by Simone Elise
HOLY BLOODY HELL!
Before I knew it, I was scooping up my shoes and running from the hotel room. Joe would be waiting for me and, after me ditching his party last night, my guess was he was waiting to arrest me if I wasn't back in twenty minutes.
I slammed the hotel door and ran down the hall, running straight into someone.
"Sorry." I picked up my shoes and kept running. I wouldn't have time to stop at the desk to ask who paid for the room or even check if the room was paid for. Shit. Eighteen minutes.
***
A sane person right now would be saying to me, why don’t you grab a taxi? Why do you have to walk everywhere, when your credit card is unlimited?
Well, Joe is firm on me walking so he goes through the credit card statement and the first week back I used it for a taxi and he had a fit! I not only got a black eye, but a firm lecture that if he sees another charge for a credit card, he will take all my money away.
I knew he was serious so I didn’t break the rule again. Sadly I rely on his money and if he took it away - well my one hobby of spending his money would be gone.
I was out of breath. My feet were bleeding considering I had just run twenty blocks in bare feet because no way would I be able to run that far in heels, and now I was rushing up the porch steps. Two minutes.
I twisted the doorknob but it was locked. Shit, I didn't have keys, so I frantically started banging on the door. If Joe was going to be a prick and make sure I did break my rules, he wouldn't unlock it.
I swear some days he would like to lock me up, and other days he just likes me around to be his punching bag.
I didn't think he was going to open the door but, luckily for me, my mom did.
"Chloe, where have you been?"
"Oh my God, just let me in!" I pushed past her and ran down hall, through the lounge and into the kitchen where I found Joe sitting at the dining table. “Okay, I'm here. ON time. Strap that thing back on to me." Gosh, I needed something to drink, but first I needed my ankle monitor.
"Didn't think you would make it." Joe turned around, looking at me smugly. "Here I was thinking I'd get the pleasure of arresting you."
"Don't waste time, just activate it." I put my foot up on the table and yes, I noticed how Joe's eyes ran up my leg. Dirty old bastard. "Now." I gritted out.
I swear with one minute to spare, the ankle monitor was locked back on. I took a steady breath in when I saw the green light flashing. Thank Christ for that.
Running a hand through my hair, I could finally relax; at least that's what I thought for a mere minute.
"Want to explain your behavior last night?"
I turned to see my mother standing, arms crossed and defensive. She would take it personal. It wasn't personal, but actually, it was. I hated them.
"I stayed for most of it. Big deal." I walked to the fridge, pulling out a bottle of water. "I doubt I was missed."
"You were actually. When Joe was up for his award, someone from the family was to award it. We put you down to do the speech, but I had to do it." Mom's voice had an edge to it.
I took the cap off my water. "I'm sure you had nicer things to say than me." I then started gulping down water like I hadn't been able to drink in months.
"Chloe."
"Mother."
"Don't backtalk, and because of your behavior last night, you are spending the day with me."
I sprayed water across the kitchen. That was the worst idea I had ever heard. "Like hell I will."
"It's not up for discussion."
"I'm not spending the day following you around beauty treatments. Tell me, Mom, how is your surgeon these days? Suggesting a new nose job yet?"
"CHLOE!" Mom was outraged. I was just starting. I would not spend the day with her and I would not play the happy daughter role. I had been forced to last night, and that was my limit.
"I'm going."
"Don't you dare walk out of this room, Chloe."
I flipped her the bird over my shoulder. For once, Joe had remained quiet. Normally when mom and I fought, he would take it upon himself to finish the conversation - usually with his fist.
I headed up the stairs, scooping up my clutch and shoes from the foyer. I had dropped them in a rush to get to Joe before.
I checked my phone. Messages from Jenkins asking where I was. It was clear I hadn't spent the night with him. So, if he hadn't put me in that hotel room, who did? More importantly, who was my 'friend?' I don't know how I felt about someone looking out for me. I had never had anyone care about me, to the point of protecting me from myself.
