I disconnected the call, feeling sick as I rubbed my shaking hands over my face, wondering how bad I’d just fucked things up.
“What did I do?” I whispered.
Turning to look at Piety, I said it again. I tried to stay level, but it came out as a shout. “What the fuck did I just do?”
She rose from the bed and came to me, reaching up to cup my face in her hands.
“I think…” she said slowly. “You did exactly what you had to.”
“No, I…I…” A torrent of disjointed words came bubbling out, and she leaned in, kissing me softly.
“You did what you had to. You want to make sure he’s not screwing you over, and you want her safe. If that’s her pimp, then that’s what they do. He’ll push you as far as he knows he can push you. You just made it damn clear you’re nothing like your sister.”
She sounded calm, strangely grounded, and I felt like I’d explode into a thousand sharp, jagged bits.
I went to say…something.
The words died as the phone rang. I went to grab it, but my fumbling fingers knocked it to the floor. I didn’t answer until the third ring. “Yes.”
Stefano was laughing. “Well, I’ll say this, mate…you’ve got balls. Tell you what. I’ll let you see your sister. Then you pay me my money.”
“I’ve still got to collect it,” I said, my mouth going dry. I’d see Camry, know she was okay.
“That’s fine, that’s fine. But you keep this shit up, boy? And the price will continue to rise. You got me?”
“I got it.” Swiping the back of my hand over my forehead, I looked at Piety.
She met my eyes, a steadying influence.
“Where do you want to meet?” I asked. “Somewhere public. No offense, but I’d rather swim bloody and mangled with a great white than be someplace private with you.”
“Aw, I’m hurt, Kaleb. And here I thought we could be friends. But that’s fine. I’ll text you the place. But Kaleb…?”
I started to lower the phone, but now I pressed it hard against my ear. “Yeah?”
“You bring a cop, and you’ll be sorry. Camry will be even more sorry.”
“What if he freaks about you being here?”
The cooler night air whipped my hair back from my face while blowing Piety’s long locks into hers. She held my eyes steadily. “He told you not to bring a cop. I’m not. You brought your wife. And trust me…he won’t mistake me for a cop.”
Taking my hand, we started in a circle around the top of the hotel. We were back at the ride where we’d come the day after our crazy wedding.
Abruptly, somebody stepped in front of us, half crashing into Piety. “Hey, watch…”
The words died in my throat as I realized who it was.
“Camry,” I whispered.
My sister gave me a brittle smile and then looked over at Piety. “Ditch the rich bitch, and we can go talk, Kaleb.”
“Hi!” Piety ignored the insult and held out a hand. “I’m Piety. Your sister-in-law.”
Camry looked at her for a long moment, then at me. Finally, she shook her head and muttered, “Whatever. Come on. I don’t have much time.”
We ended up in the nearest restaurant, sitting in a booth.
“What do you want, Kaleb?” she asked, her voice cool.
“What do I…?” I cleared my throat. “What the hell does that mean, what do I want? I’m here to help you.”
She lifted a shoulder and started to pick at the metallic blue polish on her nails. It was a shade or two lighter than the skinny-strapped top she wore, and it kept falling over one bony shoulder.
She looked like she hadn’t seen a decent meal since she’d left home.
“Are – have you been sick?” I asked carefully.
“What?” She lowered her hands and stared at me.
“You just…you look like you haven’t been eating.”
She rolled her eyes. “Oh, puh-leeze. I eat when I’m hungry, not because the clock says I should. I refuse to be one of those cows who no longer can’t fit into a pair of old skinny jeans.”
“You’re right,” I said, keeping my voice neutral. “You’re not a cow. A skeleton might work, but a cow? Not in a hundred years. I’ve seen refugees in better shape than you, and I’m serious about that.”
She flinched but covered it quickly with a brittle smile. “Fuck off, Kaleb.” She directed her next comment toward Piety. “So… just how did you come to be?”
Piety narrowed her eyes and took a deep breath, then seemed to relax as she exhaled. “Well, once upon a time, my mommy and daddy decided they wanted a little girl…” Piety stared at her with big, wide eyes.
The sharp retort caught Camry off guard, and in the end, Piety ended up laughing.
“Wow. Aren’t you a bitch?” Camry said.
“Takes one to know one. Or so they say.” Piety thanked the server who appeared just then, passing out drinks. Beers for both of us, but a double bourbon, no ice, for Camry. “I mean, maybe I’m off base here, but I thought you’d have some appreciation for the brother who came here to help you out, but all you’re doing is being a bitch yourself. I guess they show love differently in Australia.”
For a moment, just a brief one, Camry looked shame-faced. Then she tossed her drink back. “You know, I’m pretty sure I don’t need his help.”
“So, you weren’t ten thousand in debt to a drug dealer?” I snapped.
She opened her mouth, then shut it, her teeth clicking together with the gesture.
“I gave up my job, Camry. Back home. I was this close to talking Mac into letting me buy him out. It was all I’d ever wanted, and now I’ve lost my chance.” I smashed my fist into the table, the fury I’d been suppressing all this time rising and grabbing me by the throat. “This close. And now it’s gone.”
