The Price We Pay (11 page)

Laken

“Pace,” I moaned, breathing heavy as I came around his cock.

He slammed into me a few more times, coming himself. “Fuck,” he grunted, shoving his head into my neck. “Like that.”

“What?” I breathed.

“Pace,” he said softly.

I couldn’t help myself when it came to him and obviously he felt the same way. I was proud of myself, though, I waited twenty-four hours before I jumped in his bed.

I licked his neck slowly, then kissed it.

“Babe,” he mumbled into my neck and I squeezed myself around him, “you’re gonna kill me.”

“Not likely,” I whispered into his ear. He slowly pulled his head back and stared into my eyes. His light blue eyes were still pretty intense when he said, “Do you really have to work today?”

It was Sunday but I was meeting with two very important people. Well, one was my cousin and not that important, but Gabe was. He was my mentor, a co-worker of sorts, and we helped each other out from time to time. I met him on my first case and I wouldn’t have solved it without him. I’d only been a PI for a few years, so there was still a lot I had to learn and Gabe was full of knowledge. He had a team of men, though, and I worked alone.

Pacer slowly slid out of me, and rolled the condom off his still semi-hard cock. I raised an eyebrow at him. “I have to work, but…I could make an exception.”

“For me?”

“Of course.” I hopped off the washer, then grabbed my panties and shorts from the floor. “Your spin cycle is done,” I said with a wink, walking out of his laundry room. I always wanted to do that.

Even though it’s only been a few days, I knew I wanted to date this man and really get to know him. I cleaned myself up and pulled my hair up into a ponytail before joining him in the kitchen. “I guess our breakfast got cold,” I commented picking up the hard toast and dropping it back on the plate.

He grinned at me, and put the plates in the sink and turned the water on.

“You want me to help?” I asked knowing the answer was going to be
no
.

“I got it.”

“You didn’t let me help last night either,” I reminded him, and popped up on the edge of the island. Not once has he let me help him. I wasn’t sure how serious he thought this was but I spent the night last night. I didn’t leave clothes here, nor was my toothbrush sitting on his bathroom counter but I kind of wanted it to be. It was ridiculous, I know but I was crazy about this man.

He paused and looked over his shoulder. “Give me a kiss and get to work.”

He had a few months off before his next fight so we’ve been able to spend the last few days together, except when he was at the gym. When he went to the gym, I’d go home and check in with the few clients I had at the moment. I was able to shake off Pacer’s ex-girlfriend, even though she was pissed at me for dropping her case. I told her he wasn’t cheating and that was the end of it, but she didn’t believe me. I had been honest with her, even though she wasn’t honest with me. It took a day but she finally stopped contacting me.

I jumped off the island, kissed him until he tried to shove his hand down my pants, and then left. Technically, I could be late, I knew Gabe would forgive me. It just wasn’t me to be late, so I didn’t linger.

I jumped on my bike and headed home. I took the same route every time I made this trip. Pacer didn’t like me riding my bike but I’ve done it all my life. I used to be a bike messenger in downtown San Diego, so I’m used to whizzing in and out of traffic. I didn’t wear a helmet, which bothered him, but I was thinking about buying one.

It was busy outside as I made my way home through the park. I figured it was because the weather was perfect, the sun was out, and it was Mother’s Day. I called my mom, the one who adopted Jaxon and me, and we talked for a few minutes before she left for church this morning.

I got home and drank half a bottle of water and applied some fresh deodorant before going to my office. I had a small one-bedroom house, and Jaxon helped me convert the one stall garage into my office since I didn’t have a car. I turned the lights on, then the AC. By the time the computer was up and running there was a knock on the side door, which was the only way into the garage beside from inside my house.

“It’s open!” I yelled making sure he heard me. I knew it was Edgar. He was my cousin on my mom’s side but wasn’t that close to the family anymore because of his lifestyle.

“Hey, Cuz,” he said stepping into the space and shutting the door behind him. He was wearing ripped up blue jeans that had seen better days and a gray t-shirt that was too big for him. Plus, it was stained. I could only hope he put deodorant on. He sat in the chair on the other side of my desk and started bouncing his knee.

I sat forward, with my hands folded on my desk. “Edgar,” I greeted him, glancing over his scarred face. His sunken cheeks and the dark bags under his eyes were worse than the last time I saw him.

“I need your help,” he finally said.

“You ready for rehab?”

He cracked a small smile and ignored my question. “I lost something.”

I grabbed my pencil. “What?”

He glanced around the room nervously. It was so bad, I almost started to check my space out to make sure we were alone. “Edgar honey, it’s just us.”

He started picking at his arm. “I lost like, shit…maybe like…” he leaned forward, and dropped his voice, “I lost my drugs.”

I sat my pencil down. “Are you serious?”

“Yeah.”

“You want me to find your drugs?”

“You’re like, a private investigator.”

“For
real
cases, Edgar.” I set my pencil down. “Not to find your drugs so you can get high. Seriously dude,” I sat back in my chair, “not cool.”

“I’m in trouble,” he hissed.

“Trust me I know, and when I tell Jaxon about this crap you’ll be getting a visit.”

“Jesus, Laken! Not my drugs!”

I sat forward again. “Did you steal someone’s drugs?”

“No! I was um,
transporting
them.”

“More. Tell me everything,” I tossed my hands in the air out of frustration, “or I’m out.”

“My job. Transporting. Get them from my
boss
, deliver them, collect money, return money to my
boss
.”

“And they pay you?”

“I guess you could say that.”

I had to stay calm; after all, he was
family.
“Do you know how much you make your mother cry?”

