Dirty South Drug Wars (22 page)

“Get a room,” Josie hollered.

Tanner quietly laughed, removing his hands from my body. I grumbled at the loss of his touch.

The rest of my day was spent lounging against Tanner as the others fished. Josie and Bryce cat-called and teased us for the next several hours. Lucy and Chance seemed content to sit silently next to one another. My sister’s quiet mood was odd, and I worried over what was going on inside her head.

Once we arrived on shore, Bryce took the pontoon home and then met back up with Tanner and Chance before the boys followed us home from the lake. Not only to ensure we made it home without any trouble from Levi, but because there was a certain safe Tanner was suddenly anxious to unearth.

Our day spent drifting on the lake, beneath the sun with the Montgomery boys helped ease the tension of Levi’s presence earlier in the day. However, once we left the lake and arrived in Mayhaw, the reality of what happened between us and Levi set in once more.

Less than an hour later I found myself back home, leading the pack into the woods. A lone whip-poor-will sounded in the distance. The bird’s cry repeated methodically as I followed the beam of my flashlight through the trees and over the hard ground.

No one spoke. The situation was too serious, too important for Josie and Bryce to swap jabs with one another, too solemn for Lucy to make some bizarre remark. A rickety metallic sound joined in with the whip-poor-will cry as Tanner pushed Daddy’s old rusty wheelbarrow over the bracken beside me.

I spotted the pink ribbon hanging silent and dead from the barbed wire fence. The group came to a halt once I paused at the base of the tree and pointed a trembling finger at the ground.

“There.”

The guys started digging, taking turns using the two shovels I had. The safe wasn’t buried very deep. I heard the clink of metal upon metal as the blade hit its mark. They became excited, frantically digging around the safe with their hands, removing the dark soil encasing it.

It took the strength of the three of them, sweaty, shirtless, and smeared with mud, to remove the safe from the ground. Once it was above ground level, Tanner heaved it into the wheelbarrow. We crept across the forest floor and arrived back at the driveway.

Chance was the first one to speak. “We’ll take it back to Graham’s. That way it’s away from Amos and we can work on cracking it open. Rue, you should do your best to figure out the combination, just in case I can’t get it open. Maybe it’s a birthday? An anniversary?”

“Nuh uh, hold up.” Josie propped one hand on her hip. “What makes you think we’re just gonna hand over our Nana’s safe to the family enemy? You think one day on the lake and some casual boob groping wins our trust?”

“We have no reason to deceive y’all,” Bryce replied.

“You have every reason to deceive us,” Lucy said.

Lucy, Chance, Josie, and Bryce began bickering. Josie threw her hands up in emphasis as her face turned red, the color noticeable even in the pale moonlight. I stood still, quiet.

Tanner turned and gave me a weary frown. “Rue, don’t you trust me?”

The others settled down.

Tanner ran his dirty fingers over his forehead, smearing a trail of wet soil in their wake. He searched my face for an answer.

I did trust him. I trusted him with my entire being. But that was my grandmother’s safe. My grandmother, who was the only positive role model I’d had in my short, pathetic existence. The severity of what I was about to do wasn’t to be taken lightly. The depth of my decision and my trust in him shouldn’t be questioned after tonight.

“You’re asking me to give you the one thing you’ll never share in return,” I replied. “Trust.”

The two of us met head to head in a dark face-off. Raising my chin, I dared him with my cool gaze, a gaze I’d inherited from my mother, to deny the trust. Tanner’s acidic stare, which worked on others, no longer worked on me.

We stood there for a length of time before he spoke.

“I’m taking the safe,” he said. “We have the better chance of cracking this open. I’d like your permission to take it, but you and I both know I don’t need it.”

His response irked me. But deep inside I knew he was right.

“We need something in return,” Lucy said. “Something to prove to Josie and me that we can have faith in you.”

“You want the safe?” Josie asked. “You can have the safe, but on one condition. Give me your word, your promise, that when you kill Levi Bridges you’ll let me in on it.”

I groaned, palming my face. “Josie.”

“He pointed a gun at my head,” she said. “He threatened to shoot me and plant coke on my dead body. Excuse me if I want him to die.”

“You got it, babe,” Bryce said.

Chance and Tanner’s heads snapped toward him. Bryce gave them a lazy grin and a nonchalant shrug.

“We don’t include anyone in on our plans,” Tanner said, staring at his cousin. “The more people involved the bigger chance of getting caught. You know this.”

“Aw, come on, cuz.” Bryce smirked, tossing his arm around Josie’s shoulders. “You started this whole thing going after a Monroe girl in the first place. You really expect these three girls to sit on their hands waiting on us to do something?
These
three girls? We’ve been the Montgomery Clan for far too long, Tanner. Time to join forces.”

