Redesigning Fate (Revive Series Book 1)

by A. M. Wilson

  Travis looks as if he’s trying to murder Elias with his eyes. His hand fiddles absentmindedly with the straw poking out from his drink. He looks so cold and calculating.

  The music makes my ears thrum as I take in the two of them, mind numbingly shocked to see them together. How does that happen? Either this is the world’s biggest coincidence or a set up.

  “Here you go. One Shelby Special.” I take the cocktail, even though I don’t feel like drinking it anymore.

  “Thanks. What’s in it?”

  “All you need to know is it’s delicious and it main contain tequila,” she replies with a wink. I can’t help but laugh. She may be blunt, but she sure is sweet.

  The cocktail feels cool against my heated lips when I take a sip. Jesus. She was not kidding. “Is there anything in here besides tequila? You sure they didn’t just dump some food coloring in here?”

  She laughs. “I thought you were looking a little tense. I asked Kimi to make it strong.”

  “Kimi must be a good friend, because she sure wasn’t skimpy. Can you hold this quick? I need to make a run to the restroom,” I ask, handing her back my drink.

  Knowing Elias is busy on stage and Shelby’s occupied watching him, I take an extra minute in the bathroom to freshen up and grab my cosmetics bag from my purse. My makeup is slightly smudged, and my hair is a bit chaotic. Thankfully, I don’t look too much like a hot mess. I wet a paper towel, swiping it around my eyes and finger comb my hair back into submission, tying it into a ponytail.

  I smile to myself while washing my hands, reflecting on each sweet touch and kiss I’ve been the recipient of today. I must have done something right recently because my luck has significantly changed. Needing to share my revelation with someone, I dig through my bag for my phone and text Carly, asking her if we can get together soon for some much needed girl time.

  With my appearance and nerves back under control, I turn to leave, clicking the lock and pulling the door open. I start to step out when someone abruptly shoves me back inside, closing and locking the door once again. I am so startled I drop my bag and fumble with picking it up before I realize who is now in the bathroom with me. I look up into the familiarly cold, green eyes of Travis.

  The bag long forgotten, I’m about to cry for help when he takes a step closer to me, slapping his hand over my mouth.

  “Don’t you dare scream,” he threatens. After a minute long stare down, he must believe I will comply, because he slowly removes his hand from my face.

  “I have a restraining order,” I blurt, then shiver as I watch his eyes darken.

  “I don’t fucking care.”

  “What are you doing here?” It comes out as a violent whisper. I can’t find it in me to raise my voice any louder. My hands start to tremble, and I clench them into fists at my side, trying to remain calm and remember where I am. This is Sin’s bar, which means I have at least two strong men on my side. Travis can’t keep me in here for long before Elias will come looking for me.

  At least I hope. He might be too busy performing to notice I’m missing. Shit! Keep it cool.

  “I was going to ask you that same question. You’re still hanging around with that scumbag from the club, I see.” He gives me an icy glare, but otherwise his feet stay firmly planted.

  Why the hell does he care? “That guy is friends with the bar owner. What are you doing here? Why aren’t you in Duluth?” I ask. Is this bathroom a wormhole to some alternate dimension?

  “I’m not in Duluth, because I’m living down here.”

  “Are you stalking me? I saw you outside of my apartment!” The accusation flows from my mouth before I can stop it. The longer I stand here, the more my courage returns. I’ve always dealt with this same Travis.

  “I’m not stalking you, I swear. I’m just keeping an eye on you. That guy is not safe—,” Travis grits out through clenched teeth. His temper is rising with each enunciated word, but I cut off whatever he was about to say.

  “You are not safe. You don’t even know him. Let me leave.” I need to get out of here. I don’t care if he hurts me at this point as long as I can get someone’s attention and get out of this bathroom. There are people outside of this room to help me. I inhale deeply and try to step around him.

  “Listen to me, damnit.” He thrusts his arms out and grabs my shoulders, fingers digging painfully into the muscles of my arms. He uses his body to block my escape. “That guy is dangerous. I know more about him than you do.”

