Dark Heart

by Eve L Mitchell

  I stood back from the bag and glanced to the main door. I went over to one of the old treadmills and started a fast-paced run. If I couldn’t punch it out, I would run it out. I completed a 5k run in nineteen minutes. I downed a bottle of water when I came off the treadmill. Wiping my face on my shirt I walked to the speedball and practised my hand/eye coordination. The rapid repetition eventually soothed me and when I was finished, the combination of the treadmill and the speedball had achieved what the punching bag had not.

  Going back to the locker room I grabbed my stuff – they were still in the ring. I knew Shadow would want to talk to me, but I wasn’t there yet. I was being weird, I knew it and I knew I was better off heading home. As I pulled on a clean t-shirt, I waved him off as I left the gym.

  When I got home, I headed to the shower, peeling my clothes off on the way there. The warm spray soothed my muscles and I stayed under for a long time. My mind cleared and my thoughts emptied. I rested my head against the tile and closed my eyes as the spray hit soothingly between my shoulder blades.

  Eventually I got out, I quickly shaved, pulled on my sweats and lay on my bed. I switched the phone on silent. I wanted a few more moments of this elusive peace. I closed my eyes and let sleep take me.

  I woke up. The house was quiet and dark. There was a faint light coming in through the window from the moonlight outside. I realised the house was quiet because Lela was curled up beside me, sound asleep. I was on my back, one arm wrapped around her. She was on her side, curled into me, her arm on my bare chest, her fingers curled at my neck. I ran my hand through her hair as she slept beside me. The blonde strands were like silver in the moonlight, I noted.

  Jesus, now I was a poet. I scoffed mockingly.

  I continued to let the strands of hair fall over my fingers as I stroked the top of her head. She murmured in her sleep and curled tighter into me. I shifted slightly to turn to look at her. A soft sound of protest from her was all I got but she didn’t wake. I felt myself smile as I watched her – as far as I could tell in the dark, she was in her yoga pants and a cardigan. I didn’t even know what time it was. I pulled away from her as I checked my phone. It was after eight, no fights tonight. I would usually be heading out, working the circuit.

  It was so tempting to pull her tighter and close my eyes again. Drift off and forget for one night. I brushed a kiss over her forehead as I slipped off the bed. Grabbing my phone, I left the room.

  I had three missed calls from Shadow, no texts though. I had a missed call from Gregor, two from Lela’s dad, one from a number I didn’t know and a call from…Colton. Interesting.

  I didn’t think I had been asleep that long. I headed to the fridge. I immediately closed it again, there was no food in there, why did I keep opening it? I needed to go the store, I needed to eat. I better go wake the Brat.

  “Lela, wake up.” I nudged her gently. She turned to me and yawned. Fuck me, she was adorable when she woke up. “You’ve been a Brat again and crawled into beds that don’t belong to you.” I was half smiling when I said it and she smiled at me sheepishly as she stretched.

  “You looked so comfortable, I wanted some of it.” Her smile was happy as she sat up. I stood back from the bed.

  “I have calls to make and places to go, I didn’t know if you were going out,” I offered.

  “No. I’m all yours.”

  Our eyes met and held. Colour crawled slowly up her cheeks. I felt blood rush straight to my dick. Fuck. Distance. I needed to distance myself.

  “So, you’ll be here?” I asked as I went to leave my own room, because the woman on the bed was offering me more than I could risk.

  “Aaron? This is your bedroom, I should go, let you get ready.” She rose from the bed and made her way forwards. She was in yoga pants and an oversized cardigan which she wrapped around herself as she passed. Her hair was loose and messy from sleep. Her face flush from embarrassment and…me.

  “Fuck it.” My hands were in her hair, my lips on hers. Her gasp of surprise gave my tongue the entrance it needed. She still tasted of strawberries, so sweet, so fucking intoxicating. I turned and pressed her into the wall as I pulled the cardigan off her and tossed it aside. My hands ran under the tank top and pushed it up and over her tits. Her bra was pushed up next. My hand cupped her fully, she had just the right handful and I rubbed my thumb across her nipple. I kissed into her moan. My other hand went around the back and unclasped her bra. In a frenzy of lust, I had both tank and bra off.

  “Aaron…” she gasped into my mouth.

