Fight for Me: The Complete Collection

by Jackson, A. L.

The suspicion that whatever was going on with Nikki had everything to do with this girl.

  With that little kid.

  Like my spirit just got that Nikki was desperate to stand up and protect both of them the way I would protect her.

  Fully.

  Wholly.

  Without question or fear or any consideration to the consequence.

  Because that’s what it came down to.

  I wanted to protect Nikki. Keep her safe. Not because I wanted a second chance at saving someone.

  But because it was the only thing I had left to offer.

  An eye and an ear and a ruthless heart that wouldn’t think twice about striking down anyone who thought to fuck with her.

  And whatever was happening at that table?

  That unease climbed my spirit. Clawed and expanded.

  Fury flamed. Licks of agitation. Stirs of anxiety.

  “Uncle Ollie, Uncle Ollie!” Frankie tugged at my shirt. “Isn’t that right?”

  Damn it. I didn’t have a clue what she’d even said.

  “That’s right, sweetheart,” I mumbled under my breath.

  Rex cocked a brow. Gave me a look that said really?

  Who knew what I’d agreed to. Probably had told her the world was made of cotton candy. For her? I’d give anything to make that statement true. Sunshine and rainbows and everything sweet.

  I rocked in the hard booth, rubbed my fingertips over my lips, trying to sit still.

  Nope.

  Couldn’t do it.

  “Give me a minute,” I told the guys.

  No one really even responded when I pushed out of the booth and stalked across the small parlor.

  Coming to a stop at the edge of their table, I glowered, hands in fists as I stared at Nikki, who still clutched the girl’s hand as she frantically whispered something to her.

  My guts that were screaming cried out.

  Nikki, what are you doing? What exactly have you gotten yourself into?

  Reckless girl.

  Because the girl across from her, who was little more than a child, all out shook when she jerked her attention my way and saw me standing there.

  Fear.

  So much fear.

  I recognized it, written all over her.

  When Nikki followed the girl’s attention and her eyes landed on me, it was horror I saw all over that perfect face. “Ollie,” she whispered through her shock.

  Those indigo eyes went round, and her teeth clamped down on her lower lip. Behind her, the sun streaked through the window, glowing around her head, circling her like one of those rainbows I’d just been talking about.

  Motherfucking sunshine.

  “Nikki,” I said, voice so hard it basically had to be pried off my tongue.

  Energy lashed, something alive and painful between us.

  “Give me a minute,” she asked me, repeating the exact thing I’d just told my crew.

  Both of us asking for time.

  But time was something we’d never had.

  None of it. Too much of it.

  Forever lost.

  I glanced at the girl and the little boy, who was still shoveling ice cream into his mouth, and scrubbed a hand over my face. “Yeah. Of course.”

  I stepped back.

  But I refused to walk away.

  13

  Nikki

  I remained locked in a stare with Ollie, my hand still clutching Brenna’s while I begged him with my eyes to give us space.

  Questions billowed from him as if they were written in the rough, choppy air, concern and this knowing kind of anger that twisted my belly with a rush of anxiety.

  My worry wasn’t for him or what he would think.

  It was fully for Brenna, the girl who was so completely terrified she was shaking and cowering in her seat as she wrapped a protective arm around her son’s waist.

  Ollie towered there. Appearing hard and intimidating.

  Menacing.

  A beast ready to charge.

  What she didn’t know was that, even though the man didn’t know her, he would go down in a blaze to protect her. He’d never lift a vicious hand toward her. Not ever.

  Or me.

  It was his gentle hand that put me in danger.

  Reluctantly, Ollie backed away. For a beat, my gaze followed him, my heart leaping into my throat when I spotted who he was there with, with those precious kids.

  This was the problem of living in a small city. Their idea of a fun outing for kids was basically mine, too, thinking this would be a great place to keep Kyle entertained while I talked with Brenna.

  I swiveled my attention back to her. “I’m sorry about that.”

