spoken / lies.

.

“Hm, well. You’re wrong.” Harper said, faux cheerful smile on her face as she stared the man down. “Anyways, I’m sure whatever girl you’re looking to sneak in here under the owner’s nose will be more than happy to deflate your ego.” Blue eyes narrowed as the chef really took stock of the man in front of her. What was he hiding? “I mean it won’t…but what’s in it for me? If you want me to keep your secret gotta make it worth my while.”

➖

“AM I? Interesting. In which ways?” If she was going to tell him that he was wrong then he, for sure, wanted to have an explanation as to how. “They tend to inflate my ego rather than delate them but I’m sure i’ll find someone down the line who will do just that.” The owner had done it plenty of times but since he brought women and men who he spoilt, they tended to only compliment him. “Money? Depends on what you’d want and if I’m able to strike a deal with you. I’m not that trusting given your position in all of this.” His finger wiggled around towards the establishment.

-

“Close call,” she lets herself laugh, her eyes following the cop as he rounds the corner and moves out of sight. Marisol pulls her keys out of her purse loops the ring around her index finger. “How lucky are you that I’m around to save your ass.” She presses the remote start button, still enjoying that feature even if she is just a few feet from the vehicle. She’s still not quite used to driving something made in this decade. 

“She’s good. Settling in and everything. We’ve been trying to make it seamless, for her. The transition. But it’s never going to be 100% smooth sailing.” She leads Andres to the car, lifting the hatch over her head. “It’s different for sure. I’ve never spent this much time around kids before.” It wasn’t just Leighton. It was the army of other Thane kids that she’d only seen over dinners and parties. They seemed to have absorbed the newest addition to their family into their little circle without question. “Thanks for carrying those,” she says, leaning against the side of her car. “Now where are you taking that thing?” Marisol nods toward the car he’d obviously been trying to break into.

➖

“YEAH.” Too fucking close. He grumbles and looks at the cops. It was a mixture of hatred and longing as all he’d ever wanted to be in the past was a cop until all that shit blew up in his face. It was her next set of words that made him turn around and roll his eyes when she spoke. “I’m so lucky, forever in your debt, yada yada yada.” He said with a grin before folding his arms over his chest, letting his cigarette dangling from his lips while he watched her.

“Yeah, I get that. Can’t be easy for the both of you either. You’re not parents one day and then you are the next.” Andres wasn’t sure he’d be able to do it. His worst fear was a woman showing up on his doorstep claiming to have his kid. “So you got any complaints about it? You know that I’ll keep that shit a secret. Cross my eye and poke my eye.” It wasn’t how that shit went but it probably did the trick. He handed it back and shrugged. “No worries. The car is probably going in some random lake or I’ll burn it. Depends how well I wanna clear it up. Not sure yet.”

.

Her eye twitched. “Don’t call me princess.” She warned, her smile still on her face, though it tightened. Blue eyes going stony. Harper was a few feet away from her knife kit in the kitchen, so this man better get his act together. Raising an eyebrow at him, she let her eyes wander up and down his outfit. He did clean up nice, sure. But now she was annoyed with him. “I mean right now? Yeah sure. Though I’m not sure your ego would fit through the door.” Arching an eyebrow, the chef shrugged. “Though Reina is the owner. Should we call her and get her opinion?”

➖

“I thought all girls fell for that shit.” He teased but then lifted his hands towards her in an act of being apologetic. “Duly noted.” He almost gave her another pet name but he felt like he might just get the same request from her again so it was probably best to just avoid that altogether. He looked at the door and stepped back, laughing. “I’m sure it’ll fit in there but it’ll be a tight squeeze. Maybe you’ve gotta knock it down some, though.” Which would only work out for him because he loved being insulted as much as he liked being praised. “I think what Reina doesn’t know doesn’t have to hurt her, right?” 

