Songbird (A Sinclair Story #1)
Page 15
They continued the intimidation game for a while, staring, moving cautiously, and showing respect for the others skills. But Melodee knew something about John. He could only keep this reticence up for a short time. Deep down he liked to hurt people, and that need always got him in the end.
And then that moment came.
He took two strides to the right side of the cage before feinting left at the last second and coming at her from the side. His extended kick was high and strong. Melodee hit the ground and rolled twice to get out from under his legs. He dropped his knee at the last minute and hit her in the ribs, but he was a little slow and it was only a minor hit. She was on her feet in moments. Two backflips across the cage and he spun in time for her to bounce off the wall and swing her arm to elbow him in the side of the head. He managed to get his fist up in time and clip her on the chin, but again too slow to be much more than a glancing blow. And his punch dropped his guard around his face, giving her the opening to smash her heel into his nose. She felt the bone and cartilage crunch under her foot.
John did not make a noise. He didn’t even stop, coming straight back at her, his face streaming blood and his eyes demanding death. Melodee had enough of his intimidation by now, and without hesitation ran at him, but instead of diving at his face she hit the ground as he reached for her and slid between his legs and came up behind him. After that she extended her arm for one clean blow to the junction of his neck, delivering a knock-out shot. She paused on the balls of her feet. John stayed standing for a few beats, and Melodee wondered if he was superhuman, because she knew how to deliver the exact amount of pressure to knock out any man. But then he fell to his knees, and forward. His head hit the padding.
Melodee didn’t look around as she left the cage. There would have a short break now for bets and drinking. Dwayne liked to create a big atmosphere. But in about ten minutes she would be facing Garrett and she needed to get in the zone.
Garrett was in the waiting area, fresh tape over his wounds from Ice. “Great job, beauty, your skills are as always unsurpassed.”
Melodee grinned at him. “You’ve beaten me half the time.” Despite their split and fight history, their relationship had always been amicable. But there was never any real love between them, just mutual attraction and selfish need. “Why are you fighting in this comp? It’s not your usual scene.”
Garrett stood, stretching out his side. “Need the money,” he said, “my assets have been frozen again … for another fucking investigation. And Nat needs more rehab. Figured it was better to have a backup if I can’t access the funds in time.”
Melodee stared at his broad shoulders as he exited the room – their names had just been announced over the speaker. Natalie was his daughter from his marriage a million years ago. She’d been in a car accident the past summer and was learning to walk again. Melodee sucked in a deep breath. As important as the money was for her future with Jewel, she could not stand the thought of Natalie being in a wheelchair for longer than necessary. She stood there torn for a minute, but in the end there was only one option. She was going to have to throw the fight. But she had to put on a good show; otherwise, Garrett would beat her to death for embarrassing him. With an exhalation of breath, she tightened her wrist straps and left the room.
She entered the cage. Garrett was across from her, his dark features and green eyes lazily assessing her. She raised her brow and gave him a cheeky grin. And then for the first time in her life she came straight at him, light and dancing, hands covering her face. Garrett’s features registered surprise. He knew how she fought and had not been expecting that move. It allowed her to get the first hit, hard across his jaw, snapping his head back.
“Getting a little slow, Gaz baby,” she teased as she danced away.
He focused on her again and this time his gaze was feral. “You’re going to pay for that shot, beauty.”
“Bring it,” she said.
And he did. Using big strides he was across the cage and on her in seconds. She dodged the first few, only to let her guard ‘slip’ and cop a direct crack to the right side of her face. She saw stars, dropping to her knees. Normally she’d use this position to her advantage, but she was going to have to take the fall soon. Before she got too hurt.
She dropped on her side and kicked out at his exposed legs. He jumped and brought his weight down to where she lay. Luckily she saw it coming and moved out of the way. Her kick hit him in his injured ribs, but he didn’t stop before roundhouse kicking her. He’d been a little off center so she could have avoided it, but instead decided to just pull back so that his power only clipped her, instead of a direct hit. And still it knocked her face down into the mat. She didn’t move for a moment; the man counted off the beats, and it took her that long to find the strength to throw out a hand and pull herself up. But there was no way she could continue fighting. Blood poured out of her lip. It had been busted on the inside. She wiped it away.
“Get out of my fucking way,” she heard Nathan’s voice, and with a groan rolled over and lay on her back.
“Breathing hurts, asshole,” she said to Garrett, who was staring down at her. “You cracked my ribs.” She had to wipe the blood away again.
“I know why you did that, Melodee Lee, and if you do it again I’ll do worse than break your ribs.” He stormed out of the cage, without glancing back once.
Nathan was at her side then. He placed his hands under her and when she didn’t protest he gathered her into his arms. “Are you okay, Dee?”
She nodded, resting her head against his broad shoulder. “Yeah, I’ve had worse. It’s just a busted lip and a few cracked ribs.”
Nathan snorted. “You just took ten years off my life, and I may be in trouble about the guard.”
Melodee looked over to where Dwayne’s personal bodyguard was unconscious and bleeding in the corner.
“He was trying to stop me getting to you,” Nathan growled. “And no one keeps me from you, Dee.”
