I was a bundle of nerves as I sat in the front seat of Jay’s Escalade with Jerome and Mike in the back. In another SUV behind us was Zeke, the dark scary man who walked me to my car at Lace, and Killer. Killer—I was informed this was his street name—was at first glance a man of average height. However, his dark features and angry glare made him look so sinister, that I almost peed my pants as soon as I got a good look at him.

All four men had agreed to go along with us. I felt like I had my own little posse at my back.

“Stop fidgeting,” Jay said as he navigated out of town towards my father’s ranch.

“I can’t!” I whined while never looking away from the windshield. And I couldn’t. I had tried everything from sitting on my hands to holding my purse. Nothing was helping.

He put his foot on the brake and pulled us off to the side of the road. My head swung around trying to figure out what he was doing.

“What are you doing? We can’t just stop!”

“Come here,” he said with that low, rough voice, and I felt my stomach dip.

“You can’t just stop when there are people following you. They’ll think something is wrong,” I argued instead of complying.

“I said… Come here, baby.”

At his repeated request, I knew he wasn’t even listening to me. Choosing to play his game so we could get going, I leaned over the console and watched with anticipation as his head descended and his lips brushed mine. They were so soft and warm, that I found myself instigating a longer and more sensual kiss, wanting to feel more of them.

Throats clearing in the backseat had me pulling back into my seat with embarrassment. I had forgotten the boys were with us. Something about the way Jay kissed made me forget reason, whether it be good or bad.

“Better?” He asked with a look of pleasure on his face.

I nodded my head, and he smiled before putting the car in drive and pulling back out on the road. A few minutes later, his hand encompassed mine and set our entwined hands on his thigh. It was then I realized I wasn’t fidgeting anymore. He was resourceful. I had to give him that.

“Here.” I gestured towards the hidden driveway to my dad’s house. I felt my heart rate kicking up the closer we got and when the house came into view, I felt like puking.

“Thought you said this was a ranch?” Jerome asked from the backseat. “This looks more like the White House than a ranch.”

I bit back a giggle and tried to see everything through their eyes. A two-story house, roughly ten thousand square feet in size, complete with seven bedrooms, ten bathrooms and a guest house dominated the landscape. The house itself was made of stone. It had a large walkway leading from the driveway up to a wide staircase that led to the double doors. The lawn was lush and green with manicured bushes and shrubs highlighting the walk and the front of the house.

“Ranch is just the term used since there are horses and such.” I pointed out when the car came to a stop in front.

We filed out of the truck, and I took a minute to stand at the edge of the walkway looking at the place I used to call home. I missed it here. My mother always said it was too large and pretentious. I knew she secretly loved it though, even if it was a far cry from the modest home she grew up in as a child.

I was also nervous as all hell about what was about to happen. I had spotted Annabelle’s Porsche parked out by the garage, so I knew she was home. I worried things would get violent or the cops would get called.

This was bound to get ugly.

“Ready, baby.” Jay came up to my side and grabbed my hand again, offering me silent support.

“No,” I answered honestly.

“She can’t hurt you. I won’t let her. Trust me.”

I looked over at him and his earnest expression. Until now I had trusted Jay. He never gave me a reason not to. From the way he worried about my safety to the way he approached building our friendship, he had always been a great guy. I believed that he had the best of intentions in helping me today and wouldn’t let anything hurt me.

“Okay,” I softly murmured and squeezed his hand.

He gifted me with one of his wide, pleased smiles and pulled my hand as he started walking towards the front door. With no other choice, I followed.

I rang the doorbell and shuffled from foot to foot waiting for Greta, the maid, or Wallace, the butler, to answer the door.

When the heavy oak door opened, I was pleased to see Greta standing in front of me. She looked just as happy to see me.

“Oh, Miss Victoria. I’m so glad you came,” she said in her German accent. “Mr. Lawrence is not good and Mrs. Watson is not being very nice.”

We all pushed into the entryway of the house. It was a grand room with marble floors, a high ceiling with a chandelier, gold accents and a grand staircase leading upstairs. It was opulent and dripped wealth.

“I know, Greta. Where is my father?”

“He’s up in his room. The doctor left a few minutes ago.” She began wringing her hands together.

“And Annabelle?” I crossed my fingers she was out on one of the horses or bathing by the pool. If that were the case I could slip in and out undetected.

“She’s in the gym. She won’t be happy when she finds out you’re here.”

That was an understatement. She was going to lose her mind.

“Let’s try not to announce my presence just yet.”

It was then I realized that Greta was eyeing my posse of hot, scary black men. I figured it was the time for introductions, especially since Killer seemed to be the one she spent the most time staring at.

“Greta, these are my friends. Jay, Jerome, Mike, Zeke, and um… Killer. They were in the mood for a scenic drive today, so I let them tag along,” I joked hoping to break the mood.

“Nice to meet you.” Greta snapped out of her inspection of them and became all business. “Miss Victoria, you hurry upstairs before she comes. I’ll try to keep her busy down here. She doesn’t spend a lot of time there, but I’ll draw her down to the kitchen. Your friends should wait outside.”

