“I wish I could, but I need fresh clothes.”
“Suit yourself.” She went to get in her car.
“Anna-Kate!”
She poked her head back up, almost blasting him for using her sissy name. However, the concern on his face stopped her.
“Stay safe until I get back.”
“You’re going to be out of town. What trouble can I get into?” she teased, getting inside her car.
They pulled out of the driveway, leaving the house that had grown dark, all the occupants already in bed.
A curtain curled inward as a breeze sent it fluttering over the master bedroom.
“You miss it?” Sex Piston laid her cheek across her knees. She had sat up to eavesdrop on the voices coming from outside. “Racing?”
“I still race.” She felt Stud turn over to face her in the darkness.
“Be real with me. There’s no comparison with the races you’re competing in now than what you used to. There are no television cameras, no big sponsors.”
“I have sponsors.”
“Combs Reality might be a sponsor, but they can’t get you the money like a name brand competitor would.”
“I don’t have to kiss their asses, either.”
“Would you and Reese have still been together?”
Stud pulled her back down the bed, leaning over her. “She was fucking around on me long before I became president of the Destructors. We never married because we were in love; we married because of the girls. We get along better divorced than we ever did when we were married.”
“I love you.” She buried her face in his shoulder. “You should talk to Calder.”
“I’ve tried. He changes the subject.” He ran his hand down her silky back to twist her gown up to her waist. “He’s apologized to me several times for how he acted when he was on drugs. Obviously, he’s still carrying a lot of blame. He knows I’ve forgiven him, but he still hasn’t forgiven himself.
“Dad always made him feel worthless because he wouldn’t race. He constantly threw me up to him. Hell, I didn’t blame him. I put up with him because of Calder. We had been dragged through the courts between Mom and Dad. As bad as I hated Dad, I didn’t want to put Calder through that again. As soon as he was eighteen, I planned on us going off on our own.”
“He died first.”
“He’s blamed himself ever since. He still does.”
“That’s not the only thing he’s blaming himself for. He thinks you’re settling for second best.”
“I’m not settling for second best.” He raised her face from his shoulder. “I could have left when Calder was sent to rehab. I had enough of my contacts left that I could have started over in the circuit. Once Candi agreed to give me custody of Star, and we got a divorce, I didn’t have to stay.”
“Why did you?”
“By then, I had met you.”
“Does it make me a bitch that I’m glad you and Reese didn’t work out?”
“You wouldn’t be the bitch I know and love if you didn’t.”
16
“What the fuck?” Calder walked into Gavin’s room, seeing him struggling with an orderly.
Peyton was watching the struggle with a pale face, as a nurse held her back from getting involved.
“Get off me! I’m leaving! You can’t make me stay!” Gavin managed to get away from the restraining hold of the burly orderly.
“Don’t touch him!” Calder pulled him back when he tried to grab Gavin again. “What’s going on, Gavin?”
“I tried…” Gavin heaved, panting for air. “I need it, Calder. Jesus, I need it.”
Calder turned toward them. “Get out. Leave us alone.”
They looked like they were going to refuse, but thought better of it at his glare.
“Peyton, take the next two days off. I’ll call if he needs you.”
“All right.” Peyton went to where Gavin was pacing across the room, stopping his momentum. “Gavin… call me if you need me to come back sooner.”
He nodded abruptly but didn’t stop the frantic pacing. As soon as the door was closed behind her, though, Gavin stopped.
“Help me get the fuck out of here. I’ll pay you anything you want.”
“You wouldn’t get out the front door. Viper has men guarding you. Moon is out front, and Lucky is out back.”
The man crumpled to the floor, rocking back and forth. “Okay, okay, you can go and score me a hit. I’ll pay you anything you want.”
“That’s not gonna happen,” he shot the suggestion down. He had to keep his face impassive as his heart tore in two.
When Gavin started crying, he sank down next to him on the floor, placing an arm around his shoulders. “Breathe through it. Take a deep breath in through your nose. Now let it go slowly through your mouth.” He started rocking the broken man through the withdrawal that had sent him over the edge.
“Do it again.” He kept telling him to breathe despite Gavin’s pleas that kept barraging him over and over until Gavin went silent and slumped against his shoulder.