Tanner blew out an exasperated breath. “Fine, we’ll take the safe with us tonight, get some rest, and tomorrow we’ll work on our plan to take down Levi.”

“There’s no way the girls are safe alone. Not after what happened today,” Chance said. “They need someone staying with them at all times.”

“Who?” Lucy asked, wide-eyed. “Brodie? Peyton? They’ll never believe us … not until we get evidence out of that safe. That is, if there
is
any evidence in that safe.”

“You leave the safe to me, princess,” Chance told my sister with a grin. “I happen to have a little experience with cracking codes. Is there any way your mother can come home? Or maybe y’all can stay with her for a while?”

“No,” Tanner said. “They’re not safe going out of town.”

“I’d like to see my mother,” Lucy whispered sadly.

Chance gazed at her, heavy, solemn, sharing the weight of the world. The two of them looked at one another for a long moment, transfixed.

I reached out, breaking the spell with a squeeze of my hand. “We’ll go see Mama soon.”

“Until then, maybe we should take turns staying here or you two could stay with us,” Tanner said. “At least stay with us tonight. Then we’ll figure out a more permanent solution. I think Josie is safe at home. At least she has her father there to protect her. You and Lucy have no one.”

Excitement bubbled in my gut, refusing to be squelched by the seriousness of the situation. “What if someone in my family notices we’re not home at night? And would Graham and Melissa allow us to stay with y’all?”

The guys exchanged smiles and burst into laughter while the three of us girls frowned at them. Tanner snickered, pulling me into his arms. I batted at him but was no match for his strong grip and his sexy grin.

“Trust me, my aunt and uncle won’t mind.” Teeth nipping at my earlobe, his hot breath washed over me. “As long as we’re happy, they’re happy. Don’t worry about anyone noticing you’re gone. I’ll have you back before daylight.” He grinned. “Or not.”

I smiled and wondered what it was like, being around people who wanted nothing but your happiness, expecting nothing in return. It wouldn’t be long before I found out. Lucy and I made our decision with one wordless nod.

The next twenty minutes were spent throwing clothes into a couple duffel bags as the guys washed the dirt and muck from their hands. Josie left with Bryce trailing far behind her, ensuring she arrived home safely.

Tanner and Chance tossed our bags in the back of my Jeep. We climbed inside and pulled out of the driveway in the dead of night. My stomach bubbled in both excitement and nerves. Lucy sat in an anxious ball beside me in the passenger seat, and the guys slumped down in the back.

We were all so quiet, so caught up in our own thoughts, that we didn’t notice the police cruiser hidden behind the thick group of Mayhaw trees standing low near the gray bridge on the outskirts of town. We didn’t feel Levi Bridges’ cold, dead eyes watching us cross over the muddy water.

I knew something was fishy the moment we pulled into Tanner’s driveway. Only Chance’s primer-gray truck sat near the large garage. The other expensive, flashy vehicles were gone. The house was encased in darkness except for the front porch light and the glow of a burning lamp in the living room.

“Where is everyone?” I asked.

“Did I forget to mention that Melissa, Graham, and Shelby are gone for the night?” Tanner’s deceptive grin was free from innocence. “Melissa and Shelby went on their monthly shopping trip to Atlanta, and Graham never lets them go alone.”

My pulse picked up dramatically. My blood raced through my veins. I felt my cheeks heat up. I avoided Lucy’s worried frown.

The four of us climbed out of the Jeep and my sister met me near the front of the vehicle.

“This is the most insane thing I’ve ever agreed to,” she said.

“I doubt that.” Frowning, I thought of her antics over the years. “Chance’s a nice guy. I didn’t like him at first, but he’s growing on me. Look how well he took care of you today. Just give him a chance, okay?”

My sister gave me a pensive nod before the boys joined us at the front of the vehicle. Chance led us up the front porch stairs, catching Lucy’s hand in his own. I’d never seen my sister look so nervous …

Or sober.

Tanner’s arm crept around my waist. The sexy smirk turning on the corners of his mouth told me what he was thinking without saying a word. Anticipation tickled my belly, flashes of skin against skin dancing in my brain. I should have been nervous, repentive for my thoughts, but I’d never been so determined in all my life. Something clicked in my brain. Everything suddenly all made sense; meeting him at the age of twelve, never giving my heart, my soul, my body to any other boy, and sketching his face for all those years were just a few of many things leading up to this night.

Chance gave Lucy a tour of the house while I sat at the bar. Tanner warmed up some leftovers and shooed me away when I tried to help, telling me I was his guest. After the four of us ate, Lucy and I headed upstairs to take showers while the boys cleaned the dishes. We padded down the upstairs hallway and I voiced my inner thoughts.

“I’m sleeping with Tanner tonight.”

Lucy halted in her steps, nearly tripping over her feet. “What? Are you serious?”

I nodded. “Yeah, I’m serious. Keep Chance company and make sure he doesn’t come downstairs … or outside.”