  Her eyes warily followed the hulking man as he moved back through the little ice cream shop. “Who was that?” Her voice trembled.

  “One of my oldest friends. I grew up with him.” I gave her hand a squeeze. “He’s a good guy. A great guy, actually. You don’t need to be nervous.”

  Funny how it was too easy to sing Ollie’s praises because they were true. The man just came with all kinds of other warnings.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered, disgrace clouding her expression. She fiddled with a napkin on the table, looking away when she said, “God, I’m such a mess. I’m so sorry. I can’t believe I reacted that way. I think I’m losing my mind.”

  “You aren’t.”

  It was the vile asshole trying to make her think she was insane. Filling her head with lies, making her believe she was responsible for the way he treated her.

  She’d called me this morning, telling me Caleb had been bothering her again. Sending her texts. Demanding to see Kyle.

  I’d suggested we meet.

  I just needed to see her face-to-face.

  Needing the validation that she was really okay.

  I was sure Caleb was unstable.

  I hadn’t told her the information I’d shared with Seth, my suspicion that it was Caleb who’d broken into my apartment and had left the two notes.

  He’d advised I not. That I allow him to investigate a bit so we could find some proof to pin him to.

  And . . . he’d told me to stay close to Ollie.

  That was probably the hardest part of what he’d asked me to do.

  “I promise you’re not,” I told her. “You have absolutely nothing to be sorry about. Nothing to be ashamed about. Heck, I’m pretty sure grown men cower when they see Ollie coming their way.” I let the lightness weave into my tone, hoping it would allow her to relax.

  “He’s . . . big.”

  Light laughter filtered free. “Yeah, the man is a bear. A big ol’ teddy bear.”

  So maybe that was a tiny white lie.

  The man would tear someone to pieces with his teeth, but that side of him was not something she needed to worry about.

  “Is he . . .” I heard the suggestion in her question, the pink that touched her cheeks.

  Is he yours?

  I was sure there was no way she hadn’t sensed that intensity that blazed and burned between us. Heavy and fierce.

  Combustible.

  Ours was not a pretty sort of chemistry.

  I forced a smile. “No. We’re just friends.”

  She frowned as if she didn’t believe me. “Doesn’t seem that way to me, Miss Nikki.”

  Was that a tease?

  Her attention darted to the man I could still feel from behind me as if he was offering up proof.

  His presence overwhelming.

  A rush of heat thrashing at my back.

  No doubt, he was looking this way.

  I cleared my throat. “We’ve just known each other a long, long time. That’s all.”

  “I should probably head back to my momma’s.” She grabbed a wipe from the baby bag and began to wipe off Kyle’s face and hands.

  “No, Mommy. I eat ice cweam.” He grinned a chocolate smile.

  A soft jolt of affection escaped me. “Was it yummy?” I asked him.

  “Yummy, yummy, to
my tummy.”

  “Do you have a happy tummy?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Good, then my job is done here.”

  “You just invited me over to fill my boy with sugar, huh? Seems to me like maybe you should have to watch him run wild for the rest of the day.”

  I loved it when this side of Brenna came out. When she didn’t shrink behind her walls and the girl who wanted to be free peeked out from behind.

  “I’ll gladly watch him. Any time.”

  She sobered. “Thank you so much, Nikki. For everything.”

  Standing, she picked up Kyle and settled him on her hip. I slid out of the booth.

  “For being here for Kyle and me,” she mumbled as I stood with her.

  “You’re welcome.”

  I tickled Kyle’s neck, and he giggled, burying his face in the fall of her hair while still peeking out.

  Affection swelled in my chest.

  The little thing was so adorable.

  So sweet and innocent that it expanded that place inside me that somehow kept feeling more and more hollow. I wanted to take him into my arms, feel his weight, breathe him in.

  God.

  What was wrong with me?

  “See you soon, sweet thing,” I said, trying to keep my craziness in check.

