by K. C. Lynn
Her body stiffens in my arms. “I don’t have a choice since I have no vehicle, Kolan.”
“I would have fucking driven you!”
“I don’t need you to drive me,” she snaps. “I only live a few blocks from the gym. Now stop yelling at me!”
I blow out a frustrated breath and try to collect myself. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to yell. I just don’t like you walking home alone at night. From now on, I’ll drive you.”
“Honestly, Kolan, I can manage.”
“It’s not up for discussion. If you want to train after hours then I take you home.”
She glares up at me, looking like she’s about to argue further but thinks better of it. “Whatever…” she grumbles. “Can we just keep moving, Mr. Bossy pants?”
I quirk a brow at her. “You want to walk?”
“Not yet, keep going,” she orders, flicking her hand in front of us. With an amused grunt, I start walking again, the sound of her laugh doing funny shit to my chest. “I’m just kidding. You can put me down.”
“Nah,” I decline, enjoying the way she feels in my arms.
“It’s really nice of you to pay for them to go to nationals,” she says quietly.
I shrug. “They’re good. They should go.”
“You never told me you were a professional fighter.”
I was wondering when she was going to bring that up. “Does it matter?”
“No, I guess it doesn’t,” she says. “Why did you retire?”
I take a moment to think about how to answer that then settle with the truth. “Because I reached my goal. I made it to the top. So, when people fucked me over, I decided to leave with half of my dignity intact.”
Her gaze burns the side of my face, but I keep my eyes trained ahead. “I’m sorry people lied about you and tried to ruin your reputation.”
“Been doing some digging on me, have you, Lia?”
I hate that she knows, but I guess she was bound to find out sooner or later.
“A little,” she admits. “I found out yesterday you were a fighter. I didn’t know much about the EFC so I Googled it, and that’s when I saw what that girl said about you.”
My jaw locks down at the thought of that bitch Nikki. I wonder what else she saw, because I’m sure Annihilation showed up in that search, too.
Fuck!
“I never believed it,” she whispers. “Even before I found out you were cleared of the charges, I knew it wasn’t true.”
“How?” I ask, my eyes finding hers. “How could you know that when you don’t even know me?”
“What kind of rapist teaches a girl how to defend herself?”
I shift my gaze away, her response evoking a storm of emotions I’m not prepared to feel.
“I don’t need to have known you a long time, Kolan, to know you aren’t capable of that.”
“Some of the people who believed it knew me a hell of a lot longer than you.”
“Then they never really knew you.”
My eyes meet hers again, and I see so much trust reflecting back at me, something I can’t understand. The only person who’s ever had that much faith in me is my sister. “Don’t put too much stock in me. I’m far from perfect.”
That’s a major understatement.
“None of us are,” she says quietly, so much hidden in those few words.
Reaching my SUV, I place her feet on the ground and cage her against the passenger door, bracing both my hands on either side of her head. “And what about you, Lia?” I ask, dipping my head in close to hers. “Hmm? You know my secrets. What about yours?”
She might not know all of mine but she knows enough.
“What is it you want to know?” she asks, a slight tremble in her voice.
“I want to know who you are and where you came from. But more than anything, I want to know what you’re hiding under that scarf.”
The stark pain that enters her eyes strikes me to my fucking core. “Trust me, you don’t want to see what’s under there. I can’t even bear to look at it myself.”
“Nothing scares me.”
It’s a complete lie. She scares the hell out of me.
A heavy silence descends upon us, her pretty eyes wide and fearful.
“What are you so afraid of?” I ask.
Her breath hitches, emotion shining bright in her gaze. “Everything.”
There’s so much despair in that one word that I want to fucking kill whoever put it there. Unable to resist, I gently drop my forehead on hers, my jaw locking as I restrain myself from doing what I really want to do.
“I’m going to respect your privacy…for now. But one day, you’re going to tell me who made you so afraid. And if they’re still breathing—they won’t be for much longer.”
Her eyes fall closed, lip trembling as she tries to shield her pain from me. “Some secrets, Kolan, are best left unknown.”
“Not between us. The day will come when there will be no more secrets between us.”
Her eyes open, locking with mine, but she remains silent. I press my lips to her forehead then reach for the door handle. “Come on. Let’s go home.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
Sophie
I walk into the gym Monday evening to see Kolan headed toward the change room in nothing but gym shorts and a towel slung around his neck, his hard, bare body slick with sweat. The moment his eyes lock with mine, my heart skips a beat.
“Hey,” he greets me, his deep, smooth baritone making my knees weak.
“Hey.”
“Sorry, I lost track of time. I’m just going to have a quick shower. I’ll be out in five.”
All I can manage is a nod, my throat dry from images of him under the hot spray.
Don’t go there, Sophie.
As he disappears into the locker room, I put my gym bag down and climb into the ring to stretch, hoping it will distract me from my dangerous thoughts, but it’s no use. If I thought he consumed me before, that’s nothing compared to how much I’ve thought about him since our night together in Charleston.
