"Hey, that's looking pretty good!" A voice appeared behind me out of thin air.

"Fuck, Tony." I turned around and towered over him. He was quite short in comparison. "Don't do that."

He looked at me like he just poked a bomb. "You finished the boat finally."

I nodded. Truth was that I finished it a long time ago, months ago. I was holding onto its final touches to drag out the process. "Yeah."

"You sound disappointed."

"Just means I have to take it to the customer," I muttered. I was avoiding that face to face contact for as long as I could. Now that the weather is warm, I ran out of time.

"Oh." Was all he said.

I walked away from the boat, away from Tony. Of course he followed behind me like my shadow. "Wait!" He called from behind me.

"Not now, Tony, I'm busy," I asserted.

"Someone asked for you!" Tony called again.

I slowed my pace. "Okay, and? Just add it to my list."

My list was growing longer by the day, not that I minded too much. It just meant more money and less sleep.

"He refused a quote. He says you owe him a favor." I paused in my tracks. "Apparently you two know each other...?"

Turning around quickly, I stormed back up to Tony. "Who was it?" I demanded.

"He didn't give me a name," Tony shriveled back. Fear. Good.

"Well what the fuck did he look like?" I barked.

Tony paused to collect his thoughts. I was shocked he even had a thought process. "Um," He lifted his arms up and shrugged. "I didn't recognize him. He was wearing a hat so I couldn't really see his face."

A deep exhale of air fell through my nose. "Did he say anything else?" My voice was calmer.

Tony shook his head. "Just that he'll be back."

I frowned for a moment. "When did this happen? When will he be back?"

"A couple days ago. He didn't say when he'd be back," Tony glanced at me, unsure of his own words. "Paranoid much?"

"A couple days ago," I repeated. Of course he didn't say anything, the guy has about two brain cells left.

I didn't think I owed any dealers anymore. Must not have settled up a debt that I forgot about...

I retreated to my truck.

I warned Tyler about my visit towards James as a hint. He knew as much as I did that if I was alone with his father, things might not turn in anyone's best interest. My urge to constantly want to punch him in the face has never faded.

What I was hoping for was Tyler to just accompany me to dropping off the boat and get it over with; I wasn't expecting him to arrange a grand visit for the day with his family to announce his engagement.

Hell.

Nine in the morning, the sun was already beaming. I hitched the boat onto my truck and double checked that all the lights were working to avoid a run in with the pigs. It wasn't often that I wore tank tops but the heat forced it upon me.

"We're going to take my car and you can follow behind us?" Tyler asked, packing his car up with random essentials that I didn't bother asking about.

"Sure," I replied absently.

He gave me a look and I just shrugged. I hated visiting, it felt like I was in a meeting with a parole officer.

As they drove off, I trailed behind them slowly. They followed the speed limit which was exhausting. Although, it didn't last long. I made a turn into a different direction and figured I would just meet them shortly after their arrival. Or not at all. I stopped short in front of a secluded house and got out of my truck.

I walked up the door and used the spare key she gave me to unlock it. There she was, dancing in her glory to blaring music. I let a chuckle slip out at the fact that she was using her dish wand as a microphone.

"Ahem," I cleared my throat loud enough for her to hear me over the music.

She whirled around with a shocked expression, her face immediately flushed pink. "I might regret giving you that house key..." She sheepishly said and flung her wand back in the sink. "I thought you were coming over tomorrow?"

I smiled. "I was but I decided to alter our arrangements."

"Oh?"

I leaned against the doorway. "Your dancing has gotten better since the last time I've caught you doing this."

Her curious, large eyes blinked at me a few times with uncertainty. Then, she flew her head over her chest and rested her hands on her thighs and began laughing. "I'm going to change my locks," She decided when she stood back up straight.

I smirked. So cute. "I think I could still get in the house even if you did change the locks."

Her teeth sucked in her bottom lip. "I suppose that is true." She inquisitively agreed. "So what are you doing here?"

"I want you to come with me to James' house."

"You do?"

