Chapter 3 “Jealousy”

Chapter 3 “Jealousy”

It was almost dark when Tristian switched the mellow music out for some alternative rock then grabbed the bottle of wine he had hidden down low inside the Tiki-Bar. As he picked up three glasses, a hint of a smile flickered across his lips. He had recently found his grandfather’s hidden wine cellar within the secret hallways that ran under and through the huge building.

Keeping the other family members from knowing about the narrow hallways was the only thing Tristian was glad his grandfather had done. Now he had his own little secret and so far only one other person knew about it, Angel, and she wasn’t the type to go exploring the cobwebbed catacombs.

Seeing Ashton come in the side entrance, he called to him and waved him over. “It’s time to start meeting the family.” Tristian led them to one of the upholstered picnic tables where the twins were entertaining Stacey.

“Okay. I haven’t even started drinking yet and I’m already seeing double,” Ashton joked hoping it would be a good icebreaker.

Hearing them, Damien and Devin both glanced up seeing the bottle of wine and letting their gaze follow it as Tristian set it down on the table.

“Hey, that’s one of the bottles from grandfather’s secret stash. I saw him and dad drinking one a long time ago.” Devin grabbed it and started prying at the cork. “Where the hell did you find this one?”

Before Tristian could even answer, Damien nodded toward Ashton. “Tristian? What’d you bring him for? We need another guy like we need a hole in the head.” He slid his arm around Stacey while his twin was distracted.

“Ha ha,” Tristian set the glasses down. “I would like for you to meet Ashton Fox… Angel’s boyfriend.” He raised his finger and actually pointed as he introduced them to Ashton. “And this is Devin… and Damien, our cousins… along with Stacey, who just comes to torture them when she finds the time.” He winked at Stacey knowing she wouldn’t deny it.

Ashton stuck his hand out and tried not to cringe as the twins took turns almost breaking his fingers with their grip. Flexing his hand to get the blood flowing again, he smiled and said, “Angel told me a lot about you guys. It’s good to finally meet the twins.”

“So, our little Angel told you about her favorite kissing cousins?” Damien asked with a straight face.

“Yeah, she also told me about the bloody nose you got for the effort,” Ashton said just as seriously, if not a little bored. If he was fated to crank up the testosterone… then so be it.

Tristian laughed loudly and smacked Ashton on the back, “That-a-boy, get him.”

“Are you serious?” Stacey asked, laughing with Tristian as she reached for one of the wine glasses Devin had just finished pouring.

“Hardly ever… as far as I can tell.” Damien grabbed his glass and downed it. It was sad to see that Angel had managed to get herself yet another bodyguard. Wasn’t the Indian brigade enough?

Ignoring the twins, Tristian tapped Ashton on the shoulder to get him to quit glaring. “Over there is Uncle Robert and his wife Diane,” he pointed to the couple that was climbing into the hot tub. “They stopped having children after the twins for some reason.” He tried not to laugh when that got a smirk out of Ashton.

“Who’s your friend?” Tiffany came over, putting her knee beside Devin and leaning on it like she was bored but curious. She was wearing a baby-blue bikini that was several sizes too small with a sheer wrap tied around her waist.

She flicked Devin on the ear when he turned his head to stare right at her breasts. “Ewww, stop that you pervert.”

“Give it up Tiff, he’s taken,” Devin said in a pitying tone then winked at her. “I guess you’re stuck with me after all.” He growled when he noticed Damien trying to kiss Stacey. “Damn it Damien, I can’t turn my back on you for a minute, can I?”

When the twins tried to lean toward each other to argue, Stacey was still in the middle of them. She put a delicate hand on each one of their shoulders and pushed. “Cut it out guys or I swear I’ll go home again,” she warned them.

“Tiffany, meet Ashton… Angel’s guest for the week,” Tristian downgraded Ashton from boyfriend status to guest on purpose. If Tiffany wanted to take a shot at Ash… then who was he to stop her. “Tiffany here, is our youngest cousin and she has two siblings around here somewhere.”

“They’re in the pool with their friends,” Tiffany pouted feeling just as sulky as Devin. Rolling her eyes, she grabbed Devin’s hand and pulled him out of the chair. “Come on… let’s go get wet.”

“Sure,” Devin slapped Stacey on the butt as he followed her toward the pool.

Ashton cocked an eyebrow but bit his tongue refusing to say anything out loud. Besides, the family would probably just gang up on him if he said what was running through his mind.

