Obsessive Compulsion (10 page)

“Oh? Well, I hope you feel better soon,
sugar
,” I coo. “I was hoping you and I might get better
acquainted tonight.”

His gaze leaves the rearview mirror as he
goes quiet for the remainder of the drive. Pulling up to a large
double gate, he rolls down his window and slides a card through a
reader then drives through the gates as they open. I stare at one
of the bronze, rearing-horse statues that top the gate’s support
columns, remembering the first time I came here to help Brandon set
up Emma’s room. She’d still been in the hospital, but he wanted to
make sure she had everything she needed waiting for her when she
was ready to come home with him. Brandon is such a good man, and
that’s another reason to hate this Deputy Dickless sitting in front
of me.

Instead of parking in the front of the
large, white farmhouse, he pulls around back to the kitchen
entrance and parks next to Victoria’s SUV. After turning off the
ignition, he sits in the darkness for a long, uneasy minute. I’m
not able to get out because the back seat has no door handle. I’m
trapped.
Shit
.

“Miss McLeod,” the respectful tone of his
voice startles me. Where’d Deputy Dickface go? “I’m gonna take a
wild gander and say you know what all went down ‘tween me, Kyle,
Brandon and Emma?”

My eyebrow cocks up high as I try and figure
out where he’s going with this. “I do. I know you told a bunch of
lies to Kyle so he’d turn rabid on Emma and run her outta
town.”

He lets out a long sigh, running his hand
through his thick, black hair. “I didn’t know all ‘bout Emma and
her… troubles. I mean, yeah, I wanted to stick it to Brandon and
Kyle, but we got us a history, me and those two, that don’t no one
else knows about. Kyle and I made peace a while back, but me and
Brandon… Don’t excuse what I did, though.”

“You put Emma in a damn mental ward!” My
temper flares.

“And I’m very sorry about that, Miss McLeod,
I swear.”

He’s not looking at me, but for some strange
reason, I’m starting to believe him. I’m supposed to be pissed at
this asshole, but I almost feel sorry for him.

No, Charlie! That’s just your stupid,
sympathetic heart. Turn off your empathy for ten damn minutes. He’s
a bastard named Crow. Remember that.

I’ll never forget. I promise.

“I didn’t get the paperwork from the Feds,”
he continues. “Well, I did get some of it, but it was all blacked
out. I didn’t get anything about her being autistic or the real
story about what happened with her and that piece of shit Marcus.
About Jacob… God, I feel so awful about that. If I’d known what
kina abuse she’d suffered, I never would’ve… I would’ve found some
other way…”

He leans his head back against the seat and
looks into the rearview. “Kyle explained all the shit I messed up
before he punched my lights out, but I aint made peace yet with
Emma. She’s never two feet away from Brandon.”

“What about Brandon?” I narrow my gaze,
trying to keep the anger on the surface despite the emotions in his
eyes telling the truth of his regret. “Shouldn’t you make peace
with him, too?”

“I don’t think that’s ever gonna happen,” he
shakes his head, grabbing his hat from the passenger seat and
opening his door. Opening the back door for me, he offers me a hand
and I take it. “Sometimes, Miss McLeod, cuts just go too deep,
especially when broken promises are involved.”

My breath hitches and I’m caught in his
stare. Somehow, I get the idea that it was Brandon who was the one
breaking the promise and that there is way more to their story than
I know. I don’t think I’m ready to outright forgive James for what
he did to Emma, but part of me wants to at least try.

Before I can make heads or tails of my
flip-flopping empathy, noises from the back porch catch our
attention. Saul rushes through the screen door and pounds down the
porch steps on his long legs before his wide stride marches across
the gravel driveway. Austin rushes after him and the poor screen
door gets slammed back against the house again.

“Saul! Would you wait a damn minute!” Austin
has to basically jog to keep up with Saul’s long stride.

“No. Seen all I need,” Saul brushes Austin
off and keeps marching towards the parked vehicles.

“You aint seen nothin’,
amigo
,”
Austin grabs Saul’s arm and yanks him to a stop.

Saul spins with fist raised. “I
aint
your
amigo
! Thought I was, but now…” He lowers the fist and
runs his hands roughly through his platinum blonde hair. “You just
tell me straight, man. You and I is… was friends. You in love with
my Vickie?”

