by Rose, Lila
“You’re thinking of not telling me. I might be able to help.”
“You can’t help. I have to go.” I went for the door again. She slipped between me and it, crossing her arms over her chest. “Violet,” I growled out.
“Travis.”
“Fuck. It’s my ex. She’s at the house wanting to see Izzy, but I refuse to let her.”
She nodded. “Right. Let me get changed.”
“I don’t have time to wait.”
“That’s all right. I’ll meet you there.” She raced off towards her room.
“Violet,” I called. She turned at her doorway. “I don’t want you around the evil bitch.”
She laughed. “See you there.”
“Violet—”
“You need to go. So go.”
Frustrating woman. Still, I did have to go. Shit, this wasn’t going to be good.
Chapter Six
Violet
Since my phone was in my hand, I made a quick call, putting it on speaker while I changed. “Vi,” Warden said into the line. “Did you kill him?”
Laughing, I shook my head. “Not yet. Listen, I want you to do a search. Travis was married. I want you to find out everything you can on his ex.”
“On it,” he answered, and then hung up.
Dressed in jeans and a dark-blue blouse, I washed my face, tied my hair up, and slipped on my boots before rushing out of the house.
Wait… I paused on the front steps. Why was I rushing off to help Travis?
He’d tapped my phones.
My fucking phones.
Who did that to people? I didn’t know what to think. I hated it, yet a small part of me understood it. In his weird way, he was doing it to protect me. But I swore to all the Gods out there, if he thought of doing something stupid like that again, I would rip his balls off and shove them up his arse.
Where had the promise to myself gone to stay away from him? Yet, there I was walking swiftly—I wouldn’t call it running, just walking fast—to my car.
The fool confused me, muddled me, and it pissed me off.
One day. One goddamn day he was back in my life, and he was already in my head.
Yes, I’d known he was in Ballarat, but I never wanted to see him. Not since we were polar opposites in what we did in our jobs.
I slammed my hand onto the steering wheel as I drove down the road. Stupid man.
Why did he have to say I’d always been on his mind? How could I have been when he’d been married, had girlfriends? If that were the case, wouldn’t he have come back to Ballarat a long time ago?
My phone rang when I was close to Travis’s place. I pressed the button. “Warden.”
“Her name’s Kathleen Jaida. She’s twenty-seven, been in rehab for the third time around. Drug addict.” He paused. “Vi, Travis has a restraining order against her. She stabbed him when he was trying to protect their daughter. She was high at the time, and according to the report, she thought her daughter was the devil.”
My stomach churned, and I rubbed at my aching chest.
She tried to kill her daughter. Stabbed Travis. All because of drugs.
“Got it.”
“She gonna be a problem?”
“I don’t think so. I can take her in for going against her restraining order.”
“You’re going to her?”
“She’s at Travis’s trying to get in to see the daughter. I’m heading there now to see if I can help.”
“Want backup?”
“No. You know I got this.”
Warden chuckled. “Yeah, I do. Then, want backup for Travis?”
“What do you mean?” I demanded.
He laughed again. “Woman, he wants you.”
“He’s not getting me.”
“You got a past with him?”
“Yes. University days, but it doesn’t matter. He tapped my phones. He’s a pimp. He’s not for me any longer.”
Warden hummed under his breath.
“What?” I snapped.
“Nothin’, Vi. Good luck, and call if you need help.”
“I will. Later,” I said, then hung up as I pulled into Travis’s property. The gate was still open, so I drove through and saw Travis standing in his doorway. Another man, who was covered in tattoos—arms, neck, and no doubt body—stood outside the door and to the left of it. A woman, Kathleen I assumed, was up in Travis’s face, yelling, waving her arms around erratically.
Parking, I climbed out. Everyone paused to take me in as I made my way up to the front door.
“Who the fuck is this?” Kathleen screeched.
