14. Jamie
Chapter Fourteen
Jamie
Tossing back my third—or maybe it was my fourth—shot of tequila, I slapped the glass on the bar top and picked up the one the bartender had poured for Ky. My best friend grunted but just nodded at the guy behind the bar to pour us another round while I downed the liquor.
Maybe if I drank enough, the overwhelming need to hear Hayat’s voice would calm down. Maybe, just maybe, the ache in the pit of my stomach would ease, and I wouldn’t feel so fucking sick that she wasn’t close enough to touch.
Our Hellion had twisted me up to the point that I was turning into someone I promised myself I would never be. Of the group, I was the fun-loving one. The people-pleaser. The one who attempted to avoid conflict at all costs. But since Hayat had walked out of our apartment Thursday night, I’d been a growly, grumpy, pissed-the-fuck-off bear.
All I wanted was for her to pick up when I called or to respond to one of the hundreds of texts I’d sent. Let me know she was okay. Safe. Missing me like I missed her.
Instead, all she gave us was silence.
From the moment I’d watched her push Hamel aside and take over, rescuing Autumn’s Slumber’s audition, I’d felt a pull to the beautiful woman. The small taste I’d gotten of her Thursday night wasn’t nearly enough to satisfy the growing beast she’d turned me into.
Picking up two more shots, I relished the burn with each swallow. When I reached for Ky’s drink again, he grumbled something unintelligible and tossed it back quickly before throwing down some cash. “We’re done.”
“You’re done,” I argued. “I’m just getting started. Hey, bro. Give me two more. Nah, nah. Just grab me a bottle.” I pulled a wad of cash from my own pocket, already counting out a few fifties.
Snatching my money, Ky stuffed it into his own pocket before grabbing my arm. Half dragging me out of the club, he kept his head bent so if anyone recognized him, they wouldn’t be tempted to stop and chat. Ky might have enough money to keep a few small countries funded, but in the end, it wasn’t worth it after all the shit that had been thrown at him since he was a kid.
And now, a piece of his past could cost us our girl.
Hot, late-night air hit me when we stepped out of the club. Ky had his phone out, already watching for the rideshare he’d ordered. I swiped for his phone, but he wasn’t as drunk as I was, making his reflexes faster. “What are you doing now?” he asked, sounding bored as he glanced down the crowded street for our ride.
“Gimme your phone,” I commanded. “I’m gonna call that little prick Holden. Tell him what a worthless piece of shit he is.”
Ky sighed, rolling his eyes at me. “You already did that. Yesterday. And then earlier today. Sparks had to do some weird block on your phone so you couldn’t keep calling the dipshit. Besides, his number isn’t in my phone. I don’t have any of those assholes in my contacts. Not even Hannah.”
For a while, we’d held out hope that Hannah wouldn’t turn out to be like her mom. But a few years back, it became apparent that Ky’s sister was now Hadley 2.0. It was the last nail in the coffin of Ky trying to make peace with any of his family. His dad had made his choices long before Autumn ever died, leaving Ky to take care of his sick mom all on his own.
Sparks had wanted to call in some favors from his own family, but I’d talked him out of it. He got lucky getting out of that nightmare when he did. No way would we allow him to risk getting pulled back in, even if it would rid the world of Renchford filth.
A black Suburban stopped in front of us, the passenger window lowering. “Carver?”
Ky nodded and opened the back door, pushing my drunk ass into the SUV before following me. As soon as the door was shut and the driver pulled into traffic, I fished my phone from my pocket. It wasn’t that late, but I was already trashed. Not even the alcohol could pull me out of the foul mood I’d fallen into, however.
Swiping my thumb over the screen, I hit connect, knowing if I tried to text, it would just be a jumbled mess and Hayat would think I was either an idiot or having a stroke. It rang half a dozen times before voice mail clicked over. Of fucking course. “Listen to me, Hellion. When I get my hands on you again, you’re not gonna be able to sit for a week. I’m gonna spank that lush ass until you’re crying my name.”
From the front seat, the driver coughed. I realized I hadn’t been all that quiet about my promise to my girl. Promise, threat. Whatever. I was going to turn that sweet ass cherry red and then cuddle with her in a bubble bath. I’d found some bath bombs that were supposed to smell like honeysuckles. When I’d opened the container, it reminded me of the scent of Hayat’s hair.
