by Janie Marie
“What the hell?” he asked, laughing.
It fueled her anger and heartache. Why her stupid heart was already hurting, she didn’t know, but she didn’t like it. Still, she meant every bit of her accusation. He was a smooth talker and nothing else. She stood quickly and made her way to the door, glaring at the huge guy who had come in earlier as he laughed. “Nice meeting you, Mark.”
Mark laughed harder.
“Where are you going?” Logan called after her.
She could hear him behind her as she fumbled with the doorknob. Her hands were shaking so bad she couldn’t even open the door like a normal person. She was practically playing patty-cake with the thing as she continued to slap it. “Away,” she said, finally turning the knob. Only, she was yanked backward once she made it out the door.
“Stop, Hood,” he whispered, pulling her back against his chest. She thrashed in his hold, hurting her ribs but still fighting him. “Baby, stop. Shh.”
“Let me go.” She whimpered from the onslaught of physical and emotional pain consuming her. She had no idea what she was feeling, why she was angry, sad, and hurt all at the same time.
“No, Kylie.” His tone was so soft.
She opened her eyes, realizing they had been closed as she stood there crying.
“What’s wrong?” he murmured, still holding her from behind. “What did I do?”
“You know what you did.” She flung her arms out since they were alone in the hall.
“No I don’t.” He took one of her hands. “Tell me.”
“Her!” She cried because she felt so stupid. He’d managed to make her feel special and pathetic in the span of such a short time. Now, just after offering to help her, he was flaunting the top of his fuck-list in front of her. “How can you just put me face-to-face with your all-star fuck buddy?”
He hugged her from behind, chuckling. “I haven’t fucked Gloria, and she’s not on my ‘Want to Fuck’ list. Honest.”
Her chest heaved up and down as she tried to wipe her eyes. “I don’t even know why I care. But I know you’re lying. And it makes me . . . I don’t even know.”
He squeezed her gently. “Hey, don’t be jealous of Gloria. You shouldn’t even be mad—you and I just met. This is the kind of shit you need to learn, okay? But I promise I haven’t fucked her.”
She didn’t like him telling her what she had to learn, but she was so focused on what he’d said about Gloria that she ignored it. “Really?”
“Yeah. I mean, she gave me head once when I first met her, but I stopped it at that.”
“That’s not exactly better, Logan.” She wanted to gag and cut out her heart. Why did such simple words affect her so deeply? “No way is she not on your ‘Want to Fuck’ list.”
Logan laughed softly and surprised her by kissing her cheek from behind, his earlier kiss still lingering on her other one. “Trust me, she’s not a woman I want my dick getting close to again.”
Frowning at him, she let him hold her face after he turned her to look at him. “What does that mean? If she’s not on your fuck list, then which category do you put her in?”
He grinned and wiped her cheeks. “She’s on my apocalypse-only list. She gives horrible head.”
“Logan.” Her face burned from his words as he laughed.
“What?” He kissed the top of her head. “Trust me, it was awful. I was terrified to imagine what she would be like in the sack.”
“What a jerky thing to say.” She was laughing as he pulled her back to the door. Already, her anger with him was slipping away.
“Ah, but I’m a jerk who doesn’t want to see you hurt. Remember that.”
With a smile on her face and her sadness forgotten, she let Logan pull them back inside his room.
“He’s undefeated,” Chris said, staring ahead.
Kylie briefly looked up at him before returning her attention to the ring, or rather the octagon, that Logan stood inside. “That’s good, right?” she said, trying to be polite. She didn’t want to talk to Chris, but with her improved mood after Logan exposed his past with Gloria, she wanted to put aside her anxiety. She used to have no problem talking to people.
Her head throbbed as she forced herself not to think about the past. All that mattered was the present.
Kylie breathed out as her building headache vanished. At last, she could simply recall how she basked in her small glory and even smiled smugly when Logan had tossed her little glances and repeatedly winked in her direction while Gloria massaged a muscle he’d recently pulled.