"You haven't met anyone yet and his sisters would love to meet you," I offered a smile. "And I would like you to see me in a different setting than usual."

"Really? Cause you said...?" She tilted her head. Investigating.

I chuckled darkly. "It's not that. I'm just a little guarded around James." I didn't want her to see me snap when he pissed me off, which he most definitely will at some point today. "Come with me? I want your company and I know you'll keep me on my best behavior," I winked with my signature sloppy smile.

She met me at the door. "So you mean I get to see Elias Kingsley with children?" She smirked and put her hand in my clutched one. She slowly slipped my keys out of my hands.

"What are you doing?" I asked while following behind her towards my truck.

"Be on your best behavior Mr. Kingsley," She flirted while opening the driver's door of the truck and stepping inside. "Wouldn't want to cause a scene," She murmured. "I'm in charge."

I narrowed my eyes.

"You look beautiful as always," I said, letting my eyes scan up and down her body. Her white jeans with rips in them contrasted my black jeans with rips in them. She was also wearing a tanktop that had no back to it, showing off the right amount of skin.

She stood on the step of the truck with a grin, making sure to push her hips out while she climbed inside to give me a good look at her ass. Hm. "Thank you," She said with confidence.

Once again, we were driving the speed limit. "Aria," I squeezed her right thigh, making her jerk the truck. "There's no one around, you can go a little faster."

She glanced in my direction, then let her eyes drift back on the road. She slowed down. I groaned. "Painfully slow... It's kind of familiar, isn't it?"

She had a faint smile on her lips while I digested her words. "Sometimes you just want to get there."

"And sometimes," She squeezed her thighs together while she slowed down even more. "It's worth the wait."

I trailed my hands up her thigh then to her rib cage and to the side of her face. My thumb traced circles along her cheekbone then to her neck. She tilted her head towards my hand in response. I leaned in and ghosted a kiss on her neck. "Indeed." In my pocket, I played with the silver that rested inside. Worth the wait.

She must have sensed my change of energy when we pulled into the large parking lot of the mansion. It wasn't negative energy, but nerves. So much excess materialistic.

I was happy Tyler wasn't like that, although his fiancée, gorged in her newfound wealth.

I hate confrontation when I'm on the opposing side.

"Wow, Lacey wasn't kidding when she said his family was loaded," She looked out the window in awe.

"Welcome to my hell," I whispered and hopped out of the truck and made my way to the drivers side. I held out my hand and waited for her to grab it.

"Paradise is hell?" She murmured.

I cracked a smile. "Only who you're with."

We walked up the door, Tyler's car was already in the driveway which indicated that I didn't need to knock. I opened the large doors and pushed them forward to see the scenery. It was interesting to see how surprised she was by the house and what it held inside. Her parents were rich too and I had no doubt that she was living in luxury in California too. That's one of the things I loved about her; She found the beauty in everything around her.

"Eli," Margaret appeared from the foyer. "This must be Aria," She smiled warm.

"It's lovely to meet you," Aria returned the expression. Margaret gave her a hug that Aria easily accepted. "Your home is beautiful."

It's a house, not a home.

"Thank you, dear."

"Aria, this is Margaret, Tyler's step mother," I murmured beside her.

Margaret brought me into a hug which I hesitantly accepted. She knew I wasn't a fan of being touched, yet she still insisted. Aria gave me an odd look but said nothing.

"The girls will be happy to see you, Eli. Kimberly has been talking about you all morning," Margaret led us inside the house. "Kimberly loves Eli." She directed towards Aria.

I held my girlfriends hand and followed behind Margaret. "How's Zoey?"

She sighed, seemingly exhausted. "She's well, dear. She's really taken on the role of a teenage daughter."

"Yeah, I get that," I muttered. I haven't spoken much to her since she acted out in the truck.

"I'll let everyone know you're here, and when you're ready, you both can meet us outside," Margaret smiled her famous warm smile - it reminded me of melted chocolate; Sweet. "Take a tour, sweetheart, our home is your home."

"Thank you," Aria spoke for me. When Margaret left, I grabbed her by the waist and pulled her close. I was on edge. "She seems lovely, Eli. Nothing bad has happened yet."