❀

“You’ve got that right,” she comments with a smile. Obviously, Izzy loved compliments and tended to delude herself with them. She should know better than to think that compliments aren’t sometimes married with cruel intentions and backhanded comments. Maybe not from Andres but certainly from others. “As if my closet needs filling out,” she smirks. It’s already been a point of contention with her and her new house with Wyatt: the need for more space for her clothes. She had definitely downsized (a little bit) prior to moving in with Ryder. She’d gone from a two bedroom apartment alone to a slightly bigger but not wholly hers apartment. Now, the house was set to explode someday with her clothes. But that didn’t distract her from shopping for the latest trends, trying to keep herself current, even at thirty-five years old. “Of course I have an eye for stuff like that. I’m literally Olympus’ favorite stylist—” not true but she’s going with it anyways. “First off, I think you need to stay away from this section,” she informs him, physically turning his body. “And focus on this one because this stuff is more your color, baby. – So what’s the shirt for?”

➖

“THAT’S why I like you, Iz.” Andres said as he looked over the brunette. “You’re always up for a damn compliment and you don’t give me shit for it or aren’t trying to climb me after I give it to you. Though, with you, I might not mind the latter.” He grinned at her, nudging her playfully so she knew that he was only kidding with her. “All your closets? You’ve got a nice big house now and you need more clothes to fill it I get that. I could maybe be of help and tell you what looks nice.” Was that crossing a line? He didn’t really care if she was the one giving him approval for that. In the meantime, she could help good. “I knew you were the right person cause these salespeople are telling me everything looks nice on me which I know is the truth but a bit of guidance would help.” He looked around and nodded, following what she was saying even though he didn’t really see it. “A date.”

.

Harper was running late by design. One of the hostesses called her in a panic - a new waiter dropped red wine down her front, can she show up with a change of clothes because she didn’t have time to go home and change. Harper, ever the one to help, turned the car around. She probably should’ve picked a better bag than the first grocery bag she found to stuff the change of clothes into, but she was in a rush. But as she crossed the parking lot toward the front door the handle on the bag broke and she had to move to hold the bundle like a baby. If she hadn’t stopped, she wouldn’t have seen the man approaching. Glancing at him she narrowed her eyes. “I can tell you without going in that she’s off today. But why would the owner being in her own restaurant effect you coming in and enjoying my cooking, hmm?”

➖

HE was happier than a pig in shit to find out that the scary owner wasn’t here tonight. He’d dressed the part and told his date not to wear something short enough to show her ass in the hopes that he could sweet talk Reina into letting him in again but it seemed like he wouldn’t have to do that at all. “Well, I’d like to enjoy you cooking either way, princess but the owner isn’t a big fan of me... through no doing of my own. Apparently I don’t fit the etiquette but I got myself cleaned up.” He opened his leather jacket to show off a button up as he turned. Maybe the cigarette in his mouth didn’t help the whole outfit but it would have to do. “What would you say if you saw me coming? You’d let me in, right? I look pretty fucking good.” It had taken him more than ten minutes to throw his outfit together so he liked to think he’d put some level of effort in. 

–

Eyes roll at Andres, but Andy shares the same bit of laughter. “Don’t push your luck.” He advises the man with a serious look, though there isn’t much heat behind it. Besides, if it came down to it — They both know Andy would just have a Prospect to handle things, rather than deal with Andres’ drunk ass on his own. Eyes narrow as the man in front of him speaks, the look clearly painting a small warning. He didn’t care if Andres didn’t want a family or kids or anything of the like — It was just a thin line to walk when teasing, especially if it involved his family. “Lotta coffee and will power.” Andy shrugs, “And a nanny.” He adds, knowing they wouldn’t be able to stay afloat without an extra set of hands — Rowan’s parents have been a help too, though his pride won’t let him praise the Fishers. A small chuckle passes Andy’s lips at his friend’s explanation. “So really you were just lookin’ to fuck around for a couple hours.” He shrugs, taking a drag of his cigarette. “M’game. Keeps me from havin’ to do of the borin’ shit in there.” Andy nods to the garage as he speaks.

➖

ANDRES has been around enough people to know that not everyone can take on his sarcastic humor and that some people just have a stick up their asses. Given that Andy wasn’t drinking, maybe he’d just blame that. He knew better than to push further and piss him off because while he could handle his own, Andy had more pull. If he wanted something to happen to Andres, he had the people to back him up and Andres liked his face right where it fucking was. “The nanny hot?” He exclaimed once more but then rose his hands to make sure the other knew he was kidding. “I’m joking, I’ve already got my hands full.” Not with anyone serious but a lot of strippers and dancers that he went to see on rotation throughout the week. That was good enough for him. “Ding, ding, ding. You looked like you could use a break.” His hand falls on his shoulders when he agrees, smiling wide like he won the fucking lottery. Maybe he was just bored. “It’s what I thought. We should probably stick around so it looks like you’re doing something, though. Unless you’re the boss ‘round here. I can never keep track.”

location: the mall

“IF it ain’t the prettiest thing this side of the town.” Andres teased as he walked over to Izzy and touched her side to signal that he was there. Nothing out of order since he knew she was spoken for. In fact, he’d heard through the grape vine that she’d moved in with her boyfriend and he had to say that he was happy for her. 

