Shameless (Made For Them #3)

3. Family Affairs

Stefan

L ula looks pale when she comes back from her interview with the sheriff.

“Jumps,” I tuck a lock of hair behind her ear. “Is everything ok?”

She shrugs. “I don’t know. The sheriff knew about my priors. He asked me a lot of questions.”

“You told him you were with Jules, right?”

I spoke to Jules while Lula was being questioned. They’re each other’s alibi. Not that Lula needs one, I have no doubt that she would never hurt another human being.

I’m dying to ask her what happened between her and my brother, but I know this isn’t the time.

“I don’t think the sheriff believed me.” Lula muses.

I’m dying to take her into my arms but I don’t want to do it here in front of some of the house staff and a few people that were out with the hunting party and are waiting here to be interviewed.

“Let’s go outside,” I guide her toward the balcony that spans most of the front of the house, offering a perfect view of the beach. “Why do you think the sheriff didn’t believe you? He can’t possibly think one conviction makes you a suspect.”

Lula’s fingers torment the leaves of the huge potted plant near the door we just used. “You’re wrong, Stef. This is exactly how the police think. And what’s worse is that when they find out that Trevor was a drug dealer and that he threatened me when I first got back to Star Cove, he’s going to think I have a motive.”

I hate the worried expression on her face.

“But you have an alibi. He can’t ignore that. But even admitting that you might have a motive to want Trevor dead, there are two other people who were killed at the same time. You barely knew Eddie and you had just met Maura. Let the police do their job, Jumps. They can’t ignore the evidence just because you have a record.”

There’s fear in her voice. “When I got arrested after Thanksgiving last year, I lied. All the drugs the cops found weren’t mine. Sure, I sold for my friend Mason, but I was lying. I let him run and took the fall for him because I knew I would have gotten away with a slap on the wrist while he was gonna face serious time in a federal prison. The police didn’t even question all the lies I told. They wanted to get to my supplier and they believed I bought that stuff on the dark web. My stepfather knew where I got the drugs from but he backed my lies because he was scared I would reveal why I started selling for Mason and why I was covering for him.”

I clench my fists to keep my temper in check. “Talking about your stepfather,” I growl. “And that waste of space of his son, I’m gonna?—”

Lula covers my fists with her hands. “No, Stef. Please promise me you’re going to stay away from them. Can’t you see how much they hate me? If you go near them, they’ll press charges. They’ll ruin you to hurt me.”

I resist her attempt to lace her fingers through mine, too angry to even think straight. “So what am I supposed to do? Let your stepfather try to frame you for murder? Let his scumbag son get away with what he tried to do to you?”

“If that is going to keep you safe, yes. We are no match for Howard and what Evan did is in the past. Hopefully once the police are done speaking to everyone, they’ll go back to New York and I’ll never have to see them again.”

I understand why she wants to keep me away from them, but I hate this. “I love you, Jumps. And that means that I need to protect you. I would burn down the whole world to keep you safe.”

Her hands leave mine and cup my face instead. “Then protect me. By being by my side though, Stefan. If you’re with me, Evan can’t touch me. And hopefully you’re right that the cops just want the truth. I love you too, Stef. So much.”

That does it.

My anger vanishes and I get lost in Lula’s intense green eyes. “Fuck,” I chuckle. “I can’t stay mad when you look at me like that.”

Her soft lips quirk up in a barely there smile. “Good.”

I take those lips in a hard, bruising kiss.

Lula’s mouth parts for me and her hands slide to the back of my head, where her fingers toy with the short hair at my nape.

God, I need her so much.

Our tongues tangle together and I deepen the kiss, pressing her soft body against mine. I know better than to try taking things further here on this balcony, where anyone could see us.

So I just kiss her, stealing her breath away and giving her mine. I would give Lula anything.

I’ve loved her since I can remember, there’s never been anyone else for me.

“Jumps,” I murmur against her lips. “What do you think about checking what’s going on with the interviews and see if we’re allowed back to our bungalows? Maybe we could be alone for a little while?”

Crew

I feel like crawling out of my own skin.

“What do you mean, they’re taking him to the police station in Berry Point?” I scowl at Sheriff Pullin. “Is he being charged with anything?”

“Not at this stage. Rikki was covered in Trevor Braverman’s blood, son. He claims he touched the body, trying to help . They want to confirm if he’s telling the truth by checking if the blood on his shirt was just Trevor’s and do a gun residue test on him to rule out him being the shooter. If Rikki is telling the truth, cooperating with the police is the best thing he can do.”

There’s compassion in the sheriff’s eyes. He’s a Star Cove High alumnus, a huge fan of the school’s football team.

God knows he’s been called out to a few wild parties back in the day and he’s always turned a blind eye to the underage drinking, just making sure that no one drove home under the influence. But that doesn’t mean he’s on my side now. Or on Rikki’s side.