  “Don’t speak,” I muttered as I tore my mouth away and nipped at her neck and kissed my way down. My tongue flicked over her right nipple before moving to tease the left one. Her hands ran over my hair as I pulled her yoga pants down and her panties with them. I followed them down and with one hand firmly on her stomach, I held her against the wall and thrust my tongue inside her.

  “Jesus Christ…Aaron!” she cried above me as her hands tightened on my hair. I circled her clit with my tongue softly, licking gently as I slipped my fingers inside her, sucking harder on her as my fingers increased their pace to match the rhythm of my tongue. It wasn’t long before her knees trembled and her legs were giving way as she came on my tongue, crying out my name above me. I helped her to the ground to catch her breath.

  I rose to my feet as Lela lay gasping at mine, then I stripped off my sweats and pulled her up, leading her to the bed. I pushed her gently back onto it and grinned as she looked up at me, breathless, still panting. My eyes ran over her naked body – she was beautiful. Her smile was breathtaking as her eyes ran over me and she smiled. I reached over to my drawer and pulled out a rubber. She watched me roll it on and I nudged her knees apart. Lela reached up and pulled me down onto her, her hands trailing over my body as she kissed my shoulders and chest.

  “God, you’re incredible,” she murmured into my neck as she kissed me.

  “I told you not to speak.” I kissed her again and her hands explored my body freely. I moved away from her mouth. Tasting her had just been the beginning – I needed so much more of her. I covered her nipple again with my tongue as I settled between her legs and slid inside her. Holy shit, she was perfect. Her back arched and my fists tightened on her hips as I fought to remain in control. I held still for a moment.

  “I’m ok,” she whispered as she moved her hips slightly, testing. “Yeah, I’m ok,” she gasped as she rocked forward slowly, “it’ll be fine soon, you can move.” Her smile was shy, slightly unsure, as she looked at me. I dropped my forehead onto hers. She thought I was waiting to make sure I wasn’t hurting her with the size of my dick – when in reality, I was waiting to make sure I wasn’t shooting my load too early, because she felt like fucking heaven, wrapped around me.

  I dropped a kiss onto her lips. “Baby, you’re perfect.” I started to move. Her legs wrapped around me. I couldn’t control how I trembled against her or how I went deeper and deeper into her, or how her hips rose to meet my every thrust. Her moans and cries, begging me for more, drove me further into her. I felt her getting closer and moved her leg higher up my body; the movement edged her over and she screamed my name. Her body quivering under me was enough to break me, my hands moved down to cup her ass tighter and lift her higher as I thrust deep into her one final time. My body bowed over her as my head buried into her neck, her fingers still gripping tightly onto my hips.

  “Fuck,” I whispered as I felt my heart rate slowly return to normal. I knew I had to move off of her, I was too heavy.

  “Holy shit.” Lela’s fingers trailed over my chest as I rolled away. “I was not expecting that.” A soft sigh escaped her, as she curled into me, laying her head on my shoulder.

  I closed my eyes as I laid my arm over my face. Shit. What the fuck did I just do? I got up and removed the condom as I went to the bathroom. I glanced in the mirror but couldn’t meet my own eyes as I washed my hands.

  Fuck – I just lost this round to the Brat.

  I held onto
the vanity as I struggled to regain control. I had just given into my urge and had sex with Lela. I heard her sigh from the bed and forced myself to go back into the bedroom. Lela had slipped under the covers, she was half sitting. She tucked her hair behind her ear and looked at me. I looked back at her, my face expressionless as I picked up my sweats.

  I saw her sneer mockingly as she shook her head and look away. “You always tell me not to speak.” She looked back at me, her eyes held mine unwavering.

  “Do I?” I pulled the sweats on and ran a hand over my hair.

  “Yeah, why do you do that?”

  “Didn’t notice I did.” I looked for my smokes. Where had I left them?

  “Don’t you dare do this to me.” Lela hadn’t moved but her voice was low and firm. I looked at her and saw the resolution in her face.

  “Do what? What’s wrong with you now Brat?” I walked over to my nightstand. “Have you seen my smokes?” I asked her.

  Lela leapt out of bed and came stalking around towards me. Naked Lela was a sight to behold. I had just had naked Lela under me, as I moved inside her. Naked furious Lela was just as hypnotic. She poked me hard in the chest. I didn’t move, but her finger bent backwards and she cried out in pain. I started to laugh.

