Broken Pieces (Riverdale #2) (7 page)

Sam’s head spun as his lips glided over hers evoking every emotion that had been lost for nearly seven years. His mouth wasn’t gentle as she remembered, but rather desperate. His thumbs did, however, gently caress her jaw as his tongue slid between her lips and found her own. She heard a moan escape and wasn’t sure if it had come from her or him. His tongue slid over her, sampling her flavor. Before she could find her will to pull back, her tongue responded to him. Greedily they reacquainted themselves with their mouths, savoring what one another offered.

This time she was sure it was he who groaned, as his hands slid down her arms, wrapping around her waist. He pressed one of his palms against the small of her back, pushing her against him. The vision of him naked crept into her mind, as she felt his arousal, reminding her of the monster that was pressed into her thigh. Then it was she who moaned. His teeth grazed her lip tantalizingly, before his tongue found its way back to hers. Their lips fused together as their tongues engaged in their own battle. Neither of them could be satisfied, and breathing was overrated.

He started to pull away. In between gasps, he pressed his lips to hers, not able to completely withdraw from her. His hands made their way to her shoulders and he held onto her as he took a step back, finding the willpower to back away from her. Both of them breathing unevenly.
      

Involuntarily she lifted her trembling fingers to her swollen lips as she stared at him. She couldn’t formulate a single word. The son of a bitch had kissed her senseless. He slowly dropped his hands from her shoulders and inhaled sharply. She opened her mouth, but still, no words came out.

“Please try to stop hating me so much.” His voice was barely above a whisper. “You might find it more rewarding if you let me in.” He all but purred as he pointed towards her heart. The gesture sent every nerve ending in her body into high alert. She went to tell him off, to tell him that she’d never let him in her heart again, but he didn’t give her the chance. He turned around and walked away, just like he always would. She was better off never letting him in her heart, he had just proved it. His car started as his tires skidded along the pavement, and she felt as if he had just skidded over her heart again.

Sam took a deep breath before walking over to the bathroom door and knocked. “You can come out now.”

Phillip swung the door open, and was fanning himself with her hair brush. “Holy shit, girlfriend. I vote you totally do him, to hell with that two timing bitch friend of yours. Do it for all the woman scorned!” He pumped his fist in the air to emphasize his point and cheer her on.

Sam rolled her eyes, wondering when her life became a soap opera, and how she’d be able to get the daily serial canceled.

Chapter Six

When Luke called Nick, to invite him to a last minute barbeque, he and Leah had decided to host at Luke’s house, he was going to say no. In fact, he did say no, figuring he needed some distance from everyone. Well, not everyone, just Sam. He should’ve never kissed her, for the last week he had done nothing but beat himself up over that. He originally went to her apartment to talk to her, and to figure out for once and for all why she was being so hostile toward him. The truth was he had been getting sick and tired of the cold shoulder routine she was giving him. It was one thing to be angry with someone, but to never tell that person why you’re angry with them, well, that’s a different ball game. He needed to get through the weekend with her, and then cut his losses. Maybe too much time had passed, it was probably better for both of them to just move on.

He walked into the gated backyard of Luke’s home. The scent of grilled meat filled his senses, and made his stomach growl. Luke was standing in front of the grill, sipping a beer while he moved things around on the grill to fit more food on top of it. Jake stood beside him holding a tray of raw ribs that were next to go on the barbeque. Jake’s eyes found his and he grinned.

“Well, it’s about time. I thought you were standing us up.” Jake said as he batted his eyelashes at Nick.

Nick shook his head and leaned down, reaching into the cooler to grab himself, a beer. He pulled the bottle opener that doubled as a keychain out of his back pocket and popped the top of the beer off. Luke glanced over his shoulder as he took the platter of ribs from Jake.

“He tried to stand us up.” Luke said as he eyed Nick, letting him know that wasn’t going to fly.

Jake’s hand moved over his chest and gasped. “Are you trying to break my heart?” Jake asked accusingly as he wiggled his eyebrows.

Nick couldn’t help the smile, and patted Jake on the back. “Never that,” He took a quick glance around the backyard. “Where are your women?”

Jake nodded towards the sliders on the back of the house. “They’re inside, Cara’s making macaroni salad and Leah is cooking up some sort of dessert.” Jake studied Nick for a moment. “Hey, there’s something I wanted to show you on my bike, got a minute?”

“Sure, lead the way.” Nick said, taking a step back waiting for Jake to lead him to where his bike was. They walked back through the gated yard to the driveway where Jake’s motorcycle was parked.

“There’s nothing wrong with my bike.” Jake said in a matter of fact tone. He crossed his arms on his chest and peered at Nick.

Nick wasn’t in the mood for any more of Jake’s match making shenanigans. He took another sip of his beer as he observed Jake. He slowly brought the bottle down from his lips and nodded. “Okay, so what’s this about?”

Jake looked towards the house and then back at Nick. “There’s something I need to ask you. It’s been driving me crazy actually.”

Nick looked at him curiously. “What is it?”

“What happened the night I beat up Cara’s father?” Jake asked seriously. Nick watched him for a moment, and could see that it was bothering Jake. Not much usually did, but when something did bother him it was obvious with one look into his eyes. What he didn’t understand is why it bothered him now, seven years later.

“You know what happened that night.” Nick said carefully, taking a sip of his beer, while keeping his eyes firmly locked on Jake’s.

“I know bits and pieces. I know I called you and the reason I called you was because I knew you’d help me, and I knew Luke had Ava to take care of. 
I couldn’t ask him to pick up after my messes anymore.” Jake said honestly and waited for Nick to respond to him. When he never did Jake took a breath and continued. “I need to know what happened after you told me to run, when the cops arrested you.”

