7. Skyler
7
*********
Waking up a little over two hours later, I feel much better, lighter.
Sitting up, I pull my knees up to my chest and take in my surroundings once more. The room looks exactly the way it did the last time I was here over six years ago. The pumpkin smell is heavier in here than the rest of the house. I hadn’t noticed it before.
Looking around for the source, I find two candles on the nightstand beside me. Picking one up, I inhale deeply. Both candles are burned almost to the end of the wick same as the three-wick I have in my room in my apartment. Knowing how Daddy is as obsessed with Mama’s favorite scent as I am bringing a smile to my face.
“Tell her I love her Daddy and I miss her so damn much.”
Placing the candle back on the table, the glint of gold catches my eye.
Mama and Daddy’s wedding rings and the chain Daddy wore them on around his neck are hanging on the switch of his table lamp. My brow furrows in confusion.
“He was here recently?” I ask the empty room. My mind suddenly running a mile a minute with curiosity.
Daddy never took his necklace off. He’s always worn it. Even hid it under his uniform shirts when he was hauling for Russell West because wearing jewelry is against company policy. But Daddy felt like he was betraying Mama if he didn’t wear their rings. Said it was how he knew she would be close to his heart.
So, what is it doing here?
Sitting here on the bed, I play with the necklace and ring in my hand wondering if maybe my uncle didn’t put it there. But why would he have it? And why would he put it in this house not the house Daddy lives in at the opposite side of town?
Shouldn’t it be with daddy at the morgue.
There’s an eerie chill running down my spine.
You’re losing it, Skyler.
A haunted feeling settles in my gut.
I throw the blankets off, and rush to the open blinds, flooding the room with sunlight. I close them as tight as I can.
No one’s watching you, Sky. No one knows you’re here.
Something feels wrong.
Your father was murdered. What should feel right about that, Sky?
I take a few deep breaths and settle myself down. I’m feeling the weight of everything. I need to do something. Occupy myself with something. Keep busy.
I dig through my purse and find the small zipper pocket where I keep the necklace daddy bought me shortly after mama died. It has a butterbean charm he had made especially for me. I open the clasp of the necklace and add their rings to the butterbean charm then put the necklace back in the pocket, placing his chain in the pocket beside mine.
I’ll ask my uncle when I see him.
Walking into the bathroom, I turn on the faucet, splashing cold water on my face. I grab the grey hand towel off the rack, wiping the water away. Turn off the faucet, about to put the towel back on the rack when something else catches my eye.
There’s a picture of me when I was fourteen on the mirror. It was my first high school dance. I went with Emily after the Homecoming game. It’s the one Daddy kept on the dash in his truck. The edges are worn, and the photo faded from years of being in the extreme heat and humidity over the years.
I remember the night he took the photo. I had never worn a dress so beautiful before. I didn’t like playing dress up as a child. Daddy was so stunned; he couldn’t stop taking pictures. I loved the plum-colored dress Liz had bought for me. It was nothing real fancy compared to what some of the other girls in school were wearing, but I felt like a princess in it.
It was a scoop neck bodice fitting to the waist, with a swirl pattern made of tiny silver rhinestones seem like fireworks glittering across the fabric. Liz chose the dress because the color made my violet eyes pop and the neckline was a little higher than most, which she said would preserve my modesty. The flowing skirt hung just above my knee, and the silver heals I wore were the icing on the cake.
By the time Liz was done curling my hair and doing my make-up I was holding back tears. I missed Mama, but I knew she was smiling down on me. Daddy must’ve felt the same way because when I walked into the living room to take pictures, he had tears in his eyes too.
Bracing the edges of the counter with one hand and wiping the stray tear from my eye with the other, I try to will away the ache in my chest.
Breathe, Sky. You must be stronger than this.
Why would Daddy have the picture in here? It’s been in his truck taped to the dash since the day he got it printed. Even when he traded his truck in and purchased a new one, the picture went on to the new dash. I tried to give him a more recent picture, but he didn’t think it was wise. Instead, he kept the same, faded photo with him everywhere he went.