Austin puts his hands on his narrow hips,
his chest rising and falling in heavy breaths. He has to crane his
neck back to look Saul in the eyes. “I love her,” he nods, but
continues. “I also love you, and…”

“Bullshit,” Saul curses. “You stabbin’ me in
the back is a good way ‘a shown’ just how much you care, I
‘spose?”

“Dammit, man, why you never listen to a
single word I say!” Austin’s Hispanic accent breaks through as his
odd grey-blue eyes glare at Saul in challenge.

“’Cause I heard an’ seen enough tonight ta’
know all I needs ta’ know!” Saul fires back. I feel bad for spying
on this conversation, but James and I are pinned in the shadows
between his cruiser and Victoria’s SUV. Saul pivots and heads for
his truck.

“
Estúpido,”
Austin mutters before
letting out a frustrated groan. “Saul, let me explain,” his words
are cut off as Saul slams the truck door and starts the engine.
Austin stands in the parking lot, his hands shoved into his pockets
as he watches Saul back up and then pull out, truck tires tearing
into the gravel. Austin kicks a rock with his boot, raising his
eyes and cussing at the moon. “
Hombre terco!
Why can’t he
just listen for once?”

I have no idea what I just witnessed, but
the hurt in Austin’s eyes is clear. James steps out from between
the vehicles, the noise catching Austin’s attention. Austin looks
from James to me, confusion replacing the hurt. I frown, feeling
embarrassed for our intrusion.

“Didn’t mean to eavesdrop.” I fist the strap
of my bag. “Everything okay?”

“Austin?!” Victoria calls out as she rushes
through the screen door. “Where’s Saul?” She stops short as James
and I come into view. She’s half dressed with a silk purple robe
tied tightly around her, but it doesn’t remove the power from her
presence. Her whiplashing gaze falls on James. “
Crow
. Wasn’t
expecting to see you tonight.”

James sets his hand on my shoulder. “Miss
Scarlet’s car broke down out on Oak Grove. Was just giving her a
ride and got her car towed to Emanuel’s.”

“That so?” Victoria huffs. “Well, how kind
of you. She’s here, so feel free to get back to work.”

James’ hand tightens on my shoulder. “I was
actually thinking about stayin’ tonight. Maybe it’s time Brandon
and I had some words. I wanna make peace, Vic.”

“Not a good idea,” Austin shakes his head.
“Boss-man isn’t in a good mood.”

Ian’s voice enters the conversation out of
nowhere. I guess he doesn’t slam screen doors like everyone else.
“Victoria, Brandon was…” His words die off as his eyes move from
James to me to James’ hand on my shoulder. A twitch stutters across
his face before he looks back at Victoria. “Brandon was looking for
you.”

Victoria curses. “Boys. I swear to Christ
Almighty.” She points at Austin. “I don’t care if you gotta tie
that boy down, you and Saul need to come to an understanding.” Her
eyes move to James, leaving Austin’s mouth open in an unspoken
reply. “Thank you for giving her a ride, but now you need to leave.
Brandon doesn’t want you here. Not yet, and I don’t have the time
or patience tonight to deal with the war you two might bring down
on this club.”

Finally, she turns to Ian. “Tell Brandon
I’ll meet him in the club room as soon as I get some damn clothes
on.” Without waiting for a reply from anyone, she stomps off,
calling one last command over her shoulder. “Miss Scarlet, come
with me please.”

“Yes, Mistress,” I reply. I don’t like
playing a submissive for anyone, but Victoria leaves no wiggle room
on the matter. If I want to really take part in this world, she’s
my trainer and what she says goes. I follow, Ian not meeting my
questioning glance as I pass.

Crow
.

I haven’t seen Charlie since Wednesday and
now she shows up with
Crow
? What the hell?

I’d just accepted the fact that it was
seven-thirty and Charlie wasn’t coming tonight, but now I don’t
know what to think. That dark-eyed son of a bitch is smirking at me
from under the brim of his Stetson as Charlie, Austin and Victoria
head back into the house.

I swallow emotions, keeping a tight lid on
the bottle, but I can’t keep the twitching under control. “You
should heed Victoria’s advice, James. Brandon isn’t ready to see
you, and I don’t think you being in uniform is going to stop his
fist from showing his displeasure to your face.”

Much to my surprise, James nods and takes
off his hat. “I ‘spose not, and I guess gettin’ him thrown in jail
for assaulting an officer wouldn’t exactly help our situation. Too
bad, though. I was hopin’ to spend more time makin’ peace with Miss
McLeod.”