“Jake, that was a long time ago, what does it matter?” Nick asked as he squeezed the back of his neck, cranking it from side to side.

“It matters to me. I should’ve asked you a long time ago.” Jake said, as he stared down at the ground. He shoved his hands in his pocket. Nick saw Jake, for the first time in all the years he knew him, look uncomfortable. He didn’t know why there was a sudden urgency on Jake’s behalf to know the truth that Nick had hidden. He knew he, himself, had made peace with the sacrifice’s he made that night, and didn’t really see the need to rehash the past. Both men looked towards the driveway as Sam pulled up.

This wasn’t a conversation he wanted to have in the first place, let alone in front of Sam. Nick let out a groan as she made her way towards them, catching Jake’s attention. He raised an eyebrow at Nick before turning to face his sister.

“Hey.” She said looking between the two men. “What’re you guys doing out here?”

Jake smiled at her before nodding towards his bike. “I wanted to run some ideas I have for my bike by Nick. Luke’s in the back grilling and the girls are in the kitchen, no doubt making a mess of something.”

Nick inhaled sharply as Sam’s blue eyes peered into his, her cold demeanor towards him paired with the icy look in her eyes, reminded him of a glacier.

“Well then I’ll leave you two to talk shop.” She leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her brother’s cheek, before brushing past Nick, as if he wasn’t standing beside Jake at all, and she strode into the house. Once the door closed behind her he shook his head slightly, and let out a strangled breath he seemed to have forgotten he was holding.

“She’s relentless.” Nick muttered as his eyes fell back on Jake’s. He nodded in agreement.

“That she is. But there’s one thing I learned about my sister. She puts up a wall and this whole bitch routine she has been playing, is because something hurt her
. 
She won’t give anyone or anything the chance to hurt her again.”

Nick scratched at his temple and wondered if Jake’s words made sense.

“She doesn’t really hate you, but she needs for you to think she does. Do you get what I’m saying?”

“How did I hurt your sister? By leaving? It’s not like I had proposed to her. We barely had anything other than a few stolen moments.” Nick knew that it was more than that, not only for her but for him too. He felt it, the pull that always had been there. He had spent years trying so hard not to look at her. The worst of it was when she looked at him, with such promise in those eyes of hers, making him want nothing more than to learn about all the mystery that lay in those baby blues.

“Why’d you leave?” Jake insisted. So they were back to that. Nick sighed and looked at Jake, knowing very well, the excuse he used the last seven years wasn’t going to be acceptable to him anymore.

“I was arrested and charged with assault.” Nick said flatly and watched as Jake let his words sink in. “You sure you want to go down this path again?” He’d only give him one more out, before he gave him what he seemed to be so hell bent on having.

“Jesus Christ, Nick, Just tell me already. At this rate, I’ll drop dead before you get to the point.” Jake said, exasperated but obviously on edge, with the story that loomed over them.

Nick nodded and brought himself back to the night in question. “They put me in a holding cell, until I could face a judge the next day…”

Nick sat on the cot in the holding cell, silently praying that Jake listened to him and got away. An officer banged his nightstick against the metal bars.

“Foti, you got a visitor,” said the officer.

Nick looked up from the cot, to face his mother. Lucille Foti, gave her son a cold hard stare. The cop went to open the jail cell, but she stopped him.

“Leave him where he is.” She said icily.

Nick rolled his eyes and shook his head. How typical of her. The officer nodded, and resumed his post.

“Your victim is alive, in case you were wondering.” She said.

“Good.” Nick said flatly.

He watched as she looked over her shoulder, then back to him.

“But we both know you didn’t hurt anyone.” She whispered. The tone of her voice was cold as ice.

He looked up at her, then went to stand up. He’d stick his fist in her mouth if she uttered a word.

“Sit!” She ordered, and he did. She held up his phone. “You dropped something.”

She fingered the phone in her perfectly manicured hands, scrolling, to his last, text message. She turned the screen towards the cell, making sure he saw it. Making sure, he saw Jake’s name.

“Now here is how this is going to go.” She had his attention and she knew it.

“These charges will be dismissed and your name will be cleared. I can do that and keep your little friend out of this.”

“How?” Nick asked.

“You just listen to me.” She dismissed his question.

“Under one condition, will this happen. You go to Seattle and forget about these people. You forget Luke and Jake, and that little tart Samantha.” He jumped up at the mention of Sam. “Oh, I’ve seemed to have struck a nerve.” She pointed her finger at him. The corners of her mouth turned up,
a devious smile played on her face. 

“And that is exactly why you have to leave. You are going to let those people suck you dry and you’ll amount to nothing, I won’t allow it.”

“You don’t know shit about, anything.” Nick spat.

“I know that if you stay here, you’re going to end up right where you are!” Her voice breaking slightly as she spoke. She took a deep breath and began again regaining her composure. “Do we have a deal?”

Nick looked at the phone in his mother’s hands and then at the hard gaze her eyes held. He was not going to let Jake go to jail for assaulting Cara’s father, not because his mother was a bitch.

“Fine, I’ll go.” He said.

Lucille nodded, appeased. She slipped the phone into her Louis Vuitton purse.

“I’ll just hang onto this, in case you forget this little conversation we had.” She gave him one final hard look before turning to walk away.

“What did they ever do to you?” Nick called out.

“They took my only son.” She continued to walk away, her heels clanking on the cement of the floor.

Nick took a deep breath, he had buried that conversation, with his mother, so deep, and he forgot the emotions that came with the memory. He looked up at Jake, his hand was covering his mouth as he simply stared at Nick.