Phoenix
All sins cast shadows. I know mine do. There are shadows that you can’t escape even in the darkness. That’s where most of mine are hidden; tucked away so that the real world doesn’t see the kind of monster I truly am. Some things are left to the dark, and I happen to be one of them. You wouldn’t look at me and know that part. You wouldn’t look into my dark, brown eyes and think you are standing face to face with so much evil that you should run and hide. No, you would see the persona that I allow you to see, the one that can walk the streets and easily blend in with everyday people. As I climb out of my car in front of Jake’s place, my darkness wants to rear its ugly head. It takes a lot of strength for me to be able to hold him back when it comes to her. They say to cure one obsession you must get another. I’ve tried to prove that theory correct, but in the end, it’s a lie. Her big, blue eyes are a stark contrast to her long, black hair and pale skin. There are times I look at her and think she could be something otherworldly; she’s that unique.
The front door flies open, and the object of my obsession comes barreling through. Slamming into my chest, I reach out and hold onto her. Wrapping my arms around her body, I hold her a little closer than I need to at the moment. That light lavender scent of hers invades my senses, and the air is quickly sucked from my lungs. My heart fires rapidly in my chest as her hands hold on tightly to my t-shirt.
“Jessica!” I hear Jake’s roar coming closer, and I wonder what she’s done to piss him off. I press her a little closer as I watch his shadowy figure come into view in the doorway. His eyes narrow as he finds her in my arms. Jake is very protective of his little stepsister, and sometimes that makes me jealous. Other times, I wonder why he’s that way. Is there someone out there looking to harm her? Is he protecting her from a specific person?
“I think I have something that’s yours.” I tease as I peel Jessica’s small frame off mine. Jake huffs, but when my eyes roam over hers, I gasp. Those deep blue eyes are rimmed in red with splotches on her cheeks. My insides clench, and I’m torn, part of me wanting to take those tears away and the other, being the bastard I am, wanting to be the one who makes her cry. Seeing how beautiful she truly is when she cries is almost my undoing.
“I’m sorry,” she mumbles, quickly pulling away from me. The warmth of her body leaves me, and I yearn to have it back. Jessica turns and looks up at Jake, her small frame shaking from the sobs.
“Get back in here. I won’t tell Dad.” Jake’s voice has lowered to an almost friendly level, something I know Jake isn’t always capable of. I watch the intense interaction between the two before Jessica slowly walks back into the house. My eyes never leave her body as she goes, and I almost hate it when I can’t see her–but today isn’t about her. Today is about business. My eyes travel back to Jake as he runs his hand through his shaggy blond hair, letting out a breath.
“What is that about?” I ask, making my way closer to him. He pulls the door closed behind him and walks down three steps to stand in front of me.
“She’s a brat as always. I caught some guy sneaking out her window. She freaked when I said I was telling Dad.” I nod my head, but there’s something deeper in that lie. I can see it in his eyes. You may ask yourself how I know it’s a lie and that answer is simple. I’ve known Jake my entire life. We do business together, and I know when he is hiding something from me. His eyes will flicker, and his gaze will drift when he lies to me. For the moment, I shake that away. That isn’t why I’m here. This time… that is.
“Have you talked to your dad about Branson?” Jake’s eyes harden as the question seeps into him.
“He doesn’t think we should get involved in what he’s trafficking.” The shift in Jake’s stance tells me that he doesn’t agree. My father, Johnston St. Clair, has been in the trafficking business long before I was born into this world twenty-five years ago. He has contacts all over the world. There’s not a place we haven’t touched, and with my manipulation skills, I can gain the trust of anyone around me. That includes Jake’s high-powered attorney father. You see David, Jake’s father, has worked with my dad for years now. The day they met, they hit it off. David knows a good investment when he sees it and his wife, Abby, knows when to look the other way. Trafficking comes in multiple forms and not only are drugs and guns a hit–so are humans. We haven’t moved into that. Yet.
“We’ve dabbled before. This is a leap into the deep end though,” I add. Jake nods and pulls a cigarette out of his pocket, offering me one. Grabbing it from his hand, we quickly light up.
“Dabbled is different than going in full blast, Phoenix. We all know that. Dad is just having a hard time accepting the changing times. He still believes we’re in the drug age. He doesn’t realize just how much money is in humans. Or maybe he does.” He shrugs, taking a hit from his cigarette. I ponder his words, letting them roll around in my head for a minute. David wouldn’t dare conduct business behind the backs of us St. Clair’s. We know all, we see all, and we damn sure run all. Blowing out an exasperated breath, I say, “Why not let me talk to him. Let me gather some paperwork and show him the kind of money there is in it. Maybe he just needs a visual.” Jake meets my gaze before slowly nodding his head.
“I’ll set it up. What are you up to later?” he asks. I hear the tone in his voice, and I already know what he wants to do. I can’t say that I’m not interested… because I am.
“You’re joking, right?” I say, glaring at him. He doesn’t typically leave the house when Jessica is home. When she goes out with her friends, then, and only then, does he leave.
“No. I want to hang out at Friction for a while. You in?” Stuffing the cancer stick back between my lips, I shrug one shoulder.
“Where is Jessica going?” My question seems to piss him off slightly. I watch the fire in those blue eyes of his dance. As quickly as I saw it, it’s gone, replaced by the mask that he tries so hard to keep in place when it comes to her. My curiosity always piques about the two of them, but it isn’t my place to ask or pass judgment.
“She’s going to Diane’s for her birthday. I’ve already checked into it. There won’t be any guys there, so I don’t see an issue.” That statement alone makes my mind wander. What does he care if there are men there? She’s an adult, capable of making her own decisions on matters, but again, it isn’t my place. Brotherly love, I suppose.
“I need to run down to the docks and talk to Rich about the next shipment. I’m free after that,” I tell him. “Who are you hoping to see?” I tease a little. I know he has a girl at Friction that he always hooks up with. There’s darkness in Jake. Much like mine, he keeps it hidden from the rest of the world, but when he lets go and releases it, it’s an intriguing thing to behold.
“No one in particular.” He flicks his cigarette to the ground, crushing it with the toe of his boot before bringing his eyes back to meet mine. “See you around ten.”