Euphoria (Arrangement Series Book 4) Page 2

“I should kick you right in those pretty teeth of yours, dickwad,” Orion says.

  If I was anyone else I’d be scared but I know him. I know who Orion Moralis is so when I don’t respond to him and he stands, turning to face me, I’m ready for him. Orion walks up to me and swings, hitting me in the gut. I let him have this first hit but that’s it. I grunt as that shit hurts. I don’t think about that as we both go toe-to-toe. I get my hits in just as much as he does. We don’t know when to stop; I hear things breaking in our wake but what was supposed to be a helping hand for my brother triggers me. I randomly think of the one person who hurt me more than anyone else in the world—Bambi Laurence.

  I don’t know how she came to my mind or how I let my mind conjure up such shit with her but that’s just what’s happening. I need to stop but I release a scream that shakes my entire core and causes my brother to stop. Orion pulls away from me and I drop to my knees. I’ve never felt loss before, not even when my mother threw me out one night and told me to walk to my father’s house barefoot. She told me I was too odd, too weird. I didn’t function correctly for her. There was always a problem when it came to me.

  “You’re not normal, Phoenix. How can you not even cry when my mother, your grandmother, is dead? EVERYONE CRIES!” She screamed at me.

  But what did she want me to do? What did she expect of me? Please leave, get out. My mother’s and Bambi’s words resonate within me, loud and clear.

  I try to control my breathing, not caring that I haven’t told my brother about the recent panic attacks.

  “Nix? Phoenix.” I hear the concern in Orion’s voice. He gets to his knees. “Can you hear me?” He asks.

  I nod. “Yes.”

  “Good. Now, close your eyes, focus on the pain I just inflicted on your body. How does it feel?”

  “Feel?” I question.

  “Hurt. Does it hurt?”

  I take a deep breath in and wince. “Yes, it hurts.”

  “Good. Use that pain and focus. Come back to the now. What have I always said to you?”

  “Not everything needs to be felt. I don’t need emotions, that’s not what makes me human,” I recite.

  “What makes you human?” He asks.

  “The fact that I could feel love for the first time,” I answer but then I growl. “She told me to go too,” I say through clenched teeth.

  Orion’s bloody hand covers my bloodied hand. “Say it, Nix. Fucking say it before I beat the shit out of you.”

  “I, Phoenix Moralis, choose who I love. I don’t give them the power to love or hate me because they’ll never have it. We don’t give them that, we are that power.”

  “Who’s we?” Orion asks.

  “We, the Moralis men. That’s our fucking code. Take it or leave it. Either way, suck my dick,” I add.

  Orion bursts out laughing. “What the fuck?”

  Bambi

  It feels weird being back here. I refused to step foot on Founder’s Island after I got adopted at sixteen. I never looked back because I knew that if I did, I would search for the boy with the golden-brown eyes and the boy with the baby blues who saved me yet destroyed my world.

  I take a deep breath in and release another one out as I step out of my car walking towards my new job, Premier Illusions. I knew my now boss, Sasha. It’s a funny turn of events because I used to teach art classes at the Youth Recreation Center and she attended. We were years apart but our conversations seemed genuine. I never really told her why my art gradually became darker each time I picked up a paintbrush.

  Fate was on my side because we recently reconnected and she offered me a job as a curator. I don’t paint as much as I like to anymore because there’s always one face that I paint in so many ways. A face that I can’t ever forget. Those eyes haunt me every day.

  I shake my head because there’s no reason I’ll ever have to run into him.

  Today is my first event as a curator as Sasha presents some new artwork. I take a deep breath in and release another but freeze in my steps towards the door. I need to unlock it so that everyone can come in once it’s time. My anxiety comes back full blown. I never really grew out of that shy girl from high school. High school was a trying time. From the questions about my Afro-Cuban-Moroccan background to the typical ‘You’re not as fiery as a Latina would be’ and the ‘How can you be Afro-Cuban and Moroccan?’ remarks, which to this day makes absolutely no sense to me. I never understood why people wanted to ask me such weird questions. I kept to myself, quiet and out of the way. I’ve always been that way and now I’ve embraced me for who I am.

