Chapter 7
Weeks passed and Claire settled into her new job at Lake View West. The others loved her and she like working with them. Lloyd was happy to. Claire not only was a good assistant, she was great to work with. During lunch breaks they'd lock the office door and the guys knew not to disturb them. Randall didn't take it well. He'd been dating Claire regularly when she met Lloyd, but he left her alone. He spent his spare time visiting Duke Dillon down at the city jail. Claire was scheduled for trial in another week and Lloyd and she talked with a lawyer.
It was Wednesday, Geoffrey's poker night, but Lloyd and Claire hadn't gone over for the past two weeks. Geoffrey called and specifically asked if they would come tonight and Claire said they would. Lloyd and she were planning to move in together. She wanted to be with him all of the time and he felt the same, but Claire had another month left on her lease and she didn't see the purpose of letting it go to waste.
When they showed up at Geoffrey's place, Len was there. He came over to join in for the first time in ages and when Claire saw him she felt uncomfortable.
"Hey. I haven't seen you in some time." Len said, kissing his sister's cheek. "I heard you were dating this dork."
"Lloyd is not a dork, Len." Claire snapped.
"Whoa, lighten up, just a joke."
Lloyd noticed the tension between the two siblings, but he didn't say anything about it. Len and the other guys said hello then Geoffrey asked if Claire would make some popcorn.
The same old thing, Claire thought. She was beginning to wonder why she'd ever come to those stupid games in the first place, but remembering that's where she met Lloyd helped her to have a better attitude.
"So, Lloyd, how's it going?" Len asked.
"Great."
"I mean with the kid?"
"Claire isn't a kid, Len."
"You better hope, right." Len laughed.
"Len, I asked you not to start this, okay." Geoffrey said.
"What, I'm asking the man a few questions here, what's the big deal."
"Just get off it, okay."
"Yeah, yeah, Jesus, is this man sensitive or what?" Len said, asking Lloyd. Lloyd didn't reply. "Oh, guess who's coming over later, you'll love this." Len said.
"I don't have a clue." Lloyd said. He didn't like Len when he'd been drinking because he got out of hand at times. Len never did handle booze well and tonight he'd downed three six packs since noon and was working on his fourth.
"Lizbeth Arnell." Len said. Lloyd's face flushed.
"What is she coming here for?"
"We're on again, man, since you tossed her out. Lizbeth didn't have any place to go so she came to me."
"Just great." Lloyd said, jumping up to get Claire.
"Where you goin, man, she ain't here yet?" Len laughed.
"Yeah, well I won't be here when she does show. Thanks for the invite, Geoffrey, but Claire and I will take a rain check. Claire!" Lloyd yelled. "We're leaving." Lloyd said.
"We just got here."
"And we're leaving, let's go."
"Why, what happened?"
"Your macho man here is afraid of Dizzie Lizzie Arnell." Len laughed.
"Shut up, will you." Geoffrey said.
"No, that's okay, Geoffrey, the man's cool. I just don't want to be around Dizzie Lizzie when the house falls on her." Lloyd said. "Come on, Claire, let's go before the witch arrives."
"Wait a minute, you mean we're leaving because she's coming over?"
"Yeah."
"Why should we? She should be the one to leave, she can take him with her." Claire said, pointing to Len.
"You little cock teasing cunt." Len said, springing from his chair and running after his sister. "I'll bust you up, you little fuck."
"Hey, leave the girl alone, Len." Geoffrey shouted, jumping up to stop him. Claire ran to Lloyd and he hugged her close.
"What in hell's the matter with you, Len? She's your sister, man, are you nuts?" Lloyd said.
"Fuck her! She's a cock teasing little ... "
"I told you to shut up, Len, now God dammit, I'm serious!" Geoffrey shouted.
There was enough tension in that room to spring load a cannon and Lloyd wanted to leave. Claire got her coat and as they were gathering their things, Lizbeth showed up. Len let her inside and the shit hit the fan.
"What is he doing here?" Lizbeth asked Len?
"I was just leaving, Lizbeth, don't get your balls in an uproar."
"Oh, really, with Pippy Longstocking over there?" Lizbeth said.