“You out here shopping to fill out that big closet of yours?” He didn’t know how big her closet was but he had to guess it was pretty large if she’d picked out the house herself. “You should help me go look for a shirt because I want something that fits nicely. Everything is either too big or too small and I feel like you’d have an eye for that shit. You know, finding me something that would accentuate all the right parts.”

Location: calliope

ANDRES stood outside of calliope like an idiot. The last time he’d been here he’d brought a siren with him and had pissed off Reina so it was always a gamble on whether or not he’d be let in. He had a date but he’d arrived a little early to sus out the place before she got here because he didn’t want to get kicked on his ass with the girl nearby. When he saw someone coming in, believing she worked there, he pushed himself off the wall and walked towards her. 

“I’m going to give you twenty bucks to go in and check if Reina is working today.” If she wasn’t, he might be able to sweet talk the hostess to let hims it in for a quick dinner. His goal tonight was to get laid so he was going to be rushing out regardless and wouldn’t overstay his welcome. “Pretty please?”

☀

“Oh, right.” Remi popped her lips together as she turned to look at the decorations again. She could only assume he was talking about the sirens who lingered around the clubhouse like leeches - and Remi certainly wasn’t their biggest fan. “I’m surprised they talk about more than just which club members they’ve fucked.” she jabbed, rolling her eyes along with her words. She leaned down to grab some cheaper yet cute decorations and placed them in her basket. “Yeah, I’m all good, thanks. When the kids tell me how I did a good job, I’ll tell them I have you to thank.” Remi joked lightly.

➖

ANDRES didn’t comment on anything because he didn’t believe he had anything nice to say and it wouldn’t be in regard to the sirens. He wasn’t the type to think he was better than anyone so it never made him feel right when other people did that. He nodded his head and looked him over. “Sure, send them over. I like praises and I can only tolerate the little buggers when they’re complimenting me.” Andres said with a laugh, folding his arms over his chest. 

-

This is, perhaps, easier than it should be. She slips so naturally into the cover story Andres needs, nothing in her caring that she’s lying to a cop. Marisol makes a show of fishing through her purse. “I thought I handed them to you at check out,” she mutters, loud enough for the officer to hear her. “Shit. They’re not in here. You really don’t have them?” Her shoulders slump, defeated. 

Marisol had been committed, ready to carry this on for as long as necessary. But the officer gives them an easy out before she has to pretend to retrace her steps looking for imaginary keys when all she wants to do is go home. “You too, officer. Thanks,” she makes her voice pleasant but exacerbated, still playing the role until she’s sure he’s gone. “You think he’s the type to circle back?” she asks, trying to get Andres’ read on the cop. “Okay, it’s so not that heavy don’t be a baby. It’s just some stuff for Leighton.”

➖

ANDRES shakes his head towards Marisol and gives her a look indicating that he wasn’t in possession of the keys and he was attempting to break in but he hadn’t wanted to officer to know as much. “No, I don’t have them. I’m pretty sure that I handed them to you before we went in shopping.” His hands moved over his person and then he sighed, looking back at her. We should go back in.”

When the officer left, he shook his head and let out a small sigh because it had been too close for comfort. “Oh, with that ego, probably.” He muttered beneath his breath as he looked at the items and then stepped forward. “How’s she going? Must be new for you.”

Wes was in the right place at the right time considering that Andres was lucky he was walking back to his bike. However, he was a little confused when Andres started talking about the car in front of them. It wasn’t his. Thankfully he told him to play along, because he probably wouldn’t have caught on by himself. “Yeah man, this is my car.” He pretended to dig for his non existent keys in his pocket. Then he figured he could use his bike’s keys to show the officer, “Look.” He said as he pulled out his keys. “My car. So we’re all good. Andres was just waitin’ for me.” 