He was on a run the last few days. The picture should’ve been in the truck. But instead, it’s here, just like the wedding rings he’d never parted with.
What the hell is going on?
Panic starts to grip my throat, like tight fingers squeezing tight as my heartrate begins to climb.
I start opening the drawers and the medicine cabinet scouring through his things. I don’t know what I’m looking for. But there must be something to explain what the hell is going on. Daddy knew he was going to die. He knew we were never going to see each other again. He said as much when he told me he wouldn’t make our date on the phone.
He must’ve known someone was coming for him, but why? It’s the only reason I can think of that would make him leave these things behind.
Me.
To leave me behind.
I close everything up, and make my way back through the bedroom, running my fingers along his old wooden dresser. He still has the photo of Mama and Me when I was four. It was Halloween. She was dressed as a witch, and I was her little black cat. She loved everything about the Fall, but Halloween went right along with her pumpkin fascination. We celebrated it every year come rain or shine.
On the other side of the dresser is a photo of Daddy holding me in his lap on the front porch swing when I was even younger. A little over a year old maybe. It’s another Halloween picture. Daddy was dressed as a farmer in his straw hat and overalls, and I was his butter bean in the costume my Mama sewed for me. It’s where he got my nickname from.
Get off memory lane, Sky. It’s not going to do you any good right now.
Deciding I should get my head cleared before I get lost in my emotions again, I head into my old room and grab some clothes from my duffel bag.
I don’t’ bother to look around, it’ll only serve to derail my focus and steer me down another road full of heartache and memories. I don’t need to remember my past, right now, I need to run from it.
All of it.
“I need to go for a run,” I tell the empty room. Decision made, I grab my jogging shorts, sports bra and a low-cut tank top and get changed in record time. My sneakers were left in Daddy’s room next to the bed. My purse is still on the chair where I found Daddy’s shirt earlier. I start digging through the inside pockets of my bag for my cordless headphones and the old iPod Cash recently bought for me since I only ever use burner phones.
I lace up my shoes, tuck my iPod into my pocket, put my headphones in with my playlist blasting and head for the kitchen. I’m shocked when I open and find a fully stocked refrigerator. I know I told Blake to help himself yesterday, but I assumed there would be a couple beers and water in here. Daddy always kept drinks stocked, but food was something we had to get after we arrived. There’s popcorn and stuff to make smores, coffee, and some canned food. Staple foods. Non-perishable stuff. But this is a fully stocked fridge. Either he planned on me coming here, or Daddy was staying here himself. Which makes zero sense.
Not wanting to get trapped in my head and feeling the weight of this shit pressing in on me again, I grab a cold water bottle and head for the back door. I have a clear plan to run myself to exhaustion and head out the back door toward the trails.
When I reach the back porch of the house a while later, I’m shocked by the loud voices I hear coming from inside. I lost track of time. I ran until my legs were about to give out.
I recognize Cash’s voice first. He’s arguing with someone. Just as I place my hand on the screen to open it, the door to the house opens, startling me.
“What the hell?” I yell, taking a step back preparing to strike if needed.
“Where the fuck have you been?” Ethan roars through the screen at me.
The fuck is he doing here?
My first instinct is someone could be hurt or worse. My worry for the others overrides my frustration with Ethan’s gruffness and his demands.
“Why? What’s wrong? Who’s hurt?”
“No one…yet.”
“What does that mean?” My eyes narrow at his obvious threat. I’m not afraid of him, not physically anyway.
“Let her get inside the house, dickhead,” Cash says pushing Ethan out of the way to swing the screen door open and allow me to pass. Cash stays close, with his hand on my lower back. “And don’t fucking threaten her.” I don’t miss the quizzical look on Ethan’s face as we pass him. Once I’m inside, Ethan slams the door and moves until there’s only a foot of space between us. Cash grabs my hips pulling my back into his chest, but I don’t relax into him. My instincts tell me to always keep my ass on guard with Ethan.
