecting her to want to talk to him after the incident at her apartment – something that would’ve shaken anyone up.

Truth was, he hated that he wasn’t close enough to her to step in, to know what she wanted and somehow make the situation better. He’d felt that close to her and more – probably closer than he’d ever felt to anyone, honestly – during the night she’d spent at his place. It hadn’t just been the sex; it’d been the entire night. The dumb jokes that had led to the sex in the first place, and the way she’d fallen asleep with him, her forehead against his chest and one of her hands clasping his. They’d still been lying like that when he’d woken up, and he’d stayed still for a few moments before carefully disentangling himself and getting up.

He’d liked waking up that way. A lot. There was just something about her, and maybe he couldn’t describe exactly what it was, but he couldn’t shake the feeling, either – he wanted to be with her. Really wanted it. For a split second, he actually felt jealous of Dustin, who had a concrete reason to be with the girl he was dating, to build a life with her.

It was crazy, of course, and it wasn’t like he would’ve wanted anything that would’ve made Mallory feel obligated to be with him. But he wanted her to want that kind of permanency with him, and after yesterday, he was starting to think that maybe she felt the exact opposite way. Which sucked and made him feel like someone had poured a big cup of expired, curdled eggnog right over his heart.

“Time to open gifts!” Kassie all but skipped into the living room, carrying a box wrapped in blue paper and silver ribbon. “Ty, this one’s for you.” She shoved it into his lap before he could so much as blink.

“We’re not waiting ‘till after dinner to exchange gifts?” he asked, throwing his gaze around the room.

His mother shrugged. “Why wait? You’re supposed to open presents on Christmas morning, right?”

Kassie nudged Tyler’s knee. “Open it!”

He tore away the paper and lifted a lid, revealing a stash of art supplies. The paper and pencils were all the exact same brands and types he used every day to sketch tattoo designs. “Thanks, Kassie. I’ll use the hell out of these.” She must’ve taken a look at his stuff and made notes during a commercial break when she’d come over to watch
The Princess Bride
or something.

She beamed. “I figured I’d get you something you could use. It’s nice to get things you’ll use for Christmas.” She leaned in, her grin growing wider. “I wonder if anyone got
me
something
I
could really use.”

His gaze was drawn toward the tree that loomed by the window, and after remaining silent for a few seconds just to mess with her, he relented. “Why don’t you go see?”

She hurried over to the tree and began inspecting the wrapped gifts that sat beneath and around it, her eyes shining. After a few moments, her gaze settled on a large rectangular package wrapped in striped paper. Slowly, she looked up, her eyes searching Tyler’s.

He nodded.

She examined the tag, expression serious for a few seconds before her grin resurfaced.

“Don’t get too excited,” Tyler said. “Pawn shop, remember?”

It wasn’t true. He’d gotten a good deal on Kassie’s gift at a department store. It wasn’t a big screen by any stretch of the imagination, but it was new, if economical.

“You didn’t get this at a pawn shop!” she crowed as she unwrapped the box. “And it’s color.”

“Confession:” Tyler said, “I don’t think they even sell black and white TVs anymore. I was forced to get you something decent.”

“Thanks!” Kassie hugged him while their mom said something about what a nice gift it was.

“Damn, what’d you get me?” Dustin asked, his somber expression giving way to mild interest.

“Coal.” Tyler tipped his head toward the pile of striped gifts – the ones he’d brought for his family. “See for yourself.”

Actually, he’d gotten Dustin a hoodie. It wasn’t exactly the most original gift in the world, but judging by what Tyler observed on the occasions he actually saw Dustin, the kid more or less lived in a couple of hoodies, neither of which got washed as often as they should’ve, if the stale pizza smell that permeated the fabric was any indication. Throwing one more into the mix couldn’t hurt.

“Thanks man,” Dustin said, clutching the gift in one hand as the other twitched above his pocket, where the outline of his phone stood out beneath denim.

The pile of gifts under the tree was halfway decimated by the time Dustin’s phone rang. When it went off, he froze for half a second, then sprinted out of the room like a demented jackrabbit, clutching his pocket.

“Hey! We’re not done opening gifts,” Kassie called after him, wrinkling her nose.

“What was
that
all about?” their mother asked, frowning.

“Probably some girl,” Kassie said, reaching for another gift. “Here, mom.”

When Dustin reentered the room several minutes later, his face was pink, like he’d been running. Maybe he’d gone outside. Either way, there was a weird look in his eyes that made Tyler think his big secret wasn’t going to keep until after Christmas. Inconspicuously, Tyler leaned over and peered into the depths of Dustin’s abandoned cup. How much rum had he had, anyway?

Sure enough, Dustin opened his mouth, breathed a sigh and confessed everything to everyone.

* * * * *

Christmas Day wasn’t exactly the family cheer-fest Mallory had hoped for, for her mother’s sake. “Want some hot chocolate, Kevin?” She sank down into a seat at the kitchen table.

Her younger brother sat across from her, his chin propped in one hand. “More? You trying to make me diabetic, like mom?”

Mallory sighed. “No. I don’t know. It’s sugar-free, anyway. I’m just waiting for the turkey to be done, I guess.” She and her mother had risen at slightly after dawn and spent hours preparing in the kitchen before Kevin and Danielle had arrived. Now it was early afternoon and it was only a matter of waiting for the turkey to finish baking – it had maybe twenty minutes to go. Meanwhile, Mallory and Kevin lurked in the kitchen like a couple of refugees while Danielle and their mother held a spirited meeting in the living room.

“It won’t be much longer before dinner’s ready, anyway,” Mallory said, partially in apology to Kevin.

He shrugged, shooting a wary glance toward the living room. “Maybe I should take a plate out onto the balcony. Don’t know if I’ll be able to breathe with all that venom in the air.” He was only twenty, but he’d grown up with two sisters and no brothers – Danielle was only a year older than him and he knew better than anyone when she was in a bad mood.

“They’ll calm down when dinner’s on the table.” Mallory shot a doubtful glance in their direction. “I hope.”

Danielle had broken up with her boyfriend. They’d been dating for a couple months and Mallory had never met him.

 Now, Danielle was in the throes of post-split despair. Their mother had leant a sympathetic ear … starting two hours ago. They were still talking about it, and Mallory couldn’t blame Kevin for wanting to avoid the conversation, which was decidedly not favorable toward the male gender.

Frankly, Mallory didn’t feel comfortable listening to it either. All the talk of faults and betrayal reminded her of the things she’d heard her mother say about their father, time and time again. Now, hearing it was like listening to a broken record, and Mallory couldn’t help but feel that all her efforts to keep her father from spoiling Christmas for her mother were being thwarted. Her father had kept his word – he hadn’t so much as called, let alone showed up at the apartment – but it was obvious that her mother was reliving the hurt he’d caused anyway.