Building Faith (Long Beach Series Book 2)

by Dani Matthews

  “That fucker's not getting anywhere near you,” he says harshly. I watch as he turns away and begins to curse profusely under his breath as he works out his anger over the news I'd just shared.

  I'm silent as I wait for him to calm down. Ace has never been temperamental around me, and this is a new side of him that I haven't seen. Justin used to take his anger out on me, not necessarily physically, but usually with brutal accusations. The kind that begin to chip away at one's self-esteem, leaving nothing left but an insecure shell. As I watch Ace struggle with his temper, I know that he'll never take his anger or a bad mood out on me. In fact, he's now on the opposite side of the room. It's as if he's trying not to further aggravate me while he tries to handle his temper.

  Movement comes from the hallway, and we both look up to see Jeremy standing in the doorway in just a pair of black briefs, his face slightly bewildered. “Something going on?” he asks as he frowns at both of us.

  “Go back to bed,” Ace orders in a voice that betrays his surly mood.

  Jeremy puts his hands up in surrender. “I didn't want to be a part of whatever this is anyway,” he mutters as he turns and disappears down the hall. A second later a door shuts firmly.

  Ace turns on me, his expression now accusing. “Why would you keep something like this from me? You should have told me a long time ago that some lunatic might be gunnin' for you.”

  I expected this. I knew he'd be upset, but the accusing look in his eyes cuts me deep. Instead of rushing over to beg his forgiveness like the old Faith would have, I take a moment to sort out my thoughts. The reality is, I shouldn't have to answer to anyone about any actions I take. I'm an adult now, and this is my life after all. I completely get Ace's anger, but the last thing I want or need is Caleb, Ace, and the others babysitting me or keeping me safely guarded under lock and key. I came here to live, and that's exactly what I've been doing. I love where life has taken me these past few months, and I refuse to cower anymore or give in to my fears.

  I fold my arms over my chest and face him, my gaze holding his. “I'm sorry, I really am. I felt bad keeping it from you, but since he wasn't in town, it was easy to move on and concentrate on all the things I wanted to do with my life. I knew there was a possibility that he might follow me, but I didn't want to dwell on it. Then, when Ben called with the news that Oliver had left Harrison, I decided to keep it to myself. The last thing I want or need is anyone babysitting me or trying to keep me from living my life for fear that Oliver might try something. I've let fear and uncertainty control my life for too long now, Ace. I'm done being the girl that always does what everyone wants her to do.”

  When he opens his mouth to interrupt, I put a hand up to warn him I'm not finished. “I'm not stupid; this is serious. I know it is. Which is why I'm no longer walking to work, and I'm taking the bus. I won't be going out alone anymore, I'll be sure to have someone with me at all times. I will protect myself to the best of my ability, because I love this life and I'm not giving it up. I had every intention of telling you, I just hadn't figured out how to approach the topic. We've had enough to deal with lately, and I didn't want to add Oliver to the mix,” I say sincerely as I watch his reaction.

  Much to my surprise, a proud smile flickers to life on Ace's lips. “I agree with every word that you just said.”

  “You do?” I ask as my eyebrows furrow. I was expecting him to argue.

  He walks over to me and brushes his thumb high up on my cheekbone where my freckles are scattered. His eyes are affectionate as he gazes down at me. “I've been watching you turn into the most beautiful and amazing woman these past few months. The girl you were when you first arrived tugged on my heart strings and made me want to find a way to put her back together again. I think I had a hand in who you've become since then, but most of it was all your own doing. I'm proud that you're not going to cower or hide. I'm proud that you want to take on the situation on your own.” His eyes turn very serious as he says, “But you know you can't protect yourself alone against this Oliver guy. You should also know that no matter how independent you get, I am still going to step in and help you when you need it, regardless of whether you ask for it or not. You and I are probably going to have plenty of arguments in the future over this, I look forward to it.”

  “You want to argue?” I ask, feeling completely baffled.

  He suddenly grins. “Arguments are usually followed up with hot make-up sex, right?”