  He wrapped his little arms around his mom’s neck and grinned.

  I shifted my attention to Brenna before leaning closer to her, my words a hushed whisper, “Remember . . . you are strong. You have control of your life. You have control of your body. You have the right.”

  Her head bobbed along, her lips barely moving as she repeated the support group’s mantra.

  I moved in and hugged her tight, my mouth at her ear. “Believe it.”

  Stepping back, she swiped a tear from her cheek. “I do. Thank you.”

  For a beat, she looked over my shoulder at the people I could feel staring at me. Giving me space while invading it all at the same time.

  I could hear Frankie Leigh jabbering the way she loved to do, and Rex and Kale added little things in. But it was Ollie’s silence that was most notable.

  “I’ll see you Tuesday night?” It was an affirmation and encouragement all in one.

  She had to make the commitment even if Caleb was making it hard for her.

  “I will . . . I promise.”

  “Okay, then. I’ll see you Tuesday, but if you need anything in the meantime, you know to call me. Don’t hesitate.”

  “I won’t.”

  A desperate sort of a plea wound its way into my tone. “Please . . . Be careful.”

  She blinked at me as if she were searching for the things I couldn’t say. “I will. I promise.”

  For a moment, we both stared at each other before I gave her an encouraging nod toward the door. “I’ll see you soon.”

  With a timid smile, she turned and made her way through the shop and out into the summer heat.

  I just stood there, hoping beyond hope that she would stay strong as she ducked her head and headed down the sidewalk.

  The whole time, I was contending with the shivers racing across my flesh.

  The awareness that slipped and sped.

  I ran my hands up my arms, trying to chase the overwhelming feeling away.

  Pinning on a smile, I shifted around and headed in the direction of my friends.

  Ollie had remained standing, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his massive chest, watching me as if I’d committed some sort of mortal sin.

  I did my best to ignore it, the tumble of nerves that worked through my body just at the sight of him standing there.

  So wickedly gorgeous.

  Jeans and a fitted tee.

  The man a wall of muscle.

  I turned toward the table. “What are you guys doing here?”

  Frankie Leigh squealed just as she was digging a big spoon into the ridiculous concoction she had in her sundae glass.

  “We’re eatin’ ice cream!”

  “Is that so?” A warm giggle slipped free.

  Frankie started to ramble, staring up at me while she spooned ice cream into her mouth, “I’ve been missin’ you, Auntie Nik! Where you been? Workin’ at Pepper’s Pies? Did you know my mommy made a brand-new kind of pie? Blueberry. I helped. I think I wanna name it Blueberry Blast. Will you write it on the chalkboard for me?”

  “Of course, I will,” I told her. “First thing Monday morning when I get back to work.”

  She grinned. “Did you know my daddy’s going to build you a big, big house? Do you think it’s going to be bigger than ours? Because my new house is so big . . . so high. But it’s not a skyscraper. Nope. It’s just two stories, but I have two stairs, one in the kitchen and one in the living room. My momma used to live there with Gramma Corinne. Did you know that?”

  Frankie rambled on as if what she’d just let on was no big thing. As if she didn’t have my entire being jarring back from the shock.

  My attention whipped to Rex. A guilty expression rode on his too-handsome face. “Excuse me, but what did your daughter just say?”

  Frankie sighed and lifted her voice. “I SAID, my daddy is gonna build you a new house.”

  A frown pulled across my brow, one I tipped in Rex’s direction. “That’s what I thought she said.”

  Rex scrubbed a hand over his face. “Not like that . . . was gonna talk to you about it once I had some more details.”

  My frown lifted. “More details? Sounds like there were plenty of details to me.”

  Kale laughed. “Don’t get those knickers all up in a twist, Nik Nik. Haven’t you ever heard not to look a gift horse in the mouth?”

  “You mean, punch a gift horse in the mouth?”