Sparks had snorted when I’d come home from the mall with all the stuff I figured our girl used. Most of the things in the bags were from Havoc’s sponsors. A few of her sweats, hoodies, and sports bras. A couple pairs of her shoes. I’d had to guess about her shampoo and conditioner, as well as body wash. I would have even gotten her some feminine hygiene products, but I’d remembered she said she didn’t get her periods anymore because of her birth control shot.
The memory of why I knew that little detail got me hard as steel. Groaning, I rubbed my hand over my crotch, attempting to reposition my throbbing cock. “I fucking miss you, Hellion,” I moaned into the phone before ending the call.
Dropping my head on Ky’s shoulder, I saw he was texting her from his own phone. “Let’s go to Malibu,” I suggested. “We can walk around until we find her place.”
Ky snorted. “Then what? Throw rocks at her window? She lives with her parents, dumbass. Her parents would have us arrested, and we’d lose our gig at the club.”
“Fuck,” I grumbled. “We gotta get her to move in with us.”
“Baby steps,” he said, jaw clenching. “Let’s get her to return our calls first.”
Knowing he was right, I didn’t let that deter me. Sitting up straight, I started searching for shit on my phone. “What size bed do ya think we need?” I ask. “You move in to Hamel’s old room, and we’ll make the main bedroom suite hers. But it’s gonna be ours too. So the bed has to be big enough to fit all four of us so we can cuddle her. I’m not stingy. I’ll share the aftercare with you losers, but you gotta be gentle.”
He grunted. “I can be gentle.”
“Yeah, but only after you go feral. Jesus fuck, I bet she’s still sore after the other night.” A comforter set caught my attention while I was online shopping. It screamed Hellion. I added it to my cart, along with a few other things. “We’re gonna have to be really gentle with her for a while.”
“Jamie, I need you to shut the fuck up,” Ky hissed, readjusting himself in the black slacks he’d paired with a dark-blue button-up. “All I can think about is the other night. She’s driving me crazy.”
“Same,” I empathized.
My online shopping cart was in the twenty-thousand-dollar range by the time the driver stopped in front of Carver Towers. Ky dragged me out of the SUV and passed the guard at the door. We didn’t look toward the one behind the desk, both of us still too engrossed in our phones.
Hayat’s room was going to be a haven she would never want to leave. I just had to get her into it first.
Ky texted one-handed while punching in the code to unlock our floor.
“Whatcha think about silk sheets?” I asked Ky when we stepped off the elevator moments later.
“I think you are an idiot. Silk sheets are not fun to sleep on. Besides, Hellion is more of a cotton or jersey kind of girl. High-thread count, but simple.” He pressed his palm to the reader and then opened the door.
Hearing the TV on low, we figured Sparks was watching one of the crime documentaries he liked so much. Probably making sure he didn’t see any of his family members on there. Eventually, he would. He couldn’t avoid it forever. Being a cartel prince, or whatever the fuck you wanted to call the son of the head of the biggest cartel on the Pacific Coast, he was bound to see a distant cousin on one of the crime shows at some point.
We walked into the living room. As expected, the TV was on, some true crime show playing but only as background noise. All the lights were off, casting a soft glow over Sparks as he was laid out on the long end of the sectional…
And Hayat was curled up with her back to his front, her head pillowed on his arm. Her mouth was slightly open, soft sighs leaving her as she slept peacefully. Ky and I stopped dead in our tracks, neither of us sure we were still in the land of reality or if we’d stepped into our own fantasies.
Sparks jerked awake, lifting his head to glance around for any danger. Seeing us standing nearby, he relaxed, then grinned. “You fuckers missed out. If you’d stayed home, you could have gotten some extra cuddle time in.”
I dropped my phone. If I bitched him out for not letting us know Hayat had come over, I risked waking her up, and that was unacceptable. Careful, so as not to jostle her, I slid onto the plush cushion and lay down in front of Hayat. Thank fuck we’d gotten the extra-wide option when we’d furnished the apartment.
Once I was settled, I draped one arm over her back, skimming my hand over her hips and pulling her closer. With a happy sigh, she snuggled against me, burying her face in my shirt. Sparks yawned and dropped his head back down on the pillow, already falling back to sleep.
Ky stood over us, a pout on his face. “You get two hours, and then it’s my turn,” he groused before stomping off toward his room.
I pressed my face into her jungle of wild curls, letting them wrap around me just like her arm did when she shifted to get more comfortable between Sparks and me. I wanted to memorize every inch of her, but the combination of the alcohol I’d consumed and the contentment of holding her was too much.
Eyes closing, I let sleep take hold of me, knowing the world was right for the first time in my fucked-up life.