Melanie tried to hide her surprise. She knew Zane's mom was always sickly, although Melanie had always believed she had been more of a hypochondriac. She didn't realize she was doing drugs, as well as being addicted to pain pills. Melanie wondered if she died of a drug overdose.
Zane continued, "After they finally left me alone, things were okay. I kept my distance, and as long as I didn't try to interrupt their dealings, we didn't have any problems. Considering my mother was a buyer, they figured they were already getting money from me anyway.”
"Then the thing with Matthew happened. I did what I could to hide the fact that Nick had done it, but the cartel knew everything. When the little brother of the drug lord dies, there will always be payback. My friends in the cartel told me they were going after Nick and his family."
Melanie gasped. She never would have known how much danger they were in.
"Nick was the closest thing to a brother I would ever have, and Rex was like a father. I wanted to protect you all. My contacts told me when the hit was planned, and I knew I had to find a way to stop them."
Melanie tightened her grip on his hand, enthralled with the story he was telling.
"There was a competing drug lord in the next neighborhood. There was supposed to be an understanding between them to stay out of each other's territory. Dragon wanted that territory and knew if he could somehow get to their leader, Marco, he could take over and triple his income. I thought if I could give Dragon what he wanted, he might leave your family alone."
Melanie thought of Zane as a sixteen-year-old, trying to do such a scary and grown up task just to protect them. It was an unbelievable amount of pressure for someone so young. She lifted his hand up to kiss it as he continued the story.
"I found a way to get Marco and take him to Dragon." He didn't elaborate on how he got him, and Melanie didn't ask. "I went to Dragon to make the deal. I would give him Marco in exchange for sparing your family. At first, he thought I was making it up, but when he learned I had truly had taken Marco, he agreed, then added his own condition to the deal. Not only did I have to give him Marco, I had to work for him. Dragon recognized talent when he saw it, and considering a sixteen-year-old kid had kidnapped a drug lord, I was the type of asset Dragon wanted. He warned me that if I ever tried to leave, you three would be dead."
"I don't understand. I thought Dragon would want vengeance for his brother." Melanie still didn't understand why Dragon would let his brother's murderer get away just for another territory.
"Dragon knew that Matthew was reckless and he also knew that Matthew made the first move that day. Like I said, the cartel knows everything. He still wanted to retaliate, but he was also aware that he couldn't bring Matthew back and was gaining so much more this way. He let me know that if I ever tried to leave, Nick was his next hit."
"From that day, Dragon sent me after anyone that tried to run from the cartel. I did everything he told me to do, but I finally reached the point where I was done," Zane looked her in the eyes, "so he came after you."
This time Zane squeezed her hand. "I had been trying to keep you safe, but that night, you were unprotected. I'm so sorry you had to go through that. I never wanted you to be hurt."
"I'm fine, Zane. You saved me before anything happened." Melanie wanted to reassure him. He had spent the last decade keeping her family protected. She was alive today because of him.
"What about the money, Zane? Nick said that you were working for money. That doesn't make sense if Dragon was forcing you to work." Melanie wanted to know everything.
"Dragon had one of his men bring me the jobs in a package. The packages would have all the information about who I was supposed to find. After a while, he started putting money in the packages. I never spoke to Dragon directly, so I don't know why he started paying me. I was good; I always recovered the money. Maybe he wanted to ensure my loyalty. I don't know.”
"I used the money to maintain an ally within the cartel. I knew I would reach a point when it was time for me to quit, and that I had to have a plan to force Dragon to let me go." Zane took a deep breath and then continued, "I gave the rest of the money to those that needed help paying their debts to Dragon. As long as Dragon got all his money back, he usually left those people alone. If he didn't get it all back, he found ways to hurt them."
"After seeing his method of punishment, I began attempting to help them. Dragon never knew he was being paid back with some of his own money. There were some people that were too far in debt, though." Zane looked like he was lost in the past. "I couldn't help them all."
Melanie watched the darkness and guilt in his eyes. She reached over to hug him.
"Zane, you did what you could. Those people knew the consequences and chose to do it anyway. They were lucky you tried to help."
He just nodded his head. Melanie could only imagine what he had been through and what he had experienced in his life.
"It's finally over now. I wasn't the only one that wanted Dragon dead. The others in the cartel were too afraid to kill him and are glad he's gone. They released me."
"I'm sorry it took me so long to talk to you. I knew something wasn't adding up." Melanie took a deep breath.
Now for the part she was afraid to hear the answer to but had to bring up.
"There’s one last thing; what's going on with Faye?" Melanie held her breath. He had just told her what he had been through, yet before she could ask if he wanted to start over again, and do her best to bring some joy into his life, she had to know the truth.
"Nothing. The bitch snuck in the house and threw herself on the bed. When I came out of the bathroom and tried to pull her off the bed, she pulled me on top of her. I wasn't on her for more than two seconds." She could hear the frustration in Zane's voice and decided she believed him.
“She was really here for some money she had stashed away in an old vase. It was money she had put away from the set up."
Melanie decided to keep the fight between her and Faye quiet for now. She knew Faye wanted him back for herself, not just for the money. Zane would be impossible to replace and that was what Melanie was sure Faye had found out too late. She wasn’t about to make the same mistake.
