Destiny Undone: The Complete Series Box Set (12 page)

“Gabe, stop. I can handle him. Really.”

“Hey, what the fuck are you doing here?” Church’s face was bloody and his white shirt was dirty from our earlier scuffle.

I balled up my fists, in case I needed to use them and looked at Pepper. This was getting too ridiculous for my own good, and before I answered him, I asked her “Are you going out with this douche? Are you okay here alone?”

“Fuck, yeah, she’s okay. I’m here now. With her—didn’t she tell you that?” As he stepped closer to me, Jonathan flashed an evil smile and even his eyes looked evil. Too bad he didn’t realize who he was messing with. “She’s mine, we know each other. I mean, of course, in a ‘biblical’ sense. Pepper, honey….what’s the deal with this fucker?”

“I’m not your honey or anything else for that matter. Church, you were fucking my mother. Fucking. My. Mother. Now get out. I mean it.”

Wow. So that’s why the evil looks back at the party. I was in way over my head. But I couldn’t leave the girls here alone. Fuck.

Jonathan rubbed his chest with his hand and said, “That hurts my heart to hear you say that. After all those hot times in the—”

“—you need to leave,” she said firmly and without hesitation. “Why are you even here?”

“To say I’m sorry.”

“Really? For fucking my mother or for stalking me like a crazy person? Now get out.”

He looked at me and back at her, “Fuck her, pretty boy, I did. And this little bitch can suck a co—” I couldn’t help myself—my fist came flying through the air and landed dead on his jaw. He fell back against the wall and grabbed his face. “Fuck you, man! And fuck you too Pepper! Don’t come running back to me when you want to have a real man!”

“Get out,” she yelled. I was ready for him to come at me again, but he only looked from me to Pepper then turned around and left.

“Fucking bitch, you’ll regret it!” He bounded down the stairs and I finally heard his tires squeal on the pavement and he was gone.

“Be honest with me, is he your boyfriend?”

She let out a long sigh and I regretted asking the question as soon as I’d said it.

“Yeah, well, never mind. I’ve got to go. I have to get up early in the morning.” I half expected her to stop me, but she didn’t.

“Okay, I have to go check on Mills, anyway. Thanks again.” She walked me to the door and waved goodbye. The fact that she’d hesitated when I’d asked about Church told me everything I needed to know.

I drove into the dark night and thought about the past couple of hours. The night hadn’t gone as I’d expected. I hadn’t planned on kissing her, or taking her home or getting in a fight with her boyfriend—or whatever he was. Getting involved with Pepper was a bad move on so many levels. First of all, I was her boss and if Bobbie Jo ever found out, she’d give me all kinds of hell about this. Next, Pepper brought a lot of attention from the press and most of it she brought on herself, and I didn’t need that kind of publicity.

“Hey! Watch it!” A black Porsche drove up right next to me—too close for comfort. I gripped the leather steering wheel and turned to see who was driving, but the windows were too dark. “Shit!” the Porsche swerved into me and hit my front bumper and when I slowed down, the Porsche slowed down. When I sped up, the other car sped up too and tapped my bumper again.
This douche is trying to run me off the road!

“Okay dickhead, you wanna play chicken?” I yelled out. I gassed it and drove right up next to the car. Whoever was doing this didn’t know who they were messing with. My adrenaline was pumping faster than my car was flying and I wasn’t about to let this guy get to me. I let out a yell and we sped down the open road. My speedometer hit 120 and we were flying. I was pumped! He swerved into me again. This jackass was for real! Thank God there weren’t any other cars on the highway. It was way too early in the morning—except for a random truck here and there.
Oh shit—a truck!

I slammed on my brakes to let the car pass me and he slammed into my bumper as he sped off. My car started spinning around—and around. All I could think about was that truck. I grabbed the steering wheel and held on for dear life—
God help me
. The last thing that crossed my mind was
Pepper Anderson
.

Amanda Heartley

This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.

© 2015 Amanda Heartley

Published by Heartley Publishing

I arrived at the Golden Flames and noticed that the place had already been thoroughly cleaned. Gone were all the dirty glasses and half-eaten hors d’oeuvres—the floors were shiny, the tables polished and it smelled remarkably fresh. You’d never have thought the place had been party central last night, complete with booze, paparazzi and dozens of Destiny Beach trust fund brats. The manager had called me earlier to let me know Mills had left her clothing and makeup here, and since she hadn’t slept off her hangover yet, I figured I’d come get them before I went to work. Good thing I didn’t have to be at Sea Lab till one—I would’ve had a hell of a time showing up early today.

I dreaded walking back into the dressing room where Mills and I had caught our mother grinding on Church’s cock the night before
.
The sick image of them getting it on was still in my head. I could still see her dress up around her waist and his big hands holding her hips as he pounded into her. Ugh! I shook my head and tried to get that horrifying vision out of my mind. I could only imagine what Mills was going through—well, when she finally woke up, anyway.
Ugh! That woman!

To tell the honest to God truth, I couldn’t believe Church would do such a thing, either. I knew he was a playboy and loved all kinds of women…but my
mother
? That was the lowest of the low. Gross, dirty, like no dirty I’d even witnessed before. I could understand it if he’d hooked up with Aven. She was young and beautiful—even if he did call her chubby. I wasn’t jealous—it wasn’t like I was in love with him or anything—but he was my friend, and had been for a very long time. Now, he’d ruined that and I felt betrayed, even disrespected by him.