  “Do not laugh at me!” Lela yelled at me, which was unfortunately the wrong thing to say to me as I laughed more. She snatched her clothes up from where I had undressed her and stormed out to her room. Chuckling at her and her mini meltdown I went to the kitchen to find my smokes. Opening the back door, I lit up.

  When I was finished, I headed up the hall to her room. The shower was running. I opened the door to the bathroom. I could hear her muttering to herself about what an arrogant bastard I was as she lathered up her hair. Grinning, I undressed, opened the shower door, and shut her up for a while longer.

  “This mattress is lumpy,” I said to her as I ran my hands through her damp hair afterwards. I was on my back with Lela on my chest. She had finished on top and hadn’t moved off me yet.

  “I told you that,” Lela muttered. “You’re always so quick to tell me I am being dramatic.”

  “That’s because you are always dramatic,” I murmured as I tugged her hair playfully. I felt her smile as she pressed a kiss to my chest.

  “I need to move off you,” she sighed. “I don’t want to move.” I bucked my hips but caught her as she tumbled, though she still landed in a tangle of limbs beside me.

  “I need to go.” I ran my hand down her back. “I have people to see.” She stiffened slightly beside me. “I’ll be back soon, I need to make a few calls and catch up with some people.” I kissed the top of her head. “You’ll be ok?”

  Her arm snaked round to settle across my chest. “I would ask to come too, but I seriously think I need to sleep.”

  “Wear you out, did I?” I grinned as she slapped my side. “I know, I’m just that good.” I laughed as she pushed away from me in mock protest, she was smiling. Getting up, I headed to my own shower. I got dressed quickly. It was after eleven. I would be out briefly, make my calls, get home again. Shaking my head at the rapid turn of events, I pulled my jacket on.

  I went back up to Lela’s room. She was curled up, sound asleep. I pulled the comforter over her and texted her to tell her I would be back soon.

  I checked my phone again – another missed call from Shadow. I called him first as I got into the truck.

  “You banged her, didn’t you?”

  “You need a hobby. When’s your kid due? You need to get that kid out so you can start having sex again and stop focusing on me.” I switched to hands free and headed to Z Club.

  “You never ignore me all night, unless you’re with a woman. She’s the only woman you’ve been obsessing over.” He sighed. “Is it over? Are you over it?”

  “You’ve only ever been with Maria, aren’t you being a hypocrite?” I asked as I turned south.

  “No. Maria is my soulmate. You said you didn’t like her.”

  “We’re not talking about this anymore. What were you calling for?” I asked as I stopped at a red light.

  “Gregor has three cars backlogged. He wants to know if he can start. With you being sick, he hasn’t seen you. You need to call him.”

  “Yeah he called, I’m calling him next.” The light changed and I moved forward. “That it? Gossip and call Gregor?” Shadow confirmed and I laughed. “Tell Maria I’ll see her Sunday, you’re such a good PA.” I hung up as he started swearing.

  I called Gregor. He was at the Roadshack. I detoured and told him I would meet him there. The bar was packed when I went in about twenty minutes later. I made my way to the back. Gregor was with guys I didn’t know. He introduced me to his cousin.

  We went outside to smoke and talk quietly. I had spotted a few of Kyle’s crowd as I headed back out, but no sign of Kyle. Once we got outside, I asked Gregor if he had his tyre iron handy, just in case. He said it was in his car, so we decided it was best to smoke near there instead. I was handy with my fists, I wasn’t an idiot though.

  “Shadow said you have three cars ready?” I asked as I kept my eye on the door.

  “Yeah, you’ve been sick and I didn’t want to start without the go ahead. Plus, with Daisy being away, I didn’t want to confuse Lela.” Gregor blushed bright red. “Daisy is back on Monday though, so…” He trailed off and glanced at his cousin.

  “You in or not?” The cousin asked me.

  I looked at the cousin. He was the complete opposite of Gregor. Darker skin tone, dark hair, dark eyes, short, stocky. If they were from the same family tree, I was a monkey’s uncle.

  “Watch your tone,” I said quietly as I lit a cigarette. He mumbled but said nothing. Gregor shoved him with his foot. “When do the drugs go in the car?” I asked.

