All In: ALL IN KNIGHTS OF MAYHEM (19 page)

Leo

Fuck, ‘Avery baby can I call you back?” I can’t hear a word she is saying so I hang the phone up. I turn to Cowboy and raise my eyebrows, ‘Avery is so going to kick my ass when I get home.” Home, it is a great thought knowing she will be there waiting when I get back.

“Roman just ordered another round of shots
, you up for it old man?” Cowboy slaps me on the shoulder in jest.

“Fuck you little man bring it on,” I let my eyes drift through the sea of flesh and let them land on Zach, our target for the evening, ‘
he still taken by the brunette I see.” The dumbass was around six foot, jet black hair he kept in a high and tight. The little petite brunette he had writhing around on his lap reminded me a smaller, not as pretty version of Avery.

“Yeah, I don’t think he is going to go anywhere for a little while,’ Cowboy pulls from his beer, ‘Avery okay?”

“She is with Beek.” I would never trust her with anyone more loyal than him, he has been sweet on Avery from the first time she walked into the garage and I know he would never let anything ever happen to her, ‘So tell me about Emily.”

Cowboy chokes on the drink he just tossed into his mouth, ‘what?”

“Emily, the girl from high school, you still have a hard on for her?” I give him a grin. Emily was three years younger than us in school and I always knew Cal had a thing for her. She was one torqued up piece of ass wearing oversized sweatshirt hitting right at the top of her sweet round ass. Her wire rimmed glasses only hid the sexy geek we all knew she was. She and Piper had hung around a little. Cowboy’s Dad had worked her parent’s farm since before any of us were born and now Cowboy took up the slack since his Dad’s health had taken a nose dive.

“She came in at Christmas, haven’t heard from her since.” His far off look let me know he was done with this conversation
. He went off the radar for several days when Emily had come back from New York, ‘I think we have shots needing our attention.” After letting the hot liquid slide down my throat I take a smoke from my pocket and light up, this stake out is going to either give me cirrhosis of the liver or lung cancer.

“
So she is the bosses’ daughter?” Cowboy shrugs to our private waitress signaling for another drink.

“Yeah
, what are the fucking odds?” I dead pan.

“And you didn’t fucking know?”
He laughs at all of our ignorance.

“No
fuchtard I didn’t, did you know boss had a daughter?” I sit up and take the new glass of whiskey left by our waitress.

He holds up his tumbler, ‘no but if I did-“

“You had best shut the fuck up right now is all I’ve got to say brother, or you will get an ass beating like I threw down on Roman and Dalton the other night.” Taking and thanking our waitress for the new round of drinks.

“
Really, cause the way they tell it, they are the ones who went easy on your candy pussy whooped ass.” And then I did what I should have never done, you know the saying sometimes I am my own worst enemy? Standing I go and take the bottle of Jack from the bar, the tender offers me a glass, I shake my head and go back to my spot on the couch.
I am determined to get good and shitfaced once again.

“Are you going to break things off with her like boss wants?” Cowboy takes his Stetson off and runs his hands through is thick blonde hair.

“Part of me says I should but the other part screams fuck no you dumbass.” I raise my eyebrows up to him, ‘I guess I will take it day by day, I just hate lying to her all the time ya know.” I concentrate on the low level of amber liquid filling the bottom. Kent had once again told me I needed to break things off with her, giving me an ultimatum this time. Quit her or be kicked off the case, years of hard work thrown away. This situation isn’t right and no man should be put into it.

I make up my mind and this time I intend to stick to my decision, send her away and keep her safe, unfortunately they go together.

“Don’t envy you one bit brother, I don’t think I could ever send Emily away,” he snorts finishing his drink, ‘hell I would at least like to get the chance, she never hangs around long enough for me to do anything. Fuck me and leave me stupid, woman suck.” He flips his hat trying to get it to float and hang on the complimentary empty coat rack behind the door.

