Shacking up with my Convict

Chapter 12

***Kellan

There's nothing I hate more than backstabbers. Absolutely nothing. Well, cheaters would be right next to them, followed by abusers and f**king entitled people. But you get where I'm going with this.

I had been watching that little witch from the moment I realized Vi's ex had made his day view at my brother's wedding. That son of a b***h should have never made it within a hundred feet of her, and I'm still boggled by the fact that she hasn't taken out a restraining order against him.

Because he'll ruin her, my mind reminds me.

Not that there's much more to ruin, he's taken a beautiful, confident woman and turned her into a fumbling mouse. Vivien was petrified of him when I found her. The brute would have escaped with hauling her ass off too, with no one knowing Vi's whereabouts until it was too late. It's such a shame to see her this terrified of a man when Morgan would have kicked him in the balls. It's hard to believe that the two of them were even related. Morgan was fearless. She could freeze hell over with just a look. Vivien, on the other hand, s**t, it took a real man not to manipulate and mishandle her. I'm not saying she's easy, far from it. Damn it, remember how hard I had to bargain just to get her to bed with me? All those days and nights we spent in the apartment together were hellish, it was f**king worth the wait. I had not planned on seeing her this weekend, but I'm sure as hell want to click my heels in glee.

Chill, men get happy too, okay? No need to be judgmental. If it wasn't going to be her, it certainly would have been some other woman.

Right back on track. I veered off there a little.

Only a bastard would instill fear in a woman to keep her, and that dipshit had a lot of ego to go around too. The way he weaseled his way into the wedding proves he's got connections. That woman was an old friend of mine. Jon might not have remembered her, but that was years back since our college days. She would have been the perfect partner to kill time too, had I not had Viven.

I steal a glance over my shoulder at her, still sleeping and finally at peace. Morgan was her cousin, it had to be quite serious if Vi had to relocate there. I bet she gave Watson hell too, knowing her. Morgan didn't take s**t from anyone. It's really by chance that we met. Had Morgan still been alive she would have kept her at least fifty feet away from me. I laugh at the thought. It's shitty the way she left, I hadn't even gotten to say goodbye. The boys hadn't even mentioned a word of her passing to me either. Guess they knew how messed up I would have gotten at the news.

I had moved here from college, still working in the shop, still broke- because there was no way my father would hear me calling and asking for money. I had already sworn it to him, the moment he told me I was dead to him. I scoffed, bet he didn't count on me showing up to Jon's wedding looking like someone.

Yeah, I'm the black sheep of the family. Go figure right.

Right, back on track. Morgan needed a roommate and, like all other dropouts, I couldn't count on my parents to put me up, having a good little brother. We made it work, even if she didn't agree with all my decisions, whether relationship-wise or work. Let's just say, she didn't approve of the boy's company. I chuckle, somehow trouble always follows us wherever we end up. She didn't like that. But as hardcore as she was, Morgan was the only woman who could walk into the club and demand my ass to come home. We all respected her, as small a woman as she was.

But damn did this situation almost work in my favor. Had I not gone to jail that month, maybe Morgan would still be alive, although again- she would have told Viven to steer fifty feet clear of me and then this vixen would be completely off limits.

I licked my lips in thought, before chuckling. Nothing tastes better than a forbidden fruit. That challenge would be sweeter than honey to hide that secret. I can only imagine the argument we would have when she caught us. Good things can't stay hidden for long darling.

Still, my biggest problem is what to do about Watson.

The door knocks and I grab a robe to answer, finding the other musketeer on the other side. For some reason ever since meeting this one, my senses have been on high alert. She might be rather prim, but something devious lay in her dark eyes and I know from experience that things aren't always what they seem.

"Yes?"

Her eyes attempt to dart inside, and I pull the door closer.

"Can I help you?"

"Oh," She flashes a shy smile. "Sorry, was only checking up on Vi. She was in such a state last night with you and all."

Kasey proceeds to waggle her eyebrows in a know-all fashion. It's best to indulge her, I guess, I can't let on how fake I find her act to be.

"She's sleeping. Exhausted." I explain.

"Oh, well as long as she's okay." Another shy smile, her phone vibrating when she attempts to speak once more. "She's a sweetheart, you have to tread carefully with her or she'll run away."

I guess she would know best.

"Despite what it seems, I know how to handle a woman and Viven isn't exactly as porcelain as you might feel."

"Mhm," She hums.

Kasey fishes her phone from her back pocket, annoyance crossing her expression at the id.

"I have to go, but just let Vi know, I'll catch her later."

Kasey didn't wait for me to respond, heading down the hall and I closed the door, heading back in. No doubt she was up to something and that woman knew just how to play the fiddle right so she wouldn't be a suspect. I grabbed a shirt and shorts, hopping into my shoes as I hurried to find where she might have wandered off to. It's just a hunch, but I'll bet my Harley on it that I'm not wrong. I search for somewhere private, from all prying eyes and ears, and find, much to both my surprise and amusement, the bastard and the wench. Finding a closer place to hide, I bide my time eavesdropping on their conversation. None of the wenches would have the opportunity to hurt Vi on my watch.