“So go back!” she shouted. “Tell him to give you your job back. I didn’t ask for your help.”
“The hell you didn’t!” I shouted back, feeling sick. “A dozen times at least. Remember those night time phone calls when you blubbered, half out of your mind, about how much trouble you were in?”
“I was high,” she said. “Just…just go.”
“I can’t.” I felt…used. Stupid. “Or, hell…I could, but the job’s gone. He’s already sold the store. If I go back, I start all over again. I gave it up for you.”
She stared at me.
I waited for a sign. For something.
“Yeah, well.” She shrugged. “You didn’t have to. I’m fine.”
Piety covered my hand, squeezed. “Then I guess he doesn’t need to pay the other ten grand.” From the corner of my eye, I saw her staring at my sister. But there wasn’t disgust on her face. It was…pity. “I mean, I guess you heard that your john wants additional money. But if you’re fine, then I guess you don’t need anything more?”
Camry opened her mouth, then closed it, looking at me, then at her. “Bitch, why don’t you mind your own?”
“I am. He’s my husband, and you’re jerking him around.”
I opened my mouth, but before I could say a word, Stefano arrived and sat next to my sister. He eyed Piety.
“Who’s the broad, Kaleb? Are you bringing her as a trade for your sister? I might just take you up on that.”
I tensed, about ready to lunge to my feet and beat the man in front of me bloody.
He could tell too.
Leaning in, he kissed Camry. She didn’t so much as blink.
“Having a good dinner, baby?” he asked.
“Fine, thank you,” she said woodenly.
“Satisfied now?” he asked me.
I just stared at him.
“I guess you can see that she’s alive…healthy.” He nuzzled her cheek, let his hand slide lower. “Now it’s time for you to quit jerking me around, or the price will just keep going up…and up…up. Fuck me over and see what happens.”
He stood and snapped his fingers at Camry.
“Hey,” I said as they walked ou
t, keeping my voice level.
She looked back at me.
He didn’t.
“It was good seeing you too, Camry. Always great to catch up,” I said, not raising my voice an iota.
She flinched but followed the asshole out the door.
20
Piety
“It’s not personal,” I said softly, covering his hand with mine.
He stared out the small rectangle at the world below us, although I knew he wasn’t seeing it.
I didn’t think he was going to respond. Several minutes passed before he finally looked over at me. “How can it not be personal? He talks about her like she’s nothing more than a slab of meat, right in front of her, and she just takes it.” I growled. “Then she talks to me like I’m nothing to her, and I’m the one who’s supposed to get her out of the mess she’s in?”
“No.” I leaned in as much as I could. We’d booked a flight back to Philadelphia, although I’d had to convince Kaleb there wasn’t much he could do here that he couldn’t do back east. Finally, I told him he might be able to do more for her if Stefano didn’t know what he was up to.
I’d been reaching, but it had gotten him away from the people who were manipulating him so badly. I brushed his hair back. “Maybe you’re not supposed to dig her out of this mess. It’s not easy to save someone, who doesn’t want to be saved.”
“So I shouldn’t pay?” His jaw went tight.
“I can’t answer that.” I didn’t think he should, but I wasn’t going to tell him that. “That’s got to be your decision, but I can tell you that he’s jerking you around. As long as he thinks he has you on a leash, he’s going to use it. And Camry is…well, she’s your leash.”
He stared at me hard and tension pulsed, beating in cadence with my heart. Finally, he looked away and swore. “Fuck. You’re right. What else am I going to do though? Leave her to deal with that prick on her own? She hasn’t been able to do it so far.”
“Maybe she hasn’t been trying.”
Pale, icy eyes cut to me. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It’s just…” I sighed and looked away. I hated this. “Kaleb, did she seem like she was scared of him? Frightened? Desperate to get away?”
“She…that’s bullshit, Piety. She’s the one who called me.”
“I know.” The airline attendant approached, and I lapsed into silence until she’d gone by. Biting my lower lip, I struggled for the right way to explain this and hated that I felt so uncertain. “Kaleb, he’s got her so suckered in right now, if he asked her to dance the hula naked on the front lawn of the White House, she’d get herself shot trying. That’s how johns and dealers work. She’d do anything to keep him happy, because by keeping him happy, he keeps her happy.”
“So…” He blew out a harsh breath and tugged his hands free. Reaching up to scrub his hands up and down his face, he groaned. “Are you telling me you don’t think he’s been threatening her at all?”
“Hard to say. But…” I lifted a shoulder. “She looked like she was maintaining pretty well. She wasn’t high. If she was in such bad shape that she ended up in debt to the tune of ten grand, I think she would have been looking worse than she was. Which would leave her in not great shape for his…um…other business. That makes her valuable to him. Johns love a girl they can string along and still profit from.”
His eyes flew to mine and blood stained my cheeks.
“How do you know all of this stuff?” he asked, voice rough.
“I do some, ah, counseling of sorts.”
“Of sorts how?”
“I’ve been working with a shelter off and on since I graduated. I was finally taken on full time last year. Most of my work is with at-risk young adults and high school aged girls.” Nervous for reasons I couldn’t explain, I rubbed my hands together and resisted the urge to bite my nails. I’d quit that habit years ago, but now found myself practically smacking my hands to keep from nibbling.