Slumping down into the leather sofa I give Cowboy one more salute with the bottle, ‘I will take care of things man, I will.” I am not sure if I was reassuring myself or Cowboy but I said it all the same.

The door for our private suite swings open and two very tall, very naked blonde women walk in, ‘we heard you boys were all alone up here.” I lean back as one of them slides up my legs and bottoms out against my hips rubbing her overly large boobs in my laid back willing face. I let her take me places and then the liquor brings me back for more.

****

Avery

Around seven I insist Beeker take a nap in the guest room, I don’t believe I have ever seen the boy sleep, ‘Leo will kick my ass if I leave you.”
he pleads against my insistence.

“Beeker I will kick your ass if you don’t listen, I will get you up around eight thirty, just rest and don’t worry.
I will scream if I need you, okay.” I urge him on as I close the door behind him. I finally convince Beeker to lie down and rest, he needs it.

Taking the stairs slowly I reach the landing with muddle thoughts of my feelings for Leo. One moment he is Cosmo’s perfect boyfriend and then the other he is a walking nightmare. I throw myself once again onto the leather sofa and cover my face with my arm.

I wake to the irritating sounds of the ticking clock over the mantel, blinking my eyes the room is awash in darkness. I turn and put my feet on the floor trying to get my bearings. Yawning I stretch my arms over my head and stand working out the kinks from the events of the last few days.

It is almost ten thirty and Leo isn’t home I try his cell and it goes to voice mail, ‘hey babe I was just wondering if everything was okay your late
, give me a call when you get this.” I disconnect and climb the stairs, check in on Beeker who is passed out cold. I smile, I knew he was tired.

I enter Leo’s room and stand and look at t
he huge bed. I change into my Mayhem tee and sans the underwear per Leo’s demands. Climbing into bed alone I sigh and wonder how my life had come to this point, living alone under house arrest with a boy as a protector from an unknown threat. Jobless and almost penniless soon to be homeless if I don’t find a job that pays the rent.

The sounds of breaking glass shatters my sleep
, shaking my head to clear the fog I hear a string of mumbled curses. The commotion is coming from downstairs. I jump pulling on a pair of shorts and run to the hall where Beeker is standing, ‘should I do something?” Sheer panic crosses his face at the thought of having to go and confront Leo.

“No Beeker
, I will take care of it, go back to bed.” I stroke his arm as I pass.

“At least let me walk down with you.”

“No Beeker, I don’t think it would be a great idea especially if he is drunk, seeing the two of us come down from the bedrooms together, I will be fine.”

“Okay.” He reluctantly steps back into his room
but he never closes the door, ‘I am here if you need me.”

I take a deep breath and jump as the shattering of glass fills the air again. I slowly descend the steps and quietly walk through the living room into the edge of the kitchen. The lights are still off and the silhouette of a large man fills the kitchen.

“Leo?” I whisper not wanting to provoke him.

He doesn’t turn as the full view of his strong back is to me, ‘what?” He
sways as he leans back to drain a glass.

“Are you okay?” I take another step forward.

“Never been fuckin better baby.” He drops the glass into the sink as he places both hands on either side of the sink to steady himself, ‘did you want something Avery?”

“You should come to bed and sleep it off.” I take another step to him only to be thrown up against the refrigerator pinned by my shoulders.

“Don’t fucking tell me what to do.” His eyes are drenched with evil and his breath smells of heavy whiskey.

“I wasn’t.” I paw at his hands, as his grip i
s leaving indentions in my skin, ‘not this again Leo.” I fight the tears, this man is such a yo-yo, one minute he can’t get enough of me and then the next he hates me.

“You are all the same.” He doesn’t release me, ‘thinking because I stick my dick in you
it gives you some sort of fuckin’ hold over me.”

I try pushing him away but to no avail, ‘Leo I have never thought
anything of the sort.” His grip is increasing by the second, ‘Leo you are hurting me.”

