Cherry Pie Read online

  “And?”

  He whistles lowly. “Fuck, Marshall, it’s not fucking good. The member who reached out and first contacted her was Bobby Vecchio.”

  I scowl. I know the man. I’d call him competition, except that would be too kind to him. He’s a hack is what he is, running a shitty, margin-trading, scummy little hedge fund that operates in my shadow. He’s also on a some of the planning committees in The Society, and I know he’s been responsible for some of the more, well, lewd events I’ve seen at the club—sex shows, girls tied up, that sort of shit. The man has connections, but they’re dirty, criminal connections.

  “How the fuck did Bobby Vecchio even find—”

  “This is the part I think you’d better sit down for.”

  Javier’s voice is edged, and my scowl deepens as I set my coffee down.

  “Speak.”

  “It appears Mr. Vecchio has gone into some real estate investments recently. Some with other members, but a few with guys outside The Society as well. One went bad. He was a primary investor in this guy who was opening up a bunch of nightclubs that kept tanking. Apparently, Bobby lost some real money, and so did the developer.”

  There’s a cold knot in my stomach, because before he even says it, I know where this is going, and the thought horrifies me.

  “This developer is a guy named—”

  “Tony Davids,” I finish for him.

  Javier pauses. “Wait, you know him?”

  “He’s my fucking neighbor.”

  “Shit, Marshall. Well, he owed Bobby a bunch of cash after the clubs went under, and these two pieces of shit decided that Tony would put his own damn stepdaughter up for the auction. Apparently, the girl was set to go to college, but without any money…” he swears. “Well, Bobby can be a real manipulative, convincing piece of shit sometimes.”

  The full weight of it hits me, and I stumble as I sag into one of the barstools at my kitchen counter.

  Kendall’s stepdad set her up for the fucking virgin auction. I mean Jesus fucking Christ, who does that? The guy blew all of his money, and probably all of Kendall’s deceased father’s money, and to make some of it back, he had his buddy in The Society reach out to her and offer her what I’m sure he pitched as a “chance of a lifetime.” A shitload of cash for one night.

  “You still there, man?”

  I blink, swallowing dryly. “Yeah. Yeah, I’m here. Listen, Javier, can you—”

  I’m about to ask him some more questions, when suddenly, the other shoe falls, and I freeze.

  Hang. The. Fuck. On.

  The scheme was to get Kendall into the auction, because Tony owed money to Bobby. And suddenly, I realize I’ve overlooked one little detail, which is insane considering the industry I’m in.

  …Where’s the money.

  Upon completion of the auction, I had money from my account wired directly to an escrow account held by The Society. The way the exchange was to work, when I met my mystery girl, she’d make a call, and the funds would be transferred to her account.

  “Javier.”

  My voice is cold, my body on edge.

  “Do me a favor and check the escrow account from the auction.”

  “Give me one sec.”

  I can hear him typing for a second before he pauses.

  “Money’s been transferred.”

  I frown. That’s fucking weird.

  I mean, I’m not mad about it—like I’ve been telling Kendall, the money is hers, no matter what happened or happens with us. I want to pay for her college, and I know with Tony fucking up her family’s finances, she needs money. But her having called to make the transfer is just… weird. Not that weird, but it sticks out to me. Maybe it’s that Kendall hasn’t exactly mentioned becoming a millionaire in the last day or so. Though, I guess she’s been busy.

  I grin.

  …With me.

  I take a breath, shaking my head.

  “Is there a way to check what account the money went to?”

  “There is…” Javier pauses. “I can find out. It might take me a little while though.”

  “If you can, please do, and let me know.”

  “You got it, Marshall.”

  Out the kitchen window, I watch as Amy’s car swings back up the driveway. She spots me and waves, and past her in the passenger seat, I can see Kendall, her eyes locked on mine, a flirty little smile and a blush on her face.

  “Call me back when you know. Thanks, Javier.”

  “Anytime, man.”

  I hang up and hear the sound of the backdoor banging open and shut, and before I know it, Amy and Kendall are rushing into the kitchen.

