“In that case, start praying because today you start strength training. It’s pretty simple actually. One hundred push-ups and once you’re done; you’re free to go. I’m sure you have visitors today.”
He smiled his celebrity smile at me.
My stomach churned thinking about seeing Ocean again. If he even came.
“Santi come on,” I begged. “I’m not ready for that yet; I can barely hold a pen for four minutes at a time in my left hand.”
“You’re not supposed to Livie you’re right handed.”
“Smartass! You know what I mean.”
He breathed out heavily through this nose. “Look, you are going to do one hundred push-ups and that’s the end of it. Warm up as best as you can so we can get started.”
He must have had one hell of a night because usually he was amped and ready to work. When he yawned, stretching his arms over his head I saw light scratch marks along his lower abs. I couldn’t help but tease.
“So that’s why you’re so tired this morning. Pet cat or a girl you picked up?”
He looked down to his stomach and lifted his shirt to see the claw marks and of course, his mischievous smile came back. “How about a cat woman?”
“Gross, come on let’s get this over with! Por dios!”
****
Three hours later, I finished my one fucking hundred push-ups. I was sweating as if I was running from the cops for robbing a freaking bank. My arms still shook from the strain of supporting my own weight and my shoulder was killing me. It was embarrassing that I could not even hold myself up right with both hands down on the mat in front of me.
Santi had to use a resistance band that he snuck under my stomach to pull me up and let me down slowly.
He high fived me and told me I did great but I sent him to hell verbally and walked out of the gym. That was such bullshit; he knew I wasn’t ready for that. Now I would have to do ice and heat treatments just to relieve the ache and trembling of my fingers.
When I got to my room, Garfield was walking down the opposite end of the hallway. When he didn’t see me, I ducked into an open doorway to watch him. He stopped at our room peeking through the glass panel on the side of the door. Looking behind him and to the sides, he opened the door and walked in.
Shit!
Was Dulce in there? It was 2:15 p.m. and she was usually getting ready to help out in the kitchen. The girl loved being around food. Eating it, cooking it, drooling over it, you name it she was there!
I high tailed it, jogging as fast as my leg would allow and not bothering to knock, twisted the knob pushing open the door.
What I saw made heat roll off me in overwhelming waves. Pinned to the wall was Dulce, by the throat. When he turned to look at me, he let her go and she fell to the ground.
I looked them both over, making sure he didn’t have anything on him and she was still fully clothed. Thank god she was.
I kicked the door shut behind me forgetting all about the pain in my hand, arm, and shoulder. “What the fuck was that?! Who the hell do you think you are?!”
When he didn’t answer I stepped closer.
“Hello?! Earth to asshole! Who the fuck do you think you are just walking into our room when you want and putting your hands on her like that?”
He straightened his long polo shirt while staring me down. “Just mind your business. This is between me and Dulce, not you or your damn hound dogs.”
I closed the distance reaching out and punched him with my right jab in the face. My left jab would have been better, but this still did the trick.
His top lip split and the sight of blood on his face by my fist gave me a high. A high that was short lived when he grabbed my good arm squeezing it like he was trying to dismember my elbow from my forearm.
I winced as he increased his grip. “What the hell?!” I gritted through my teeth as he shoved me aside towards my side of the room.
He made his way towards the door turning to smile at Dulce, who was laying on the floor with her hands around her neck and eyes squeezed shut.
As I slowly walked over to Dulce, I rubbed my arm which was starting to turn a deep blue already with a bruise.
Damn it, wonder how long it will take Ocean or Law to see it?
Chapter Thirty-One
Ocean
I woke with a vibrating sensation on my face. I grimaced as I opened my eyes. My head was on the verge of splitting in half and my nose burned something wicked. I rubbed at my nose, wrinkling it up and down with my face muscles trying to figure out what happened. The recognition of how I felt after I sniffed coke hit my jumbled brain.
I opened my eyes wider ignoring the burn, searching around the unfamiliar room. I was definitely in a hotel. I could tell by the stuffiness in the air and the thick white comforter with matching plain sheets.
“Good morning baby.” A raspy voice startled the shit out of me as I jumped up, stumbling off the bed.
From underneath the covers two girls popped out, a brunette and a blonde.
No! No! No!
The brunette grinned at me and I followed her eyes down my chest then to my dick. Thank god I wasn’t hard but I wasn’t completely soft either. I mean…I was big either way, not to be cocky but I was.
“Don’t act shy now.” She teased.
I wanted to smack that grin off her cross-eyed face. The girl was pretty and so was the blonde, but they were nothing I would date. They weren’t Livie. The pulse of a vibrating phone sounded again. The brunette reached under the pillow and fished out my phone.
“Too scared to answer your phone tiger?” I rolled my eyes at her, leaning forward snatching my phone out of her hand.
Looking at the home screen there were six missed calls from Law. When I saw the date on the phone, I knew why he was blowing me up. It was three in the afternoon and it was Sunday.
Liv! Fuck!
I didn’t bother to call him back. I didn’t need the father figure lecture from him right now.
