Stryker

by Lexi Buchanan

  That seemed simple enough.

  The excitement at being able to talk to Evie must have shown on my face because in the next breath, Carter was shoving me into the bathroom. “Call your girl. We have ten minutes before I’m called to take you downstairs.”

  He slammed the door behind me.

  What should I say to her? It’s been so long since I used a phone that the thing really did feel alien in my hand, but for Evie…and Carter, I wouldn’t have one now.

  I paced in the bathroom of my hotel room that I shared with Carter. I’d been surprised that we’d been assigned the same room because usually I’d have a guard in with me, or I’d share with Coach.

  The fight was happening tonight, and I’d received a message from Evie via Millie and Carter, which had made my heart clench with something for Evie.

  Love was the first thing to come to mind, but how could I be in love with her after only knowing her a few days? There was something about her that made me crave to have her close. To want her in my sight at all times. To be able to touch her when I wanted to. To not have to worry about anyone seeing us talk, or exchange a small caress. My fingers constantly twitched to touch her when I’d be at the gym, in fact, that hadn’t been the only thing that twitched.

  Time was getting on and if I wanted to hear her voice before I went out there, I had to do it now. The small black cell wouldn’t dial itself. So, I finally took a deep inhale and pressed Evie’s name. My chest tightened with fear, as the cell showed it was trying to connect to her.

  My palms felt sweaty and my stomach was in knots while I waited to hear her voice, and then her soft voice was in my ear.

  “Hello?”

  My mouth felt dry.

  My brain shut down, stalled.

  “Stryker? Is that you?” Just hearing my name on her lips sent shards of pleasure straight to my heart…and other places.

  “Yeah,” I whispered and cleared my throat. “It’s me.” I closed my eyes and imagined her. She was breathtaking and I remembered the way she’d felt. Her breasts, large and firm, in the palms of my hands. Between her legs, wet and silky, ready for us to join. We hadn’t yet, but we would soon. Hopefully I’d be able to stay loaded long enough to pleasure her. Because being inside her, warm wet sex, would be out of this world and not just because it would be my first time inside anyone.

  It was all Evie.

  She did things to me.

  “Are you still there?”

  “Yeah. Sorry. I was thinking about the other night.”

  She groaned, and my dick went rock hard. “Did you get my message?”

  “I did.”

  “Wait? You have a cell phone?”

  I smiled at her excitement. “Carter got me one.”

  “I’ll save your number when we’re finished talking… Are you all right?” she asked, her tone tender.

  “I’m hard as rock just listening to you.”

  My blunt statement was followed by silence and then she giggled. “I wasn’t expecting that, but I like that I affect you with just my voice.”

  “Everything about you affects me.” I closed my eyes and dropped my head to the wall in front of me, one hand held the cell and the other fisted on the wall. “Are you all right, Evie?”

  “I am now.”

  “You’re crying.”

  The tears in her voice were easy to hear as her voice shook.

  “I’m okay, really. It’s just everything’s getting to me. I keep trying to pin Patrick down, but it’s as though he has a sixth sense and knows what I’m going to say. I just don’t understand why he’d avoid the issue though. He doesn’t love me and I don’t love him. I never have.” She sniffled again, and added, “I just want to be with you, especially tonight.”

  No matter how much I wanted her there, I couldn’t tell her that. Not while she was upset, but what should I tell her? I’ve never had a crying woman over the phone before.

  At least now I felt as though I’d had a bucket of cold water tipped over me with things shriveled.

  She continued to sob softly while I acted like an idiot.

  “Evangeline, babe. Please stop. You’re killing me with your tears when I can’t hold you.”

  “I’m okay.”

  I actually smiled at that comment because she was anything but. “Who are you trying to convince, me or you, babe? C’mon, I need to hear your voice, knowing that the tears have stopped before I head down to the ring.”

  “You’re fighting in a ring again? I thought you usually fought in the cage.”

  More often than not they shoved me in the cage when it was a ‘no rules’ fight.

  “Not here. When are you back?”

  “Tomorrow.”

  “You stopped crying?”

  I could hear the smile in her voice as she said, “Yes,” then she sniffled, chuckled, “A bit.”

  “Evie, if you need me, you call and tell me, okay? I’ll work out a way to get to you.”

  “I don’t want you to be in any trouble because of me, which will happen if Patrick finds out about us. His father’s arrived not long ago, but luckily I was in the kitchen with my mom, so Dad distracted him. He always tries to talk to me. He’s more of a creep than Patrick, and I can’t believe that I never noticed how alike they were until recently.”

  Warning bells rang in my head and I was worried as I turned and paced in the small area. “Just promise me you’ll call if you need me. Promise me, Evie.”

  “I promise.”

  “What—”

  Bang. Bang. “Stryker, we gotta go.” Carter.

  “Evie, babe. I have to go. I think they’re waiting for me.”

  “Be careful…please.”

  “Evangeline,” I moaned, wanting to say more, knowing I didn’t have time.

  “I know, Jake,” she whispered. “I wanted you to hear your name on my lips before you went into the ring.”

  She hung up and I found myself fighting tears. I held my finger and thumb into the corner of my eyes hoping that they wouldn’t fall. I wanted her here in front of me, not miles away with that bastard.