"Oh, Zane, I'm so sorry about everything," Melanie whispered as she leaned in to kiss him. This time, he kissed her back.
The kiss quickly deepened and she felt the desire course through her body. She moaned and moved to straddle him. When he grabbed a handful of her hair as he thrust his tongue deeper into her mouth, she slid her hands under his t-shirt and felt the ripples of muscles under her fingertips.
She leaned back to pull his t-shirt over his head and looked down at his sexy body. She rubbed her hands across his chest, glancing up to see the passion in his eyes. They gazed into each other's eyes and no words were necessary to describe the emotions between them. He reached around to hold her as he stood up from the couch. She wrapped her arms and legs around him as he carried her down the hall into his bedroom.
He gently placed her on the bed and then bent down to pull her shoes off. He then stood up to take off the rest of her clothes, tossing them aside before reaching down to take his shorts and underwear off. As soon as he sprang free, she could see how hard he was.
As she looked up at him, she wanted to tell him how much she loved him, but they hadn't said those words yet. She knew it wouldn't be much longer before she said them out loud.
He leaned down to push her up on the pillows and then covered her with his hard body. She wrapped her legs around him as he kissed her along her jawline and up to her ear. She jumped when he licked his tongue across her, feeling her body shiver at his touch.
She ran her hands down his back and grasped his ass as he continued to kiss her slowly down her body. He gave her nipples equal attention, starting with one then moving to the other. She held his head to her breast while he massaged her other breast.
He then left a trail of kisses down her stomach as he worked his way to her clit, sliding a finger
inside of her as his tongue worked around her nub. She thrust her hips upwards and felt his finger slide deeper inside of her.
When she started to pant and moan even louder, he lifted up, covering her body with his own, and entered her with one smooth stroke. She looked up at him as he continued to slide slowly in and out of her. She started pulling him deeper inside. His dick was the perfect fit for her, and she realized she never wanted to be with anyone else again. She belonged with him.
He stayed inside her as he leaned in to kiss her as he made love to her. This was the closest she had ever felt to him while having sex. There was always so much passion and desire between them. They often both lost control of themselves during sex and usually went at it pretty hard. However, this was a softer side of sex that they hadn't yet experienced. She reached around him to hold him tightly as they moved slowly together.
Zane turned them over while keeping his dick inside of her, putting himself on his back and her on top. He grasped her hips and pushed her up and down on his cock. She got the hint and started riding him, moving up and down then rotating in little circles. She was pleased to hear him moan as she rode him. She started lifting herself higher and could hear the wetness with each slip. He thrust his dick upwards when she slid down him, enhancing the feeling inside of her.
He was so far inside of her that she started feeling herself lose control, riding him even harder. He grabbed her hips again and started pounding his dick up into her as she slammed down on him. She felt herself coming at the same time he began climaxing inside her.
She stayed on top of him a little longer, enjoying the feel of his warmth inside of her. He rubbed the top of her legs as they looked at each other.
"I love you, Zane." There, she’d finally said it. It was such a relief.
"I love you, too," he replied.
Melanie could see the truth of his words in his eyes. She knew she was the only one that would see this softer side of him, and that saying those words were significant for him. Zane wasn't one to put himself out there to be hurt.
She heaved a deep sigh of relief, and when he laughed at her reaction, she grabbed one of the pillows and pretended to smother him. He lay there and continued to laugh. She took the pillow off his face and put it next to him before pushing off him and lying down next to him, putting an arm and leg on top of him.
"By the way, you owe me two hundred fifty dollars," Zane told her.
"What the hell for?"
"For busting my tail light and for the ticket I got when I went after you that night."
Melanie burst out laughing. "You got a ticket?"
"Yeah. The cop even knew who I was and wished me good luck on my next fight, but he still gave me the fucking ticket."
"That's hilarious," Melanie giggled.
"You think that's funny, huh?"
Melanie continued to laugh as she nodded her head. Zane reached over and smacked her ass.
"Ouch!" Melanie whined, however she couldn't keep herself from laughing again.
Zane reached over to wipe the tears of laughter with his thumb.
"I'm glad you think it's so funny, but I'm going to have to find a way to get you back," Zane threatened her.
"I'm scared," Melanie mocked him.
"You should be," Zane growled as he climbed back on top of her.
Chapter 26
The morning before her fight with Macey, Melanie was going through some light drills with Zane when they heard the door open. The gym was closed for the day because Zane wanted to concentrate on giving Melanie some last minute pointers, so they weren’t expecting anyone.
When they looked toward the door, they saw Nick walking towards them with a determined expression. Melanie knew that look well. Nick was a fighter; he didn’t hide from confrontations, he sought them out. She looked at Zane for his reaction—his I-don’t-give-a-damn expression was already plastered across his face.
When Melanie had told Nick the whole story, he’d felt like shit. He had already been in a bad place with Matthew’s murder and knowing Zane had been covering his ass all these years was taking an even harder toll on him. She felt helpless because Nick was spiraling into a hole and she didn’t know how to pull him out. She wished Zane would accept his apology, but he hadn’t. Fucking men and their pride. She looked at Zane and pleaded with him with her eyes. He merely stared back at her and then turned to Nick.