Tristian pointed toward the dark haired girl climbing the later of the high dive, “That’s Paris, Tiffany’s older sister. And the strange man coming up the ladder behind her is probably her new toy for the week because I have never seen him before.” He turned in his chair looking towards the other end of the pool. “And one of the two people making out in the kiddy section would be Jason, their brother.”

“What’s in the wine around here?” Ashton asked, hoping it sounded like a joke.

“Why do you think I’m not drinking it?” Tristian smiled liking Ashton more and more… sometimes life sucked. “Their mom should be showing up soon. Aunt Carley.” So Damien wouldn’t overhear, he leaned toward Ashton and added in a whisper, “That is, unless she is so drunk that she can’t walk.”

“I bet that’s her,” Ashton nodded toward the entrance since he had been scanning it watching for Angel. The middle-aged lady looked like the girls but with shorter hair and way too much makeup. She kind of looked tired… or wait a minute… did she just stagger?

“Yeah… that’s her. I bet she goes straight for the liquor.” Tristian made a winning bell sound when Carley picked up a bottle of crown royal from the Tiki-Bar and took it to a lounge chair not even bothering with a glass.

“And who is that?” Ashton asked pointing back toward the entrance, seeing a girl around Angel's age with long brown hair and fair skin.

“That would be our other cousin,” Tristian left his chair and met the girl halfway. Knowing this would really freak Ashton out; he dipped his head, giving Shae a long passionate kiss. Once he thought it was good enough of a show, he breathed against her lips. “Don’t get mad at me… but I just told Angel’s boyfriend that you were one of our cousins. Did he fall out of his seat yet?”

Shae giggled, “No, but is he always that pale?”

Tristian glanced over his shoulder and almost choked on his laugh when Ashton instantly looked in the other direction as if he hadn’t been watching. “Okay, let’s go let him off the hook.” Tristian led her by the hand back to the table noticing Damien and Stacey had joined Devin in the pool.

“This is my cousin Shae,” he grabbed his ribs when Shae elbowed him. “I mean my girlfriend Shae,” he smiled guiltily.

Ashton crossed his arms over his chest and tilted his head studying them. “Where’s that sister of yours? I suddenly feel the urge to hide behind someone.”

“Is my brother giving you a hard time?” Angel asked from directly behind him. She was smiling at Shae, having overheard the cousin remark.

“Thank god,” Ashton leaned his head back as Angel leaned down and gave him a light kiss on the lips. He was suddenly jealous because it wasn’t half as passionate as the simple kiss he had seen her slip Hunter. “I know I won’t be twenty-one for a couple more hours but your brother is seriously trying to drive me to drink.”

Pulling her around beside him, Ashton couldn’t help but glance behind her to see if the Indian was dogging her heels. Seeing a man leaning against one of the thick polls of the Tiki-Bar watching them, he frowned at first thinking it was Hunter… then realizing it wasn’t. This man was Indian, but something about him seemed more dangerous than the one he had already met.

Ray didn’t bother to look away but instead locked eyes with Angel’s boyfriend. Giving him a cold stare, he started walking straight toward them… never breaking eye contact. Seeing Angel follow the boy’s gaze, Ray softened his expression to glance at her, not caring what Ashton thought of him.

Angel’s eyes instantly lit up, “Oh look, its Ray!”

She started to push away from Ashton so she could go to him but Ashton only tightened his hold on her hand and jerked her to a stop. She bit her bottom lip curiously, then settled for smiling brightly and waiting on Ray to reach her.

Tristian noticed the heavy-handed maneuver and frowned. Angel would want a hug from Ray after not seeing him in so long, so why was Ashton being so possessive? He stood up ready to inform Ashton that being a dick was uncool but his lips twisted into a smirk when Ray walked straight up to Angel and gave her a hug anyway.

From the unhappy look on Ashton's face, Tristian hoped this would be the beginning of a wonderful argument.

“It’s good to see you back at Sanctuary,” Ray said, hugging her for a few seconds longer than normal just to piss the glaring boyfriend off. He even went a step further and gave her a kiss on the cheek before slowly pulling away. His eyes darkened several shades as he gazed into her blue ones. “If your hand starts going numb, just tell me… and I’ll break his fingers.”

“Heh?” Angel breathed then realized what he was talking about. As a matter of fact, her hand was starting to go numb. “Oh no,” she gave Ashton’s hand a squeeze as if hers didn’t hurt at all, than winked at Ray. “He’s not giving me any trouble. This is my boyfriend, Ashton.”

