Destructive Luxe-A Luxe Novel: Book 2 Page 24

  "Yeah they are." Lilith rolled her eyes. "There's stipulations with this job."

  "Anything! I'm in your debt for, like, ever. I know it's weird I came to you and I really didn't think anything of it until I realized you're not the girl I remember. You really changed, Lily, and for the better. You blew all of us away when you showed up at Aunt Peach's looking like you do now and with Ian. I wasn't expecting that and then to find out everything you've accomplished. I just know you're not who I thought you were."

  Everything I've accomplished at the hands of Ian, was Lilith's only thought.

  "I'm down to follow you around the world if it means I can become a fraction of what you have." She laughed with embarrassment.

  "You have to go back to school. This job allows you to make time for school."

  "I don't have money for school," she said softly.

  "Student loans, Joanna. I know you're used to everything being handed to you like your parents handed you money for college the first time, but it's time you grow up a little. Take care of yourself. You're twenty-three. Oh, and selling drugs is not taking care of yourself, that's just stupid. You probably would have been dead within the year."

  "I know." Joanna looked down. "Thank you, Lily." She lunged, throwing her arms around her. Lilith cringed and briefly hugged her back until her phone beeped.

  JUSTIN: I'm here

  "Let's go."

  Lilith saw Justin's jeep parked in a no parking zone so the girls jogged to his car. She put the black bag at her feet and he looked at it.

  "You weren't fucking around," he said.

  "No," Lilith responded with an annoyed laugh.

  "Hey." Justin nodded at Joanna.

  "Hi." The nervous girl climbed into the back of the jeep.

  "Here's the address." Lilith handed him the paper and he started to laugh. "What?" she snickered.

  "That sweater reminds me of that ugly yellow sweater you wore that day we went golfing."

  "Oh god." Lilith began to laugh. "Then give me your shirt."

  He looked in the back seat. "There's a shirt back there. It's next to your butt, cousin." He looked at Joanna in the mirror. "If I didn't hate that color I'd say fuck it, but, god, I fucking hate that color."

  Joanna pulled a black shirt wedged in the seat out and handed it to Lilith. Lilith yanked her sweater off and Justin looked over, watching her instead of traffic.

  "You're going to kill us," she muttered, tugging the shirt on.

  "You're gonna kill me." His gaze went back to the road. "How's your arm?" He grabbed her arm and turned it to see the wound that was now a pink scar. Lilith pulled the ugly mark away. "Let me see it." He tried to grab her arm again and began poking her.

  "Justin, stop." She laughed, pushing him.

  He grinned then looked in the rearview mirror at Joanna. "Where you from, cousin?"

  Joanna was staring at him wide-eyed, confused at what was going on between them.

  "Her name's Joanna. She's not my real cousin," Lilith said with resentment Justin sensed loud and clear.

  "I'm from Peoria," Joanna quietly responded.

  "What?" Justin turned down Alexisonfire blaring from the speakers.

  "Peoria," she said louder.

  "Cool." He nodded and looked over at Lilith. "You alright, ZP?" he quietly asked and pushed her hair over her shoulder.

  "Yeah. Thanks a lot for coming. Is that a gun?" she blurted without pause.

  He smirked and looked at his hip. "It's not a cellphone."

  "Holy hell," she muttered, looking out the window.

  Justin's smirk widened and he turned the music back up. "You look good in my shirt," he quietly told her.

  "It smells good." She grinned and glanced at him but saw Joanna looking at her in her peripheral so she looked back out the window.

  They pulled up to the house Lilith remembered visiting with Ashley and Caesar.

  Rima was on the porch smoking and when Lilith got out she said, "Joanna?"

  "Stay right here," Lilith said to Joanna.

  "I'm comin' with you." Justin tried to get out.

  "No, stay. Just wait one minute, I know her." Lilith closed the door and walked up the rickety stairs, recalling how afraid she'd been of them.

  "Hi. You remember me?"

  Rima stared like she seemed familiar. "If you ain't Joanna, I'm giving you twenty seconds to get off my porch before I put two in your head."

  Lilith's heart dropped. "I'm Lily, Ian Jacks's girlfriend."

