The ties that bind 3, p.12
The Ties That Bind 3, page 12
part #3 of The Ties That Bind Series
Billy calmed down at that, and they shared a laugh. “Yes, he does know how to get his way. Are you coming up north too?”
Claudia swiftly shook her head. “I don’t think so. I like the warm sunshine of So-Cal. I’ve been giving some thought to my future and am going to give my madrina a call. She owns a nursery and taught me everything I know about plants. You should have seen my backyard in Chatham! I spent hours back there and even helped the girls with their landscape too. I think some classes are in order to get my mind fresh.”
“Good for you, Claudia. I hope everything turns out exactly the way you want.”
“Thank you. How’s school going?”
“I’m loving it!” Billy crinkled her nose. “I mean, the mandatory classes are fine, but I’m deeply inspired by set designing. Exploring the characters helps me to determine color palettes and build the world that will tell their story. The challenge of having a budget and staying within those means while accomplishing your goal is one that I relish! It forces me to think outside of the box and raises my creativity level.”
“Sounds like a great motivator,” Claudia observed.
She enjoyed Billy’s zeal. Seeing the passion the younger woman had, riveted her. She’d always liked contributing to the MC’s business with the auto shop, but that was out of necessity to not go stir crazy. Listening to Billy was inspiring, and Claudia couldn’t wait to dive into her own career.
“For sure. The only thing that sucks is that I need to read the play along with the cast. Some I whiz through. Others, I’m ready to claw my eyes out.”
Briefly, she thought of Nick. Her crew was curious about his up and coming project. Billy had spent a chunk of her break ensuring he’d be impressed with their effort. Working in Paris and exploring it with Ransom during her free time sounded divine. She’d be crazy to pass up an opportunity like that, despite her reserves about him.
“Ransom told me about your friend Angela. I would like to reach out to her and apologize and offer moral support if I may. She’s had her life disrupted and I need to make sure she’s okay. Do you think she’d be willing to speak with me?”
Billy regarded her somberly, her protective instincts rising on her friend’s behalf. “I honestly don’t know, Claudia. She appreciates what Ransom did for her that day but I don’t blame her for not feeling comfortable with anything. This entire experience has been traumatizing. Before I knew anything, getting her to trust and confide in me was a miracle. I refuse to add more stress to her life by poking and prodding at her. However, I’ll mention it when we meet again.”
Claudia was prepared to protest but decided against it. “I don’t blame her. I would like to put the past behind me once and for all too.”
Billy decided a change of subject was needed. She reached into a drawer and pulled out the chef’s portable radio. “Hey, are you up for some music?”
Claudia went along with her diplomacy. “Depends. What eras and genres are you into?”
The aromatic fragrance of sizzling pork drew Marcus, followed by Ransom, to the kitchen. They pushed the door through to find Billy and Claudia singing and dancing to The Ronettes’ “Be My Baby”. Marcus’ greeting dried in his throat at the sight of her jeans molded to her ass as she cha-cha’d in place while peeling and dicing potatoes.
“Fuck my entire life,” he muttered irritably. He’d traded the she-devil’s warm, curvy body for a bottle of Neville’s best Glenlivet. The scotch was even finer than the Macallan at Thanksgiving. It wasn’t simply to be drunk but savored. Yet, it might as well have been water, as it did nothing to quell Marcus’s snowballing ache for Claudia. It had been hellish but the smart thing to do. If only he could figure out how to stop wanting her.
“What was that?” Ransom asked, passing him to get to his mother.
“Nothing, forget it.”
“Buenos días!” Claudia carefully kept her gaze focused on Ransom. One look in Rage’s direction would give her away, she was certain. Lowering her head, she concentrated on frying the hash.
“Morning,” Marcus growled blearily. “Please tell me that’s bacon I’m smelling.”
Billy shot him a look of pure innocence. “Oooh, sorry, Dad. It’s actually a tofu recipe I’m working on. I’m sure it’ll taste like the real thing, though.”
“Tofu? What the hell, babe?” Ransom muttered around a yawn. “Buenos días, Ma. Sleep well?”