“What sort of counseling?” Kaleb’s suspicion had only grown.
Huffing out a breath, I crossed my arms over my chest and glared at him. “The kind of counseling you give girls who are trying to get away from a life of drugs and prostitution, you idiot. For some reason, I seem to have a knack for it. And I can tell you this – your sister is playing you.”
Something hot and furious lit his eyes, and I watched as his chin went up, and he prepared to battle. Then, slowly, he lowered it, and the tension drained out of his body.
“Shit,” he muttered.
“Tell me about it.”
“So what do we do now?”
The rest of the flight passed in silence, and I ended up drifting off. Now that the plane had landed and taxied in, I was brooding over what lay ahead.
As we moved through the Philadelphia airport, I glanced over at him, debating on what to tell him. I didn’t like it, but I think I was going to have to…hedge.
If I was upfront, he’d want to come with me, and some of these things would just be easier to investigate if he wasn’t there.
I wasn’t trying to hide anything, but I could move quicker if I wasn’t answering questions, and I already knew he’d have a hundred. Or more. I didn’t blame him.
I would too. But I also knew we didn’t have time for a hundred questions, or even one. I could answer questions after I told him what I’d accomplished. And if I failed…?
Shit.
Then I’d give him the money, and we’d go back out there, and I’d offer Stefano more money if he’d just kick Camry to the curb right then and there. I could offer him enough that he’d do it too. Camry would be pissed, but he was her one anchor and maybe if she was cut off from him, she’d realize how much trouble she was in.
But that was my last option, not my first.
“I’ve got some things I need to do for work,” I said finally, looking over at him.
His mouth compressed into a tight frown.
“We’ll take care of her. I’ll make sure you get the money, and we’ll work on it tonight and tomorrow.” I didn’t like lying. In a way, I was telling him the truth, or a shade of it. I’d given my heart and soul to helping girls like Camry out. It didn’t matter to me that she hadn’t come into the shelter asking for it. She’d come across my path, and she needed it, so that was good enough for me.
21
Kaleb
“Wow. Something smells amazing,” a voice announced behind me.
I glanced back at Astra, then immediately whipped my head back around to focus on the omelet sizzling in the skillet.
She wore a whole lot of nothing. Okay, not nothing – there was a tank top that didn’t quite reach her panties and those panties covered very little, so she might as well be wearing nothing. It was true some could argue that I wasn’t really all that married and yes, I was neither blind nor dead, but still…she was Piety’s best friend and I was more than a little crazy about Piety. Seemed wrong to notice that her best friend had curves like that.
She chuckled behind me.
“I’ll go put on a robe, Kaleb. Sorry, not used to having people in here other than me or PS. It’s cute, though, seeing a guy blush.”
“You’re a pain in the arse, Astra, you know that?”
This time, it wasn’t a chuckle, but an all-out laugh. “Don’t suppose there’s enough to share, is there?”
“There is.” I figure she’d wake up. One thing about Piety and Astra, they both enjoyed eating and made no bones about it. I checked the bacon in the skillet on the back and turned the burner off before reaching for my coffee.
I started breakfast more to have something to do than anything else. Piety had left early that morning, telling me that she had to work. She’d smiled when she said it, kissed me, then just…left.
I couldn’t quite put my finger on what it was, but there was something she wasn’t telling me. She’d been gone most of the day yesterday too. Once we’d gotten in from the airport, she’d had the driver bring me to the loft, and she
’d left, not coming home until late.
And today, she’d left, just as distracted as she’d been late last night when she’d gotten in. Yes, something was going on. I had no idea what was up, and I didn’t feel right pressing the issue either.
Since I knew I’d go crazy if I did nothing but sit and think about it, I’d decided to make breakfast. After that, I was going to clean the place. Not that it needed much, but I wasn’t used to sitting around and doing nothing.
I’d been working my ass off since our parents died. Not having something to do went against everything I knew, and it was driving me crazy.
“Okay, Crocodile Dundee. I’m decent.”
I smirked. “That’s a bit of a dated reference, Astra.”
“Hey, I’ll have you know I enjoyed the very best education. I immersed myself in the eighties culture and know all the best movies.”
I grinned as she came to join me at the counter, taking a cup and pouring herself some coffee, staring down into the dark brew.
She looked at me sideways. “I’m a little nervous here. I’m picky about my coffee.”
“So am I.”
“Let’s see if you make the cut. Otherwise, I’ll have to boot you out, just to save Piety the heartache.” She winked at me, then took a sip. A moment later, she sighed and leaned against the counter. “Okay. I give you my stamp of approval.”
“So glad to know.” Nodding at the plates in front of her, I said, “Hand me one and I’ll dish you up.”
A few minutes later, we were sitting down to eat.
It wasn’t until Astra had cleared half her plate that she asked, with complete casualness, “So…where’s PS?”
“She said she had to work.” I kept my attention focused on the plate in front of me, eating with mechanical focus and not really tasting any of the food. I didn’t want to look at Astra, because she’d see the lack of conviction in my eyes, and I didn’t need that.
“Huh.”