  He busted up laughing. “Feisty.”

  Not feisty.

  Angry.

  They didn’t get to go making decisions for me.

  I should have known Rynna was gonna say something to him. I knew she meant well, but that didn’t mean it didn’t make me feel as if they all thought I was helpless.

  I turned back to Rex. “We’re going to talk about this.”

  “I figured we would.”

  “Nothing to talk about.” The husky voice hit me from behind.

  Shivers raced, and I bit back the irritation that wanted to fly from my tongue. The rest of my friends were just worried about me, even if they were sticking their noses in my business where it didn’t belong.

  But Ollie . . .

  I knew Ollie would be a whole different issue.

  I tucked the conversation away for later and pasted on a grin, doing my best to change the subject, the direction of their thoughts so I could figure out a way to get out of there with the least bit of attention aimed at me.

  “So, what’s with all the hotties at the ice-cream shop with their kids? Breaking a million hearts just by being here. You guys are nothing but a danger to society.”

  Kale laughed. “Danger to society?”

  “Um, yes.” I gestured with my chin across the shop to the three women sitting together with their kids.

  “The only thing left of those poor women over there is a puddle of drool and a mess of wet panties. It’s a sad, sad state of affairs.”

  “Panties?” Frankie’s nose was all scrunched up in confusion.

  She was getting way too clever for her own good. I was going to have to watch that.

  “Oh, I was just joking,” I told her. “Your daddy and your uncles are just so good-looking, they break hearts without having to say a single word. Good thing your daddy only has eyes for your mommy.”

  Evan grabbed the notepad sitting in front of his dad and scribbled across it.

  My chest squeezed.

  Painful, perfect affection.

  My daddy doesn’t break hearts. He fixes them.

  This kid.

  “Of course, your daddy fixes hearts,” I told him, wishing I could sign it because it meant so much, Evan’s heart now beating strong because Kale had saved hi
m almost two years ago. I could never quite imagine what kind of bond that might forge.

  Unshakeable.

  At least that I knew.

  “Because your daddy is the best.”

  A rumble of something echoed from Kale’s chest. “All right, all right, no need to get carried away. We already know I’m awesome.”

  “Ish,” I told him.

  Couldn’t let it all go to his head.

  He winked at me.

  I took a step away, ready to bolt, to get away from the energy that crawled over me from behind. “Well, it was so nice to see you all. Hopefully we can get together soon. I’ve been missing my little pumpkins. I need some Auntie Nik time.”

  “Yeah.” Chills flashed with the single word. With the rough caress of Ollie’s voice. “I was just heading out, too. I’ll follow you back to my place.”

  “I walked,” shot from my mouth. If Caleb was keeping tabs on my car? The last thing I wanted was it sitting out front for him to see when I was inside with Brenna.

  “Then I’ll give you a lift.”

  My head whipped that way. “I don’t think that’s necessary.”

  He stuffed his big hands in his pockets. “Well, I think it is.”

  I could argue with him right there in front of everyone. What good would it do? It would just prolong the inevitable. But at least that would have bought me some time to figure out what to say.

  I said my goodbyes, and Ollie said his. Frankie jumped into his arms and gave him a big hug, peppering his bearded face with little girl kisses that he didn’t seem to know how to take yet reveled in at the same time.

  The man a twisted dichotomy.

  Ollie headed toward the door, and I followed.

  Chained to him in some profound, inexplicable way.

  Because honestly, I owed him no explanation. But there I was, following right behind him as if I didn’t have a choice.

  Bound by these zaps of awareness.

  Electricity tapped.

  Both of us feeding off the other until it became so big we were consumed by it.

  We ducked out into the blazing heat. Instantly, we were washed in the overpowering scent of honeysuckle and blazing stars, the air so thick it was almost sweet as it slicked our skin in humidity.

  The burly, overbearing man strode for his truck, which was parked at the curb. He opened the passenger door and held it open for me.