“Outside?” She slapped my arm, giggling. “What a freak. Yeah, I’ll keep him occupied.”

Lucy had a silly grin on her face, which I chose to ignore. We parted ways and I took a long shower. I covered myself in Tanner’s body wash, loving the manly scent that lingered on my skin. I wanted to be wrapped up in his smell constantly, and I thought about stashing the body wash in my bag and taking it with me when I left.

Stepping out of the shower, I wrapped a large towel around myself and side-eyed my clothes, which rested near the sink. I abandoned them and grabbed Tanner’s robe from the hook on the back of the door before I gently pushed the door open.

I knew he’d be waiting, and he was. He sat at the foot of his bed with his elbows resting on his knees and his head hanging down. Deep contemplation was ingrained on his face. The light from the bathroom spread across the floor and washed over him, making his ebony hair shine. He lifted his head and froze, staring at me standing in the bathroom doorway in nothing but his robe.

He took in everything: my bare legs, the way my one foot twisted in front of the other, my wet hair hanging limply over my shoulders, the drops of water running from my face and trailing down my cleavage. Tanner straightened up slightly as I walked across the wood floor, stopping just in front of him.

“Take me outside?”

He pushed himself off the bed. He stood tall, hovering over me, dark and smoldering. “Yes, ma’am.”

He grabbed my hand and pulled me, giggling, to the door. He didn’t check the hallway for Chance or Lucy, just pulled me from the room, gripping my damp hand, and the two of us rushed down the stairs.

We crept outside onto the dark porch and Tanner dropped my hand. A lighter sat on one of the tables near the ashtray where Graham smoked his cigars. Tanner snatched it up and lit a small citronella candle, bathing the porch in a soft, golden glow.

“The crickets are singing, the water from the river is lapping against the shore, the frogs are croaking. Being with you tonight reminds me of the night at the party. You remember the night of the party?”

“Yes,” I whispered.

“Do you remember what a tease you were? You let me touch you, kiss you, and then you ran.”

The memory of that night flashed through my mind: Tanner’s fingers roaming my body, the way his lips brushed against my own, the taste of his tongue.

“I remember. I was scared.”

Tanner reached out, tugging the knot of the robe and pushing it from my shoulders. The material fell, drifting down my body and landing at my feet. The warm night air hung muggy around my naked flesh.

“Are you scared now?”

I shook my head. “No.”

Tanner licked his lips, his gaze sweeping down my neck, my chest, wandering over my body, finding my tattoo. My skin prickled under his scrutiny.

“Tell me the truth.” He reached out and brushed his fingertips against my lily tattoo, causing my skin to further erupt in goose flesh. “Why do you have this tattoo?”

“You know why.”

“I want you to tell me.”

I’d never said the words to anyone, other than my own father. But as unaccustomed as I was to speaking them, they flowed easily over my lips.

“I love you. I’ve always loved you, and I always will.”

*

Tanner and I fell asleep later that night, bare limbs tangled together. I awoke to the sight of an early morning sun casting an orange glow over the murky waters of the river. The fog rolled across the water like a large, billowing ghost.

My fingers danced across Tanner’s tanned skin, ending near his ribs where I began wiggling them. He muttered and grumbled in his sleep. I stopped bothering him to study his face. I loved the way his long, dark eyelashes rested against his cheeks, the way his chest rose and fell between each breath, the way his tan skin contrasted against my lighter flesh.

Eyes fluttering, he woke and planted a light kiss on my forehead. “Good morning. Are you okay?” Concern washed over his sleepy features.

I snuggled deeper beside him, burrowing myself under his arm. “More than okay, but I think we should probably get dressed before Lucy and Chance see us.”

He muttered his agreement. We slid from the lounger and I wrapped the robe around my body. Tanner threw on his clothes and practically chased me inside the house. I giggled, darting up the stairs with him quick on my heels. After a long shower, we walked downstairs, exchanging knowing smiles.

Lucy sat at the bar. One look at the goofy smile on my face and she groaned. “Ew, gag me.”

Chance grinned in response, sliding a piece of toast and some bacon across the counter toward her.

Instead of sneaking home early as originally planned, we spent the rest of the day lounging around the Montgomery house, chatting and kicking the guys’ asses on the Xbox. Lucy and I laughed and teased the scowling boys each time we won a game against them, making sure to rub in the skills Brodie and Peyton had blessed us with over the years.

Chance mentioned taking a crack at Nana’s safe, which he and Tanner had transported to the basement earlier. Tanner dismissed the idea, suggesting we have a lazy, relaxed day for once.

It was nearing sundown when my phone began to vibrate. I expected Josie or one of my other cousins’ names to flash across the screen. Instead, Nana’s face lit it up, and I hurriedly answered it.