They exited the cage. Dwayne was standing right near the door that led out of the warehouse.
“Thanks for competing, Songbird,” he said to her. “Sorry you didn’t win.” His expression didn’t change. She wondered if he knew she’d not given a hundred percent against Garrett. “And if your boyfriend ever wants to give up his day job as a model or whatever he does, there’s definitely a place here in the cage.”
It didn’t look as if he was angry with Nathan. In fact he seemed impressed, and that was pretty rare. He opened the door for them and there was a cab waiting on the other side. Nathan must have called it earlier. It was dark and cool in the interior. Melodee dropped her head back and closed her eyes. She was exhausted and had nothing to show for her night of fighting. But at least she knew Natalie would get the care she needed.
“So why did you throw that fight with Garrett?” Nathan’s warm voice washed over her in the darkness. “Don’t bother to deny it. I watched you fight all night and you were completely different in that last round.”
Melodee fluttered up her lashes so she could see him. He looked serious, his aqua eyes boring in to her.
“Garrett needed the money more than me,” she said. “His daughter needs the money for physical rehabilitation.”
Nathan clenched his fists. “That’s a pretty good reason, but couldn’t you just forfeit? Why did you have to get hurt?”
“Dwayne needed the fight to go on. He had a lot of money invested. I couldn’t let them down.”
Nathan took her face into both of his hands. “I don’t care what the reason is, but the next time someone punches you I’m going to end their life.”
His lips were on hers then as he kissed the absolute hell out of her. She expected pain from her lip, but didn’t feel anything. Although she couldn’t think and she couldn’t breathe, and it had nothing to do with her cut lip or cracked ribs.
“Might be time to tell the driver to hurry the hell up,” she murmured against his mouth.
“A hundred bucks ext
ra if you get us home now,” Nathan said to the driver.
The cab was moving at a much more rapid rate, but Melodee wasn’t sure they’d make it in time. Adrenalin from the fight and everything about Nathan had her so aroused she doubted her legs would support her to make it inside. Of course, as the car screeched to a stop in front of his building, and Nathan handed the driver his money, he was around to her side before she could even get the door open. He wouldn’t let her walk. He hauled her into his arms, and careful of her ribs carried her past the security and up the stairs. Lucky for them, rich people did wacked out things, because the front door men didn’t even blink as Nathan strode past with Melodee in his arms.
Chapter 12
When Melodee woke the next morning, she knew instinctively not to move. It felt as if just breathing was sending sharp jolts along her side. Strangely enough, this pain was tempered by the warmth surrounding her and the scent of Nathan under her face. His chest wasn’t exactly a soft surface, but for the first time in her life Melodee did not wake alone, and it gave her a fluttering feeling in her chest. She didn’t know how to process this overload of emotion. Nathan stirred then, his hands running along her body distracting her. He was gentle over her ribs, before his hands firmed up along her thighs.
“Good morning,” he said as his lips settled over hers. “How are you feeling this morning?”
Melodee arched as he slowly slid a finger inside of her. She was already soaking wet and aching. He continued to tease her, running his fingers just over the spot that was throbbing for him.
“Nathan.” Her voice held warning. “Injured or not, I will kick your ass if you don’t fix this problem you’ve created.”
“You have no idea what it does to me to see you naked in my bed,” he whispered against her breast as he slid a second finger inside, his thumb finally stroking the spot aching for him. She arched again, rising up as the sensations built inside of her.
“Oh shit,” she said as her insides quivered and she exploded. The orgasm ripping through her had her ribs screaming but she didn’t care. Nathan strung every drop of pleasure from her before removing his fingers one by one.
“Time to get up,” he said, with one hand possessively on her ass.
“What about you?” Melodee said, reaching out to halt him with by wrapping her hand around his rock hard dick. “Doesn’t seem as if you’re done.”
“I think you’re a bit sore, Dee.”
Melodee glided her leg over the top of him, sliding herself along the edge of his body and then up onto him. “Shouldn’t be a problem from this position.” Pain was nothing new to her, and she wasn’t even close to being too injured to make love to Nathan.
She waited for Nathan to roll the protection on, and then with his hands guiding her hips she started to slowly ride him, the movements creating exquisite pleasure. Each time he thrust up to meet her she slid deeper onto him. It was the perfect form of torture. Nathan increased the rhythm as he took some of the control back from her, but once again she found she didn’t mind it. And pretty soon she was teetering on the edge of orgasm.
“Nathan, I’m close,” she gasped.
“Well hold on, baby,” he said, his strong arms lifting her slightly so he could thrust rapidly into her. She cried out his name as she felt him spasm inside of her, and then with one last move they came together. In that moment, where she lost control of her body, Melodee also lost control of her heart.
She rested on Nathan, her breathing rapid, the sweat barely cooled on her skin, when a cry broke the silence.
“Jewel,” they said together, untangling themselves so they could dress and run to the baby.
Nathan left after breakfast to meet with his agent. Melodee spent her time cleaning up. They would have to leave for Syracuse today, as Nathan had training and a game tomorrow that he couldn’t miss.
“You know, we have a cleaner come through.” Charles grinned at her as she scrubbed down the bench.
