Poughkeepsie Begins (The Poughkeepsie Brotherhood #0.5) (8 page)

Blake grabbed the edge of the lumber and pulled the attacker off balance. Beckett used the distraction to free himself from the grip of the other man. He punched him so hard his head snapped back. And before he’d even fully collapsed, Beckett was on the man Blake had stopped, taking the two-by-four.

“Go. Go into the woods. Go!” Beckett held the man against the floor using his boot, applied at the neck.

Blake nodded and left, out the back way where Beckett had pointed. He would be pissed that Blake had been there. He preferred this side of his life to be done alone.

Blake found the window again and looked in to see Beckett pointing the lumber at a group of surly-looking drug dealers.

“You fuckers think this is okay? How much goddamn money have I given you?”

Beckett’s demeanor shocked him. A complete change. Deadly. So much older than eighteen.

A man who seemed to be in charge tried to defuse the situation. “Seriously, I get it,” he said quickly. “They were acting on their own. I did not ask for any of this.”

“That’s bullshit. They don’t move without you. And to beat someone’s ass for a few hundred? You do know I’m bringing you cheddar by the fucking truckload.”

Beckett tossed the wood down close to the man on the floor’s head when he started to talk. He stopped. The fallen men began to pick themselves up off the floor.

“Kick, I’ve got four parties to hit tonight. They’re waiting on me. Are we done?” Beckett crossed his arms in front of him.

The man nodded. “Yeah. Go. But don’t lose anymore goddamn money, Taylor. Or I’ll come after you myself.”

Beckett nodded, then stopped the one man who’d seen Blake. He whispered harshly in his ear, and the man nodded.

Blake slipped out the back and waited as he heard Beckett wave away an offer to drive him to the party where he was expected. After a moment, when the warehouse was empty, Beckett came out the back door and whistled. Blake knew this was his cue.

Beckett startled when he stepped next to him. “Shit, you’re quiet.”

Blake didn’t ask, but the moonlight must have revealed the question on his face.

“I’m fine. I’ll triple-charge the assholes tonight and double what I took. Kick will be offering to suck my sack by the time I’m done.” Beckett put his huge hand on Blake’s shoulder. “You can’t do that for me? Okay? You see shit like that going down, you walk away. You never knew me. Get it?”

Blake didn’t answer.

“Seriously. I’m not kidding. I can’t protect you in there.” Beckett squeezed his shoulder.

“Would you stand by if I was where you just were?” Blake nodded in the direction of the warehouse.

“Hell, no. But this is what I’m good at.” Beckett put his hands in his pockets and shuffled his boots. “Listen, can you show me how to get home the quickest? I got to take a shower before I head out.”

“I can.” Blake started off in the swiftest direction. He knew these woods like the back of his hand. But first Beckett had to understand. Blake spoke to the stars, but knew his brother behind him could hear. “I’ll never turn my back on you. I’ll never make that promise. I don’t care what you’re into. Never alone.”

They walked quietly, Beckett bringing up the rear for fifteen minutes before he reacted.

“Okay, Blake. Never alone.”

Blake guessed Beckett was thinking about Cole too. Just like he was.

Date Night

C
ANDY
P
UT
O
N
H
ER
F
AVORITE
J
EANS
, a soft, white sweater, and tall black boots. She finally just put her hair in a high ponytail when it kept getting tangled in the neck of her sweater. A little gloss, some mascara, and she was all set. Well, one or two sprays of her favorite perfume, which smelled a little like cotton candy, couldn’t hurt. Made for a conversation starter when combined with her name.

The study session she’d had with Zyler last week had gone well. He’d been funny, engaging, and not anything like the dick bags he surrounded himself with at school. So when he’d asked her for a date, she decided to give it a shot. It’s not like Beckett was a real possibility—her parents would freak, for one thing, and he wasn’t asking, for another. Although it seemed like he liked her when he was actually around.

But that was not important right now, as tonight she was going on a date with Zyler. They were having dinner with her parents and going to a party. Her dad always insisted on meeting any guys she went out with, and Zyler had taken things a step further and suggested dinner “so he could meet Pilot,” he’d explained.

The doorbell sounded, and she couldn’t help but wonder if the nice-guy version of Zyler would show up, or the jerk. She smiled as she heard her entire family welcoming him downstairs. Pilot barked and then danced around on the tile. She could hear his nails clacking. Her parents immediately began asking Zyler about football, so it seemed he was wearing his letter jacket.

As she came downstairs, he smiled up at her like it was prom night. Her mother wore an excited smile.

“You look so pretty, Candy,” he told her. “Thanks for the invite. I’ve been looking forward to spending time with your parents.” He leaned down and scratched her dog’s ears. “And this big boy. Hi, Pilot!”

She could practically see him worming his way into her dad’s good graces. It seemed picture-perfect Zyler had come over this evening. So far, at least. Candy smiled as she showed him the way to the dining room.

The dinner went well. Zyler asked each person in her family about their interests and offered humblebrags on his own football achievements. Candy sighed. He certainly was good looking, and he liked to smile at her. She shouldn’t be thinking of Beckett’s lips at a time like this. Not at all.