The things we do for a woman.

"I need that asshole out of my way."

"What do you want me to do, Watson? He's Jon's brother and Brean would have a fit if I suddenly wanted to separate them." She tells him in a high-pitched whisper.

"Do you understand what is at stake here, Kasey? I want Vivien and I'm not leaving without her. You had better figure out a way, whether it makes you uncomfortable or not."

"There is nothing I can do Watson. You had your chance and blew it, don't blame me for your shortcomings. I did what I could do, getting you here and leaving her in your hands when everyone else was occupied."

The asshole tenses, reaching for Kasey as if intending to scuff out her life there and then. The backstabber jumps aback in alarm in an attempt to keep her predator at bay. Too late when he corners her, veering down at her like a lion and gazelle, having kicked its feet from under it.

"Don't forget who you're talking with Kasey. Obviously, everyone wasn't occupied for me to have met the nuisance." Watson seethes between his teeth. "And engaged, how is that possible?"

"I didn't know, I don't know about them being engaged. Viven wouldn't, the most it is is just a fling. They just met."

"I don't want him f**king what's mine." He barks and the poor woman visibly wilts beneath his stare.

"He's a playboy, Watson, don't tell me you're intimidated by the likes of him? You and I both know the woman Viven is. She likes the classy intelligent one percent of society. Not jock delinquents who could barely hold their life together." Kasey coos attempting to tame her predator tempter, messing with his collar in the process.

Watson, flicks her hands away in scorn, leering at her. "I could never feel jealousy towards that t**t, but that doesn't mean I'm going to play ignorant either. She left when I thought she wouldn't, she could easily fall for him and I won't have that. You want to play the fool fine, but don't ever think we're both on the same page."

If I had a heart, I would have felt sorry for her or even him. Viven was mine now and, just like him, I was more than willing to play dirty to keep her safe. Even if, at the end of the day, she was going to bite my head off for it. I sighed just thinking of how much of a gasket she blew seeing me with the small gun. She could be so dramatic at times.

Kasey reverts to whining, seeing her plans all going to naught before her eyes.

"Watson please, if I keep acting outside of the norm, someone's going to realize that something is off with me. I can't track both of them at once." She sighs, closing her eyes, maybe wondering how the hell she got herself into such a shitty situation. "Kellan shouldn't even be a competition for you, a minor nuisance. Viven will never choose an ex-convict as well- anything. She has too high a standard for that. Even if she might act outside the norm, she's still Viven, predictable. If you keep playing the vallian she will run away, the best you can do is show her you're the better option and that you're sorry."

F**k my brother for blubbering my business off to his wife and her to her friends. Why hadn't I thought that Viven would have known about my past? Was that the reason she had determined to stay away from me before? What changed now, besides my persistence and strong will to not accept no as an answer?

Note to self, pester Viven later.

Watson pauses, thinking for a moment.

"He's got a record? Interesting." Watson muses as if he's got some arsenal to use against me now.

"If you can find a way to avoid him or even reach her without him being able to intercept you, then it would make things easier, and I could continue working on softening her up into being with you." Kasey negotiates. "It's going to take some time, Watson, and you have to be patient. If I lose her trust, it's all over and your cheating makes it a delicate situation to handle."

The wench attempts to walk away, leaving Watson in her shadow, and like a true bastard, he won't have it. At first, I thought he would reprimand her for her subtle disrespect, but his next words solidified my decision why Viven or even Brean, by extension, have no business being around either of them. There's no telling whether she would place either of them in danger just to save her ass from this narcissist.

"Don't forget that you were one of those women I slept with Kasey. You want your life, I want Vivien. Or else, and I'm sure you know what I mean, not having to spell it out."

Watson walks away then, leaving Kasey to contemplate her life while I seethe internally. This was what best friends were about these days?

I push off from the wall, bumping into a trembling figure after about three steps. Kasey glanced up at me, immediately taking a million steps backward, eyes darting everywhere and I couldn't help noticing how guilty she looked while I glared in her direction.

"Uh, uh, hey Kellan, what...when did you get here?" She manages to stammer out.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean," Kasey clears her throat, rubbing her arms. "What are you doing around these parts?"

"Oh, I was going to meet Jon, but Viven just asked me to come back to the room." I said, calmly fishing my phone from my packet and casually glancing at it.

The thought of Viven perks her up as she pastes that sly smile of her on once more, her rattled persona now gone.

"Is she awake now, I'll just come along."

Yeah, no way.

I turned blocking her path, not wanting her within an inch of Vivien without supervision.

"Is there a problem?" She queries with a small smile hiding her annoyance.

