Impossibly Possible

by Amelia Shea

  Kenzie mustered a smile. Her lips tightened almost making it impossible. She slowly weaved through the throngs of men, bumping into one.

  “Sorry,” she mumbled, just a few feet away from the door.

  The man looked down at her, and her stomach plummeted. She knew this guy. The scar and the green eyes—she remembered him. Stone. He was one of the guys looking for Taylor. He stared down at her. His scowl locked in place.

  We’re so screwed.

  She turned quickly, rushing to the door, and threw it open, almost knocking the man guarding the door.

  She gripped the banister and ran down the stairs, tripping on the last one and falling to the ground. Her knees slammed into the hard floor, and she yelped. The pain shot up through her calves. She was pretty sure she just busted her kneecaps. Oh, fuck!

  She dropped her head and took a breath. Suddenly, large hands grasped her waist, and she was being pulled up. The second her feet touched the ground she spun around, face to face with the man with the scar.

  “Need to get you the fuck out of here.”

  What? She inched away as he stepped forward. Her adrenaline hiked up, and all thoughts of her aching knees were gone. She had to get out and away from this guy. Her dad’s voice played in her head. He’d been reciting the same line since she was a little girl.

  You ever feel cornered, kick ’em in the balls.

  She blocked the pain from her swing. The man’s eyes widened as if he knew what was coming and for the first time in her life, she was quicker than an assailant. Her sneaker made contact with his crotch before his hands could stop her. He immediately cowered over gripping his groin, emitting a loud grunt.

  “You fucking bitch.”

  She spun around and ran through the door, pushing people out of her way.

  Taylor was in the same spot she had been in earlier and Kenzie raced to her. She pushed a body out of her way, shoulder checking some poor guy who got in her way. Taylor turned a second before she reached her. She seemed to be able to read Kenzie’s face. Her feet pounded on the concrete and Kenzie blurted the first thing that popped in her head.

  Not, “They’re after us.” She didn’t say, “They know who we are.” Through her hitched breath, she muttered, “You left me.”

  In this crazy, dangerous, scene, all she could say was she left her. She had been the most loyal friend to Taylor, and she just left her.

  Taylor shook her head, scrunching her brows. “No, I didn’t leave you. I just needed…” Her gaze shifted over her shoulder, and her bottom lip fell open as her face paled. Taylor, who rarely showed fear, was giving her a face she’d never seen before. She heaved a breath and said, “Run.”

  “What?”

  Taylor’s face twitched, and her eyes darkened in a dreaded stare. “Run.”

  Kenzie whipped her head over her shoulder to see three men, one being Dante, heading in their direction. If there was a foreboding look of death, they were giving it, and it was aimed directly at them. Taylor grabbed her arm and pushed through the crowd. She felt like a pinball, bouncing against the throngs of men. Taylor hooked a left at the same time a guy fell into her breaking their connection. Her heart raced. She searched for Taylor. A hand gripped her shoulder, and she shot forward, wiggling her way from the hold. Kenzie pounded through the mass of people, seeing the exit only a few feet away.

  The phrase “Run for your life,” had never been truer than at this moment.

  »»•««

  Bogs stared at the empty alley. Twenty-seven minutes. They had been in there far too long. He glanced down at his phone. Twenty-eight minutes.

  When Trent asked them to meet them at the address, even Bogs was shocked. There were two places the fights usually took place. This was not the one he expected to be at tonight. Being a resident of Houston since he was eight, he was well aware there were certain sections to stay away from. This was one of them. The east end of downtown had taken a turn a while ago and continued to deteriorate. There were only a few reasons people came here, none of them good. Knowing Kenzie was inside had him on edge. What the fuck was she thinking?

  “What the hell is taking so long?”

  T turned from the window. His eyes had been trained on the alley, same as Bogs.

  “Fucking idiots, those two.” He was referring to Kenzie and Taylor, and Bogs couldn’t disagree. He shifted in his seat and reached for the door.

  “Gonna check with Trent, see if he’s heard anything from Declan.”

