Hollow (Hollow Point #1) (5 page)

I traipsed from my room, running my hand over my face before banging on Tatum’s bedroom door. “I’m making breakfast. You want something?” I waited for a response, but no answer came so I turned to look behind me at the bathroom. The door was open, and the light was out. I knocked again, louder this time.

“Tatum. I’m coming in.” I opened her bedroom door, and her bed was made. I knew she hadn’t slept in it because that girl had never made her bed a day in her life. Greta always did it for her during her morning routine.

I grabbed her book bag from the floor and headed back into my room, cursing her new friend Riley as I pulled on a t-shirt and jeans.

My eyes danced over the naked blonde who was sprawled out on her stomach across my bed. I kicked the frame, and she groaned.

“Party’s over, sweetheart.”

She blinked her eyes open before yawning and rolling over, exposing her perky tits. “What kind of man kicks a naked woman out of his bed?”

I smiled, knowing I would regret it later, but I had to find Tatum. “I got shit to do, Cadence.”

Her lower lip jutted out in a pout as she climbed out of bed and slipped on her tank top before sliding her thong up her long legs. “Wanna do this again sometime?” She asked as dimples settled into her cheeks. Her fingers curved around my necklace. I pulled the small, silver bullet from her hand as I took a step back.

“I got your number.”

Cadence finished getting dressed, and I drove her back to The Mill so she could get her car, nodding to Ivory, who was just climbing off his bike when we pulled up.

“Keep your phone on you,” Ivory called out.

I nodded before pulling back out onto the road. I had no idea where Tatum’s new friend even lived so I headed to the school, parking at the edge of the lot as I watched the students file inside.

“Bryce,” I called out, and his eyes widened before he said something to his friend, Landon. Landon looked at me, his eyes narrowed as Bryce hurried over to me.

“I’ll get the money tonight.” He looked around the lot, and I knew he was afraid Tatum would see him talking to me, but since she missed the bus, I knew she wouldn’t be arriving early, if at all.

“What do you know about this girl Tatum is hanging out with now?”

“Riley?” He asked as he began to smile but when I didn’t do the same, his quickly fell. “I don’t know. She just moved to town a few weeks ago. Word is her family is loaded.”

“Really?” I asked. As I lit a cigarette, pulling a long drag.

“If coach sees me over here with you smoking-”

“Coach isn’t gonna do shit. The club pays for all your gear. I’m the one you should be scared of.” I stood up straighter, taking a step toward him.

“I can find out more about Riley, I mean, if you want.”

I nodded before taking another drag. “You should get to class.”

FIVE

We arrived at school with all eyes on us. I smiled as I looped my arm in Tatum’s, walking her toward the front door. She was nervous but excited to see the world through my eyes.

I stopped short of the front doors when a giant wall of a guy stepped in front of us, a scowl across his flawless face.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Knox asked, his question directed at me and not Tatum. I squirmed under his intense gaze, but I refused to let him know he frightened me.

“Knox,” I smiled, but his angry glare never wavered. “I didn’t know you went here.”

“I don’t.” He looked to Tatum, who was wilting under his anger. “Why the hell weren’t you home this morning?”

“She left early,” I chimed in, pulling her closer to my side. “I picked her up.”

He ignored me. “If Greta would have noticed you snuck out last night, she would have lost her mind.”

“But she
didn’t
. So, if you will excuse us, we don’t want to be late for class.” I put my palm against his chest, over his necklace, and pushed lightly, but he didn’t budge. His long fingers wrapped around my wrist and he removed my hand from his body as my pulse raced beneath his fingertips.

“I wasn’t talking to you,
Princess
. You think because I’m from a small town that I must be stupid, but I assure you, I knew exactly who you were when you knocked on my door. If you want to play games, we can play, but leave Tatum out of it.”

I yanked my hand from his grip, annoyed by his tone. “
Tatum
was with me, her
friend
. So you can leave us alone now. Right, Tatum?” My gaze turned to my new friend who was bright pink and stuttering. “It’s not like you’re family.”

“That just proves you aren’t half as smart as you think you are. We don’t have to be blood to be family. She doesn’t need someone like
you
coming in and screwing up everything she’s worked hard for,” he snapped, his voice low and angry. It made my stomach flip, but I couldn’t look away from his hard gaze. It wasn’t often someone talked down to me.

“Why don’t you let
her
decide what she needs?” I shot back, my chin raised in defiance.

He eyed me for a moment, the muscles under his angular jaw jumping and flexing as he bit back an angry retort.

“Fine.” He looked to Tatum as he held up her book bag. She took it from his hand, and her eyes glassed over like she was ready to cry. “You want to fuck up your life to hang out with this
manufactured doll
, be my guest.” His hand rose, and he extended a finger in her face. “But I won’t let you hurt Greta. She has done too much for me.” With that, he walked around us and across the parking lot.

I watched him slide his leg over a motorcycle before the engine roared to life, and he took off at a speed I would only call suicidal. My head was spinning with what he’d said to me and I wanted to scream, but I had to maintain my calm surrounded by other students.

