Heather

I guess that’s why in the three years I’ve worked at Black and Lock, I’ve been on reception. I’ve played the other day over and over in my head. It’s done nothing but cause me to have more and more questions.

I can’t just let my sister be abused, no matter what type of abuse. Why isn’t my mother paying attention? This time is different. There’s physical proof, I never had visible bruises. Nothing like a broken arm that alone should raise all kinds of flags.

Things just aren’t adding up for me. The longer I sit and do nothing, the longer it’s been grinding at me. That’s why I’m here.

My stomach rolls, I think I’m going to be sick. I wasn’t prepared to face this part of my life yet. Confronting my mother has been on the bottom of my to do list, but now,—with Amanda’s safety at stake, I need to do this.

I wipe my sweaty palms on my t-shirt. All of a sudden, my mouth feels so dry. It’s one thing to know my mother doesn’t want anything to do with me from a distance, it’s another for her to tell me to my face.

I look across the hospital cafeteria. It seems like such a giant distance between me and the woman that gave birth to me. Yet, she’s closer than she’s been to me in years.

She’s sitting at a table alone and for the first time in my life, my mother looks so vulnerable to me. She looks smaller, much thinner than I remember. I find it interesting that her hair is now cut into a pixie cut.

More feminine than mine, making her face look softer. My low hair cut comes off more like a masculine Caesar these days. I reach to touch my hair as I stare at my mother. I look so much like her and my dad, the perfect mix of them both. The one thing of my mother’s that I got the exact replica of is her light brown cinnamon skin.

Her head lifts as if she’s heard her name called. Her eyes lock on mine instantly. My heart squeezes, when I see the light in her orbs.

Her shaky hand flies to her lips, I see her eyes tear up. I don’t know how to feel about her reaction. It seems like so little, so late. The actions don’t fit the facts.

Even still, when she lifts from her seat and races across the cafeteria, my hardened heart loosens a little. I allow her to wrap her small arms around me. It feels so strange.

My mother isn’t nearly as tall as I am. I get my height from my father. Yet, the last time I hugged my mom, she was taller than me. Having to bend into her hug cements the lapse in time between us.

My mother pulls away, cupping my face. Tears slide down her cheeks. Suddenly, her eyes widen. In the blink of an eye, she grabs my hand, pulling me from the lunch room.

We don’t go the way I entered. Instead, she pulls me through a set of doors that takes us into a staircase. My mother takes the direction that will carry us further up into the hospital.

When we exit the staircase, she hangs a right, leading me to a small conference like room. Waving me inside, she looks around before she follows. I look at her like she’s lost her mind.

“What’s all that about?” I murmur, tugging at the hem of my t-shirt. My brows knit, as my chest pings. I continue in a whisper of a voice. “You ashamed to be seen with me?”

Her face crumbles. “I would never be ashamed of you. You’ve made me so proud. You’ve grown into such a beautiful young woman,” she replies.

I feel the wind leave my lungs, my knees grow weak. I grab for the seat I’m standing next to, dropping down into it. My head falls, bringing my chin to my chest, my eyes fixing on my hands in my lap.

“How would you know?” I murmur.

“Oh, baby, I know everything there is to know about you. I know you graduated high school with honors. I know you passed your driver’s test on the first try. I know you went away to New York for college.

“I know instead of going to your senior prom, you went with Braxton and Ryan Black to a fair,” my head lifts when she says that.

It had been a last minute thing. The guys had sort of forced me to. Neither of them had a ride to the fair and I’d been their last hope. I’d wanted to go to prom, but there was the issue of a date. I just couldn’t bring myself to go alone and face all of the whispers.

That night turned out to be one of the best nights of my life. Ry and Brax kept me laughing the entire time. We never told anyone about that night, as far as my dad knew, I’d gone to a friend’s home to get ready for the prom.

Dad had looked crushed. He wanted to do the whole picture thing, but I had rather see him crushed about me not wanting to take pictures, than have him know I hadn’t gone at all. I think Faith figured it out, she just never said anything.

“How do you know about that?” I whisper.

“I followed you, hoping to get a glimpse of you in your prom dress,” she blinks back a few tears. “Ernest was out of town on business.”

