by Terra Kelly
“Is it even that important to go to Durdle Door?” I threw my luggage on the bed to rifle through trying to find something. “I know it will be that end we need, but seriously, I’m fucking creeped out right now.”
“We’re here. Let’s just make the best of it.” Brooks stepped up beside me.
“What if my dad still has people tailing us?”
“He doesn’t.”
“You don’t know that,” I said a little too loudly. “Sorry, but Dad, well the man who raised me could still be calling the shots.”
Lily hopped up from the bed. “We all stay together in here. We need to keep together until we leave officially tomorrow.”
“Agreed.” I wanted to hop back on the next plane and get the fuck out of this country. “From Durdle Door let’s drive back to Heathrow and go check out Ireland.”
“You want to leave the United Kingdom completely?” Lily reached for my hand.
“Fuck yeah.”
“We should’ve packed lighter,” I said and stuffed everything back in my suitcase.
“Really? You’re just discovering that now.” Brooks rolled over and leaned up on his elbow. “Maybe back in the states we could’ve tended to that problem.”
I gave him the middle finger and set my luggage by the door. Everyone was still in bed and probably trying to ignore my fumbling around. When we shut the lights off last night I had been wide awake. It was possible I had maybe one hour of sleep, so I knew it would be a long day.
“I hate you,” Lily mumbled from under her pillow.
“And I love you.” I swatted her ass. “Now get up so we can leave this place.
“Did you sleep at all?” She reached for my hand and forced me to look at her.
“A little.”
“Oh Charlie Bear, you need to rest.”
“I will in Ireland.” My words must’ve connected finally because they all immediately got up and started getting ready. “Unless we want to go back to the states and enjoy San Diego?”
“We’re here,” Brooks said and kissed my temple. “Let’s explore a place we all have never been.”
It took about twenty minutes to pack up and get everything stuffed in the car. I managed to avoid the woman and left checking out to the boys. “You know what’s crazy,” I said and sat down in the backseat. “Never once did I catch on.”
“Your father has been doing this for a long time, C.” Lily turned to face me. “He was a man who would get whatever he wanted and would do whatever to get it.”
She was right; Mr. Hill was damn smart. “The drive from Durdle Door to London will be about three hours.” I had time to look at the map since I couldn’t sleep last night.
“That’s an easy drive,” she said and reached for my hand. “Let’s do this one thing and leave. You never have to come back again.”
“Unless Chuck assigns a fight, then I will.”
It was only a thirty-minute drive to Durdle Door. At the twenty-minute mark, my insides turned, and I actually looked around expecting a truck to be tailing us. Thankfully, no one was on the road. The drive was simple—the way it was meant to be.
I had researched the beach so many times, but I wasn’t prepared for how amazing the place looked in person. The parking was easy and sat beside a large hill. There was a dirt path that was positioned right on the edge of the hill with a spectacular view. Two trucks sat next to the stairs that would take you down to the beach. One of the trucks served specialty coffees. The other truck had sweets and fun souvenirs. We all agreed to look at the fun gifts after exploring the beach.
The stairway down to the beach was long and thankfully not too steep. There was sand covering each step and no railing to protect us if we slipped. At the bottom of the stairs we all stopped and noticed how the beach was covered in medium-sized pebbles instead of sand. The mountain structure that surrounded the sides of the beach was breathtaking. It was hard to put into words how I felt at that moment.
I sat down and let the hard edges of the rocks push into my skin. “Thanks.” I turned to Brooks and Lily who were sitting next to me. “I did need this.”
“Your dad didn’t deserve to take everything you loved away.”
I grabbed Brooks’s hand. “That was never possible.”
He stood and pulled me up with him. “Come on.” We walked over to an area of the beach where only a couple people were sunbathing. “Charlie.” He grabbed my hands. “I want to ask you something, but you have to hear me out.”
“Should I be afraid?”
He chuckled. “No, actually the opposite.”
“Um, okay.”
“So, your mom is gone and your dad is locked away. Your real dad is gone, too. I know you have siblings, but not many you can trust anymore.” He took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. This was the first time I had ever noticed Brooks this stressed. “Julian, Tyler, and I were blessed with amazing parents who support and love us no matter what.”
His eyes welled up with tears. “Baby.” I reached up and wiped a tear away. “What is it?”
“I talked to my parents before we left and they agree.” He cleared his throat. “They want to be the parents you don’t have. They want to give you the love you deserve. I can’t make that happen, though…unless”—he pulled out a small velvet box from his pants pocket and lifted the lid—“you say, yes.”