Gloria, however, had looked ready to claw her eyes out, especially after Logan suggested Kylie take notes so next time she could do Gloria’s job. It was an even sweeter victory when he added that maybe he’d buy a better lock to keep Mark, his coach, out of his room because they’d be shagging for hours. At that, she chose to throw a bottle of water at him, and he shut up. For ten minutes, that is. Then he went on to tell Mark—and Gloria—how sexy he thought Kylie was.
She was in heaven with all his attention while Mark kept smacking Logan on the head, eventually telling him that gentlemen didn’t speak so crudely about the women they loved. Apparently the ‘L’ word was all that was needed to succeed in shutting Logan up. After that, he became more focused and allowed Mark to tape his hands before they started some exercises. Then Chris came to take her away.
“Yeah, it’s a very good thing,” Chris said. “And he’s at the top of his division. It’s promising for such a young fighter. He has the potential to become a legend.”
She faintly processed Chris’ words as Logan stared at his opponent. His eyes almost looked black under the harsh lights of the ring, and his beautiful smile was nowhere to be found.
The crowd roared upon hearing his name, and she clapped excitedly when it appeared they were getting ready to start. Violence should bother her, but the fact she was about to watch him do something he was clearly passionate about had her blood pumping with excitement.
“I’m so nervous,” she said, thinking that Chris was not really listening to her. Her heart was hammering with anticipation, and when Logan’s eyes scanned the crowd and stopped at her, winking, she nearly fainted. It was so quick, and his face didn’t show any other emotion, but she felt her heart flutter.
Her mind caught up with her heart at that moment, and she accepted that her heart was attaching to Logan Grimm. And maybe she didn’t mind. Maybe it was possible to like someone so quickly.
“You know,” Chris spoke softly as the referee went over some stuff, “you’re not the only girl he’s asked me to sit in the front row.”
Her breath hitched, and she turned to look at the man next to her, not really hearing the bell ring as the fight started.
“Just saying,” he went on. “Don’t think you’re special because he turned down a few babes tonight. I’ve had to entertain one he couldn’t get his hands off of. And he ain’t looking at you the way he did her.”
Her lips trembled, and she looked down, then up to see the fight already in full swing. Logan looked incredible as he dodged and ducked punches and kicks, landing a few hard punches instead.
“You seem like a good kid,” Chris said in her ear as her eyes watered. Logan delivered several hard jabs to the other fighter’s face. Blood was quick to flow from the force of his punches. “I just don’t think you should believe whatever bullshit he’s told you to put that smile on your face. Because I know Logan. After he gets done banging you tonight, he’ll have Gloria or some other eager chick down on her knees, bent over his bed—or more than likely, both. Trust me, you’re not his type. He has a thing for brunettes—one in particular. He’s just biding his time with you until he can have who he really wants.”
All her happiness vanished and her heart crumbled as she glared at the octagon.
The other fighter landed a punch to Logan’s side before trying to put him in a hold of some sort, but Logan wasn’t having it. Kylie watched with the crowd as he lifted the guy completely off
the ground before slamming him down on his back. The pain was felt by everyone in the stands as they ooh’d briefly, then cheered as Logan maneuvered himself to lock the man in a choke hold. They screamed out, excited when the other fighter tapped out and the ref shoved Logan off the beaten man.
“Take care of yourself, kid,” Chris told her as she stood and headed for the exit.
Kylie didn’t respond. She just kept walking with her head down, and she let the roar celebrating Logan’s victory fade behind her.
Logan was a fairy tale. A grim fairy tale she’d not be taken a fool by. He could feed his bullshit to the next slut ready to spread her legs for him.
It was time for her to return to the dark. Her nightmare. She had her own monsters, and Logan Grimm would not be another beast waiting to feast on her bones.
“Fuck the Big Bad Wolf,” she whispered, shoving the exit door open, letting darkness once again wrap her in its wicked arms. “Fuck Logan Grimm.”
Four
PAIN VS. PAYNE
Fire exploded over the right side of Kylie’s face, pulling her out of one nightmare and throwing her straight into another.