  T replied with a simple nod and aimed his attention back to the alley.

  They had parked on either end of the street. Fifteen minutes prior, Declan and Stone offered to go in and scope out the situation. They were still clueless as to why the two women had gone into the fight club in the first place. The tiny hairs standing up on the back of his neck were an indication the reason wasn’t anything good. Or legal.

  He shoved his hands in his pockets, his ball cap low over his eyes. They were doing their best not to draw attention. He passed by the entrance, casually glancing down the alley. It was empty. They knew the place well. They had actually staked it out a few years back to catch a jumper. They were aware that seemingly, this was the only exit and entrance. However, there was a bay door in the back. That was where the organizers arrived and left from. It was also gated, so there was no chance of watching the door from behind the building.

  The black Jeep came into his view, and the window rolled down. Bogs stood close to the open window. Trent peered up and shook his head.

  “I told you. Bat shit crazy this one.” It was a term he used often to describe Taylor. The usually calm and collected Trent seemed on edge himself.

  “Heard from Dec?”

  “Yeah, about five minutes ago. He was watching Taylor while Stone looked for the other one.”

  Kenzie. Bogs angled his back, stretching his tense muscles. Where the hell was she, and why would they split up? These two were more trouble than any other women they had followed. It was like Dumb and Dumber. He stared toward the alley, trying to relieve the intense desire to go in himself.

  She was just a girl, nothing to him, but there was an overwhelming need to find her. He had no vested interest in her. She was just a job, a favor for Trent and Declan. Still, there was something about her. A great smile and an amazing rack weren’t necessarily traits he’d risk his life for, but there was something about her.

  “How long we gonna give them?” They couldn’t wait all night.

  “As long as it takes.”

  “I could go in.”

  Trent looked up at him and cocked his eyebrow. “Think you could do a better job than your brother?”

  Bogs shrugged. “He’s not fucking Superman. Besides, he only saw her once. In a crowd as big as they got tonight, he might not see her.”

  “But you would be able to pick her out?”

  “Yeah.”

  Trent burst out laughing. “Oh fuck, man, please do not tell me you got a thing for the friend.”

  “What? You saw her, how could a man not get hard when he remembered that face?”

  “She’s as crazy as batshit, ya know.”

  Bogs smirked. “I like my women a little bit crazy, keeps me on my toes.”

  The phone rang, and Trent immediately answered. He didn’t even get a word out before Bogs could hear the person on the other line mumbling.

  “Fuck me.” Trent slammed his hand on the steering wheel. The next minute happened so fast, had he not taken the time to look up, he would have missed her.

  A tiny silhouette darted from the alley, straight into the street, without losing pace. Her ball cap fell off landing in the road. The lights from T’s truck were bright on her as she ran across the street.

  “They’re running.” Trent started the Jeep. Bogs pushed off the door and booked it down the sidewalk, following Kenzie. She was fast, but he was faster. Her feet hit the sidewalk about fifteen feet in front of him. He saw a shadow emerge from the truck, but so did she. She halte
d, spinning to her left, turning toward the park, down the hill on the side of the bridge.

  “Got her,” Bogs shouted to T.

  His heart raced fast as his feet pounded the concrete. He slid down the embankment from the moist grass. She was only ten feet away. Luckily for him, the hill slowed her down, and she lost momentum. The screeching tires in the background made him push harder. There was no way to tell if it was T or someone else chasing after her.

  She slowed and her head whipped to the side. The minute she caught sight of him, she took off again. Fortunately, her small hesitation was all he needed to catch up to her. He could hear her breathing frantically as he closed in on her. He reached out, grabbed a clump of her shirt, and pulled her back. Her arms waved, clocking him in the jaw.

  “Fuck.” The pain shot through his mouth up to his temple. His grip tightened, not about to let her get away. His other arm wrapped around her waist tugging hard against his chest. When she was secured, he released her shirt, covering her mouth with his hand. Her muffled screams were loud enough that someone close by would hear her. He needed to get her to calm down and keep quiet.

  “Not gonna hurt you.” He tightened his hand on her mouth and focused.

