Addicted (Sin City Gym Book 2)

by Ember-Raine Winters

  Pete looked like he was going to be sick with worry but honestly, I couldn’t be bothered with him being sick when I was literally dying in that elevator.

  “Brandy, Brandy! Sit down and put your head between your knees.” He was being a little too bossy for my tastes so when he literally pushed at my shoulder to get me to bend at the waist, I growled at him. “Get over it. You need air.”

  I took in big gulps of air while Pete whispered soothing words in my ear. It was a matter of minutes before the white spots started fading and my cramping hands loosened. “C’mon babe, breathe. In through your nose and out through your mouth.” His hand never left my back as I finally began to calm. Just as I was calming, the elevator started to move. Pete blew out a relieved breath and helped me to stand fully as he ran a hand through my hair pulling me close. “We’re almost there. Shhh.”

  When the doors opened, I stumbled out taking big gulps of the warm desert air. I had never been so glad to feel the hot rays of the sun on my face. Pete was watching me with concern. “You okay?”

  “I’m better now,” I breathed a sigh of relief.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Pete

  I felt like such an asshole. The whole trip was ruined because of my stupidity. I should have made sure to find out her limitations before I decided on such a crazy trip. I stood there with my head down as we made our way back to the bus. It had only been us, but I was kicking myself for taking a bus there instead of an Uber or something else. It was going to be another forty-five minutes before the bus was ready to leave.

  “Let’s go back down to the visitors center and wait.” I started to lead her but her hand clamped down on mine. She shook her head wildly pulling me away.

  “Please, I just can’t be inside right now.” She looked so fragile and scared. Nodding, I led her over to the edge. The high canyon walls and rushing water were beautiful. She visibly relaxed as we stood there looking out over the vast space. “I’m sorry I ruined your surprise.”

  “What? You didn’t ruin anything. I was an insensitive jerk for not asking if you had issues with confined spaces.” This girl confused the hell out of me. How could she be apologizing when I caused her to have a meltdown? She looked at me with watery eyes. My arms wrapped around her pulling her close. I wanted to know what caused that but I knew better than to push her for answers at the moment. All she would do was pull away. We had time. I would get to the bottom of it eventually.

  ***

  “How are you feeling?” I asked as we sat down for lunch at a local deli that I loved. I wouldn’t start training for my next fight for another couple weeks so the added carbs wouldn’t hurt too much. Still, I made sure not to get my favorite cheese bread when I ordered my sandwich.

  “I’m much better now, thank you.” She smiled and I saw what looked like relief in her eyes.

  “Do you want to talk about it?” I asked. I knew what the answer was going to be before I even asked the question. It seemed our whole relationship was based on me asking if she wanted to talk and her shutting me down.

  “No, not really.” She looked away. I wished she would talk. It wasn’t healthy to bottle shit like that up. I knew from experience.

  “Where did you find this place? It’s a little off the beaten path for an MMA superstar.” She grinned.

  “I grew up here.” I shrugged. “This place has been here for as long as I can remember. My parents brought us here every time we did something good in school or just for family lunches.” I always loved to go there growing up. I hadn’t been in a long time but it was always good for comfort food.

  Brandy smiled at me wistfully. “It sounds amazing.”

  “It was. I had a great childhood. My parents are the best.” Her face fell and I could have kicked myself in the ass for once again being an insensitive prick. “I’m sorry.”

  “No, it’s fine. My dad was great once I finally got to know him.” She looked shocked that she’d let that piece of information slip.

  “You didn’t know your dad?” I asked because I wanted to know everything about her and Brandy didn’t give details about her past so freely.

  “No, I uh moved away when I was young.” She looked everywhere but me. The food came and Brandy looked relieved as the waitress set down our sandwiches and drinks. I was picking up my turkey on wheat getting ready to take a bite when something hit me in the forehead and fluttered down into my lap. Looking down, I grabbed the offending object and grinned back up at Brandy. She had a self-satisfied smirk on her face as she dropped the straw into her glass and took a long drink. I was just glad that the subject had been dropped and any added tension removed from the conversation.

