Fallon's Revenge (Fated Lives Series Book 4)

by Kelly Moore

  “Sounds like you chose the wrong person the first time.”

  “You met her. Don’t you remember?”

  “No, I’m sorry. I don’t recall.” He pushes me every time he sees me.

  “We’re happy with the way things are. No need to get married.”

  “Where’s Theo? He hasn’t been in my business lately.”

  “He and Fiona finally went on their honeymoon.”

  “Oh. That’s right, I remember him telling me that there was some mission we went on the day after he got married and they never made their honeymoon. Where did they go?”

  “Someplace in the Virgin Islands.”

  “Good for them.” I really am happy for the two of them. Fiona and Theo are going to be great parents, and they both deserve to be happy. Her life was stolen by Nina, and she’s been able to start over. Kind of a “fuck you” to Nina.

  “I’m going to leave the files with you in case you decide you want to try and help.” He places it on the coffee table.

  “I’ll look over it, but I’m not sure I’ll come up with anything helpful.”

  They both stand and walk to the front door. “I’ll be in touch tomorrow,” Thorn says.

  Lauryn leans in and kisses my cheek. “Be patient. I know it’s hard. It’ll be worth it in the long run,” she whispers.

  I skim over the file Thorn left behind, and it takes every ounce of my being not to call him and tell him where to search. I believe he knows because the owner has left an obvious path. He’s no Nina.

  My phone vibrates in my lap. Dinner’s ready. A text from Lawson.

  “Come on, boy,” I tell Bullet. “If the food is anything like last time, I’ll need you under the table to get rid of the evidence as to how bad it is.”

  As I walk out the front door with my cane, I lock it and feel a chill cover my spine. Bullet barks twice. I peer out on the shoreline, and there is a brunette woman with her hair blowing in the wind. I know instinctively who it is. She’s staring in my direction. I act as if I’m not paying any attention to her, but don’t take my eyes off her.

  Bullet barks again. His feet are bouncing off the ground.

  “Heel,” I say. “I know it’s her too.”

  She nonchalantly makes her way up the sandy area of the beach, closer to my house. I take the steps along the path to Lawson’s place.

  She stops a few feet from me and acts as if she’s picking up shells.

  “Nice evening,” I say, wanting to slit her throat. Bullet growls.

  “Beautiful dog.” She points, then turns her gaze to me. A smile covers her face. It’s the same smile she gave me not long after we met. She’s gorgeous on the outside, but she’s as hideous as the devil on the inside. Her body looks leaner and tanner than I remember.

  “Thanks.” I walk off the path down to her using my cane for support. “I’m Derrick,” I say, without sticking out my hand.

  “Nina,” she says. Her eyes are glued to mine, searching for any recognition.

  I won’t give her any. “Are you from around here? I ask because you don’t have a jacket on, and it can get rather cool in the evening.” She has on a lightweight floral dress. I’ve never seen her in anything other than business-type clothes.

  “No. I’m from Washington. Taking a little vacation.”

  That’s twice she’s told the truth. Her name, and where she’s from. I know she’s toying with me.

  “Well, it was nice to meet you, Nina from Washington.” I motion for Bullet to go back up the steps.

  “I know it may seem rather forward, but would you like to go grab a cup of coffee?”

  “I’m sorry. I can’t. I’m on my way to have dinner with some friends.”

  “Oh.” She levels a squint at me. “How did you injure your leg?”

  I stop walking, turning back around to look at her. “I was in an accident a couple of years ago.” You fucking bitch. You already know that.

  “How about another night?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Coffee?”

  I have to spend time with her. It’s the only way to Fallon. “Tomorrow morning. Where are you staying?”

  “I’ll meet you right back here. Say nine a.m.?”

  I force myself to smile at her. “Until tomorrow, Nina.”

  Chapter 10

  Fallon

  “Did you work out the details of what you’re going to do when I leave here?” I ask Sean as we eat our lunch on the porch of our cottage. Lily is taking a nap a few feet from us.

