Facing Me (14 page)

“Gray, why don’t
you call Landon?” Gray’s eyes snap to mine, angrily answering my request.
“Look,” I start, holding up my hands. “I know you don’t wanna talk to him, none
of us do.  He’s your brother.  If they are here, we need to
know.  If Tad is out on bail; that asshole shouldn’t be allowed to leave
the city, let alone the state.” I bite out, in frustration. 

“Until we get
some answers, I’m ordering in.” Henry booms, commandingly. “Get your asses up
to Daisy and Gray’s suite.  She can put her feet up; we can get shit
sorted, and eat.”

“You better get
my bacon Big Man or we’ll have words, you get me?” Hunter asks, irritably,
crossing his arms over his chest. “I will pout like a damn teenage drama queen
on the rag!”

“Get your ass
upstairs, that way I can focus on what shit needs to be done.” Lifting his
sunglasses he arches a brow as Hunter, “If you give me cocky ass demands one
more time, drama queen, I’ll wipe my ass with your damn bacon and shove it down
your fuckin’ throat.” Henry huffs out with a laugh.

“That tiny bitch
you’ve been puttin’ the tow hitch to may like that kinky shit you do, but not
me.” Hunter quips with a chuckle.  Turning to Daisy, Hunter squeezes her
hand. “Come on, let’s get you upstairs.” Hunter helps Gray steady Daisy on her
feet, then we all head upstairs.

In the suite,
Aiden flips through the channels on the television, while I sit curled up with
Daisy on the couch.  Henry went out to pick up the food, leaving a nervous
Hunter to pace the floor while Gray interrogates Landon over the phone. “I
swear to you, Gray, if they’re here I’ll go to prison.  I’ll kill that
sonuvabitch, if he even tries to get near her again.” Hunter growls.

Gray ignores
Hunter’s tirade, listening to Landon on the other end of the line. “What the
fuck do you mean you just ended it with him?” Gray asks, “Just like that,
huh?  Are you forgetting that you cosigned his damn bond Landon?  Now
he’s gone!” He shouts, making everyone in the room fall silent.  Watching
him begin to pace opposite Hunter. “Jesus, Daisy saw him,
Lan
. 
He’s fuckin’ here.” Daisy tenses next to me, clutching my hand.  I know
she is terrified; Tad has a grudge against her.  Hell, I broke his nose,
he probably isn’t gonna be sending me a damn Christmas card either. 
Though, last time any of us saw Tad, he was sending his messages with baseball
bats.  The thought of what he could have done to Daisy that day makes me
shudder. “Find him, Lan, now.  I gotta go calm down my pregnant wife!” He
shouts, ending the call.

“Okay,” he sighs
heavily, before turning to face us. “Daisy may have seen him.” He starts, but
everyone starts shouting at once. “Hey!” Gray shouts, holding up his hands.
“Listen, Landon says he told Tad to move out.  That all he did was rant
about ‘
getting his revenge on all the bitches
’.  So, yeah, he may
or may not have jumped his bond.”

“What the
hell?  How does this shit just happen?” Hunter roars; throwing a soda can
against the wall.  Daisy jumps, making me nearly come out of my
skin.  All of us are on edge, but it isn’t good for Daisy to be so
anxious.  The stress can’t possibly be any good for her, or the baby.

“Stupid ass,” I
mutter, standing to my feet, passing Gray, to smack Hunter in the back of the
head. “Daisy’s scared and pregnant.  Don’t make the situation more
traumatic for her.” I snap out, making him wince.

Walking over he
sits next to Daisy, who is now being comforted by Gray, “I’m sorry Daisy. 
Just don’t like this shit.” Hunter apologizes, his face full of remorse and
worry.

“I’m going to call
Tuesday; I’ll find out if she can hire another security guard.  Then there
will always be someone with Gray and Daisy.  Plus, I should call Luke and
Chase, since they were supposed to meet us at the diner.” Walking down the hall
toward the bedroom, I pull my phone out of my pocket and text Luke.

We have a
problem.  Come back to the hotel, room 315.

Luke’s reply is
instant:

R U OK Cammie?

I’m fine, just
hurry.

