Page 72 of Elijah’s Whim

“Grant, this could get ugly for you too. That’s why I’m calling and didn’t bring this to the morning rooftop garden party.”

We both laughed at the reference to our new habit of meeting with Bas on the roof of the Shark Enterprises building.

“What the fuck are you talking about, Banks? And you better not be fucking with me right now. We all know I’ve had enough shit to last a decade, if not more. I just want to have calm, peaceful happiness in my world. Why is that too much to hope for?”

“It’s not, my brother. It’s not. And I swear to all that is holy, if this little bitch decides to make good on her threat, I will take the fall. Do you understand that? You’re right. You’ve had more than any one person should have to deal with in their whole life—not just a decade. I totally have your back, Grant.”

“What’s going on?”

Right after he demanded to know the story behind Shawna’s blackmail, I heard Rio’s voice in the background, and Grant’s entire demeanor changed when he spoke to her. Just hearing the difference in his tone sealed the decision for me. I absolutely would fall on the sword for this man. Not just in this instance with this psycho redhead, but anytime he needed me to. From watching him hold his lifeless mother’s body in his spindly teenage arms to picking him up in Long Beach a couple months back, I’d seen Grant Twombley suffer for the last time if I could help it.

Just like I’d vowed it regarding Sebastian a year ago when Abbi almost miscarried Kaisan and Grant and I scraped him off the ceiling where he clung with maniacal worry. If I could keep my friends comfortable, happy, safe, and content, I would go to any length to do that.

Maybe it was my way of atoning for the wrongs I’d done. I didn’t know. I wasn’t a martyr, that was for sure. I lived like a glutton. But the people I cared about didn’t have to pay for my sins.

“Banks? You still there? Did I drop you?” Twombley must have repeated himself a few times before he shook me from my introspection.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m still here. You gotta go?”

“Yeah, soon, but tell me the Reader’s Digest, man.”

I sighed. I didn’t want to say it out loud. I knew it was stupid to be superstitious, but we all were anyway. We had been since we were boys running around on the streets. So saying bad shit out loud made it that much truer.

Grant called me on the bullshit, too. “It’s not going to make it true or make it happen. Just fucking say it.” He chuckled. He knew he was right with the assertion.

“Asshole. There, see? It’s true.” I laughed too.

“Ha. You’re so funny, Mr. Banks. Sense of humor and a monster cock! Oh my God! Will you marry me?”

“I thought you were already taken? Plus, you won’t take it up the ass, so what good are you?”

“You could always bottom for me?” Grant teased.

“Never.” I got very serious then. “She took pictures of herself after a night of particularly rough play, and she was covered in welts, fingerprints, bruises…you name it. You know how rough that girl could go, man.”

“Yeah.” He sighed, likely knowing where this was headed.

“She said she will go to the authorities and social media, traditional media, whatever it takes, and say I abused her. Drag you into it too. But like I said,” I added quickly, “I won’t let that happen. I’ll go to fucking prison before I let that happen.”

“I’m not worried about that, Elijah. But I understand why you let her get away with the restraining order now. What does she want from you long term?”

“She didn’t have a chance to tell me. The cops rolled up and stormed the place. Malibu’s finest is a little overzealous when responding to anything, so they actually came into the neighborhood with lights and sirens on.”

“Oh, shit, no way.”

“Way. It was ridiculous. If Han had been here, she would’ve been mortified.” I laughed just picturing her hiding behind her hands.

“Oh my, shit, brother…was that a little pet name I just heard? Well, hell—”

“Just shut up.”

“This is worse…no, wait…better than I thought. I have to go tell Rio.”

“Oh, do you mean Blaaaze?”

“Damn straight that’s who I mean. You know why I call her that, man?”

“Yeah, duh,” I said, pouring it on like a teenager.