  “I have. Do you want to hear them?”

  “No.”

  Ember walks over to the table with a pitcher of water, refilling all our glasses. “How about you? Has your plan come together?”

  “My only plan is to find Nina before she gets her claws into Rebel.”

  “Do you really believe that’s where she is? Watching Rebel?” Ember sits beside Sean.

  “The timeline fits. Why else would she disappear? If she truly believes he’s lost his memory, she’ll think it’s her opportunity and only chance to get him back.”

  “And you think your brother would fake amnesia to the extent of which he’d cozy up to her?” She looks at Sean.

  “Yes. I know him well enough that he’d do anything to get Fallon back.”

  “His friend Theo didn’t seem to think he was faking it.”

  “That’s what Rebel wants them to think. If he can convince them, Nina will believe it too.” I take a bite out of my sandwich.

  “I don’t know. That would be pretty hard to pull off for all this time.”

  “You’ve never met my brother. When he wants something bad enough, he’ll find a way to get it.” Sean chuckles.

  “So, you think he faked the accident too?”

  “No. I think he used it to his advantage,” I respond.

  She fiddles with her fork. “What happens when you go back and find them together? If he wants to convince her, that’s what he’ll have to do.”

  “I don’t think he’d go that far.” I can feel my brows draw together, thinking about it.

  “He would,” Sean says, wiping his mouth with a napkin. “You need to prepare yourself for it.”

  He’s right. My stomach rolls with the thought of them together and his hands on her body. If he has his memory like I think he does, it will disgust him. It will take everything in him to be with her. “If that’s true, I’ll have to deal with it.”

  “Are you prepared to kill your sister?” Sean asks, touching my hand.

  “I’d rather see her behind bars, but it didn’t do much good last time.” I hang my head.

  “You didn’t answer my question?”

  “I don’t believe I’ll have to. Rebel will want his revenge against her.”

  “Are you going to be able to live with the fact that he’d kill your sister?”

  “She deserves nothing less. She’s only my sister in blood. I’m sorry for how her life turned out, and at the same time, I’m grateful she saved me from the same fate. I’ve had two years now to mull over it. I’d never be like her. I don’t believe it. I can’t believe it. She had a chance to be a good person after she grew up. She chose evil.”

  “She’s still your sister, and according to the stories Sean has recently filled me in on, you saved her from Rebel killing her. Not once, but twice,” Ember adds.

  “That was before Lily.” I glance over at my daughter lying with her soft pink blanket, curled up on the bed. “I won’t risk Nina getting her hands on her. As soon as she sees me, she’ll try to fulfill her promise of killing everyone I love.”

  “Are you going to let the Gunners know you’re headed back?” Sean asks.

  “Only Theo. Nina doesn’t know he calls me Hazel, so if she’s tracking his phone, she won’t know it’s me.”

  “You need to use a burner phone.”

  “I already have that covered. What about you? Are you closing the bar down tonight?”

  “No. I’ll wait a week. If Nina is wa
tching us instead of my brother, you don’t want her to see we’ve closed up shop.”

  “Good idea.” I gaze at Lily. “I hate leaving her.” My eyes fill with tears. “If things go bad, I’ll never see her again.”

  “Then you go back and kick ass. In the meantime, Sean and I will take good care of her.” Ember runs her hand down my arm, trying to comfort me.

  “I know in my heart I’m doing the right thing. It’s not fair to her to stay on the run. How would she ever have a life when she gets older? I’d never let her out of my sight.”

  “Then, you’ll make it work for her sake.”

  “I’ll die trying,” I whisper. I stand. “I need to make a phone call.” I grab one of the ten burner phones I purchased and punch in Theo’s number.

  “Hello,” Theo answers.

  “It’s Hazel.”

  “Hi, Aunt Hazel,” he says, to not let on in case Nina is listening.