“Where? The Fuck. Were you?” Ethan’s chest is heaving, his nostrils flared. I have no idea what has him so pissed off other than my mere presence, but he can aim his attitude at someone else, because I’ve had enough of his shit.
“This is my house. How about you tell me what the fuck you’re doing in it?” I taunt, using the same gruff attitude and sarcasm he did. I’m poking the bear, but you know what? Fuck the bear.
“Whoa! You need to back the fuck up out of her space, Anderson.” Cash moves around me, placing himself between us as a barricade, just like at the clubhouse. I’m so tired of their caveman bullshit. I’m not the wilting flower and they need to get over themselves.
What’s worse, is Cash knows this about me. But his protective instincts are getting the better of him now. I’ll take my opportunity to give him shit about it later. Right now, I need to calm these two idiots and find out why everyone is in my living room ready to go to blows with each other…again.
I run my hand along Cash’s back, up to his shoulder until he side-glances to meet my eyes. He doesn’t backdown from Ethan, but he does take a step to the side allowing me to speak for myself.
“Prospect came in to talk to you, couldn’t find you anywhere so he called Gabe. He and Eli sent us here and others to run the streets looking for you,” Cash says with a shrug of his shoulder. “You didn’t answer your phone, Pres got worried. Sent the calvary.”
I groan, exasperated. My hands go to the top of my head, fighting frustration. It’s my own fault. I know not to leave without my phone or at least telling someone I was headed out on my own and with all this shit with Daddy’s death and who’s behind it being up in the air.
I fucked up.
“Shit. I needed some air. I went for a run. I should’ve called. I’m sorry,” I tell Cash honestly.
I take the opportunity to see everyone in the room.
Jake, Cash, Ethan, Walker, and the prospect. No Presidents. No Hawk to lighten the mood. Only Cash to stir the pot.
Double shit.
“You didn’t tell anyone where you were going. The prospect didn’t even know you left. We all showed up here expecting you to be home, like you were supposed to be, only you weren’t.” Ethan snarls. “Since we already have one dead person to deal with, you can see how everyone would lose their shit, right?”
“I said I was sorry,” I toss back. “I forgot the prospect was even here. I’m not used to having to check in with a babysitter. So, you’ll excuse me if I struggle to answer to someone with my whereabouts,” I snap. “He was on the front porch, and I left out the back to run the trails. I forgot he was here.” I make eye contact with Walker since he’s the highest ranking in the room. He smirks, and his arms are crossed over his chest. He shrugs a shoulder not giving me any indication this is such a big deal. He knows I can handle myself. Even Jake seems confused by what’s happening. So, I direct my conversation to him. “I’m sorry. Was I supposed to check in and tell everyone what my plans were today?” My lack of care and obvious dismissal of Ethan’s anger pushes his buttons. “Eli didn’t tell me anything.”
“No, sweetheart. You weren’t.” Jake says, “But maybe next time let someone know, yeah?”
“Apparently.”
“Yes, the fuck you were!”
Walker and Ethan speak at the same time. Walker’s words are said sweetly while Ethan shouts his.
“It would’ve been helpful if you’d called someone, babe,” Cash adds with a smirk. I shoot him a glare.
Ethan’s eyes widen, bouncing between me, Cash and Walker. I don’t know if it’s their nonchalance or the endearments twisting up Ethan’s panties, but I know Cash. He’s doing this shit on purpose. He loves getting people riled up.
I, however, am not in the mood to play Cash’s games or listen to Ethan as he throws his weight around. I force myself to take a deep breath and fight the urge to slap them both. Ethan for being an asshole and Cash for his obvious plan to make Ethan snap. No doubt wanting to irritate the shit out of him for the way he’s been treating me.
It’s not like he doesn’t deserve it.
No. Not doing this.
Walker sees my struggle and chuckles, rubbing a hand across his face to hide his growing amusement. I turn my head toward Cash, slowly, hoping he can make some sense of the situation and because I know my not giving a shit about his tantrum will piss Ethan off even more.