  Dawning put a broad smile on Rima's face. "Oh yeah! I remember you. You need somethin'? You really shouldn't be just showin' up here, baby girl."

  Lilith smiled politely then glanced back at the jeep. "Joanna is my cousin," she explained and Rima put her hand to her chin contemplatively. "I have your money, all of it, but she's the worst at this job." Standing strong, Lilith stared her in the eyes. Regret was filling her but she wouldn't show it. She wished she would have just said no from the beginning.

  "I don't even know how she got involved to be honest with you, Lily. But once you are, you are." Rima shrugged. "I don't like the bitch. Don't even know her but I don't like yuppie ass bitches putting their dirty hands on my shit, but she sold it, all—"

  "No she didn't," Lilith nervously interrupted. "She lost it. All."

  Rima began to laugh and moved around the dilapidated porch that Lilith was still worried was going to collapse.

  "Coño." Rima laughed; Lilith put her hand to her mouth to conceal her laughter. "Yeah, aight. I ain't needin' this shit. Tell the little perra if she even contacts Chuchy again I'll find her. Where's the money?"

  "In the jeep." Lilith pointed.

  "Aight, pull 'round to the back alley. You come in through the broken fence, in the back door, and up. You, only you, got it?" She eyed Lilith.

  "Yeah." Lilith nodded affirmatively.

  "Aye, bella," Rima called to her while Lilith carefully walked down the stairs. "I'm serious. You tell her stay the fuck away."

  "I will." Lilith smiled. Even Rima couldn't resist her sweet smile.

  With a smirk and shake of her head, she went inside.

  Lilith got into the jeep and Joanna leaned between the seats swiftly.

  "Drive around the block," Lilith told Justin and pointed. "There's an alley, pull down it until I see the house."

  "What'd she say, Lily? You know her?"

  "Yeah I know her, Joanna," Lilith scoffed. Justin did what she said until Lilith said, "Stop!" She looked at Justin. "I'm gonna bring the money up. I'll be right back."

  "No." He let out a laugh. "No fuckin' way."

  "Justin, you have to stay here."

  "No I fuckin' don't. El, I'm not letting you out of this car. Are you fucking kidding me? What the fuck's wrong with you?"

  "Stay here," she said firmly.

  "Nope."

  "Dammit, Justin!" she snapped. "You can't come in. She said me and only me. You don't fuck with these people."

  "You think I don't know that? You think I don't know what I'm doing?"

  "I know her. I'll be back out in fifteen minutes. She's gonna want to count the money."

  "Fuck, ZP, I can't." Dread trembled in his voice as he grabbed her wrist. "I can't let you go in there alone. I can't do it." It sounded like a sincere apology, but he wasn't budging.

  "I'm not stupid." She put her hand to his cheek and ran her thumb over his bottom lip. "I'll be okay."

  Their intense gaze had Joanna staring in silent bewilderment, waiting for an epic kiss that'd she'd only seen in movies.

  "Fuck," he said shakily, dropping his head while trying to maintain a normal breathing pattern.

  JUSTIN's sweet calamity

  An anxiety attack is squeezing my chest from the thought of her going in there and getting hurt. I've never felt like this before. I don't even know what this is. I mean why my fear is more terror than a subtle discomfort. It must be because I brought her here and she could be hurt or worse. Ian Jacks would fuckin' murder me if he
found out I was involved with her getting hurt. He'd murder me even if she weren't his fuck toy at the moment.

  I'm staring into her gold eyes like they're a crystal ball, and she's in my future. It's all hitting me, making me feel sick. I don't want her to go in there because I really like her. I mean really. I want to tell her if anything happened to her I'd be a fuckin' wreck and I'd never be able to forgive myself because I think I'm in love with her, but I got fuckin' Pumpkin in the back staring at us like it's a soap opera.

  I haven't been in love in a long time. I don't even remember what it feels like. All I know is El does bad things to me in a good way, or maybe it's the other way around.

  She's not going to let me come in with her. She'll probably call it off then just show up on her own later if I try.

  "Take my gun." When I pull it out of the holder and shove it at her she backs away, throwing her hands up like I tried to hand her lava.