I bent down picking up my clothes, socks and shoes from the floor when I froze in place. On the floor was my credit card lined with coke and a small glass vial with left over coke in it. I stood up fast facing the girls who were watching me like I was a damn science project.
“Whose blow is that?”
“Yours big daddy. You bought it at the club before you snatched us up to share. A little disappointed when you preferred we do each other instead of you, but the blow made it so worth the while.”
The blonde was talking and I wanted to slam my fist into her pretty face for being so dumb. I wanted to punch myself too for being even dumber.
“Did I pay for the room?”
“Yeah…cash.” They both answered together.
“I’m hitting the shower ALONE then getting the fuck out of here. Don’t call me or look me up.” I opened my wallet and tossed what looked like five one hundred dollar bills at them.
Greedily, they snatched it up.
“When I come out I want you two gone. Got it?”
They giggled to each other as they scrambled to put their dresses back on.
I turned, running into the bathroom and slamming the door. I took a quick peek in the mirror to make sure I looked intact. All was good, except for two pink hickies on each side of my damn neck.
Awe fuck, my baby is going to flip out on me!
I turned on the shower, stepping into ice-cold water. I couldn’t remember when the last time I called her my baby was and I was going to show up with two fucking hickies after not seeing her for two days or returning her text messages.
ASSHOLE!
****
Livie
Dulce and I sat at one of the many picnic benches outside in the visiting courtyard. Most of the residents were outside today. I guess it was a privilege to have this free time with minimal to no supervision and just about everyone was taking it.
After I cleaned up Dulce’s brain and heart off the floor, we both showered and got dressed to come outside. That w
as after I threatened her to go to Marion and telling Law about the show down if she didn’t spill it and tell me what the hell was going on.
I had to promise her my first born that I wouldn’t tell a soul, not even Law or Ocean under any circumstance. It was horrible what they did to her and I vowed silently to myself it wouldn’t happen again and that Oscar would never touch her again.
I was tired of people having to come and rescue me all the time. It was my turn to start returning the favors and the two high priorities in my life were Ocean and Dulce; of course after learning her story.
“Damn, I know it’s hot but you two dressed like that are making this bitch of a heat wave even hotter.”
I turned to see Law looking refreshed and happy to be here. I jumped up, skipping into his arms before I’d even realized I got up in the first place.
As he caught me in the air, he started swinging me around like a little kid and I laughed and giggled like one.
“Hey beautiful,” He said, kissing my forehead and cheeks. “Looking good Sunshine. I’ve missed you.” He gave me another tight hug before setting me down.
I moved to turn around but he grabbed my hand bringing my arm to his face nearly lifting me off the ground.
“Come on, Law.” I hissed from the angle he had my shoulder in.
“Please tell me you were playing some type of contact sport with Blue because if I have to start integrating the assholes around here it’s not going to be pretty. They’ll all be admitted to this fucking place for physical therapy if anyone touched you Sunshine. What happened?”
He let my arm go and stepped closer staring down at me.
“Relax Law, I am in PT you know. I had to do one hundred miserable push-ups this morning and I can’t even hold a snickers bar in my left hand to save my life. So relax. I probably bruised it this morning.”
I never faltered in my stare back at him, hoping he’d buy it. He looked around the courtyard before taking in a deep breath and backing up.
“I don’t believe you, especially if that’s the story you want to go with right now. You suck at telling lies Sunshine. I’ll play along but you will tell me the truth.” He leaned forward, kissing my forehead roughly this time as he passed me making his way to Dulce.
He really was going to be a great father one day. Nothing got past him. He had a built in bullshit radar and I hated it right now because if Law knew then Ocean would know just as fast too.
I looked around, wondering where Ocean was at that moment. Maybe he was parking or talking to Marion.
Or Livie, he could possibly be home or somewhere else.
I gave up on my search for Ocean so I did not ruin my somewhat of a good mood now that Law was here. I made my way over to our table.
I took a seat next to Law’s leg since he was sitting on the tabletop with his feet on the bench part leaned over with his elbows on his knees.
He was dressed casually with some kick ass customized chucks. His pants were a grey jean wash color while his tight and body-molding t-shirt was bright yellow with crazy grey lettering on the front. His muscles were so defined he looked perfect, almost as perfect as Oc…
“Hey baby, sorry I’m late.”
The deep husky yet smooth voice rocked my body as I sat leaning against Law’s leg. I felt the air being sucked out of me knowing that he was behind me. Law and Dulce turned to face him and instantly I saw their mouths drop open.
Okay…that was either a good thing or a sign I should just fall over and die because what I was about to see was going to kill either him or me.
I stood up slowly using Law’s leg as my support system. Keeping my eyes on the ground, not wanting to see what they saw right away, I turned letting go of Law. I walked my way around the bench counting in my head trying not to fall over from my crazy nerves.
When my eyes found a pair of shiny black and red Jordan’s, I knew I’d found my prize or possibly my doom. Slowly, I moved my eyes up his body starting from his shoes, up to his red faded designer jeans, then to his tight and fitted black t-shirt. I took my time, letting my eyes roam all over his flat stomach, tight arms and chest.
My glory was short lived when my eyes got to his neck. Not one, but TWO huge pink ugly and not from me hickies were nestled deep on the base of his neck. My eyes locked with his immediately and he looked terrified.