  “It’s been a long time. I’m going to be in town and thought I’d come visit my favorite nephew.” I disguise my voice.

  “I’d love that. When can I pick you up from the airport?”

  “No need. I’ve got a couple of stops to make once I land.”

  “Be careful. Traffic can be brutal.” I know he’s warning me.

  “You know who else I want to see while I’m there?”

  “No, who?”

  “My sister. Have you seen or heard from her recently?”

  “Not in years.”

  “I heard she might be in town. Keep an eye out for her.”

  “Will do. Safe travels. I’ll see you when you get here.”

  I disconnect the call.

  Sean walks up beside me, keeping his voice low. “I’m still not sure any of this is a good idea. We don’t know that we’re right about my brother or Nina. This could all backfire in our faces. Are you sure you don’t want to reconsider and move somewhere else and start over?”

  “I’m sure. I’m tired of changing our lives when Nina scares us. I won’t live like that anymore. I refuse.” I grab my purse. “Will you watch Lily for an hour?”

  “Where are you going?”

  “To get in one last training session with Jacob. Then I want to come back and spend the rest of my time on this island with Lily.”

  I walk out, thinking about what was said.

  How will I take seeing Rebel with Nina?

  If I know he’s doing it for me, will it make it less painful?

  What if I’ve completely got it wrong and he’s really lost his memory?

  Would his heart know me?

  Wouldn’t he know how much he hates Nina?

  All the unanswered questions have me seething by the time I get to Jacob’s.

  “What’s got you all fire mad?” he asks the moment he sees me.

  “It shows, huh?”

  “That deep-seated scowl on your face gives you away.”

  “Nothing a good workout won’t cure.” That’s a complete lie. Nothing will cure what ails me until I find out the truth. “I need you to go over some of the fighting moves you taught me last week.”

  “You planning on fighting?” He juts out his chin.

  “You’ve taught me to always expect the unexpected. A woman can’t be too prepared.”

  “You know the moves. You kicked my ass with them last week.”

  “Still. Are you going to work with me or not?”

  “Whatever you say, doll.”

  Doll. I haven’t been called that in so long. “Don’t call me that.” My voice is stern yet soft.

  “Sorry.” He raises his hands in surrender.

  I blow out a puff of anger. “No, I’m sorry. It’s just that someone I loved very deeply used to call me that.”

  “It won’t happen again.” He squeezes my shoulder. “Go get changed. I’ll meet you on the mats.”

  I make my way to my locker and pull on a pair of leggings and a worn, oversized tank top that was Rebel’s. It’s one of the only things I have that belonged to him. It was tucked in between a few of my clothes I grabbed before I fled Portland on our wedding day. That seems like a lifetime ago. So much has changed, but not my love for him. Lily made that even stronger. She’s a precious gift he gave me, created from the love we shared. I have many regrets, but she is by no means one of them. I have to do this for her to have a chance to meet her father.

  I tape my hands up and join Jacob on the mats. He likes to work out to music, and it’s blaring over the speakers. “Ready?” he yells.

  I stretch a few times and take my position. It reminds me so much of my time in the ring with Rebel at Lawson’s place. I fell madly in love with him after that day. I hated him in the ring, but something about that day changed the way he looked at me. He let go of his hate for Nina to fall in love with me.

  A hard thud to the ground and Jacob looming over me has me gasping for air.

  “You’re distracted,” he says, looking down at me.

  When the wind is finally drawn back into my lungs, I yell, “shit!” and roll to my hands and knees.

  “I haven’t bested you like that in a long time. Where’s your head?”

  “I’ll fix it,” I say as I get off the mat, letting more oxygen back into my body. “Again.” I wave him toward me. This time, I’m focused. I duck and weave, getting in a few hard kicks of my own to Jacob’s chest. He stumbles backward but regains himself quickly. Not holding back, he attacks, and I defend myself as he’s taught me. The problem with him teaching me is he can predict my moves. He changes up his typical reaction and has me landing flat on my back again, but this time, he falls onto me. My head bounces off the mat, crashing our foreheads together.