I sighed, pushed the door open and found my sister’s clothing and shoes stacked neatly on a table by the cleaning staff. I walked across the floor toward them and all I could think about was poor Mills and what her young eyes had seen the previous evening.
Ugh. How could Church not know it wasn’t me he was fucking?
I grabbed her Gucci travel bag, yanked it open and mindlessly began stuffing the clothing inside. Then, with another heavy sigh, I opened the door to the boudoir closet and paused as I remembered the two of them again, getting it on. I choked and tried not to throw up when I thought about the two of them together. Church and my mother? That was insane.

My phone rang so I slid it out from my pocket and tapped on the screen. “Pepper? Hello, Darling.”

Shit. The one time I didn’t check the display. “You’ve got some fucking nerve calling me, Evangeline.”

“Now is that any way to talk to your mother?” she demanded as she pretended to be irritated at my lack of respect for her. I didn’t know why she acted so surprised, though. Surely it wasn’t a mystery to her that I didn’t like her one little bit.

“My mother?” I scoffed. “That woman I saw with her panties around her ankles? The same one who was fucking my best guy friend last night? And not only fucking him, but getting caught! By both her daughters!” I let out a sigh of disgust. “What do you want?” I demanded back. I was anxious to get this call over with as soon as possible.

“I think we need to talk,” she said in her best motherly voice, but I wasn’t buying it.

“No, I don’t think we need to talk at all.” I didn’t bother hiding my disdain.

She chuckled on the phone. “Oh, darling. You really must change your attitude. It doesn’t suit you well. I just want to talk. How about some brunch?”

“No, I’m busy today—and even if I wasn’t, I wouldn’t want to eat with you anyway.”

“I know you don’t mean that but yes, dear, I heard. Working. A job. That’s nice, Pepper. I’m very proud. How about dinner instead?” The idea of being seen in public with Evangeline right now was a bad one. I could tell she was itching for a brawl, anxious for some publicity over the “scandal” she’d created but I wasn’t about to feed her oversized ego. I’d have to do so much damage control when I got to work, as it was.

“I’ll give you thirty minutes. That’s it. Meet me at Gulf Acres Country Club in fifteen and be on time. I’m not waiting around.”

“Does it have to be Gulf Acres? That place is so dingy. I mean, the place is chock full of your father’s backslapping buddies and it’s so gauche.”

“It’s Gulf Acres or nothing.”

“Fine.”

“And Evangeline?”

“What?”

“No photographers. If I see just one, I’m turning around and driving away.” I didn’t wait for an answer. My hands shook with anger and I hung up the phone. I couldn’t believe I’d agreed to see her, but I actually wanted this meeting for my own motives. I wanted to tell her exactly what I thought of her. Not that she’d take any notice, but it would make me feel a lot better.

I hauled the Gucci bag full of Mills’ stuff to the car, tossed it in my trunk and drove to Gulf Acres. It was gearing up to be another beautiful Gulf Coast day. Too bad it was about to be spoiled by having to spend time with my slut of a mother. The country club had been one of my favorite childhood haunts—before I could drive, anyway. Gulf Acres had begun as a private getaway for an old, southern family, the Adcock’s, but there weren’t too many of them left anymore. Most had moved to Savannah, away from the Gulf Shores and Destiny Beach area. The massive “beach house” had six other buildings on the property, including one great big ball room that many debutantes use for their sweet sixteen parties. There was also a ridiculously challenging golf course, a marina and a couple of different clubhouses, including Lagniappe, my favorite restaurant. I hoped that having brunch here today might stir up a little maternal sympathy and a few good memories. I wasn’t sure, though. Maybe it was too much to hope for.

I gave my keys to the valet and scanned the driveway for Evangeline’s shiny red convertible while he parked my car. Of course, she was late and I didn’t know why I’d expected anything else from her.

I went into Lagniappe and asked for a private table on the balcony. With a smile, I took a seat and thought this would be the perfect place to enjoy a nice brunch—by myself. Oh, well. At least the table was near the ocean so I could always throw myself in if she were to get on my nerves too bad—or maybe I could push
her
in. I grinned again as I thought about that and stared at the menu. I wasn’t sure why I’d bothered, though, since it was exactly the same as it had been for the past ten years. I decided I’d order the crab cakes or else the West Indies salad with iced tea. Evangeline would order scallops and send them back a few times for being too hard, too soft, under-done, over-done or just too round. She figured there was no fun in life without torturing the people that waited on you. So embarrassing. I just wanted to crawl under a rock every time she did it.

I saw her walk in and she looked around the room as she searched for me.
Too late to run now, Pepper.
I didn’t wave or smile—I just sat there like a lump and wished I’d never agreed to this.

Nobody could say Evangeline had lost her looks. The tight-fitting white and black dress she wore showed her shape off perfectly and I had to admit, I loved the strappy white heels, but that ultra-large black hat with the white bow sent the whole outfit over the top. Now I was glad that I’d left my sunglasses on. I’d hate for everyone to see me roll my eyes at the sight of my mother making her entrance.

Immediately, people leaned across the table to each other, nodded in her direction and began to whisper when they recognized the latest visitor to the restaurant. This crowd, however, wasn’t impressed as easily as she might have hoped. Gulf Acres had a reputation for being the second home for many of the Gulf Coast’s ultra-snobby elite—a group to which Evangeline no longer belonged—and I almost felt sorry for her, until she spoke.