I’m hit with a bitter bomb, as she mentions that creep’s name. My anger and reason for being here return. My jaw ticks as I look my mother in her eyes.

“What happened to Amanda’s arm?” I say more harshly then I intend to.

My mother looks surprised. “How do you know about Amanda’s arm? You know about Amanda?”

Her question stings. Why shouldn’t I know about my sister? Why didn’t I know about her sooner? I swallow pass the bitter pill rolling in my throat, promising to come back up.

“Yes, I know about Amanda. What happened to her arm?” I say more firmly.

My mother looks away, her hands begin to fidget in her lap. I don’t like this reaction. It’s only pissing me off more and more as the seconds float by.

“She fell,” my mother says in a robotic tone.

I scoff. “Seriously?!”

“What do you want, Heather? You’re being here is just going to cause trouble for everyone. Amanda is fine. Please, just keep your distance from her,” my mother says, as if she’s miffed with me.

“Unbelievable,” I say on a choked gasp. “Will you always turn a blind eye on what’s going on around you? You’re always so quick to throw me away for that piece of shit.”

I stand, needing to get out of here as fast as I can, before I do or say something I’ll regret. I can’t even stand to look at her any longer. I feel like the walls are closing in on me.

“Heather,” she sobs behind me. “You don’t know what I’m up against.”

I spin on my heels, my chest heaving. “Oh, I know way more than you think. You never asked for my side of the story, Mom.

“You left me in the lion’s den and never checked on me. Trust me, I know what you’re up against. Do you know what I was up against?”

I spin and storm from the room, not waiting for an answer. I thought I could talk to her. I thought I could get her to do something for Amanda. I thought…it was foolish of me to have hope.

Secretly, I thought I would find my mom today. I thought she would explain why it was so easy to throw me away. Yet, she’s just doing it all over again. Throwing me away for her perfect family that I’m not a part of.

* * *

Braxton

It started with Wyatt wanting to do the tattoo thing again, like we did a year ago, when we pulled together for Felix. I was down for that, more than ready for my next piece of ink. However, when we got to the parlor a couple of us decided on a different type of enhancement.

Wyatt pierced his tongue a few years back. I thought it was cool, but I never committed to doing it. Yet, my twisted head was all in for a cock piercing. With this one, I didn’t want to be out done.

While Wyatt just got a four bar Jacob’s ladder, I got five. I almost added a Prince Albert piercing to the head, but I let that idea go after being told I would most likely have to piss like a girl. Not to mention, there’s the chance sex could be more painful for my partner with that piercing.

Nine times out of ten, I’m bumping up against a cervix. I wouldn’t want to make that unpleasant. I’m not selfish, I want to be enjoyed, as much as I get to enjoy. Especially, when it comes to a certain brown vixen that haunts my dreams.

My other brothers have been making fun of Wyatt and I for weeks now. Sending hot girls our way to hook up, knowing there’s no way we could or would hook up for six whole weeks.

Not that I’ve been doing much hooking up in a while. I still feel like I’m in high school. Girls selling tales of hook ups that never happen. Where that once was my goal to make Heather jealous, that shit grates my nerves now.

Heather thinks I’ll fuck anything with legs. Yeah, I get a release here and there, but I’m not the pussy monster everyone makes me out to be. Go figure.

Well, tonight might be different, tonight’s my birthday. I’m all healed up and I’m horny as fuck. I’m not tugging on my own shit with these bars in my cock, not a fucking chance. Honestly, I want to see what they can do.

“Dude, where the fuck are you,” I grumble into my phone.

I’ve been waiting on Ry for over an hour. We’re supposed to be meeting up with Felix and finding something to get into. My mind is set on Vegas. I want the full twenty-first birthday experience.

“Man, I’m sorry. I got caught up with a bounty. Fucking station lost the paperwork again. I don’t know when I’m going to get the hell out of here,” Ryan groans.

“Shit,” I mutter.

My night is falling apart at the seams. I may want to dive into something tight by the end of the night, but I wanted to get some time with my brothers. Toby called this morning to wish me a happy birthday, before he bailed on me.

I was okay with that. Toby has been going through some shit, he looks like shit to be honest with you. He’s been that way for about a year now. I don’t want his funk on my birthday.

