The law of deceit, p.9
The Law of Deceit, page 9
My hands shake with rage. I’m in no shape to play such a high-stakes game, yet here I am.
Focus.
Breathe.
I close my eyes for a second and then break. Tuning out everyone around me, I easily sink the balls as I run out the table.
Take that, asshole.
Prez’s arrogant expression is gone. His eyes flicker with anger. Good. I’m not some stupid, useless kid. And I’m sure as hell not going to let them fuck with Gemma or Sloane.
Two to one, our favor.
Bozo breaks and carries on making shot after shot but misses the last one. He cracks his neck, clearly pissed at not taking the win. Tate effortlessly runs the table but misses when he sneezes mid-shot.
Unbelievable.
Bozo barks out a laugh and then pops his last shot in.
Two to two. Tie.
This is it. Prez is going to run out. I want to ram my stick through his goddamn eyeball.
Gemma chooses to materialize beside me. As much as I don’t need her here, she does serve as a distraction. Prez can’t keep his eyes off her tits and only sinks two stripes with his break. He scratches on his next shot. Then his pervert eyes are staring shamelessly at Gemma’s chest.
One of his balls is in front of mine, so I line up my stick at a steep angle, going for a tricky jump shot. The cue ball lobs over his ball and slams into mine, sending it straight into the side pocket. Gemma and Tate both scream happily. Prez unglues his stare from Gemma to watch what I’m doing.
I circle the table, eyeing all my options. One of my balls is in a difficult position, but I calculate the angles, sending the cue ball knocking into two different rails before it hits my ball. Then, magically, it drops into a pocket.
The rest are easy bank shots, sending more of my balls into pockets until I’m left with one last shot. It’s a fairly straightforward shot. All I have to do is hit it in. Nothing fancy.
But because this guy has pissed me off, I decide to fuck with him.
I set up my shot, angling my stick up at a steep curve. Everyone is silent as they wait for me to make my move. With a crack, I send the cue ball on its way. Masse shots aren’t easy and certainly not something you bank everything on, but I’m not some pool novice. I’m a fucking professional. It makes a wide arcing curve, almost like I’ve miscalculated or made a mistake, before swooping in at the last second to slam into the ball for the win.
Three to two. Our win.
“Holy shit!” Tate yells, grabbing hold of my arms and shaking me hard. “You fucking did it, man!”
The relief rushing through me is dizzying. We won and my girls are safe. Bozo stomps over to me and drops a keyring to the floor at our feet.
“Lucky break,” he sneers, kicking the keys so they skitter halfway across the room.
Prez stands beside him and narrows his eyes at me. “Keep her locked up or someone might steal her.”
I don’t know if he’s talking about the bike or my sister. Either way, I’m going to heed his warning.
“Good game,” I say, offering my hand for a shake. “I trust you’ll stay out of my way.”
He grips my hand, squeezing it so hard the bones ache. “And you better stay out of mine.”
Don’t fucking worry, stupid prick.
I’m hoping I never have to see your face again.
Sloane
Something happened tonight.
Something scary.
And Dempsey shielded it from me.
I’m pissed and confused.
Don’t text him.
Don’t freaking text him.
With a huff, I sit up in bed and turn on the bedside lamp to unplug my phone from the charger.
Me: What happened tonight?
The dots move and then stop. He leaves me on read. I have a good mind to drive my ass over to his house and demand answers. I’m sure Jamie would love that. Sighing, I try another tactic.
Me: Come over.
This time, he responds.
Dempsey: Did your date leave you unsatisfied?
He can joke all he wants, but I’m not letting this go.
Me: Either talk to me now or come over so we can do this face to face. I need to know what happened tonight.
Dempsey: Can’t. Almost asleep.
I hit the FaceTime button on his contact before I can stop myself. He answers on the third ring. At least he wasn’t lying. His eyes are closed and his lips are in a lazy curve of a smile.