It was the best night I’ve had since I lost everything. It felt so good to have someone to talk to and hang out with again. And it was even better that the someone was Kolan. I saw so much more of that kindness I had glimpsed in him this past week. From him buying me the bracelet because he knew what it meant to me, and the way he never hesitated to take pictures with the group of boys, then sponsored them to go to nationals. It showed just how truly generous he can be. A far cry from what so many people seem to think about him.
I’ll admit when I first met him, I was intimidated like so many others. He does give off an unapproachable vibe, but I have a feeling it’s a façade to keep people away. I’m just not sure why he does it.
The one thing that’s been consuming me the most since that night is the way it felt to be in his arms as he carried me back to his SUV. I felt…safe. A safe I haven’t felt in years. It’s dangerous and something I should never let myself feel, because as long as Daniel is still breathing, I will never be safe. It’s the cold, hard truth, and I need to remember it.
My depressing thoughts come to an end when I clue in to one of my favorite songs coming from the radio. Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud.”
I let the beautiful words wash over me, blanketing my soul, and begin humming along with the melody, allowing my body to sway back and forth to the base vibrating from the speakers. The sound grounds me, anchors me in place while every bone and muscle in my body yearns to submit to the seductive beat.
Since the dance-off the other night, it’s as if something has broken loose inside of me, a piece of the old me returning. I’ve decided to grab hold of it and embrace it. Dancing is the one thing that always made me happy, and since I’ve been robbed of everything else, I’m going to take that part of me back. Even if it’s only in private.
I’m completely lost in my euphoria when awareness creeps up my spine. Spinning around, I see Kolan standing on the other side of the
ring, watching me. My breath catches at the intensity of his gaze.
“There’s something about this gym that makes me want to dance,” I say with a smile, trying to lighten the tension filling the air.
“Dance away. I like watching.” His voice is as dark as his eyes—beckoning me. I should look away, break this spell he seems to have over me, but I can’t. If anything, I want to drown myself in it.
Without thinking about the consequences, I reach out to him, offering my hand. “Doing it is so much better than watching.”
He gives me that sexy smirk of his. “Sorry, baby.” My tummy dips at the endearment, just like it did the other night. “I’m all about doing but not when it comes to dancing. As in…I can’t. I’ve never done it before.”
A frown pulls at my face. “Never?”
He shakes his head.
“What about school dances? Or prom?”
“I never went.”
His expression remains stoic but those simple words have pain striking my heart. Everyone should dance at least once in their life.
Stepping closer to him, I take his large hand in mine and pull him to the center of the ring. My eyes train on his chest as he reluctantly follows.
“This goes here.” I bring his one hand to my lower back then show him how to hold my other as I move it between us. When I try to sway us, his feet remain planted, and that’s when I finally meet his eyes.
He stares down at me, his jaw ticking. “I don’t give up control to anyone, Lia. Ever.”
His hard words remind me of what I saw online the other night when I looked him up.
I nod, not wanting him to back away. “Okay, then you lead. All you have to do is move side-to-side, as slow as you want. Your hand on my lower back will guide me.”
He watches me with indecision. I can’t tell if he’s just scared or if he really doesn’t want to do this.
“Dance with me, Kolan. It soothes the soul,” I whisper, praying the extra push works.
It does. Ever so slowly, we begin swaying back and forth. His steps are stiff and awkward but it doesn’t matter. I’m pretty sure I’ve never loved dancing with another person so much in my life as I do right now.
“Listen.” Closing my eyes, I tilt my head back slightly. “Let the music move your body, feel the beat and match it.”
I wait for him to follow the instruction but a low growl penetrates through the air instead. My eyes spring open, a gasp parting my lips as he yanks me against his hard body. My heart thrums with speed when I feel his very large erection pressing into my stomach.
His hand coasts up my spine, grabbing a fistful of my hair before tugging my head back. The sting sends heat creeping down my thighs, racing all the way to my toes, curling the ends ruthlessly.
“If you don’t want this, Lia, say something now.”
I try to figure out what this is. A kiss? More? Does it matter?
No, it doesn’t.
“I want it,” I whisper, my voice shaky. It may be a mistake, but I have a feeling he will be the best mistake I ever make.
“I tried,” he says, just before lowering his mouth to mine.
My eyes fall closed as I wait with bated breath, knowing this man’s touch is going to change my lonely existence forever.
A loud bang breaks us of our moment.
With a yelp, I cling to Kolan in fear and look at the door to see a little boy charging in with tears streaming down his face.
“Please, you have to help me!” he pleads.
Kolan springs into action. Jumping out of the ring, he kneels in front of him, grabbing his small shoulders. “Benny, what’s wrong? Are you hurt?”
The hysterical little boy shakes his head. “No, it’s my mom. She won’t wake up. She passed out, and I don’t know what to do.”
“Why didn’t you call 9-1-1?”
“Because we don’t have any money for the doctor,” he explains, his harsh sobs breaking my heart. “Please. I don’t have anyone else. Will you come look at her and see if you can wake her up?”
Kolan scoops him up into his arms and grabs his keys from the front counter before looking at me. “Come on.”
“No, don’t worry about me. Go. I can close up.”
“Lia, now,” he snaps the order.