  "Holy shit, Justin. I don't even know how to use that." Her wide eyes are flashing back and forth from me to the gun.

  "Look." Pointing out the safety switch, I then explain she needs to pull the trigger and only has six bullets.

  "Oh god, Justin." Her voice is trembling as I shove it into her hands.

  "The safety is on right now. Push it into the back of your pants and fucking use it if you need to, El. Don't fuck around." I shove the gun into the waist of her pants when she just stares at it like it's alive and squirming in her hands. "You remember where the safety is and how to turn it off?" Wanting certainty that she knows how to use it before I can let her go, I stare her dead in the eyes.

  "Yes." She doesn't sound convincing so I pull it out again and show her. "I get it!" she yells at me.

  "Christ." I sit back and slam my hands on the steering wheel.

  I don't even want to watch her walk up to this fucking house. I'm so sick right now, but damn she does look good in my shirt. Shit, and if anything happens to her I'll never see that again. I almost get out, but I know if I do, something definitely will go down.

  "Are you her boyfriend?" the pumpkin asks.

  "Don't fuckin' talk right now!" I snap at her. "I'm guessing all this shit is because of you!" I turn around sharply and she flies back into the seat like I'm gonna hit her. Stupid bitch. "Fuck," I breathe out, turning back to the steering wheel. Putting both hands on top of the wheel, I lean my forehead onto them and wait.

  LILITH retraces the steps that lead there

  I remember these steps like I was here yesterday. The stairway is narrow and the steps are steep. My heart is pounding but I think more because of the gun digging into my back. I keep pulling at Justin's shirt, making sure it's covering the gun because I don't want Rima to see it. It's too cold outside not to wear a coat but I changed into Justin's shirt so I'm sweater-less and freezing.

  I can smell the pot as I approach the cracked door that I slowly push open before calling out, "Rima?"

  "Here, labios grandes."

  When I walk around the corner she's at the same small table I remember her sitting at months before. I lift the bag and smile at her.

  "Let's count." She clears the table. "This your money?" I don't know if she means to look angry right now, but she does, and I'm scared.

  "No," I answer nervously.

  "Coño came up with the money?"

  I laugh this time because right now, that's what Joanna is. She's a twat.

  "No." I look at the bag then back at Rima. "It's Ian's."

  "Oh, jodas!" she yells throwing her hands up. "No. Money's no good. I'm not having Ian on my bad side."

  "He doesn't know!" I blurt quickly. "He doesn't know you're involved in any way. He won't know either. He just knows Joanna needed to pay off a big debt. I wouldn't lie to you, Rima." My eyes are desperate and I hope desperate enough because I'm terrified, especially because I'm lying to her.

  The intimidating glare she's beating onto me is enough to make me throw up. This day has been hell and I just want to cry. When I look down at the table, Justin's scent hits my nose from his t-shirt and a spark of calm flares until I hear her chair scrape across the floor.

  "Aight." She nods and stands. "Come on." Her arms are out for what I think is an invitation to hug her.

  I could pee my pants right now because all I'm envisioning is her hugging me and stabbing me in the back or something.

  Making sure the shirt is pulled down when I stand, I step into her and she wraps her arms around me and pats my back.

  "Any bitch of Ian's is good with me." Her hand slides down my back then abruptly stops when she reaches the gun.

  I want to die right now! My first instinct is to run. I've stopped breathing and I'm shaking so badly it hurts. She starts to laugh and steps back, looking me over with the biggest grin.

  "I like you, Lily." She's still laughing and I smile unconvincingly but I can't manage anything else except an ugly cry face. "We're friends," she says and I nod stupidly. "You see me when you need anything."

  "Do you have anything for anxiety?"

  She grins walking over to a jewelry box on the table. Opening a drawer she pulls out a bag of little blue pills. After taking one out she holds it to my mouth and I stick out my tongue. I was just kidding but I can't say no now.

  "Relax." She grins. "You're a good person, Lily. If I was you, I'd beat the Joanna bitch's ass."

  "I want to," I mutter heading for the door, almost out of this nightmare.