Petty?
Sure.
ButI’ve had just about all the caveman bullshit I can handle and it’s not even dinner time.
“There’s been a development in George’s death. One that has given Gabe cause for concern when it comes to your safety. Eli sent us,” Cash motions between himself and Walker, “over here to check on you and let you know he wants one of us to keep tabs on you until we have a better handle on things.” Cash flings his hand out, gesturing to the others filling every seat in my living room. “These assholes came along for the ride.”
“Actually, she was missing, and Pres sent us.” Jake points out, all business.
“I wasn’t missing. Jesus. I went on a run. In my own goddamn backyard.”
“Backyard?’ Cash chuckles. He leans toward me and whispers loud enough for the room to hear as he reminds me, “Babe. You were running in the fucking woods, not exactly a backyard.”
I don’t bother arguing, but I also won’t admit he’s right. He stands there smirking at me.
Asshat.
Instead, I stick to the latter part of the conversation.
“Why? What development? And keeping tabs on me how, exactly?” Cash raises both brows at me, with a look saying I should know, and suddenly it all clicks into place. “I already told Gabe I’m not staying at the clubhouse. I refuse to go on lockdown either.”
Ethan grunts, taking a couple steps back, crossing his thick arms over his chest, leaning his back against the dining room wall.
“It’s clear she needs a keeper since she didn’t have the decency to tell anyone she was taking off.” He huffs. “And why won’t you stay at the clubhouse? It seems to have been good enough accommodations in Mountain Heights. Is ours not good enough for you, Sky?”
My head snaps in his direction, my eyes wide. I shouldn’t be shocked. I knew he would find out where I’ve been, but what I don’t know is what he’s been told about my stay there.
Did Gabe spill the beans and tell him everything?
I doubt it.
Gabe’s not going to give information unless he absolutely must. He runs the risk of causing even more of a rift between the clubs, and some of his own men. He needs them to focus on the task at hand, which apparently, is babysitting my ass.
Lovely.
“What Ethan means to say is,” Jake cuts in, no doubt trying to play peacemaker. “Pres sent us to talk to you. Obviously, we were upset when we arrived at the house, your truck was in the drive, the prospect on the porch, and you were nowhere to be found with no way for anyone to track your whereabouts. We all became worried.”
“Some of us lost the ability to think rationally and turned into a monstrous dickhead…as you can see,” Cash adds, waving his hand in Ethan’s direction.
“However, it’s because of the concern Gabe has for your safety and the fact Ethan was instructed to come with us to find you, I’m sure, Ethan here has chosen to be an asshole to you,” Walker joins the jabbing, adding his sarcasm to the mix while giving Ethan a look that tells him to back the hell off.
Another pissing contest… Awesome.
“Or to come along at all. Why did you come again? Weren’t you saying you needed to get back to the gym or something? Wasn’t it you who said you wouldn’t protect her?”
Ethan’s glare meets Cash’s, not backing down in the slightest.
The words hurt, but I don’t let it show. I knew Ethan wouldn’t want to help me. I’m under no false delusions that he would volunteer to keep me safe. He’d throw me to the wolves if he knew exactlywho the wolves were.
I roll my eyes. Cash laughs at the obvious “whatever” I mouth without remorse. He moves past me kissing my temple on his way to the fridge, where he grabs three beers. When Cash comes back, he tosses one to Walker the other to Jake, ignoring Ethan all together. Walker catches his, hitching his chin in thanks. Jake places his on the table. I don’t miss the small curl of his lips. He’s enjoying these two shit stirrers playing with Ethan.
Cash opens his beer, tosses the lid on the table, chuckling when he catches me scowling at him. He knows I hate when he leaves his caps all over the place. He does the shit on purpose. Walking up beside me he puts a hand on my shoulder and takes a long pull from the bottle.
“You’re an ass.” I mumble. He smiles around his beer, hitching his shoulder.
