Jude, page 1
Jude
Tainted Kings
Book 3
Sarah Peis
Hexatorial
Contents
1. Ariel
2. Jude
3. Ariel
4. Jude
5. Ariel
6. Jude
7. Ariel
8. Jude
9. Ariel
10. Jude
11. Ariel
12. Jude
13. Ariel
14. Jude
15. Ariel
16. Jude
17. Ariel
18. Jude
19. Ariel
20. Jude
21. Ariel
22. Jude
23. Ariel
24. Jude
25. Ariel
26. Jude
27. Ariel
Epilogue
More books by Sarah Peis
About the Author
Where you can find me
Thank you
Jude
©2023 Sarah Peis
Published by Hexatorial
Editing: Natasha Orme
Editing: Hot Tree Editing
Cover Art: Sarah
ISBN 978-0-6455583-1-9
Print ISBN
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s wild imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. Except for Willa’s love for cupcakes. That’s based on a real person. Me.
Chapter 1
Ariel
“Why are you standing next to the window?”
I jumped back with a shriek, my hand going to my throat. “You scared the cra—cookies out of me, Lenny.”
My little brother regarded me with a disapproving stare. “You still spying on the new neighbor?”
I cleared my throat, my heart still racing. “I’m not spying. I’m making sure he’s who he says he is.”
“Maybe try talking to him instead of watching him from behind a curtain.”
Sometimes I wondered which of us was the adult. He was eleven years younger, but because Lenny was so small, people often thought he was only six or seven.
And no matter how hard it was to take care of an almost teen, I’d never regret fighting for him.
Thoughts of what we’d gone through made my eyes wander to the table and the letter resting on top that could change our lives. Because Mom was back. And she wanted Lenny.
I hadn’t heard from her since I was granted guardianship over Lenny and she walked away. That was four years ago.
I prayed she’d lose interest as quickly as she usually did.
“It’s called reconnaissance.”
He threw himself onto the couch, video game controller in his hand. “It’s called cowardice.”
I stepped back from my position next to the window and sat down at our small kitchen table. I had to tell Lenny about the letter. But a tiny part of me was afraid he’d choose her over me. Okay, a big part. “I’m not a coward. Only careful.”
“You’re paranoid. You have no friends, and I’ve never seen you with a guy.”
I threw a stale cracker that had been sitting on the table for a while at him. It bounced off his forehead and landed on the carpet, where it would stay for a while.
“And when would I have time to spend with friends or a boyfriend?”
He shrugged, bored with the conversation. His attention span at the moment was less than that of a toddler.
Deciding to approach the letter another day, I grabbed my keys. “Want to come to the supermarket with me?”
“Nah. But get me more frozen pizzas. And Sprite.”
Lenny spent a lot of afternoons and often nights by himself, which meant he had to make his own dinners. My job had erratic hours. At least the job that paid the bills. Lenny knew I worked at Walmart, but I was only there part-time, not full-time like he thought.
I hated lying to him, but I also couldn’t tell him the truth.
“I’ll be back soon.”
“’Kay. I’ll try not to burn down the apartment while you’re gone.”
“Appreciate it.”
My old Ford Taurus was parked in one of the lots assigned to the apartments. It was a piece of shit, rusty around the doors and trims, the red paint faded.
But it hadn’t let me down yet. And nobody looked twice at me when I drove it.
My mind churned, trying to come up with a reason why Mom wanted Lenny. I had to find a lawyer. I’d have to take on more jobs to pay for one, but Lenny was worth every shitty assignment and soul-destroying task.
My car rattled and groaned but started. I bumped my way along the gravel driveway. Our landlord was so cheap, he’d refused to pave anything. I turned the heat on high, dreaming of a vacation on an island where it wouldn’t rain the whole time we were there.
I’d promised myself that one day I’d travel. But so far, the odds weren’t in my favor.
The glare of the bright lights from the supermarket hit my eyes, and I blinked, surprised. I couldn’t even remember driving there.
I was usually hyperaware of my surroundings, but I’d been feeling off lately. Something big was coming, and I never ignored my intuition. It had saved me more times over the last few years than anything else.
The ominous feeling had stayed with me all week. And I wouldn’t be able to get rid of it until I figured out what was going on.
My trips to the supermarket were my only outings these days, and I always looked forward to wandering the aisles, filling my cart with junk. Even after years of living on my own, I wasn’t used to being able to buy whatever food I wanted.
I still expected my card to get declined at checkout every time I handed it over.
My first stop was the fresh produce aisle. Despite Lenny’s and my love of junk food, I tried to cook healthy meals whenever I was home. I used to freeze his dinners, but he never ate them, opting for pizza instead.
I’d never tested the theory, but I suspected he would happily eat pizza for every meal.