  The background voices and cars left no doubt in his mind. If Bogs hadn’t gotten to Kenzie when he did, someone else would have. He stepped back, scanning the tunnel, and burrowed in a dark alcove. She continued to struggle, but he didn’t relent. As he pressed his back to the concrete wall, he could feel tears drip down over his hand covering her mouth.

  The tears played as a reminder that this girl, who was way in over her head, was a lot more innocent than the situation called for. He bent his head down to whisper in her ear. Squirming ensued.

  “Shhh…calm down, Kenzie, I got ya.” She froze. He didn’t know if she recognized his voice, or was confused that he knew who she was. Either way, frozen was better than squirming. “I’m not gonna hurt you, but I can’t say the same for the others, so I need you to be still and keep quiet.”

  He kept his hand over her mouth, not trusting her not to scream out and put them both in danger by giving them away. Bogs looked up, listening for the voices. They seemed to be fading in the distance. But he knew better. He had been on quite a few chases. The best way to get a perp out of hiding was to give them a false sense of security. Keeping quiet and lying in wait had nabbed many jumpers in the past.

  He flinched at the unexpected touch to his bare arm clutched over her stomach. Her hands lay flat over his arm. He lightened the grip over her mouth but kept it covered while he leaned closer to her ear. It was the worst time for it, but he breathed in her scent. Cranberry and vanilla. Her soft hair tickled his nose. In order to keep her safe, he needed her to stay with him. He had to make it clear—he was her only option.

  “I need you to stay quiet, okay? You scream and draw them to us—you’re on your own. You don’t mean shit when my life is involved. As much as you’re a hot piece of ass, no chick is worth dying over. Ya got me?”

  She nodded against his hold. She completely bought into his lie. There was no way Bogs would bail on her, and although she starred in last’s night jerk-off fantasy, that had nothing to do with the current debacle. He wouldn’t forsake any woman to save his own ass.

  “All right, pretty girl, gonna take my hand away. Need you to keep your mouth shut.”

  She gasped against his hand as her body stiffened. He held her in place but felt her resistance as if she was trying to glance back at him. She nodded again, and he slowly lowered his hand to rest on her hip. A soft whimper echoed in the tunnel. He massaged her hip, tracing his fingers over her shirt. If they had been any place other than in a dark, dank tunnel and on the run, being this close would have sent him over the edge with need. But they were there, and in danger—he needed to stay focused. And above all else, keep her the fuck quiet.

  “Kenzie,” he whispered. “Baby, I know you’re scared and freaked out, but every sound you make brings them a step closer.” Her whimpers immediately subsided. Her body was shaking against his as if she were doing her best to remain silent.

  “Good girl. Now, I’m gonna get us out of here, but I need you to stay close to me, no matter what. If something happens, you need to hold onto me. Do not run. Okay, pretty girl?” His tone was soft as if he were talking to a child.

  He waited for some kind of response but got nothing until she turned and glanced up at him. Her tear streaked face was blotchy, her nose was bright red. Dark coloring streaked under her eyes, makeup from crying.

  Even in the dark, with swollen, bloodshot eyes, the green sparked. He lifted his hand and wiped away the moisture from her cheeks.

  The tremble in her voice was audible, even through her whisper. “I need to find Taylor.”

  Bogs nodded, although her friend was the least of his concerns, and should have been the least of hers as well.

  “We will, but we need to get outta here first.” He pulled his cell from his back pocket. “Gonna make a call.” He clicked on T’s contact number. It barely rang once.

  “Where the fuck are you?”

  “Under the bridge near the park.” He kept his voice low.

  “Fuck. Can’t get to you there, man.” Bogs heard rustling and cursing before Stone got on the line.

  “You okay?” This wasn’t the first time one of them had been in a dangerous position, but it had been a long time since he’d heard the worry in his brother’s tone. If Stone was concerned, this small problem had just gotten fucking huge.

  “Yeah. You? Dec?”

  “We’re good. Fucking bitch is crazy, trying to steal from the club. Nearly started a riot inside that place.”

