by L. P. Dover
Not wanting to invade his privacy anymore, I made my way down the stairs and fixed a bowl of cereal and a cup of coffee. There was nothing exciting on the news, but I watched it while I ate. I never had much time to watch TV these days. When Ashleigh still lived with me I did, but that was because we loved watching our favorites. I couldn’t exactly picture Paxton watching Pitch Perfect or the Vampire Diaries.
Once out to his garage, I turned on his stereo system and wasn’t surprised to hear Avenged Sevenfold playing over the speakers. It was the same band he listened to every day he worked on his cars. The music was pretty good to exercise to as well.
I don’t know how long I worked out for, but I was drenched in sweat and my muscles ached by the time I was done. Lying on the floor, I stared up at the ceiling to catch my breath but my heart sped back up when my phone rang. Hopefully, it was Paxton saying he was on his way back. If so, I needed to jump in the shower.
When I looked down at my phone, it wasn’t him . . . it was Cliff. Dread overcame any sense of excitement I just had. “Hey,” I answered. “Please tell me I don’t have a new message waiting on me.”
“I wish I could, but I can’t.”
Immediately, I jumped to my feet and started out of the garage. What the hell was this person doing?
“I know we don’t really know each other, but I don’t like this at all. I think you should go to the station. I’ll follow you there if you want.”
Then it hit me. I told Paxton I wouldn’t go to my apartment without him. Fuck! “I can’t come there right now, not without Paxton. I told him I wouldn’t.”
Cliff snorted. “Are you afraid I can’t protect you? I think I’m insulted. If anything, I could kick his ass. Besides, it’s daylight outside and there are people everywhere. I would be more worried at night, when people can hide.”
Paxton was going to get pissed when he found out, but it was time I did something about it. “All right, I’ll be there in about ten minutes.”
“I’ll wait by your door.”
Cliff did as he said and was waiting on me by my door when I parked and glanced up. He waved as I got out of the car. Taking the stairs two at a time, I raced up them until I got to the top. He held the flowers out to me with a grim expression on his face. There were four flowers this time, all black with a note attached.
“Did you read it?” I asked, opening it up.
“I’m not going to lie, it’s not good.”
When I opened it up, my stomach twisted into agonizing knots. The message was the worst one of all.
“Holy fucking shit,” I gasped, throwing the flowers down. “I need to get out of here.”
Cliff nodded and picked up the flowers before guiding me toward the stairs. “Get in your car and you can follow me to the police station. We’ll show them this and you can talk to them. Maybe they can help you figure out who it could be.”
“Okay, let’s do this,” I said, keys in hand. I was ready to go and figure out what sick fuck was leaving cryptic messages by my doorstep. Cliff followed behind me as we started down the last flight of steps.
“I know I’m not on the squad yet, but I’ll do whatever I can to help.”
Over my shoulder, I glanced back at him and gave a small smile. “Thanks, Cliff. I really appreciate you doing this.”
Before he could reply, his eyes went wide at something behind me. As soon as my foot hit the last step, a set of hands grabbed me by the shoulders and my head snapped to the front.
“And where do you think you’re going?”
Holy shit, I was in some serious trouble.
“SO IT WAS you leaving me those messages?” I ground out through clenched teeth.
Scar towered over me with his tall, bulky frame and dark eyes that almost looked black. He’d obviously acquired his name by how many he had on his body. Even across his shaved head on down to his cheeks there were scars. The only problem was, he wasn’t alone. Two other men shadowed him and they didn’t look like they were at my place for a picnic.
He snorted. “Hardly. Those are from Rage. Apparently, he’s had a thing for you since that night you ventured into the Dark Side. You’ll meet him soon, but for right now you have to deal with me.”
“Gabriella, what’s going on?” Cliff asked from behind.
Scar lifted a brow and smiled at me. “Yes, Gabriella, care to tell him what’s going on?”