“Mmm. Y tú?” Claudia leaned her head on his shoulder. Ransom’s arm encircled hers and he pressed a kiss to the crown of her head. She’d tossed and turned without Rage by her side and would be damned if he knew it. This morning, she’d caked on at least two pounds of concealer under her eyes.
“Like shit,” he truthfully answered. Releasing her, he went and dropped a kiss on his woman’s lips, blithely ignoring Marcus’s ferocious scowl. “Morning, wildthing. Do you need any help?”
“Morning, babe. No, we’re just about done.”
“Don’t even try it, little girl! You know I don’t like to be pork-teased!” Marcus grumbled, shoving past Ransom to kiss Billy on the cheek. “Nor do I like seeing my daughter’s face being gnawed on by a walking hormone first thing in the morning. I can finish that up if you want to wash your mouth out.”
Ransom wiggled his eyebrows at him. “You should be worried about all the things you don’t see.”
“Hey now!” Billy admonished, waving her spatula threateningly at him. She gave her father a worried glance. He looked ready to explode. Adding pork to his diet on top of his volatile emotions would do a number on his blood pressure for sure.
Marcus’s smile was downright lethal. “Careful, homeboy. Like I told your mama, I like you; however, I love my daughter. I’ll chew your ass up and spit you out in one breath you joke about some shit like that again.”
Ransom’s chuckle was deep and unbothered by such a notion. Claudia rolled her eyes at them. She was used to dealing with testosterone and treated the matter accordingly.
“Ssh! That’s enough out of both of you. It’s too early in the morning for a dick-measuring contest! Hijo, set the table, por favor.”
Billy smiled gratefully at the older woman. “Dad, can you grab the orange juice pitcher and coffee? Don’t worry; I promise this is real swine.”
They sat down to eat, and the men dug in with gusto, which made the women smile. Claudia raised her coffee mug and sighed happily at the robust flavor captivating her tastebuds.
“Ma, this is probably your best pico de gallo yet. What’s different here?” Ransom helped himself to another healthy scoop and contemplated it.
“The fresh tomatoes! Billy encouraged me to pick them from the garden. That and sea salt instead of regular salt. Plus, a dash of cumin. Combined, it adds some zest.”
Rage forked up a helping with his hash, slowly chewed, and nodded his agreement. Fused with the savory hash and succulent pork, the meal was a grand slam.
“Definitely the best I’ve ever had. Can’t go back to settling now that I’ve had a taste of…this, Claudia,” he finished.
The odd throaty note in her father’s voice made Billy raise her head. Her eyes widened a fraction then narrowed to slits, first on Claudia who blushed and lowered her stare. Since when did the diva blush? she mused. Meanwhile, Marcus continued staring at her like a man fresh out of a coma. Billy kicked him under the table. He blinked and reluctantly pulled his eyes away from Claudia to his daughter. She raised her eyebrows questioningly, and Marcus returned his attention to the plate in front of him.
Billy would not be ignored. “When are you heading out, Dad?”
“Right after we’re finished with breakfast. School starts in a couple of days, right?”
“Yeah, gotta get back to the books.”
“I don’t like the idea of your being alone in that apartment.”
“It won’t be for long. Dominique will be returning soon.”
“Which reminds me; we need to go car shopping, Ma,” Ransom said. “Have you given it any thought?”
“A truck. Anything second-hand works for me. I plan to haul dirt and plants in it.”
Marcus chuckled and she lifted an eyebrow haughtily. “You got something to say?”
“I can’t see you getting dirty like that.”
Sweaty maybe, but dirty? Nah, not unless the way she used her mouth counted, he thought lustily.
“I guess it’s a good thing you won’t be around, right?”
Claudia regretted the snarky comeback when Billy’s stare sharpened on her. Quickly she changed the subject. “Before we do that, I’d like to find an attorney and start divorce proceedings, hon.”
Rage went still and Billy did, too, watching him. Ransom missed it all as he focused on Claudia. “Okay, we can do that. Are you sure?”
She smiled at him. “I’m positive that this is what I want to do. I have plans, and they don’t involve the past, hijo. It’s scary but exciting. You know what I mean?”