  Chuckling, I wadded up the paper and threw it back at her but it was anticlimactic when it only made it halfway across the table and lost any momentum it had dying a slow death on the way to the table. Brandy giggled and I shook my head sadly. “Well, that was pretty lame,” I joked.

  “Yeah, it definitely was,” she laughed.

  I loved that laugh. I could sit there and listen to it all day. I hadn’t heard it in far too long. I wanted to make her forget about what was bothering her, but I needed to know what it was. The feeling in my gut that something was going on didn’t fade. I just needed to bide my time until she trusted me with her secrets. I was a patient man.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Brandy

  It was late when I got home, and I was exhausted. Panic attacks had a way of sucking all of the energy out my body. Once it had subsided I didn’t want the day to end despite the lack of energy. Something about Pete and the way he was with me had me craving his presence. It was stupid and I’d probably get my heart broken again, but I couldn’t bring myself to care. My entire adult life I did the safe thing. Just once, I wanted to do something reckless just because I wanted to and not for anyone else.

  The lights on the outside of the building looked eerie in the dark, and I was kicking myself for not letting Pete come with me. We’d spent the whole day and the night before together and I knew that if I let myself, I’d get lost in him. I couldn’t do that. I needed to stay vigilant, especially if my crazy mother was lurking around.

  I was filled with dread as I made my way to the door and noticed the newspaper clipping taped to my door. It wasn’t folded or in an envelope where only I could see it. It was face up with a giant red circle around a picture of me covering my face as my dad led me to the car after I testified against her in court.

  Quickly, I ripped the newspaper off the door and shoved it in my purse looking around to see if any of the neighbors were watching. I would die if anyone found out who I really was. “Brandy? You okay?” I jumped at the sound of my new neighbor, Billy’s voice.

  “Shit, you scared the hell out of me.” I placed a hand over my chest trying to steady my breathing a bit.

  “Sorry, you looked upset. I didn’t mean to scare you.” He looked sheepish.

  “No problem. I just didn’t see anyone else out here. Have you seen anyone hanging around my door tonight?” It was a stupid question. I was sure Billy had better things to do than watch my door for crazy stalker’s hell-bent on ruining my life.

  “No, why? There wasn’t a break-in, was there? Should I call the police?” He was suddenly on high alert looking around to make sure nothing was wrong. He jiggled my doorknob and when he realized it was locked his eyes scrunched down in confusion.

  “No, no. I just have this funny feeling that something isn’t right,” I said trying to diffuse the situation I’d caused.

  “Are you sure? I can check inside for you if you’d like.” It was a nice offer but I already knew there wouldn’t be anyone inside.

  “I’m sure, but thank you. I must just be imagining things.” I unlocked the door smiling at him gratefully.

  “You have a good night and if you need anything you know where to find me.” He smiled before walking back into his apartment and shutting the door. I couldn’t help but wonder if he’d seen the newspap
er clipping. Would he think less of me? Every person in the country had heard that story. If they hadn’t then they must have been living under a rock. My phone pinged in my purse. Looking down, I couldn’t help the goofy smile that crossed my face.

  Pete: Hey beautiful. Checking to make sure you got home okay.

  My heart melted at the words and I wondered what he would think if I told him my secret. Would he run away screaming, or would he react like Dee had? I didn’t know and didn’t care. If he never knew then I wouldn’t have to worry about it.

  Me: Yeah everything is fine.

  I didn’t even believe my own words. How could I expect Pete to believe them?

  Pete: Why don’t I believe you?

  Me: I don’t know…

  Pete: I’m coming over.

  Me: Honestly Pete I’m fine.

  My phone rang in my hand and I smiled a little at his overprotectiveness. “I said I’m fine,” I huffed out a laugh.

