Introduction

I didn’t know how I felt about returning home, I just knew that LA had eaten me up and spit me back out. Living in New York most of my life I was ready for the people, I was ready for the adventure, I just hadn’t been ready for the betrayal. Nobody ever really wants to move back home and I was no exception. In fact, my parents didn’t even know I was on my way but I knew my room would be just as I had left it and that made me feel somewhat better.

My parent’s house had always seemed like a safe haven to me and that’s exactly what I needed right now. I needed to find myself and pull myself back together. I knew they wouldn’t mind me just popping up, they were never home much anyway. As soon as I had graduated they had begun traveling a couple of times a year. My brother Cody, last I had heard from my parents, was in and out of their house on what seemed to be a weekly basis. They never said it but I was pretty sure he was on drugs again.

Turning down our street I felt some of the weight lift off my shoulders. The sun was out shining brightly giving me hope that this move home was for the best and all the negative things I had left in California would stay there. As I approached our house I frowned seeing my brother’s truck along with two cars. I knew there was a good chance he would make an appearance but I had hoped it would be later rather than sooner. I wasn't in the mood to deal with him today.

Parking in the grass on the far side of the carport I sat for a minute wondering how long I would actually have to stay here. My plan was to try to find a job in the city and move into an apartment there. I knew that it wouldn't be easy or cheap but at 22 I wasn’t trying to stay with my parents for more than a few months.

Sighing I stepped out of my car and reached in the back to grab my duffle bag. I had left LA in a hurry and only packed what I could squeeze into the big blue bag. It had taken me forever to make the drive. I probably had drained my entire account but I was home. I was safe. Walking up the carport I swung my bag on my shoulder and hoped the door was unlocked because my keys were wedged in my hand in between the straps of the bags and my fingers.

The door gave way and I walked through our laundry room and into the kitchen. I stopped in my tracks as I saw my brother looking at me like I had grown three heads. The kitchen opened up to a huge den and he was sitting on the couch with four other guys in the room with him. They all looked kinda rough especially the one sitting closest to him, he had tattoos all over his arms and neck and I hated to admit but he was kinda hot.

“Taylor, what in the fuck are you doing here? You’re not supposed to be here.” Cody said angrily as he kept looking at me crazy.

I rolled my eyes as I started walking toward my room, “I live here too jackass.”

As I walked past them I was all too aware of the eyes on me but I focused my gaze on the hallway. I needed to sit my bag down soon or my fingers might just tear apart from my hand. Once in my room, I shut the door behind me and tried to forget all about the dark-eyed tattooed stranger that had caught my attention. If he was friends with my brother that was a clear warning sign to stay the fuck away.

Lucas’s POV

I sat listening to Cody give every reason in the book why he didn’t have my money or my drugs anymore. I had heard rumors on the street that he was using again and others that said he was selling my shit and blowing it on whores and alcohol. He had already been warned and the fact that I myself had shown up on his parent’s doorstep should say something to him but he still kept making excuses and promises.

“I think I have given you more than enough time Cody,” I say as I lean up, “maybe you’re not motivated enough. Perhaps....”

The sound of a door shutting in the house brought us all on our guards and I reached under my shirt putting my hand on my gun that sat in my shoulder holster. We were all caught off guard by the girl that walked in through the kitchen and stopped looking at us all as if we were the ones who had disturbed her.

She was clearly Cody’s sister, they had the same dark hair and green eyes. The biggest difference I could see was that she was nowhere near as tall as he was. She glanced at me and I watched her eyes move from my arms to my face when Cody started talking. “Taylor, what in the fuck are you doing here? You’re not supposed to be here.”

Looking up I saw the girl, clearly named Taylor roll her eyes, “I live here too jackass,” she said as she walked straight past us with all eyes on her not in the least bit knowing that she had just disturbed our meeting.

I put a hand to my lips and smiled looking over at Cody. “You didn’t tell us you had a sister, Cody.”

Cody shook his head, “no, she has nothing to do with this. She is supposed to be in LA, not here.”

I shrugged as I stood up, “well seems to me like she appeared just in time. Tell you what, I’ll give you two months. If you don’t have something for me by then I’m going to take it out on that pretty little sister of yours in more ways than one.”

Cody lunged for me but one of my men, David,  grabbed him pulling him back before he ever even came close. “If you hurt her I swear to God Lucas Blake I will kill you myself.”

Looking up at him I tilted my head, “I wouldn’t try me, Cody, I suggest you get busy.”

I walked out of the house not bothering to look back. I knew Cody was furious but not mad enough to try anything with his sister only rooms away.

David walked up beside me, “so you going to hurt her or fuck her.”

I shrugged letting out a small laugh, “shit maybe both.”

David put his head down laughing as we got in the car, “she ain’t even your type.”

I started the car and backed out the drive, “who said I had a type, pussy is pussy. Have someone follow her just in case we need her.”

David nodded as he pulled his phone out to relay my orders. Driving off I couldn't help but to look back in the mirror. I hoped Cody would come through, but another part of me hoped he didn’t.