Page 49 of Frenemies

“The other day, you ate a watermelon with a fork and knife.”

She might have a point. I mean, I didn’t want to get grease on my dress. Thankfully they brought out a little bowl of water for me to wash my fingers in.

After that, I used the fork, which was not an easy task. But I rose to the challenge and managed to eat every last bite without one mishap. My etiquette teacher would have been impressed.

I was actually starting to feel better about the whole Chase thing by the time we left to head home. I was still going to kill him, but I might kiss him better afterward.

Then the sound of bikes cut through my happiness.

My eyes narrowed on the four men coming our way. More specifically, the asshole with the scar I’d met the other day. A part of me hoped they would roll on by—I’d about had my fill of assholes. That part was an idiot.

The bikes came to a stop, one of which rolled up on the sidewalk, cutting us off.

“Hey,” Ava waved her finger like she was scolding a petulant child. “This is not a road, mister.”

I reached out to grab Ava’s shoulder and pulled her back over to me. “He knows it’s not a road.”

“Oh, so he’s just an asshole then?”

My eyes locked onto Scarface. “Pretty much.”

He got off his bike and gave a bow while twirling his hand through the air. “You can call me Harris.”

Harris? Why did I know that name?

Bailey stood beside me, eyeing them while Ava propped a hand on her hip.

“Well, Mr. Harris. You should obey the rules of the road and steer your bike back out there.” She pointed over to the other three men with him.

Ava might be more concerned with traffic safety, but I was getting a bad feeling. Bailey shared in my suspicion. Her jaw clenched as she stepped in closer to me. Looks like little Miss Innocent could get mad after all.

“What are you gonna do if I don’t?” Harris leaned back against his bike and shot Ava a smile. “Ain’t got no stick to beat me with this time, Sugar Plum.”

That’s when it hit me. Sugar Plum. I’d hear someone use that name before, and not just any someone, but the same someone that just said it.

I was about ten, sneaking around when I heard Daddy talking to someone. I didn’t remember who, just that I saw a big guy in a leather jacket when I peeked in his office.

“Doyou have any idea the kind of hell Louis Kessler will rain down on us if bodies start popping up in his town?”

Daddy was mad, but the guy he was talking to was even madder. I jumped back when his voice boomed through the air.

“Make sure my brother doesn’t go sticking his nose around the Aurora, or your daughter will be in my next shipment.”

Daddy snickered. “If you’re going to threaten me, Jax, do it with something I actually care about.”

I saw the big guy shake his head. “You’re a sick bastard. You know that?”

“That’s why you wanted to do business with me.”

“It might just be easier to kill you.”

I couldn’t stop myself from yelling, “Leave my daddy alone.”

The door flew open, and a tall man with a scary red scar smiled down at me. “Hello there, little Sugar Plum…”

I blinkedmy eyes and stared at Harris. Why was he in my father’s office eight years ago? And more importantly, why was Jax there? And what was the Aurora?

“I don’t need a stick.” Ava insisted and held up her pointer finger. “I have this finger.”

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