"Hey, who are you calling names, you scabby cunted whore." Claire said.
"Claire!" Lloyd said with shock.
"Oh, that's right, Lloyd, keep the little girl in line. Musn't say such naughty words dear, poor daddy can't handle it." Lizbeth smirked.
"Put a lid on it, babe." Len told Lizbeth. She almost took his head off for that. Lizbeth Arnell didn't take orders from anyone, especially Len Banner.
"Don't you tell me to shut up, you sorry sonuva bitch! You don't own me."
"Hey, just shut your mouth, okay, this is my brother's house." Len snapped.
"Yeah, my house is right. Come on people, I've got neighbors, okay. If you must fight do it someplace else. I don't need this crap in here." Geoffrey said.
"She started it, Geoffrey." Claire said.
"Hey, Len's right, put a lid on it."
Claire became furious. She never expected Geoffrey to take his side in this, he hated Dizzie Lizzie Arnell.
"You always do that!" Claire shrieked. "You take Len's side even when he's wrong!"
"Claire, come on, I don't do that."
"You do! You do! She has no business being here, Geoffrey. She's a scab and a pig, get rid of her."
"Hey, cunt, get rid of yourself." Len shouted. Claire lunged toward Len with fist flying and Lizbeth laughed seeing the young girl go after her brother. Lizbeth knew how they felt about one another. When she dated Len regularly, Len told her all about Claire.
"Jesus, Claire!" Geoffrey yelled grabbing her off Len. "Settle down, and Len you and Lizbeth better Leave."
"Why us?" Len asked with annoyance.
"Because I said so, dammit, just do it, will you."
"What's the matter, Claire, can't stand the pressure?" Lizbeth smirked.
"I'll show you pressure, you little witch!" Claire ran after Lizbeth with a vengeance. She knocked the woman back against the door then pulled her to the floor. Claire's fists were swinging wildly and she caught Lizbeth several times in the face. She pulled her hair then scratched her face with her nails and by the time the men could pull Claire off, Lizbeth was bleeding.
"You little bitch!" Lizbeth screamed, jumping to her feet.
Lloyd held onto Claire trying his best to keep the girl away from Arnell, but Claire struggled and broke free landing yet another blow to Lizbeth's lip.
"Claire! Settle down." Lloyd said, grabbing her again and holding tighter. Lloyd didn't like seeing the women fight, but he was getting a kick out of seeing Lizbeth get the worst of it. Secretly he wanted to sock her a good one himself.
"I want her out of here, Geoffrey, get her out." Claire shouted, angrier than she'd ever been.
"Len?" Geoffrey said, motioning for him and Lizbeth to leave.
"Come on, Lizbeth, we don't need to be with these scum." he said.
"Scum! Scum? Look who's calling who scum!" Claire shrieked. "You're the scum, Len Banner. You and your sick habits, I hope you drop dead. I hope you get hit by a truck and die!"
"Claire, settle down." Lloyd said, holding the girl tight.
"I won't settle down, how dare he stand there and call me scum, he's the one."
"He called us all scum, Claire, not just you." Lloyd said.
"No he didn't! He called me scum, didn't you, Len, go on, tell the people why." Claire shouted angrily.
"Len, just go, okay." Geoffrey said with anxious worry. He was hoping the subject wouldn't come up. Not here, not now. Not in front of Lloyd anyway. It happened a long time ago and he didn't see the need to dredge up family dirt in front of others.
"Oh, come on, Len, do what she asks." Lizbeth said, with a smirk on her face.
"You're the cause of this in the first place. If you hadn't cut him off the way you did none of this would have happened."
Lloyd didn't know what was going on but he could tell something happened between Len and Claire. He listened to them argue and wondered what it might be. Claire was upset to the point of tears and Len was defensive, but Lizbeth was enjoying it. She thought the whole thing funny.
"I'm asking you as civilly as I can, Len. Take Lizbeth and just go before things get out of hand."
"No, you say it, Len, just say it." Claire shrieked. "Tell us how you came home from Dizzie Lizzie's place that night and she had humiliated you in front of the guys, remember that, Len. Remember how Dizzie Lizzie over there made you feel?"