  “Hey dad!”

  Amy gives me a big hug before pulling away. She snatches the coffee out of my hand, beaming at me as she steals about half of it in three big slugs. Behind her Kendall is biting her lip, a grin on her face as she eyes me hungrily with raw lust and heat in her eyes.

  Oh, this is going to be a very long summer.

  “What were you two up to this morning?”

  Amy shrugs. “Just some shopping. Some brunching. I got a new suit.”

  “A one piece that covers you down to your elbows and knees, I assume?”

  She rolls her eyes. “Dad. You know I’m going to college in a few months, right?”

  “If you could stop reminding me, that’d be great.”

  She laughs. “You’re going to need to start dating, you know.”

  I arch a brow, chancing a glance at Kendall, who blushes.

  “Oh? And why’s that?”

  “Because once I leave, you’re totally going to be that crazy rich guy who lives alone in a big house.”

  I laugh. “Maybe I’ll get a couple dozen cats and start hoarding my piss in jars.”

  Kendall cracks up as Amy blanches.

  “Dude, gross?”

  She sighs. “Alright we’re going to go put suits on and hit the pool, I found the best new bikini for Kendall, but she wouldn’t get it.”

  Kendall shrugs. “What? I like the one I have.”

  “Yeah, but pink looks cute on you. And dude, you’re going to be living on the California coast next year. If you want to snag some college guys, you—”

  “Hi, hey, it’s me,” I mutter, scowling. “You know, your dad? The last damn person on earth who wants to hear about ‘snagging college guys?’”

  Amy snorts, turning a little red. Kendall flat out blushes, but her eyes just stay hungry and locked on me.

  “Ames, you know the Bay Area isn’t exactly Southern California, right? I think I’ll need a windbreaker more than a new bikini.”

  Amy rolls her eyes. “College guys, Kendall. I’m just saying.” She sighs. “Alright, I’m going to go change. Last one in the pool’s ordering lunch.”

  Amy ducks out of the kitchen, and a moment later, I can hear her scurrying up the stairs, leaving Kendall and I alone.

  …Roughly half a second later, I’m growling as she throws herself into my arms, kissing me eagerly and moaning as my tongue finds hers. I groan, my hands sliding over her body, aching for her, even though it’s barely been six hours since the last time I was inside of her. She writhes against me, both of us tumbling backwards until my back hits the refrigerator. I grab her tight, spinning her and pressing her into the cool stainless steel as I claim her mouth—hungrily, eagerly, possessively.

  “We—hang on,” she pants, pulling away. Her face is bright red, her eyes wild as she glances at the kitchen door.

  “We’re a little out in the open,” she whispers.

  “In here.”

  I half growl the words as I yank her after me, ducking into the sizable walk-in pantry off the kitchen and swinging the door shut behind us. Light comes in dimly though the single window set in the back wall of the pantry, but it’s all I need as I press her into the shelves of canned goods and devour her mouth. My hands slide down to cup her ass through her tiny jean shorts, and I can feel her nipples hardening—braless—under her t-shirt as she
presses herself to me.

  “So, tell me about this pink bikini.”

  She giggles quietly, pulling away.

  “You really curious about the bikini or about me moving to Palo Alto in the fall.”

  My jaw tightens.

  “Both.”

  Kendall grins, pulling close to me. “Well, first off, the bikini.” Her eyes dart over my face, a blush coming to her cheeks.

  “It was cute, but I like the one I have.”

  She bites her lip, the flush growing on her face as she drops her eyes. I arch my brow curiously and she shifts on her feet, her lip twisting in her teeth.

  “Because I’ve seen you checking me out in it.”

  I grin wolfishly. “The army green one.”

  She nods. “Yeah. And not just the other day. Before that.”

  It’s my turn to turn a little red this time.

  “Fuck. Creeper alert, huh?”

  She grins, shaking her head slowly, her eyes blazing into mine.

  “Uh-uh.” She pulls close, her tongue running over her lips as she molds her lithe little body to mine seductively.