Stopping beside them with my hands on my hips, I looked up to the tall bitch and said, “Violet Marcus. Private investigator. It’s my understanding you’re in breach of a restraining order. If you’ll come with me calmly, I’ll take you to the station.”
I knew asking for calm wasn’t the best move since I hated it when people told me to be calm. Kathleen was the same. She came at me and pushed me back. “I’m not going anywhere until I see my daughter, bitch.”
“Ma’am—”
“Don’t fucking call me ma’am.” She went to push me again. I sidestepped her, and she stumbled forward, whirling to face me again.
“Fine. Kathleen, you can either leave right now and never return to this property, or I will take you in. I have the right to do so.”
“Fuck you,” she spat.
Sighing, I watched as she moved around me and got close to Travis. “Let me in to see Izzy, Travis.”
“For the final time, Kathleen, no,” he stated.
It was as if a switch flicked inside of her. She stepped closer, her expression softening, her body relaxing. Then her hand came out, and she managed to rub it down Travis’s body, heading towards his junk when I leaped forward, gripped her hand hard enough she yelped, and pulled her away from him.
“Do. Not. Touch. Him.” Realizing what I said, I quickly added, “Violation again against a restraining order.” I twisted her arm behind her back and glanced to Travis. “What do you want to happen?”
I felt like slapping that smirk off his face. He was probably pleased I stopped her groping him. I only did it because she was sick and twisted. She had no clue what her actions and words could do to a little girl who could be listening inside.
Travis’s face hardened when he looked to his ex. “Will you leave and never return?”
She didn’t say anything, so I pulled her arm back tighter. She cried out. “I’ll go.”
Turning her, I released her arm and pushed her forward. Crossing my arms over my chest, I raised my brows when she turned back. I waited. When she didn’t say anything, only glared, I gave her my back and faced Travis and the other silent man who stood with a huge grin on his face.
I listened to her footsteps, heard a car door open and then slam. It wasn’t until the car started and peeled out of the driveway that I said, “She’s going to be trouble again.”
Travis nodded. “I know.”
“Ring the police, tell them about this incident. I’m sure you have cameras, so show them the footage. You want this on record….” I paused. “Unless you don’t want her to go to jail.”
The other man snorted.
Travis’s upper lip raised. “I want her to rot.”
I nodded. “Okay then. Get this on record, and if she comes back again, call the police. They’ll arrest her.”
“I will.”
We stared at each other for a moment, but then a throat cleared.
Travis’s eyes narrowed on his friend. “Link, this is Violet. Violet, Link.”
Link’s hand came my way. I took it and shook. He grinned. “Nice to meet you finally, Violet.”
“Ah, yeah.” I nodded, glancing down to my hand when Link didn’t let go and kept shaking it.
“Good to see Travis has a good woman who’s not shy to take care of situations.”
My head whipped to Travis. He was already stepping up. His hand went over ours and I felt
the pressure. “Want to drop her hand, Link?”
He chuckled. “Sure.”
“What do you mean, woman?” I asked. “I’m not his woman. Did he tell you I was his woman?”
Link’s eyes widened. “Ah.” He coughed.
My gaze went to Travis. “Did you say I was your woman? One kiss, Travis, and I was in a panicked state. I told you nothing was going to happen between us.”
“Violet.” He smiled.
“Why are you smiling?” My jaw clenched.
“You came to help me. You stopped her from touching me.”
“So?” I screeched. God, I sounded like his ex. Breathing deeply, I pinched the bridge of my nose and nodded to myself. “I am going to end up killing you.”
Link laughed loudly. “Shit, I fuckin’ love her myself.”
“Link,” Travis barked low and grumbly.
“Daddy?”
“Izzy, honey, no,” a female called from inside.
I froze.
A little girl around five came running out the door and jumped. Travis turned in time to catch her. His face buried into her neck where he blew some raspberries.
Oh shit.
Fuck him. I would not defrost over the sight of him being sweet, cute, and yet all goddamn sexy at the same time.