“Enough! Wake up and tell me where you were last night?”
Finally opening her stinging eyes, Kylie held her cheek and stared into Lorelei’s green eyes as she glared at her from the foot of the bed.
“I told you,” Kylie whispered, staring fearfully into the hate-filled gaze of her stepmother, “I had to help a boy from school with his project.” Kylie pulled her hand away and inspected her fingers, expecting to find blood. There wasn’t any.
Lorelei let out a cruel laugh. “Yes, I forgot. Trevor Grimm wanted your help. Did you have a good time?”
Kylie didn’t respond as she pulled herself into a sitting position.
Lorelei continued, “Did he end up falling madly in love with you after getting to know your sparkling personality?”
Kylie rubbed her throbbing cheek and looked down as last night’s events ran through her head. “Of course not, Stepmother. He left me to finish the project alone. That’s why I was so late. I had to walk home—I got lost.”
“Of course you did.” Lorelei tossed some concealer on her bed. “Cover that bruise. Kevin is downstairs, and you know I don’t want him focused on you.”
She nodded with watery eyes as Lorelei walked away.
“You really shouldn’t walk in the dark, Stepdaughter. It’s so easy to trip and fall.”
“Yes, Stepmother,” she said, knowing this was the excuse she was expected to give Kevin, Lorelei’s new husband, regarding the injury.
“Good girl. Now hurry and come down for breakfast. School starts in an hour. Kevin’s here, so you’ll ride with Maura instead of walking through those woods of yours.”
Kylie nodded, listening to the door click shut. She would rather walk in a hailstorm than endure five minutes with Maura, but she had no choice. Lorelei didn’t like Kevin to suspect they weren’t one big happy family. So she would have to put up with whatever wrath her sister wanted to dish out.
Sighing and praying Maura was in a good mood today, she got out of bed and made her way to the attached bathroom. At least both she and Maura each had their own. Kevin Blackwood was loaded—not surprising since his family founded the town, and he owned most of it. His wealth was a relief to Kylie though. God knows what she would have had to put up with if he hadn’t bought them this huge house after marrying Lorelei.
“Shit,” Kylie muttered, wincing as she poked the swollen skin on her cheek. “Stupid witch and her bony hands.”
Kylie closed her eyes as blinding pain radiated through her head. She cradled her cheek, exhaling as she pushed her anger away. She took a deep breath, panting harshly as the pulsing pain faded. For a few minutes, all she could do was stare at her reflection. Her cheek actually wasn’t as bad as she’d first thought.
She whimpered, opening her medicine cabinet to get the pain medicine Lorelei hid in there for her. Thinking of Lorelei sent her anger to dangerous heights. Kylie wanted to fight back so badly, but she knew it would only bring more trouble. Lorelei wanted her alone, hidden, and she would make sure no one ever saw her.
Again, her head throbbed, but she pushed it away, her thoughts drifting unintentionally to Logan and how he’d promised to keep her safe. Maybe she should have talked to him before leaving last night.
“No,” she said out loud, trying to stop thinking of him. It was stupid to get close to him anyway. No one could help. No one really wanted to protect her, keep her safe or believe her. She’d known that for years now. And even though Logan was likely being honest about his concern for her, he still had an ulterior motive.
While thoughts of him wanting her in a sexual way excited an unexplored part of herself, she was terrified to allow him such a thing. After all, his chaste kiss to her cheek was the first kiss from a boy she’d ever received.
Her face flushed even redder as she thought of his lips on her skin. He was so attractive—and he’d admitted to wanting her. It was beyond exciting, but she couldn’t act on it. Maybe one day she would have the experiences he was willing to give her, but for now, she’d add them to her many fantasies and daydreams. Because Logan was a fantasy. Allowing anything more than her silly dreams would be asking for trouble. Lorelei would see to it. She and Maura would ruin everything.
“Soon,” she said, opening her eyes slowly. “Soon I’ll be out of here, and I won’t have to see any of them ever again.” Kylie focused on her reflection and began the task of carefully covering yet another bruise marking her cheek.