  “Ouch!” I press my hand to the knot on my head.

  He removes my hand. When I open my eyes, he’s mere inches from me. Before I realize what he’s doing, his mouth crashes with mine.

  “You’re so beautiful,” he says against my lips.

  For a split second, I give into him, wishing it was Rebel. I’ve not been kissed in so long it should feel good, but it doesn’t. I place both my hands on his chest and push him off.

  “Stop.”

  He rolls off. “I’ve wanted to do that forever,” he says as he lies flat on his back.

  I sit on the floor next to him.

  “I’m sorry. I can’t.”

  He moves to his side to watch me. “Why? You’ve been here a year, and I’ve never seen you with anyone but Sean. You tell me you’re not in love with him. So what is it? Are you not attracted to me?” He looks so hurt.

  “You’re gorgeous and very sweet.”

  “But?” he asks.

  “I’ve only ever been in love with one man. I don’t think I’ll ever get over him. I don’t want to either.” A tear slides down my cheek.

  He sits cross-legged on the floor in front of me. “He’s not here. You’re a beautiful, sexy woman, and I’d be crazy not to want you.” He laughs. “He might be the crazy one for leaving you alone for so long.”

  “He didn’t leave me. I left him.”

  “I don’t understand.” He lifts my chin to look into my eyes. “If you loved him, why did you leave?”

  “It’s a really long, painful story. I did it to save him.”

  “I can’t picture you with a man that wasn’t capable of taking care of himself.”

  “He was more than capable. Everything that happened to him since the day we came together was my fault. Someone had a vendetta against me and took it out on him.” That’s the simplest way I know to explain it without going into great detail.

  “Ah, another woman,” he responds.

  “Yes. Not just any woman. An evil, narcissistic, power-hungry woman.”

  He stands. “I would’ve hunted you until the end of the earth.”

  I join him on my feet. “I’m sure he’s tried, but I’m good at hiding.”

  He steps up close to me. “You don’t have to hide from me, Fallon. I’m right here, wanting to love you.”

&nb
sp; It would be so easy to say yes to him.

  No more running.

  Being held by a man.

  Letting myself fall in love again.

  A father for Lily.

  Lily… Rebel.

  I shake my head frantically. “I can’t. I’m so sorry. You’ve been so good to me, and I’m grateful for our friendship. Any woman would be lucky to have you, but that woman isn’t me. I was made for one man and one man only.”

  He drops his hand that was on my arm. “So you plan on staying alone the rest of your life rather than letting anyone else in?”

  “Up until this week, I’d say yes.”

  “You’re leaving.” It’s not a question, rather a statement.

  I nod.

  “Are you coming back?”

  “Not if everything goes right.”

  “If it doesn’t, I’ll be here if you change your mind.”

  Chapter 11

  Rebel

  I’ve been a man of many things, but having good restraint has never been one of my better qualities until now. My instinct was to strike out at her. I won’t get what I’ve worked so hard for the past year if I give into it. I lost my career and have let down my men. When this is all over, I’ll have to fight to gain their respect again. I can still be a leader with a bum leg. I’ll never be in the field again. I’m okay with that as long as I have Fallon back.

  This will definitely be my hardest mission, sitting across from the person I hate most in this world.

  Making nice.

  Smiling.

  Flirting.

  Touching her.

  It’s unbearable to think about.

  Lawson greets me at the door, and Bullet rushes inside to see Honor. I gaze one more time toward the ocean, but she’s gone. Not really. She’s still out there. She’s made the first move, now it’s up to me to play the game. She’s good at them, but this time, I’ll be better at it than her. I have to be.

  “You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” Lawson says, following my gaze.

  “Just the wind blowing.” I brush him off.

  “Hi, Capt…Derrick.” Honor kisses my scarred cheek. “I’m sorry. It’s so hard to not think of you as our leader.”