Page 44 of House of Bass

“Why would he have a problem with her working with him?”

Before Scarlett could answer, the two of them were thrown back to the scene in front of them as someone yelled, “Feds!”

This led everyone to scatter immediately, the place dispersing in record time.

Harley was ready to run, but Scarlett just held her. She stood still like she was awaiting orders. Lucas commanded with a voice she was yet to hear from him. “Blossom, take Lily inside. We’ll deal with this.”

Then he turned to his cousin, referring to Harley. “Get the girl home, she doesn’t belong here.”

This was when Posy finally took into account who was in front of her. She froze. Her eyes pinched in frustration and she shook her head. “I’ll come with you.”

✧✧✧

The staunch silence of the car was brittling and uncomfortable but Harley didn’t care to fill it at this present time so she simply looked out the window admiring the light of the moon. There was a full moon tonight and it hung in the sky following and watching. It was no secret but she loved the moon, it was a guilty pleasure of sorts.

She loved the stars but the moon was who she admired even more. There were many moments as a child when she would just sit on her balcony and watch it, she felt like it was watching over her in a way her mother couldn't.

The irony wasn’t lost on her considering her mama is named Selene, after the Greek goddess. Likely she was looking for a replacement to the one she had. Unlike her mother the moon was constant, the moon didn’t leave and the moon always shone brightly amongst the stars, embracing them.

She felt the resentment that she often tried to swallow, build back up and ultimately had no choice but to divert her focus back into the car to not let it overwhelm her.

Harley was sitting in the backseat as Posy drove with Scarlett in the passenger seat. The latter tapped her fingers against the window to the beat of the drizzle that had started to pour. Other than that, the vehicle was still relatively quiet, the two girls likely still reeling from their night out being cut short. They had only narrowly escaped being seen when they left, and though Harley was no stranger to police she would rather stay away from them.

After a couple minutes, she leaned her head back against the seat and let out a restless sigh. “I enjoyed your race,” Harley said, breaking the silence. “Very surprised to see you there in the first place, but I probably shouldn't have been. You clearly love being behind the wheel.”

Posy’s jaw ticked like she was holding in her frustrations. Harley suspected from the way her eyes constantly flickered towards Scarlett she didn’t want to reveal the secret of her birth in front of her despite the familial relation. So she revealed it for her, “Don’t mince your words. She knows, so you can speak freely.”

“You told her?” Posy whipped her head towards Harley, before quickly looking back to face the nearly empty road. “After I specifically warned you against it?”

She gave Scarlett a sharp look and the recipient just shrugged. “Don’t blame me, she told me of her own free will.”

“It just came out,” Harley nonchalantly confessed.

“What do you mean it just came out? If your dad find-”

The relaxed smile wiped off Harley’s face in an instant and she bestowed Posy with a grave expression, “Don’t call him that.”

But Posy paid her anger no mind, “The image of your father is something that is very important to him. I’m serious, you don't want to find out what could happen if he finds out you're telling people.”

“And you especially need to stay the fuck away from anything to do with my brother.” Then she muttered a barely legible, “That sister of yours, too.”

“Why? I have been here for a month and I haven’t even met the man. Now, you tell me that I can’t go to places with my friends without any explanation and expect me to comply,” Harley gritted out, her frustration building. Her upset at being cast aside by yet another parent swelled. Despite how much she told herself that she didn’t care about the man, she did. That was why she went searching for him when she was fourteen in the first place and truth be told why she was here now.

“My brother isn’t a very good person and deals in things you have no business concerning yourself with. Something someone,” Posy gave Scarlett a dangerous glare, who turned away and suddenly fancied something out the window. “Should have told you about, before she brought you there.”

“I didn’t think anything would happen tonight. Also–” Scarlett whined, and they bickered with one another. Harley couldn’t help but take note in the way they interacted with one another. Scarlett had always been someone who held her own and seemed in charge, yet right now she acted like a youngest child being told off by an older sibling. The chip on her shoulder was gone entirely in the presence of family, it was cute. Harley secretly wished that she would feel that way about her someday. A friendship that felt like home.

She was glad that they had addressed their issues earlier, now she hoped things would be smooth sailing from here on out.

They finally got to the front of her house. When Posy parked, she said, “Don’t go back, Harley. William knows everything that goes on in this place, even when he isn’t around. Stay on this side of the water. It’s safer for you here.”

There was nothing she could do but accept it. Harley turned to Scarlett and softly said, “I’ll see you on Monday… at uni?”

She nodded, then Harley thanked Posy for the ride and exited the car without another word, the sound of the tires on the gravel fading as they drove away.

18

ST. ANNABEL