  “Last. Gregor will respray, my boy in Lafayette recovers the interiors, and when he does that, he takes the panels off the doors. Slips it in then, final thing before clocking.”

  I nodded. “Book ‘em in for Monday, Wednesday & Friday.” Gregor beamed. “Tell Trey.” His face fell. “Don’t worry, your split remains as we discussed.”

  I watched them go back in and headed to the truck. That would keep Trey happy after last night at the Warehouse and Kayleigh. I was getting soft. I checked my phone. It was almost midnight. I didn’t know why Colton would have called. Curiosity got the better of me. I dialled.

  “Aaron.” He picked up on the fourth ring. His voice was low and he sounded as if he was moving away from noise.

  “You called.”

  “I need to speak to you, but don’t want to do this over the phone.” I liked straight and to the point. One of the other things I had always quite liked about Colton Dawson.

  “About?”

  “Matt.”

  “Fair enough. When?” I knew this was coming. I suspected Colton and I were on the same page when it came to Matt using my gym.

  “I have free time tomorrow morning. Nine work for you?” What college kid had free time at nine on a Saturday morning? Guy was a machine.

  “I’ll be at the repair shop.”

  “See you then,” he agreed, and I hung up.

  I looked at my phone. Lela’s dad could fuck off. I didn’t know the other number. I could go to Z Club. I glanced at the time…Or I could go back to Lela. A smile that I couldn’t deny crossed my face. I headed for home.

  I noticed them following me about five minutes later. I cursed myself for staying so long at the Roadshack – I’d given Kyle’s guys plenty of time to get their shit together.

  I wasn’t leading them to my house; Lela was at the house. I detoured to the garage. I headed up the Turnpike onto 28th heading to Madison – to the garage. I drove into the yard. When I parked, I sent a quick text to Shadow, alerting him to the fact I needed help. I got out of the truck and waited. Nothing happened. I couldn’t hear any cars in the street. I waited and then waited some more. I had put my foot down driving here, but I hadn’t lost them, they were there. I sure as
shit wasn’t going to go out onto the street to look for them.

  Just then a ball of fire came hurtling over the wall. I watched it land in the middle of the yard in the snow and flicker lamely. Seriously, fireballs? However, the roar of flame at the back of the yard got my attention and I sprinted to the rear as the shed caught fire. I dialled 911 quickly, barking out the address as I got there, jumping back from the flames, looking around to see if I could see anyone. I turned quickly as I heard another roaring sound and watched as flames quickly engulfed my truck.

  Fuckers.

  Fully alert I made my way to the front of the yard, passing the side sheds. I couldn’t see anyone in the darkness, despite the bright flames. They couldn’t all be on the other side of the walls of the property. The crunch of snow alerted me that there was someone behind me. I swung around, ready to fight, just as the bat caught me in the side of the head. I staggered to the side. The second bat took my knees from under me. Half turning, I managed to deflect one of the bats as it came down again. Grunting as it struck my arm, I felt the kick to my side as a punch to the back of my neck made my head go down.

  “Get him again with the bat, he’ll keep getting up if you don’t knock him out.” I didn’t recognise the voice. I struggled to rise. I could hear sirens over the ringing in my head. “I said hit the fucker again, we need to get him out of here.”

  I felt the blow and then there was nothing.

  The intense pain in my head brought me round and then all I could focus on was the freezing cold. Was I outside? I felt wet. I tried to open my eyes, but nothing was happening. I moved and something felt wrong – the pain was overwhelming. I tried again; I was lying on something wet. Wait – it was falling on me? The wetness…softer than rain. Where was I? Awareness slowly came back to me. It was snowing on me – that’s why I was wet, that’s what the softness was. It was snow.

  They fucking dumped me to freeze…to die.

  Awareness brought pain. Jesus Christ, the pain was on another level. I assessed my body. My skull felt like it had been split in two. It probably had. I moved my legs, they didn’t move. The panic that flared through my body overrode any pain in that moment, the fear of being paralysed was...paralysing. My leg moved slightly and with that movement, the pain came flooding back. I groaned. With every ounce of strength that I had left, I managed to turn onto my back. Everything in my body screamed in protest, I had never felt such all-consuming pain.