“All your fuckin’ drama
, Avery Grace.” I cringe at the use of my middle name.

“I didn’t have fucking drama till I met you.”
Go ahead Avery prod the bull.

“Mouth
Avery.” He chastises me.

“You are the one
who brought the fucking drama to me.” Keep it up chick, you are so smart.

He takes my cheeks in his fingers pinching up my mouth, ‘watch your language
, Avery I told you about that.”

Slapping at his hand, ‘ya you told me a lot of things Leo.”

We stand dead locked staring at each other, he has yet to let my face go when movement from the side catches my eye, ‘let her go Leo.” Beeker is fully dressed and standing at the island.

We both cut our eyes to him, ‘oh look, what up Beek man come to save the damsel in distress.”

“No I have come down here to save Avery and you and from something you will regret in the morning.”

Leo throws my face to the side, ‘here she is save her.” He steps
his large frame around me putting himself between me and Beeker.

I duck my head around Leo’s arm,
“Beeker don’t.” I try to step around Leo but he steps with me and pushes me back behind him.

“Come on big man show me what you got.” Leo taunts as he staggers on his unsteady feet.

Beeker flings his head in the direction of Leo’s bedroom, ‘Avery go get your things I called Dalton, he and Piper are waiting for you at his place.”

Leo takes me by the arm and flings me at Beeker,
I stumble a few times but thankfully he catches me, ‘go the fuck on, get the hell out of here and away from me.” He turns back and starts to chug what whiskey was left in the bottle.

Beeker leans into me, ‘hurry while he is occupied Avery
, I will stay down here.”

I scurry up the stairs tripping as I go
, I run till I get to the end of the hall. I throw what stuff I had unpacked into the duffle Piper had brought me. I rush back down the stairs to find Beeker and Leo in much the same situation I left them.

As we walk out the door Leo interjects one last comment, ‘she is a sweet piece of ass Beeker enjoy it man
, I did.”

Beeker shuts the door behind us and hurries me to the waiting vehicle. On the ride to Daltons nothing is said, there is nothing to say. When we pull through the gates I see Piper and Dalton waiting for us at the bottom of a set of steps.

Piper rushes the vehicle, ‘oh fucking hell you have to be kidding me.” She pulls me out of the passenger side seat and tugs me into a hug. I have yet to speak or show any sign of emotion until I see Piper and then the dam burst.

Beeker and Dalton are talking quietly as Piper ushers me up the steps and into Dalton’s
apartment. She takes me down a hall and into a room sitting me on the bed.

“What the fuck happened Avery?” She has crossed her arms over her chest as she leans up against a dresser.

Through the sobs I mumble, ‘I don’t know he told me he would be home around nine and when I woke up he was in the kitchen breaking shit. Then he said a bunch of stuff, mean things to me and Beeker.” I stop talking so I could wipe my nose. I look up at Piper, ‘I thought we were good ya know, he had said he missed me and-“ I break off my thoughts and don’t finish the sentence, what should I expect from him, nothing less than what he had been giving me.

The door opens as Dalton walks in, ‘did he hurt her?’ he quizzes Piper.

“No I don’t think so, what the fuck went down tonight Dalton?’ Piper stands and puts her hands on her hips.

“Piper we will talk about it later.” He dismisses her question.

Piper climbs into bed with me and starts to stroke my hair, ‘I just want to go home Piper.”

“I know
Avery, we will.” The light is turned out and we lay in the dark as Piper comforts me and I fall asleep.

****

Leo

I blink as the thumping in my head make
s it almost too difficult to open my eyes but I do and find myself lying on the couch fully clothed in what I was wearing last night on the stake out. Gingerly sitting up I run my hand through my very nappy hair taking in the quietness of my house. Surveying my surroundings, there is something missing, what is it? I find it hard to get my muffled brain to organize the crazy going on in my head, then it hits.