“I don’t understand why he’s the only one they want to check. How about all the people who were on the island at the time of the shooting?” I argue.

“No one else had blood on them,” the sheriff explains. “And pretty much everyone else has an alibi. Rikki is the only one who was alone right before the shooting.”

It doesn’t make sense. “Well fuck, then someone is obviously lying. I think we should all be checked for gun residue. I volunteer.”

My impression of Katniss Everdeen doesn’t convince the sheriff. “It’s pointless, Crew. Some of us had stopped in a picnic area not far from the stables for a cold breakfast when we heard the shots. We climbed on our golf carts to check where the shots came from and I saw you and Stefan Cutler running toward the stables. You were clearly coming from the docks in the opposite direction to our crime scene. I can’t rule out with absolute certainty that you could have run from the crime scene and then changed course and both you and Cutler are athletic enough that you could have run fast enough. But, you were together and you’re each other’s alibi unless we can prove you’re both lying. To answer your other question, there’s no point in checking everyone who participated in the hunt. We’ll all have gun residue on our hands and clothes.”

I don’t like this.

I feel powerless, exactly like when I boarded that yacht to keep my friend from doing something stupid and then got blamed when she crashed it.

Rich people always stick together, they protect each other and their own interests . That was another one of my father’s lessons when I was growing up and I hate to admit that Eddie was right.

“This is bullshit,” I insist. “I saw little cameras everywhere. There were some at the stables. The murder could be on tape.”

The compassion in the sheriff’s gaze stings more than if he had told me to shut the fuck up. “That’s true. But last night’s storm cut the power. The emergency generators didn’t work and that means the security system was down. Mr. Andrews had someone call the company that manages the network that the entire household and both islands are on but they were still working on it when we came back to the house. So there’s no footage after 8 p.m. last night.”

Fuck.

“I want to go with him.” I don’t think Rikki did it, but until I know for sure, I can’t leave him alone to deal with this mess.

“Crew, the police boat has already left. Besides, there’s nothing you can do for him at this stage.”

I know that on a rational level, but what else can I do?

A soothing hand lands on my shoulder.

“Scott is right,” Arianna says softly. “You can’t help Rikki right now, but he can. Scott, would you mind running to Berry Point to assist Rikki? Whatever the results of the gun residue test, I think having an attorney there can’t hurt.”

I nod, grateful that at least someone is looking out for us. Mom is standing next to Arianna, her face pale and her expression withdrawn. I know that look, she had it after Eddie left us ten years ago. She’s in shock and that adds to my worry; last time she had to deal with major upheaval, she fell into a deep depression and looked for solace at the bottom of a bottle.

I’m gonna have to keep an eye on her, but Rikki is a more urgent matter.

“Maybe I could see if someone from my practice in Star Cove could drive down?” Scott Larson takes his phone out of his pocket.

“Scott, I would rather you take care of this.”

The lawyer looks reluctant. “I acted as your attorney now because of the circumstances, but you know my specialty is corporate law. My wife Samantha is the best lawyer for a case like this.”

Arianna insists. “True, but we’re closer to Berry Point. I would feel better if you could go until Samantha gets there.”

“Sweetheart,” Lula’s Dad intervenes. “Maybe I can make a few phone calls and see who else is available? With Scott acting as our attorney today, I wouldn’t want to put him or his firm in an awkward situation if this turned out to be a conflict of interest.”

It takes me a second to understand what he’s implying.

Tom thinks Rikki might be guilty.

“I agree,” Scott Larson says. “Besides, Rikki is dating London and that in itself would make us representing him look less than kosher.”

Fuck them. Fuck them all.

“So you two think Rikki murdered those three people?” I accuse them. “I don’t understand how you can represent anyone in this circumstance, Mr. Larson. Weren’t you a part of the hunt too? Have the police interviewed you?”

Maybe I shouldn’t antagonize one of the people who could help Rikki, but I can’t fucking help it.

“Son,” Sheriff Pullin’s tone is full of compassion and that makes me feel a million times worse. “Scott and I were talking to Mr. Andrews when we heard the shots. We had started to eat breakfast. There’s no way either of us could be in two places at the same time and the owner of this island can confirm it.”

It feels like the walls of this huge room are closing in on me. “So you seriously think Rikki did it?” I croak.

“No,” Scott Larson’s voice is softer, as he clasps my shoulder. “I’ve gotten to know Rikki in the past year. I don’t think he did it. However, I also didn’t know about his problems with addiction and drugs can make people do things that are completely out of character. I’m not implying anything and when it comes to representing him, it doesn’t really matter if he’s innocent or guilty.”

Fuck.

That’s absurd, but it’s typical lawyer talk. It’s not about the justice or even the truth. It’s all about what you can prove or who can argue their case better.