After satisfying my guilty conscience and loading my cart with a few pieces of fruit and vegetables, I went to the soft drinks section. The bottles were heavy, and I always ended up squashing all my food when I got them last. But not today.
I was busy debating if I wanted to get Coke in cans or bottles when someone stopped next to me. “Hello, neighbor.”
The smooth voice washed over me, leaving goose bumps in its wake. Looking up, I met the amber eyes of my new neighbor.
“Hi.”
His eyes danced with laughter at my obvious reluctance to engage in conversation. But he wasn’t deterred. “Late-night shopping?”
Instead of the snarky response that sat on the tip of my tongue, I nodded and loaded my cart with the cans. I could debate which option was better next time.
When I walked away with a chin nod, he fell into step behind me. At least the aisles were too narrow to walk next to each other. “I noticed the kid’s chain has come off again. If you don’t mind, I’ll fix it tomorrow.”
Startled at his offer, I stopped my car, looking behind me. “If you’re serious, that would be amazing. Thank you for the offer.”
I was stubborn and suspicious but not stupid. I’d never turn down help. I had no idea how to get the chain back on and no time to take the bike to the shop. And since it was Lenny’s only method of transportation, I had to get it fixed. He gave me a half-smile and nod, and I continued walking.
He followed me down the junk aisle, stopping when I picked out chips and chocolate that would get me through the week. “Honey and bacon flavor. Good choice.”
He stayed with me through the cleaning aisle, where I debated if I should buy a new mop or just replace the mophead I currently had.
He pulled his cart up next to me. “I can ask my cleaner to drop in this week after she’s done with my apartment.”
I threw the mophead in my car and continued walking. “That’s not necessary. But thank you.”
“It’s a standing offer. Let me know if you change your mind.”
After nodding at him with a small smile, I responded, “I will.”
I knew I’d surprised him with my gratitude when I walked away and it took him a few seconds to follow me.
“I’m Jude Smith, by the way.”
Ignoring him would be rude, and while I might be a bitch, I wasn’t an asshole. “I’m Ariel Caster.”
“Like the mermaid?”
I rolled my eyes. “Yes, like the mermaid. And yes, I’ve heard every possible joke you could make. I didn’t choose my name. Or my hair color.”
He held up his hands. “I wasn’t going to say anything. Promise.”
I tried hard not to acknowledge what his grin did to me. Or how the arm porn he was currently displaying made me look twice.
Gesturing behind me, I shot him a tight smile. “I should finish my shopping.”
“Of course. Sorry to keep you. And you’ll be happy to know my shopping list includes sugar.”
And I definitely didn’t appreciate his backside as I watched him walk away or smile at his bad joke.
Chapter 2
Jude
“Where are you?” came my brother Gabriel’s irritated growl as soon as I picked up the phone. I knew I should have ignored his call.
“At home.”
&
Getting off the couch, I went to the window, hoping to catch a glimpse of my neighbor. “I told you. At home.”
He heaved a deep sigh. “Jude. Stop being a fucking asshole.”
“I moved out.”
“Without telling us?”
I slightly moved the curtain to the side, looking out at the empty walkway. She must have left for work already. She was a cashier at Walmart, and I made sure to go there frequently. I hadn’t been for at least a day, so I was planning on dropping in later.
“I don’t have to tell you my every move. I’m a grown man, not a child.”
Gabriel’s muted curses filled the line, and then he took a deep breath. “We need you to come to the house. Family meeting.”
I craned my neck, looking at the parking lot outside, not seeing her car. “Why?”
“I’ll tell you when we have the meeting.”
Her brother’s bike sat on the ground next to the stairs. “I’m busy.”
He took another deep breath. “If you’re not here in ten minutes, I’m going to drag your ass to Dad’s office myself.”
Stepping back, I grabbed my wallet and slid it into my back pocket. “I’ll need at least twenty minutes.”
“Fine. Twenty minutes. Not a minute longer.”
He hung up, and I grinned. I loved nothing more than pissing off my brothers. They were both older and thought they could dictate my life. And Gabriel was easy to rile up. Even though he’d calmed down since getting married, he still had a short temper. But at least he didn’t shoot anyone anymore when they pissed him off.
The drive to Mom and Dad’s, where I used to live until moving into the apartment two weeks ago, took thirty minutes. Something I knew since I’d made it a few times already.
Grinning, I walked through the front door of my childhood home, wondering if Gabriel’s face would be red. Or maybe he would have already broken something. If I had to guess, I’d say the latter. He liked to throw stuff.
My sister, Freya, spotted me first from her perch at the kitchen counter. “You’re in so much trouble.”
I changed direction and went to the kitchen, where she was talking to Nim, my parents’ housekeeper, and Vanna, Gabriel’s wife. I hugged Freya, holding on a little longer. She’d left without a word a few years ago, and I’d missed her while she was gone. I’d never take having her close for granted again.