Knowing now is not the time to argue, I hurry to climb out of the ring and grab my bag before following them out the door.
“How did you get here?” Kolan asks as he deposits the boy in the back seat of his SUV.
“I ran. I live that way.” He points down the street, off to the left.
Closing the door, Kolan opens the passenger one for me before running to his side. We climb in at the same time. I barely have my door shut before he peels away.
As Benny gives him directions, he tosses me his phone. “When we get to his place, call 9-1-1 with the address.”
I nod then glance back at Benny whose eyes are wide and terrified, tears streaming down his face. I reach out to touch his leg, hoping to offer some comfort. It takes about five minutes before we arrive at the run-down apartment building. I call 9-1-1 as we race into the building, giving the operator the address and remain on the line as she instructs.
Kolan bursts into the apartment with Benny in his arms. There on the kitchen floor, lies a woman in a waitress uniform, unconscious. Placing the boy to his feet, he rushes to her side and drops down next to her. “She has a pulse.”
After I repeat that to the operator, my attention draws to Benny as he sobs, looking down at his mother. I kneel next to him and wrap an arm around his small body. “It’s okay. Everything is going to be okay. The ambulance is on its way.”
He nods but doesn’t look convinced. Thankfully, the paramedics arrive quickly, then the three of us follow behind them to the hospital.
Forty-five minutes later, we’re sitting in the waiting room with Benny between us, his small hand linked with mine. Kolan bought him a soda and snack shortly after we arrived and asked if there was anyone he could call. Benny told us they have no family. Apparently, he and his mom only moved here recently and don’t know anyone, which is why he came to the gym. When Kolan asked about his father, pain had flashed in the young boy’s eyes before he told us that his father left them a long time ago. It was clear the subject is sensitive for him so we dropped it.
A doctor enters the waiting room a short time later with a woman in a dress suit next to him. “Santiago?”
“This is her son, Benny,” Kolan says, as we all rise, reaching out to shake the doctor’s hand.
“Hi, Benny,” he acknowledges him with a short nod before looking back to Kolan. “Mrs. Santiago has pneumonia. She was diagnosed with it a week ago but didn’t take the medication she was prescribed,” he explains, disapproval evident in his tone.
“ ’Cause we can’t afford it, asshole!” Benny shoots back, defending his mom.
Kolan puts a hand on his shoulder to calm him. The doctor ignores his outburst and continues. “We started her on IV antibiotics. She will need to be here for a couple of days before she’s well enough to go home.”
“I’ll take care of the medical expenses and any medication she’ll need after,” Kolan says, warming my heart.
“That’s very generous of you. I’m sure she will appreciate it.” He looks to Benny now. “Benny, this here is Vicki Jenson, she’s with family services.” I notice Kolan visibly tense. “You’re going to go with her until your mom is better.”
Benny steps back, panic twisting his young face. “What the hell do you mean? I ain’t going anywhere with her.”
“It’s okay, Benny,” the lady assures him with a smile, reaching for his shoulder. “It’s just for a few days until your mom is well enough to come home.”
Kolan steps in front of Benny before she can make contact. “Don’t put your hands on him.” His icy tone forces her back a step.
“Mr. Slade,” she addresses him stiffly, obviously aware of who he is. “Benny has no family here, and it’s protocol that he b
e taken into the state’s custody until his mother is better.”
“I don’t give a shit about your protocol. He isn’t going anywhere with you. God knows where he would end up.”
The doctor shifts uncomfortably while Vicki’s back stiffens. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me. You’re all the same. You don’t give a shit about where he’s placed or who he’s placed with. Just as long as someone takes him.”
“That’s not true. We always interview our families and check up—”
“Bullshit,” he snaps, making me flinch. “I’m not about to let him get sent somewhere unsafe. He’s coming home with me.”
She shakes her head. “It doesn’t work like that. How do I know you can provide a safe environment? Your temper right now proves otherwise. It also wasn’t long ago that there was a warrant out for your arrest.”
I stiffen, my blood heating in Kolan’s defense, but before I have the chance to speak, he does. “Charges that were dropped and you damn well know it. You haven’t seen my temper yet, lady, but put your hands on him and—”
“He’s safe,” I interrupt before he can really get himself into trouble. “Kolan would never hurt Benny.”
“And who are you?” she asks.
“A friend. I also work at the sheriff’s office and can vouch for him.”
“I don’t recognize you,” she says, pretty much insinuating I’m a liar.
“I’m new there, but I also know Sheriff McKay will back him as well. Benny knows Kolan. It makes sense for him to be with someone he trusts right now.”
“Yeah,” Benny speaks up, grabbing Kolan’s hand. “He’s my friend, and I want to stay with him.”
It’s clear by her expression she disagrees.
“Why don’t we speak with Benny’s mother,” the doctor suggests. “She is conscious, and I know she wants to see Benny as much as I’m sure he wants to see her. He could ask her about staying with Mr. Slade.”
“Yeah, I wanna see my mom.”
Vicki sighs. “Come on then. Let’s go speak with your mother.”
She reaches for Benny’s hand but Kolan blocks her again. “I’m coming, too. He doesn’t leave my sight.”