AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Jesus Christ, Markus. At least now I know why you weren’t answering your phone. You don’t even have the ringer on. It says you’ve missed four calls from me, one from your office and… for Christ’s sake. You’ve missed six phone calls, two voicemails, and over a dozen text messages from Tiffany. I think she really wants to talk with you.”
Markus’s face grew dark. “That damn woman lied to me yesterday, too. I feel like I’ll never be able to trust her again. It’s clear she’ll lie for Brianna.”
Lukus chuckled at his friend. “Of course, she did. What kind of a real friend wouldn’t have lied to you under these circumstances? If it makes you feel any better, Bri told me Tiffany was furious with her yesterday for putting her in that terrible position. I guess Tiffany hates Jake with a passion, and she was furious with Bri for even considering leaving the salon with him.”
“I guess that’s some consolation, although I’m still pissed. I’m sure Tiff is worried about Bri since she was a no-show at the salon. Not that she would have reached Bri anyway since she left her cell phone in the car last night. Tiff’s going to go ballistic when she finds out I know about Jake.”
The men headed into the kitchen to grab sandwiches and a cold beer. They spent the next thirty minutes planning how to get Brianna back home where she could be both comforted and punished by her husband and Dom. Markus knew he needed to punish her himself so they could put her infidelity behind them once and for all and start over with a clean slate.
Tiffany phoned two more times while they were in the kitchen. Finally, on the last call, Markus decided it was time to answer. He put the call on speaker so Lukus could hear both sides.
He didn’t even answer with a hello. “Tiffany, you need to stop calling me.” His voice was hard.
“Oh, thank God you answered. Markus, I think something terrible happened to Brianna. She didn’t show up at the salon this morning and she isn’t even answering her cell phone. This is so unlike her. I’m really worried.” Her voice was shrill with panic.
“You’re right about one thing, Tiff. Something really terrible did happen to Brianna. Her husband found out she was fucking around on the side with her ex-boyfriend.”
Silence. The men’s eyes met as they heard a gulp of air at the other end of the phone. It coincided with the blare of someone’s horn. Tiffany was in her car.
Panic had been replaced with pleas. “Oh, no. Markus… you have to...”
“Stop! I don’t have to do shit, Tiff. Brianna made her choices and now she’s gonna have to live with those choices. You made yours too, didn’t you? You flat out lied to me when I called you.”
Lukus could hear her crying on the other end of the phone. “Markus, please. I’m so sorry. I wanted to tell you the truth because I’m so worried about Bri. Jake is dangerous. He’s hurt her so badly before and it scares the shit out of me.”
“I need to go. Stop calling me.”
“But, I need—” Markus ended the call before he could hear the rest of her plea.
“Well, you were pretty hard on her considering she wasn’t the one who cheated on you.” Lukus wasn’t sure why, but he was bothered by how that call went down.
“Butt out. Tiffany was our maid-of-honor. She’s supposed to be there for us, and our marriage. She should have talked some sense into Brianna instead of covering for her.”
“Okay, if you say so. I’m gonna head back to the club—get things set in motion for our plan. You need to seriously take a shower and clean yourself up before you head down. You look like shit man.”
“Gee, thanks.”
As the men opened the door to head out, Lukus saw an attractive woman jumping out of her car and barreling up the front walkway. The lines of mascara running down the cheeks under her panicked blue eyes told him this must be Tiffany. While Bri’s friend focused on confronting Markus, he took a minute to blatantly check the blonde out from head to toe, admiring her long legs, well-rounded ass, and firm tits. Lukus loved how snugly the casual knit, low-cut wrap-around dress she was wearing hugged her curves.
“Markus, I’m so sorry I lied to you. Really, I am, but I need to see Bri right away. You can’t keep her from me.” Tiffany bravely tried to push past Markus, but he easily stopped her in her tracks. When she continued to try to pass, Lukus moved shoulder to shoulder with Markus, helping to block the entrance to the house. More frustrated, Tiff growled, “I mean it. Let me past so I can go find Bri.”
Lukus wanted a closer look into those big blue eyes, so he jumped into the fray. “What makes you think Brianna is even here?”
The look of terror that clouded her wide eyes as Tiffany finally turned to him almost gutted Lukus. “What do you mean? Where else could she be? Oh, my God. Jake didn’t hurt her, did he?”
Lukus watched as Tiffany’s assertiveness melted with alarm. In that moment, he knew Brianna’s fear that her best friend might desert her was completely unfounded. He suspected Tiffany was as loyal as friends came and for some reason, Lukus found himself proud of her for standing up for Brianna in the face of two towering, pissed-off men.
“I think Jake should be the least of your worries,” Lukus answered. “Or hers, for that matter.”
Tiffany had turned back towards Markus, but his stern response had her finally inspecting Lukus for the first time. He almost chuckled as he saw the range of emotions crossing her expressive face. He fought the urge to reach out to wipe the smeared mascara from her cheeks with the pad of his thumb. The worry lines around her eyes creased as her fear seemed to change to curiosity. “Who are you and what have you done with Brianna?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know, baby?”
“Don’tbabyme, asshole. I want to see Bri and I wanna see Brinow,” she snapped back quickly, actually stomping her foot like a tantrum.
“Or what?” It was impossible to stop from smiling as he enjoyed toying with the agitated blonde.
“Or… or… damn it… just let me talk to Brianna,” she sputtered