She smiled reassuringly knowing Ray really would break Ash’s fingers if she had told him anything differently. One thing he had always done was keep her safe.

Angel blinked remembering just one of those times. Ray had given Hunter and Tristian a serious beating when they had conned her into climbing the old oak tree that hung out over the pond. He’d forbid her from doing it several times in the past and then showed up just in time to catch her as she fell from a high branch that wasn’t on the water side.

Ray completely ignored the introduction to Ashton. “It’s good that you have come back home Angel. Maybe your grandmother will have her wish granted and you’ll stay.” He leaned close to her ear as if to whisper but kept his voice loud enough for everyone to hear it. “I’ve got a surprise for you later.” Ray gave her a secretive smile then nodded at Tristian and Shae. Without saying another word, he walked around the huge pool and out the back gate.

“Well that bites,” Angel pouted. “Why didn’t he stick around?”

“He’s probably off getting your surprise,” Tristian hedged, knowing where Ray was going.

Turning back to the picnic table, Angel sat down beside Ashton, absently rubbing her hand when he finally let go of it. She wanted to ask him why he had squeezed so hard but decided against it as she looked across the table at Shae. If Ashton wanted to be mean… then he could just be ignored. She felt like celebrating, seeing her favorite girlfriend for the first time since leaving the mountain.

“So, has my brother really been behaving, or has he been lying to me all this time?” Angel inquired playfully.

“Probably lying,” Shae looked at Tristian and winked as she stood up. “I think I’m going to steal your sister for a minute so we can catch up.”

“What? You can’t gossip in front of the guys?” Tristian asked, glad that Angel would have a reason to get away from Ashton and Shae would have a reason not to cling to him. He had mainly invited Shae for the week just so Angel would have another reminder of why she should move back home.

“That would take all the fun out of it,” Shae informed him with a mischievous twitch of her lips.

“Fine. After all, I did steal you away from her first,” he admitted without remorse as Shae walked around the table and grabbed Angel’s hands, pulling her away like they were a couple of schoolgirls.

Glancing back at Ashton, Tristian could see the change in the guy’s personality as if it were night and day. Ashton’s lips were thinner and he could almost feel the anger rolling off him in waves.

He sighed in relief knowing he had finally found another reason not to like Ashton Fox. It seemed the boy simply didn’t like to share. That only confirmed the fact that Tristian would have to find ways of taking all of Angel’s time away from her boyfriend while they were here.

“Let me know when you’re ready for that drink,” Tristian grinned as he pulled his own flask out of his pocket. “It might be a while before they come back.”

Ashton didn’t answer as his jealous gaze followed Angel’s every move.

“I’m so glad you’re back,” Shae led Angel toward the Tiki-Bar. “Your brother isn’t the only person that missed you, ya know.” She pushed Angel gently toward one of the stools while she slid behind the bar tapping her lips with her finger. “I think this deserves a toast… how does Long Island Iced Tea sound?”

“It sounds like trouble,” Angel giggled. “I’m still not sure I’m over the dozen you made me the night before I left for California.”

Shae's eyes lit up remembering that night. She had never seen Angel or Tristian drunk before. Her voice was all breathy as color rose up in her cheeks. “Yeah… that was the best night of my life.”

Seeing Angel pout at her, Shae shook her head. “No,” She laughed. “That’s not what I meant. You leaving was horrible… bad, very bad. But that night was awesome.”

“Must be nice to remember it,” Angel cocked an eyebrow wondering what she had missed.

“Sorry about that.” Shae started picking bottles from the shelf as she chatted. “That was the night Tristian finally said that he loved me.” She closed her eyes savoring the memory.

“Oh my gosh!” Angel’s lips parted as she took in her friend’s happy expression. “And to think it only took getting him drunk,” she teased.

Shae tried to frown but her lips wouldn’t cooperate as she opened her eyes. “I also spent the night with him. I guess I have you to thank for that.”

“Me? Why?” Angel asked ignoring the needles of jealousy that shot through her. Tristian was her brother and she should be happy for him. No, she WAS happy for him… and for her friend.

Shae barely added any sweet and sour mix to their drinks knowing neither of them liked the flavor. Instead, she filled the glasses the rest of the way with Pepsi. “Your brother was so sad and more than a little angry that night because you were leaving.” She plucked two straws from the container and slid them into the drinks.