I twisted my door handle and dropped my stuff on the bedside table. I needed sleep, and lots of it.
"I'M GOING TO BED IN CASE YOU WANT TO TIE ME UP!" I yelled from my bedroom before I slammed the door.
It was clear I had an angel looking out for me. I just couldn't think of one single person who would care whatsoever about me.
***
I hated Mondays. I hated them because it marked a full week of university, community service and church. The only good thing was training. Well, it was the only good thing until I decided to get drunk and make out with my trainer.
Yep, great move, Chloe. That one will be a highlight come my twenty-first. I swear my whole life was just going to be one big screw-up. I had avoided Jenkins’s messages and phone calls. He just wanted to know I was okay.
I still don't know how I went from his arms to a hotel room, but that didn't stop me from coming up with theories.
My best theory was I had gotten so drunk that someone took pity on me, knew I was a drunk mess, and put me in a hotel for a night. I was guessing it was a girl because most men would have taken the opportunity to have sex with me. No, not most men, ALL men would have taken that opportunity, even Jenkins.
Which brought me up to this moment. The moment I would remember for the rest of my life. How long had I been hovering? Twenty, thirty minutes. Yep, it was time to face it. I threw my cigarette on the ground, stomped on it, and put my big girl panties on. I would face Jenkins.
I walked into the gym. Like normal, it was busy this time of morning. I scanned the busy gym. No Jenkins. That was abnormal.
I might as well head for the weights and start training.
"Marshall."
"GEEZ, CHRIST, YOU SCARED ME!" I jumped nearly two foot into the air. Jenkins stood behind me with a slight smirk on his face, as if he was pleased he had scared me.
"Shouldn't be so jumpy."
"Shouldn't sneak up on people."
"Drop your stuff over there." He nodded to his desk. "I want you in the ring."
"The ring?" I stared at him blankly. Why the hell would I be getting into that thing? Wait a sec. Was he not mentioning what happened on the weekend? I basically dry humped him and not to mention the kissing – well, that wasn't really kissing - it was making out.
"Yeah, you heard me right, Marshall. At least your ears work but I am not so sure about your fingers though, seeing as you have been avoiding my calls."
"Yeah, about that, we should really talk about the whole weekend and…"
"Forget it, dump your stuff on the desk. In the ring." He nodded his head towards the ring.
So he just wanted to pretend what happened between us, didn't? Why? More importantly, why the hell was he being pushy this morning? Why was he obsessed with the ring?
"I am not getting into that thing."
"Now, Marshall." He took a step closer to me and took my gym bag off my shoulder and threw it in the direction of his desk.
"Why? I normally do strength and cardio. I don't do that." I nodded my head at the people in the ring at the moment who were fighting.
"Well, you are starting today."
"Why?"
He groaned and then put his hands on my shoulders. "Because I might not be able to punch the bastard that keeps hitting you, but I'm going to make sure you sure as hell can."
I arched
my eyebrows. "I can't."
"Chloe."
He had never called me Chloe before. He was serious.
"No, I mean it, Jenkins. If I fight back, it makes it worse. I attempted self-defense when I was younger. I sucked at it. I got one hit in once, and it wasn't worth it."
"Chloe, the way I teach, just one punch will get him off."
"No."
"I'll make sure you know how to block as well."
"Jenkins." I sighed. This wasn't going to turn out well but, by the determination in his voice, he had put a lot of thought into this. He wasn't taking no for an answer. I knew that when he started pushing me backwards towards the ring. "I can't punch!"
"When I'm through with you, Marshall, you won't be saying that."
Jenkins cleared the ring for us and held the ropes wide for me to step through. I didn't see this ending well. Actually, this was going to be a disaster.
“Okay, Marshall, let's see what I'm dealing with." Jenkins squared up in front of me.
"Wait, should we be using gloves, helmets, or something?" I looked at him with wide eyes.
"Does he use gloves when he hits you?"