“Wow, dramatic much?” I joked, but Tatum didn’t say anything, only nodded before pulling open the door to the school, and we slipped inside.

We hurried toward our lockers, and I watched as Bryce’s eyes lit up when he saw his girlfriend in my green halter and black skirt, that hugged her curves like a glove. Grabbing my books, I shoved my shoulder bag into the locker and slammed the door before plastering on a smile and walking to Tatum.

“Hey, Riley.” He smiled widely, and I didn’t miss how his eyes roamed over my body.

“Doesn’t Tatum look phenom?” I asked, and he nodded in agreement.

“Yeah, she looks
hot
.”

I rolled my eyes, already bored with watching him drool. “She was
always
hot, Bryce.”

He swallowed hard stuttering with his reply. “Yeah, no. I know she was always hot.” He smiled again, but it was forced. I rolled my eyes, pulling my cell from my bag and scrolling to the camera.

“Selfie!” I pulled Tatum closer, and she rested her head against mine, beaming. I snapped a few pics before picking my favorite and uploading it to all of my social media accounts. “Come on, Tatum. We need to get to class.” I pulled her along as she mouthed goodbye to Bryce. He was cute for a high school boy, but if she wanted to hang with me, being tied down was the last thing she needed.

“We need to start planning our party,” I chirped as I stood in the doorway of my first class.

“I can’t wait,” she called out as she headed off down the hall to her room.

I worked on the bike I was restoring while periodically checking my messages as Bryce updated me throughout the day on Tatum’s new friend. He wasn’t able to get much be he found out her address from Tatum, and that was all I needed for now. He also informed me that her father was an actor and after a few quick searches on my phone, I knew exactly who he was.

Someone from the production had come by a few weeks ago wanting a custom bike for one of the episodes, and I was still trying to get the parts I needed to finish it.

I also found some articles about one of his old costars that were romantically linked to Riley. The guy looked like a first rate asshole, exactly the type I’d picture a girl like her with.

I didn’t miss the way she clutched her purse when she saw me. Maybe a few words would be enough to snuff out their friendship before she ended up getting Tatum in any trouble.

My phone rang, and I wiped my hands on an old shop rag before answering.

“Yeah?”

“I need you to keep an ear to the ground for me,” Ivory replied.

I ran my hand over my jaw, not wanting to get myself tangled any deeper into the club’s business, but I knew I didn’t have a choice, not until my debt was paid.

“Horse’s daughter was found passed out in the bathroom out at the Old Mill. Some guy had given her some shit. An out-of-towner. We think he may have just been passing through, but if he’s still around, we need to speak with him.”

“Shit, I was there last night with Liam, but we left before last call. Is Charlotte gonna be alright?”

“She’s good. She’s been through worse.”

“Tell Charlie I’ll let him know if I hear anything.” Horse was a good man but his daughter ran with a tough crowd, she had grown up with the club and was partying harder than half the members before she was even out of braces.

“I’ll text you the details.”

SIX

The day dragged on and by the time I pulled up to the gate that surrounded my house, I nearly ran into the motorcycle parked on the corner.

“You have got to be fucking kidding me,” I groaned as I put my car in park and slipped out of the driver side, walking toward the front.

“Can I help you with something?” I asked, folding my arms over my chest. There was a chill in the air, and it wasn’t just from the way Knox was looking at me.

“What is it you want from Tatum?” He walked closer, towering over me.

“We’re friends,” I smiled, but his eyes narrowed.

“Spare me the bullshit. I know your type.”

“My type?” I laughed before brushing my hair over my shoulder. “I’m one of a kind.”

He laughed, but there was no humor. “There is nothing original about you. From your dyed hair to the plastic on your fingernails, you are an illusion.”

“I’m a natural blonde. I can prove it if you’d like.” I raised an eyebrow as his head tilted to the side ever so slightly. If I didn’t know any better, it looked as though he was fighting against a smirk.

“I’m not interested.”

“That’s a shame,” I shrugged. “It would have been fun to slum it.” I winked as I took a step toward my car door, but he countered, blocking my path.

“Tatum is the type of person who wants to see the good in everyone, even if it’s not there.”

“Like with you?”

“The difference between us is, I’m not going to hurt her.”

“Oh, please. I’m not going to
hurt
Tatum.”

“She’s already changed everything about herself and snuck out of the house. You’re able to hide behind a big gate like this, and throw daddy’s money at your problems to make them go away. Tatum doesn’t have that luxury. I won’t let her get hurt or screw up her future.”

“You can’t tell me what to do.”

“Watch me.”

“Is that a threat?”

He bent down slightly, his warm breath fanning over my ear. “You wish, Princess.”

Goosebumps scattered across my flesh as I tried to remain impassive. “I get it. You have a
thing
for Tatum.” I leaned in closer, stretching up on the balls of my feet as I whispered, “Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone that you want to bang your pseudo sister.” I sank back on my heels as his eyes searched mine but he didn’t respond. “That’s it, isn’t it?” I laughed, unable to stop the giggle from erupting.

