Mocha Kisses (A Piece of Forever #1)

1. LUNA

Luna

Six Years Ago

I ’m not sure what I’m running from exactly but the suited man with a gun pointed at my face is reason enough not to stop. My beautiful small town of Spring Haven is no longer the quiet, boring place it used to be. With Red Brook University’s graduation a few hours away, all neighboring towns including mine–Spring Haven–are in on the celebration. From people crowding the shops along the main street to buying up the fresh delicacies from my favorite bakery, I swear everyone is out and about, busying themself in preparation for the yearly party.

The fact that twelve of Spring Haven’s own are graduating this year is something to be celebrated. Unfortunately, my focus is on not getting caught.

Skidding through an alleyway, I head for the main street that will take me around the back of the campus, to the edge of the football fields. Red brick on either side of me ends at the intersection, grass on either side of the concrete following me. This shortcut used to bring me so much joy as I and others fled through here to keep from being late for class. The moments I’d hide back here for a quick smoke when I thought it was cool. The moments that my boyfriend drew me here for kisses and maybe something a little more.

None of that matters now. Today was supposed to be a day full of excitement, a day full of new beginnings, a day to rejoice the first day of the rest of our lives.

Instead, I’ve been saddled with a bill that has more zeros than I’ve ever seen in my life.

“A million dollars?” I whisper, my voice strained as I stare at the promissory note. My father’s name—John Williamson—is signed at the bottom and a bloody fingerprint beside it. I thought shit like that only happened in the movies. The Red Brook county officer sitting across the desk clears his throat and I look up through teary eyes, wondering if he pulled the short stick to be dealing with the St. Claire family. Again.

My mother is no stranger to them, what with the substances she stuffs down her throat half the time. I’m not even sure who her supplier is or where she even finds these people but it’s the only thing that steadily comes into the house. That and alcohol. I twist to look over at her, scowling at her unhelpfulness.

Two weeks ago, my mother gave me a sob story about my father’s debts, explaining that our humble dwelling was a result of trying to pay everything off. I thought she was full of shit at the time only because I had never met the man and his name only came up in passing. Fast forward to today, a sunny Thursday that was supposed to be reserved for the excitement of my college graduation and I’m sitting across from a police officer, filing a complaint.

Aside from the bill that my father has left us, it’s the suited goons that have been prowling around our residence, following me to school and threatening to kill me if I don’t pay up. The problem is that I don’t have any money, neither does my mother, and neither one of us has any means of grabbing a million dollars in the next week before the supposed due date.

I reread the letter, grimacing as I pick out new things.

Due Date: May 25 th

Should you be unable to repay your debt whether by death or other incident, your family will be located to satisfy the remaining monetary value.

“Is this even legal?” I cry, thrusting the letter back at the officer. I had to beg my mother to join me at the station but she’s been no help thus far. My mother wobbles forward before placing a hand on the desk, drawing our attention to her.

“Have you seen what they’ve done to my poor baby?”

I let out an agonized sigh because my mother doesn’t care about me. She’s just hoping to get out from under this. The few scrapes I’ve earned from running away will soon become scars full of memories I would rather forget.

The police officer runs his fingers through his hair, shaking his head. “Miss St Claire, I’m afraid there isn’t much I can do with a letter. We’ve opened an investigation to who’s been following your daughter but without any names or faces other than a John Williamson, there isn’t much we can do at this point.”

I knew I shouldn’t have trusted that the police would be able to do anything. This isn’t even the first complaint we’ve filed and yet, we’re being told the same thing. That they can’t help us. No one can. I’m on my own with this shit, just like I am with everything else.

“What am I supposed to do in the meantime?” I ask, steeling my voice so that my mother doesn’t see how much this truly bothers me. She’s ruined every part of my life thus far, why did I think that my graduation would be any different?

My mother adds, “Luna doesn’t have that kind of money.”

The reality sinks in, that my mother expects me to pay off my father’s debts. She’ll wallow in the house as she always does while I suffer. I should have known. The officer looks between the two of us. “Luna? Luna, I would advise you to reach out to your father and find out what’s going on. This is a serious sum of money and paying them off might not actually fix the problem. We’ll offer you a protective detail as we try to get to the bottom of this, alright?”

Sweet relief spreads through my limbs. For the first time, someone is doing something about the situation. I nod and reach across the desk to shake his hand, a small smile finally reaching my lips.

Unfortunately, that protective detail he set up, the fucking officer that was offered to me turned out to be just another one of those suited goons. Apparently, they’ve infiltrated the police department. I dash across the street, glancing back to see the man lingering at the edge of the alleyway, his gaze peering back and forth as his gun slides from behind his back.

Running into public places has always given me a bit of reprieve from the debt I now owe because of a man I’ve never even fucking met.

I wouldn’t know him from a piece of shit and I’ve never cared to know about him until now. Thrusting his financial issues on us? The worst part is that with the appearance of this suited individual waving a gun around, it’s obvious that whatever my father has gotten himself into isn’t legal. As far as I know, credit card companies just assault your phone.

It was pretty obvious with the bloodied fingerprint that my father’s choices were beyond the legal scope but it’s a whole lot different experiencing it.