I scoffed. "No."
"Exactly. Now, I'm going to hit you."
Wait. What? Then I was on the floor, a mouth full of blood. CHRIST! "What the hell did you do that for?" I spat out some blood and slowly got up.
"Geez, you didn't even block. What do you do? Just take it?" Jenkins’s disapproval was clear in his voice, as if this was worse than he expected.
I was back on my feet, the taste of blood in my mouth. "I guess so."
Jenkins was a big guy, and, as he crossed his arms and his muscles bulged, he looked at me with determination.
"Not when I'm through with you."
Chase's Point of View
"Go back!"
"No."
"GO BACK!"
"I SAID NO!"
"Chase, you are being ridiculous."
"She didn't leave the house all weekend. She thinks I'm with another girl. I'm coming."
"She was most likely hungover."
"She hasn't answered any messages or answered any calls."
"Like I said, she would have been sleeping or hungover."
"Oliver, stop with the excuses. She isn't okay and I'm coming."
I was on the border of Victoria. I had ridden straight through two states. Yeah, I was exhausted and maybe still had liquor in my blood, but that was nothing. Nothing compared to how worried I was about Chloe. I had really screwed things up, and I was worried it was for good. I didn't know how to get her back now if she thought I had moved on. The only way to prove I hadn't was to see her. Speak to her. God, just to see her.
"She's fine. Right now she is getting punched by Jenkins."
"WHAT?"
"Calm down. Looks like she is willingly taking it. Don't know what Jenkins is thinking though."
"BLOODY WELL STOP IT!"
"Can't, and you know that. Now turn around and go back. It won't be much longer and she will be with you anyway. Don't blow months of OUR time because you couldn't manage a single phone call." Oliver didn't hold back his disapproval. He was pissed off I had blown it when Chloe reached out. He wasn't as nearly as angry as I was with myself.
"I'm five hours away."
"Turn around, Chase. Now." Oliver was usually casual on the phone. Never was the type to be serious but right now he was being deadly serious and he was pissed too. All at me.
Did I risk it? Just drive the rest of the way.
"Chase. Turn. Around."
I couldn't do that. "Tell me what she is doing."
"Marc is just getting back in the car now. I'll ask him." There was a muffled conversation and the longer they talked, the more anxious I got.
Screw it. I was going to her and tell her in person what happened. Explain myself.
"She was boxing. Without equipment. Marc tells me she spent more time on the floor than she did standing."
My nerves were shot already. I was on edge, pissed, and hearing that just made my fingers curl into tight fists. "I'm going to kill this guy."
"Isn't that what got us in this situation to begin with? You not controlling your temper? She's fine. That's all you needed to know. Now head home."
I gritted my teeth before finally saying it. "Fine."
Chapter 42
Chloe's Point of View
"That, Marshall, was the worst attempt at self-defense I have ever seen."
I was wiping the blood and sweat from my face. Jenkins hadn't gone easy on me. So much for warming to the idea, or to 'ease' me into it. No, Jenkins taught the only way he knew how. Dirty.
I scoffed, but couldn't form words.
"You know you keep saying your boyfriend isn't hitting you. Maybe I was wrong."
"Finally." I formed a word and dropped my towel in my gym bag. My face was aching, but that was nothing compared to my arms. I had learned how to block. I didn't do it very well, but I was blocking a few punches.
"Yeah, clearly it's your fiancé."
"What?" I looked at him. Why did he have such a serious look on his face? And why was he staring at my hand?
"The ring on your finger. You telling me that's not an engagement ring?"
I looked down at my hand. Sure enough, there was a ring on it but I hadn't put it there. Why was I only noticing this now? This would have been on my finger yesterday. I guess I did sleep all day but still, you don't just not notice a ring on your finger! God, I was blind.
I pulled the ring off and threw it in my bag. I must have nicked it on the weekend and thought it was a good idea to wear it. There was a lot of the weekend I didn't remember; like how I got to that hotel room.