Ransom’s palm found Billy’s thigh under the table. He squeezed it, and she grabbed hold of his hand and laced their fingers. “Yeah, I think I do. Proud of you, lady.”
“Likewise. I’m looking forward to visiting you and seeing what you’ve accomplished.”
Billy rose and grabbed her and Ransom’s empty plates. “Dad, will you help me with the dishes? No, you two sit and finish your talk. We got this,” she instructed when mother and son reached for empty dishes.
“Thanks, baby,” Ransom murmured, smiling after her. To Claudia, he said, “We’re going to the bank first. I’m putting all of the money in your account.”
After things had died down and they’d settled into the hotel in Albuquerque, Ransom finally got around to counting the cash in the duffle bag. It totaled one hundred and twenty thousand dollars, fifty thousand of it being blood money from Barrera.
“That’s too much,” Claudia objected. “You need to take some—”
“Ma, don’t worry about me. I’m not rolling in dough, but I’m straight.”
“You should know that I’m anonymously donating to the Wilson family fundraiser.”
At his raised eyebrows, Claudia gave a sad smile that twisted like a knife in her son’s heart.
“Ransom, I’ve given this a lot of thought. I’m going to the police with Harley’s letter. The family needs closure and it’s the decent thing to do. When Harley took off, I prayed for him around the clock. I prayed for his safety and for him to come home. I also prayed that no one would show up to tell me that he was dead. I can’t let that angel’s mama go through life unknowing if her daughter’s killer is still roaming free. What do you think?”
“I think it’s going to be hell. I doubt my face will go over well, as we’re identical twins, but I agree with you. Ma, you don’t have to involve yourself. Harley left the note for me. Keep your anonymity. I can weather the storm on my own.”
Ransom leaned over and kissed her cheek. His mother didn’t know it, but her words were the blessing he needed to be set free. “Good thing about storms is that they don’t last forever.”
“No, baby. I will be the one to do it.” Claudia pressed her lips together and slid a look of commiseration Billy’s way. “The flipside to this madness? I’m worried about what it will mean for you guys. She still attends the school and Harley would never have been there if it wasn’t for Billy. What if this makes her a target when everything comes out? Or this hurts your budding business? I want to give this family peace and protect you both at all costs.”
Her logic gave Ransom pause and culpability. He’d been entrenched in heavy rumination on his feelings and never even considered what the fallout could mean for Billy at school.
“Hold off for a minute, okay? Give me some time to figure shit out and discuss it with her. I’m sure a mutually agreeable resolution can be found.”
Meanwhile, on the other side of the kitchen, Billy sidled up alongside Marcus as he loaded the dishwasher.
“I know I didn’t misread that situation, Dad!” she whispered. “What are you doing?”
Marcus concentrated on the task at hand. “What situation? What are you talking about?”
Billy stooped until they were facing each other, giving him some prime stink-eye. “Don’t give me that! I’m talking about you and Claudia!”
It was difficult to steady the drumming of his heart. Marcus didn’t want to lie to his daughter, but simultaneously, he felt a fierce protectiveness of his relationship with Claudia. It didn’t quite make sense to either of them. More than friends, yet not quite lovers, theirs was a unique alliance holding them in limbo.
“You’re creating smoke where there’s no fire, babygirl.”
“Hardly. I suppose it was a coincidence that every single time either of you glanced at each other, the other was already waiting, as if in anticipation?” Billy derided. “You must think I’m a special kind of idiot!”
“No. What I think is, you’re speaking on a matter that doesn’t concern you, Willamina. Mrs. Lawson and I are friends,” Marcus ended with finality. “That’s it.”
A staredown ensued, neither willing to back down a centimeter. Billy hadn’t inherited her stubbornness from Melody only. Marcus had a healthy dose of it, too, and presently she reminded him of an overzealous schoolmarm trying to figure out who hit her with a spitball.
“You guys need some help?”
“No, we’re fine, Claudia,” Billy answered without breaking eye contact. She widened her eyes exaggeratedly at her father. “Will you look at that! She comes to your rescue too? Her Spidey senses must have been tingling.”