  “Stryker, hurry. They’re coming off the elevator. I need to clear your cell.”

  I quickly opened the door and passed him the cell. It took all of a few seconds to sort it out before it was back in my hands. Looking around, I glanced up.

  I’d found the hiding place.

  Evie

  SLIPPING MY FEET INTO my black-heeled shoes, I realized that I still clutched my cell to my chest. I’d rather be clutching Stryker to it instead.

  “That’s a heavy sigh.” Patrick came up behind me, and reached out just in time to prevent me from falling in surprise. “Steady, now.”

  “What are you doing in here?” I moved out of his hold, turning to face him.

  “Your mother sent me to escort you downstairs.” Patrick tugged on the cuffs of his dress shirt while heading for the door.

  My mother…ugh!

  “We need to talk.” I’d finally found the courage to start the conversation that we needed to have. We were alone and even though I knew we didn’t have long, it was better than leaving it any longer.

  “Later…your mother is waiting.” Patrick opened my door and waited.

  Tears of frustration hovered on my lashes, which I quickly blinked away.

  Patrick pretended that he hadn’t noticed and stepped out of my room, offering me his arm.

  But for not wanting to embarrass my parents, I’d have left the ass to follow behind me. Instead, I took his arm and plastered a smile to my lips.

  My father gave me a questioning look once we joined the cocktail party and my mother looked unsure, which she hid seconds later.

  “Evie, you look beautiful.”

  My body chilled at the words coming out of Declan’s mouth as he joined us.

  “Declan, nice to see you again.”

  No, it wasn’t.

  I plastered another fake smile to my lips and held my hand out.

  He
looked at my hand, ignored it, and leaned in to kiss my cheek. It took everything in me not to wipe my cheek. My skin crawled in revulsion.

  “I need to speak to my son.” Declan looked at Patrick, made his excuses and walked to the opened doors that led outside with Patrick on his heels.

  “Don’t worry honey, he’ll be back.” My mother came over and patted my hand reassuringly and I wanted to scream at her. I didn’t need consoling, I needed Stryker.

  I bit back the truth that was on the tip of my tongue and kissed both of my parents on the cheek. “I’m going to get a drink.” Without giving them time to waylay me, I turned on my heels and disappeared into the kitchen.

  At least I could stay out of view while I was in here, but it wouldn’t be long before my mother found me. She’d watched me come in here so she’d be chasing me out soon with words like, “Please mingle, Evangeline.” I’d get my full name because she’d be pissed underneath her cool exterior.

  I loved her, and she had always been there for me when I really needed a mom, but we had our moments. She was always about the public image and how we had to be happy and strong in front of others. But when we were alone, she was there, she would let me cry and let me vent. But she wouldn’t do that right now.

  She had no idea what was really going on, and our arguments had grown more common since she only had eyes for the wedding that she was arranging. I think somewhere along the way she’d forgotten that real people were involved, especially her daughter.

  Sighing heavily, I grabbed a couple bottles of beer from the fridge and snuck out the backdoor. I had no clue as to where Patrick and his father had disappeared to, so I needed to be careful that I didn’t bump into them. The last thing I wanted while outside in the dark, alone.

  It didn’t take me long until I crept into the boathouse by the lake. It would always be the boathouse to me regardless of my mother’s change in name to the glasshouse.

  I kept the lights off and moved upstairs to the balcony above the boat. It had been made into a living room and was a quiet area away from the main house.

  Except as I moved toward the window I saw shadows along the small dock leading out into the water, as though someone was there. I quickly moved away to stand behind the curtain and peered through the gap at the side. I didn’t think that I would be seen but I was curious as to who was out there.

  Patrick and his father came to mind as they’d disappeared not long before I’d made my own escape.

  I shook my head. It probably wouldn’t be them; perhaps a couple of guests who’d wandered away from the party for some time alone.

  Smiling, and not wanting to be a voyeur, I came away from the window and sat on the sofa.

  Unable to settle with worry for Stryker in my mind, and wondering when I was going to be able to stop the farce of a wedding, I snapped the cap on one of the beers and took a long drink, hoping it would help me to relax.

  I quickly drained one bottle and lay down on the sofa. I’d stay here for a while.

  Chapter 14

  HE SHOULDN’T BE HAPPY that the Irishman had been pissed over that night’s fight, but he found that he was. The man had brought it on himself.

  After his meeting with the Irishman, he’d stayed outside in the dark. The silence of the night by the lake, and his lover by his side, calmed his racing heart with what he was about to do.

  Growing up, he never thought he would ever betray his family, but he couldn’t let it go on any longer. He hated being part of it. As long as his mother and lover were protected, then anything else didn’t matter.

  “Patrick?” His lover pressed a hand to his lower back, and moved in close to his side.

  “I’m okay.” He turned to face his lover. “Are you?”

  His lover swallowed and met his gaze. “I’m worried about you, constantly… This thing you’re about to do is dangerous if the Irishman finds out.”

  Their fingers intertwined and he briefly leaned in to kiss his lover. “I don’t plan for him to find out.”