We’d known where she was the whole time, but Mom and Dad had forbidden us to contact her. Since we all knew Freya had only ever wanted her freedom, we followed their wishes. But she was back in our lives now, and there was no way we’d let her disappear again.
She lived in Ferguson, a small town in Washington, with her husband, Gunner. But she stayed in Chicago often, especially when Gunner was out of town.
“He’ll calm down.”
She patted my cheek. “Your funeral.”
I lifted my head, locking eyes with Gabriel’s wife, Vanna. She greeted me with a wide smile and tight hug.
“Hello, sister-in-law. How are you on this fine day?”
She laughed, the tinkling sound ringing through the kitchen, her thick black hair swishing back and forth at the movement. “Better than you.” She pushed me back in the direction of the study. “You better get in there or not even I can protect you.”
Waving over my shoulder, I did as I was told. “You don’t give yourself enough credit.”
The door to the study was closed when I got there, and I knocked before going inside. Even I knew better than to startle anyone in my family. We all lived by the creed “Shoot first, ask questions once they’re incapacitated.”
Liam, my oldest brother, was sitting in a chair he’d pulled up to the desk Gabriel was sitting behind. Dad was in the other chair. That left the couch for me. Ignoring the disapproving stares that followed me, I sank onto the cushions. “So what’s this all about?”
“When were you going to tell us that you found the shooter?” Gabriel growled.
Leaning back, I put my arms out to the side, resting them on top of the backrest. “I haven’t found the shooter. I have a lead. Big difference.”
Gabriel visibly clenched his teeth. “You have an address. That’s pretty big to me.”
“But I still don’t have the shooter. A woman and her brother live there. And so far, there’s been no sign of the shooter.”
Dad’s head shot up. “Why is this the first I’ve heard of it?”
“I didn’t want to get everyone’s hopes up again only for it to be a dead end. And as I said, I don’t have much yet.”
Liam put down his phone that he’d been typing on, no doubt to message his wife. “It’s more than we’ve ever had.”
“And I’m working on getting even more.”
Gabriel straightened. “Is that why you moved out?”
Shrugging, I lifted my brows. “You already know about the number we got from Aleksándr. And it led to an apartment. But even after watching the place for two weeks, we had nothing. So I bought the whole complex, and I’m renting the place next to the one we’re interested in.”
Gabriel studied me before nodding. “So you haven’t moved out. This is only until we can make sure the shooter won’t show up.”
“For now.”
I didn’t add that I might want to stay. I’d hated the apartment when I first moved in. But after I’d hired a company to do a deep clean, it was growing on me. And I had plans to fix up the whole complex.
I was putting in a new roof, and every time someone moved out, I planned on renovating their apartment. I’d been surprised when I looked over the numbers and realized it was making a decent chunk of money.
If I held on to it for five years, I’d have paid off most of it. It was a solid investment, not only because of its great location but also because of its potential. Once I’d cleaned it up, I could charge a lot more rent.
“Fine. As long as you keep us informed, I’ll let you handle this.”
Ignoring Gabriel’s directive, I got up. “How generous of you. Now, if there’s nothing else, I have a lawn mower to buy. I’m thinking of getting an electric one. What do you think?”
My brothers stared at me as if I’d announced I was becoming a vegan. Dad frowned, unsure what to make of my statement. None of them came up with a response, and I left before they could.
After saying goodbye to the women who were still chatting in the kitchen—a cliché Freya used to hate but now seemed to have embraced wholeheartedly—I drove straight to Walmart.
Pushing my cart, I walked through the aisles, debating the usefulness of a donut-shaped inflatable. I couldn’t come up with a time I’d use it but put it in my cart anyway. I could add a pool to the apartment complex. Nobody needed that many parking spaces.
Maybe I should pick up a TV as well since I was already here. The one in my bedroom was a little small.
Walking past the giant tower of plastic jars filled with chocolate-covered hazelnuts, I glanced around. There were only two other shoppers, both of them engrossed in looking at kitty litter. Knowing this was a bad idea but doing it anyway, I pushed my cart into the tower.
The noise was deafening, and I cringed at the mess. Half the tower had come down, the jars rolling on the floor all around me. But desperate times and all that.
Like clockwork, Ariel appeared, coppery red hair up in a high ponytail, her perfect body covered by her work uniform. “Again? Really?”
“I’m clumsy. Sorry.”
I bent down next to her, helping her pick up the jars. The wisp of her scent shot straight to my dick. No matter how many times I got close to her, the effect was the same.
And I’d become addicted to it. Craved it. And did everything I could to get her next to me, as evidenced by my latest pathetic stunt. I excused my behavior as research, because I had to figure out if she had anything to do with the shooter or not.
