Falling for Hadley: A Novel

  No, I’m so not ready to go there right now.

  Dropkicking that thought into the back of my mind, I decide to do something I never thought I’d ever do. I stick my hand into my pocket, fish out my car keys, and offer them to Blaise. “Just don’t wreck it.”

  I turn my head away and squeeze my eyes shut as he reaches to take the keys.

  “Is this really that big of a deal?” he questions, his fingers brushing my palm.

  “Yes,” I reply shamelessly. “That car is almost as important to me as my sisters.” And not just because I love cars. No, the car is so much more than that. It was one of my mom’s cars. We were supposed to fix it up together. And while this may sound crazy, I feel connected to her when I drive it.

  But I’m not about to divulge all of that to Blaise.

  “Just be careful with it, okay?” I utter softly.

  He grows quiet. Then I feel fingers brush my hair, sweeping strands behind my ear. “I promise I will.”

  He walks out of the washroom, leaving me feeling worried and confused and kind of fluttery among a clusterfuck of other unwelcomed emotions. I don’t know what to make it. Don’t want to make anything of it.

  Thankfully—and I never thought I’d think this—I have a buttload of other problems to distract me from whatever the hell Blaise is doing to me.

  Blaise

  I think Hadley may believe I’m overreacting with this whole getting-her-car-out-of-the-driveway issue. I’m not. At all. These guys her dad is mixed up with are dangerous men who do terrible things to people who piss them off. I know it. Everyone in town knows it. They should be locked away in prison for life, but my dad and Axel pay off police and judges and basically own this town.

  If I could, I’d get out. Fucking hit the road and never look back. But until all of my brothers are eighteen, I’m stuck in Honeyton. And even then, I’m unsure if I could leave unless all of my brothers left too. And I’m not positive they would. No, sadly, Alex seems drawn to this corrupt world, unlike me who’s spent most of my life trying to keep us out of it. It’s why I get so pissed off and upset every time Alex goes over to that fucking trailer my dad owns. Well, that and because he gets high.

  And now, here I am walking straight toward a part of that world I’ve tried so damn hard to stay away from. If I’m being honest, I want to turn around, go back inside, and demand that Hadley just ride with us. But I’m not that kind of guy, even though I sometimes pretend to be. Plus, with the way Hadley looked when I walked out of the house, as if this car was the only thing left for her to hang onto, I don’t think I can turn back without feeling guilty, even if it does seem a bit strange to me that driving a car will make her feel better. Then again, I guess Rhyland acts the same way sometimes.

  As I stride toward the fence that divides the Harlyton’s property and mine, I keep my gaze fixed on the suspicious car parked in the driveway. The windows are tinted, giving me a shitty view of who’s inside, which sucks.

  “Come on; reveal your identity so I can know who I’m dealing with,” I mutter as I reach the fence.

  On cue, the driver’s door swings open and out hops none other than William D., Axel’s personal bodyguard and from rumors around town, personal assassin. Whether the latter is true or not is beyond me—you can’t believe half the rumors you hear around here. But the other half you probably can believe and that’s terrifying in itself.

  William is dressed in a black suit and sporting a pair of sunglasses, the epitome of what movies make bodyguards look like. He’s also as tall as me, which is pretty tall, but he carries about at least double my weight. He’s also not alone either. Someone is sitting in the passenger seat, but I can’t tell who.

  “Well, well, well, look what the fucking sickly cat drug in.” He stands near the driver’s side of the car with his arms crossed.

  “I’m not sure why you’re acting surprised to see me.” I hoist myself over the fence. “You’ve been to my house before, so you know I live right next door.”

  Yeah, see, here’s the thing. Axel and my dad used to be good old besties up until Axel stabbed my father in the back, opened his own business, and stole half my dad’s clients and lackeys. That was just under a decade ago. A line was drawn across Honeyton that day. Either you’re on Axel’s side or my father’s—never both. Of course, not every citizen is part of their stupid rival.