I didn’t know how to take it all in. Was I worthy of this love that his family offered? Then I looked up into his eyes and knew I deserved to be loved. I deserved to have a kind family. “Yes,” I yelled and threw my arms around his neck. “Yes, yes, yes.”
“Really?” He tightened his hold around my waist. “I know you haven’t had the chance to really get to know my parents yet, but the little they know of you, they already love you.”
“Why me, Brooks?”
“I told you why.” He kissed my lips. “The moment I met you, I knew you were the one. I just had to work to convince you.”
“You didn’t have to work that hard.” I smiled and peppered kisses all over his face.
“It was all worth it. I wouldn’t change anything about this journey we’ve started together.” He lifted my body up and spun me around.
Forty
Six months later…
“How is this okay?” I laughed and pushed Brooks away.
“We’re married now; we can bump and grind all we want.” He pushed his body against me and swayed to the music.
We were at a night club Zoe somehow convinced us to check out. The place was dark, and strobe lights flashed in every direction. “I need to use the restroom. Can you handle being away from me for a few minutes?” Brooks actually slid his lip out and pouted. I patted his chest and headed in the direction where florescent lights were shining bright. I pushed open the bathroom door and noticed several women checking their makeup or fixing their hair. In the corner were two women making out. I stopped dead in my tracks. That’s why I felt off; this was not your everyday night club.
I realized there was so much I didn’t know about Zoe.
I felt a tap on my shoulder and was prepared to tell whoever I was happily married. When I spun around, I came face to face with a ghost. My body gave out, and I fell to the floor. “Charlie,” the woman said and lifted me into her arms. “Are you okay?”
I screamed and quickly scooted my body away. Her touch couldn’t be real. She couldn’t be real. My voice shook and I struggled to say the words, “You’re supposed to be dead?”
“The cops made it look that way.” Grace inched forward. She reached out, but I coiled my body away. “When Dad approached me, he gave me a warning. You know those warnings—do this or else.” I brought my legs forward and wrapped my arms around my body. “Mom was never supposed to die.”
“But she did,” I whispered. “I don’t understand. How is this even real? You stopped breathing.”
“I was wearing a Kevlar vest. I was knocked out.”
I felt afraid to touch her but needed to kno
w if she was really there. “This doesn’t make sense. You made me believe you hated me.”
“Did anything in our lives ever make sense? Charlie Bear, I love you so much.”
I was afraid to move, too afraid to believe this was happening. “Why show up now? Why not six months ago? Or maybe at my wedding.”
“I had to wait until Dad’s trial was complete and he was put away for good.”
“Charlie, you o—” Zoe was standing in the doorway. “I’m sorry.”
I reached out my hand, needing my friend near me. “It’s okay.” She knelt down beside me. “Um, this, this is my sister. Grace.” When I said the words, my mind was starting to believe it all was really happening. She was really sitting beside me.
“The one?”
I nodded and uncoiled my body. “The one.” I reached my hand out, finally needing my sister’s touch. “Asking you to join us sounds so…I don’t know.”
“Weird,” she said and lifted my hand to kiss each knuckle.
“Nobody knows who you are here, trust me,” Zoe said and held out her hands to help us up.
I stood up and turned to face Zoe. “Yeah, about that,” I said and adjusted my shirt. “Is there something you’re not sharing about you? I thought we told each other everything?”
“I’m not sure what you mean.” She winked and turned on her heels to leave.
I stood there staring at the door, trying to process the last ten minutes. My sister was alive—holy fucking shit. The prosecuting lawyer for my father’s case had called me a few months back and let me know the verdict. My father would be behind bars for the rest of his life. I turned to face Grace. “Does this mean Mom’s alive, too?”
Her head dropped. “They shot off two rounds, C. You saw the damage it did to her.”
“But she had a vest on, too? Right?”
“I had no idea Mom was there that night. Dad had something planned all along,” she said and squeezed my hand. “I guess he didn’t trust me because when she appeared around the door, everything changed.”
“But maybe she’s alive?” I begged for her to give me some ounce of hope.
“Charlie, listen to me. Mom’s dead.” Her words caused me to flinch. My body slumped, and I needed to get some air. “I love you so much, C.”
I tried to speak, but my voice had deceived me. “I love you,” I whispered. “I, I need to go.” This was not processing in my brain. When I stepped out of the bathroom, the hallway was lit just enough to see two figures plastered together against the wall by the back door. I don’t know why I stood there staring. Maybe I was curious. The one figure lifted his head and turned in my direction. Then the other figure became illuminated. I gasped and turned away quickly.
Was that Tyler with another man? I tried to disappear before he noticed me, but it was too late. “Charlie, wait.”