  I smile once more with a small wave and she grins, able to smell my fear desecrating the composure I'd pulled off for the first few minutes. Almost falling down the stairs, I bolt as fast as I can to get out of here. When I get to the bottom of the steps, I stop and take a deep breath to compose myself. Joanna can't know I was scared shitless. She has to think I'm somebody and I have my shit together.

  I exhale and walk out of the house with one of my usual smiles, the fake one, but the one most people are used to seeing. When I get into the jeep Joanna throws her arms around me from behind.

  "I love you, Lily." The relief in her voice almost makes me snicker.

  Justin hasn't said anything and he's driving quickly out of this alley, hitting every bump and it reminds me of when we went off-roading.

  "Buckle up," I say to Joanna and I see Justin smirk.

  He's not mad at me.

  Lilith put Richie in charge of Joanna like she were a puppy. He was to stay with her in the apartment and if Joanna left, he was to contact her immediately. Richie had no problem dictating what his older sister could or couldn't do.

  "I need a ride," Lilith said to Justin.

  "Where to?" He glanced at her while they sat in his jeep.

  "Where ever you're going." She grinned.

  When he started driving she took a deep breath, feeling a sense of happiness that her problems were seizing to exist. At least for the amount of time they'd be together.

  He drove out of the city and veered off the road, making sure she was buckled before he hit the trail him and Kurt made a few days prior.

  "We're not going to get stuck in the mud this time, are we?" She grinned at him.

  "If I'm lucky. Maybe you'll let me give you a few more mud tattoos."

  Lilith chuckled and braced herself as she saw the big puddle he was about to plow into.

  He drove her around for thirty minutes. It was more for her benefit because he was tired and wanted to go home, but he had a feeling she wouldn't be going with him.

  After a hard hit that made her smack her head on the window, Justin stopped the jeep. Laughter uncontrollably roared from her, until it turned to silent bouncing and tears running down her face.

  "You alright?" He touched her head with a wince.

  "Yeah." She laughed, wiping away the humor-induced tears.

  "You sure? You hit your head hard." He chuckled because she was still laughing.

  She buried her face in her hands as she laughed. Inhaling a deep breath she looked over at him wearing a smile he'd never be able to erase fr
om his memory. "I'm fine." Unbuckling, she jumped into his lap, straddling him. When her lips went for his, he pushed her back a little.

  "Hey, wait."

  "For what?" She grinned at him as her finger twirled in his wayward curls.

  "Explain the drug payoff."

  "Joanna—"

  "Pumpkin."

  "Pumpkin." She giggled. "Came and asked me to borrow her fifty-seven thousand—"

  "Fifty-seven!" he blurted. "Holy shit, El, you can buy a house for that right now."

  "Best part is she's not really my cousin. She's my stepmother's niece and she's always hated me. I haven't talked to her in years. I saw her not long ago but we barely talked. So she comes and asks to borrow the money and I'm stupid and I can't say no. The money was to pay off fifty-seven in drugs she got stolen from her because she is— was the worst drug dealer in Illinois. I know Rima because she knows my best friend Ashley and I had to make sure Joanna wouldn't have anymore ties to her."

  "Well now I know you're a walking bank." He grinned.

  With a chuckle she leaned in and tried to kiss him again but he pushed her back once more. Frustration was starting to fog her already foggy head caused by the pill Rima gave her.

  "Now explain Ian Jacks." The glare he pinned on her didn't waver and in the state she was in it was intimidating as hell.

  Climbing back into her seat she softly rubbed her face. "Explain Ian Jacks," she repeated then chuckled. "He's my boss."

  "You're fucking him."

  "Why would you assume that?"

  "I'm not assuming. I know. He bought you a car, El. His fucking car was at your condo the other night."

  Lilith pushed her hand to the bridge of her nose.

  "Holy shit." Justin said, laughing. "You're not just fucking him. He's your fucking boyfriend." He shook his head. "Who the hell is the other dude? The dude that was at lunch with you that day? Who's he?"

  "Shaun," Lilith mumbled. Lies started spinning in her head, but she was sick of lying.

  "Yeah, who the fuck is Shaun, Lily?" The slight raise in his voice made her frown. "I'm such a fuckin' idiot. I should have known." He started to laugh. "I should have picked up on this."