“Don’t start this shit with me,” he warned and I kept on.

“Every time we get together, she’s crying because you’re the only kid in the family that doesn’t show up. Every single time she comes over to the house, she stands at the window, praying and hoping for her son to come. I imagine she does that every day in the house you grew up in.”

“I’m not here to talk about my mom,” he spewed.

“I am! She hasn’t seen you in years. She’s lost weight stressing over you. She almost lost her job last year but got her shit together enough to keep it.”

“I don’t have time to listen to this shit,” he hissed, standing and leaning over the desk. “They’re gonna
kill
me.”

“The drugs are killing you!”

He slammed his hands on the desk and I jumped back. “Get the fuck out.” I pointed to the door. “I don’t need this shit in my life. I don’t go looking for drugs. I can’t believe you thought I’d help you conduct illegal activities.”

“I’m sorry Laken, but I ain’t ready to die yet.”

“You’re snorting shit up your nose, you’re injecting shit into your arms, so why should I believe you?”

He ran his hands through his greasy hair and started pacing like a caged up animal. The space was small and I only had the one small window on the door.

“If you help me, I’ll try.”

“Try?” I questioned.

“Rehab.”

“How can I trust you? After all these years, the lies and shit you’ve done to your family…”

“Fuck, Laken.” He sat back down and dropped his head in his hands. “It’s hard,” he muttered. “This shit is my life. My whole life. It sticks to you. It won’t let you go. It won’t let me go!”

I rounded my desk and kneeled next to him. “It’s the hardest thing you’ll ever have to do, but if you keep going down this road, the next time your mother sees you it will be at your funeral. Do you want to do that to your mom?”

He shook his head no. I really didn’t want to touch him but I patted his shoulder lightly.

“Okay then.”

He looked up at me while I went back to my chair. I grabbed my pencil and notebook.

“Do I get the family discount?” he joked, trying to lighten up the mood.

“Go to rehab and we’re even.”

“I need help.”

“Your mom will help. So will the rest of the family.” I shook my pencil. “Let me get the information about these drugs and then we’ll call your mom.”

We talked for about thirty minutes. He gave me names, addresses, and locations that didn’t have addresses. He knew a lot about the operation these people were running. It was some motorcycle club in town and sounded like it was way out of my league. I wasn’t stupid. This situation and conversation were super uncomfortable for me. I did not what the challenge of this assignment. I wanted nothing to do with it. Edgar really got himself into some shit and I wasn’t going down this road. He didn’t need to know that, though.

Gabe called yesterday and asked to meet up. I wasn’t sure why but I was thankful he was coming to see me.  I’d give the information to him and let him run with it. He was like Jaxon, an older brother and always looking out for me.

“Thank you, Laken.” I gave Edgar a hug and walked him out.

“Call your mom,” I reminded him.

“I will.”

“Today,” I stressed. He turned around and gave me another hug. “Then get your ass into rehab.” I broke our hug. “You should take a shower first, though.” I smiled at him to ease the truth behind my joke.

He smiled. “Thanks.” It was the last thing he’d ever say. The last time he would smile. I heard the gunshot pierce my ears, I saw his smile fade away, his body jerked, and he fell to his knees. Another shot, and I went down. I wasn’t sure if I was actually shot or if it was just me trying to protect myself. Edgar was still on his knees, the blood spreading through and soaking his shirt. He tried to talk and ended up choking on his own blood. I wasn’t sure where the shots came from. I saw nothing. My attention was on Edgar the whole time.

I’ve never seen anyone shot before, let alone watch them die.

And that’s what Edgar was doing.

He was dying.

He started to fall forward, and I caught him and cradled him in my arms. “Edgar honey,” I cried, “I’m so sorry.”

“Mom,” he choked again and I nodded at him as the tears ran down my face.

“I’ll tell her Edgar, I promise.”

I watched his light fade, his eyes darken, and his chest fell for the last time. I closed his eyes lids and pulled him close. He started getting heavier the longer I held him, crying. I wanted to scream and yell but I couldn’t. I didn’t want to leave him.

The sirens rang out, getting louder the closer they came. I heard voices and possibly saw people gathering around, but I just sat there crying. Edgar was a fuck up but he didn’t deserve to die. I believe him when he said he was going to get help. I’d have to tell his mom that. I’ll tell her he died saving my life and that he was going to get help, get clean and sober.

“I need my phone.”

“Ma’am, I need you to let go,” a male voice said.

“He’s gone.”

“Ma’am, please let me do my job.”

I let Edgar go. They put him on his back and started working on him. It was useless but maybe it was protocol.

“Ma’am, I need to check you over,” a police officer said. He helped me to my feet and moved me a few feet away. “Were you shot?”

“I don’t know.” I wiped my face with the back of my hand and noticed the blood on it.

“Can you lift your shirt for me, show me you’re not bleeding.”

I lifted my shirt up and watched them put Edgar on the gurney, then pull out a white sheet. In slow motion, they opened up the sheet and shook it out in the air. It slowly fell, covering his body and they pushed him towards the ambulance.

“You weren’t shot,” he said and some commotion alongside my house grabbed his attention. I heard men arguing so I followed him. Clearing the trees that separated my house from the neighbor, I saw who was making the fuss.

Gabe.

“Gabe,” I cried out. Gabe was twice his size so it was easy for him to shove passed the officer that was trying to hold him back.

He rushed to me. “Are you hurt?” he asked looking me over.

“It’s not my blood.”

He tried to hug me and I pushed him away. “Don’t.”

He put his hands on his hips. “What happened?”