After dinner, Zyler shook hands with her dad, fist bumped her brother, and hugged her mom as they prepared to go. Pilot flopped over for belly rubs. He could do no wrong as far as her family was concerned. They waved good-bye, and she followed him down the driveway to where he held open the door of his huge Ford 250 for her. She climbed up, and he made sure her feet were all the way in before slamming the door shut.

He seemed less perfect once they were in the truck. He tossed his letter jacket over a case of beer in the backseat and gave her a lascivious smile. “And now to show you the best time you’ve ever had in your life.”

“Where are we headed?” She looked out the window, futzing with the button on her jacket. His seemingly grand plans for the evening set off a few internal alarms.

“Dunns is having a party. The whole block of parents go away together for two weeks to a time-share beach house. So pretty much there’s a party every night in his development while they’re gone.”

That set off a few more alarms. Zyler also really liked tailgating the car in front of him.

“Oh. Okay.” She double-checked her seatbelt. Dunns was pretty much an asshole, and the girls who hung around him hadn’t warmed up to her yet either. She would’ve preferred to go get a milkshake at the diner or something, somewhere she and Zyler (
Byler, Myler
—she heard Beckett’s voice in her head) could talk. Although the Zyler she actually liked talking to seemed nowhere around now.

The party block was easy to spot. Cars were parked everywhere, and some of the houses had their front doors thrown open. Zyler got out and was surrounded by friends immediately. Candy got out and stood on the passenger side for a while before he came around and offered his hand to her.

She could have sworn Nicole hissed in her ear as they walked into what had to be Dunns’ house. The music was loud, but not crazy loud. There was smoke everywhere, and bodies in every room. Dunns found Zyler and pulled him away, intent on talking about a delivery. He looked blasted off his ass already.

The smoke made her cough, so she walked through the house out the back door to the pool deck. The backyard was landscaped with little paths, solar lamps, and pretty white twinkle lights. She shivered a little, which explained why there were so few other people out here. She sat on a decorative garden bench. She had to be home by twelve, which meant this party was her reality for at least three hours.

Movement out of the corner of her eye startled her, and when she turned, Beckett sat next to her.

“Oh my God.” She slapped his leg.

He was biting his smile, but with the contact of her hand on his thigh, it was unleashed, dimples and all. “I have that effect on girls.” He grabbed her hand before she could pull it away and rubbed his thumb on her palm.

She jerked her arm back, but his touch was like liquid fire on her nerve endings. He was a lot to handle in general, and sitting next to him in the dark outside of school was an elevated situation.

“What are you doing here?” she finally thought to ask. “Are we going to have a cafeteria-style situation in a minute?”

“What are
you
doing here?” He looked her up and down like she was the evening’s entertainment.

She found herself sitting up straighter. “On a date.” She sighed.

“With yourself? ’Cause that’s kinda hot.” He put his arm around her, the little bench pressing him against the side of her body. He smelled delicious, and his eyes were far more bright than they ever were in school. “Let me guess: Syler?”

She rolled her eyes and stopped herself from laughing out loud.

“You look like a beautiful sin I’d like to commit tonight,” he continued. “Goddamn. Your tits in that sweater could start a war.”

It was so bold she was caught off guard. This time she covered her mouth but couldn’t stop her laughter.

“That’s not the intended outcome of hitting on you. Though I love your smile.”

Oh, he was too smooth. Too much.

“I’m on a date,” she reminded him.

He grabbed her ponytail and wrapped it around his fist, pulling just enough that she had to lift her chin. Then he leaned so close his lips were almost on hers. She held her intended exhale in her chest, trapped by the anticipation of a kiss.

“I don’t mind being your dirty secret, Candy.”

Her thoughts pooled on the ground. For a few beats, she was useless. Beckett touched his nose to hers and kissed her on the forehead.

He made like he was going to pull away, and she felt her hair swing free of his grip. She leaned forward and put her hands on his cheeks. He stopped and lifted his eyebrow. She kissed him, hard.
Forget Zyler and his parent-butt-kissing ways!

Beckett pulled her easily into his embrace, moaning with the kiss she refused to break. He held her tight, like he’d been the one to take her on this date, not another guy. She pulled away from him when she heard a door slam.

“Sorry. Sorry, I keep doing that to you.” She put her hands in her lap.

He kept her close. “Don’t be. Like I said, dirty secret.”

She turned to face him again. “I suck at secrets.”

“I hope so.” He touched her face, caressing the side of her cheek with the back of his hand. She closed her eyes for a moment when she heard Zyler calling her name. But Beckett refused to break their eye contact. “He’s not worth you.”

“Are you?” she whispered, ignoring her name again.

He released her and stood, waving at Zyler and answering her at the same time, “Not even close.”

She stayed in her seat, shivering at the loss of his heat. Zyler smiled at her and shot Beckett a look.

“So you’re taking Jason’s place?” he asked. “Dunns is looking for you.” He waved a hand toward the house like Beckett was hired help.

Beckett nodded and hefted a backpack Candy hadn’t seen until now. He locked his gaze on her and puckered his lips.

