Death Weeps Part 9

I felt rather than saw Jade move behind me. I didn't even turn around. "Jade, get in my car."

"Caleb..."

I turned and gripping her with my hands, so large now on her shoulders. I said in the most earnest voice I'd ever used, "Please baby, get in there and lock the doors."

Her eyes searched mine, standing water swimming in them. "Don't fight them, Caleb... please," she swiped at a tear. I shook my head. "Nah, we're just gonna talk, k?"

She nodded, looking like she didn't believe me but went off in the direction of my car.

My attention swiveled back to the three that stood in front of me.

So clearly my enemies.

Except one. I didn't know what Brett was anymore. But he wasn't quite fittin' in that neat little category anymore. Placement unknown.

But he was still hanging with the a.s.s clowns. Mixed loyalties at best.

I sighed. "Yeah, I gotta talk to you." I looked at Diego and Carson, Brody sidling up behind them.

"Alone," my eyes flicked to the others.

"Did ya get a vacation, Hart?" Carson asked with a laugh.

I didn't even try to be coy, I was tired. "Yeah."

"No s.h.i.+t, nice!" Diego said. "How long?"

Brett glared at him, "Hey listen, go jack off somewhere for a sec, Hart's got somethin' on his mind, huh?"

Diego scowled. "Fine, b.u.t.t-hump him for all I care. He's a d.i.c.k hole, you know that."

"Just go," Brett said and Carson looked at him. "Don't get your loyalties screwed, Mason. Remember who calls the shots."

Brett and Carson stared at each other for a swollen moment then Carson jerked his chin to a spot not far off, a strangled grouping of trees outcropping from an island of cement. The shade cast reaching fingers as they walked underneath its broken canopy of light.

Brett waited until they were out of ear shot.

Now that it was time to ask I felt like an idiot. I forged ahead.

For Jade.

"Listen, that G.o.dd.a.m.ned tool..."

"Frazier," Brett clipped out.

I nodded. "I got a vacation, maybe a week, I'm guessing." My eyes met his and he nodded like, go on. "Anyways, she only has about three weeks until she's done there, and he's gunning for her..." I ran a frustrated hand through my hair, wanting to tear it out.

Brett was quiet. h.e.l.l, he was going to make me spell it out. I was betting on some level, he was enjoying the h.e.l.l out it all.

Our gazes locked. "I think he's gonna try for Jade. I need you to... watch over her."

He folded his muscular arms over his chest, the ghost of a smile taking up residence on his face. "You want me to protect Jade while you're not in school? Is that it, Hart?"

I nodded miserably.

He c.o.c.ked his head to the side. "Why me?"

"You know why, Mason," I said, p.i.s.sed.

"Cause I've got a piece of her and she's got one of me?" He spread his hands out.

I hated this. "Yeah," I ground out.

"Happy to," he said and grinned.

"I mean it. It's not an effing joke. Don't let your stupid friends jack her around."

Brett strode to me, meeting me where I stood, our chests so close we could have kissed. He was a couple of inches shorter but built to last, I could tell he lifted, he had that look to him.

I bet his dear old pop wasn't beating up on him anymore. He'd find out first hand when his prodigy wiped the floor with his face.

"Let me handle them. I know what to do."

We took the measure of each other.

He was the one that would feel when Jade was in danger, scared or... whatever. It was the best choice and the worst.

"Ya know I'd never let anyone hurt Jade, right? You gotta know that." he said, desperate for me to know he would protect her. He'd be my watchdog on a chain barking at all comers.

I looked at him, my heartbeat pulsing thick and steady at my temple.

"That's not what I'm worried about."

I swung around on my heel and walked away.

I didn't look back.

CHAPTER 6.

Jade gave me luminous green eyes when I slid behind the wheel of the Camaro.

Frightened.

I'd have given anything in that moment to rea.s.sure her, to stop what our lives always seem to come back to: violence and protection.

An endless cycle. Her dad was gone but here was someone ready to stand in line, take his place. The biggest question was: why was I always getting nailed for defense when the offensive team didn't get called on the play?

That's what I wanted to know. Didn't seem fair.

I sighed, running a hand through hair that was already sticking in all kinds of directions. I pounded my hand on the steering wheel and stared at the rubber cover that snaked around the column of it, protecting the wheel itself. I stared at the little black holes that made up the vinyl material, stewing over the pot of bulls.h.i.+t that was cooking right now.

No easy way out.

A small hand rested on my forearm and I swung my gaze to meet Jade's.

Tears were falling down her face. She knew what I felt, couldn't hide it.

"You can't be this responsible for me, Caleb!" she cried. "It's not normal, you know that."

I gripped the steering wheel harder, the creaking of it telling me it was stressed, not caring.

I turned to Jade and pulled her across the seat until she was a few inches away from my body, cradling her head in my hands, I leaned down and kissed her tear-stained face, rubbing my nose along the smoothly fragrant skin that lay underneath. I pressed my forehead against hers. "I am and ya know it."

"It's not like we're married or something, Caleb," she whispered, her forehead still pressed to mine.

I leaned back and opened my eyes, staring into hers. Taking one of her small hands in mine, I laid it over my heart, the warmth of it radiating the s.p.a.ce that it occupied. "Do you feel me?"

She stared back, nodding slightly.

"Say it, Jade. I need to hear it."

She swallowed.

"I can't lie to ya... how do I feel about you Jade? It's not just responsibility."

My eyes searched hers and I repeated the question.

"Like we're already married," she said in a small surprised voice.

I nodded.

"I'm not seventeen, we don't have a pulse matrimonial saying we are... h.e.l.l, we haven't even had s.e.x yet!" I said winking to soften the words and she blushed, remembering what we had done. s.e.x was a technicality at this point. "But that doesn't mean I'm not committed to you."

Fresh tears fell. "I know. But it's a lot, Caleb."

Jade had never had real love. Love without linked violence, love without conditions.

Just love.

Now that she had it, it scared her.

And I wasn't a half way kind of guy.

I was All. The. Way.

And I wasn't without violence. In fact, and Jade realized it, I had my own brand.

Maybe it was scarier than most.

The Parental Unit s.h.i.+pped my a.s.s to Gramps. Kinda felt like they thought he'd straighten my s.h.i.+t out.

Think again.

Mom should have known how much Gramps and I were alike. The only down side was I was far away from Kent.

Relatively far.

My range of sensing the dead had grown. I figured I could have dead to Jade in five minutes flat.

But we all know what would happen if they came. The long arm of the law would be doing the a.n.a.l probe before you could say cadaver-manipulation.

I was looking up at the guts of the undercarriage of my car and heard Gramps say something, I rolled out on the creeper, my legs scooting along the cement until daylight splashed into my face.

"What?" I asked, squinting while my hand shaded my eyes.

"What size socket do ya need?" Gramps asked, smoke twirling up like devil's horns on either side of his face.

"Oh... yeah, half inch."

"Ya on the drain plug?"

I nodded as he slapped it into my palm. I got busy as he crouched down beside the flank of the Camaro.

I was in the middle of draining the pan when he spoke again.

"So... Caleb..." Gramps began.

I stopped twirling the wrench, the sound of his voice caused my gut to clench. I rolled out again and sat up.

Jeffrey Parker stood in the driveway.

Gramps and I walked around to the front of the car.

I held the wrench loosely in my hand.

For now.

What in the blue h.e.l.l was this?