  “You don’t sound fine. What happened?” It wasn’t until he said the words that I realized my voice was a little wobbly.

  “Pete. I said I’m fine, will you let it go? Please?”

  “You ask me to do that a lot. What if I do and something happens? Do you think I’ll ever be able to live with myself?” He had a point. I sighed in resignation.

  “Look, I get it, but I’m in the apartment and the door is locked and all the windows are secured too. I have a fireman living next door who will now probably be watching out because he thinks I’m a nutcase. I will be fine.” I hung up on him irrationally irritated by the men around me thinking of me as a helpless female who needs protecting. I can take care of myself. I don’t need them to take care of me. I wondered if those would be my famous last words.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Pete

  When the line went dead, I was already in my car. My hands began to sweat. I could already feel the icy fingers of panic crawling up my neck. I could almost smell the burnt rubber and gasoline. Stop it, Pete. Stop it right now. Controlling my breathing, I put the key in the ignition. I had no idea why I was convinced something was wrong. I was being irrational but after everything, I just needed to see for myself that she was all right.

  White knuckling the steering wheel, I made my way out of the garage and to Brandy’s apartment. My knuckles were white as I squeezed the steering wheel.

  I made it to her apartment in a haze of memories and phantom smells.

  There was a man I didn’t recognize standing outside her door. Jumping from the car, I stalked toward the man. He looked built like he spent some time in the gym but that didn’t really mean anything. I could take down the biggest toughest assholes out there.

  I watched as the man fumbled with something that looked like a tool to break into a house and I saw red. In a second, I was there, his head in a headlock up against my body. “What the fuck are you doing?” I growled out angrily. The man was sputtering grasping at my arm trying to breathe when I slammed him up against the door.

  “Tell me what the fuck you’re doing, Now.”

  “I’m going into my apartment?” It came out gravelly as he gasped for breath. Looking up, I noticed the number on the door and cursed. I let the man go just as the door next to us opened up with a bang and an angry looking Brandy stood there staring at me with a glare.

  “What the hell are you doing?” she growled at me. “Billy, are you okay?”

  “Yup, I’m fine. It’s not every day you get put in a headlock by a real live MMA star,” he chuckled rubbing a hand over his neck.

  “Sorry, I thought you were breaking into her apartment,” I shrugged helplessly.

  A strangled sound left Brandy as she shook her head back and forth. “I told you that I was fine. Why do you have to be so stubborn and pigheaded?”

  “Why did you hang up on me?” I scowled back at her. “If you didn’t want me to come charging to the rescue you should have hung up like a normal person.”

  She gasped at my words but all it seemed to do was make her angrier. “You. You. Ugh!” I don’t think I’d ever seen her so pissed off. Rendering Brandy speechless wasn’t something I’d ever done before. It was a little scary. Brandy looked around and I noticed for the first time we had an audience.

  “Shit, I’m sorry,” I said looking sheepish. “Billy, sorry I jumped to conclusions man.” I held out my hand to him. Billy shook my offered hand with a smile.

  “No worries. I’d have done the same given the situation. You two have a good night.” He opened the door and walked inside his apartment leaving me alone with an extremely angry Brandy.

  “Get in here. I’d rather not have the whole world know about this.” She rolled her eyes motioning me into the apartment. I obeyed with my head down. I didn’t mean to cause trouble at her apartment but I hadn’t even thought about anything else but keeping her safe. I was so fucking screwed when it came to this girl. I was addicted in every sense of the word.

  “I was just trying to make sure you were safe.” I shrugged still not meeting her glare. Brandy huffed out a breath.

  “I know, but you overreacted. I’m fine.” She put her hand on my arm.

  “I can see that, now. When the line went dead, I freaked out thinking something was wrong. I did overreact and I’m sorry.” My pleading eyes met hers and she smiled. I guess those were the right words thank fuck for that. I didn’t have anything else to say. Wrapping my arms around her, I breathed easy for the first time since she left my house that night.

