Chapter Twenty-Nine

Phoebe

"She needs sleep!"

"No, she needs to get her ass up."

"You are not the boss of my sister, Bailey."

Bailey scoffed. "Wanna bet!"

"Don't make me put a hex on you, woman."

"Don't you threaten my bestie, you witch!" my brother shouted. "Or I'm telling Mom."

"Don't you threaten me, Dimeter. I know all your secrets."

"Oh shut up, Freyja," Athena grumbled. "You are not in charge here."

"Well, I should be! I'm the oldest."

"The oldest pain in the ass, you mean," Bailey clipped.

Grabbing Shaw's pillow, I covered my head, trying to drown them out. Rolling over, I could feel the warmth of his body and smell him next to me, but he wasn't there.

Sitting up, I looked around his room and smiled.

My God.

I could see my mother's fingerprint all over this place.

How Shaw slept in here, I had no idea.

Slipping from the bed, I had barely moved a step when the door cracked open and in snuck Cameron, closing the door on the bickering people in the hallway.

"Jeez, it's too early for their shit," the young boy muttered, shaking his head. "A man can't think straight with those Bettys yapping all the time."

"Good morning, Cameron."

The cute little boy looked up and smiled. "Good morning, my beautiful fairy princess. Did you sleep well?"

"I did." I chuckled, sitting on the edge of the bed.

Cameron was a caution. I foresaw a lot of trouble in the coming years where he was concerned, but I knew it was nothing the young boy couldn't handle. However, I feared for him when it was his turn to meet the love of his life.

Whoever she was, she must be spectacular.

I couldn't wait to meet her.

"And why do I have the pleasure of your presence this early in the morning?"

"Can't tell you. It's manly business. Top secret stuff."

"I see. Do you know where Priest is at?"

"Yep. He's with some brothers doing manly things. I'm here to help you escape those crazy people out there."

"And how are we going to do that?"

"Easy peasy lemon squeezy." Cameron smirked, puffing up his chest as he walked over to Shaw's window and opened it. "We're climbing out the window."

"We are?"

Getting up, I walked over to the window and looked out to see a ladder leaning against the side of the clubhouse. At the bottom, looking up, were Sarah, Henley, Sugar, and my cousin Ares, smiling happily as they waved up at us.

"Always wanted to rescue a damsel in distress. Guess I can check that off my bucket list."

I don't know what made me ask, but seeing the pure glee on his face, I just had to know more. Maybe it was curiosity, but I asked, "What else is on your bucket list, Cameron?"

"Oh, lots of things, but they wouldn't interest you."

"Like what? Give me an example."

"Well, there is one thing. I'm hoping to have it completed before school starts this fall."

"Sounds interesting. Can I help?"

"Don't know." Cameron frowned, looking up at me. "What do you know about tattoos?"

Staring at the boy, I couldn't have heard him correctly.

"Tattoos? The thing Bailey does for a living. Those types of tattoos?"

"Yep."

Looking at Cameron, I frowned.

He couldn't be serious.

I mean, he was only seven.

"Cameron, are you telling me you are planning on getting a tattoo before the end of summer vacation?"

"No," Cameron scoffed, climbing through the window and onto the ladder before he looked at me and smiled. "Benny wants one too!"

Before I could ask him another question, the brat was down the ladder and scampering off toward the back of the clubhouse as if his ass were on fire.

Shit.

This was not good.

"What about this one?" Sarah asked, holding up a yellow, flowy summer dress. Grimacing, I shook my head.

"Not my style, but it would look pretty on Skylar."

Sarah held the dress out in front of her and smiled. "You're right. I'll get it for her."

This was the third shop we'd been in, and I was done. While I hadn't completely replaced all my clothes, I was satisfied with what I had, knowing I would make do until I could buy some more things.

Plus, I was starving.

"What do you say, after we leave here, we head over to Beth's coffee shop for something to eat?"

"Food?" Henley's head popped up from another rack. "I'm starving!"

"Me too," Sugar said, looking at a pretty pink top before putting it back.

Looking around the shop, I couldn't spot Ares.

"Where is Ares?"