“You bailed on that guy’s bike after the game without saying a word to anyone. Did you not hear me calling after you?”
He groans and releases a heavy sigh. “Wasn’t in a talking mood. Kind of like now.”
“You’re being a dick, Dempsey.”
His eyes pop open and he frowns at me. “Sorry. I’m just…I’ve had a bad fucking day, okay?”
Hurt needles its way into my heart. Considering I was a huge part of his day, I’m feeling stung. As though I’m responsible for his sour mood.
“Because I went on a date? Because I showed up at the pool hall?”
“What? No.” He curses under his breath. “Sloane, can we talk about this tomorrow, babe?”
Babe?
A shiver tickles its way down my spine, settling in my pelvis.
“No,” I bite out. “We’re talking about this now. Tell me what happened. Did you get into trouble with those guys?”
His blue eyes turn electric with fury. “I handled it.”
“Handled what?”
“Is this going to go on for fucking ever?”
“Yup.”
“Fine. You want to know what has my panties yanked all the way up my ass crack?” He sits up in bed and glowers at me through the tiny screen. “They wanted to play for my fucking sister.”
“They what? And you agreed to it? Just for the possibility to win a stupid bike? Those guys were most likely criminals! My God, Dempsey, you’re a child playing dangerous adult games!”
He flinches as though I’ve slapped him across his beautiful face. “Fuck all the way off.”
The phone beeps and I realize he’s hung up on me. Wow. That was…intense. I can’t believe I just yelled at him. I feel like a total bitch for it, too, even though he was wrong for putting Gemma’s safety on the line.
Kaden peeks his head in my door. “You okay, Aunt Sloane?”
“Yeah, bud. I’m fine. Just yelling at Dempsey for being stupid.”
He walks over and sits down next to me. “I’m sure it was an accident. Dempsey’s actually really smart. I like him. You’re not going to break up with him, are you?”
His words have me jolting.
Break up with him?
“We,” I choke out in exasperation, “are not together. He’s not my…boyfriend. I went on a date with Oliver, for Pete’s sake.”
Kaden pats my knee and shrugs. “You don’t have to lie. Gemma told me we were tagalongs on a date for you and Dempsey.”
She did what?!
“She was wrong,” I hiss. “So very wrong. I’m fine. Just go to bed.”
He slinks out of my bedroom and I feel horrible once again. I’m always saying and doing the wrong things. I sometimes think I’m an alien in a human world—not like anyone around me. Guilt at pissing Dempsey off has me firing off another text.
Me: I’m sorry I lashed out and said what I said.
Nothing.
He doesn’t even read my message.
My heart sinks. I’ll let him cool off—let us both cool off—and then I’ll apologize in person. He can tell me what really happened without being a smart-ass and I’ll feel better knowing all the facts. Then we can go back to normal.
What exactly is normal?
Hikes, picnic lunches, coffee dates, and late-night conversations?
Maybe normal isn’t normal at all. Maybe this stupid fight is exactly what we need.
Dempsey Park is getting under my skin.
I need to pick him out before he burrows too far.
I’m miserable.
These stuffy, fancy restaurants are so not my thing. They used to not be Jamie’s thing either, but then she went and hitched herself to the richest man in town.
I should have canceled this brunch.
Kaden had the right idea by sleeping in all morning. He’ll roll out of bed eventually and feast on cereal. I’d much rather be doing that.
A white Mercedes pulls into the restaurant parking lot and my best friend climbs out. I’m wearing jeans and a T-shirt, but Jamie looks magazine spread ready with her floral dress, dainty wedges, and perfectly coifed hair.
“Sorry I’m late,” she says, waving at me. “Nathan was being frisky this morning.”
Gross.
I still remember when she admitted to me that she’d been sleeping with her boyfriend’s dad. I was horrified and completely disgusted. Nathan was old. Now he’s really old. I’ve never understood their relationship or why they fell so completely in love.
“Can he still get it up at that age?” I tease, smirking at her.