“Sorry we missed church this morning,” I said, cringing. “And evening services. It’s just, we worked half a day yesterday and stayed at the beach until nearly dark. You don’t know how exhausted—”

“Rue, I’m not callin’ to fuss about church. The mayor’s wife is having some sort of fancy brunch tomorrow. She tried to bake a cake from scratch, but her cake fell.”

I hid in the kitchen so she couldn’t hear the laughing boys in the background. “Um, okay. How is that my problem?”

“She called and asked if we could make her a cake at the last minute,” Nana said. “She needs it delivered tonight. There’s a cake already iced in the fridge at the shop. I need you to stop by, decorate it, and drop it off at her house. The van keys are hanging by the door as usual.”

I groaned, not wanting to leave the easiness of the day behind. “Why me? Call Josie.”

“She’s not answering her phone,” Nana replied. “Saul and Maggie said she was out with some friends. She never answers the phone for me.”

I grumbled, knowing Josie was probably out with Bryce. “Fine, Nana.”

I listened as she gave me detailed instructions on how the mayor’s wife wanted the cake. After ending the call, I walked into the living room where Lucy sat, perched in Chance’s lap, the two of them smiling and talking quietly to one another. Tanner sat nearby, a relaxed smile on his face. When he saw me lingering nearby he frowned.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nana needs me to stop by the shop to decorate and deliver a cake,” I said. “It’s for the mayor’s wife. She needs it tonight.”

“Fine. I’ll go with you.” He stood and stretched, exposing a sliver of skin near his waist.

“No, you stay here,” I said. “It’s not dark yet and the shop’s too visible. What if Levi sees you with me?”

“I’m not letting you leave here without me,” he said. “Not with Levi out there.”

“And risk getting caught? You, Bryce, and Chance have already put us in enough danger, gallivanting around in broad daylight like a bunch of idiots. I can’t tell my grandmother no. I’ll be back after I deliver it, all right?”

“Fine, but be careful.”

“Lucy, are you riding with me or staying here?” I asked.

Lucy paid me no attention as she played kissy-face with Chance. I huffed, leaving my sister behind.

I hopped in my Jeep and peeled out of the driveway, glancing in the rearview mirror. Tanner’s reflection stared back at me from the porch. I was taking a risk by being alone, but he couldn’t stay with me twenty-four seven, not without being caught. I shoved the discomfort of being separated from him aside. I crossed the long, gray bridge just as the last of the daylight slipped away.

*

Being alone in the cake shop at night was creepy. The building was bathed in darkness and deathly silent. I flipped every light on when I’d first entered the store, but felt incredibly exposed under the illuminated pink walls.

Shaking the irrational shivers from my body, I flipped off all the lights except for the one in the back room. Grumbling and cussing the major’s wife below my breath, I feverishly, yet carefully, rolled white fondant over the island with my confectioners’ sugar-coated rolling pin until it was the perfect size.

After tucking it over the rolling pin, I draped it over the pre-iced cake and smoothed out the bubbles with my hands. I trimmed the excess and decorated the surface just as the mayor’s wife had requested. The icing tip swirled around the top of the cake as I concentrated on making the letter “J” as flawless as I could. Lucy would have made it prettier.

When the cake was finished, I stood back and regarded it. It was simple yet elegant. Pretty without being ostentatious. I prayed the mayor and his wife would find it agreeable. Lord knew my grandmother would stroke out if the blessed mayor found one of our creations unsatisfactory.

I grabbed an unfolded box from a stack near the front of the store. After bending it into shape, I lifted the heavy cake and placed it inside, taping the lid shut. I propped the back door open with the wooden wedge my grandmother kept there for that very purpose.

The fine hairs on the back of my neck stood at attention when I stepped into the side alley. Darkness had set in, and the only light in the alley was from a small, yellow bulb that burned dimly near the shop door. I shook the strange feeling away, rushed over to the van, and pulled the back doors open. The sound of scuffling footsteps and a soft voice nearby caused me to squeak out and jerk around.

No one lurked on Main Street. The alley was empty aside from Nana’s white delivery van. There were no more scuffling footsteps, no soft voice. I pressed my hand over my hammering heart and took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. I darted back inside the shop, in record time, and grabbed the cake.

By that point I didn’t give a damn if the cake was damaged, the icing smeared, or even if I dropped the stupid thing. Being alone was giving me the heebie-jeebies. I was way too paranoid for my own good.

I shoved the cake in the back of the van and slammed the doors shut. After turning off the lights inside, I locked up.

The driver’s side door was barely open when I felt the first blow.

A large, meaty fist slammed into my right temple, throwing me against the open van door. The action of the blow snapped my head sideways, and the resounding crack of my head against the window caused my vision to go black. Tears sprang to my eyes and my hands fumbled for something, anything, to grab to prevent me from slipping to the dirty ground.