  “It’s fine, just next time, when I say I’m fine can you please just trust me on that?” She rested her forehead on my chest and breathed in deeply. My hand rubbed over her back as I held her close. Finally relaxing now that I had her in my arms and I knew she wasn’t mad at me. “I guess you have to stay since you’re not supposed to be driving.” She giggled.

  “I can drive back home if you want me to.” I smiled because I knew that wasn’t what she wanted.

  “No, I would feel bad if you got in trouble trying to protect me.” She looked up at me with a shy smile.

  “Well, I wouldn’t want you to feel bad.” I winked at her.

  “It’s weird though.” She bit her lip. “I never had anyone try to protect me like that.”

  “Just call me your knight in shining armor.” I squeezed her sides. Brandy giggled pulling away from me.

  “Stop, that tickles.” She squirmed. A grin lit up my face as I started tickling her mercilessly. It was funny how our interactions almost always turned out like this. She was so easy to be with. I used to think she was so serious all the time, but the more I got to know her, the more I liked her. She was sweet and funny and perfect. She was quickly becoming my addiction, my drug and nothing was ever going to be the same.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Brandy

  “Hello?” I said into the phone a few days later.

  “I need your help.” I could hear the smile in his voice. He’d started up a light training regimen, so we hadn’t seen each other in a few days.

  “What can I help you with?” I smiled shyly even though he couldn’t see me.

  “Bethy needs some help down at the shelter. Kyle asked me to do his normal supply run and I need your help picking out a puppy.” Kyle’s baby sister Bethy ran a no-kill shelter just outside the city and the guys had helped her out from time to time.

  “Sure, I can meet you out there if you want.”

  “I’m actually outside,” he chuckled.

  “You are a cocky one, aren’t you?”

  “Nope, I’m confident and I have coffee. Come with me, please? Don’t make me make that decision by myself,” he pleaded.

  “You had me at coffee,” I laughed. “I’ll be out in a minute.”

  “Okay, see you then.”

  I freshened up my make-up and ran a brush through my hair before making my way down to the lobby of my office. It was early afternoon and I didn’t have any appointments for the rest of the day. Pete stood there his tight gr
een t-shirt hugging his muscles had my mouth watering. “Hi,” he said smiling at me as he handed me the steaming cup in his hand. “You ready?”

  “I’m always ready to go down to the shelter and play with the puppies,” I said excitedly.

  “Hurry up,” Joe, Pete’s friend and fellow MMA fighter grunted from the door. It startled me. I don’t think I’d ever actually heard him speak before.

  “Cool it, Joe.” Pete glared at his friend. We made our way to the door and out to Joe’s truck. Pete opened the door for me to get in the back and got in behind me. His hand found mine in the back seat as Joe hopped in the driver’s seat. I heard him grunt, but other than that he didn’t say a word. I wondered what his deal was. I knew now that he could talk, but he just didn’t want to. I made a mental note to ask Pete about it later and sat quietly in the back seat until we got to the shelter.

  “We don’t need to go to the pet store?” I asked in confusion. I’d thought he said we were going on a supply run.

  “We already picked up the supplies. Joe is just being a dick because he wants to see Beth but refuses to admit it.”

  “Fuck you,” Joe grunted.

  “You know if Kyle finds out you have the hots for his baby sister, he’s gonna pound your face in.”

  “Shut the fuck up, Pete.” Joe whirled around scowling at him. I didn’t know Joe very well at all, but he was a good-looking guy. I didn’t know why he would be so shy about Bethy. She was gorgeous and full of life. The tips of Joe’s ears turned slightly pink and I grinned. I smacked Pete lightly on the chest.

  “Leave him alone, Pete.” I rolled my eyes at him. Joe huffed out a breath as we pulled into the gravel parking lot of the shelter and there she was. I’d only met Bethy a handful of times, but she greeted me with a hug like we’d known each other forever.