  “I liked it when you checked me out, Mr. Bane,” she purrs wickedly.

  I growl, my cock hardening at her tone and the way she’s moving against me.

  “Oh, you did, did you? You liked teasing an older man with that tight little ass of yours? Showing off those pert little tits in that tiny bikini and trying to toy with me? Trying to get me all hard for you?”

  “Did you?” She breathes heatedly, panting quietly.

  “Did I what?”

  Kendall blushes fiercely, swallowing.

  “Get hard,” she whispers. “For me?”

  I groan as I press into her, making her whimper as I crush my lips to hers. I slide my hand down her slender arm, taking her small hand, and tugging it to my thick, throbbing cock tenting the front of my jeans.

  “What do you think,” I growl lowly.

  She whimpers, cupping me and moaning as she strokes me, her tongue pushing past my lips.

  And of course, it’s the perfect time for my cellphone to ring. I silence it with a quick hand into my pocket, but when it goes off a second, and then a third time instantly, I mutter as I pull away from her. I glance at the phone, and my eyes narrow.

  Javier.

  “Shit,” I mutter, glancing at Kendall. “I actually need—”

  “Take it,” she purrs, mischief in her eyes and a teasing, hungry grin on her lips. Her hand stays right where it is.

  I kiss her once again before I unlock my phone and bring it to my ear.

  “Hey man. You got something for me?”

  “Yeah, Marshall. I’ve got a lot for you.”

  I’m opening my mouth to say something else, when I suddenly feel Kendall’s fingers tugging my zipper down. I groan, and when she suddenly drops to her knees in front of me, my cock instantly swells to full thickness.

  “Yeah, uh, what, uh…”

  Kendall’s small hands tug my jeans open, pulling them and my boxers down enough to let my cock spring free. She coos quietly, licking her lips and wrapping a hand around my shaft before she leans closer.

  “Lay it on me, Javi—fuck.”

  Kendall’s hot little mouth engulfs the swollen head of my cock, her pouty lips wrapped tight around me and her tongue dancing across the slit at the tip. I grab one of the pantry shelves with one hand, my grip like iron as I bite back the moans while Kendall does her best to swallow my cock whole.

  “Marshall, you good man?”

  “Yeah,” I grunt out, nodding. “Yeah, I’m fine. Did you find anything out?”

  My eyes roll back as Kendall’s sweet little mouth bobs up and down my length, wetly and loudly slurping on me as she jerks my cock with both hands.

  “Found the account the money from the escrow went to.”

  “And?”

  Javier pauses, which is a good thing, because it’s at that moment that Kendall decides to try to teach herself to deep throat and swallows half my cock into the back of her mouth. My jaw drops, pulse roaring as my balls swell with cum.

  “The money didn’t go to the account the girl supplied, Marshall.”

  I freeze. And suddenly, there’s a coldness that creeps over me. I glance down, regretfully pulling Kendall away from me. She looks crestfallen for a second, but I shake my head as I pull her up and into me, wrapping an arm around her.

  “Talk to me, Javier.”

  “It went to an offshore account in Aruba.”

  I already know what’s coming next before he says it, and my blood starts to boil as the rage seeps over me.

  “It’s Bobby Vecchio’s account, Marshall.”

  Rage hits me like a punch to the gut, and my face contorts in fury as his words settle over me. I can feel Kendall’s hands clutching at me tighter, and when I glance down and see the worry on her face, mine hardens.

  I mutter something about calling him back to Javier before I hang up.

  “What’s wrong?” Kendall whispers, her brow furrowed, her lips worrying.

  I groan as I tuck my cock back into my jeans and zip up. Part of me wants to say “nothing,” and shield her from this. But then, she needs to know. She deserves to know.

  “The man who contacted you about being in that auction…”

  Kendall’s eyes go wide. We’ve never discussed how she got on the site in the first place.

  “Did he give you a name?”

  She frowns, looking down and chewing at her lip.

  “Yeah. Bobby… Bobby something.” She owns. “Vincent, or Vexer… I think it was something Italian.”

