Dirty Love (Fighting Dirty Series Book 1) (11 page)

When I go into the kitchen, I have to stop and do a double take— on the counter is my purse alongside with my keys and my phone. When did those get here? Did I overlook them last night? No, I am sure they were not here when I came through the door.  That’s when I see him sitting in my brother’s recliner drinking my coffee. Royce. The nerve of him just sitting there enjoying my brew in my favorite mug. Who does he think he is sitting there watching me watching him, with a smug look of satisfaction on his devilishly handsome face. His mouth curves up in a smile. “Miss me?”

“Did I miss you? Are you serious right now? Do you have any idea what the past few days, or the past week however fucking long it’s been has been like for me? You are a psychopath.”

“I love you too babe. I made coffee. You should probably get going if you want to see your brother.”

“Do you even hear yourself right now? Why are you here?” I anxiously tap my fingers on the counter waiting for him to explain himself. Do I even want to hear it, I don’t know.

“We have a lot to talk about Brandi, but if you believed even half of the shit Parker told you I wouldn’t still be sitting here would I?”

“I-I…” I try to argue, but I can’t. 

“See, you know me, I wouldn’t hurt you…ever.”

“Where is Tiffany? And don’t you dare say Tiffany who or so help me.” I give him my crazy eye glare. You don’t mess with a woman when she gives you the look, you just don’t.

“Worry about Kline first.”

“We have a lot to discuss, but you’re right. I need to go see my brother.”

“Go, I’ll wait. And Tiffany’s fine, she played her part, but she will have to tell you her involvement herself. I feel it’s her place to do so not mine. You know all of my secrets.”

"We are going to have a very long and heated discussion when I get back.”

“I’m counting on it. And babe, please stay away from Parker, he’s dangerous. He’s not going to just let us walk away. You don’t walk away from Parker without paying the price. Just promise me you won’t let him get you alone.”

I swallow hard, afraid of what today will hold.  In my room, I hurriedly I throw on jeans and a tee. I slip on my flip flops at the front door. Royce tries to hug me, but I can’t stomach his touch right now. I’m so confused about him, us, everything.

**

At the hospital my brother’s condition hasn’t changed. Once again, I have missed my mom and Charlie. I will have to make an appearance at their place sooner rather than later. I suppose I will go there before I go home and face Royce. Part of me still has my doubts, but too much of what Parker tried to tell me just doesn’t sit right with me. And I can’t deny the bad vibes I was feeling from him while he was force feeding me his bullshit. Did he think that because of my feelings towards the brief sexual encounters we have shared that I would just forget three years of being with Royce, and buy into everything he said?  Surely to God I don’t come off as that gullible.

Seeing my brother lying here today unconscious isn’t any easier than it was yesterday. In fact, I think today it is even harder, because my brain is firing on all cylinders. His nurse comes in to change the IV bag, and give him another dose of pain medication. She says that his internal bleeding seems to be under control. They are planning to do a surgery on his knee over the next few days. Once he is in the clear from the knee surgery they will start bringing him off the medication, and I will be able to actually speak to Kline.

“Talking to him is good.” She says that he can hear me.

So that is what I do, I pull up a chair next to my brother, and tell him all about the clusterfuck of thoughts that’s running through my head.

“Kline, I feel so lost and confused. I wish you would wake up so you could tell me to pull my head out of my ass and do the right thing. Because I know the right thing is to walk away from Royce and Parker while never look back. But I love Royce, and I need to believe him. I want so badly for him to be the man that I fell in love with.” My stomach lurches, and I have to dash to the bathroom in order save myself the embarrassment of spewing my coffee all over my comatose brother.

I really hope I’m not coming down with a stomach bug. That’s the last thing I need on top of everything that is going on right now.  My stomach feels swollen and now I remember I missed my appointment with my gynecologist for my birth control shot. I am about to get my period. I don’t know why exactly, but every time I get a period it makes me nauseous, which is why I get the shot, so I don’t have periods anymore. Well not usually, but thanks to this whole mess I have missed my appointment, and now I get to go through the joys of being a woman.

Chapter 10

After sitting with Kline a bit longer I go by the grocery store to stock up on tampons, wine, chocolate and Motrin—the PMS essentials. I head over to my mom's house before going home to face Royce.

I guess I should tell you what happened to my brother. After he won his fight the other night, he got in Royce’s car to drive to meet Charlie so they could pay off the debt and end this shit. Well like the say history repeats itself. Parker tampered with Royce’s car again, and nearly killed my brother. Kline was driving   when a car suddenly slammed on the brakes in front of him. He was far enough behind the car that if the brakes were working properly he would have stopped in time based on the tire marks, but the brake lines were cut... now my brother is fighting for his life.

That’s’ the short version of what mm and Charlie told me.

My mom has been checking in with the police regularly, and they are doing a full investigation, but they aren’t telling my mom much information right now. Parker probably paid them off. Mom says that Royce saved Kline’s life, that he was following him to the drop off, he pulled my brother from the car, performing CPR on him until the ambulance was near then he fled the scene. He wasn’t sure what to tell the cops. Then he discovered I was gone. He knew Parker had me, and just had to wait for things to unfold.