The suited goons have also never waved a gun in my face and the adrenaline pouring through my veins is starting to wear off. I can’t keep running through the streets of Spring Haven and Red Brook, hoping that I’ll suddenly lose them. And this man works with or for the fucking police.

I’ll have to leave, won’t I?

My breath catches in my throat but I push forward as the outline of the metal bleachers comes into view, my eyes peeled for my boyfriend. A month ago, my entire world revolved around college and marriage with the love of my life—Griffin Solace. Now, it revolves around escaping this hell hole and leaving him behind.

I will not drag him into this chaotic world with me, not the way my mother has.

My mother expects me to pay this off. She even told one of the last suits that I would be the person to contact. Like a 22-year-old has any money. I have even less, despite my part-time job, because my mother thought it wise that my earnings be used to fuel her alcoholic tendencies. I hate it. I hate all of this.

I head straight for the side of the bleachers, knowing that Griffin will be waiting for me there away from the chaos of our graduating class. Shouts of laughter and excitement explode across the football field but I can’t focus on any of that now.

“Woah, babe, you’re not dressed for graduation. Where’s your gown? The one I picked out.” Griffin catches me in his arms, tugging me into his chest with that award-winning smile that he’s famous for. When he pulls away to make a joke, the smile disappears, worry lines etched into his forehead as he tucks a few stray curls behind my ear. “Precious, what’s going on? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

He’s dressed in his burgundy regalia, the zipper undone to show off the suit I picked out for today. It’s a deep hearty blue paired with a black button-down and black tie that offsets the gray color of his eyes. He looks perfect and I look…

“Luna?”

Griffin using my name has me jerking in his hold and I push him away. If that suited man sees us together, he might target my boyfriend and I’ll never forgive myself. “Nothing. I just… out for a jog? I don’t know.” My words are jumbled as I try to find the right lie but I’ve always been terrible at it—lying that is.

“Luna, tell me what’s going on. What are you running from? Is it your mother?” Griffin’s eyes search mine before his gaze rises to the small cut on my head. I forgot about that but with his attention on it, I can feel it throbbing.

I hesitate and then shake my head. Fuck, I’m going to regret that. My mother has gotten out of control once or twice, threatening my safety when she’s a little too under the influence. I’ve always escaped to Griffin’s house for a few hours until my mother passes out, so using her as an excuse at this moment isn’t far-fetched.

“Babe, come here.” He tucks me into his arms again and for a moment I melt against his chest, relishing the warmth that he provides. Griffin has always been my safe space and my home. We’re only 22, but I know that he’s my soulmate. Too bad that fate doesn’t want us together. “Let’s fuck off back home and we can celebrate graduation there, alright? Do you want to invite a few people or just us?”

He’s so considerate and a small cry leaves my lips at the way I’m about to break his heart. “No, it’s okay. I want you to walk. It’s something precious to you. I’ll… I’ll go grab my bag and come back.” Griffin has always wanted all of the things that come with graduation. I don’t care either way; seeing him smile is one of my goals. The fact that he’ll give all that up because he thinks it will soothe my panic just makes me love him even more.

His hands cup my cheeks as he searches my expression again. “Are you sure? Do you need me to come with you?”

“No, I’m a big girl, Griffin.” I put on a brave smile, Griffin chuckling at my insistence.

“Never said you weren’t.”

Then he kisses me and I moan as my fingers wrap around the lapels of his suit jacket. Tears stream down my cheeks and I know that he can taste the salt of my despair. When we break apart, I can see the conflict in his eyes as if he knows that something more is going on. I can’t tell him though. I can’t risk his life for my happiness.

“I love you, Fin.”

“I love you too, Luna. I’ll see you in what—fifteen minutes?”

I nod gingerly before untangling myself from him and heading back the way I came. I won’t be returning to the stadium or this school for a while. I need to lay low and find a way to pay off the million-dollar debt I’m now saddled with. The police can’t help. They’re part of the problem. Griffin will only get hurt at my side. And my mother… I don’t want to think about the fact that she just threw me under the bus.

Racing back home, sticking to the main sidewalks, I escape back into my house and stuff everything I love into a bag. There isn’t much, I soon find, when I start looking around the room. There are a few trinkets I’ve picked up over the years but nothing else of value. I pack all of my underwear, cash that I’ve stashed under my mattress, and my tablet. My cute little powder blue Toyota Camry will take me out of this town and then I can figure out what happens next.

My heartbeat thumps in my ears as I find a notebook and tear out a page, knowing that when I don’t show up in fifteen minutes, Griffin will come find me.

I’m sorry. I didn’t want to hurt you. I’ll always love you, Griffin Solace. You’ll always be my sunshine.

A tear drop hits the page and I wipe it away but not before it leaves a little stain. I don’t have time to rewrite it as I leave my phone beside it on the bed and race down the stairs. My mother is sprawled on the couch, eyes following my form out the door. She doesn’t even react and I’m not even sure she knew I was supposed to be graduating today. The first in the family to have a degree.

My dream was to become an editor at one of the large publishing houses, wearing those form-fitting suits, and then returning home to Griffin before he rocked my world all night long.

Those dreams have been discarded for a much more bleak outlook on life.

The only goal I have now is not to get caught.

God, I fucking hate my father.