He tapped my phones for God’s sake.
A woman stepped out, puffing, her hand on her chest. “Sorry, she got away from me.”
“That’s because she’s a monster.” Travis grinned.
“I am not, Daddy. I’m a princess.”
“Hmm, I’ll have to see about that. You know, princesses eat all their vegetables. Will you eat yours tonight?”
Cuteness overload. I had to get out of here.
Stepping back, hoping no one would notice me, I got one foot on the steps behind me when the woman looked at me. She smiled. I didn’t return it. I didn’t know who she was.
“I’ll try, Daddy,” Izzy replied, causing Travis to laugh. Then he reached out, hooked his arm around the woman and tugged her into his side, kissing her temple.
I clenched my fists and jaw. I took another step back, glaring at them. With a quick glance to Link, I saw him not watching the couple, but me. He winked at me before he shot his hand out to the woman. “Trisha, come meet Violet.” She’s not Travis’s woman? “Violet. This is my married sister, Trisha.”
I scoffed, rolled my eyes, glared at Link, and scoffed again. “Not sure why you’re adding married in there.” I nodded to Trisha. “Nice to meet you, but I have to get going.” I spun away.
“Violet,” I heard, in a sweet, giggly voice. “Your name’s pretty.”
Fuck me. Could I ignore the child? Would it be rude?
Yes. Yes, it would be.
Holding my sigh in, I turned back around and smiled. “Thank you. So is Izzy.” I waved. “Bye.”
“You should stay for dinner,” she added quickly.
Where was a gag when I needed one? Wait, it was wrong to gag kids, right? I was sure people would understand in this situation, one where I was trying to get away from her father, so I didn’t melt and cave because he had tapped my phones.
He was also a pimp.
He pimped women out for sex so he could get money.
Slowly turning, I caught sight of Trisha and Link smiling, while Travis was at least grinning down at the floor.
“Thank you for the offer, but I didn’t get much sleep last night, so I won’t be good company.” I waved again and managed another step.
“You can come another night. You have really pretty black hair. I wanna do your hair. Promise to wash my hands after dinner.”
“Ah….” Shit, I had nothing. Her eyes were drawing me in.
“You can’t say no to that cuteness,” Link said. I shot a glare his way. He and Trisha laughed. I glanced back to Izzy. Dear Jesus, she was batting her lashes.
“Um, maybe one day… sure.”
“Yay!” she screamed. “Tomorrow?”
“No, I have to—”
“The next day.”
“Ah, probably not.”
“The next?”
“We’ll see.”
“Yay! Daddy will ring you. Daddy, do you have Miss Violet’s number?”
This kid was switched on for her age… or maybe I just didn’t hang around children enough to know how smart and cunning they really were—something I would change soon, since I wanted to get to know my nephew, Cody, and even Zara’s girl, Maya.
I really felt like I was being played.
“I do. I’ll ring her, princess.”
She smooshed his cheeks together in her tiny hands and yelled once more, “Yay!”
It was adorable…. No, it wasn’t. “I’ve got to go. Nice meeting you, talk soon. Bye.” Before Izzy could suggest anything else, like a sleepover, I made a mad dash for my car, got in, waved lamely, and drove off.
I was certain I’d just been outplayed by a little girl.
Chapter Seven
Violet
A week passed by the time my luck ran out. All right, I’d just run out of good excuses to decline my dinner invitation from Izzy, who was five. Travis had told me as such over the phone. Speaking of the phone, Travis had called me every damn day. Sometimes it wasn’t even to ask about dinner, just to see what I was up to.
He’d ask about my day.
I could have, and probably should have, not answered his calls, but I begrudgingly admitted to myself that I wanted to hear from him. I’d always liked hearing his voice over the phone.
I was a glutton for punishment.
A punishment that could lead to me being hurt. Yes, I didn’t like the fact he made money off women who sold their bodies for sex. The thought made me sick to the stomach. But I also knew it was an excuse to hide behind because it scared me how being around Travis was addictive.
