Closure Read online

  Closure

  A.P. Jensen

  Copyright

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, or locales is purely coincidental.

  Copyright © 2016 A. P. Jensen

  http://apjensen.com/

  All rights reserved.

  Except for use in a review, no part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission.

  Contents

  Prologue

  1. Chapter One

  2. Chapter Two

  3. Chapter Three

  4. Chapter Four

  5. Chapter Five

  6. Chapter Six

  7. Chapter Seven

  8. Chapter Eight

  9. Chapter Nine

  10. Chapter Ten

  11. Chapter Eleven

  12. Chapter Twelve

  13. Chapter Thirteen

  14. Chapter Fourteen

  15. Chapter Fifteen

  16. Chapter Sixteen

  Epilogue

  Author’s Note

  Books by A. P. Jensen

  About The Author

  Prologue

  Juliet tried to lose herself as she moved to the beat. The music from the reggae band vibrated in her ears. Todd, her current boyfriend, had his arms around her. She came to Rudy’s graduation party to get wasted so she didn’t have to think about her dismal future.

  “Let’s get out of here!” Todd shouted to be heard over the music.

  Juliet’s best friend Maile was a welcome distraction. She careened into them, hazel eyes shining with elation. “Oh my God, the lead singer winked at me!”

  Maile’s cute, girl-next-door face fooled most men into thinking she was innocent before she pounced. Maile shouldered Todd aside so she could dance with Juliet and further entice the lead singer who was indeed watching her. Juliet was dimly aware of Todd stalking off the dance floor and couldn’t find it in herself to care.

  “What’s going on with you and Todd?” Maile asked.

  “He’s so clingy.”

  “That’s the best type of boyfriend,” Maile said and then squeezed her around the middle. “Do you have someone else in mind?”

  “I always have someone else in mind,” Juliet said, leaning back against Maile who had been her best friend since kindergarten. Maile dreamed up wild escapades, which landed them in the principal’s office at least twice a year and three times with the cops. They were elected “Most Memorable Badasses” of their senior class and accepted the title proudly. Now, it had all come to an end. They would all go their separate ways.

  Juliet had been looking forward to graduating from high school, mistakenly believing that she would be able to escape from her domineering father. She wanted to show Daddy that she could build a legacy like he had. She’d been around the shipping business her whole life and despite her ease with numbers and interest in the proceedings beyond answering the phone or filing papers, Daddy made it clear that she didn’t belong behind the executive desk and never would. That position was reserved for her older brothers who had been groomed from the cradle. Daddy told her she wouldn’t be going to the Ivy League college of her choice and would instead go to the local community college. When she fought Daddy for the right to study business, he eyed her with blatant distaste, as if she were a mangy dog that didn’t belong in his home. He killed her hopes for the future by stating that he didn’t believe in investing in her since she would become a secretary for the family business, Grant Shipping. He went on to compare Juliet to her older sisters who followed his dictates without complaint.

  A low-level burn in her chest flared to life. She tried to drown her emotions in alcohol, but the feeling of being trapped clawed at her throat. Rage bubbled just beneath the surface. Juliet broke away from Maile.

  “All right?” Maile asked, catching her arm.

  Juliet gave her an abrupt nod. Maile didn’t release her.

  “It’s going to be okay, Juliet.”

  Juliet tried to smile, but that was beyond her. She pulled away and headed upstairs to the hayloft. She made herself a potent cocktail, which she downed as quickly as possible.

  “How much have you had tonight?”

  Juliet turned her head and frowned at her brother’s friend. Kai wore surf shorts loosely laced on his wiry, surfer body.

  “None of your business,” she said, not in the mood to be lectured.

  “Is it Gray?”

  Juliet crushed the plastic cup in her hand and whirled on him. “Did Lee—?”

  He held up his hands. “Lee didn’t have to say anything. It’s always about your dad.”

  Kai knew all about their family dynamics and he was right about the source of her bad mood tonight. She turned away and stared down at the crowd who was having a damn good time. She should be down there, fist pumping with her classmates. She should take Todd up on his offer and let him distract her, but she couldn’t summon an ounce of enthusiasm to put on a convincing act.

  Juliet made herself another cocktail. Kai tried to snatch the cup. She slapped his hand away and downed the contents before he could take it from her. Juliet gave him a triumph smile and staggered to the wall and leaned against it for balance.

  “Jesus, Juliet, you better sober up fast,” Kai said.

  “Why?”

  “Your brothers are here.”

  Juliet stiffened. “What? Where?”

  Kai pointed. “If Brent finds out you’ve been drinking, he’ll flip.”

  Brent was the oldest Grant child and their father’s disapproving clone. Ever since he graduated from college and returned home, he had become a thorn in her side. He took his position as future CEO seriously. Her other brother Lee was more easygoing and lenient.

  “What are they doing here? This is my classmate’s party and they’re old!”

  “Twenty-three isn’t old!” Kai protested, offended since he and Lee were classmates.

  Juliet ignored him. “I don’t care if Lee is here, but why’s Brent here? He never comes to these kinds of parties.”

  “He’s dating Rudy’s sister.”

