RISEN
“You’re totally right.”
“What am I right about, Trev?”
“This place is total shit. I mean, honestly, with all of this, how are they missing the best thing on the planet? Don’t get me wrong, it’s off the hook, but I can see how you’re bored.”
I’m totally confused. “What is this place possibly missing?”
“No bowling alley! How does someone live in a house this big and fuckin’ stocked survive without a bowling alley?”
“You’re so backwoods.” I shake my head. I honestly can’t think of what else to say. “Come on, I’ll intro you to Cassidy. She should be in the kitchen.”
Trevor arrived about an hour ago, showing off his hick side with “God damn! You could fit a whole country bar in here. Bull ride and all.” Laughing it off, I showed him around the joint. He’s impressed by the grand total of nine rooms on this end, the work out gym, the pool, and the full size Nascar track outside. But he’s still disappointed that there’s no bowling alley. Really?
As we pass through from my side of the house toward the other, I hear I Got Mine from the Black Keys, pumping through the speakers. As the base bounces off the walls, rattling the windows, it’s not hard to figure out where China is. She hasn’t come out of her end of the house for almost two weeks, and now here she is, attempting to shatter the breakables in the great room.
Walking toward the noise, danger lurks in the neat packages of Harlow, Hallette and Cathryne, China’s cohorts in crime. Dancing around the room, the four friends are giggling, swinging around wildly, and splashing drinks all over the hardwood floors. I think they’ve been at it for quite a while, judging by the three empty bottles of Patron, Fireball Whiskey, and Bahamian Rum.
They’re tanked.
Standing to the side, watching it with a grin, Trev and I take it in as they let loose. It’s nice to see them expressing their true selves. I had an unnatural expectation of China being a wild and loose soul, yet every time we’ve been slammed together, she’s been stiff. Well, with the exception of the attitude I pulled from her today. It’s nice to see. Apparently, so does my cock. Watching her be herself is wildly erotic. I have to remind myself that I’m here to do a job. We’re not friends. We’re not even acquaintances. We might be from the same vicinity, but we’re still from different worlds. Touching my scars through the T-shirt, I’m reminded of that.
Harlow, Cathryne, and Hallette have all seen the ink that covers my tainted skin, but it seems they never let on to China. She’s never even made a peep about it.
“Holy fuck!” Trevor belts out above the music. Tossing death stares our way, the girls stop dead in their tracks.
Technically, we’re invaders in their affairs, and I have to remind myself that constantly. I’m here for my job and only my job. Trevor’s only here for a few drinks. This can cause problems. His brain filter being a very minimal membrane on the best of days, will fall away completely with this room full of gorgeous women.
Slapping me on the shoulder with a grin, Trev steps toward the lowered bowl of the living room, boisterously. “Hello, ladies. I’m Trevor. Just visitin’ my friend here. You look like you’re having fun. May I join in?”
He’s a good-looking guy, so I doubt he’ll be denied. One by one, they check him out from toe to tip, inspecting the goods placed before them. They grin. Trevor’s six-six, like me, and built like a brick shithouse. With a clean face devoid of marks, a wide grin and bright eyes, he’ll have no issue here. China looks at me and that same glare she presented on the drive home of shock and disdain coats her features.
The firecracker, Harlow, is the first to pipe up. “Well hello, lover. Where were you hiding this gem, Officer?”
“Actually, I’m an officer too.”
“Well, you can arrest me,” she purrs, patting the spot on the couch nearest her. I don’t think my friend realizes he’s walking into a den of lionesses. That one alone would chop off his balls and feed them back to him as steak tartare. He’ll eat them graciously too, I’ll bet.
“Harlot, be a good girl.” The straight-laced, matronly Cathryne half-heartedly admonishes her. As Harlow tosses her hands in the air in defeat, I can tell tonight’s been filled with a great deal of liquid courage.
“I promise to not eat him whole.” She looks around, grinning like a Cheshire cat. “Isn’t that magnanimous of me?”
“Fine, but leave the bone. I want it too,” the Amazonian chuckles, while staring wide-eyed at Trevor’s groin. It’s the first time I’ve heard her say something completely inappropriate, and it’s funny.
The voice, though, that has me stilled in my boots isn’t the firecracker or the Amazonian. “Do we have a problem, Officer? Have we done something illegal? Oh, dear me, underage drinking.” China sardonically snaps with a look that could fry eggs in seconds. Sucking all the humor out of the room, she turns from me while the others look on apologetically.
“Now, now. Do I have to tell you to be nice, evil witch?” Cathryne tosses a crumpled napkin as she glares at her friend. “Don’t mind her, Officer Mason. She’s bitter, it seems.”
“Not much I can do about that now. Is there, princess?” Not looking at China, and still not entering the room, I stay to the back, away from the fiery pit of insanity they’ve built. I don’t want to make her any more uncomfortable in her own house than I have already, but I also won’t accept the nasty remarks.
“China! Your mother would be rolling over in her grave for the way you’re being. Don’t be rude to Officer Risen.” Without turning to see where the comment came from, I know who’s defending me.
“It’s fine, Cassidy. I’m a big boy.”
“That you are, darlin’.” Harlow points to the couch, indicating I should come over and recline with the rest of them. Shaking it off, I turn, leaving Trevor to his inevitable death.
I know when I’m not wanted. “I’m gonna go grab a few more beers. Be nice,” I tell Trevor as I walk off. I’ve pissed in China’s cornflakes too much for her liking. Even good deeds haven’t redeemed me.
I had all the parts of her bike stuffed in my ‘Cuda that it could fit. Duke is bringing the rest up to the mansion tomorrow. She was adamant to have the frame, the tank, and the throttle system in her hands immediately, though. Without intention, the whole drive back here, she spun the throttle methodically. I know she hasn’t been on the track since we’ve been locked in here, and she must miss it.
I would.
As I leave the room, I hear the quibbling between them as they argue over Doll’s comments. If she wants to drink herself into oblivion, then so be it. I don’t give a shit anymore. It’s only for a few more weeks, and I need to get through the rest of the time left as best I can. If leaving her alone will make it better for us both, then so be it.