Although, it did sting a little that he won’t be with me. I’m getting used to it though. I press my lips and mutter to myself, before replying to Ry.

“Fine, I’ll text you where I’m going. If you can, come out,” I say letting more of my disappointment show than I mean to.

“Bro, I’m so sorry. I’m going to make this up to you. I promise,” Ry says sounding just as disappointed as I do.

“No worries, your ass just would have limited the bars and shit I can get into,” I tease.

“Yeah, probably. I can’t wait until next year,” he snorts.

“I hear you,” I chuckle. “Talk to you later.”

“Later.”

I hang up the phone, looking up just as Heather’s little car comes to a screeching halt. She hops out, looking like she’s going to commit a murder. I jump up from my seat on the porch steps, heading across the street to her, before I can even think better of it.

I give Heather her distance when I can. I’m only going to allow her to step on my feelings but so many times. I’ve been taking a break from mission, Make Heather Notice Me.

I get it now. I have a lot more to prove than I thought. I haven’t given up on the plan, I’ve just revised it. Although, once I see the look on Heather’s face, that all goes out the window.

“Yo, H,” I call across the distance left between us.

Heather turns mid-step, already half way to the guesthouse. Up close I can see she’s been crying. I move quickly to close the distance, without another word.

I tug her into my arms and she comes willingly. Her arms wrap around my back, squeezing tightly. I try to ignore how perfect it feels. Heather needs me, not the shit that’s trying to run through my head.

“What’s going on,” I say against the top of her head.

Her fingers curl into my t-shirt. I can feel her shudder against me. I wait, giving her time to collect herself.

“It was stupid to get involved. I don’t know why I went to see her. She doesn’t care, I don’t mean anything to her and I accomplished nothing,” Heather sobs into my shirt.

“What are you talking about? What’s this about?” I say gently.

Heather shakes her head, not lifting it from its position buried in my chest. I reach for her chin, lifting her tear soaked face so I can see it. Those sad brown eyes are back, more sad than ever.

“What’s going on, talk to me,” I coax.

“I need to get away from here. I can’t breathe. If I stay I’m only going to do something stupid,” she says through a shuddered breath.

I don’t have to think about it. I move right into action. Placing my hand on her back, I guide her to the guesthouse.

“Pack a bag, enough for two or three days,” I order.

Heather doesn’t protest. She moves into her room, leaving me to wait for her in the common area. I can’t sit. I still don’t know what’s going on. The protectiveness I feel for Heather claws at my skin, raging to break free.

It’s been so long since I’ve seen Heather cry. My mind spins with all of the possibilities of what could be going on. As the worst case scenario pops into my head, I feel my temper start to unhinge.

Before I can get too worked up, Heather is back with a duffle bag slung over her shoulder. I take the bag, wrapping my free arm around her shoulders. Heather sinks into my side, fitting there perfectly.

I guide her across the street to my parents’ house. My car is already parked out front. Walking her around to the passenger side, I open the door for her to get in. Heather looks up at me, rolling her eyes.

“You can never be normal, can you,” she ribs.

I crack a smile, glad that she can tease me. Heather hates my two door Aston Martin. It was my first gift to myself, when I got my first big bonus working for Dad. I’m a huge car buff. I saw this car at a car show and just had to have it.

“What’s the fun in that,” I shrug and playfully push her inside.

“Hey,” she pouts, as she feigns falling into the seat.

“Really,” I rise a brow at her dramatics, chuckling, as I close the door behind her.

I place her bag in the trunk, along with the bag I already had packed and ready to go for my weekend. I’m ready for anything, not knowing where the night would take me and my brothers. I smile to myself as I get into the driver’s side. I think I like the way this day is turning out after all.

I start the car, grinning as it purrs. Taking a glance over at Heather, I catch her rolling her eyes at me. I rev the engine just to be an asshole and bring more of that smile to her lips.

“Where are we going?” She asks as I pull away from the curb.

“Vegas, Baby,” I look over to her and croon.

Heather’s eyes widen, she palms her forehead. “Shit, Brax. It’s your birthday. I’m so sorry,” she frowns at herself. “You don’t have to deal with my shit today.”

“You can make it up to me in Vegas,” I shrug and keep driving.