“I’m not going anywhere.” Jay crossed his arms. “That bitch isn’t fucking with her while I wait outside. I’m going to stay right here in case she needs me.”

I turned to face him. “Jay, that’s sweet, but she’s right. This will go better if I can sneak in and out. We’re wasting precious time as it is.”

“Then you better go upstairs, T. I’ll be right here when you’re done.”

“But—” I started to say. I never got to finish my argument because his finger pressed against my lips to silence me.

“Go, baby. You won’t win this one.” God, he was so stubborn.

“We must hurry, Miss Victoria,” Greta urged.

I nodded and headed for the stairs. I made it up three steps, when Annabelle rounded the corner from where the entryway to the basement was. It is fully finished with a wine cellar, media room and gym. I silently cursed her timing.

She took one look at me and shrieked. She lunged for me, but was brought up short by Jay’s arm locking around her waist.

“Get off of me! Greta call the police!” She screamed and started thrashing against his hold.

“Bitch, I suggest you shut the fuck up or this won’t go well for you.” She snapped her mouth shut, but continued to struggle.

“Stop fucking moving!” He yelled.

“I’m here to see my father.” My words did just what I hoped they would, and she stopped focusing on fighting Jay and instead fighting with me.

“You’re trespassing,” she hissed. Her face was twisted in anger, making her look ugly. From afar you would think she was a real catch with her long blonde hair, perky breasts and great body. Up close you saw the hideousness though. Her condescension and evilness emanated from every pore in her body. How my father ever fell for her trap, I’ll never know.

“I’ve put up with a lot of shit from you over the last few years. You took everything from me. My apartment, my money, my car and I can deal with that. What I won’t stand back and accept is you taking my father from me.”

“What you will or won’t accept is of no consequence to me, Victoria.” The venom dripped off her words. “Get out of my house before I call the police and have you arrested for trespassing and this man for assault,” she said the word man like it was a dirty word. How dare she refer to Jay like that?

I stomped over to her with the intent to slap her across the face, but then thought better of it. I didn’t want to add fuel to the fire. Not yet anyway. “Do not ever insinuate there is something wrong with that man.” I pointed towards Jay. “He’s a better person than you are. And call the cops. I don’t give a shit.”

I heard the distinct sound of a gun cocking. My body locked, and my eyes went over Jay’s shoulder to see Killer walking towards us with a gun drawn. This was definitely not what I signed on for. He was taking me so far outside my comfort zone, I couldn’t see it anymore.

“She doesn’t want to do that. Do you?” He pointed it in Annabelle’s face, and I watched all the color drain from her. I had to admit I was scared shitless myself and I wasn’t the one with the gun in my face.

“No,” she whimpered and shook her head profusely. It was slightly gratifying to see the way she cowered.

“Go see your father, T.”

I tore my eyes from the gun to look at Jay. His eyes were serious, and I could tell from the way they were communicating with me that he had it under control. I leaned up and kissed his cheek before running up the stairs and down the hall to the room that Annabelle had sequestered my father too once he became bedridden.

I slowly opened the door and tears instantly filled my eyes at the sight of my father looking so frail and small in the big bed. The room was dark since it was done up mainly in black tones and the blinds were mostly closed.

I sat in the chair on the side of the bed and took his hand in mine. It felt brittle and the skin was dry and felt papery.

“Oh, Daddy,” I whispered. “I’ve missed you so much.”

His head turned fractionally and he whispered hoarsely, “Doodlebug?”

I whimpered at the sound of him using my childhood nickname. “Yes, I’m here.”

“Love.” He paused for several moments before continuing, “You.”

“I love you, too. So much. I’m so sorry I haven’t been here.”

When he didn’t say anything else, pain shrouded me like a cloak at the thought that those were probably the last words he would ever speak to me. Breathing became near impossible as a weight the size of an elephant pressed down on my chest.

I sat next to his bed for what felt like hours. My gaze never strayed from his face and my hand never left his. Tears streamed down my cheeks like a deluge as I silently grieved for the first man whom I ever loved.

“Tori, baby?” Jay’s soft voice broke me from my trance. He knelt next to my chair. His eyes searched my face and I could tell he didn’t like what he saw.

I cleared my throat and wiped the tears from my eyes. “Jay, I want you to meet my father Lawrence Watson. Daddy, this is my friend Jayson Santiago.”

My father had no response to my introduction. The only thing he did was continue his shallow breaths.

“We should get going,” Jay said low into my ear. “Your cousin’s here and things are starting to deteriorate.”

I nodded and stood. My body felt drained and creaky now that I was finally standing. I leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on my dad’s cheek and whispered that I loved him in his ear. Knowing I needed to go, I finally let go of his hand.

Jay led me out into the hall and towards the stairs.

“Wait.” I pulled my arm from his grasp and ran down the hall to my father’s study. I went straight for the wall safe and opened it up, thanking my lucky stars that the combination hadn’t changed. I grabbed the velvet box that housed the pieces of my mother’s jewelry that my dad hadn’t already given me.

“Will this fit in your pants without looking like we’re smuggling it out?” I thrust the box at Jay when he joined me in the room.

