“Tough night, Prez?” Motor asks.

“Yeah. Had to handle some shit.”

Lonnie walks over to me as I take a pull of my beer.

“Maybe I can help you relax.”

She slides her arms around me, biting her lip seductively. I grab her wrist and pull her to a quiet corner.

“There’s some shit we need to get straight.”

“What do you mean?”

“This brother you want to claim you. It’s me, right?”

Her eyes brighten, her expression hopeful as she gazes into my eyes.

“Gage, I’m so glad you finally realized –”

“Listen to me. You’ve been around here long enough to know that I’m not that dude. I’m not looking for an old lady. You need to set your sights somewhere else.”

Somewhere far, far the fuck away.

“But, Gage –”

“No buts. I don’t want to hurt your feelings, but I gotta be straight. Get that thought out of your head. You and me ain’t gonna happen. Got it?”

She nods weakly and I head to my room, leaving her standing there. Britney tries to intercept me but I wave her off. Even she won’t do it for me tonight. Only one woman can, and I can’t have her yet. I grab my phone, punch “Georgia age of consent” into the search bar, and sure enough, a big, fat “16” stares me in the face. I can kill a man without blinking, but taking something I want, which is totally legal, is grating on my morals. Fuck my life.

CHAPTER 15 ***Raven***

I wipe the sweat from my forehead with the small towel I have thrown over my shoulder. It’s fucking hot in the kitchen. I have a newfound respect for the kitchen staff. One of the cooks is sick and I volunteered to help out. Apparently, I volunteered to work in Hell. As Sheila shouts out an order, I add some spices to the black beans I’m working on.

“Girl, that cake you made is a hit! Some dude just bought a whole one.”

I turn to Sheila with a shy smile. Her brown eyes are twinkling as she smiles back.

“Really?”

“Really. You gotta give me the recipe. I’m gonna try it out on Johnny. I swear I’m gonna grow old waitin’ on that man to make a move.”

“He’s a fool. You’re gorgeous, for Christ’s sake.”

And she is. Long brown hair, perfect skin, and she has more curves than I do. Nice ass for a white woman, too. She’s only a few years older than me, but from her stories, she’s quite…experienced.

“Thanks, sweetie. I’m gonna get back out there.”

Just after the lunch crowd, Millie comes in and peeks over my shoulder. I’m making sugar cookies, but decided to make use of my artistic abilities and have been cutting out different shapes.

“Wow! You’re really good, sweetheart.”

“Thanks.”

“I got someone out here who wants to give their compliments to the chef.”

“Me?”

“Yes, you. Come on.”

I wash my hands and wipe my face as I head out to the dining area. I wonder who it could be. Millie nods toward the end of the counter and I turn to see Mr. Hunter regarding me with a grin. My girly parts tingle and I return his smile as I approach him.

“Hey, babe.”

Babe. He called me ‘babe.’ I don’t know how I’m still standing on these jelly legs.

“Hey.”

“I just had one of the best meals I’ve eaten in a long time. Imagine how much better it was when I found out that you made it.”

I blush, staring down at the floor. “Thank you.”

“Seriously. It was so good I might have to get you to cook for me every day.”

“Stop.”

I link my arms behind me, dragging the tip of my Keds back and forth on the tiles.

“Look at me.”

I slowly lift my gaze and stare into his baby blues.

“What are you doing later?”

“Why? Are you asking me out?”

“No.”

“You’re not?” Huh...weird. Why would he ask what I’m doing then?

“No. I’m gonna tell you what time I’m coming to pick you up.”

Jesus. I’m trying so hard right now not to climb over this counter. The struggle is real.

“I got some shit to do, but I’ll call you later, okay?”

“Okay.”

He grasps my chin between his thumb and index finger and smiles.

“See you later, baby doll.”

“See ya.”

As I watch him walk away, I meet Chrissy’s shocked, open-mouthed stare. Fuck! I don’t know how much she saw, but I know it was enough. I’m in total panic mode. I grab her hand and pull her over to an empty booth. She sits across from me, eyes wide, mouth still hanging open.

“What the fuck, Ray? What did I just see?”

“Chrissy –”

“Are you cheating on my brother?”

“No –”

“Oh, my God. You’re breaking up with him, aren’t you?”

“It’s compli–”

 “I knew it! Ever since that day we met, I knew there was something between you and Gage. I saw it in his eyes.”

“Will you calm down for a minute and let me explain?”

“Okay, okay. Go ahead.”

“You’re right. By the time I met you, we had already kissed a few times.”

Her eyes bug out once again and her lips form an “O.”

“But then he found out my age and pretty much left me alone.”

“And you started dating Chris.”

“Right.”

“But now he’s back.”

“Yeah.”

“What are you going to do?” she asks, eyes so wide I think they might pop out of her skull.

“I really like Chris, but Gage…”

“Is hot.”

“So is Chris,” I tell her. She might not want to think of her brother that way, but he is. I can’t help it.

“Gage Hunter is in another galaxy of hotness.”

“What would you do?” I ask.

“Me? No clue. Never had two hot guys chasing me.”

“Ugh!”

I fold my hands on the table and drop my head on them.

“I’m so confused.”

“Mira, I’m not getting in the middle of this. You need to figure out who you want. If you pick Gage, my brother will be hurt, pero we all have to look out for our own happiness,” she explains.

“That’s just it. I don’t want to hurt him.”

“He’ll get over it, eventually. Gage…just make sure you know what you’re getting into. He may not be who you think he is.”

“What do you mean?” I ask, intrigued.

“There’s just…stuff. I’m not going to repeat rumors.”

“If there’s something you think I should know –”

“It’s nothing.”

“Chrissy, tell me.”

“He got into some trouble with the cops a while back. Nothing stuck, though.”

That’ll happen when you’re a killer. A murderer. Holy shit. Am I really getting involved with a murderer? Wouldn’t Daddy be proud? Jesus. I really didn’t think this thing through, did I? If I’m honest with myself, it doesn’t bother me that much. Actually, knowing what he’s capable of turns me on. Fuck. I’m a sick bitch.

“What did he do?”

“Don’t worry. He didn’t kill anyone. Frankly I don’t think he did it. They couldn’t prove it.”

“That doesn’t answer my question.”

“We should go out tonight,” she says, trying to change the subject. “Forget about guys for one night. Just you and me.”

Whatever. I’ll just ask Gage about it. “I have to work tomorrow.”

“Stop being such a pussy. We can go to that new place, Chiquita’s. I heard they have a sick DJ.”

“I don’t know.”

“Come on. We’ll hang out, dance our asses off, and then go home. You can teach me how to twerk.”

That coaxes a smile from me. “Well, I am the twerk Queen.”

“See? Come over after work. We’ll get ready and go.”

“Okay. But I sorta made plans with Gage. I have to let him know.”

“Great!”

I grab her hand as she slides out of the booth.

“Chrissy, please –”

“I won’t say anything. Not my place.”

“Thanks.”

***

“Girl, you look amazing. ¡Muy caliente!”

I turn away from the mirror and toward Chrissy with a smile. “You, too, chica.”

I look at my ass in the mirror and consider my outfit – jean shorts; black, layered chiffon tank top; gold fashion jewelry; and black and gold wedge sandals. We decided to match outfits so Chrissy is dressed the same, only in white.