I don’t want to
worry Luke, but I will be relieved once I know they are both here and off the street. 
If Tad is out for revenge, I don’t know how far he would go to get it.  Of
course, Luke could beat Tad’s ass into mulch, but if he has help…  I
shudder at the thought of what Tad is capable of.  After what he did to
Daisy, nothing would surprise me.   A desperate man with nothing to
lose has no limitations on how he will get whatever it is he wants.  Tad
lost his job, reputation, money, and, now, Landon.  The fact that he has
jumped bond, means he has now lost his freedom.  I don’t think it gets more
desperate than this.  Whatever it is that Tad wants from Daisy, or any of
us for that matter; he obviously has a plan to get it.  If not, he would
have just walked into the lobby shooting or some shit, right?  After
calling Tuesday, she assures me that they will have someone ready to board the
bus with us tomorrow.  We discuss some minor changes in scheduling and how
things will work; but, all in all, I am relieved that she is just as concerned
about the details as I am.  I also make a call to the front desk of the
hotel; informing them that our room numbers are not taking any visitors unless
they call me or Henry directly, before letting anyone up. 

Hanging up the
phone, I stare out the window.  I watch every person walk along the
street, though from up here I can’t tell anything about them in the dark. 
Tad is out there, somewhere.  The door opens, and I don’t even turn around
because I know its Aiden.  His boots thump on the floor until he stops
right behind me; wrapping his arms around my waist, pulling me back against
him. “He’s not going to get to any of us.” Aiden says, nuzzling my neck. 

“No, he isn’t.”
I reply, calmly. “Tuesday, will have another guy for security; but Henry will
continue to run the show.  Big Man will always have seniority in my eyes.”
I add making him chuckle.

“He will
appreciate that.” He says, turning me in his arms. “You takin’ control of this
shit; yeah, it’s kinda hot.” Aiden whispers, his lips almost touching mine. “I
think I like it.” He whispers, running his lips along my jaw.  My body
turns to mush.  I wrap my arms around his neck, just so I don’t hit the
floor.  Aiden knows what he is doing, the awful tease. His hands slide
into the back of my jeans, fingers teasing the line of my thong.  The
little moan that slips past my lips only makes him smile wider against my
skin.  Aiden nips at my earlobe, “Henry’s back.  That’s what I came
to tell you.  So, are you
hungry
Camaron?” Aiden asks his voice
gritty like sandpaper. 

“You don’t play
fair, Aiden.” I murmur. “I can’t think straight when you tease me like this.”

Grinding his
crotch against my thigh, he winks at me. “Oh, Cam, you have no idea what
teasing is, yet.  I’ll show you later, baby.” He says, leaving me standing
there ready to beg.

By the time I
walk out into the front room of the suite, Luke is helping Henry pass out
food.  Chase is sitting next to Daisy on the couch, who is still being
held close against Gray’s chest. “Hey, Cammie,” Luke says, handing me a
container.  Leaning over her, he kisses my cheek, “Everything good?” He
asks, curiously.

“Between Aiden
and I, yes.  Tad jumped bail, Daisy thinks she saw him.” I whisper
quietly, so that Daisy doesn’t hear my conversation.  Everyone else is
digging into their food, except Aiden; he is watching Luke and me, like a
predator. “We’re hiring added security, and will be on the bus tomorrow so it’s
nothing for everyone to worry too much about.  I’ve got it handled.” I
add, earning me a nod from Luke.

“I know you do.”
He replies, giving me a dimpled grin and walks over to sit at the table with
Aiden and Hunter.

“Yo, does this
bacon smell like ass to you?” Hunter asks, holding up a piece to Luke as he
sits.

“If I wiped my
ass with it, you’d know.” Henry teases. “Eat up asshole; early mornin’ back on
the Big Bitch.”

Luke laughs,
shaking his head, and digs into his food.  Walking over, I sit beside
Aiden. “So, what happened with that girl at the club Luke?” I ask, flipping
open my container.  It may have been a while since I’ve been with the
guys, but Henry still remembers breakfast is my favorite. “Aw, Henry, you
remembered.” I sigh, biting into a pancake.

“Aiden did.”
Henry replies, pointing with his fork.  My eyes immediately drift to
Aiden, warming instantly.  I thought we knew nothing about each other, but
he has been noticing things all along.  I mouth a ‘thank you’, Aiden just
winks at me.

I look back to
Luke, wanting to steer the conversation away from Tad for the remainder of the
night if I can. “Alright, spill it.  I wanna know all about her.  She
was starin’ you down all night.” I press, but it’s also for Aiden to realize
this is not a pissing contest that he has to win.   

A blush creeps
up Luke’s neck, “Yeah, she was alright, but just like I told Henry when he came
into the diner; I’ve gotta thank Aiden.  Even when Big Man and I were
orderin’ this food, the chicks were totally feelin’ sorry for me and my banged
up face.  Since I’m hurt and shit, they’re all about kissin’ it better.”