I jump and run for the steps taking them two at a time up to our room, throwing the door open I am met with a sickening silence. I had done it again, sent her away and this time she had taken everything.
I stagger to the bed where I slump down reaching up to drag her pillow down to me and cover my face with it taking in the smell of her shampoo.

“What the fuck have I done?” I say out loud hoping someone somewhere can give me a rational explanation for the emptiness of my house. I lay there and try to fumble through the fog of memories from the night before. I remember taking
shots with Cowboy at the strip club and completely neglected the reasons I was there. The blonde come in, oh God the blonde, she slid down on my lap and then there is nothing.

I groan and roll over on my stomach and beat the bed with my fist, “fuck, fuck, fuck!”
A knock at the door brings me out of my pity trip, ‘what?”

Beeker steps through a now open door, ‘Hey man.” His face is blank of emotion.

Turning I sit up and put my feet on the floor, ‘hey.’ Dragging in a labored breath, ‘what the fuck have I done?”

“Um you were an asshole to her.” His voice is even but I can see he has the hint of anger in his eyes, ‘you have got to stop doing this shit to her man, you are going to run out of chances and I think this time maybe it for you.”

Rubbing the scruff on my chin, ‘what did I say?” I really don’t want to know but the need to fix this weighs heavy on me. I have to have her here with me all the time, why I keep sending her away has to be some fucked up power trip going on in my head.

Beeker painfully proceeds to tell me everything I had said and done to her when I had finally made it home last night, I had laid my hands on her
, possibly hurting her. Taking it all in and listening to everything Beeker has to say I stand resolved to the fact where ever she is I am going to get her and make all this right again.

“Where did you take her?”

“I don’t think she is going to want to see you Leo, you were-,’ he pauses as he searches for the words to describe, ‘man the things you said.” He goes silent shaking his head looking down at the floor, ‘I took her to Dalton’s.”

Walking over to the dresser I pull out a fresh tee throwing off the old one and pulling on the new one, ‘is she still there?”

I nod, ‘good get your ass back to the shop,’ turning to him, ‘and don’t tell anyone where I am going.”

I walk by the dresser and catch my reflection, I look like hell warmed over, the late night stake outs and the drinking are starting to take a toll on me
. I think it is what I am putting Avery through more than anything. I would not be at all surprised if she never talks to me again, I deserve it.

Deciding I need to take a shower before I go over and try to fix what I
have done. Beeker told me the things I said cringing at the thought, I am very thankful I don’t remember saying them. I don’t think I could take the memory of the hurt I am sure her face was covered in.

I had hoped the shower would help with the splitting headache I was carrying around but it didn’t so I go to the ki
tchen and take to pills with a glass of water. Leaving the kitchen I am shocked to see Beeker still in the house. I stop at the archway opening up into the living room. Not sure what to say I lean my shoulder against the door jam and just wait for him to say what he has on his mind.

“Go ahead man tell me how big of a fucking jerk I am.” I finally break the silence.

He stands but doesn’t offer to come any closer to me, ‘I am not going to say much but like I said earlier you are going to run out of chances with her,’ this time when he pauses he takes a step to me, ‘and I am afraid this might be the time. She is a great girl Leo and you are fucking up royally, you need to stop listening to Kent and make your own decisions about you and Avery. If you want to be with her, be with her and stay out of your own fucked up head too, because girls like Avery only come around once in a lifetime.”

I don’t immediately respond I let his word soak in, ‘truer words have never been spoken,’ I crack a smile at him, ‘when did you get so wise about the opposite sex?”

“I’m not, I have just been hanging out with her a lot the past couple of days and have gotten to know her. She really cares for you,’ this time he gives me a grin, ‘why I don’t know but she does. Go and fix it and if for some strange reason she takes you back don’t fuck up again or I will have to kick your ass.”

Laughing deep only makes my head hurt more, ‘what ever little man
, whatever.” Beeker follows me out to our bikes, ‘see you at the shop.” I say as I sling my leg over the seat and head down the driveway.

****