“Let me go to Berry Point,” Scott offers. “I’ll get Samantha to contact one of her best colleagues from a different firm. But I’ll stay there until Rikki’s new attorney arrives and I’ll make sure his interest are protected.”

Arianna smiles. “Thank you, Scott.”

I still don’t feel at ease about this entire situation. “How long will it take to have the test results?”

Scott shrugs. “It’s hard to tell. It depends on where they send the samples. Some labs could have the results in a few hours, some could take a couple of days.”

I rub my forehead. “So they could keep Rikki for a few days?”

Scott reassures me. “Not unless they think there’s a reason to detain him. As it is, he isn’t under arrest and I’m pretty sure I can get them to release him once they get what they need from him.”

I thank Scott Larson again. “Your help means a lot.”

He nods, his expression somber. “Don’t mention it. Tom, Arianna, can you make sure Paris and London get a safe ride home? They rode here with Trevor Braverman.”

Tom promises he’ll see that the twins get back safely to Star Cove once we’re allowed to leave.

Sheriff Pullin follows the lawyer out of the living room, in search of an update on when the police will decide to let us go home.

I turn my attention to Mom. “Mom, are you ok?”

She shakes her head. “I just… I don’t know. I’m worried about your brother.”

That makes two of us. “The Larsons will get him a good lawyer,” I reassure her, feigning a confidence I don’t feel. “And I’ll find a way to pay for it somehow.”

In all the turmoil of this morning’s events, I hadn’t thought about what Eddie’s death means for me financially.

What will happen to the team? To our contracts?

Arianna reassures me. “Don’t worry about the legal fees. I’ve got those.”

My first instinct would be to refuse her help. I’m used to relying on myself, but I know that if we lose the team, there’s no way I can even pay the damages I owe Evan. The extra debt is something I really can’t afford. “Thank you, Arianna.”

Lula’s stepmom smiles. “Don’t mention it. When I say that you are family, I mean it. Come on Tilly,” she wraps one arm around Mom’s shoulders. “When we heard the shots we had just started to get our breakfast and we didn’t get to eat anything. You look pale and I’m so hungry, I’m shaking. Let’s see if the staff can put something together for everyone here.”

“Good thinking darling,” Tom smiles at his wife. “While you do that, I want to check on George. Poor Maura. I can’t even think of anything worse. If something happened to Lula—” he shakes his head, overcome by emotion.

I know Lula’s relationship with her father has been rocky since the divorce.

I’ve seen Tom Turner be tough on his daughter and on Stefan in particular but there’s no doubt that however misguided his actions might be, he cares about Lula.

That’s more than I can say about my late father.

Fuck.

I don’t know if Eddie’s death will ever cause the grief a normal person should feel when losing their father. I think I grieved his loss a long time ago, when I was a kid and he left us without warning and with no explanation.

All I know is that with him gone, my financial situation is back to square one.

I need some air to clear my mind and think about a plan for the future.

As I step outside on the wide balcony that offers a stunning view of sea below us, I realize that I’m not alone.

Lula and Stefan are kissing, he’s pressing her against the wall and all the thoughts that were occupying my mind suddenly vanish.

My eyes track the way Stefan’s fingers close over Lula’s perfect tits and all my blood rushes to my cock.

I’m by their side, standing behind Lula in two short strides. Since the night in the limo, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about how hot sharing Lula with my new brother was.

Lula and I haven’t actually fucked, but having her go down on me while Stefan took her from behind, was one of the wildest experiences I’ve ever had.

None of my worries will be solved today and maybe spending some time with Lula and Stefan will be a great way to decompress.

When my lips land on her neck, Lula breaks the kiss with Stefan turning to look at me. “Crew.”

Just the sound of my name on her lips is enough to make my cock pulse with awareness and I capture her mouth in a kiss of my own. “Baby.”

For a second all my worries fall away and all that matters is her sweet taste. The tip of my tongue finds the little ball of Lula’s piercing and I play with it, imagining how it felt when she licked the spot under my crown.

My hands are on her waist, feeling her hips and lifting the skirt of her black floral sundress. “What a fucking shit morning,” I growl, nipping at her bottom lip. “I know just the thing that could take our minds off of it.”

Lula whimpers as I sneak a finger into her panties, running the pad of it over the smooth skin of her slit.

She’s so wet that a crazy idea comes to my mind. The living room is full of people, but if we hid behind the huge potted plant next to us, I could make Lula come.

My cock hardens even more, clearly on board with the plan. Would Lula let me fuck her against the wall, with the house staff and our parents just a few feet away inside the house?

I dip my finger inside her, and by the way she gasps, clenching around it and grinding her hips against my hand, I think my chances are looking good.

“Why am I not surprised that mere hours after three people have been brutally murdered, I find my daughter fooling around with her stepbrothers?” a feminine voice makes us freeze on the spot.