“Enough, Billy. I ain’t indulging your ass anymore,” Marcus warned, patience wearing thin.
Her expression softened marginally. “Fine! Keep your little secrets. But you understand where I’m coming from, yeah? Whatever it is between y’all, it’s obvious. I don’t want either of you, but especially you, to get hurt, Daddy. She’s a married woman! Until that divorce is final, Claudia should be off-limits,” Billy emphasized.
“We both know that if Ransom wasn’t so preoccupied lately, he would have been noticed. I’m not keeping any more secrets from him. You already know he’s protective about the women in his life, so you better be coming correct,” she advised.
“And if she wasn’t married? Would you still have a problem then?”
The questions surprised them both. Marcus rubbed his bald head bashfully. Billy covered her small gasp with a hand when his tawny cheeks reddened with embarrassment at being so transparent. He thought he’d been happy with his simple life and in his career. Then Billy came along and veered him off course with Claudia hot on her heels, making him want shit that hadn’t been in his cards since his ex-wife dealt her hand, gathered her winnings and left.
“You like her!” she exclaimed and whacked his forearm once, then twice for good measure. “You must think you’re slicker than an oil spill with that ‘We’re just friends’ mess! Yeah, I might have possibly had an issue. This ain’t the South where that ‘My brother is also my boyfriend’ shit rides. Go spend time with any other number of women outside of this circle that would drop their undies for you!”
Marcus frowned darkly. “Why you gotta be so crude? Did the biker teach you that? And for the record, I don’t need your permission on who to date.”
“Ex-biker.” Billy rolled her eyes. “That’s true. I mean, as long as you’re decent to her, I don’t need to watch my back around her, do I?”
“Don’t even joke like that.”
She shivered at the iciness that surfaced so unexpectedly and the deadly intent in her father’s face and underlying his voice. Marcus was on a mission to run Lorelai’s treacherous ass into the ground. He refused to make light of anything concerning her.
“Sorry, Daddy. I take it there’s still no word on her?”
“No one’s seen her. I don’t even have a dead-end lead that I could have got my hopes up on! I’ve put the word out and a reward to all my contacts, high and low and widened my net of underground contacts to include as close as Albuquerque to Farmington in one direction and Roswell in the opposite. Motherfuckers know they gon’ feel it if I find out they kept shit from me,” Marcus promised.
“Maybe it’s a good thing. A sign that we should all move on with our lives.”
“Hey, that’s a great idea. Did you also want to gather around a campfire and sing “Kumbaya” at the top of your lungs? You’d best stop walking around with blinders on, love,” Marcus directed sternly. “I know my ex-partner. She’s a malicious bitch that feels like I got over on her. Ain’t nothin’ in the world like a woman scorned. I let my guard down once. Bet she won’t get the chance to strike again. Don’t sleep on Lorelai, kid. Stay strapped. Am I clear?”
Thinking about how her survival had come down to the wire because of Lorelai made Billy emotional. She gave a jerky nod of agreement and decided to lighten the mood.
“I’ll be fine. Do you have some sort of daily quota you’re supposed to meet, staring at Claudia? Because you’re doing it again, Daddy,” Billy teased.
“Damn, I miss the days when kids respected their elders,” he muttered, giving her braids a playful tug.
Claudia walked Marcus to the driveway after the kitchen was cleaned. She kept her hands tucked into the back pockets of her jeans to keep from reaching for him. Her fingers were itching to skim the carved perfection of his features.
“I know I said to reach me through Billy if you needed anything. That ain’t necessary. Call me directly. Even if it’s to tell me how much you can’t stand my ass,” he joked.
Claudia laughed. “I’ll keep that in mind when no one’s around to piss me off. Don’t worry; I’ll be fine. May I ask where you’re headed?”
“Not too far. South Central. Thinking about opening up a business in the neighborhood I grew up in. My parents left me some land when they died. I come through twice a year to make sure my affairs are being handled accordingly.”