  Many people thought I would break out of my shell and become some crazy powerful woman who doesn’t take shit from people. I mean, it’s somewhat true but my type of strength is different. No I don’t always stand up for myself but I can walk away. I don’t want to fight, argue or anything of that sort but I won’t be treated like an animal.

  I remind myself that I am smart, beautiful and worth more than anything in this world. That’s how I can wake up every morning with no issues.

  I feel a hand on my shoulder. “Bambi, girl you’ve got this. You’re an amazing person or else I wouldn’t have hired you,” she teases.

  I snorted. “Thank you.” I shut my eyes and open them up again. “Okay.”

  I take the steps I couldn’t before and unlock the door. I turn back to face her with a smile on my face.

  Sasha gives me a smile right back. She and I are about the same height. Five feet and three inches. We both have similar brown skin, except mine is a tad bit more on the mocha latte side. Her impressive Afro is to die for. While mine is so curly, it feels like anything can get knotted in there, so I straighten it. Today I put it up in a tight high bun.

  “We’ve got this!” Sasha says with a smile on her face.

  “Yeah…” I say, not fully convinced.

  I’m not a pessimist or anything but there’s this feeling in the pit of my stomach and I haven’t felt this way since I left this Island. I reach out, running my hand over the 3D tattoo behind my ear. I shut my eyes, knowing what was there. X.O.

  I was worried about nothing. The event is going without a hitch in sight. I walk over to a painting that makes me tilt my head at it. It’s beautiful with bold strokes and I feel like I’ve seen it somewhere before.

  “This is a beautiful piece,” some man said. “And the name, miracles, it’s so fitting, isn’t it?”

  I turn to face him. He’s a sight to behold from the bold blue eyes, blonde hair and exquisite taste in his expensive clothing. He looks just like a man looking for trouble. I look in those blue eyes and I can see with the way he’s watching me that his intention is to get me into his bed. I give him a polite smile, one that shows that I definitely will NOT be getting into anyone’s bed. Call me a prude or whatever but I’m not interested in the blue-eyed sex god. He wickedly smiles at me.

  “I’m the curator, Ms. Vasquez. If you are interested in any of the other paintings, please get my attention. I’ll be making my rounds.”

  “Ms. Vasquez, I will for sure look for you. I’m very interested in some bodies of art.” He looks me up and down then nods politely. I take the chance to slip away.

  After making my rounds for about 45 minutes, Mr. Blonde gets my attention in front of the same painting. I excuse myself and walk over to where he is.

  “Have you decided, sir?”

  He frowns. “Sir? Come on, you can just ask my name?” He smiles at me again.

  This time, I give him a genuine smile, shaking my head. “Where’s the fun in that then?”

  He chuckles. It’s refreshing to hear and it causes me to smile wider. Maybe this day won’t end on the wrong foot. I spot Sasha behind me, wide-eyed, giving me a thumbs up. This must be someone of relevancy.

  “Hmm, you’re right. Maybe you can get to know it outside of he—…” His words die on his lips as his eyes look past me.

  This causes Mr. Blonde’s smile to disappear, and he straightens. He clears his throat. I
tilt my head.

  “She will not get to know shit.” A voice I will never forget says behind me.

  I shut my eyes because this isn’t possible. There’s no way that I haven’t been back a month and this man has found me already.

  “She can answer for herself.” Mr. Blonde stands his ground.

  I don’t want to open my eyes; I wish the ground could swallow me whole. I stop breathing the moment I feel him right behind me. I shudder when I feel the tip of his finger caress the tattoo behind my right ear like a lover’s caress. This gives me some strength as my eyes pop open and I turn to face him. My eyes travel higher and higher until our eyes connect. Those golden-brown eyes glare at me with hurt blatantly displayed in them. I sigh because he’s so beautiful.

  “She’s not on the market,” he says without taking his eyes off me.