My fists clench at my sides. “She is Emma’s
best friend, and she is not a fool. Go mark your territory
elsewhere.”

He lets out a long sigh. “Alright, alright.
Her car broke down and I was just givin’ her a ride, but a crow can
tell when to cut his losses and bow out for the night.” He twirls
his hat in his hands as he takes a step back then stops. “Can you…
would you tell Brandon I wanna talk, whenever he’s ready?”

If I didn’t know Crow better, I’d swear he
was being sincere. “I will.”

“Thanks,” he nods and opens his car door.
“Oh, and can you tell Rabbit that I…” he stops, looking at me like
he’s lost, then just shakes his head. “Never mind. I’m sure she
doesn’t wanna talk to me, either.”

My cheek twitches as I watch him pull away,
our strange conversation nagging my brain. I don’t know everything
that’s gone on between James Darcy and Brandon Peters, but I know
it goes way back to when they were kids. Back to the time when
Brandon’s twin brother, Brendon, was still alive.

I head back inside, passing by Austin who is
pacing the kitchen while speaking in Spanish into his cellphone. I
can only assume that he’s talking to his sister, Annabelle, but
other than Saul’s name and
estupido
, I don’t understand
anything else he’s saying. We exchange quick glances, and I try to
offer some sympathy through my anger. Saul definitely isn’t the
brightest crayon, because it’s pretty damn obvious what’s really
going on.

I leave Austin to pace out his issues so I
can deliver Victoria’s message to Brandon. Entering the clubroom, I
find an exhibitionist demonstration in full swing. Cameron, her
honey-blonde hair radiant under the lights, is being serviced by
her long time Sub, Joey. Joey has her platinum blonde hair put up
into her signature pigtails while she shines Cameron’s boots. It’s
a proper boot-blacking display, with Cameron and Joey’s play slowly
developing into more sexually charged maneuvers. Their exhibitions
have always been club-member favorites.

I like watching them, from the safety of the
bar, simply because of the control Cam shows and the obvious
affection that exists between her and Joey. It’s not just about the
crowd, the exhibition or the sex. This club, these things we enjoy,
it’s about so much more. The idea that it could all be taken away
is what has Brandon so on edge tonight.

I find him scowling next to the bar with
Emma at his side, and I’m grateful that Cam and Joey are putting on
such a show tonight to distract from the Stable Master’s foul mood.
“Boss, Mistress Cat will be down to the clubroom soon.”

“Thanks,” Brandon nods, his hand idly
playing with one of Emma’s caramel curls. “And Baldur?”

My lips twitch into a frown at the sound of
Saul’s Nordic club name. “He left.”

“Dammit,” Brandon runs a hand down his
heavily scarred face. “Those three are gonna give me an
aneurism.”

“Has Char… Miss Scarlet shown up?” Emma
asks. “She said she was going to come.”

My anger returns. “She showed up with
Crow.”

“What?” Brandon hisses through clenched
teeth as he leans away from the bar, his eyes scanning the
club.

“He left,” I add. “Her car broke down on the
way here and the good Deputy happened to pass her by.”

“Well, that was nice of him,” Emma offers,
setting a hand on Brandon’s flexing bicep. Emma doesn’t hold
grudges, even when they’re for beady-eyed bastards like Crow.

“He said he wanted to talk with you,” I pass
on James’ message. Might as well. I’m just the damn answering
service tonight. “When and wherever you want.”

Brandon huffs and holds Emma tight, like
she’s the only thing keeping him from losing his mind tonight.
“Like a
talk
is gonna square me and that asshole up.”

I hate to say it, but I do. “He may be able
to help us with the other problem.” Brandon shoots me a heated
look, so I back up a step. “I know it’s not ideal. You think I want
anything to do with him after just catching him sniffing around
Miss Scarlet?”

Emma sighs at me, like I’m the dumb one
instead of Saul, then looks up at Brandon. “Twitch is right,
Master. The note makes me nervous for you and for our family.”

The Note
was received early this
morning, slipped into the mailbox at our regular business, P.M.L.
Property Investments. The message was simple, clear and
troubling.

‘
I know what you do on weekends.’

Saul tried to laugh it off, like it was a
trick being played by one of the club members in a
I know what
you did last summer
kind of spoof. The joke concept died when
we looked at the security footage for the front of the building.
The logo on the truck that had delivered the message was
unmistakable. Michael Forester was looking for payback, and someone
had tipped the miserable bastard off about our other business.