"Just shut up, Claire." Len said.
"Go on, tell us how she whacked your balls clean off that night, Len, right in front of the guys. She was over here watching poker one night. All the guys were around and big mouth Lizbeth got drunk and made an ass of herself as usual. She went off into the bedroom with Wes, and Len caught them fucking, go on, Len, tell us what she did, tell us how she embarrassed you that night and how you took your frustrations out on me!" Claire cried.
"This is enough!" Geoffrey shouted, forcing Len and Lizbeth out the door. He didn't want this thing to break. Claire had never gotten over Len's actions that night. She still carried tremendous anger toward him for hurting her the way he did. Len became so outraged toward Lizbeth he grabbed Claire and beat her up as his way of getting back at Lizbeth. Len lost control. He forced his baby sister into the bedroom and he stripped her then raped her after everyone had gone. Claire never forgave him even though the next day Len felt remorse for his actions. He was out of control and it was Lizbeth's doings.
"Okay, we're out of here, fine." Len said, grabbing Lizbeth's arm.
"Let go of me!" Lizbeth said angrily. "I don't have to take this shit from her. What you did wasn't my fault and I won't be blamed for it," she snapped.
"Lizbeth, don't you think it's better if you and Len just left?" Lloyd asked.
"You keep out of this, Lloyd Hamilton, this doesn't concern you, and besides, you're balling the baby girl now so you can't say a word about it."
"You make me sick, Lizbeth. I don't know why I put up with you all those months."
"Because you love what I have, Lloyd, why else." Lizbeth smirked.
"You're a witch, Lizbeth Arnell, a sick, twisted witch." Lloyd said with disgust.
"That's it, just go, both of you. I can't have this in my apartment, Len, the landlord will have me evicted. Just take Delilah and get the fuck out, now!"
Len and Lizbeth left and Claire broke into tears. She pulled away from Lloyd and ran into the bedroom and slammed the door. Geoffrey told Lloyd what had happened and he was furious about it.
"How could you let him get away with it, Geoffrey?" Lloyd said.
"What was I supposed to do, I didn't find out until it was over."
"Beat the crap out of him for one thing, that's what I would have done."
"What would that have solved? The damage was done."
"God! How can you speak to him now? How can you let him in your house that way?"
"Hey, he did a terrible thing, but Len's still my brother." Geoffrey said, defending his actions.
"And, Claire is your baby sister, remember?" Lloyd said, the look of utter disgust on his face. He went to the bedroom and knocked on the door. Lloyd wanted to take Claire out of there and never return. He was outraged by what Len had done and he didn't want Claire to suffer anymore.
"Honey, it's me, open up." Lloyd said.
No answer.
"Claire, it's Lloyd, honey, open the door."
Still, no answer.
"Is she all right in there?" Lloyd asked.
"She's all right, she's just pissed off." Geoffrey said.
"Claire, come on now, open up. Let's go home, okay?"
When she didn't answer, Lloyd became worried. He pounded on the door and tried the knob several more times then he kicked the door in, ripping the wood from the hardware. The door flew open and Claire was lying across the bed. She was holding a razor blade in one hand thinking about ending it all when Lloyd came in.
"Give me that!" he shouted, taking the blade away. Lloyd threw the razor blade on the floor then scooped Claire into his arms. He carried her out of Geoffrey's bedroom.
"I'll tell you what, Geoffrey Banner, if I ever see that mother fucker again, I'll personally bust his face. You tell him. You tell Len I said I'll kill his ass if he comes within ten feet of this girl!"
Lloyd carried Claire out to the car then took her home. He drove like a mad man, but they made it back to his place unharmed. When they got there, Lloyd carried her inside and put her in bed. He was in love with Claire Baby. Lloyd realized how much when he saw her attempting to end her own life.
"You stay right there." Lloyd said. "I'm going to make you a nice hot cup of tea, would you like that?"
Claire nodded.
Lloyd ran to the kitchen and made her Toasty Spice then came back to the bedroom and sat with her while she sipped it.
"Look, Claire, I know how you must be hurting, but what Len did wasn't your fault. He had no right to do that to you."