"Yeah, she'll meet you guys for lunch."

Kasey glared at me.

"You might not know this, but Vivien isn't a bone all-day type of girl. She likes mystery and chase, plus there's no way she would refuse to see me." She pushes me aside, marching off towards our shared room and I walk in her shadow, already having a plan.

The moment we reach to my room, I take charge of the dance, planting myself before the door in time before she attempts to open it.

"Have you ever slept with Vi?"

"What?" She screeches.

"Exactly, so don't tell me what to do. She will meet you like I said for lunch." I stated plainly, closing the door in her face.

Taking a deep breath, I turned to my little muse wrapped in our bed sheet and watching me from a distance away. But before I could get a word out she bolts for the bathroom, leaving me to rush after her like some starved i***t.

"Vi!" I bellow attempting to wrench the door open. "Vi, open the door!"

"No, go away!"

"Come on, do you really want to do this right now?"

"Take a shower undisturbed? Yes." She answers.

"Always better when we shower together." I muse.

"We never have and never will."

"Sweetheart, we've been through this, never say never."

"F***k off, Kellan."

I turn then enamored at her awkward feistiness.

"When you get the balls to tell that son of a b***h that, sure."

Vi takes all goddamn morning to get out of the shower and I tap my feet, waiting impatiently as a starved dog. No, I wasn't planning on being romantic - well if she's offering.

I'm not a pig, quit the complaint. I know enough about women to know that you pay too much attention, they get annoyed and too little they think you're not interested anymore. The way I see it, you're all the ones with the issues. Okay, not us.

Vi peeks out, checking the walkway, and I can't help the smile that spreads across my face seeing the disappointment on hers.

Did she really expect me to go out? Poor innocent Vivien.

"Honestly, don't you have somewhere to be?"

"I do. I'm here."

She rolls her eyes, marching past me wrapped in a towel to search for her suitcase.

"So, how long have you known Kasey?"

"What?" She asks, glancing up at me before going back to her search.

"I don't mean it in a bad way. I'm just curious."

Vi stays silent for while, pulling a large blouse over her breasts.

"Years." She finally answers.

"Really?" I quipped. "Is that the best you could do?"

"What, what do you want me to say?" She queries annoyed, plopping herself onto her bed.

"I don't know, like how you met, how long ago."

"I just told you years ago. She was friends with Brean first and we hit it off. Been friends ever since. She's the one who introduced me to Watson."

I grimaced. Now the numbers were adding up.

"I see."

"Why, what's wrong?" Vi asks skeptically. "What did you do?"

" I haven't done anything. Yet."

She shot up from the bed immediately, eyes wide with fright.

"What do you mean yet, I told you to stay away from him."

"And I have. Almost."

"Kellan, you're going to get yourself in trouble and there will be no one to save you or either of us." Vi argues deeply concerned for my safety.

"Listen to me, you need to calm down," I reassure, lifting myself from my seat and walking over.

"You're in over your head. You need to stop." She responds. "No one can save me from Watson, that's why I left, so please just stop."

"I know what I'm doing."

"You're going to get hurt." She reiterates. "He is crazy and he has a lot of power, a lot of friends, people who will ruin you, Kellan. There's no way I could live with that."

She drops her face into her hands overwhelmed.

"I knew this was too good to be true. It was only a matter of time before he found me and dragged me back."

Over my f**king dead body

I went over, kneeling before her. "You have to trust me. Do you trust me?"

She turns away and I lift her chin, to meet my eyes. I needed her to see my resolve in this. I needed her to know that there was no way I would stand aside and watch her go to hell.

"Vivien, do you trust me?"

Her gaze is troubled as she stares back before she sighs. "No. But why do I feel like I don't have a choice?"

I chuckled, placing a soft kiss on her lips, pulling her close. I think this was the most platonic of hugs we've ever share since meeting. I'm starting to think I deserve a reward for being such a good boy.

"You do, but the safest option is to just trust me."

"And if I don't?"

I pull her back from my person, a smirk tipping my smile.

These were the days I lived for, this sexy little endearing banter between us.

"I'm not opposed to torture, but I think we both know how persuasive I can be."

"Ugh." She groaned.

"Promise not to go anywhere with Kasey, alone."

"What?" Vi blinks at me in confusion. "Why, what's wrong with Kasey."

"Just promise me, Vi. If Bre or I can't go, you're unavailable. And keep the door closed at all times."

"You're scaring me. What does Kasey have to do with any of this?" Vi questions peering into my face.

"When I figure it out, I'll explain, I promise."

"My God." Vi slumps against me, trembling a little. "This is supposed to be a fun time and now it's turning into a nightmare."

"No, one is going to hurt you on my watch," I whispered, making a promise I would be dammed to keep even if it took my last breath. "And on the topic of persuasion."

"No." She answers quickly and I can't help but laugh.