  I wish I wasn’t. But, whether I like it or not, being a Porterson means I’m on the Porterson side. It’s why some people fear us and why some people despise us and why I never let anyone besides my brothers into my life—because I can’t trust anyone. Yet, I’ve somehow managed to let Hadley in and doing so has led me right here, standing in front of one of Axel’s bodyguards. I’m not sure what to make of it.

  But I guess there’s no turning back now.

  “Yeah, you live over there.” William nods at my house. “But that doesn’t explain why you’re here, in Mel Harlyton’s driveway. You know the man’s a traitor, right? He’s been working for Axel and your father for weeks now, which is against the rules.”

  “I know what the stupid rules are.” I roll my eyes. “I don’t need a recap.”

  “You better watch your mouth,” he warns lowly, drawing his sunglasses down to give a dramatic glance around the quiet neighborhood. “There’s no one around right now to save your ass.”

  “My ass doesn’t need saved,” I manage to say in a bored tone. Doesn’t mean I’m bored, though. No, I’m fucking nervous as hell. But letting William know that will only make the situation worse. “Besides, I know my dad and Axel have an agreement that their kids are off limits to this stupid feud between them, so your little threat is stupid.”

  His lips twitch as he pushes his sunglasses up the brim of his nose. “Whatever, kid. I don’t have time to deal with smart-mouthed brats.”

  I cross my arms. “Then why’d you get out of your car?”

  His jaw ticks. “You wandered onto my turf.”

  “Turf? What is this, 1930?” I’m pushing my luck, but I can’t back down and show signs of weakness—never can when I’m around anyone associated with Axel. And my father. If I do, my father will… Well, that’s a whole other story altogether. “And besides, my father owns the house and the driveway your car is currently parked in, which means that you’re technically breaking rules, too.”

  He inches toward me, red-faced and pissed off. “You got a lot of nerve talking to me that way. If you’re smart, you’d turn around, walk back into your little house, and go back to your little pretend world of safety.”

  My jaw muscles spasm as I’m reminded of something I fear every day—that the safety I pretend exists around my brothers and I isn’t fake. Deep down, though, I know it is. Know that at any given moment, Axel could decide to break his agreement with my dad—after all he did stab him in the back—and come after my brothers and me.

  On occasion, my dad has tried to give us a bodyguard, which means having one of his men around us twenty-four seven, constantly watching us, reporting back to my dad, and bringing my dad’s world into our lives. That’s not the kind of life I want for me or my brothers.

  My dad’s never been happy about my refusal. And honestly, I’m surprised he didn’t fight it more. Sometimes I wonder, though, if he secretly has someone watching us all the time.

  I sneak a glance around the two-story, dilapidated houses surrounding the neighborhood and the few cars parked in the street. None of the cars are fancy enough to belong to my dad, but he does own all the houses on the street and I don’t know all of our neighbors, so anyone could be living inside them.

  “Looking for someone to help you?” he mocks. “Well, let me let you in on a little secret.” He slants into my face. “That’s not gonna happen. Your dad and all his men are clear across town in their big old mansions, pretending like this shithole of a neighborhood doesn’t exist.” He leans closer, his breath reeking of stale cigarettes. “Pretending like you don’t exist.”

  “Get out
of my face,” I warn, “before I make you.”

  A grin spreads across his face. He’s missing a front tooth and the rest of his teeth are stained yellow. “Go ahead and try.”

  My fingers curl into fists. I want to hit him—I really do—but the guy’s twice my size and probably packing. Sure, there’s the stupid agreement that he can’t touch me, but it’s not like Axel and his men are trustworthy. Neither is my father or his men.

  “William, leave him alone.” A feminine voice floats over from the car.

  William curses under his breath while I lean to the side to see who she is. Then I instantly regret looking.

  “Hey Blaise.” Emilia, Axel’s daughter, greets me with a smile. Her smile is fake, though, just like everything else about her.

  “Amelia,” I reply in a tight tone, my nerves creeping through.