➖

ANDRES gave Wes a look that he hoped he understood. He was knee deep in shit and it would only get worse if the cop hung around long enough to run the license plate and realize that the car was owned by someone who’d eventually come up as missing. When he pulled out a set of keys, Andres was quick to play along. “Come on, man. See I told you. Now if you don’t want me to ask why you’ve chosen to pick me out of all these....” Knowing where Andres was going with this, the cop decided to step back and wave them off. “Fucker.” Andres muttered under his breath and then turned to Wesley. “Thanks, man. I owe you one.”

–

Andy can’t help the way his eyes linger on the can of beer, and the itch he feels to reach out and grab one for himself. He resists, just barely, forcing himself to focus on the person in front of him rather than the beer the man is holding. Taking a drag from his cigarette, Andy’s eyes rolling as Andres speaks. “I’ll even roll ya on your side, ‘cause I’m a real friend.” He remarks with a laugh of his own, knowing the banter will mask his own discomfort. The man in front of him knows better than to ask — Andy certainly isn’t going to let Andres see him sweat. “I got four kids and club to keep together. What the fuck else do you expect from me? M’busy.” He answers with a shrug, if not a bit defensive. “You got a reason for being here, or is it just to insult my looks?”

➖

ANDRES smirked and tapped his hand on Andy’s shoulder. “I knew I could count on you. You’d hold my head up and mouth open?” He asks and waits a beat before laughing. “Not that good of a friend, huh? Had to try man, but I appreciate it.” Andres was doing the worst part of his job as of late and that was being a fucking exterminator. Luckily for him, he’d gotten a few men to help out and he paid them until the next body slumped on the ground and he’d have something exciting to do. “Four kids. Fuck that. I don’t know how you do it.” Andy and his girl were saints and doing the lords word by raising a whole litter. It also explained the short fuze. “Got my car to get checked up but I was hoping to catch up.”

–

Strolling out of the store, a fresh pack of Marlboros and a couple groceries in hand, Sawyer hummed a low country tune beneath his breath and started for his bike. He only made it a couple steps, though, before a familiar voice rang out, causing the biker to whip his head to the side and spot Andres squaring off with the local law. “Fuckin’ hell,” he muttered to himself as the other man approached him. It wasn’t exactly a secret that Sawyer didn’t particularly like Andres. In fact, his distaste for the other man ran rather deep, and so the only reason Sawyer even entertained the idea of playing along with this bullshit charade was because of Andres’s ties to the MC. Without those, the biker would have been content to keep on walking and let the cards fall where they may. “I’m not even gonna ask,” he droned through gritted teeth as he pushed past Andres and approached the cop. “Yeah, he’s with me. Told him to wait in the car, but he obviously didn’t listen,” Sawyer explained with a halfhearted sigh and a devilish smirk, “Dumbass musta locked himself out again. We’re all good, officer— won’t happen again.” Confident that the officer was taking the bait, Sawyer waited only half a heartbeat after he left before swinging his attention back to Andres, all amusement flushed out of his expression, “Believe ya owe me a hundred bucks,” he pointed out with a snarl as he reached out with an empty hand, “I oughta make it two.”

➖

ANDRES had picked the first person to walk in his direction and if he’d squinted a little harder and seen Sawyer there, he would have picked the old lady a few feet behind him. Anyone was better than goldilocks. “Ah fuck,” he muttered under his breath and decided to go with it. It was a little too hard to backtrack now even though prison didn’t sound half bad. Chances were, he’d owe Sawyer one and that was another type of hell he wasn’t prepared for. He sidestepped when the blond pushed past him and went directly to the cop. For someone who had recently gotten out, Sawyer seemed pretty comfortable around the officer. Maybe the theory of him being a rat was one he’d have to visit again. Weren’t cops all chill around each other? He walked over to them and placed a smoke between his lips. “Wanted to go out for a cigarette, you know how it is.” He wouldn’t have given a fuck about seats or anyone’s car stinking of nicotine but it seemed like a plausible excuse as to how he could have locked himself out. Waving at the officer, he laughed when Sawyer turned around. “Shit outta luck, must have forgotten my wallet at home. Thanks, though, blondie.”