She smacks my arm. “Jerk. Yes, he’s got excellent stamina if you must know.”
“I mustn’t. Please stop.”
We both giggle and she hugs me. I inhale her familiar scent. Sometimes, when I’m not wound up by work and my own stressful life, we make time to have fun. Sure, brunches aren’t exactly my thing, but being with her is always nice.
“You will never believe what Dempsey came home with last night,” she says as we walk inside and wait to be seated. “A Harley. Nathan had a fit.”
“Why? He’s eighteen.”
She cuts her eyes over to me. “Nathan is protective over the kids. Remember in the hospital when they were born? He wouldn’t let anyone hold them. Not even you.”
I wither inside at the reminder of being present for Dempsey’s birth. If anything can kill an attraction, it’s that.
“I still don’t get what the big deal is. He’s old enough to drive.”
“Ladies,” a man says in greeting. “Just two? Right this way.”
“It’s more than that,” Jamie says as we follow the host. “It’s that he always does something outrageous. His father bought him a car and had restrictions. So what does Dempsey do? He buys his own vehicle just to piss him off. It’s an act of rebellion. I really wish those two could get along.”
I’m surprised Dempsey told them he bought it rather than won it from a pool game. But maybe he thought it was the better of the two options. If Nathan knew he won it in a bet where Gemma was at stake, he might have done a lot more than have a fit.
Jamie pauses to ask our waiter if he’ll bring mimosas. Once he’s gone, she fiddles with her napkin and grins at me. “Enough about my family drama. Tell me about Oliver. Was he good in bed?”
I snort out a laugh that earns us a couple of annoyed looks. “I didn’t sleep with him.”
“Ugh,” she complains, still smiling. “Did you at least kiss him? Come on. Spill the beans, girl. I’m dying to know everything.”
Should I start first with our awkward dinner where I discovered he’s chummy with my corrupt boss? Maybe I should just launch right into how Oliver took me to a pool hall where we ran into her children and Dempsey almost lost one of her beloved twins over a bet.
“He dresses nice,” I say instead, grimacing. “He’s very proud of his accomplishments.”
She scrunches her nose. “Ew. Really? Was he bragging or something?”
“Let’s just say his favorite subject to talk about is himself.”
“Well, damn.” She sighs heavily. “And here I thought maybe he could be the perfect one for you.”
Oliver was okay but far from perfect.
“I’m starting to think a relationship isn’t in the cards for me, Jame. You have to let it go. I already have.”
We get distracted when we’re brought our drinks and then place our order. Once we’re sipping on our tangy mimosas, Jamie continues trying to unpack my love life…or lack thereof.
“So there was no spark? No spine tingling when he touched you?”
The only spine tingling I’ve felt lately is when I’m around your son.
“No,” I say, clearing my throat and hoping my cheeks aren’t blazing crimson. “It was just meh.”
She downs her mimosa and shakes her head. “Life’s too short for ‘just meh.’”
“He’s been blowing up my phone asking for another date,” I grumble. “See what you started?”
“Maybe you just need to give him another chance. You’re rusty on the whole dating scene. If he’s trying to get you to go on another date, it wasn’t so meh for him.”
“Maybe you’re right.”
Lies. I know going on another date with Oliver will be just as awkward as the first one. Sure, he looks like a good match for me on paper, but there just wasn’t a life-altering connection.
“You and Nathan had the spark right out of the gate, though, right?” I ask, studying my beautiful friend.
She flashes me a mischievous grin that reminds me of Dempsey. “Well, since I was dating Callum, I was trying desperately not to feel those budding feelings for his father. No matter how hard I tried, though, I couldn’t fight my attraction to him. It was forbidden and wrong, but it didn’t stop us.”
My stomach twists into complicated knots at her words. Her love story sounds like a fairy tale now. At the time, however, their shocking love destroyed Callum. Jamie always felt horrible for doing that to him, but it didn’t prevent her from living her happily ever after with his dad. I assume she’d feel equally betrayed if she knew her best friend was thinking unsavory thoughts about her precious baby boy.