“Shut up,” she said, poking her tongue at him.
He just shook his head and continued building blocks with Jewel. The baby loved to knock them over, her sweet laughter filling the room.
Nathan was back before lunch and they all piled back in the car and started the long journey to Syracuse.
Charles leaned forward. “What did your agent say?”
Nathan grinned. “Looks as if the Knicks are going to be the top offer in the young talent pool. Might be calling New York home after all.”
Melodee leaned over to kiss his cheek. “That’s awesome for you.”
“For us,” Nathan replied. “Any decision I make is for us.”
Melodee swallowed her emotions then. She wasn’t sure how she felt about him basing any major life decisions around her. Could she trust herself not to run when things got real? And what if they lost Jewel? That pain alone might have her running for the hills.
The next day, as Nathan was heading out the door for training, he dropped a package on the bench where Melodee was feeding Jewel.
“What’s this?” she asked.
“Just a present, but you have to promise me you’ll keep it on you when you’re alone with Jewel.” He kissed her and the little girl before grabbing his gym bag. “For my sanity.” He turned back. “Oh, and I heard from my computer guy. That solicitor is checking out pretty legitimate at this stage. Few minor infringements, but nothing raising any red flags. He’ll keep digging though. If there’s any shit, he’ll uncover it.”
“Thanks for that,” Melodee said. Nathan gave her one last kiss before leaving for the courts.
Picking up the package, Melodee had a pretty good idea what was in the box, and sure enough, as she ripped the brown paper off, it was a cell phone. The large touch screen was bright and a text was already in the message box.
It simply said, Use it!
Melodee laughed, and scrolling through the contacts was glad to see Nathan had programmed in his number. Charles, Luke and Matthew’s were also in there. Nathan’s words and the phone reminded her to dial in to her voicemail again, and sure enough the solicitor had left a third, more urgent message. Oh well, only one way to see what this was all about.
She keyed in one of his numbers; the ringing started in her ear.
“Hello, Craig Luiz speaking…”
“Hello, Mr. Luiz, it’s Melodee Lee returning your call,” she started, and his big sigh of relief had her pausing.
“Thank you, Miss Lee, I’ve had this case sitting on my desk for so long, I need to wrap it up.”
“I don't really understand,” Melodee said, “my parents have been dead for ten years. There was no will and no one could even find paperwork on the house. It was all declared government property.”
“That’s not technically true. What happened was all assets were frozen in a trust while your parents’ death was investigated. But that’s all been cleared up now and I’ve been advised to split the property and cash between you and your sister.”
Melodee almost dropped the phone. “I’m not sure where your information is from, but my sister is dead.”
She could hear papers shuffling, as he cleared his throat. “No, I’ve spoken to her already. Chloe Lee, she lives in Rome in the state of New York. We require blood work to collect on the inheritance, so she has already been verified. You will have to submit your tests as soon as possible.”
“Can you give me Chloe’s new address?” She attempted to keep her voice calm, but she was screaming on the inside. She didn’t know this state very well, but she thought Rome was close to Syracuse.
He didn’t even hesitate, reading out the entire address. Melodee hit the end button, cutting him off mid-speech. She sank into the kitchen bench. Jewel was happily playing in her vegetables, so she took a moment to freak out. She’d seen Chloe's neck get broken, had held her sister’s lifeless body in her arms. But it was all a little blurry, she’d only been four at the time. Could her sister have simply been knocked out? Suddenly Melodee was on her feet, cell pho
ne, car keys, and baby bag gathered. She lifted Jewel from the seat, and after changing her diaper left the apartment. Nathan had left the Range Rover for her use, and right now she couldn’t think of anything except finding her sister.
An hour later the automated navigation system announced that she was at her destination. Wow, who would have thought her sister was living so close to her all this time.
Melodee sat in the car, staring at the small colonial style house. Chloe lived in a beautiful town. Big trees lined the streets and each home looked clean and loved. It was the exact sort of place that Melodee had always dreamed of raising a family in. She knew it was crazy, but if she had kids she wanted to know her neighbors, and have lots of children play in the street. Of course those dreams were before she became a cage fighting nomad, before she had her innocence stolen from her. Now she doubted this life would satisfy her. Although she was starting to think anything with Nathan and Jewel would be enough for her.
Jewel was asleep, so Melodee gently unclicked her buckle and lifted her up to rest over her shoulder. She snuffled but didn't wake. Following the stone-lined front path, surrounded by lush green grass, Melodee stopped at the door. What the hell was she even doing here? Chloe probably didn't even know about her, she had been two the last time they saw each other.
She lifted her hand and pressed the doorbell. Her free palm began to lightly pat Jewel’s back, keeping the little girl comfortable. She heard footsteps and then the door was opened. A young woman stepped through. She had very light blonde hair and large blue eyes, the exact same color as Melodee’s. She looked so much like Melodee’s mother that the doubt evaporated immediately.
“Chloe Lee?” Melodee asked.
Confusion crossed her pretty features. “Yes, how can I help you?”
Melodee took a deep breath. “My name is Melodee Lee, I’m your sister.”