“I think losing you made him realize he didn’t want to lose me too.” Shae came around the bar and hopped up on the stool beside her.

Angel took a sip of her drink trying very hard to remember that night. As the smooth flavor of the mix reached her tongue, she realized that’s why she couldn’t remember. She absolutely loved this drink.

“The last thing I remember about that night… Tristian and I were out on the north edge of the mountain at the hang gliders ramp. We were avoiding our parents and he was trying to convince me to hide.” Angel smiled sadly at the memory. “When you guys showed up with Long Island ice tea already mixed in those containers… things seemed to get better, then blurry.”

“You don’t remember offering to jump off the ramp so you wouldn’t have to leave?” Shae nudged her with her shoulder when Angel’s eyes widened. “Don’t worry, Ray and Hunter didn’t let you out of their sight after that. You should have seen the look on their faces when you started for the edge of that ramp.”

They both flinched when a heavy hand landed on each of their shoulders.

“What cha’ drinking girls?” Carley asked as she swayed closer to Angel and gave her a wobbly hug. “It’s about time you and my baby brother came back for a visit,” she said in a slurred voice.

“Hey, Aunt Carley,” Angel put her arm out for Carley to hold on to so she could steady herself. “How have you been?”

Shae moved over a seat, letting Angel and her aunt talk for a minute. Angel was good with Carley where everyone else usually avoided her because she was always so intoxicated. She stared down at her own drink becoming lost in thought. She had always wondered what Angel remembered about that night but they had never talked about it over the phone… She had been afraid to bring it up.

She had often spent entire weekends here with Angel when they were younger, so Angel’s friends had become hers and that meant spending a lot of time with Tristian and the Indian boys. Ray and Hunter… Angel had always been so naive when it came to them.

As she had grown closer to Tristian, Hunter and Ray had started taking up most of Angel’s time. She wasn’t blind… Ray loved Angel and Hunter was also in love with her.

That night at the hang gliders ramp, Tristian hadn’t been the only one angry about Angel leaving. Hunter and Ray had even come to blows over something… she couldn’t remember what. She had noticed something that night though… no matter how scary Ray was… Hunter could be even more frightening.

Being around the same age as Angel, not even sixteen at the time, she was supposed to be spending the night with Angel… not her brother. So, early the next morning, she had snuck out of Tristian’s bedroom and slipped into Angel’s, only to find Hunter asleep in Angel's bed. She remembered his body was curled around Angel's so possessively… like he’d never let her go.

When she had made some kind of noise and Hunter had stirred in his sleep, she’d quickly hidden in the closet… cracking the door so she could watch in the mirror. When he’d slid out of the bed, Shae had gotten an eye full, seeing he had no clothes on.

She’d silently watched as Hunter dressed then leaned down over Angel and just stared at her for several minutes while she remained asleep. She still remembered what Hunter had whispered. “Don’t worry Angel… I’ll find a way to bring you home. I love you.”

When Hunter left the room by way of the window, Shae came out of the closet not knowing what to do. Stepping closer to Angel, she was shocked to find that her friend didn’t have any clothes on either. Panicking for real, she had simply gone home. She’d known better than to ever tell Tristian what she had seen… and she still hadn’t to this day.

Sanctuary had a reputation among the teens that lived around it… sex capital of the world. It was just a nickname but it seemed to be true at the same time. All people did here was have sex, drink, and swim. If you weren’t doing one of those things while staying here… then you got bored pretty fast.

When Carley finally took another bottle of Crown Royal and wandered off, Shae switched seats again then leaned toward Angel. Keeping her voice in a soft whisper, she asked, “Are you telling me you don’t remember leaving the hang-gliders ramp that night?”

Angel took another drink of the Long Island Iced Tea then wiggled her eyebrows, “Thanks to this stuff, I barely remember leaving the next morning. Lucky for me, daddy just thought I had spent the night crying and gave me a pair of sunglasses to cover my eyes.”

Shae watched those blue eyes and knew Angel wasn’t lying. “Maybe you shouldn’t drink so many of them this time.” She fought the urge to take the drink away from Angel. She frowned knowing Tristian hadn’t remembered hardly anything from that night either. Maybe it was just in the DNA… that neither one of them could handle their alcohol. It had taken her almost a year just to get Tristian to sleep with her again.

“Actually, I haven’t drunk a drop since I left Sanctuary,” Angel confessed then jumped again when arms came around her from behind. Seeing the black fingernails on the hands now in front of her, she cringed, “Hey, Paris.”