“You know I run when I need to relax. Why didn’t you just call?” My question is aimed at Cash.
“I do, but club shit clouded my thoughts. And…” He pulls my phone from his pocket, shaking it back and forth. “Maybe keep this on you next time, yeah?”
“Shit. Sorry. I must’ve forgot to grab it. I had my music on here.” I tell him, lifting my iPod to show him.
“That makes it all better. She’s sorry guys. She forgot there’s a killer on the loose. But it’s all good. Because she’s sorry.” Ethan’s hands fall to his sides, his nostrils flaring. “That makes everything okay, then, right?” He steps closer, not quite in my face, but close enough I can see the pulse in his neck thumping. “Both Gabe and Eli are so worried about you they’re pulling their resources to keep an eye on you while we figure George’s shit out, and you forgot to carry your phone with you, and neglected to tell the prospect you were leaving the goddamn house.” He leans a little closer. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were trying to get lost.”
From them no. From Ethan, absolutely.
Ethan”s not completely wrong. I did want to be alone to clear my thoughts. But I didn’t intend to worry anyone. I just needed to run off the whirlwind going on inside of me.
“Why do you care so much Ethan? Why are you even here? You don’t want to protect me. You loath my very existence. So please, tell me why you’re here.” Tilting my head and crossing my arms over my chest, I stare at Ethan, not missing how his eyes linger on my chest. I don’t budge, waiting for an explanation which he doesn’t offer.
My guess is Gabe forced him to come as punishment for the way he treated me earlier this morning.
Gabe mustn’t know Ethan as well as he thought, because Ethan doesn’t apologize for anything he doesn’t mean to. He’ll follow orders, sure, but empty words and meaningless promises aren’t in his nature.
“If Eli wants me watched after, he has his men here to do the job. Tell Gabe, thanks, but I’m fine.”
Ethan turns his rant in a different direction. Studying me from head to toe. He snarls, his eyes hard on mine, then slowly they rake over my body. I feel his gaze like a flame licking over every inch of my skin. There’s a heat in his eyes, a hunger. My body ignites with excitement.
It remembers those looks. His touch. How good it felt to be his. But he won’t acknowledge what’s flashed between us. The memory. The need. And neither will I.
Help.
“What the hell are you wearing?” he growls. His aim is to shame me. Looking to open old insecurities maybe, but he doesn’t know the woman standing before him. Not anymore.
His once heated glare now one of disgust.
I’m momentarily stunned. But quickly recover.
“Excuse me?” My voice pitches up giving way to my irritation at the intended insult and the way my heart aches to make things right and feel his touch once again.
No, Sky. We’re pissed at the hot asshole. He hates you. Focus!
Why does this have to be so hard? Why did daddy have to make this stupid plan in the first place? Why couldn’t we live somewhere else and forget everything Oak Ridge was and move on?
Because you’d never move on. Because coming home is what you’ve always wanted, and Daddy knew people here would help him give you back your life over time.
Ethan gestures with his hand over the length of my body, his eyes tracking the movement of his gesture as his brow furrows. “Your clothes,” he says. “You went for a run, alone, dressed like that? And you let her leave the house dressed in so little clothing?” Ethan makes eye contact with Cash, his disapproval aimed at him as if he has any say in anything I do, especially what I wear. Cash smirks, grabbing me from behind, circling my waist with his arms, nuzzling my neck.
My body stiffens. Normally Cash’s touch is comforting. He’s a friend. Someone I know and trust wholeheartedly, but this feels wrong. Cash is playing games. He’s egging Ethan on. I should stop it. Push Cash off and tell them all to leave. But I still can’t seem to get my brain wrapped around Ethan’s audacity. Or why he cares so damn much.
I’m not dressed any differently than any other woman who just went for a run. There’s nothing remotely sensual about the outfit.
Fucking hypocrite!
The words scream in my head. This is nothing compared to what Ethan has seen me wear on stage, of course he doesn’t know that, but still.