Damn right!
He nervously held out his arms to me, trying to come in for a hug.
I looked up at his face again and frowned.
“Hi Ocean.” I said as I turned around, shuffling myself back to my seat next to Law’s leg.
This time I didn’t just sit next to him. I was practically hugging onto his leg for dear life.
How dare Ocean show up here with two hickies on his neck? My NECK!
After only two days of not seeing each other or returning not one goddamn text message of mine?! Who the hell did he really think he was?!
He was fine yes, the man I loved yes, and the man who held my heart, body, and soul in the palms of his hands, fucking CHECK YES TO ALL OF THE ABOVE!
I saw Law turn to look back at him, shaking his head as he slid down from sitting on the top of the table. Sitting next to me, he wrapped his arm around my shoulders pulling me into him. He did the same thing to Dulce and she reached across his lap and patted me on the leg.
“Sorry.” I heard her whisper.
Taking a few minutes to compose myself, I slowed my breathing trying to erase what I’d just seen from my memory.
I turned to Dulce and Law, “My arm’s hurting so I’m going to run in and get my brace.”
“Careful.” Dulce said to me drawing a curious stare and raised eyebrow from Law.
Shit, like I needed him to hear that. I stood up giving his knee two quick pats and turned to my right, away from where Ocean was still standing. Alone. Where his ass deserved to be.
I passed the bench and then him as I passed another picnic table. I heard footsteps close behind me soon after.
“Can I come with you?” Ocean never sounded so unsure of himself and right now he sounded as if he were on another planet.
“Whatever.” I said as I continued to walk.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Ocean
It was killing me that Liv couldn’t even look me in the face after the initial shock. If it were me who saw shameful marks on her neck I probably would fuck her until she told me who did it and then afterwards, be convicted of manslaughter for killing the son of a bitch.
It was better than not showing up though. At least, that’s what I kept telling myself on the way here. I really did want to see her and spend time with her. Yeah the past two days were a blur because I’d been out drinking and partying with god knows who but I still missed her.
I watched her from behind as we made our way to her room. Her hair had grown a lot since the last I remembered her wearing it down like that. The ends of her hair sat right above her ass. I felt myself reaching out to touch her silky hair but pulled back shoving my hands in my pockets.
Those damn shorts she wore were evil. Every curve her body had was on display for the world to see and the purple spaghetti strap top she had on hid nothing because her tits were sitting up high, perfectly rounded drawing attention to her tiny waist, thick hips and flat stomach. Then there was that phat ass I wanted to grind my dick against.
Her short naturally tanned and powerful legs were haunting me with images of them parked over my shoulder as I dived into her.
“Watch it!”
“Oh. Sorry baby.” I was staring at her body so hard I didn’t notice her stopping and ran into her back.
She was tight and tense all over courtesy of Ocean Hawthorne. She most likely would never let me touch her again and I truly deserved that for what I did.
Deep down, I felt good that I didn’t actually sleep with the whores I woke up next too but a hickey was still a hickey.
She grabbed the doorknob hard, pushing the door open and letting it go as soon a
s she got through. It damn near slammed in my face.
I looked around her room as she angrily tossed and turned her things over in her small closet and on her bed, pissed off at my existence.
The room was cute and cozy. The light purple wall and trim made it feel homey instead of cold and cut off from the world like one would expect it to be.
I saw her wrist brace peeking from underneath her pillow as she continued to toss everything she could get her hands on. Walking over to her, I placed my hand on her lower back as I brushed by her leaning forward to grab the brace.
“Found it.” I said, holding it in front of her at my full arm’s length.
She reached out to grab it but I raised my arm higher. She huffed out loud standing on her tiptoes trying to reach it. When her ass rubbed on the zipper of my jeans my already all too aware dick jerked towards her and she froze.
In a whisper she said. “Just give it to me.”
“What a choice of words baby. What exactly do you want me to give?”
She shoved her healthy elbow into my sides, sneaking past me to stand across the room. “Give me my wrist brace Ocean. NOW!”
I was about to say something that would probably result in her running over to smack me for my boldness but the bruise on her arm that looked like a thumbprint changed my focus. She saw me zoning in on it and tried covering it with her other hand.
“Too late!” I roared, storming over to her blocking the door; her only exit.
When I got to her, I backed her right into the wall. With both my arms on either side of her head I asked her. “Who did it?”
Staring at my neck, she sucked her teeth.
“If I ask you the same question would you really answer it?”
I slapped the wall with the palm of my hands, making her body jump. “We’re not talking about me, who did it? Baby, tell me who did it!”
She scoffed. “Oh. Now I’m your baby, right? You walk in here with two coin sized hickies on your neck from god knows who and you’re demanding to get answers out of me. Go back to the whores you were fucking last night, asshole.”
“I didn’t fuck anyone. They fucked themselves. Now tell me who did it.” I tried to ease up on the anger in my voice but I was beyond ready to rip the prick’s head off for touching her. That along with the coke that was still in my system was urging me to lose it.
Oceans Submerged: Book Two, the Oceans Series Page 12