I knew damn well I couldn’t say anything. I remembered the rules and I hadn’t broken them yet. “Why are you here?” I growled. “I’ve kept my mouth shut and so has everyone else.”
“That’s true, but things have changed. I think we need to go upstairs and have a little discussion.”
“And I think you need to get your hands off of her and back off,” Cliff snapped. “She’s not going anywhere without me.”
Scar huffed and turned his dark eyes to Cliff. “Suit yourself. I hope you know what you’re getting into.”
If Scar was by himself I could probably jump over the banister and make a run for it. But with the other two goons, I wouldn’t stand a chance. They were lean and lithe and obviously a lot faster. I didn’t have a choice. Turning on my heel, I started up the stairs with Cliff by my side.
“Please stay out of this,” I whispered. “You can’t get involved with them.”
“I don’t fucking care. I’m not going to leave you alone.”
“Dammit, Cliff, this is serious,” I hissed.
It was obvious he wasn’t going to listen, so I let him come with me to my apartment for fear he would call the cops. When I opened the door, Scar made me and Cliff go in first and then he followed with his goons. The tall one shut the door and stood in front of it, while the other started toward Cliff. They were both muscular, had shaved heads, and wore aviator sunglasses so dark I couldn’t see their eyes. Neither one of them spoke either.
The shorter one with the shaved red hair and goatee reached for Cliff’s arm but he jerked away. “Don’t fucking touch me man.”
“We’re not going to do anything to Miss Reynolds, so calm the fuck down. We’re just here to talk. Unfortunately, I can’t have you listening in.” Scar nodded toward Red and out of nowhere he clocked Cliff on the head with the butt of a gun.
“Oh my God,” I cried as his limp body fell to the floor with a loud thud. Trying to rush to his side, Scar held me back with a hand on my arm.
“He’ll be okay. Just a little headache when he wakes up. Now where were we?” He took a seat in one of my leather chairs and motioned toward the couch. “Please, have a seat.”
“Gee, thanks,” I grumbled. “I think I’ll stand.” I was in my own home and I couldn’t even relax. I kept my eyes and ears vigilant and my body ready to fight. He said he wanted to talk, but I was in my apartment with three dangerous men, alone. Whatever happened, I wasn’t going down without a fight.
Smirking, Scar sat back in the chair and crossed his leg at the knee, looking calm and relaxed. “I have a proposition for you, Miss Reynolds.”
I snorted. “Yeah, I think I’ll decline. You’re what, ten years older than me?”
“So you don’t like older men? It doesn’t seem to bother you with Reaper.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” I growled.
“Oh, don’t I? I’ve heard you two have gotten awfully close. My partner doesn’t seem to like it. He’s been watching you.”
“Who, Rage?” I asked incredulously. “Is he following me around? What kind of sick freak does that?”
“Obviously one that has a serious hard on for you. I suggest you calm it down with Reaper before something ugly happens.”
“Is that a threat? Because let me tell you I don’t do well with those. I think your partner needs to mind his own fucking business. What I do in my life is none of his concern.”
“It is to him. And I wasn’t threatening you. I’m warning you.”
“Good, message received. Now get out,” I thundered.
Scar tilted his hea
d back and bellowed. “Damn, you are a stubborn little fighter, aren’t you? But that’s not all I’m here for. I have a business proposition for you.”
“You’ve got to be smoking crack.”
“Done that, didn’t like it. Making money is my high these days.”
“Then what?” I asked incredulously.
“Over the years, I’ve had different clientele come in with certain . . . proclivities. You’ve seen what goes on in the underground, so you can imagine how tastes change. Some like to fight with weapons and in Striker’s case, he wanted to fight with glass.”
Striker was Camden. The fights on that fateful night were highly disturbing. I’d never seen so much blood in my life. “If you’re trying to get to a point, will you just get there already? You’re confusing the hell out of me. I don’t see where I can help you in this.”