  “I’d say you’re pretty dangerous when you’re throwing me down the stairs. Now get out of my way before I start attracting attention.”

  “I love you, Lena. I’m only trying to keep you safe.”

  “Don’t ever say that to me. I don’t love you. I’m with him. Don’t come near me again.”

  “Fuck, why won’t you listen?” he yells, and I pray someone hears him over the loud music. “I’m trying to save you before you get hurt.”

  “Are you crazy?” I screech. “The only person in this town who’s hurt me is you!”

  He takes a step towards me, and I reciprocate with a step back of my own. “I made a mistake. Please, let me make it up to you.”

  Oh, God. He’s delusional. How could he think hurting me and cheating on me was simply a mistake? That I’d ever take him back? I had a weakness for him in the past, but that’s all it was. Me being weak. Allowing him control over my actions and my life. I’m not that girl anymore. The few months away from him has done me some good.

  “Help! Someone, help me!” I scream as loudly as I can. Before I can utter another syllable, Travis rushes me, slams his hand over my mouth, and forces my back to the wall by the sinks.

  My head ricochets off the concrete with a loud thud.

  “Do you see how you made me do that? Fuck, I don’t want to hurt you! I just—ˮ

  One second, he’s pinning me to the wall, the next, he’s hurtling toward the floor. My body sinks down the wall until I’m sitting on my heels. I can’t take my eyes off his body as he puts himself in a pushup position and lifts his torso off the tile. A heavy, black boot slams into the center of his back, knocking him down to his chest.

  “Stay down.”

  At the sound of the commanding voice, I bring my eyes to my rescuer and meet Sin’s glare. My body turns to granite as he slowly approaches and lowers himself into a crouch before me.

  “You all right?” he asks, his tone taking on a soft quality I’ve never heard from him before.

  I swallow thickly, trying to clear the residual panic from my throat. “I’m okay.”

  Sin looks me over from head to toe. He seems to be deciding something. Arriving at a conclusion, he slides his hands beneath my armpits and hoists me to my feet. Just as I regain my balance, we both turn when the bathroom door slams.

  “Motherfucker,” Sin growls, and the sheer ferocity of those four symbols has me cowering back against the wall. Tears well in my eyes. Travis took the opportunity of Sin’s back being turned to sneak out.

  “I ain’t gonna hurt you,” Sin says when he turns back around.

  “I know,” I reply quietly. Somehow, I do. I didn’t do anything wrong, and even if I had, he doesn’t look like the type of man to hurt a woman. Sure, he’s scary as hell looking, but the way he acts with Shelby proves he has a softer side. Somewhere.

  “Then what’s wrong? The little pansy ran outta here, but you’re safe.”

  I nod my agreement. “I’m just overwhelmed. Don’t—don’t tell him, please?”

  His eyes narrow with suspicion. “I’m not big on keeping secrets from my friends.”

  “I know,” I rush on through the tears to make my point. “I know I shouldn’t ask this of you. You don’t owe me anything. If anything, I owe you, for what you did. But I’m worried he’s going to realize I’m not worth the trouble if he has to deal with Travis one more time,” I confess. My hands tremble by my sides, so I squeeze them into tight fists.

  His face is guarded when he replies, �
��Be good to him. Don’t make me regret this.”

  “I will. I promise I will.” Tears of relief drip from my lashes. We stand silently in that chilly bathroom regarding one another. He may have the looks to make you cower and the power to make you scream, but somewhere beneath that tough exterior is a decent man.

  “Better get out there before he realizes you’re missin’.”

  I nod and walk towards the door, but stop and place a tentative hand on his bicep. His arm is hard as steel, but I ignore it and forge on. “Thank you,” I whisper. Then I run out the door before he can give me a reaction.

  ***

  When we left the bar on Saturday, I didn’t tell Elias what happened in the bathroom. He had asked where I disappeared to, and I told him there was a long line. Maybe it was cowardly, but he’s had to deal with enough of my crappy past, and if I can spare him this, I will.