My sheer, bright pink tank top hangs low in the front, the arm holes open to my waist my black sports bra visible all around, the neckline giving only a slight hint of cleavage. Like all sports bras I wear, it’s smashing my tits down making them appear smaller keeping them well contained while I run. It’s nothing distasteful.
My shorts are the same as any other runner would wear. Sure, they’re short, but they’re meant to be. I have no idea what else to think in this moment except what the actual fuck?
I have to bite back the retort that’s sitting on the tip of my tongue, since I wear way less than this when I dance, and Ethan doesn’t seem to mind my lack of clothing then. Not. At. All.
I pull out of Cash’s grip, throwing a dirty look at him over my shoulder. He shrugs, smiling as he takes another drink from his beer, not the least bit sorry.
The shit.
“First of all, no one lets me do anything. I’m a grown woman. I can dress myself, go wherever the fuck I want, and take care of myself.” I snap back. “Second…you know what? Tell Gabe thanks for his concern, but I can take care of myself. I don’t need a King on my ass every second of the day, especially this one,” adding a hint of sweetness to my sarcasm, gesturing in Ethan’s direction, while speaking directly to Jake. Dismissing Ethan once again. I take a step forward. Ethan moves in eating up the space between us.
Damn. I’d forgotten how good he smells and how big his body is compared to mine. He towers over me by at least a full head, maybe a little more, leaving me with only three options. Tilting my head to stare up at him. Stare directly at his brick wall of a chest. Or take a step back and meet his gaze. I choose the latter.
Staring at his chest would lead to ogling and ogling him would not be a good idea, and staring up at him would only give him the upper hand in trying to intimidate me.
Fuck that.
“Seems to me you’ve had nothing but Kings on your ass for some time now. Isn’t that right, Sky?” Ethan growls. I instantly take another step back looking to Cash in confusion. Cash brushes his hand down his face and around the back of his neck. He’s pissed. If I didn’t know him so well, I might’ve missed the hint of guilt in his eyes. But for what?
Walker growls from his place on the wall across the room. “Watch yourself Anderson.”
Cash’s face remains expressionless to the rest of the room, but I know he’s trying to keep his temper in check. Probably because Jake and Walker rank above him, and this is Gabe’s town. But I know if Ethan keeps pushing, Cash will break, consequences be damned, to protect me.
When Cash says nothing, my eyes meet Ethan’s again. His fury is palpable. I can feel every ounce of anger pulsing from his body. See the tension in his shoulders, the flair of his nostrils, even the vein in his neck is pulsing rapidly...again.
“You’ve had Kings protecting your ass for how long now? Hiding you away all this time? Now, here you are. That poor girl,” he says in a soft, pitiful voice I’ve loathed hearing from others since my Mama passed away. “Losing George hurts, I’m sure. And for that I am sorry, but you’ll forgive me if I don’t share everyone else’s concern. After what you did to me and Emily, you can imagine how nice it is to know you’ve been doing fine all these years with all my Mountain Heights brothers taking care of you. Or is it the other way around?” He circles his finger, motioning between Cash and me.
“What the hell are you insinuating?” I can’t believe what I’m hearing. “You think me and Cash…”
“Cash, Walker…Eli. You all seem really close. I guess the rumors in high school finally came true, huh?” His verbal shot hits home as I remember the way girls in school joked and teased about me becoming a club whore someday. I lunge forward, Cash is on me in two steps, his arm banding around my waist spinning me away.
“Fuck, Ethan,” Jake groans jumping to stand between us. “Back down, now.” He barks his orders at Ethan. I look to Cash again seeking answers to the tension and insurmountable bullshit going on in this house.
“Sky! Settle down, babe.” Cash says in my ear. “Don’t stoop to his level. Let him think what he wants. You can’t hit a brother. You know that. Just let it ride for now.”
Easier said than done.
It takes three deep breaths and a whole lot of strength I wasn’t sure I possessed to calm down. I nod, pushing Cash’s hands off my waist. After taking a deep breath I tell him, “I’m good.”
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