He was the man I loved.
The only man I loved.
We parted, and I knew I wouldn’t love another man like him.
I dated safe men. Men who weren’t anything like Travis—strong-willed, smoking hot, and arrogant, yet sweet, and also protective.
Fear had me building my walls higher around Travis because I worried we would get close and then something else could come between us. I wasn’t sure watching him walk away a second time would be good on me, regardless of the first time we’d both agreed to separate. I hadn’t realised how lost I’d feel without him.
I had to stay strong.
Shaking my head, I pulled into Travis’s driveway. The gates were closed. A man, different to the one I’d taken down, stood in the guard station. He came out when I stopped. I rolled down my window. “Violet Marcus.”
The man nodded. “He’s expecting you,” he said, then walked back into the station and pressed the button for the gates to open. I slowly drove through. My whole body was on edge. Not knowing what the night would be like didn’t sit right in my chest. My hands were even sweating.
But I was there for Izzy since she’d asked, okay, more like forced a dinner on me.
Then why did I have make-up on, my hair down, and a nice dress on?
For myself. I wanted to look nice for me. It had nothing to do with the man who stood in the open front door, leaning against the frame, dressed in jeans and a tee.
Jesus, he looked amazing in a suit, but in casual clothes, he was fantastic.
I opened my door, got out, and started for the house without glancing at him. I wanted to punch myself in the gut because I was already finding it hard to breathe. I wiped my hands on my dress and then brought my handbag strap back up on my shoulder when it started to fall.
“Evening,” Travis said. His voice seemed deeper, rougher.
Sexier?
No, dammit.
“Hey.” I nodded and looked over his shoulder. “Where’s Izzy?”
“Upstairs. She’ll be down in a second I’m sure.” He stepped back, and I moved in. When the door closed, I jumped. Christ, I had to calm down. I wasn’t sure where th
is jittery fool came from, but I refused to let her stay inside of me.
Only my body jolted when a hand touched my waist. Travis’s warm breath caressed my cheek when he leaned down to whisper, “You look beautiful.”
I cleared my throat, stepped out of his reach, and mumbled, “Yeah, well, um, I thought Izzy would like dresses, so I wore one.” The front foyer was large. I glanced around again, giving myself something to do. “So where’s Izzy?” Shit, had I already asked that?
When Travis chuckled, it told me I had. Thankfully, heavy footsteps sounded above, and I looked up in time to see Izzy bounding down the stairs. “You’re here.” She beamed.
Her smile was contagious. I grinned back just as wide. “I am, and I bought you something.” She stopped just before me, bouncing up and down on her feet. I reached into my bag and pulled out the wrapped present. As soon as I handed it over, she plonked her butt down on the floor and tore at the paper.
“Wow. Daddy, look, look at what Miss Violet got me.” She stood and thrust the present at her father. He grabbed it.
“That’s very nice. Your bedroom will light up with fairies all over the walls at night now.”
“It’s the best thing in the world,” she yelled, and then ran straight at me, her arms wrapping tightly around my thighs. She looked up, smiling. “Thank you.”
My hardened heart cracked a little. Lifting my hand, I gently ran it over her head. “You’re welcome.”
“Izzy,” someone called. I glanced up to see Link standing at the top of the stairs. “Come, and we’ll put it in your room. You can show Miss Violet later.”
“Yes. Can I, Daddy?”
“Go for it.” He grinned down at her, then watched as she raced off. “You heading out?” he asked Link.
“As soon as I’ve done this.”
“Thanks.”
Link gave him a chin lift while smirking. Then he winked at me before disappearing down the hall upstairs.
“Is she always full of energy?”
“Yes.” He chuckled. His hand dropped to my lower back. “Come into the kitchen with me. I’ll grab you a drink.”
“Sure.” I nodded and started off to get away from his touch.