They both stepped out of the ring and she went to sit at the front desk to give them some space, yet kept herself within hearing range in order to eavesdrop.
“Zane, when are you going to stop avoiding me? Dad told me you rescheduled your photo shoot promoting the fight so we wouldn’t run into each other. I know I fucked up. I’ve apologized twice already. What’s it going to take?” Nick snapped at him.
Melanie jumped at his harshness. He had an odd way of apologizing. She shook her head. Men.
“You’re a judgmental dick, Nicholas,” Zane growled back. “Just like your dad.”
“You never accepted Dad’s apology, so now you’re not going to accept mine?”
“I never accepted Rex’s apology because he never offered me one that he meant.” Zane stared at Nick, letting his words speak for themselves.
“You don’t think I mean my apology?” Nick stepped closer to Zane.
Melanie was watching their reflections in the mirror on the side wall. They were standing face to face, both about the same height with Nick being a little wider and his strength visible by the size of his muscles, whereas Zane had all the same muscles but in a slightly leaner physique. Oh, God, she dreaded their upcoming match.
“When I apologize to someone, I do it to their face, not on the phone like a fucking pussy. Get out of my face, Nick, or you’re going to end up on your ass,” Zane threatened, then contradicted his statement by taking a step closer. Now they were nose to nose. Melanie noticed both of their fists were clenched and wondered which one of them would throw the first punch.
“You think I’m a pussy?” Melanie had to put her hand over her mouth to keep from laughing at her brother’s look of disbelief.
“If the pants fit,” Zane taunted.
Nick reared his fist back to punch Zane, however Zane dodged and shoved Nick backwards. Nick took a few steps back, but didn’t fall on his ass. That didn’t stop Zane from lunging forward and throwing all of his weight against him. Now Nick was on his ass with Zane on top of him. He started to punch Nick, yet Nick was quick to turn to his side, causing Zane to graze Nick’s back instead of landing a punch in his face.
Melanie had to keep herself from laughing out loud as they rolled around on the floor. She could tell they weren’t really trying to hurt each other, but neither one of them wanted the other to have the upper hand.
As they rolled, both trying to get on top, she saw the pile of mitts and pads that had been haphazardly piled against the wall on a shelf. They continued to roll across the floor until they hit the wall and the pile of pads and mitts fell on top of them.
She couldn’t control herself any longer. She released the laughter she had been holding inside. Both men looked at her with scowls that would cause anyone else to run for the hills.
“I’m calling this one a tie,” she announced.
They both swiped the mitts off and stood up for another stare down. Good grief, they needed to grow the fuck up.
“Zane, you’re my best friend. No one else would have looked out for me like you. I’m sorry you’ve had to cover for me all these years. I wish I could find a way to pay you back.” Nick had dropped the attitude and she could hear the sincerity in his voice. “I should have known there was more to it.”
She saw Zane staring at Nick and wondered if he saw the darkness consuming Nick that she saw in him. As Nick reached his hand out to Zane, Zane put his hand out to shake it. She breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, things could go back to normal. Or at least, closer to normal. She still had to find a way to get Nick over his guilt.
She watched th
e tension leave their bodies and hopped off the stool.
“I’m glad you pussies finally straightened up. Now it’s time to make sure I kick ass tomorrow.” Melanie grinned at them both when they started scowling at her again.
Nick finally cracked a smile. “I know you’re in good hands. I’ll leave you to it and see you tomorrow, sis.”
“Okay.” Melanie smiled at him as he left the gym.
She turned to Zane. “Thank you, Zane. I know that wasn’t easy.”
“Actually it was. Nick’s like a brother to me.” He sighed, still looking out the door Nick had just gone through. “I don’t want to scare you, Melanie, but he has some scary shit going down in his head right now.”
“I know.” Melanie looked out the plate glass window, watching her brother get into his expensive car and pull out of the lot. The expression on his face had her realizing her carefree brother was gone forever. She had lost him.
“Let’s get back to work,” Zane said, drawing her attention. She nodded her head, and they walked back to the ring.
First things first, she had to concentrate on the only battle she could win tonight. The fight to get the brother back she loved was going to take much longer, and she wasn’t so sure she was going to win that one.
* * *
Melanie stood at the top of the ramp. The lights had been dimmed and she could hear the crowd cheering. For the first time in her life, she was in the fight of the night, the one the fans had been waiting for—the championship bout.
She watched the spotlight flash throughout the crowd before being directed her way. She started to walk down the ramp towards the cage, hoping she didn’t start the night off tripping; it was so fucking dark. They could have at least put additional lighting along the ramp so she could see where she was walking.
She glanced to her right to see Zane walking beside her, looking ahead. His presence helped calm her nerves. He wouldn’t let anything happen to her—he had been taking care of her for years.
As they approached the cage, she saw the opening for her to enter inside and prepared herself for the introduction. She knew the crowd wanted to see some excitement from her, so she put her game face on, gave Zane’s arm a quick squeeze, then climbed in.
Stand Of Honor Page 18