“Good luck with everything, Rage. I mean that.” Claudia pulled her hands out of her pockets and clasped them in front of her nervously. Mierda! Around this man, she had two speeds: bumbling virgin and thirsty ho.
Claudia swiftly shook her head. “I don’t think so. I like the warm sunshine of So-Cal. I’ve been giving some thought to my future and am going to give my madrina a call. She owns a nursery and taught me everything I know about plants. You should have seen my backyard in Chatham! I spent hours back there and even helped the girls with their landscape too. I think some classes are in order to get my mind fresh.”
“Good for you, Claudia. I hope everything turns out exactly the way you want.”
“Thank you. How’s school going?”
“I’m loving it!” Billy crinkled her nose. “I mean, the mandatory classes are fine, but I’m deeply inspired by set designing. Exploring the characters helps me to determine color palettes and build the world that will tell their story. The challenge of having a budget and staying within those means while accomplishing your goal is one that I relish! It forces me to think outside of the box and raises my creativity level.”
“Sounds like a great motivator,” Claudia observed.
She enjoyed Billy’s zeal. Seeing the passion the younger woman had, riveted her. She’d always liked contributing to the MC’s business with the auto shop, but that was out of necessity to not go stir crazy. Listening to Billy was inspiring, and Claudia couldn’t wait to dive into her own career.
“For sure. The only thing that sucks is that I need to read the play along with the cast. Some I whiz through. Others, I’m ready to claw my eyes out.”
Briefly, she thought of Nick. Her crew was curious about his up and coming project. Billy had spent a chunk of her break ensuring he’d be impressed with their effort. Working in Paris and exploring it with Ransom during her free time sounded divine. She’d be crazy to pass up an opportunity like that, despite her reserves about him.
“Ransom told me about your friend Angela. I would like to reach out to her and apologize and offer moral support if I may. She’s had her life disrupted and I need to make sure she’s okay. Do you think she’d be willing to speak with me?”
Billy regarded her somberly, her protective instincts rising on her friend’s behalf. “I honestly don’t know, Claudia. She appreciates what Ransom did for her that day but I don’t blame her for not feeling comfortable with anything. This entire experience has been traumatizing. Before I knew anything, getting her to trust and confide in me was a miracle. I refuse to add more stress to her life by poking and prodding at her. However, I’ll mention it when we meet again.”
Claudia was prepared to protest but decided against it. “I don’t blame her. I would like to put the past behind me once and for all too.”
Billy decided a change of subject was needed. She reached into a drawer and pulled out the chef’s portable radio. “Hey, are you up for some music?”
Claudia went along with her diplomacy. “Depends. What eras and genres are you into?”
The aromatic fragrance of sizzling pork drew Marcus, followed by Ransom, to the kitchen. They pushed the door through to find Billy and Claudia singing and dancing to The Ronettes’ “Be My Baby”. Marcus’ greeting dried in his throat at the sight of her jeans molded to her ass as she cha-cha’d in place while peeling and dicing potatoes.
“Fuck my entire life,” he muttered irritably. He’d traded the she-devil’s warm, curvy body for a bottle of Neville’s best Glenlivet. The scotch was even finer than the Macallan at Thanksgiving. It wasn’t simply to be drunk but savored. Yet, it might as well have been water, as it did nothing to quell Marcus’s snowballing ache for Claudia. It had been hellish but the smart thing to do. If only he could figure out how to stop wanting her.
“What was that?” Ransom asked, passing him to get to his mother.
“Nothing, forget it.”
“Buenos días!” Claudia carefully kept her gaze focused on Ransom. One look in Rage’s direction would give her away, she was certain. Lowering her head, she concentrated on frying the hash.
“Morning,” Marcus growled blearily. “Please tell me that’s bacon I’m smelling.”
Billy shot him a look of pure innocence. “Oooh, sorry, Dad. It’s actually a tofu recipe I’m working on. I’m sure it’ll taste like the real thing, though.”
“Tofu? What the hell, babe?” Ransom muttered around a yawn. “Buenos días, Ma. Sleep well?”