  “I wouldn't know,” I laugh. Leave it to Ace to turn the conversation to sex.

  “I think we need to find out then,” he says as his hands slide down my hips and then he lifts me up so that my legs can wrap around his waist. I settle my arms around his shoulders and gaze up at him with a soft smile. “I love that even when we argue, I feel safe and secure. And that it's going to lead to amazing sex,” I add impishly.

  Ace stares down at me, his eyes intently searching mine. “You know I love you, right?”

  “You love me?” I whisper, completely stunned that he'd just put it out there like that. I figured it'd take Ace months to maybe even a year before he'd ever admit it to me.

  “Head over heels,” he confirms as his eyes gleam dangerously. “He's going to try to take you from me, but he'll have to go through me first.”

  “The police already know about the situation,” I say as I struggle with the topic change. On the outside I'm calm, but in the inside, I want to jump up and down like a little kid that just received the coolest gift ever. Ace loves me! Somehow, I manage to continue calmly, “Like I told Caleb when Ben first called to warn me about Oliver, if he wasn't concerned about witnesses, he would have already taken me out. Each time he's come after me, it's when I've been alone. As long as I'm not on my own, I'll be fine. And sooner or later he's going to screw up, and it'll give the police a reason to connect him with the incidents in Harrison.”

  “I need time to think about the situation. I just found out about it tonight, but tomorrow I want to start figuring out a better way to keep you safe,” he says simply as he turns and carries me towards the hallway and into his bedroom. One hand leaves my bottom as he flips on the light and shuts the door.

  A second later, I'm gently set down on a mattress—a mattress that's way too low to the ground. I sit up with bewilderment to look around. His bed is no longer in the room. All that's in its place is a box spring and mattress. “Where's your bed?”

  “I have no use for it anymore,” he tells me as he slips off his jeans. He eases onto the mattress and grabs the tie of my robe, pulling on it so it unravels and the robe falls apart.

  “Ace?”

  Instead of looking at my nude body, his eyes hold mine. “What?”

  “I love you, too.”

  His eyes light up for a heartbeat before they darken with a heat that sears my gaze. “I need you real bad right now. But when morning comes, shit's going to get real. You're going to respect my need to do everything I can to protect you and our relationship. That means I don't care who the fuck tries to get in my way, I'm going to annihilate them if they so much as try to harm you or try to turn you against me. You hear me, Faith? You're mine, and no one's taking you from me. No one,” he says fiercely before his eyes drop to my body with renewed determination.

  * * *

  I have to talk to Caleb.

  Before stepping out of my apartment and knocking on Zoey and Caleb’s apartment door, I quickly pull my hair up into a sloppy ponytail and slip on a pair of lounge pants and a tank.

  I had literally just left Ace's five minutes ago while he was still struggling to wake up. Today is going to be hard for him since he'd barely gotten any sleep last night. I feel guilty that I'd had the nightmare and things had gone down the way they had with Caleb, but I don't regret how the night ended. Ace loves me, and last night he'd made love to me slowly and thoroughly. He also did it in a way that he's never done before. We had sex missionary style without me being restrained, and it had been sweet and beautiful. I'd been careful not
to run my hands down his hips, and it'd been amazing to feel so close to him.

  The door before me opens, wiping my goofy smile off my face.

  Zoey stands there, her dark hair pulled up in a messy knot. I can tell she's been awake for a bit since her eyes are alert, but she's still dressed in an off-shoulder crop top and satin shorts. “Faith,” she says in surprise. I hear a muffled voice call something from within the apartment, and Zoey winces as she looks at me apologetically. “He's still mad. Can you come back another time?”

  “Can I come in, Zoey? I really need to talk to him,” I plead.

  She shrugs. “He's mad at me, too. It's not like he can get any madder.” She opens the door wide so I can step inside.

  It's still early, and I'm betting Caleb has a class he has to attend soon. I feel bad just dropping in like this, but I want to talk to him before he goes to the campus. Who knows what will happen if he comes across Ace. The last thing I want is for those two to get into it further—especially over me.