  “Phoenix…” My voice is below a whisper. I doubt even he heard me but I know he did because his brows furrow.

  “Are you sure she isn’t?” Mr. Blonde asks again. “Miss Vasquez, you can tell him to leave.”

  I open my mouth but shut it immediately when Phoenix smirks. If there’s any chance I know him like I used to then opening my mouth would cause something catastrophic. When nothing happens I relax and he notices.

  “Now, why would she tell her husband to leave?” The way the words fall from Phoenix’s lips burn as if hot sulfur is slowly dripping and burning me alive.

  “Husband?” I whisper the same time the blonde man says it louder, drawing a mini audience.

  Phoenix tugs his bottom lip into his mouth and nods. The mischievous glint in his eyes is out to play. “She didn’t tell you?” He takes his eyes off me to glare at the guy, then he looks at me again. “We’ve been married for fourteen years now, you remember that paper you signed, wife?” He spat the title like it was a curse.

  My lashes flutter as I try to remember, and then it all hits me. There was a paper I signed. Phoenix told me to read over it before I gave it back to him. To make sure that I couldn’t go back on my decision. I thought it was the fact that I wanted to get a car and I needed him to cosign it.

  “No,” I say breathlessly.

  This time Phoenix gives both me and the man a sinister smile. “Yes, wife. Now, shut the fuck up and show me around before I murder this man in cold blood, then spread it all over your beautiful pant suit.”

  I shudder as goosebumps spread all over my body and I know that I’m physically shaking. Not because I’m scared of him, well I am afraid of Phoenix, but also, it’s all the emotions that have rushed back. Emotions I thought I got rid of. This is the time where my new found glory and backbone need to be applied but I’m wiser than that. Plus, I just got this new job and I would be a fool to destroy an excellent opportunity.

  Chapter 2

  Phoenix

  Walking into the gallery I thought this would be something boring. I hadn’t checked to see the status of where Bambi has been for months now. I had tried to give up my obsession with knowing what she was doing or how she was living but now that I spot her it breaks the dam. She doesn’t see me but I see her. I watch her as she works the room, talking but not standing close enough for anyone to touch her. I itch to call Bowie and tell him that our girl is back into town but it makes little sense for me to do that. It’s been 12 years since we’ve really talked. I shake my head trying not thinking about all of that.

  Bambi forgets how much I know about her. I’ve always seen her even back in school. I can’t ever forget the first time I caught her looking my way.

  A lot of teachers loved me, so they asked me to help them out as extra credit for my senior year at the private institution on Founder’s Island. I walk into Mrs. Roberts’s classroom putting on a fake smile like I did to everyone.

  “Guys, this is Markos, he’s offering tutoring services for those who need them.”

  The little sophomore girls giggle my way, smiling at me as though they can’t see the veritable beast hidden inside. I scan my eyes throughout the whole classroom looking for my next target and then it was like everything around me became in sync. Before, I needed time to focus on things if it wasn’t killing. I needed my mind to be quiet and let me just breathe for a second, but then something changed the second I saw her.

  Luckily, it was the end of the class and as the bell rings Mrs. Roberts calls out her name.

  “Bambi, come see me for a second.”

  Bambi looks up and her lips part as a fearful expression crosses her face. I watch quietly as she picks up her backpack, adjusts the uniform and makes her way to Mrs. Roberts’s desk.

  “Yes?” She answers, peering at the teacher through her lashes and round glasses.

  Bambi is a small little thing. Even at eighteen, I was taller than the other students but she has to be a midget. She’s not the epitome of sexy because she’s still young but she is what I call cute. Her eyes are permanently wide like a deer in headlights; it looks like her trademark expression. She holds onto the strap of her backpack.

  “I know you’re struggling in this class so Markos can help you. You need this so you can pass this class and the other ones you’re barely passing. You’ll lose your scholarship, Bambi.” Mrs. Roberts says with sincerity in her voice.

  “I know,” she responds timidly. She looks down and back up at Mrs. Roberts with tears filling up in her eyes. “I need this. This is the only way for me to get out of here.”