  It might seem stupid for me to get nervous over simply being near Emilia, an eighteen-year-old girl whose short, petite frame hardly looks threatening. Plus, her pearls, high-heeled, button-down shirt and skirt get-up makes her look like some prissy rich girl, which I guess she is. But Amelia also has a darker side to her, a side only the unlucky ones get to discover, me being one of them.

  “Aw, now Blaise, is that any way to treat an old lover?” She ambles around the front of the car, a smirk spreading across her face as William visibly stiffens.

  So do I.

  “Lover?” William questions, glancing back and forth between Amelia and me. “Amelia, sweetheart, you better be joking.”

  “Of course I am.” She smiles sweetly at William. When he turns toward me again, though, putting his back to her, her sweet smile turns naughty as she sticks up her middle finger at me then sucks on it.

  I shake my head. I so don’t have the patience to deal with this right now.

  “What’re you doing back in town?” I ask Amelia. “I thought you moved to New York to live with your mom.”

  She shrugs. “I tried it out for the summer, but turns out I’m not much of a city girl as I thought I was.” She slants back against the front of the car, resting her hands behind her on the hood. “Or maybe I just missed seeing your pretty face every day.”

  “Amelia,” William warns. “Stop flirting with the enemy.”

  “Oh, would you relax?” Amelia straightens and steps beside William. “Blaise knows I’m kidding.” When William isn’t looking, she mouths, “No, I’m not.” Then she sucks on her finger again.

  I sigh heavily. I’ve known Amelia since we were practically babies and we’ve never gotten along, but she hardly gets along with anyone so it wasn’t that big of a deal. Well, until around the time we turned sixteen and she took on this weird, seductress persona. Ever since then she’s become harder and harder to tolerate. And honestly, I think part of the reason she acts this way is to piss her dad off.

  Honeyton was so much more tolerable to live in when she moved to New York with her mom. From what I understood, she wasn’t coming back until she graduated. So why is she here in Honeyton, at the start of our senior year? I could ask her but, more than likely she won’t give a straight answer.

  “Why are you guys even here anyway?” I direct my question to William, but Amelia answers.

  “William had to stop at this lovely little place,” she pulls a face at the Harlyton’s house, “this morning because the current resident has pissed Daddy off. Lucky for him, he doesn’t seem to be home.”

  “No, he doesn’t.” William fastens his gaze on me. “You don’t by chance know where Mel is, do you?

  “Why the hell would I know some dude’s location?” I ask, shaking my head.

  “Maybe because he works for your father?” William throws back at me.

  “But I don’t,” I remind him. “And I don’t associate with anything that has to do with his business.”

  “For now. But in time, this world is gonna drag you in, whether you like it or not.” His ominous words send a chill down my spine. He grins, turning toward the car. “If you do happen to see Mel around, it’d be best to tell him to come to Axel. The less we have to chase him the less severe his punishment will be.”

  That sends a chill spreading across my entire body.

  Sure, that’s exactly how things will go down. And I’m sure his punishment will simply be a lecture and a soft slap on the hand.

  “Then again, I can’t make that promise for your father,” William adds as he opens the driver’s side door. “Amelia, get in the car. I need to get you to school so I can run a few errands.”

  And by errands he probably means drug runs.

  Amelia grins at me like the Cheshire cat. “See you at school, gorgeous.” Then she blows me a kiss, skips around the car, and hops inside.

  I shake my head, my temples pounding as the car backs up the driveway and drives away. They might be leaving, but they’ll be back. And now, Amelia will be at school, which means more than likely so will Austin, Amelia’s twin. And compared to Austin, Amelia is a kind, sane, saint. The really shitty part about all this is they both have a vendetta against me and my brothers. I’m not even sure why. Whether it’s simply based on our father’s feud or if they decided to hate us because they could. Since the vendetta has been going on since before our fathers declared war on each other, my best guess is the latter. While I’m not afraid of either of them, the last thing I need is them stirring up trouble.