“Mmm. Y tú?” Claudia leaned her head on his shoulder. Ransom’s arm encircled hers and he pressed a kiss to the crown of her head. She’d tossed and turned without Rage by her side and would be damned if he knew it. This morning, she’d caked on at least two pounds of concealer under her eyes.
“Like shit,” he truthfully answered. Releasing her, he went and dropped a kiss on his woman’s lips, blithely ignoring Marcus’s ferocious scowl. “Morning, wildthing. Do you need any help?”
“Morning, babe. No, we’re just about done.”
“Don’t even try it, little girl! You know I don’t like to be pork-teased!” Marcus grumbled, shoving past Ransom to kiss Billy on the cheek. “Nor do I like seeing my daughter’s face being gnawed on by a walking hormone first thing in the morning. I can finish that up if you want to wash your mouth out.”
Ransom wiggled his eyebrows at him. “You should be worried about all the things you don’t see.”
“Hey now!” Billy admonished, waving her spatula threateningly at him. She gave her father a worried glance. He looked ready to explode. Adding pork to his diet on top of his volatile emotions would do a number on his blood pressure for sure.
Marcus’s smile was downright lethal. “Careful, homeboy. Like I told your mama, I like you; however, I love my daughter. I’ll chew your ass up and spit you out in one breath you joke about some shit like that again.”
Ransom’s chuckle was deep and unbothered by such a notion. Claudia rolled her eyes at them. She was used to dealing with testosterone and treated the matter accordingly.
“Ssh! That’s enough out of both of you. It’s too early in the morning for a dick-measuring contest! Hijo, set the table, por favor.”
Billy smiled gratefully at the older woman. “Dad, can you grab the orange juice pitcher and coffee? Don’t worry; I promise this is real swine.”
They sat down to eat, and the men dug in with gusto, which made the women smile. Claudia raised her coffee mug and sighed happily at the robust flavor captivating her tastebuds.
“Ma, this is probably your best pico de gallo yet. What’s different here?” Ransom helped himself to another healthy scoop and contemplated it.
“The fresh tomatoes! Billy encouraged me to pick them from the garden. That and sea salt instead of regular salt. Plus, a dash of cumin. Combined, it adds some zest.”
Rage forked up a helping with his hash, slowly chewed, and nodded his agreement. Fused with the savory hash and succulent pork, the meal was a grand slam.
“Definitely the best I’ve ever had. Can’t go back to settling now that I’ve had a taste of…this, Claudia,” he finished.
The odd throaty note in her father’s voice made Billy raise her head. Her eyes widened a fraction then narrowed to slits, first on Claudia who blushed and lowered her stare. Since when did the diva blush? she mused. Meanwhile, Marcus continued staring at her like a man fresh out of a coma. Billy kicked him under the table. He blinked and reluctantly pulled his eyes away from Claudia to his daughter. She raised her eyebrows questioningly, and Marcus returned his attention to the plate in front of him.
Billy would not be ignored. “When are you heading out, Dad?”
“Right after we’re finished with breakfast. School starts in a couple of days, right?”
“Yeah, gotta get back to the books.”
“I don’t like the idea of your being alone in that apartment.”
“It won’t be for long. Dominique will be returning soon.”
“Which reminds me; we need to go car shopping, Ma,” Ransom said. “Have you given it any thought?”
“A truck. Anything second-hand works for me. I plan to haul dirt and plants in it.”
Marcus chuckled and she lifted an eyebrow haughtily. “You got something to say?”
“I can’t see you getting dirty like that.”
Sweaty maybe, but dirty? Nah, not unless the way she used her mouth counted, he thought lustily.
“I guess it’s a good thing you won’t be around, right?”
Claudia regretted the snarky comeback when Billy’s stare sharpened on her. Quickly she changed the subject. “Before we do that, I’d like to find an attorney and start divorce proceedings, hon.”
Rage went still and Billy did, too, watching him. Ransom missed it all as he focused on Claudia. “Okay, we can do that. Are you sure?”
She smiled at him. “I’m positive that this is what I want to do. I have plans, and they don’t involve the past, hijo. It’s scary but exciting. You know what I mean?”