☀

“I didn’t realise you were so into Christmas decorations.” Remi teased gently as she turned to look at Andres. Their interactions were becoming fewer and fewer, and if Remi remembered correctly, the last time she had spoken to him, she had been crying over Seth. Well that was embarrassing. “Well what about inside? Does the Christmas tree count as a decoration or is that like, a staple must-have?” Remi poked with a warm smile. There was a faint memory somewhere of Andres helping her to put out her Christmas decorations, but it seemed to far away now, and so foreign that the man stood beside her almost felt like a stranger now.

➖

“NOT an expert or anything but I hear the girls at the club talk a lot.” The strip club, not the club house but it didn’t really matter, did it? If he could go the rest of his life without seeing his ex-girlfriend, he felt that he’d probably be better off. Not that there were any lingering feelings but because he was often left more tired than anything. “Christmas tree should probably be the main decoration but since the space is bigger, I’d say you can go up to fifteen.” Sounded like an accurate number but he didn’t know how big Remi’s space was or even where she lived. “You good with all the decoration advice?”

-

Marisol doesn’t have enough arms to carry all the bags she’d filled at the farmer’s market. Determined to find a vegetable that Leighton will eat this week, she’d bought just a little of everything. For a moment, she stands on the sidewalk, scanning the parking spots for her car before she remembers that she’s not looking for her old black Honda with chipped paint on the hood and the faintest smell of cigarette smoke clinging to the fabric seats left over from college. Her eyes pass right over the new SUV twice before she remembers that it’s hers. 

The pause, apparently, is just long enough for someone to approach her. Andres, one of her father’s associates. Before she can say hello, she notices the serious look on his face and is quickly commanded to play along. “Perfect timing,” she says, plastering on a broad smile on her face as she shifts an armful of bags to him before she can object. “You have my keys? I was worried I’d be out here holding this stuff forever.”

➖

ANDRES smiles at her and hisses under his breath in the hope that he’d help her. Luckily it’s Marisol and she knows just how wrong things can go if he fucks this up. Luckily, she doesn’t think twice and she goes with it. “Yeah, but I thought you had them. Can you check your bag?” He asks as he grabs her bags and then peers over his shoulder at the officer. “I think we’re all good here.” Hopefully the smile is enough to tell the police officer to move on because Marisol and already said it was her car. 

“Maybe we should check inside. I think you put them down in the first store.” He was about to turn his back when he heard the police man tell them to have a good day. Maybe he didn’t want to stick around while they went around the mall to find the missing set of keys. “What a fucking prick.” Andres muttered under his breath and groaned. “Thanks for that.” Moving to the car, he placed her items on the hook. “You got bricks in there? Jesus. Want me to take them to your car?”

∞

Kaya stopped in her tracks when she saw Andres point her out to a cop. For a split second, she looked at him like he was crazy. That was until he came up to her, his words causing her to give him a small smile. “Wow, someone’s a little overzealous,” the brunette gave a small roll of her eyes as she walked over to the car and the cop, “Apparently, I was taking too long looking at shoes.” Putting on a smile, she rolled her eyes playfully before smiling at the cop. 

She watched the cop eye both of them but she kept her relaxed stance, not feeling very worried. Kaya recognized him and knew he knew that she was a member of the club. If he was one of theirs on the take then maybe he’d just walk away. Which is what he did after wishing them both a good day. “You know,” she turned around to tilt her head at Andres, crossing her arms, “I thought it was you that cleaned up my messes?”

➖

ANDRES gave her a look and then let her work her magic. He didn’t just want to get rid of the car, he needed to do so to make sure the cops didn’t figure shit out a little too soon. When she took on the role of fashionista or whatever women did when they went shopping, Andres smiled at the cop. “Told you. She was taking so fucking long, I had to come out here and wait until I realized I didn’t have the keys.” 

The officer mumbled an apology and left, making him roll his eyes and flick him off behind his back. He missed being a cop but he didn’t like that type of fucking cop. Andres turned back at Kaya and made a show of laughing before grumbling her way. “You had to lie once. Don’t get off your high horse too fucking quick.” He grumbled and pulled out a bar from his sleeve to finally pop the luck. “I hate these new cars.”

"I've always wanted to be a cop but the image has been shattered. I figured out pretty quickly that it's all about greed and corruption. So since I couldn't beat them, I joined them. I'd rather be here than pretend to be something I'm not.