This was what mattered. Not Logan.
She’d never see him again anyway.
“Good morning, Kylie,” Kevin greeted her as she took a seat. “Did you sleep well? Your mom said you came in late.” He took a sip of his coffee, eyeing her over the top of his mug. Kevin was a kind man, completely clueless, but nice nonetheless.
“Yeah, sorry about that,” she murmured, briefly taking in his dirty blond hair and light blue eyes. She hated to admit it, but Lorelei had managed to snag a gorgeous man with Kevin Blackwood. He was in his early forties, and he had the whole hot older guy thing going for him. Unfortunately for him, even his looks, money, and kindness couldn’t keep his wife loyal to him. He married a monster. “I ended up having to walk, and it was farther than I thought.”
“Why didn’t you call your mother to pick you up? Or me?”
Kylie jerked her head up to stare at Kevin. She slowly looked over to see a forced smile on Lorelei’s perfect lips.
“Honey,” Lorelei said sweetly, “you know she won’t carry a phone, and she won’t let us purchase one for her.”
Kevin shook his head at Lorelei. Kylie knew this was going to end badly. Kevin always unknowingly caused her to receive even more of Lorelei’s wrath.
“She should have one for emergencies, at least. And she could’ve borrowed her friend’s phone to call you.”
Kylie hated when they talked about her like she wasn’t there. Briefly, she darted her eyes across the table at Maura. Maybe her stepsister would grow upset with all the talk about her and cleverly shift the conversation to something about herself instead. Unfortunately, Maura looked too preoccupied with her own thoughts.
“I guess she didn’t think about that,” said Lorelei. “I’ll look into getting her one.”
Kylie darted her eyes away from Maura’s downcast expression. “I couldn’t call,” she told them. “Trevor had to leave, and I stayed to finish his project by myself.”
Maura dropped her fork and glared at her.
“Your friend left you by yourself?” Kevin asked, not catching the hateful look on Maura’s face.
Kylie’s mouth opened and closed as she shifted her gaze between all three people. Kevin looked shocked and angry that she had been abandoned, Maura—well, judging by that fierce gleam in her green eyes, she was no doubt planning ways to make Kylie pay on the way to school. Then there was Lorelei, just as Kylie knew she would be,
trying to hide her glee over her misfortune.
“He said he had a previous commitment he couldn’t get out of. I told him I would stay and finish, then leave.”
“Who is this boy?” Kevin demanded.
“Why?”
He roughly set his fork down. “No boy should ask a girl, or anyone for that matter, to take care of his assignments, then leave them all on their own. And without a ride or a phone. Christ, you could have been killed walking all alone in the dark. And you were alone in his house without anyone there?”
She shook her head quickly, stuttering, “I-I wasn’t alone.”
Kevin sat back, waiting for her to continue. Even Lorelei looked interested in her statement.
“Well?” said Kevin.
She swallowed as her time with Logan played out in her head. She didn’t really think it wise to tell the truth here. “He lives with his cousin while his dad is overseas. His cousin knew I was staying behind and didn’t mind.”
She wrung her hands together as Kevin seemed to cool off a bit, while Lorelei wore a calculating look before she spoke. “Maura, darling, weren’t you telling me that a Trevor was supposed to take you out last night? Could he be the same friend of Kylie’s?”
Kylie’s eyes widened as she returned her attention to a still fuming Maura.
“I had been waiting for Trevor to ask me out forever,” Maura said as she glared at Kylie. “He finally did, and then I’m waiting for him—all dressed up—and he doesn’t call or show up. Do you have to have everyone to yourself?”
“Kylie, do you know something about this?” Kevin asked, reaching out to put a comforting hand on Maura’s shoulder. Besides the sadness in her stepsister’s watery eyes, Maura looked ready to jump over the table and beat her.
“No,” Kylie said. “He didn’t tell me what his plans were—only that he’d had them for a while. I promise I don’t know anything, Maura.”