“And here I thought you were gonna be stuck up all night,” Paris gave her a hard squeeze before abruptly letting go.

Angel glanced at Shae then gave her a look that plainly said, ‘Thanks a lot,’ as she watched her friend back up to the next stool so Paris could have room. Neither one of them liked Paris because she was such a spoiled brat, among other things. Paris was older than her by four years but Angel had seen her have enough terrible-two hissy fits to last a lifetime.

She scooted back on her seat as Paris pulled her boyfriend around her like some kind of trophy. He looked like a Goth biker with tattoos and way too many piercings. Angel's eyes widened seeing that even his nipples had rings hanging from them.

“This is Markus,” Paris announced her catch of the week.

“It looks like I scared her.” Markus smirked as he took a rolled cigarette from behind his ear and lit it, pulling Paris down on the stool with him. He took a long drag then handed it to Paris. “I’m harmless… promise.” His voice was distorted from holding the smoke in his lungs.

Angel sniffed realizing it wasn’t a cigarette. To her amazement, Shae scooted closer as if she wanted the next hit.

Paris rolled her eyes toward Shae then said in the same strained voice her boyfriend had just used, “It looks like the peeps wanna toke. How about just giving them their own joint so we don’t have to share?”

Angel cocked an eyebrow wondering just how hard Paris had to work at being stoned and a snob at the same time.

Markus let out a deep-throated laugh, “You are a stingy little bitch… aren’t you?” Somehow, he made it sound like such an endearment instead of the simple truth. Pulling another joint from behind his ear, he laid it on the bar and wrapped his big hand around the back of Paris’s neck. “Come on, let's leave the little girls alone.”

“But I haven’t seen her in two years,” Paris complained half-heartedly.

He pushed Paris off his lap and stood up behind her. “Enjoy the buzz,” Markus said over his shoulder as he guided Paris away as if she were his child.

Angel let out a relieved breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. She watched as Markus pushed Paris down on one of the lounge chairs then straddled it to face her. She laughed realizing he was holding her cousin down but trying to make it look like he was only flirting. It looked like Paris had finally found someone who could control her… thank god.

“I think I like Markus after all,” Angel said as Shae scooted back over.

Shae shrugged then picked up the joint, rolling it around with her fingertips. She lowered her voice trying to sound like Markus as she leaned toward Angel. “Hey baby… wanna get high?” she giggled then frowned.

“What?” Angel asked the comedian of the night.

“Damn. I forgot. I don’t have a lighter,” Shae sighed then stuck it behind her ear. Both girls glanced up when there were several loud sonic booms overhead.

“Fireworks!” Angel cried out like a little kid.

Tristian walked up with Ashton in tow and quickly squeezed between the girls, wrapping an arm around both of them as they looked up at the darkened sky. “Welcome home Angel… I do believe this is your surprise from Ray.” Knowing Ashton was watching, Tristian quickly gave Angel a kiss on the cheek then returned to watching the fireworks with the girls.

Hearing the comment about Ray's little surprise, Ashton walked past them until he was behind the bar, glad the straw-like roof blocked the fireworks from his sight. It would be a cold day in hell before he enjoyed something another man was giving his girlfriend… no matter what it was.

Seeing all the ingredients for Long Island ice tea still sitting there, Ashton picked the biggest glass he could find knowing it was going to be a long night.

*****

Carley tilted the bottle to her lips as she leaned against the outer gate looking up at the fireworks. The lights began to spin and her world tilted a little before swaying. Knowing she was going to get sick, she started walking down the hill where no one could see her. When she reached the bottom of the long embankment, she stumbled, falling backwards.

Not feeling any pain, Carley opened her eyes seeing all the lights in the sky explode. At least the world had stopped spinning and the sparkling colors were beautiful.

Suddenly, liquid splashed into her eyes making them sting. She blinked rapidly, feeling it running down her face and chest. The smell of gasoline was strong, making the nausea come back with a vengeance. A flash of light right in front of her eyes startled her and Carley noticed someone standing over her with a lighter in their hand.

Before she could move, the small light flashed into a blaze making her suck in a breath to scream. Fire entered her mouth along with the air… burning the sound before she could make it.

Feeling a rope jerk tight around her ankle, she tried to kick and roll as she was dragged through the grass and further away from anyone who could help her. Raking at the dirt with her fingers, she silently watched the flames crawling up her arms before everything melted into darkness.