  “Vecchio.”

  Her brows shoot up, her face paling as she looks into my eyes.

  “Marshall, how on earth do you—”

  “Because I made it my job to find out how a girl like you ends up at an auction like that.”

  She blushes, looking down. “Marshall, I was desp—”

  “I’m not judging you, baby girl,” I groan, pulling her into me and kissing her slow and tenderly. “It just…”

  “It’s a little outside the norm.”

  I nod, and Kendall smiles.

  “Well, it brought me to you, so it wasn’t a totally terrible idea.”

  She beams at me and moves in to kiss me, but I stop her quietly with a shake of my head. Kendall frowns worriedly.

  “Marshall, what is—”

  “The money,” I growl quietly. “Your money. The money that was held in escrow after the auction, that was supposed to be transferred to your account?”

  I sigh and shake my head.

  “The money is gone, Kendall. Stolen, actually.”

  She blinks. “Oh my God, Marshall—”

  “Look, I’m going to make sure you get it, angel. I told you, I’m paying for your college, and that money is yours no matter—”

  “Marshall, I don’t care about the money,” she says quietly, reaching up to touch my cheek with her hand. “I’m more concerned that someone stole your money!”

  My jaw tightens. “It’s more than that. Kendall, you weren’t contacted by accident.”

  She frowns. “What?”

  “The man who got in contact with you wasn’t just randomly finding girls. He targeted you specifically, because he knew you had money issues and he knew how to make the deal sound good to you.”

  Kendall shakes her head. “Wait, but how the hell did he know who—”

  “Because Tony served you up to him.”

  Kendall’s face drops.

  “What?” she whispers coldly.

  And I tell her. I tell her everything, about the extent of Tony’s losses, about him working with Bobby and owing him a bunch of cash after some deals went bad. And I pull zero punches about the fact that he basically pimped her out to Bobby to settle a debt. Not because I’m trying to be cruel, but because she deserves this un-sugarcoated. And I know she’s strong enough to take it.

  But when the tear slides down her face, I growl
as I hug her close, wrapping my arms tight around her and holding her like I’ll never let her go. She sniffs, shaking her head as she presses her face to my chest, burrowing into me before she finally pulls away.

  “That… that… that fucker!”

  My brow furrows. “This isn’t going to stand, you know. For one, The Society doesn’t take shit like what Bobby pulled lightly. Recruiting you was one thing. Taking the money is pure theft. Believe me,” I snarl. “He’ll be dealt with.”

  Kendall’s eyes narrow. “And Tony?”

  “Oh, believe me,” I growl dangerously. “I’ll be settling that one personally.”

  She bites her lip, looking up into my eyes as a small smile creeps at the corners of her mouth.

  “How…” she shakes her head, grinning. “How’d I get you?”

  “I paid for your virginity in a really fucked up online secret society auction.”

  She snorts, giggling as the smile spreads across her face, and before I know it, I’ve scooped her close to me, leaned down, and seared my lips to hers. She moans into my lips, kissing me back for a second before she pulls back, eyeing me.

  “So, the other thing.”

  I frown. “Other thing?”

  “Before, when I asked if you were really curious about the bikini or about me moving to Palo Alto in the fall.”

  Something inside of me hardens. I want her, and with that comes wanting her always. And not for a small period of time. Not “until she leaves.” I mean I want her always and forever. But I’ll be damned if I ask this girl to not go to school. Fuck that. She’s too smart, and she’s got too much of a future ahead of her. Nor will I ask her to give up the experience of being young, and meeting guys her age. I mean fuck does that thought send fire through my gut and make me want to march onto the Stanford campus and knock the fuck out of every cocky little college boy prick who’d dare even look at her.

  But then, I’m not that guy. Possessive of her? Damn right. But I’m not going to be controlling or demanding. I’m not going to ask her to pause her life just because I’m crazy about—

  “All I want is you.”

  Her words are soft, but they knock me back as I blink away my thoughts. Kendall grins shyly, sliding her hands into mine and squeezing.