  Knowing that Katie and Travis are seeing each other makes me uneasy. My gut says I should warn her. I just don’t know how. I don’t want to sound like an ex trying to sabotage their new relationship. She doesn’t like me, and I know whatever I say to her, she will think I’m making it up because I’m jealous. Nevertheless, even though she is nothing but rude to me, I can’t let someone else get hurt by that bastard if I can help it.

  When I arrive at work Monday morning, I’m startled to find Katie waiting for me by my desk.

  I say a quick hello before I remove my cell phone and work binder from my bags, and stash those bags in my bottom desk drawer. I place my things on the top of my desk before making eye contact. Considering our dislike for one another, I’m not going to rush my morning to make her feel more comfortable. She’s already waited who knows how long. A few more seconds won’t kill her.

  Not until I face her directly can I tell that she’s absolutely seething. What the heck? I can’t fathom what I did to deserve that look.

  “Stay the fuck away from my boyfriend.”

  “I don’t know what you are talking about, Katie,” I reply coolly, wondering what Travis possibly told her to orchestrate this confrontation.

  “I totally saw you on Saturday. You were in the restroom all alone with Travis! I saw you come out and then leave, like, you were trying to sneak away.” She’s trying to pin me with her angry stare. It’s not working, though, because I know what really happened on Saturday. “He told me you tried to come on to him!” She has frustratingly been misinformed.

  My stomach sinks while I try to understand what game Travis is playing at. I can’t fathom why he’d get my colleagues involved in this mess, especially with such grand lies.

  Trying to keep my features schooled, I reply, “Look, I don’t know what he told you, but he followed me in there. I want absolutely nothing to do with him. So you can calm down now, he’s all yours.” As much as I should be trying to appease her, this bitch is getting on my nerves, and I have to catch up on work.

  She snorts. Straight up snorts at me.

  “Don’t pretend that you’re not jealous and trying to steal him away from me. I’m sorry if Elias isn’t doing it for you, but you can’t have Travis. He wouldn’t want you anyways,” she fires back in that whiny, nasally voice of hers. Her eyes are shining to the brim with malice. She’s out for blood, looking to wound me because of her insecurities. And I honestly think she’s enjoying this drama. Too bad for her, I don’t want Travis, and I don’t like to play games.

  “I’ve already had him, Sweetie. Trust me I’m done with him. He’s not all you’re making him out to be. Now really, I have work to do,” I say, shooing her with a flick of my wrist.

  She stands there for a minute, her brain trying to process what I said. She huffs, taking a step back from my desk.

  “Fuck you, Marlena. This isn’t over,” she says, walking backwards until she reaches the elevator, punches the button, and struts inside.

  As soon as the doors close, I drop my head briefly into my hands as I take several deep, calming breaths. What the hell just happened? Did Travis really tell her I tried to come on to him?

  He’s never been the faithful type—he had no problem cheating on me in front of my face, so why lie to her? I wonder if he even knows that Katie and I work together, or if this is all some big coincidence. Goes to a bar with his new girlfriend, in a new town, and runs into his ex. Now doesn’t that sound familiar.

  He shouldn’t know where I work. We were way out of touch by the time I quit my job and moved.

  The thought pauses me. How does he know where I live now? I have an unpleasant feeling of dread creeping up my spine. He found out where I moved to, he could surely find out where I’m working.

  Unfortunately, I don’t have time to pursue that thought longer because as soon as it crosses my mind, Michelle steps off the elevator, ready to conquer a new day.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Travis

  April 11, 2015

  That bitch is mine.

  All the irony in the world, and I could have never guessed that my Marlena would wind up with the son of the bastard who ruined my entire life. There has to be at least five million people in this state, and she picks out the one family who has my mother’s blood on their hands. He’s all wrong for her too. My Marlena—the girl whose past brims with pain, the one who wanted to run away, the one who I saved. She wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for me. Nobody can take care of her the way I can. I love her. She belongs to me.

  Yet, I’m stuck with this clingy chick instead.