He called me babe.
I liked it.
I can pretend all I want that nothing is happening between me and Dempsey, but my own nephew and Gemma might disagree with that. I may not want anything to happen between us, but our relationship has morphed into something different lately. I’m seeing him as a friend and an attractive grown man, not Jamie’s young son. Dempsey is entertaining and fun to be around. I just have to keep him at arm’s length because I have a feeling he’s the kind of guy a woman could easily get swept up in.
I have enough drama in my life right now.
Definitely no time for that.
“I saw Lucy the other day,” I say, changing the subject so I’ll stop thinking about her son. “She’s working at the diner.”
Jamie tenses and her expression sours. “Nadine’s?”
“Still the greasy place we remember. Mom wasn’t there, though I hear she still works a few shifts.”
“How is Lucy doing?”
“Moved in with Mom because Lenny’s a dick. I still haven’t spoken to Rhiannon. I’m going to have to bite the bullet and go see her.”
She grimaces. “I know you’re thrilled.”
“I have no choice,” I say with a shrug. “Kaden is doing great, but he’ll have to go to school soon. I need to know why she’s abandoned her children.”
“Is Trevor still there?”
“He’s a whole other problem. I’ve heard he’s dealing and most likely using too.”
“Oh, honey,” Jamie says, reaching across the table to clutch onto my hand. “I am so sorry. Is there anything I can do? If you want to get him in a rehab facility, you know I’ll lend you the money if you need it. You don’t even have to ask.”
“Honestly, I don’t know if we’re there yet. I’m just taking it day by day. If I can pin him down and talk with him, I’ll have a better idea of what to do next.”
She nods, smiling sadly at me. “I’m here for you always. You know I love you and would do anything for you, Sloane. Anything.”
Guilt smacks me in the face and my cheeks burn hot.
If I get too involved with her son, I’m not sure that statement will stand any longer. As much as the idea of hanging out with Dempsey appeals to me, I know I have to put a stop to it. I can’t lose my best friend from childhood. We’ve endured too much in our lives to break apart over something like this.
I can’t do that to her.
Ever.
Dempsey
I have to tell her.
Even though I don’t want to, it’s the right thing to do. Not only does she need to know her nephew is involved with some fucked-up guys, but she also needs to know they followed me to her house.
If anyone will know what to do, it’s Sloane. She’s a cop, for fuck’s sake. As much as I want to pull her to me and protect her from the likes of Trevor’s lowlife friends, I know she can protect herself.
“You can deny it all you want, Dempsey,” Gemma says from the passenger seat as she reapplies lipstick. “You bet those assholes for that bike just to piss Dad off.”
I take a sip of my caramel macchiato and shrug my shoulders. “Pissing off Dad is just so fun.”
Only Tate and Sloane know Gemma was on the menu Saturday night. I sure as hell am not going to freak my sister out for no reason. Luckily, between me having to be with her every waking minute if we leave the house and Dad hovering over his little girl nonstop, she should be safe from those guys.
It’s Sloane I’m more worried about.
I pull into the police station, once again taking the chief’s empty spot. Gemma smirks at me, a knowing glint in her gaze as I grab Sloane’s coffee and climb out.
“Lock the doors and behave while I’m gone.”
I shut the door and don’t move until I hear the locks engage. Then I start for the police station entrance. A red Porsche slowly drives past me and the dude glares at me. I flip him off for the fun of it.
Once inside, I wave at Kaden and Tara at the reception area and then make a beeline over to Sloane’s desk. She doesn’t seem to notice my approach and scowls at her open file as she spins her ink pen around and around her fingers.
“Coffee break,” I say, laughing when she jolts in surprise.
Shock registers in her gaze and then she gives me a small smile. “Just what I needed.”
I know she’s talking about the coffee, but I’d like to think it’s me she needs.