Scar got to his feet and walked around my living room, his eyes lit with excitement when he stared at me. “I want you to fight for me, Gabriella. Just three fights is all I ask. After having to pick up and leave Las Vegas, I need compensation. You and Reaper were the cause of that breach.”
“We didn’t breach anything. We’ve kept your secret and not said a word. I don’t owe you anything.”
“You might not, but Reaper does. I can always take this to him, but you don’t want me to do that. I deal with men differently than I do women. Not to mention, Rage wants you, so we have to play this delicately. Reaper’s a good fighter and I don’t want to see him ended over this.”
“Ended? Are you saying you’re going to kill him if I don’t help you?” He had to be bluffing. Surely, he wouldn’t just kill someone for no reason.
In all seriousness, his dark gaze bore into mine and it didn’t waver. There was nothing there, except a cold emptiness that made me shiver all the way down to my bones. He was dead fucking serious. Tears blurred my vision and I clenched my lips together hard to keep them from trembling.
“I have to do what I have to do, Miss Reynolds. I need your help and you’re going to give it to me. If you don’t, Reaper dies.”
Bile rose to the back of my throat and I started to feel sick. I had no clue what I was about to agree to, but I had no choice. It was either agree, or Paxton died. Knowing there was no way to fight, I sat down on the couch and hung my head.
“What do I have to do?”
AS SOON AS Scar and his cronies left, I locked the door and rushed to Cliff’s side. “Cliff,” I murmured frantically. “Cliff, wake up.” He took a nasty hit to the head but there wasn’t much blood. Thank God. Quickly, I got a bag of ice and wrapped it up in a towel and placed it on his head. The coldness must’ve snapped him out of it because he winced and his lids fluttered open.
“So much for protecting you,” he groaned low.
“It’s okay. I don’t think there’s much you could’ve done against the three of them. How does your head feel?”
Slowly, he rolled over and tried to get to his feet. I helped him by holding onto his arm. “Who are they, Gabriella? What do they want with you?”
“I can’t tell you. If I do, I’ll be in even more shit. It’ll be best if you leave this alone and forget it ever happened. The last thing I want is for something to happen to you just for being my friend.”
“Are you going to tell Paxton?” he asked, narrowing his gaze.
Shaking my head, I put his arm around my shoulder so I could help him to the door. “I can’t tell him either. This is something I have to do on my own. As soon as it’s over, I’ll be free.”
“And what if you’re not?”
“Then I’ll have to figure something out.”
There was a good chance I wouldn’t be, but I couldn’t tell him that. The whole deal with Rage had me worried. I had no clue who the douche nozzle was, other than he wanted me and I would meet him soon. The fact he was watching me didn’t help matters.
What Scar asked me to do was degrading and completely against all of my morals. Not to mention, I was unsure if I could even pull it off. The proposition Scar asked of me not only required me to put on a show, but I had to be convincing, or Paxton’s life was forfeit.
The worst part was, even if I completed his requests successfully, I still had another obstacle to overcome. Rage. He was going to come after me and I had no clue if I’d be ready. All I knew was that I had to be.
It all starts tomorrow.
After helping Cliff into his apartment and monitoring him to make sure he didn’t have a concussion, he seemed to be doing fine. I recommended he go to the doctor, but he refused. It was only two in the afternoon and it felt like I’d gone through a week’s worth of agony. Paxton still hadn’t called, but I was already headed back to his house.
How was I going to keep everything a secret from him? During those three nights Scar needed me, I had no idea what I was going to tell Paxton. I couldn’t just say, “Hey, I’m going out, see you later.”
The thought of lying to him made me sick, but the thought of him dead was way worse. If he ever found out the truth, he was going to be so angry with me, even if it was to save him. I just hoped the flowers and the messages would stop.
The whole way to Paxton’s house, I glanced in my rearview mirror at least a dozen times to see if anyone followed me. If Rage knew I was with Paxton, it made me wonder if he watched the house. I was happy Paxton had a gate around his property, but that didn’t mean someone couldn’t climb it.