  “Steal from the club?” Kenzie’s body tensed, and her fingers on his arm twitched.

  “Yeah, those two morons decided they were gonna lift cash from the fights. Trent’s mark was in the process when all hell broke loose. My guess, Kenzie was there to play decoy. By the way, your girl royally sucks at the part.”

  “Oh fuck.” Dante was not someone to be associated with or crossed. The Garrison brothers hadn’t dealt with him before, and up until now, there was never a need. They had their share of sketchy associates, but Dante went beyond the average thug. Illegal fights were just the tip of the activity men like Dante dipped their hands into. Drug dealing, murder for hire, the list went on…

  Stone snorted in disgust. “Yeah, now they got us linked to these two, and if we don’t find them before Dante’s crew, it’s over for them.”

  Bogs sighed. “I got Kenzie.”

  “You got her?”

  “Yeah. Look, meet me at the south end in five. I think there’s an exit. Park a hundred yards away. I’ll look for you.”

  “Got it. You call if you run into trouble, ya hear me, Bogs? No fucking hero shit.”

  Bogs laughed without a trace of humor. “Not looking to be a hero, man, just looking to be alive.”

  He clicked the phone and untangled Kenzie from his hold. She made it difficult, clinging onto him, but he managed to step away without releasing her hand tightly clasped in his. He inched forward, surveying their surroundings. He knew there’d be people in the park. Drug dealers, the homeless, and God only knew who else. He just needed to keep them from being seen by anyone paid off to inform.

  His arm was pulled back, and he stopped.

  “Is she okay?”

  Bogs rarely lost his temper, but her inquiry set him off. She was so concerned for her friend that got her into this damn mess. Where the hell was her self-preservation? Maybe at another time, he could appreciate, hell, he might even admire, her loyalty. Now was not that time.

  He leaned closer, and he could see the fear cross over her face. “You think she’s worried about you right now? She’s not. She’s too busy saving her own ass to worry about yours. Now, get your head straight. This shit storm just started, and if we don’t get outta here, I’m pretty fucking positive you’re not gonna like the end result.” He tugged her into him. Sh
e fell forward, and her small hand landed on his chest.

  “How about you show a little concern for the guy who is out here risking his life to save your ass?”

  Her mouth opened and closed twice. She looked stunned, which was almost comical. He would have laughed if not for the tears forming in her eyes. Ah, fuck me. He tightened his hold on her hand and rested his other over her back. If this wasn’t the most fucked up situation… He’d been hot for this girl for the past week. He finally got her in his arms, and she was a blubbering, sobbing, scared shitless mess.

  He caressed her back and felt her cheek lean against his chest. It struck him as odd how easily she fit into the curve of his body. Perfect.

  “I’m sorry,” she muttered.

  He didn’t say another word. What could he say? His hand moved over her back down to her waist. He felt the top edge of her phone in her back pocket. There was no way she would give it up if he asked. He had the feeling, given the first opportunity, she would reach out to Taylor. That couldn’t happen. He hugged her into his body and lowered his mouth to her ear.

  “Look at me.” As she shifted and glanced up, he took advantage of her moving and pinched the edge of her phone between his fingers and lifted it out of her pocket. “Stay with me, okay?”

  She nodded. The tight strain of her features was an indication she would do pretty much anything he said at this point. He smiled and gripped her hand. They slowly exited the tunnel. There wasn’t anyone around that he could see. If they cut straight through the center of the park, he’d be at the south end in minutes. Unfortunately, that would put them in the open. Instead, he stayed close to the bushes and trees outlining the park. The voices in the distance kept him on high alert. The last thing he needed was more surprises tonight. They passed a man sleeping on the bench. Bogs pulled Kenzie into his side, curving her under his arm, picking up the pace as they got close to the meeting spot. He spotted the black truck and shifted into the bushes pulling Kenzie with him. The iron fence separated them from their getaway.

  “I’m gonna lift you up. I need you to climb over.” He took her face in his hands. “Do not run, ya hear me?”