"Give it time, pretty girl. It'll all come into focus soon." Instead of pulling her to one of the twenty rooms to have my way with her, I took her hand and led her outside to the paradise backyard.

I couldn't be more excited for fresh air, to ruin it with a cigarette.

Lacey skipped over to us, a happy grin forming on her cheeks. "Aria! Now it makes sense why you took so long to get here," She scolded.

"Yes, I felt I needed ammo," I muttered quietly.

I zoned out the girls talking, I was focused on Tyler who was having a heightened conversation with his father, both of them with their hands up, so passionate when they spoke. They were similar in many ways, but Tyler wasn't a coldhearted asshole.

I lit my smoke, needing to relax. His face was so... Smackable. Look at him with his permanent frown of disappointment, always wearing a suit to make himself feel powerful when in reality he's a phony.

"If looks could kill," Lacey commented, breaking me out of my trance.

I handed it to her for a drag. She looked around the surroundings and snuck a puff discreetly.

"I didn't know you smoked, Lace," Aria raised an eyebrow.

"I don't." Mischievous smile.

"Ellie!" Kimmy called from the pool with her arm floaties on and sun hat. Emma helped her out of the pool after relentless demands and she came running towards me.

I immediately put my cigarette out and stuck it in my back pocket. "Kimmy," I scooped her up and hugged her tightly to me. She was someone I didn't mind clinging onto me. She did however, drench my shirt.

"You're gonna come swimming!" She squealed. She then reached out and touched Aria's hair and began playing with it. "Hello!"

Aria pet her hand that was still clinging to her hair. "Hi sweetheart," She grinned.

"Yes, I'll come with you," I kissed her cheek while she nuzzled her face on my chest.

"You're pretty - Are you going to come swimming?" Kimmy asked Aria while hugging onto me tighter.

Aria looked up to me and gave me a glare. "I didn't know that was an option," She raised an eyebrow. Oops.

"There's always your birthday suit... For after hours," I quietly said. Another look. "Lace probably has something you can wear."

"I do," Lacey laughed. Her and Tyler had their own room here for whenever they stayed over. She had a small wardrobe here so she didn't have to always lug clothes.

"Ellie, me and my mom made a garden!"

"Oh yeah?" I asked, sounding super impressed. "Later on you have to show me."

Aria was watching me with an inquisitive look but broke her gaze when I caught her stare. After almost a year of knowing her, we still played that game.

Lacey instructed Aria to follow her upstairs in one of the guest houses while I returned Kimmy to the pool with her sisters.

I rang out my shirt from the pool water And slowly made my way over to James now that I had a minute alone.

Tyler greeted me with a look in his eye. He was frustrated too, interesting. He walked past me with a huff and went over to the pool where his sisters were, which ultimately threw me into the wildfire.

"Elias."

"James," I said with the same amount of ice.

"You've shown up. I was expecting you an hour ago with my son," James extended his hand.

I glared at him. Taking his hand, I squeezed harder than I normally would. "I had a stop to make."

"Yes, I see," He looked past me to Aria who was standing near the pool with Lacey. "I hope you're being respectful."

"To her, always."

"Have you gone to your meetings?" He asked, eyes burning me.

Not even in the slightest. "Yes."

"They're a condition of your release, Elias."

"I'm aware, James," I muttered. "I have your boat in the front."

He gave me a nod of a businessman. "Yes. I'd like to see that." He raised his hand out as a motion to lead the way.

I walked in front of him, wasting no time. I didn't want to have small talk. I passed by my lucky friends having a conversation. As Aria was talking to Lacey and Jessica, one of Tyler's sisters, she was distracted by the two of us walking to the front yard.

By the time we made it from the backyard to the front yard, I was already almost done my smoke from hauling on it so much. The boat was still attached to my truck because I knew that he'd want to test the boat on the water to prove I actually did my job properly.

"Perfect condition," I presented the boat.

"We'll see."

James walked around the boat and climbed on top of it to take a look. "This isn't original." He pointed to the door of the sleeping quarters.