  Juliet mumbled under her breath as she watched her brother’s progress through the barn. People made way for them. The Grants were considered local royalty because of their money and influence. Her brothers acted the part. They were polite, good-looking, intelligent and bred to be future CEOs, unlike her.

  Juliet wanted to throw her hands up in the air as her brother’s came up to the hayloft with Brent’s girlfriend. Juliet turned her back on them and gave Kai a fixed smile.

  “I came up here to chat with you,” she said.

  Kai sipped his beer. “They’ll never believe that.”

  “Why not? We’ve known each other forever.” She grew up with Kai and considered him as another irritating, overprotective brother.

  “And since when do you go out of your way to chat with me? You always have some guy hanging on you.”

  Juliet opened her mouth to argue, but an arm slipped over her shoulders. Juliet glanced up at Lee as he kissed her on the cheek.

  “You are in so much trouble,” Lee murmured.

  Juliet crossed her arms. “What’s new?”

  “If Brent smells you, he’s going to tell Dad you’ve been drinking again.”

  “Then we’ll make sure he doesn’t smell me,” Juliet said and gave Brent an over-bright smile as he walked over with a bottle of water in his hands. “Hey, big brother.”

  Brent eyed her suspiciously and then flicked his eyes over her attire. Her low rider jeans exposed six inches of her midriff while the low neckline of her top gave a titillating
glimpse of a lacy black bra.

  “Juliet,” Brent said, voice clearly disapproving.

  “Yes?”

  He sighed and shook his head. “Never mind. Why are you up here where they’re serving alcohol?”

  “I came to talk to Kai,” Juliet said.

  Brent didn’t buy that for a second. “Have you been drinking?”

  She gave him an offended look. “How could you ask me that? I learned my lesson the last time.”

  “Come here.”

  “No.”

  “Give her a break, Brent,” Lee said, giving her a squeeze.

  “Why should I?” Brent asked.

  Unexpected tears rose, startling her brothers and Kai. She wasn’t a crier, but the alcohol lowered her normally impenetrable shields. She shrugged off Lee’s arm. “Go ahead and tell Daddy. I don’t care anymore.”

  “Juliet,” Lee said, his voice soft and concerned.

  Juliet nearly made it to the stairs, but Brent grabbed her arm and pulled her to a stop.

  “What’s going on?” he asked brusquely.

  Juliet glared at him as a tear slipped down her cheek. “I don’t want to work for Grant Shipping.”

  “You don’t have to,” he said.

  She jerked away from Brent and threw her hands in the air. “He wants to run my whole life!” Juliet ran a hand over her throat. She could feel a scream rising, but swallowed it down. “I can’t stand this!”

  “Juliet—”

  “He thinks I can’t do anything with my life! He treats me like I’m nothing.”

  Brent reached for her, but she backed away. She didn’t want to be touched.

  “I know I should be grateful, but…” She had been adopted by the Grants when she was a baby. She was the youngest of five. All her life she tried to act and look like a Grant, but it was an impossible feat. Juliet’s naturally tan skin, emerald eyes and black hair contrasted sharply with her sibling’s blonde hair and blue eyes.

  “I’ll talk to him,” Brent said.

  “Nothing you say will make a difference. He decided my fate before I even went to kindergarten,” Juliet said bitterly. “I don’t know why he adopted me in the first place. He treats me like I’m trash.”

  Brent put his arms around her. Despite her struggles to get away, he pulled her against his chest. Brent wasn’t one for public displays of affection, which meant she must look worse than she felt. Juliet let out a shaky sigh as she rested her face against his chest and fought tears. Daddy never let her forget that she was adopted. Despite his example, Mom and her siblings treated her like family.

  “I need to get away from him,” Juliet whispered.

  Brent sifted his hand through her hair. “I’ll see what I can do.”

  Juliet flinched. He wouldn’t be able to do anything to sway Daddy and they both knew it.

  “You deserve the same as the rest of us,” Brent said quietly.

  “Daddy doesn’t think so.”

  His mouth crooked at the corner. “Maybe I’ll tell Dad you’re thinking of getting married to get out from under his thumb. That might change his mind.”

  Juliet perked up. “Maybe you can tell him I picked one of his friends!”

  Brent grimaced. “Don’t even joke about stuff like that.” He brushed her hair back and kissed her on the forehead. “Don’t drink anymore tonight. You want me to take you home?”

  “No, I need some air,” she said.

  “No more drinking,” he ordered.

  Juliet kissed him on the cheek. “Thanks.”

  He released her and she left the hayloft. She made her way to the nearest exit, kissing acquaintances on the cheek and ignoring the playful butt smack from an ex she was still cool with. Juliet walked away from the barn, weaved through the parked cars and didn’t stop until there wasn’t a soul in sight. Since she was dizzy, Juliet lay in the middle of the field and stared pensively up at the sky.

  “Hey.”

  Juliet groaned. “Did Lee send you?”

  Kai settled beside her. “No, I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

  “I’m always okay,” she said and made a circle with her thumb and pointer finger.

  Kai snorted. “Yeah, I see that.”

  She shrugged, still too drunk to be embarrassed about her outburst.

