Chapter 27

Twenty-Seven

TOM

“You broughthis thugs to my house?” I nearly jumped over my desk and strangled my best friend.

“I had no choice.”

“You had no choice?” My jaw muscles clenched so hard, I thought I would crack bone. He had some fucking nerve showing up to my house while he was being tracked by one of the most dangerous loan sharks on the West Coast.

“I guess he wanted to make sure I wouldn’t bail.”

“He’s got you on a leash.”

“Listen, you think I like coming here like this?”

“This is the last time, Jake. You know how many strings I had to pull this morning to get this money? I had to yank the bank manager from a family outing on his day off. It’s a good thing he’s my friend. I don’t have millions of dollars in cash lying around my house for every time you have a run in with these guys.”

“I’ll pay you back. You know I always do.”

“For Christ’s sake, man. This isn’t about the goddamn money. It never was, not even for you. But you’re not going to stop until you end up in some ditch with a bullet in your head.”

“I can handle myself.”

“Yeah, you think so? These are dangerous people you’re messing with, and they don’t take kindly to people who screw with their money.”

“You think I don’t know that? Once I get Carlo this money, I’ll be done with my debt.”

A loud noise boomed outside my office, like someone knocking into a piece of furniture.

“What was that?” Jake asked. “There’s someone else here?”

“It’s probably Sara.”

“Wait. You actually brought that chick home?”

That chick? After what he did the other night, he had some fucking balls talking to me about her in that way. I rushed to close my office door then spun toward him. “Who I bring home is none of your business.”

“The hell it isn’t. Since when do you bring women home?”

“Like I said, it’s none of your business.”

“Those were your own fucking rules,” Jake shouted.

“I made them, I can break them.”

“For her?” Jake seemed beside himself.

Fucking prick. Who the hell does he think he is?

“Men like us,” he continued, “we don’t bring women home. Not women like her.”

Like her?

I walked up to him and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt, yanking him off his chair. “Fuck’s that supposed to mean?”

“I saw the way you two were with each other at the party the other night. You can’t fucking be serious. You have feelings for this chick.”

I shoved him off. “Her name is Sara, and what’s it to you anyway?”

“What’s it to me? Have you forgotten what happened to you? Did you forget the fucking mess I pulled you out of? Women screw with our heads and turn us into idiots. You know that better than anybody.”

“It’s different now.”

“Different how? They are all the same. Lying whores.”

“You shut your fucking mouth, Jake,” I said gritting my teeth. “Sara is not like that, and you better start getting used to the fact she’s not some chick off the street. If you disrespect her again—”

“Wow,” Jake interrupted. “I can’t believe I’d ever see the day Tom Wright would be getting all soft and cuddly. So now you’re in love or some shit? Does Tiff know about her?”

“She knows.”

“No, bruh, I mean does she know how you feel about Sara? She’s not going to take this laying down.”

“Tiffany has no say in what I do or don’t do in my life. Who I choose to date is none of her fucking business.”

“That woman is still in love with you. Even after the shit you pulled, she fucking hangs around you like a puppy dog. You don’t think she’s gonna question why you didn’t change your rules for her? Why you’re changing them for Sara?”

“I’ve already told you, Sara is different. This time, things are different. And I’m done explaining myself to you. Listen to me very closely. You’re my best friend, you’ve been like a brother to me, but do me a favor and stay the hell away from Sara. You’re lucky I don’t kick the shit out of you for the stunt you pulled on Friday at your fucking party.”

“So that’s how it’s going to be?”

I said nothing.

“You’re joking. You would choose a woman over me? Over us?”

“You see me smiling? Now take your money and get the fuck out of my house. And don’t ever bring those thugs near here again.”

I made sure he left and that the men trailing him were gone too before closing my front door. “You know, it’s rude to snoop,” I said, knowing Sara had been listening the whole time.

Still wrapped in a bathrobe, she descended the stairs. “Was I that obvious?” she said, shrugging, trying not to look as guilty as she was, though still managing to look adorable as hell.

“Obvious? Let’s just say you’d make a terrible spy.”

“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop,” she said, biting her lower lip.

“You didn’t mean to eavesdrop or you didn’t mean to get caught?” I wasn’t really mad at her, I was simply enjoying making her squirm. I walked to my fridge and took an orange juice container out, opened it, and chugged.

“Don’t you own a glass? It’s gross to drink from the container.”

“Not to me.” I took another gulp of juice.

“Are you mad at me for snooping?”

“No. I’m mad at him.”

“For what?”

“For being a fucking idiot.”

“So, who were those men you were talking about?”

“The less you know the better.”

“That’s mysterious.”

I put the OJ back in the fridge and walked over to the stairs where she stood. “It’s getting late. I should drive you to the airport.”

“Jake doesn’t like me very much, does he?”

“He’s not used to this version of me.”

She hiked an eyebrow. “There should only be one version of you.”

I took her by the hand and guided her back up the stairs. “Now, there is. C’mon, nosy girl. Let’s get you packed and ready before you miss your flight.”