Aiden chuckles,
Hunter nearly jumps from his seat. “Hell yeah, man!  That’s what I’m sayin’. 
I’ll be milkin’ my busted up face as soon as we get off the bus tomorrow
night.” He stands, cupping his groin. “Yeah, kitten, you see my face?  It
hurts so bad, right here.  Give it a nice tongue bath.”

“You are too
fucked up for your own good, Cunter.” Daisy giggles from the couch.  All
of us pretty much sigh in relief that she is coming out of herself.  Daisy
fought Tad tooth and nail before; seeing her break, just by seeing him again,
scared me.  What scares me even more is if he gets to her.  If he
does; will she fight, or will she break down like this?

Hunter smiles at
her, “Baby momma, I’ll gladly take insults from your ass right now.  Don’t
freak out on us again, that shit scared me stupid.”

“Is that what
did it?” I quip, making everyone laugh, except Hunter.

“I’m a genius,
bitches.” Hunter shouts, grabbing a handful of bacon. “I’m famous for my
talents.”

“Chase has had
your ass, multiple times, yet she is sitting all the way over there.” I tease,
making her blush. “I’ve heard enough to stay uninterested.  Stick to
singin’ Sweets; at least that pays in cash, not STDs.”

Hunter’s eyes
heat, wickedly darting between Daisy and me. “Stick to singin’, huh?  Big
Man, gimmie a badass beat!” Hunter shouts, making us all look over to
Henry.  Henry sits his burger down, cups his mouth, letting loose with a
freestyle beat that sounds more like a drum machine.  Hunter pulls his
hood up over his head, letting loose with a bunch of ‘Yo’s’ and ‘Hey’s’, making
me roll my eyes.

“Look y’all, its
Cunter from the other side of ‘
Fake Mile’
.” I tease.

Flipping me the
finger, he busts into his rhyme “Bitch you be trippin’, my dick’s what you be
missin’.  Every pussy in the place, desperate to get in my face.  Not
my fault if the dick you landed on can’t hit your spot, that don’t mean you
gotta be a nasty twat.  Come get me baby, I won’t run.  I’ll fuck
that shit until you come.  Before the condom dries, bitch, I’ll put you
out.  Get that ass up outta here, unless you got bacon and beer.”

I can’t help my
giggle. “Ladies and gentlemen, it’s Big Man, and the Scaredy Pump Chump.”
Arching a brow, “Did you bust that out for the chick that wanted to ram your
poop chute?  If so, I’m surprised you aren’t singin’ soprano.”  I
toss out, watching his face go crimson. 

Hunter looks
around the room, “Who the hell has been talkin’ about that shit?” He points at
Aiden, Hunter’s face dark and angry. “That shit was never to be brought up
again, you promised.  That’s exit only; it’s not my fault she tried to
swing the door open anyway, and my alarm went off.  She was a damn butt
pirate; all tryin’ to plunder my booty!” He explains, making me laugh harder.
“Oh, fuck your mother!” He says tossing his hands up, flipping us all the bird.

“Alright, before
a full on rap battle breaks out; let’s call it a night.  We’ve got shit to
pack.” Henry says, holding up his hands. “Trash your stuff and lets all get to
our rooms.  No one comes downstairs until I call in the morning, alright?”
He adds, receiving a nod from all of us. 

“One of these
days, Henry, someone is going to beat your ass red.” Hunter says, tossing his
container into the trash.

Henry smiles;
puffing his chest out proudly, he claps Hunter on the shoulder. “She can do
anything to me she wants as long as she has a big ass paddle and a great
rack.  Then, I’ll whip out my battleship and bomb her harbor.”

Daisy stands to
her feet, walking over, she kisses Hunter’s cheek, “Thank you, it’s not every
day that the lead singer of Shaft makes an ass of himself just to cheer me up.”

Hunter’s cheeks
flush, “You’re my family, Daisy.” He shrugs. “Besides, you know I got mad
skills.”  Looking around, I have to push back the emotion.  We are
crazy wild, only a couple of us in here are even blood related, and yet, Hunter
is right. 
Mark this shit down, it doesn’t happen often people.
 
No matter what, we’re there for each other in every way.  A family in
every sense of the word.  I never had that before.  I spent so much
time desperately searching for the blood relatives I never even met, thinking
they were something I was missing in my life.  It has nothing to do with
the blood running in your veins, matching the people around you.  Shit, I
had family already; right here.  They accepted me with open arms, no questions,
no judgments.  It’s just what it is.