“Is it
really
that hard for you to believe I care about her without wanting anything in return? I’m starting to get the feeling that gate isn’t to keep guys like me
out
. Maybe it is to keep you
in.
What’s wrong, Princess? Daddy liked his little girl a little too much?”

“Fuck you!”

“Not even if you paid me.” His eyes widened, and he let out a laugh. “That’s it, isn’t it? You aren’t changing her because you don’t like who she is. You think you have to buy her.”

“Do you have
any
idea who I am?” I snapped.

“I don’t care,” He spat back, enunciating each word slowly. “Tatum needs to be studying and getting ready for college. She doesn’t have a free ride. She has to work for everything she has. I don’t want her getting sidetracked.”

“Well, if you want to make sure she doesn’t grow up
too
fast,
if you know what I mean,
you can always come to my party. It’s still in the planning stages, but it is going to be epic. I know Tatum is going to invite Bryce, and you never can trust those horny teenage boys.”

“Tatum was planning on sneaking out to a party with you? Un-fucking-believable.”

“Yes, a party. You know, where people come together to dance and have a few drinks. Try to keep up.”

He ran his hand along his jaw, sighing loudly as if growing bored with the conversation. “You know Bryce is just waiting for the right moment to take advantage of her, right? You’re going to be the reason he gets his chance.”

I shrugged. “It’s none of my business.”

“Maybe we can help each other.”

“I don’t need any meth or tattoos, thank you very much.”

He laughed, shaking his head as he mumbled something under his breath. “If you’re going to have a party here, you need to do it right. None of that Hollywood bullshit. Champagne and fancy dip aren't going to win you any friends.”

“You think you know how to throw a better party than
me
?”

“Oh, I
know
I can.”

“Like what?” I asked skeptically. His lips twisted up in a lopsided grin.

“I could tell you, but I don’t feel like explaining things simple enough for someone like
you
to understand.”

“Just what I thought. All talk.” I rolled my eyes.

“I’ll tell you what. I’ll help you pull together the best party this town has ever seen if you do me a favor.”

“I’m not exactly known for doing things out of the kindness of my heart.”

“Why does that not surprise me? I want Bryce out of the picture. He’s using Tatum, and I need help to prove it to her before things go too far.”

“That’s it?” I smirked. “Too easy.”

“And I want you to back off of Tatum.”

“What? You
can’t
be serious.”

“She doesn’t matter to you. We both know it.”

I thought it over for a moment. I finally had someone I could talk to who didn’t hang out with me just for my money or to flirt with my dad. But there was something I needed more than someone to go shopping with, and I finally may have found a solution to a bigger problem. “If you want me to back off Tatum and destroy her relationship, I need something
more
than a party.”

A cocky grin spread across his face. “You’re
really
not my type.”

I ignored his jab and continued, “My dad has this girlfriend...”

“You want her gone. Is she soaking up too much of
Daddy’s
attention?”

“I’ll get rid of Bryce if you can get Piper on a plane back to LA. Do we have a deal?”

“And your friendship with Tatum is over?”

I shrugged. “Fine. Come by this weekend and we can start planning.”

He shook his head as if I’d just failed a test I didn’t know I was taking. “With a friend like you, who needs enemies?”

“Spare me the emotional bullshit. Do we have a deal?”

“Consider it done.” 

“What do we need to do first?”

“First, you need to be honest with me. If something is going on with Tatum and Bryce, I want to know, straight up. I don’t trust that kid, and she’s had a really rough couple of years. I don’t want her getting taken advantage of.”

“Are we going to pinky promise now?” I joked.

“I’ll do the same,” he continued. “Like now, You’re acting like a real bitch, and I am going to be
honest
with you and tell you that no amount of money will make up for a shitty personality.”

My mouth dropped open, and I struggled to find a witty retort, but I didn’t know how to come back from what he’d just said. I was used to people talking shit, but it was usually behind my back.

“Nod if you can understand me, Princess.”

My mouth snapped shut as I smacked him on his arm. “Screw you!”

“You offered that already. I politely declined. Then you asked me to screw your step-mommy.”

“She is
not
my step-mother,” I growled in frustration as I stepped around him and pulled open the driver’s side door of my car. “Get that piece of shit out of my way before I lodge it under my car,” I yelled, pointing to the black motorcycle.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you. Wouldn’t want to dent that present from
Daddy
.”

“Yeah, well… if I were
you,
I’d say goodbye to Tatum because, by the time I’m done with her, you won’t even recognize her! You wanted to
play games
right? You sure you want to take me on with Tatum as the pawn? I’ve ruined people for less.”

His playful smirk vanished as his palms slapped down on the hood of my car, causing me to startle.

“Stay the hell away from Tatum,” he warned.

“A deals a deal. See you Saturday,
asshole
,” I laughed as I slipped into my seat.

“Looking forward to it,
Princess.
”

I slammed my door and waited for him to saunter out of the way before pulling closer to the gate and putting in my code. I watched as his bike pulled out on the road through my rearview mirror as the gate closed behind me.