“Baby, Royce would do anything for you. That man loves you so much. We told the cops that Kline was driving Royce’s car because the two of you borrowed his truck to go on a romantic camping trip. We felt it best not to bring up your brother’s illegal fight, and Royce says you never know what cops are on the take for the Garretti brothers.”

“You did the right thing mom. I’m so worried about Kline. He’s my best friend. It’s always been the two of us against the world. I can’t stand just seeing him lying there motionless, unable to communicate with me whatsoever.”

“Honey, it is probably all the medicine they have him on. He’s going to bounce back, he always does.”

I leave my mom's house feeling a little better, but I am still confused about Royce and Parker.

When I return home, Royce is sitting in the same spot waiting to talk to me as promised.

“I see you are still willing to hear me out.”

“I am, but first I need wine and chocolate, then you may speak.”

“Okay.” he laughs softly, but his smile doesn’t quite touch his eyes. His grey eyes bore into mine, and I know that no matter what he says or how much I love him, it won’t be enough to save us from all that has happened. My love for him is the only reason I am allowing him to have his say. We both need the closure.

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 ever 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.

This time Kline got in my way. Why was he in Royce’s car? That motherfucker won’t die. No matter how hard I try, or how well I plan, he won’t fucking die! Maybe if I talk to her one more time she will give me a chance.

**

Knock…knock…knock. “Royce, I told you I don’t want to see you again.” I angrily throw my door open expecting to see Royce groveling for another chance, but instead I am face to face with Parker, and the look on his face is scary.

“Wh-what are you doing here Parker? You shouldn’t be here.” I try to close the door on him, but he shoves his way inside.

I wish that I hadn’t kicked Royce out. “I needed to see you.” He drops to his knees wrapping his arms around my waist. Oh my, is he crying right now? I don’t know what to do…I just know that I don’t want him here, in my home, touching me.

“Elizabeth, I’m sorry.” He squeezes me tight and I can’t breathe.

“My name is Brandi,” I whisper. He’s lost it. Parker thinks I am his dead girlfriend…he needs help.

“Please tell me you don’t love him. Tell me you never loved Royce... Tell me it was all a misunderstanding. Why did you leave me? Why did you get in his car? I need you.” Tears are leaking from his eyes, and he looks like a lost little boy right now. I hate him for hurting my brother, but this is a man clearly in need of help.

“Parker, you’re right I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done those things. I never loved him. I was weak that’s all, but now I am going to be strong, for us.” I don’t know what I am doing. I am just hoping to say whatever I need to, to get him calm enough so I can call the police.

“You killed our baby Elizabeth. I-I killed you and our baby. I’m so sorry baby. I loved you so much I couldn’t let him have you. I loved you…I lost you…I need you...” His confession about brings me to my knees. Royce was telling me the Gods honest truth, and now I am here with this dangerous man.

“It’s okay.” I stroke his cheek with a shaky hand. “I love you. I forgive you.”

“You’re a liar and a whore. It’s his baby isn’t it? Tell me…say it… You deserved to die. You are his dirty whore.” Parker punches me in the gut knocking me onto my couch he hits me with so much force.

He has completely lost it, and he is going to kill me. I know it. I can feel death coming. My phone starts ringing, and Parker seems to snap out of whatever is going on with him.

“Brandi?” he looks at me like he doesn’t know how he got here. I take advantage of his confusion, and grab my phone. It’s my mom calling me.

“Hello,” I answer my phone and hold my finger up to a confused Parker. I power walk to my bathroom locking myself inside just in case he snaps again. “Brandi, I need you to come to the hospital. It’s Kline, he’s not good baby.”

I hang up with my mom not believing what she just said. I had seen my brother earlier. I spoke to the nurse he was getting better. He can’t die. Sobs pour out of me. My chest is burning, I want Royce. I need Royce. I dial his number and he picks up. “Royce, I need you. Parker is here and he is being really weird. He was calling me Elizabeth. My mom just called me and I need to get to the hospital…”

“Is he still there? I’m coming back; I’m just down the street. I’m calling the police.”

“I’m in my bathroom, please Royce. I’m so scared.”

Parker punches the bathroom door with a muffled scream and then he goes quiet.

A few minutes later, Royce is knocking on my bathroom door. “Baby, open the door it’s me.”

I unlock the door. Royce takes me in his arms as I melt into him. “Where’s Parker?”

“I don’t know. When I got here the front door was open and he was gone. The police are on their way. I know you need to get to Kline, but you need to tell the police about Parker. Did he hurt you?”

“No…my brother I need to get to Kline.” A pain shoots through my chest. I feel like I am having a heart attack.

“Kline!” I scream out his name, he’s gone, and the pain in my chest just now— that was my bond to my brother ripping apart. I don’t know how I know but I just do. I can’t do this.  I faint as the call comes through… I can hear Royce talking to Charlie in the distance as the police come barging into my apartment. My world is crashing down all around me. A half of me just died…Kline… I can see his face in my mind. He looks so peaceful. Is he trying to tell me he is okay? Nothing in my life will ever be okay without him.