I knew Pax could take care of himself, but for once I was truly scared for him. He wouldn’t be on alert because he didn’t know what was happening. What if Rage went after him? Whatever sick and twisted fascination Rage had with me, he better think twice about hurting Paxton. I protected the ones I loved, even if it meant putting myself in the crossfire.
Paxton called at the same time I pulled into his driveway. “Hey, you,” I answered, trying my best to sound normal.
“I’m on my way home. It took longer than I thought.”
“Did you get it fixed?”
He snorted. “What do you think? Of course, I did. He wants me to race tomorrow night. Do you want to come watch me?”
Ahh shit. “I can’t,” I said, sounding disappointed. “I talked to my mom today and she misses me. I felt bad because I haven’t seen her in forever. She wants to do dinner and a movie tomorrow night.”
“Oh,” he commented. “I see. Well, there’s always the next one, which is in two more days.”
“And I’ll be there.” I had no clue if Scar needed me on that night, but I didn’t give a shit. If he wanted me to keep this a secret from Paxton, he was going to have to work with me. “So, what do you want to do tonight?”
“I thought we could stay in. Maybe get in the pool? I can turn on the heat.”
“Sounds good to me.” In fact, it sounded more than good. If Rage was watching us, I was hoping it would be more difficult for him to see us if we stayed home. We’d be safe, for one night at least.
THE WHOLE MORNING, Paxton spent working out with me and showing me new techniques with grappling. I loved to punch things and I was really good at jabs and combinations. My weakness was getting out of holds. Paxton was good at that, but unfortunately, we spent a lot of the morning trying to keep our hands off each other and dry humping on the mat.
After having some seriously hot sex in the shower, I stood under the falling water, letting it pound me on my back. I had two hours until I needed to be at my apartment. My nerves were shot, but I had to keep my wits about me if I was going to get through the night. Leaning my head against the wall, Paxton came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist.
“I don’t think I can ever get enough of you,” he murmured in my ear.
I hummed in agreement and turned to face him. “I know the feeling.”
“What time will you be home tonight? Are you sure you don’t want me to drop you off at your mom’s?” He was worried about me going out alone, but yet, he didn’t want to be overprotective to the point of smothering me.
If I weren’t all wrapped up in a lie, I would’ve been happy to let him drop me off with my mom. “I’ll be fine,” I assured him. “It shouldn’t be too late when we get done. I’ll probably be here before you even get back from celebrating at the track.”
“Well then, I’ll see you tonight, sunshine.” He tapped my chin with his finger and leaned down to kiss me. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” I whispered.
Setting me down, he washed off quickly and bolted out of the shower. “Wish me luck,” he hollered, exiting the bathroom.
“Good luck.” He wasn’t the only one who needed it.
Once my gym bag was packed, I loaded up the Hummer and started on my way to the apartment. I had no clue who was going to pick me up, or where we were going, but I assumed I would be blindfolded. When I pulled up in the parking lot, I was about ten minutes early, and there was a car already waiting for me. It was a black truck with all black windows. I parked right beside it and looked over. The passenger side window rolled down and I looked in; it was the redhead who clocked Cliff over the head with the gun yesterday.
Groaning, I rolled down my window. “Let me guess, I have to get in the car with you?”
Smirking, he shrugged his shoulders. “You don’t have to, but I would suggest you do. I don’t like to see the boss pissed off and I don’t think you would either.”
Taking a deep breath, I let it out slowly and grabbed my bag. When I got into the truck I was expecting to see it full of other people, but it was just me and him. “Should I be insulted?” I looked around at the empty seats.
Red chuckled and held his hand out for my bag. I passed it to him for inspection. “You’re just a woman,” he explained. “I’ve seen you fight, but I’m pretty sure I can manhandle you into submission. Besides, you know what’s at stake.”
“And that’s the only thing saving you right now,” I mumbled angrily.