Ransom’s palm found Billy’s thigh under the table. He squeezed it, and she grabbed hold of his hand and laced their fingers. “Yeah, I think I do. Proud of you, lady.”
“Likewise. I’m looking forward to visiting you and seeing what you’ve accomplished.”
Billy rose and grabbed her and Ransom’s empty plates. “Dad, will you help me with the dishes? No, you two sit and finish your talk. We got this,” she instructed when mother and son reached for empty dishes.
“Thanks, baby,” Ransom murmured, smiling after her. To Claudia, he said, “We’re going to the bank first. I’m putting all of the money in your account.”
After things had died down and they’d settled into the hotel in Albuquerque, Ransom finally got around to counting the cash in the duffle bag. It totaled one hundred and twenty thousand dollars, fifty thousand of it being blood money from Barrera.
“That’s too much,” Claudia objected. “You need to take some—”
“Ma, don’t worry about me. I’m not rolling in dough, but I’m straight.”
“You should know that I’m anonymously donating to the Wilson family fundraiser.”
At his raised eyebrows, Claudia gave a sad smile that twisted like a knife in her son’s heart.
“Ransom, I’ve given this a lot of thought. I’m going to the police with Harley’s letter. The family needs closure and it’s the decent thing to do. When Harley took off, I prayed for him around the clock. I prayed for his safety and for him to come home. I also prayed that no one would show up to tell me that he was dead. I can’t let that angel’s mama go through life unknowing if her daughter’s killer is still roaming free. What do you think?”
“I think it’s going to be hell. I doubt my face will go over well, as we’re identical twins, but I agree with you. Ma, you don’t have to involve yourself. Harley left the note for me. Keep your anonymity. I can weather the storm on my own.”
Ransom leaned over and kissed her cheek. His mother didn’t know it, but her words were the blessing he needed to be set free. “Good thing about storms is that they don’t last forever.”
“No, baby. I will be the one to do it.” Claudia pressed her lips together and slid a look of commiseration Billy’s way. “The flipside to this madness? I’m worried about what it will mean for you guys. She still attends the school and Harley would never have been there if it wasn’t for Billy. What if this makes her a target when everything comes out? Or this hurts your budding business? I want to give this family peace and protect you both at all costs.”
Her logic gave Ransom pause and culpability. He’d been entrenched in heavy rumination on his feelings and never even considered what the fallout could mean for Billy at school.
“Hold off for a minute, okay? Give me some time to figure shit out and discuss it with her. I’m sure a mutually agreeable resolution can be found.”
Meanwhile, on the other side of the kitchen, Billy sidled up alongside Marcus as he loaded the dishwasher.
“I know I didn’t misread that situation, Dad!” she whispered. “What are you doing?”
Marcus concentrated on the task at hand. “What situation? What are you talking about?”
Billy stooped until they were facing each other, giving him some prime stink-eye. “Don’t give me that! I’m talking about you and Claudia!”
It was difficult to steady the drumming of his heart. Marcus didn’t want to lie to his daughter, but simultaneously, he felt a fierce protectiveness of his relationship with Claudia. It didn’t quite make sense to either of them. More than friends, yet not quite lovers, theirs was a unique alliance holding them in limbo.
“You’re creating smoke where there’s no fire, babygirl.”
“Hardly. I suppose it was a coincidence that every single time either of you glanced at each other, the other was already waiting, as if in anticipation?” Billy derided. “You must think I’m a special kind of idiot!”
“No. What I think is, you’re speaking on a matter that doesn’t concern you, Willamina. Mrs. Lawson and I are friends,” Marcus ended with finality. “That’s it.”
A staredown ensued, neither willing to back down a centimeter. Billy hadn’t inherited her stubbornness from Melody only. Marcus had a healthy dose of it, too, and presently she reminded him of an overzealous schoolmarm trying to figure out who hit her with a spitball.
“You guys need some help?”
“No, we’re fine, Claudia,” Billy answered without breaking eye contact. She widened her eyes exaggeratedly at her father. “Will you look at that! She comes to your rescue too? Her Spidey senses must have been tingling.”