“What is it?” He opened the box and whistled low. “Shit, baby. There has to be millions in diamonds here.”

“They were my mother’s. No way in hell that bitch is getting them. Will they fit?”

He shoved the box into his overly large pants, and I was grateful that he was wearing those jeans today. “Let’s go.”

Downstairs in the entryway, I found Annabelle sitting on the floor with Killer looming over her. Rich paced the floor between Zeke and Jerome, looking extremely pissed.

I went right for Rich and punched him in the face. I caught him off guard, and he staggered back from the force, which gave me time to rear back for another hit. Jay grabbed my arm and held it back, but I wasn’t to be stopped. Not until I said my peace.

“You’re despicable!” I spat in his face. “How can you look at that man up there on his death bed and believe that a piece of ass is worth this amount of betrayal. He loved you. He treated you like a son. Your father must be rolling over in his grave right now knowing what a piece of shit you turned out to be.”

“Fuck you, Tori!”

Jay pushed me out of the way and had Rich pinned to the wall with a hand at his throat before I could even react.

“Don’t you ever speak to her like that. You got me?”

Rich’s face was red, and his hands were clawing at Jay’s arm.

“I’m not letting go until you say you got me. You best wake up before some pussy drags you down. If I find out you look at or speak to Tori again, me and my boys here are going to make sure you know what regret feels like. Now motherfucker, do you get me?”

Rich nodded his head as best he could and Jay let him go. He slumped down against the wall and Annabelle scrambled to her hands and knees over to him.

“Let’s get you out of here, baby.”

We were mostly out the door when Rich decided to be stupid and poke the bear. “We’re going to sue for this.”

Killer stalked back to them and leaned in, making them both cringe. “I thought we had an understanding. Since you can’t seem to remember it, let me refresh your memory.” He pulled the gun from the waistband of his jeans. “You call the cops or an attorney and you have me to deal with. And trust me, I’m not worried about doing more time.”

“Right,” Rich whispered with disgust at the same time Annabelle whimpered.

Halfway to the car the weight of the whole situation hit me—my dad, Annabelle, Rich. It was too much for me to take. My knees buckled and a loud sob tore from my throat.

Jay picked me up before I hit the ground and carried me to the car. He climbed into the backseat with me, leaving Jerome to drive and Mike to sit up front.

He set me in his lap and I buried my head in his chest. Harsh sobs shook my body as he held me tightly.

“Shhh,” he whispered and kissed the top of my head. His hands gently rubbed my back as I cried.

Eventually my tears subsided to little hiccups. I snuggled further into Jay’s hold when his hand moved and started petting my head. It wasn’t long before my body completely relaxed and I fell asleep in his lap.

* * *

Jay

Tori’s weight settled into me, and I knew she finally found sleep. I had never been one for damsels in distress. If there was a problem I couldn’t fix, I wanted no part of it. I was by no means a knight in shining armor.

I might have been able to give her some peace by getting her in to see her father, but I feared that it only made the situation worse. That bitch and her prick of a cousin weren’t going to go away quietly, even after being threatened. Their drama was the last thing she needed and damn but I found myself wanting to shield her from more pain.

“I want you to contact Lewis and put him on retainer for T. I don’t care what it costs. He needs to find a way to make that bitch get what’s coming to her,” I tried to keep my tone low so as to not wake her. Thank God Tori hadn’t been downstairs to hear the hateful things that bitch was spewing.

Jerome looked in the rearview mirror at me. “Consider it done. That was some fucked up shit, man.”

“For real,” Mike agreed.

It wasn’t just me who had a soft spot for Tori. All my boys realized what a gem she was. She wasn’t some bitch who hung on and expected something from them. She genuinely wanted to spend time with them. And twice now she made no bones about sticking up for them whenever some closed minded asshole thought to voice their opinion.

“Want to bring her home?” Jerome asked as we navigated through Dallas.

“Don’t want her alone. She’s coming home with me.”

I looked down at her peaceful face as she slept. Tear tracks were still evident as they dried on her face. She was beautiful, even when she was a mess.

“Jay, man. Did you forget we have that party tonight? You think her being there is better than her going home?” Mike turned in his seat and faced him. His eyebrows were raised.

Shit. I had forgotten about that fucking party. There was sure to be groupie bitches, lots of drinking and a lot of other fucked up shit. Well, I guess this would be the true test of whether or not T could hang with us. I didn’t want her to spend the night at home alone. At least this way she’d be too busy to think about the situation at hand.

“Like I said, don’t want her alone. If anything starts to get too out of hand, I’ll shut it down.”

“Whatever you say, man.” Mike turned back in his seat, but not before giving Jerome a look.

I placed a kiss on the top of Tori’s head and held her a little tighter. She smelled so good and fit me perfectly. And Christ the head she gave was un-fucking-believable. Against my better judgment, I decided Tori was going to stick around for a while.

I wouldn’t be surprised if she started acting fake like all the other bitches eventually did—playing games and testing my limits. For that reason alone, I couldn’t give her my heart. In the meantime, I’d enjoy playing with her body and worry about scraping her off when she proved she was just like every other chick.