  But I have a feeling that’s exactly what they’re going to do, which means that little statement I gave to Hadley about us being okay at school might not be as accurate as I thought.

  Hadley

  “So, do you, what? Like live here now or something?” Alex mocks as he grabs a box of cereal from the cupboard.

  I’m lingering near the back door, watching Blaise through the window. He’s talking to some big dude who’s dressed like he thinks he’s in some action movie. There’s a girl standing beside him who looks around my age and is wearing what I think are designer clothes with how shiny and fancy the material is. Her long, black hair is equally as shiny and her shininess makes her appear way out of place in this dingy, rundown neighborhood.

  Who is she? And why is she at my house?

  “Yeah, actually, I am,” I quip back to Alex while keeping my gaze trained on Blaise and the two strangers. What’s going on over there? “Into your room, actually.” I give him an exaggerated cheery smile. “We’re going to have so much fun, roomie!”

  He stares at me, unimpressed, as he pours some cereal into a bowl. “Hardy fucking har. You’re so fucking funny.”

  “Thanks.” I grin as he narrows his eyes on me.

  “Come on, you two, cut it out,” Rhyland intervenes. He’s sitting on the kitchen table with his feet propped up on one of the mismatched chairs with his phone in his hand and his gaze on the screen.

  “Just because Blaise isn’t in here right now doesn’t make you the boss,” Alex snaps as he gets a gallon of milk out of the fridge.

  “Um, yeah, it does,” Rhyland insists without looking up.

  “How do you figure?” Alex unscrews the cap on the milk.

  “Because I’m currently the oldest one here.” Rhyland puts his phone into his pocket.

  Alex shakes his head. “By, like, two minutes.”

  “That still makes me older. And besides, I’m more mature than you.” Rhyland shrugs when Alex blasts him with a dirty look. “Don’t look at me like that. You know it’s true.”

  Jaxon, who’s eating his cereal quietly at the table, sighs. The kid rarely talks. In fact, I think I’ve heard him utter maybe a total of three sentences since I met him. I wonder why that is. If he’s simply quiet, perhaps shy, or if there’s more to it than that.

  “It’s not true,” Alex argues. “You just think you know everything, but you don’t, so get over yourself.”

  Rhyland lowers his hands into his head. “It’s too early for this shit,” he mumbles.

  Silence stretches across the room, except for the crunching sounds of Alex and Jaxon munching o
n their cereal. But the air thick with a tension.

  More than ready to leave, I glance back out the window and relief washes over me. The car with tinted windows is gone and Blaise is pulling up into the driveway of his house in my car.

  I grab the doorknob and hurry outside, muttering, “Later.” Then I jog down the stairs and across the yellowing grass.

  By the time I reach my car, Blaise is hopping out.

  “Who were those people you were talking to?” I ask as I toss my bag into the back seat.

  He rubs his palm across the top of his head, stress written all over his face. “The big guy’s name is William. He’s one of Axel’s bodyguards.”

  I shield my eyes from the sunlight. “And he was looking for my dad?” I ask, and he nods. “What’d you tell him?”

  He shrugs, his hand falling to his side. “The truth—that I don’t know where Mel is.”

  “Did you tell him about the fight last night? Or the drugs and money in the backyard?”

  He shakes his head. “And I don’t plan on it.” He shifts his weight, sliding his hands into his back pockets. “Honestly, I think the less Axel and my father know about your dad, the better.”

  “Yeah, I agree. I’m not a fan of my dad, but I don’t want to do or say anything that might help someone track him down either.”

  “That’s not really what I’m worried about.”

  “What do you mean?”

  He rubs his lips together while studying me. “I don’t want to scare you, but I’m more worried about you and your sisters than your dad.”

  I gulp down a shaky breath. “You think they’ll come after us?”

  “I’m not sure,” he answers honestly. “I can ask my dad to stay away from you guys, maybe call in a favor, but Axel’s a whole different story.”

  My palms begin to sweat, my heart an erratic mess in my chest. “Maybe I should go to the police and report the situation.”