  When Katie saw me leave the bathroom after knowing Marlena was still in there, I swear her eyes shot daggers. Her body was stiff and unyielding until we decided to leave, which thankfully wasn’t long after we’d got there. I didn’t want to sit around with her stuffy rich friends, but I pretended as if I actually cared because I knew she’d be there. It used to be easy to let myself live without her when I knew she was miserable without me. But seeing her wrapped up in his arms, telling me she’s practically in love with him? I couldn’t get past that no matter how hard I tried. Because as soon as this was over, as soon as I got justice for my mother, I was going to win her back.

  Katie was silent all of five minutes after we left before she was about to burst from the seams with rage. Needing my little intel as much as I did, I decided to throw on a sweet face and tell her what she wanted to hear.

  “What’s wrong, Katie?” I asked while her foot bounced restlessly against the floor of the car. She had her arms crossed, her body turned towards the window—she refused to look at me.

  “Hmph. Really? You have to ask?” Her voice dripped with sarcasm. I stayed silent, knowing she just needed an in to let her jealousy loose. Any second now…

  “Why the fuck did I see you coming out of the woman’s bathroom? I know Marlena was in there. How do you know her? Maybe you don’t know who she is, and you took her in there to fuck her just like you fucked me at the bar that first night! God, I don’t even know you. You know what? I don’t even care. I bet you did fuck her, and I bet it was just awesome.”

  I had to restrain a chuckle that threatened to burst free. Women are fucking crazy.

  “Baby, you have it all wrong. I was on the way to the bathroom, and I heard someone yelling for help,” I soothed. “She lured me in there and tried to come on to me. She asked if I wanted to have a good time, but I told her to back off. Didn’t you see how pissed off she looked when she left?” I could see her start to thaw from my peripheral vision, but she wasn’t entirely convinced. I needed to lay it on thick if I was going to keep my mole eating out of the palm of my hand.

  “You’re a knockout compared to her. That first night in the bar? You’re the only woman I’ve ever done that with. Nobody else has held me as captivated as you have. I promise.”

  She turned towards me at that. “Really?” she giggled. “You’d never done that before me?”

  “Of course not, baby. You’re special,” I lied. Shit, I’d probably done that once a week over the past three months. Four times out of five it wor
ked. Even the taken ones would give it up for a secret quickie if they were drunk enough.

  “You don’t know what that means to me. That girl…she’s nothing but trash. It doesn’t surprise me she came onto you. I see her around the office, always flirting with all the male law clerks and even a few attorneys. As if the little gold digger thinks she can win one over or something.”

  “She works with you?” I asked, pretending as if I hadn’t known. Of course, I had. I saw her that very first day. The day I dropped off that folder. Which reminded me I still hadn’t heard anything back from Preston yet.

  “Oh yeah. She had her interview that day that I met you. She’s been working hardly a few weeks and already she’s fucking the boss’s son.”

  I gave myself whiplash from craning my neck so fast. “She’s what?” I knew Marlena was seeing Preston’s son, considering I’d seen her with him a few times. But fucking him? She made me wait eight months before she’d get into bed with me. No way was she giving it up so easily these days.

  “I don’t know what he sees in her, she’s not even pretty. Hey, are you okay?” She asked, probably noticing the rage all over my face.

  My blood heated even more as she kept knocking down Marlena, but I kept it restrained so I don’t blow my little plan. “Yeah, I’m fine.” I needed to change the subject. “Hey, speaking of, did you ever give that folder to Mr. Brooks for me?”

  She nodded her head. “He came back from a meeting that afternoon, and I handed it to him directly. Why, have you not heard from him yet?”

  “No, I’m just making sure it didn’t get lost changing hands. In case you put it into a mailbox or something.”

  “Oh. No, I handed it right to him. Why, what was it?” She asked, always nosy. If I’d learned anything about this chick, it’s that she always wanted to be in everyone else’s business.

  “Never mind,” I snapped.

  “Jesus, Travis, you don’t have to be a dick about it,” she replied as I pulled up to her apartment complex. I needed to get out of there before things start really going south. I needed this connection, so, I stroked her long blonde hair in apology.