"I'm not engaged. I don't know how that got on my finger."
Jenkins scoffed. "Right." He walked around me with a pissed off look on his face.
"You're mad with me."
"Nope."
"You are!"
"I just don't like liars."
"Well, I'm not lying. Look, Jenkins. I don't have a boyfriend or a fiancé. I just have one abusive son of a bitch called Joe. He is my stepfather, and yes, he likes to use me as a punching bag but I'm not lying when I say I don't have a boyfriend."
Admitting it out loud was a big step but I didn't want Jenkins to think I was liar. I cared too much for his opinion.
Jenkins looked at me steadily as if he wasn't sure I was telling the truth or not.
"I'm not lying, Jenkins." I picked up my gym bag, feeling exhausted. Jenkins had worn me out. I was physically and mentally drained as heck.
Jenkins finally nodded his head. "You should change before university. No one wants to see a bloody, sweaty you." His lips twitched up in the corners. "Go on, Marshall, I won't hold you up anymore."
"Thanks, I'll see you tomorrow for more of this." I pointed at the boxing ring and smiled at him. "Thanks again for today. It means a lot that you care."
"Always. Now get your ass in the shower."
Oliver's Point of View
"I'm bloody well telling you now, if Chase doesn't give me the ten grand back for that ring, I'll be coming after you." Marc was threatening me, but he was all talk.
"Like you have money worries." I looked at him seriously. Marc had just as much money as the rest of us. Sure, Chase had the most, but he was a President. The only reason I didn't pay was because I left my bank card back at the bar. "And my idea was brilliant."
"Buying her a ring and engraving Chase's name on it won't stop her from acting out." Marc scoffed so loudly that I was sure the people in the car next to us could have heard.
"It will."
"You know your 'brilliant' idea might get us caught."
"Or it could solve all Chase's worries." I grinned at him. "Just admit it. I did a darn fine job making that jeweler open his shop."
"You, like always, are thinking too much of yourself." Marc lit up a cigarette and
nodded his head towards the campus. "Why couldn't Declan go today?"
"He’s here. Do you listen to anything we tell you?" I drummed my fingers on the steering wheel while listening to Metallica at a 'Marc approved’ volume.
"If he is here, why the hell are we in the car park?"
"Because he has to sit the exam he missed last week and, meanwhile, Chloe is on a free period. Who knows what she could get up to?"
"So far she hasn't moved from that bloody tree!" Marc pointed at Chloe, who had been reading that textbook for a solid hour under a shady tree.
"Yeah well, something might happen." I shrugged my shoulders. Marc was going stir crazy. If anything, he was getting worse as time went on. He missed the road, the freedom and he really hated living in the shadows.
Being in a car felt normal to me. Sure, a car was different to a van. I wasn't carrying all the boys’ shit around.
"Nothing is going to happen."
"Do you really want to tell Chase you got bored so we left?" I arched both my eyebrows, making sure to draw out the word bored.
Marc sucked on his cigarette and looked back at Chloe. "She has no idea how much trouble she is being."
***
Chloe's Point of View
"No Mom, I'm not hungry."
"Chloe, just eat something."
"I ate before. Since when did you get so focused on what I was eating?" I let out a frustrated sigh. I was exhausted and in pain. I wanted to sleep. "Can I just go to bed?"
"It's just past seven!" Mom looked at me, outraged.
Like an early night would kill me. After training with Jenkins, I needed an early night. After the weekend I had, I certainly needed an early night.
"Just let her go," Joe spoke up, ending a half an hour fight with mom.
Which caused something inside me to be unsettled. But why? He was letting me go to bed? Big deal. So tonight I wouldn't be a punching bag. He didn't look angry, he wasn't drinking and was calmly cutting up his meat at the dining table.
Mom frowned but, like always, she didn't argue with Joe. She never stood up against him and never had an opinion that didn't agree with his. I wondered sometimes what had made her like this.