I stopped. “I won’t say anything, I promise.”
He placed his hand on my forearm. “It’s… Wait, are you crying?”
“I’m fine.” I tried to brush off his question. My alleged dead sister was in the bathroom right at this very moment, and I was standing in the hallway trying to deny the true reality of what had just happened.
“And you’re a terrible liar like Lily,” Tyler said and glanced at the mystery man as he passed us both. He didn’t say anything to the guy, but I noticed in his expression there was real emotions for the man.
“Ty.” I squeezed his hand.
He whipped his head back my way. “Sorry.”
“This”—I placed my hand on the side of his face—“is our little secret. I promise.” He stayed silent. “You’re my brother. That’s what we do for each other.” I leaned up and wrapped my arms around his neck.
“Charlie,” he whispered in my ear.
“Yeah?”
“Why is your dead sister standing in the doorway of the bathroom?”
“Yeah, about that.” I stepped back and turned toward Grace. I took in a deep breath and let it out slowly, gearing up to tell him what happened. “Turns out Dad thought he could take her down, but she was apparently ten steps ahead of him all along.”
“Charlie, you okay?” Lily said and came into view. “Holy shit.” I watched as Lily glanced at Grace and then back at me. “Is she really there, or did I have one too many glasses of wine?” Lily said and pointed in my older sister’s direction.
“You are a lightweight, but this time, it’s not the alcohol talking. She’s really there.” I reached for Grace’s hand. “Dad didn’t win after all.”
Well, let’s all say it together- “Holy Cannoli!” Am I right? This book was too much fun to write. I would love to hear your thoughts on the series. Come and hang out with me here!
On To The Third Round
Dear Reader,
Holy cats! I never planned for some of those twists but they were so worth it, right?
We took this book to a dark place. That was my plan with the series, so gear up for more dark in book three.
Are you loving the series so far? You can sign up here to be notified when the next book in the Fight It Out MMA Series releases.
Each book in the Fight It Out series can be read as a standalone. Since the stories are interconnected have you read book one, Uppercut, yet? Read it here.
Thank you for all your support and love it means the world to me!
Sending love,
Terra
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About the Author
Terra Kelly writes Contemporary Romance and Romantic Suspense.
She loves walking her dog, snuggling with her two cats, and relaxing with her amazing hubby. A steamy romance book is never far from her grasp, and 2:00 a.m. seems to be the sweet spot to finally put a book down and sleep. She laughs loudly, smiles often, is a bit of a klutz, and tries to always find the positive in everything.
Writing was not on the list of must-do’s for her career, but she always had stories swirling around her mind. Now, today she couldn’t imagine her life without writing. She enjoys writing when the mood strikes, and will stay up late to get all her thoughts out.
She loves hearing from her readers, please stop by one of her social sites and say hello!
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Also by Terra Kelly
Falling Deep Into You Trilogy:
Falling Deep Into You (Book One)
Take This Pain Away (Book Two)
Rescue This Aching Heart (Book Three)
Fight It Out MMA Series
Uppercut (Book One)
Tap Out (Book Two)
The Winters Family Series:
Catch Me (Book One)
Need You (Book Two)
You’re Mine (Book Three)
Let’s Dance (Book Four)
Hope’s Gift (Christmas Novella)
Stand Alone Book:
Hannah’s Story: A Second Chance
Acknowledgments
A year after I started this adventure I discovered I loved writing mystery and suspense way too much. When I started this series I knew there had to be more than just straight up sports romance, I wanted more dimension and excitement with each story. In my heart I feel I am delivering just that, which makes me excited to write the rest of the series. Hang on tight!
Thank you to my angel and best friend, my husband. He supports my MMA addiction even when away from our house and in need of pay-per-view to watch a big fight. He gets me.
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Thank you, Finishing Touch Editing for making my book beautiful.
Thank you, Tandy and Lee for taking on the job as proofer and giving the book a few more checks. PLUS, Becky and Ana are my two awesome readers that also took the time to share some issues that needed love. I so appreciate all the time you all took with Tap Out!
Thank you to my rock star ARC readers! Seriously, I may have the best readers in the world but I could be biased. I love you all so much for your support.
Thank you to my super fun reader group on Facebook! I love having a space to chat and share all about my book fun. You make me laugh and smile all the time.
Thank you Sammy and Maria for your amazing support and love. Your continued support to help me grow and make this series better and better means so much!
Last but never least, my fans, readers, family, and friends, thank you for your continued support!
Copyright ©2018 Tap Out
by Terra Kelly
All rights reserved.
Kindle Edition
ASIN:
Cover Art by Balto Media
This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical,