  The low hum of a boat approached and had them stepping apart.

  He turned to his lover, “No matter what happens, what I have to do, to end him, I need you to know that I love you.” He audibly swallowed, having never said those words to another soul, other than his mother, before.

  His lover looked choked with emotion. “I love you, too. I always have.”

  Silence followed as they watched the men who he planned to help bring the Irishman to justice, slowly approach.

  Chapter 15 ~ Stryker

  STANDING IN THE CENTER of the cage while the referee held my arm in the air as tonight’s winner, I felt nothing.

  The fight hadn’t only changed venue, but I’d been told the cage would be dropped. That had given me a few hours to prepare for the kind of fight that had then been expected of me. Before I’d met Evie those fights never bothered me, but now…now I hated them.

  As I looked out at the crowd cheering at my victory, all I could think about was how much money had they’d made because of me.

  That’s all I was to them—money.

  Looking around the arena now, I stared into a pair of eyes that I hadn’t seen in ten years. I was too stunned to move, and by the time I’d snapped out of my shock, he was gone. I tugged my wrist free and looked, searched, but he really was gone—if he’d been there at all.

  The cage slowly started to move upwards, and the minute it cleared the ground, Carter got in my face. “Tell me?” He turned to look out at the crowd, the same direction that had held my gaze.

  “I thought I saw…it doesn’t matter. Just get me out of here.”

  Carter paused, knowing that there was something wrong, but didn’t press me. “Okay, let’s go.”

  I followed him from the arena, reeling from the sight of my father. From the brief glance I had of him, he looked the same, just older and with a trimmed beard.

  Ignoring Coach, I followed Carter into the locker room and, as soon as the door closed behind us, I held my gloved hands out.

  Without asking any questions, Carter watched me closely while he removed the gloves, tossing them to the floor…and waited.

  Unsettled, I dropped my ass to the bench and dipped my head. I squeezed my eyes closed not knowing how to handle seeing him. Even though I always looked for him, I’d given up hope that I’d ever see him again and the shock still rocked through me.

  “My father,” I whispered so quietly that I wasn’t sure Carter heard me.

  “I take it he doesn’t usually show up at your fights?” Carter sat next to me and, for once, I felt like I had a real friend. Someone who wouldn’t betray me to the boss.

  “No…I haven’t seen him in ten years.” I shook my head. “I’m glad I didn’t spot him until the end because the sight of him knocked me on my ass.”

  Other than shock I still didn’t know how I felt. I thought when I’d see him again that I’d feel anger, but that hadn’t even appeared. Instead, wave after wave of shock hit me in the gut.

  “I think—”

  Coach slamming into the locker room cut off Carter words. “Stupid fuckers,” he mumbled, as he came to stand in front of us.

  We both looked up as Coach glanced between the two of us. “We’re leaving straight from here.” He held up a wrinkled hand when I opened my mouth to question him. “Don’t ask questions because I don’t have the answers. They said we’re to head straight back and that’s what we have to do. Bags are already in the car from the rooms…fuckers.” Coach stomped off as quickly as he’d appeared.

  I groaned. “Fuck! I left the cell above the ceiling tiles in the bathroom.”

  “I’m curious as to why we’re clearing out instead of staying the night.” Carter frowned. “Don’t you think it’s strange?”

  I sighed heavily, grabbed my shower stuff, and turned to face Carter. “Nothing surprises me anymore.”

  In the shower, I stripped and let the heat of the water pound down over my aching body.

  Jaws had b
een a good opponent and we’d gone more rounds than some of my more recent fights. He’d gotten some good kicks and punches in before I’d taken him down.

  Even though it had only been a warm up fight for when I faced Lethal Black, Jaws had made me work for tonight’s win, which filled me with respect for the other fighter.

  Now that it was all over and I felt the adrenalin gradually start to leave me, all I wanted was Evie. I couldn’t even call her now that my cell was lost to me.

  Evie

  I’D WORRIED ABOUT STRYKER all night. I’d tried calling him on the number that he’d called from, numerous times, and nothing. It was like he’d just up and disappeared. My agitation over not being able to get hold of him was showing with my temper. I’d been short with my parents at breakfast and had decided it was best to keep my mouth shut than open.

  Patrick had disappeared for most of yesterday and had only shown up at the cocktail party last night, briefly. Now the asshole had gone back to the city so his ‘later’ hadn’t happened.

  One more day, and if he hadn’t let me have my say by then, he’d find out over the phone, or in the newspaper, that our wedding wasn’t going ahead. There was certainly no love lost between us, something that I’m sure my father already suspected.

  My father had always let my mother follow her own direction with me. He was good though because he’d suggest things and eventually my mother would go along with his suggestion, and think it was her own idea. It had been like that for years, and now my dad had been hinting that he wanted to talk to me privately. I was afraid he’d see straight though me, but with the wedding a week away, I knew I had to tell them the truth. I couldn’t leave it one more day, like I’d planned with Patrick.

  The garden room that I currently hid inside was like a greenhouse, or even a sauna when the rays of the sun pierced through the glass. It was also where I was guaranteed some peace and quiet. It was always my sanctuary when I was at home. Just perfect.