NEVER GOODBYE (An Albany Boys Novel) Read Online Free Page B

to you,” I say to her.
    “And then what?” she rushes.
    “Yeah, then what, Doctor Love?” Luke coos, but just as intrigued as April.
    “Be yourself.”
    She freezes and scoffs. “That’s it? Be myself!”
    “Yeah, what about showing him some skin?” Luke gazes down at April’s body and grins. “Okay, so that part you’ve checked off our list.”
    “Ohmygod, ohmygod, ohmygod,” she chants leaving me no choice but to take her shoulders and hug her.
    “Stop freaking out. It was you who showed him how tough and sexy you are, I just threw the lure out there and now you just need to reel him in. K?”
    She hugs me tighter and I feel the damp, warm body of Luke who hugs the both of us. “That’s right ladies, share the love. It’s been a dream of mine since I grew hair near the meat and veg department.”
    “Eww,” I say, laughing and pulling from them as April slaps him hard enough on the bare chest to make him cry out in pain and laughter. People are looking at us and lately, this would bother me, but right now, I realize life is too short not to enjoy it. Even if it is disgusting.
    I left Luke and April together while I went to the bathroom which was like going to the bathroom at the Crowne Plaza . Not that I’ve been there, but you get my drift. It’s bigger than my bedroom and apparently it’s the guest bathroom, so I’d hate ― or love ― to see the master bathroom’s size. The house is empty, though the music loud as it pumps from the roof. I walk down the hall of glass, gazing out at the hill of tall grass that waves in the breeze and wonder idly what I’d find over the ridge when I run into something. No, I run into someone.
    “Whoa there.”
    “Oh, I’m so sorry.” I’ve never met this man, but I can tell right off he’s Vaun’s father. That same cheeky smile, bright brown eyes and broad chest. “I really am sorry. I wasn’t looking where I was going.”
    I don’t know what it was, but something made his whole demeanor change and no longer did he remind me of his son. His eyes became hard and pinched as he scrutinized me obviously not approving of a teenage girl in his house.
    “Typical,” he says, like the word’s dirty, somehow rubbing it’s filth onto me and I shudder.
    “Sorry,” I keep saying. I want to stop, but it keeps falling out of my mouth even though it means nothing and sounds small and ridiculous. I know all this, though right now, all I can do is utter an apology and hope he’ll step aside so I can get the hell out of here which I’m sure he would prefer.
    “I suppose you like what you see here; big house, pool, property, money. All you girls see this and imagine some ludicrous dream with my boys, flash your young, pretty assets and they’re putty. Well, let me tell you something young lady ―”
    I think I’m about to either faint or cry and I don’t cry. Not in public anyway. Though something about Vaun’s father scares me and creeps me the hell out. He continues, taking a step closer to me and I take another back even though I know I don’t have a lot of space behind me before I’m going to be against glass. “Those boys will have no power or money without my say so. So ―”
    “That’s enough, Dad,” comes a voice off to the side and I jump. It’s Vaun and he looks less than happy and yet absolutely and insanely hot as he pulls a black tee down his ribcage covering that amazing tattoo.  I’m relieved I’m no longer alone with his father and will myself to calm the eff down.
     

2
    No love lost
     

Harper
    ‘There's no love more intense than the love we have for our kids - and where there is intense love, there is also intense fear lurking beneath the surface.’
    Arianna Huffington
     
    His father laughs, though it is less than friendly. Menacing is clearly more his style. “You think I’m done. I’m not done, boy. When I’m done you’ll know about it. Actually, why don’t I give you a quick lesson, since you’re such a quick study