Sarah, Henley and Sugar all silently pointed to the far window, where I saw my cousin drooling while she stared out the window. Walking over to her, I stood behind her to see what caught her eye. When I saw nothing, I frowned.

"Ares, what are you looking at?"

"That fine specimen of man flesh. I swear, Pheebs, if I wasn't still seeing Preston fucking Travers, I would mount that stud and ride him off into the sunset."

"Who?" I asked, leaning closer, still seeing nothing.

"Him," she said, pointing down the street at the Rosewood Clinic.

"Oh, that's Frank's big brother, George," Henley stated, walking over. "He's a doctor."

"And the newest brother in the club." Sugar nodded, leaning closer to get a better look.

"Is he dating anyone?" Ares asked.

"Nope," Sarah piped up from the rack of clothes she was scouring. "Last I heard, he was single. After what happened in Florida, I wouldn't blame him if he avoids women all together."

"What happened?" Henley and Ares asked at the same time.

"Well," Sarah began as I looked at Sugar, who slowly shook her head. Sugar didn't care much for gossip and I didn't blame her. After the way she'd been treated by this town for years, the sweet woman wanted nothing to do with gossip and avoided it like the plague.

"No way!" Ares gasped. "That bitch did all that?"

"Yep, and from what Gunner told me, George left. He couldn't stay there anymore. So, he sold his practice and moved here."

"Oh, that poor baby." Ares pouted. "I know what he needs."

Rolling my eyes, I groaned. "He does not need a night with the wild Ares Malpas."

"The hell he doesn't. A night with me will cure him."

"More like send him straight into cardiac arrest." Sarah chuckled. "Scribe told me how wild you can be, Ares."

Ignoring that comment, I asked, "What about Preston Travers?"

"That dill weed!" Ares scoffed. "Please. That stupid fucker can't get his head out of his ass long enough to realize his shit does, in fact, stink. Besides, I'm not sleeping with Preston. I'm just using him to get what I want."

"That reminds me," I said, stepping closer. "Why are you dating Travers? Robin wouldn't tell me."

Ares gulped as she looked everywhere but at me.

"I can't say."

"Can't or won't, Ares?"

"Okay, fine." My cousin sighed. "I won't. You wouldn't understand."

"Try me."

"It's about Daddy."

"Uncle Hercules? What about him?"

"Preston's dad worked for the state department when Daddy served."

"Oh, Ares," I groaned. "Tell me you're not still investigating his death. The military did a thorough investigation. They caught the guy who killed him. He even admitted it and was sentenced to twelve years in prison."

Ares shook her head.

"No. I refuse to believe that someone on Dad's team killed him. I can't."

"Why?"

"Because he wouldn't. Those men were tight, Phoebe. Closer than blood. Any of them would kill for one another. I just don't see it."

"Sweetie, it doesn't matter. That man admitted to killing your dad. Why would he admit to it if he didn't do it?"

"I don't know," Ares groaned. "But I know Lucifer. He may be a hard-ass son of a bitch, but he would never betray my dad like that. He wouldn't."

Ares' dad, my uncle, Col. Hercules Malpas, died down-range when the team he was with was ambushed by insurgents, almost thirteen years ago. His death caused an extensive investigation that resulted in the incarceration of a member of his unit, while several others resigned their commissions. The military believed the matter was settled. I knew Ares never believed the investigation report, but I never knew she felt so strongly about it.

Ares was an only child. She adored her dad and the men who worked with him. She always told me she didn't want any more siblings because she had several big brothers who always had her back.

Sighing, I took her hands in mine and chose my words carefully. "Sweetie, I know you miss your dad. We all do, but you have to let this go. It's not healthy."

Ares yanked her hands out of mine.

"I can't. I know I'm right and I won't stop until the real killer is brought to justice," she snipped angrily before storming out of the shop.

"Damn."

"She will be fine," Henley whispered, wrapping her arms around my waist. "She just needs to blow off steam."

"And I know just how she's gonna do that," Sarah said, looking out the window again. Turning, we all watched as Ares marched her ass across the street, heading straight for the Rosewood Clinic.

"Should we warn George?" Sugar asked.

"Nah." Sarah smirked. "He's a big boy. He can handle her."

I wasn't so sure about that.