  I look around the kitchen and living room, but it's empty.

  “Bathroom,” Zoey murmurs to me before she heads for the kitchen.

  I hope I am doing the right thing. Ace has made it clear that he'll take on anyone and anything to keep me in his life. Well, it's time for me to fight for Ace as well. I won't allow Caleb to cut Ace out of his life.

  As I walk down the hallway, I pray that Caleb isn't naked or anything. Thankfully, the bathroom door is wide open, and I spy Caleb just finishing up shaving. The bathroom is still slightly steamy, and all he's wearing is a towel wrapped around his hips. He takes one look at me and grabs the hand towel off the counter, wiping the excess shaving cream off his face. “Faith, I need time to process last night,” he says calmly as he sets the towel down.

  I cross my arms over my chest and stay where I'm at in the doorway. “I'd give you that time if there wasn't a chance you'd see Ace on campus.”

  His blue eyes settle on mine and he frowns. “It's not like I'm going to attack him on sight.”

  “It's not fair of you to blame our relationship on Ace. I make up a part of it, too,” I point out.

  “I know you do,” he says with a sigh as he runs both his hands through his wet hair. He abruptly turns to face me, his eyes heavy with emotion. “But I was very clear to Ace not to make a move on you, and he did it behind my back anyway. Faith, he's all wrong for you. He's not going to give you what you need, he's going to take and take. And when he's done, he'll walk away,” he says darkly.

  I shake my head adamantly. “No, he won't. We went into this relationship with eyes wide open, Caleb. Ace is everything I've always wanted and more. I love him.”

  Caleb winces and his jaw tightens. “He's going to hurt you.”

  “He loves me.”

  “He thinks he loves you,” he corrects in a biting tone.

  “Caleb, he's not playing me,” I insist. “He really does love me. He also cares about you. When we made the decision to take our relationship to the next level, it wasn't easy. Especially for Ace. He knew you'd hold it against him, but in the end, he decided to take a chance on something real...with me. Would you begrudge him that?”

  He gives me a look. “You don't know him like I do. His attention span lasts about as long as it takes for the next woman to flash some leg or cleavage at him.”

  “I am fully aware of his past. I also know a lot more about him than you think I do. I see him for who he is, and he sees me. I won't choose between you two. I love Ace, and nothing you say or do will ever change that. You need to decide if you can support us or if you are going to turn your back on us,” I say simply, even though none of this is simple. But Caleb needs to see that I can't be swayed where my feelings are concerned for Ace.

  Caleb's lips tighten. “He's got you so damn blinded by all his bullshit.”

  Nothing I say is going to get through to him. I'm disappointed but not surprised. Ace had warned me that his past would be an issue. “I think you need to trust in my ability to know what's best for me, Caleb. I feel alive. I'm finally in control of my life.”

  “Has he tied you up yet?” Caleb asks abruptly, his body tensing as he waits for my answer.

  Damn it.

  I refuse to hide who Ace is. I am not ashamed of the man I love, and I am not ashamed of the parts of him that people think are messed up. I tilt my chin up slightly and meet his gaze, refusing to back down from the topic. “He has, and I enjoyed every single second of it. Furthermore, it was about trust, not all about control.”

  He shakes his head with disgust, anger flashing in his eyes. “If he really loved you, Faith, he wouldn't have ever tried it with you in the first place. Not with your past.”

  “Caleb, my past is my past!” I practically shout with frustration. “I am not that girl anymore. No one controls me!”

  “You just admitted he's tied you up during sex!” he shouts back, his hands waving slightly with his emotions. “Sounds to me like he's in control. He'll control everything you are, just like Justin. Ace is one hundred percent dominant, and you're going to lose yourself to whatever it is he wants from you,” he says bitterly. “When he's done and casts you aside, you're not going to know who you are anymore. You should have never come here, Faith.”

  I flinch, and my eyes well up with tears. “You're not being fair. He's your best friend, haven't you seen the good parts of him that I've seen?”