She blushed and looked at her feet. Zyler sat down. He had a glazed look and smelled like weed.

“Hey.” He put his arm right where Beckett’s had been. “You feeling good? Why you bothering with that guy? He’s nothing. Trash.”

Candy watched as Beckett was admitted to the party via the back door. She missed him. “What did Jason do?” she asked.

Zyler took a sip from the red plastic cup he was almost hugging. “Delivered party favors. I guess they needed a sub.”

He offered the cup to Candy, and she took a sniff. It smelled strong. She’d had drinks in the past, but beer and wine didn’t taste like turpentine. She handed it back.

“What? You’re no fun.” He kissed Candy on the cheek. She watched as Beckett came back out of the house, preparing to go.

“I’m not feeling awesome.” She looked at Zyler and smiled. “I’m sorry.”

He frowned. “Aw, this party is going to be totally dope. You’ll feel better if you have a little.” He tried to hand her the cup again, but she stood and waved in Beckett’s direction. Although he was mid-conversation, he headed toward her.

“Beckett will drive me home,” she told her date. “You stay. Have fun.”

Zyler stood slowly, perhaps a bit over-chilled by the weed he’d smoked. “I can’t let you leave with
that
guy. You’re my date.”

Beckett put his hand on her back and slid right into the conversation. “You won’t want to miss what I just dropped off. No worries. I’ll drive her right home.”

“Nah, man, I’ll take her. Wouldn’t want to distract you from your work this evening.” Zyler held out his hand.

The football team suddenly materialized from all different places in the house. One even climbed out the window, and they started their school chant. Candy felt her throat tighten. Beckett’s brothers were nowhere to be found this time.

Beckett had to raise his voice to be heard. “Last stop. I’m good.”

“Go,” Candy encouraged Zyler. “Seriously, I don’t want to ruin your evening.” She stepped backward, and Beckett tilted his head toward the woods.

“I’m parked right over there.”

With that they left. Candy listened as they walked away, but she didn’t hear any more protests from Zyler, nor did the team seem to be forming a mob. She turned to look, and he was engulfed by his teammates, two of whom had jumped into the hot tub. The party had resumed as if she’d never been there at all. And she really hadn’t been.

Beckett held her hand and pulled her through to a path. He was so quiet, she was starting to triple-guess her decision to go with him. When they finally got to a vehicle, it was a black SUV.

He pulled open her door and pushed on her ass to get her inside before opening the back door and tossing in the backpack. He got in the driver’s seat and started the engine. Music blared in her ears. She covered them and looked at him with wide eyes.

He turned off the radio. “One question.”

She nodded.

“Are you really sick?”

She shook her head.

He threw the SUV into reverse and got them out of the spot where he’d hidden the car. She wanted to ask why the car was tucked away. But she didn’t want the answer. Beckett was a drug dealer, and despite knowing she shouldn’t, she really, really wanted his mouth on hers again.

They flew down back streets in the bad part of town, and her stomach knotted. Beckett’s face was so intense it was almost scary. When they finally pulled to a stop, she looked out at the Hudson River, the burned-out Poughkeepsie train bridge in the distance. Had he brought her on a drug deal?

He turned the music back on. “Get over here.”

“What?”

“Get over here and sit on my lap. If I don’t kiss you right now my head’s going to explode.”

She took off her jacket and obeyed.

As soon as she kneeled in her seat, he took over, lifting her over the console to straddle him. He kissed her and ran his hands all over her white sweater. Hot.
Hot
. He made her so hot. His mouth tasted like cinnamon, and his hands weren’t gentle, but they were knowledgeable. It made her knees weak when he released the clasp on her bra.

He stopped kissing her and put one of his big fingers on her mouth. “Are you into me?”

She took her hands out from under his shirt. His chest was alarmingly muscled—the kind of strength that was terrifying. She put her lips around his finger and sucked, running her tongue up the underside, looking him in the eye while he watched her.

He responded by slipping his hand under her shirt to cup her breast. The minute his skin touched her nipple, she arched into him, breathless. She felt bold. This is what it was all about—the electricity she felt when he smiled at her, the pull of his body when they were in the same room.

She was a sensible girl, got good grades and followed the rules. She worked to please her parents, and it wasn’t usually that difficult a job. But her mind only held smoke now. Her whole body was on fire. She could feel him below her and began to rock. He kissed her again, pressing her against the steering wheel, holding her there by her breasts. She moaned. God, he felt so good.

He pushed her sweater and bra out of his way, took his cinnamon mouth from her lips, and put it on her nipple. She became frantic, yanking at his leather jacket and pulling on the bottom of his shirt. He helped her, and soon they were skin to skin. She pulled him to her, holding his cheek to her heart for a second. He slipped his hands around her waist and waited, his ragged breath dusting her skin with chills.

“Are you a virgin?” He said it so quietly she patted his face to ask him to repeat it. “Are you a virgin?”

She got shy then, topless with a drug dealer in a parked car. He made his hands her bra and sat back to listen to her answer.

Candy bit her lip.

“If you answer no, I’m fucking the hell out of you right here, right now. We’ll be honking the horn, rocking this bitch right into the water.”