“Enough, Billy. I ain’t indulging your ass anymore,” Marcus warned, patience wearing thin.
Her expression softened marginally. “Fine! Keep your little secrets. But you understand where I’m coming from, yeah? Whatever it is between y’all, it’s obvious. I don’t want either of you, but especially you, to get hurt, Daddy. She’s a married woman! Until that divorce is final, Claudia should be off-limits,” Billy emphasized.
“We both know that if Ransom wasn’t so preoccupied lately, he would have been noticed. I’m not keeping any more secrets from him. You already know he’s protective about the women in his life, so you better be coming correct,” she advised.
“And if she wasn’t married? Would you still have a problem then?”
The questions surprised them both. Marcus rubbed his bald head bashfully. Billy covered her small gasp with a hand when his tawny cheeks reddened with embarrassment at being so transparent. He thought he’d been happy with his simple life and in his career. Then Billy came along and veered him off course with Claudia hot on her heels, making him want shit that hadn’t been in his cards since his ex-wife dealt her hand, gathered her winnings and left.
“You like her!” she exclaimed and whacked his forearm once, then twice for good measure. “You must think you’re slicker than an oil spill with that ‘We’re just friends’ mess! Yeah, I might have possibly had an issue. This ain’t the South where that ‘My brother is also my boyfriend’ shit rides. Go spend time with any other number of women outside of this circle that would drop their undies for you!”
Marcus frowned darkly. “Why you gotta be so crude? Did the biker teach you that? And for the record, I don’t need your permission on who to date.”
“Ex-biker.” Billy rolled her eyes. “That’s true. I mean, as long as you’re decent to her, I don’t need to watch my back around her, do I?”
“Don’t even joke like that.”
She shivered at the iciness that surfaced so unexpectedly and the deadly intent in her father’s face and underlying his voice. Marcus was on a mission to run Lorelai’s treacherous ass into the ground. He refused to make light of anything concerning her.
“Sorry, Daddy. I take it there’s still no word on her?”
“No one’s seen her. I don’t even have a dead-end lead that I could have got my hopes up on! I’ve put the word out and a reward to all my contacts, high and low and widened my net of underground contacts to include as close as Albuquerque to Farmington in one direction and Roswell in the opposite. Motherfuckers know they gon’ feel it if I find out they kept shit from me,” Marcus promised.
“Maybe it’s a good thing. A sign that we should all move on with our lives.”
“Hey, that’s a great idea. Did you also want to gather around a campfire and sing “Kumbaya” at the top of your lungs? You’d best stop walking around with blinders on, love,” Marcus directed sternly. “I know my ex-partner. She’s a malicious bitch that feels like I got over on her. Ain’t nothin’ in the world like a woman scorned. I let my guard down once. Bet she won’t get the chance to strike again. Don’t sleep on Lorelai, kid. Stay strapped. Am I clear?”
Thinking about how her survival had come down to the wire because of Lorelai made Billy emotional. She gave a jerky nod of agreement and decided to lighten the mood.
“I’ll be fine. Do you have some sort of daily quota you’re supposed to meet, staring at Claudia? Because you’re doing it again, Daddy,” Billy teased.
“Damn, I miss the days when kids respected their elders,” he muttered, giving her braids a playful tug.
Claudia walked Marcus to the driveway after the kitchen was cleaned. She kept her hands tucked into the back pockets of her jeans to keep from reaching for him. Her fingers were itching to skim the carved perfection of his features.
“I know I said to reach me through Billy if you needed anything. That ain’t necessary. Call me directly. Even if it’s to tell me how much you can’t stand my ass,” he joked.
Claudia laughed. “I’ll keep that in mind when no one’s around to piss me off. Don’t worry; I’ll be fine. May I ask where you’re headed?”
“Not too far. South Central. Thinking about opening up a business in the neighborhood I grew up in. My parents left me some land when they died. I come through twice a year to make sure my affairs are being handled accordingly.”
“Good luck with everything, Rage. I mean that.” Claudia pulled her hands out of her pockets and clasped them in front of her nervously. Mierda! Around this man, she had two speeds: bumbling virgin and thirsty ho.