  There is a pleading tone in her words. Something tugs at me. I don’t normally give two shits about anyone else besides my family but the tears in her eyes, her words, something is there. She’s hurting.

  “I’ll help you.” I surprise myself with this.

  Bambi peers up at me. She blinks, causing her tears to fall down her face. “Really?” She asks.

  Something about the way she asks causes me to smile. “Yep.” I nod my head sharply.

  “Thank you,” Bambi responds. She quickly comes over to my side, hugs me and then runs out of the room.

  “What’s her name?” I ask Mrs. Roberts.

  Mrs. Roberts sighs, I can tell she’s worried about her. “Bambi Laurence-Vasquez. Please help her pass. She needs this.”

  “Got it.”

  I walked out of the room and there was Bowie waiting for me. “What was that about?” He asks.

  I look at him confused as ever. “I just said yes to helping some girl with her work.”

  Bowie widens his eyes. “What? You actually said yes?”

  I shrug. “Honestly, I don’t know why but the look in her eyes made her look like she wanted to cry and I felt bad for her.”

  Bowie cocks his brow. “You feel bad for her? Wow.” He says.

  “What?” I ask.

  Bowie shakes his head. “Nothing.”

  We started walking down the hall, going to get something to eat. “You’re going to come with, right? When I’m helping her? Just so I don’t lose my shit?” I ask him.

  “Yeah, man. You know you don’t even have to ask. I’ll be there.”

  From that day forward, we helped Bambi and all three of us formed something I knew I could give no one else. I growl as I pull my phone out of my pocket and call my brother.

  “What?” He answers on the first ring.

  “Did you know she was here?” I ask. He doesn’t need me to say who because he knows.

  “Yep. That’s why I sent your ass there. Her foster parents told me she moved back,” Orion says to me.

  “I stopped keeping tabs on her, you know that, right? I was trying to erase her from my existence. You know, be a better human being?”

  “For what?” Orion asks. “Listen, Nix, we, your family already know that you were diagnosed with ASPD and you’re labelled as a low functioning sociopath. Who gives a fuck? You’re already a better human being than these pieces of shit we see out here. You don’t fake and hide behind a false reason you are the way you are. Now, would I appreciate you cutting the bullshit of the man that can feel every type of emotion as hard
as those fuckers? Yes but I can’t tell you what to do.”

  “You sure try,” I scoff, rolling my eyes.

  “Shut the fuck up. All I’m saying is you don’t feel on the level that the rest of the world feels, yet you give more of a fuck than they do. You know what type of shit that is? You protect your family and what’s yours while others are taking advantage of theirs. Call Bow and tell him,” he states.

  “Why?”

  “Because that’s both of your wife. She’s been both of yours from the second you gave her your protection til now, so stop acting like a fucking pussy. Bow deserves to see her too,” Orion grunts.

  I sneer even though he doesn’t see me. “I’m not being a fucking pussy, asshole. I’m not scared to call him either, bitch.”

  “You remember what you asked Andres for? The one thing you wanted for that girl?” He asks.

  I sigh, shutting my eyes for only a second before opening them to track her again. “Yes. I asked for Andres to find her foster parents who could take her away from the Island and love her, or else I’d kill them too.”

  “Right. Act like that fucker. That’s who you are. Now, embrace that shit.”

  I huff. “You’re a dirtbag and Ry?”

  “What?” He grunts.

  “Take your own advice, pussy.”

  “For what?”

  “Act like a husband, you bitch.” I hang up on him before he can curse me out some more.

  I take a deep breath, taking her in for another second. She’s exquisite to look at. The blue and red checkered pant suit hugs every curve of her body leaving nothing to the imagination and I sneer. She’s wearing a red tank or something like that underneath without a bra, not that she needs it much but still, what the fuck! Her hair is up in a tight bun showing off her facial structure. She’s no longer wearing glasses and I notice that she now wears heels. I dial Bowie’s number, knowing that I have everyone’s number on this Island even though they don’t know.

  “Hello?” Bowie answers.