Claire's eyes squinted then closed. She wasn't so sure it was Len's fault. Claire was there. She remembers it too.
"He's a dog, a filthy dog."
"I made him do it, Lloyd. I teased him that night."
Lloyd was quiet for a time. He wasn't sure that made a difference. He knew how she had teased him and he could think back to the feelings she forced him to feel, but Len was her brother. He could have controlled himself.
"Claire, I know what you're saying, but Len had no right. You teased me, did I rape you?"
Claire shook her head. The tears were flowing faster now, she was feeling the pain of her actions too.
"A man has no right to rape a woman no matter what. So, you teased him, so what? Len's a big boy, he should have controlled himself."
"I tried to fight him off, Lloyd." Claire said, crying.
"I know you did, Claire, I know. Don't think about it now, just drink your tea and get some rest. He won't hurt you again, Bonn, I won't let anyone hurt you again. I love you too much for that." Lloyd said, leaning over and kissing her forehead.
"I love you too, Lloyd." Claire answered.
They slept together until five in the morning when Lloyd woke suddenly. He sat up in bed and looked around the room. Claire was asleep next to him. All was well. He snuggled with the girl, kissing her shoulders and neck and when she awoke, Lloyd was fingering her pussy and preparing to mount her. He wanted to make love with Claire and she let him.
Lloyd got on top of the girl and eased his cock between her warm legs. His eyes looked into hers and he felt such tenderness for her. She was the one woman who could make him happy. He slipped the length of his rod into her slit and moved in and out slowly, forcing it deeper with every move. She moaned for him. She cooed and purred under his body making him feel like a man as he fucked her pussy.
Lloyd climaxed inside Claire's body and she responded to him with her own version of lustful gratification. They feel into each other's arms and were soon back to sleep nestling close to one another like two river reeds in a wind storm.
When morning came, Lloyd woke Claire and they took a shower together. He didn't say much while they dressed for work and Claire didn't say anything. She seemed upset still, but Lloyd figured she needed time.
When they got to work, Claire seemed fine. She went through the paces instructing and carrying on her duties as if nothing had happened, but during lunch she didn't show up back at the office and Lloyd went looking for her. He was worried she might try to harm herself again. He couldn't bare the thought of something happening to his Claire Baby, not now, not after realizing his feelings for her. Lloyd checked all over the building with no success then he looked in the cafe'.
"Have you seen, Claire?" he asked the others.
"No, not lately, why?"
"Just looking for her, that's all. If you do see her will you tell her to go to the office?"
"Sure." the guys said. They could see Lloyd was worried. Everyone knew they were seeing one another. At first, some of the guys were pissed about it, but when they asked themselves what they would have done in the same situation, they understood. If they had met her first they'd be all over Claire Banner, and they knew it.
"Have you seen, Ms. Banner?" Lloyd asked his student.
"Yes, awhile ago."
"Where?"
"She was over by the locker room a few minutes ago." he said.
Lloyd thanked him then started toward the locker room. He couldn't imagine why Claire would be there. The locker room was for the men members. He ran over to the gym then rounded the corner. When Lloyd got close to the locker room he heard noises coming from inside. He stopped outside the door and listened.
"Uuh, uuh, yes, do it." he heard a female voice saying. Lloyd knew it was Claire. He couldn't imagine what was happening and he wasn't sure he wanted to know the answer.
"Harder." she said, and Lloyd felt his heart come up to his throat.
He wanted to barge in and see what was going on, but he couldn't. His body wouldn't move from the sport where he stood. He listened as Claire moaned louder saying things he only thought a woman would say in a bedroom and when she finished, Lloyd felt the blood in his body boiling. "She's in there with a man," he mumbled. "She's fucking with him. I can't believe she would do such a thing, but she's fucking another man in that locker room." he moaned. He couldn't stand it anymore. He had to know.
Lloyd went into the locker room and saw Claire sitting on the bench adjusting her shirt. Cavenaugh Jarmon was sitting next to her, his shirt off, his pants undone. Lloyd didn't like what he was seeing, but he didn't lose composure.
"Claire?" he said with question in his tone.
"Lloyd, what are you doing here?"
"What are you doing here, Claire, this is the men's locker room?"