"Switched it out," I muttered. "Yours was in poor condition."

"Engine?"

"Pristine."

"Electrical?"

"Same answer."

I crossed my arms over my chest and watched him inspect every little piece of dust particles.

He hopped down from the boat and walked up to me, only a foot away from where I was standing. I was taller than him but not by much. "It looks good."

"I know," I muttered. "Thank you, sir."

"But it would have to be turned out to insist it's been done correctly," he coldly suggested. I was going to hit him. "Have you been going to work everyday?" He asked. I guess he wasn't satisfied with the boat I put a lot of my hard work in for free - Go figure.

"Yes."

"Is Shawn pleased with your work ethic?"

"Yes, James. I've been keeping my shit together. I got a raise and I have been clean for now over a year," I spat.

"Yet that doesn't excuse your behavior of getting into scraps with strangers on the streets." He talked over me.

I frowned. "You've been keeping tabs on me?" My breathing was becoming heavier by the second.

It all made sense now.

"You haven't been attending meetings and I do have a large business where I have a lot of clients, Elias. Your name isn't unknown around the town. Is there a problem we need to sort out? Because I didn't get you out of jail for you to wind up back there, wasting my money."

"Wasting your money," I muttered.

I attempted to pay him back. I offered four grand as a start to which he ripped the check up and gave it back to me.

I could really use a bottle of Jack about now. I wanted an excuse to knock him out. He was the type of person I'd love to terrorize during a break in, maybe just for the hell of it.

"If you're not going to follow our agreement, it wouldn't be wise for you to be spending time-"

My fists formed into balls and I stepped forward. "James, don't fu-"

"-Your boat is looking great, isn't it?" A polite voice came around. Both James and I stepped back and turned towards Aria. She walked to my side and hooked our elbows together. "It's a nice day to take it for a test run, I'd say," She smiled to James.

I slowly released my balled fist, keeping my glower.

"You must be Aria," James' voice was still cold as usual.

"Pleasure to meet you," She smiled. James extended his hand for her to take but she didn't take it, instead she wrapped her arms around him and brought him into a hug. I nearly choked on my own spit.

When she released him, he straightened out his suit, obviously feeling caught off guard. "Lacey talks about you often when she visits."

"Good things I hope," She replied.

"Of course."

"My father owned a boat like this before, it runs like a beauty," Aria smiled.

James' eyes lit up at her topic. She squeezed my hand. "You don't say?" He looked to me, the smallest glint of confusion appeared on his face. "I'd like to pick apart your brain if you'd like? I'll show you around."

James sounded... Happy? Pleased? Was that an emotion he was capable of other than monotone?

I held onto her waist, not allowing her to move on with him to the boat. She gave me a look, then unwrapped my arm from her. "Go," She whispered. "I'll meet you in a few minutes."

I narrowed my eyes but listened. I didn't like it, nor understand it completely.

In the backyard, I snuck up behind Emma and lifted her only to toss her into the pool. She squealed on impact which I got a kick out of. Kimmy was giggling and encouraging it from the sidelines.

"Where's Aria?" Tyler asked, he was now shirtless and in his shorts.

I shrugged. "With your father, talking about boats."

Tyler raised his eyebrows. "Why?"

"Beats the fuck out of me, man," I shrugged again and whispered my swearing.

Lacey appeared, wearing a black one piece bathing suit. "She probably saved your ass."

Hm.

"Where's Zoey?" I asked Tyler who has been ogling his girlfriend's body as long as she's been standing beside him.

"She's in her room, pulling a trip," He replied distracted.

"Ah," I nodded and grabbed a beer.

I walked casually to my friends and pushed them both in the water at the same time. Lacey practically landed on top of him which amused the hell out of me. Tyler splashed water up at me which only made me smirk.

"Pay attention," I commented as I walked away.

I was curious as to what my girlfriend was doing with James but distracted myself with the girls by throwing each of them in the pool. It became a game for them, to see which one can be thrown the farthest. Kimmy liked to cling against me.