  “Where’s your boyfriend?”

  “No idea,” she sighed.

  “Another one eats the dust,” Kai said philosophically.

  She definitely had a reputation around town, but she didn’t care. “He was too clingy.”

  “Jesus, usually men say that about women!”

  “I’m picky,” she said without apology.

  “What about me?”

  Juliet cracked open one eye. “What?”

  He nervously turned the beer bottle in his hands. He wasn’t looking at her. “Maybe you should date an older guy.”

  “You?”

  He scowled at her incredulous tone. “Why not?”

  “You’re the same age as Lee!”

  Kai frowned. “So?”

  “You’re old and Lee would kick your ass if he knew you were hitting on me. Plus, we’ve known each other forever. It’s just… weird.” Juliet would have felt uncomfortable by this unexpected turn of events if she hadn’t downed a substantial amount of alcohol in the past hour.

  “We’re not kids anymore,” Kai said.

  Juliet tried to sit up and promptly fell back again. She felt boneless and pleasantly lightheaded as the cocktail kicked in. Kai braced his arms on either side of her as the moonlight illuminated her face. Juliet didn’t feel any discomfort at the compromising position. She trusted Kai.

  “One kiss,” Kai wheedled.

  Juliet considered this, but her thinking process was muddled so she shrugged in acquiescence. A kiss wouldn’t hurt anyone. Kai smiled, leaned down and set his lips on hers. His lips were rough and chapped from the sun. Juliet tasted a hint of Corona before she began to giggle. Kai jerked back with a disgruntled look that made her howl with laughter.

  “Sorry,” she said without an ounce of sincerity. “Kai, you’re like my brother.”

  “You think that kiss was brotherly?”

  “There’s no spark.”

  He leaned down so their eyes were an inch apart. “Let’s try that again.”

  Kai set his lips on hers. This time his tongue stole into her mouth and she stilled as a burst of warmth fought the effects of the alcohol and spread through her body.

  “Why am I not surprised? Two boys in one night.”

  The unexpectedly sharp, scathing tone broke through the haze of desire. Juliet and Kai turned their heads and saw a woman standing not five feet away, watching them with thick disapproval. Recognizing the older woman, Kai rolled off of Juliet and shot to his feet.

  The old woman wore a purple muumuu Juliet suspected she’d sewn herself. Her silver hair was slicked back into a tight knot at the nape of her neck and her face was creased into a sneer. Nora Lindsey was a gossip, prude and strict Christian. Kai looked like he wished he was anywhere but here.

  “You should be ashamed of yourself,” Nora hissed at Juliet.

  Juliet sat up and tried to focus. “Can I help you with something?”

  “Money can conceal many things, but it can’t disguise a natural whore, I suppose.”

  Rage cleared her mind quicker than if she’d been doused with ice water. Juliet leapt to her feet. “Say that again.” She’d never punched an old woman before, but she’d make an exception for Nora Lindsey.

  “You’re just like your mother.”

  “You know my mother?”

  Nora’s mouth twisted into a bitter smile. “You’re the spitting image of her. That must eat at Gray.”

  She shook her head to clear it. “What are you talking about?”

  “Ask Gray about Margaret Lindsey.”

  “Your daughter?”

  “Ask him about the affair.”

  Juliet rocked back as if she’d been struck. “What?�
��

  “Margaret died two months after you were born in a car accident. I forced Gray to take you in.”

  Juliet’s mind spun with what wasn’t being said. “I’m adopted.”

  “Gray couldn’t admit that he’s your father, now, could he? What would that do to his faithful, naive wife? Besides, that would ruin his image.”

  Juliet searched Nora’s eyes for a sign that this was all a cruel joke created by an old woman who had nothing better to do. Nora’s eyes were steady and unflinching.

  Juliet swallowed bile. “This can’t be true.”

  “Why would I lie? I think you’re old enough to know what type of man Gray is.”

  With that piece of advice, Nora turned away. Juliet watched her take ten steps and then called out to her.

  “Why wait seventeen years if this is true?” Juliet shouted.

  Nora turned back. “I have terminal cancer. Gray’s money means nothing to me now.”

  Juliet watched Nora cross the field, walk around the barn where the party was being held and disappear from sight. Juliet forgot Kai’s presence until she felt a hand on her shoulder.

  “Hey.”

  Juliet turned and saw that his face was carefully blank. She grasped his arms with trembling hands.

  “She’s crazy, right? That can’t be true!”

  “Nora’s a busybody,” Kai said, but didn’t meet her eyes. “She could be trying to stir up trouble.”

  “Do you believe her?” When Kai didn’t answer, Juliet made a strangled sound and began to pace. “It can’t be true. No one can keep a secret like that in a small town! I’m adopted! Daddy wouldn’t cheat on Mom. Nora wants me to believe that I’m her granddaughter? I don’t look like her… or Daddy! How stupid does she think I am?”

  Kai finished his beer and watched Juliet as if she were a ticking bomb.

  “I’m gonna settle this right now.” Juliet pulled her cell phone out of her pocket and dialed home. Her hands trembled as she pressed the phone against her cheek and waited for an answer.