  His eyes hold mine. “I've seen plenty. He's a good friend to have when it comes to the same sex. Put a woman near him, and he'll use her for his needs until the next one comes along.”

  “Okay, you two. That's enough before you both say something you'll regret,” Zoey intervenes as she walks up and gently clasps a hand around my arm. “Time for you to go.”

  There's nothing more to say, and I'm silent as Zoey leads me out of the apartment. In the hall, she hugs me tightly to her, and I burst into frustrated tears.

  Chapter Thirty-five

  Ace

  I don't know what the fuck I'm going to do.

  Faith spent the night and then booked it out of here about fifteen minutes ago in hopes of talking with Caleb. I can only hope he goes light on her and saves his anger for me.

  “You going to eat that?” Jeremy asks, interrupting my thoughts.

  I glance at the fresh fruit I'd sliced up in the bowl that sits before me. I'd sat down at the island counter to eat since I don't have to attend morning practice at Veterans Stadium. On mornings I have to be present at practice, I skip breakfast and eat on campus before my first class. Today, I have time for breakfast, but I'm not the slightest bit hungry.

  “Go for it.” I push the bowl towards him.

  Jeremy takes the bowl and leans his hip on the other side of the counter, his brown eyes curious as he pops a banana slice in his mouth. “What's with you? I heard you and Faith going at it last night, which should have worked up an appetite.”

  “Everything's gone to shit.”

  Jeremy studies me. “Fill me in.”

  “You didn't hear Faith's scream last night?” I ask dryly.

  “She screamed?” Jeremy reaches up and scratches the side of his head. “Ah...no. I heard a few moans, but no screams. Sorry, man.”

  “I'm not referring to sex, dickhead. She had a brutal nightmare in her apartment last night, and Caleb used his spare key to barge in and check on her. I happened to be with her at the time,” I tell him, deciding to leave out the details.

  “Oh...shit. That's where you got the bruise from?”

  I stare at him. “How else did you think I got it?”

  Jeremy shrugs and plucks a grape from the bowl. “It was obvious you and Faith were fighting last night. I thought maybe she decked you or something. It wouldn't be the first time one of our girls have hit one of us. Remember when Zo punched Caleb after that party?” He shakes his head with disappointment. “I wish I'd been there that night,” he says before he pops the grape in his mouth.

  “Does Faith look like
the violent type to you?”

  “She could be.” He gives me a sly look. “Only you would know that, though. Sometimes those quiet ones are the ones that really go wild in bed.”

  “Enough about sex,” I say, shaking my head as I sober up. “Caleb knows about us, and he's pissed at me. I don't know how to fix the situation. Faith is over there trying to talk to him as we speak, but I doubt she'll get through to him where I'm concerned. There's also more,” I say darkly as I think of Faith's confession about this Oliver guy that's after her.

  “What else happened?” Jeremy asks with a frown.

  “You know Faith's past, right? About what her ex did to her?”

  He nods, his expression tightening. “Glad the motherfucker's rotting in prison.”

  “Yeah, well his brother's not. His brother is after Faith to make her pay for what happened.”

  Jeremy sets the bowl down abruptly. “What the hell are you talking about?”

  “There were some suspicious incidents in Harrison before Faith moved here. She was almost hit while biking, and she was actually run off the road once while she was driving her car. Different cars were used both times, but ironically enough, Justin's family owns a used car dealership. She says Oliver was pretty angry when Justin went to prison, and she thinks he's trying to exact revenge. Her parents sent her out here to get her away from him, but now this week he's shown up in Long Beach,” I explain tightly.

  “Do the police know this?”

  “Yes, but from what Faith said, they can't do much at this point. There's no proof it's Oliver, and she hasn't come face to face with him.”

  “What can I do to help? She need someone to walk her to work or anything? I'm game,” Jeremy says instantly.

  I'm pleased by his offer. I'd known he'd be willing to help, but it's always good when help is offered rather than having to be asked for. “She says she's taking the bus to and from work. He hasn't tried anything in public, which would be stupid on his part. I'm thinking she's good at work. But if I need you to watch over her when I can't, will you?”