by Lee Rose
Putting off the inevitable wasn’t going to get her out of this dangerous situation. She took out her cell phone and dialed the one man she could still count on.
“Dad.” She couldn’t prevent the sound of relief when she said his name out loud as soon as he answered. Her dad would come for her, of that she had no doubt. “I’m in a spot of trouble, but don’t worry, I’m not hurt.”
For now, she added silently.
“What’s going on? Thought you had a date with that weasel,” his gruff voice came over the line. She could hear noise in the background and knew he must still be at the gym. Thank God. The gym wasn’t far from here, maybe a mile or two. She had just reached the intersection with the traffic lights. It was empty but that was probably a good thing in a neighborhood like this. Crime was an everyday occurrence and these streets were filled with gangs and drug dealers. She had no desire to run into either one.
“We had a disagreement and now I am stuck out here. I’m not far from the gym,” she explained, and automatically moved the phone a few inches from her ear.
“You mean to tell me that son of a bitch left you out there? I will beat him to a pulp,” her dad yelled loudly, and despite his brusque tone she knew he was worried. She had no plan to tell him what Kyle wanted to do because then he would kill Kyle for sure. She didn’t want her dad to get in trouble. Hopefully his bloody nose stained his perfectly white seats.
“Where exactly are you?” he asked once his tirade was over.
Jessy looked around and saw a small party store with flashing neon lights in the large window advertising all kinds of alcohol. The open sign was still flashing with bright lights and her shoulders sagged with relief.
“Sixth Street Party Store on the corner of Sixth and Highland,” she answered quickly, crossing the street and heading toward the store and hopefully safety. “I’ll be outside waiting. And thanks, Dad.”
“Be right there,” her father assured her, and she felt better. She huddled against the wall, hidden in the darkness and not under the light. She didn’t want to be noticed. A car pulled in and parked with rap music playing loud. She could see two young men getting out and talking with each other. She hoped she wouldn’t be spotted. She could defend herself if she had too but she really didn’t want to. Her fist was already sore.
Chapter 2
Royce Sanders, head trainer for the Daniels Training Camp, gave his boss Jared Daniels a concerned look. They had been working late, going over the schedule for the upcoming week. Jared slammed the phone down hard, muttering under his breath.
“Is everything okay, Jared?”
“No,” Jared yelled, pointing a finger at him. “I blame you for all this drama. I may not have mentioned it to you, but I don’t like drama. If you hadn’t broken my little girl’s heart she would not have gone out with that playboy. She would be here safe and sound, and not standing in the shittiest part of town.”
Jared’s words made him wince with remorse, but he knew it was true so he stayed silent. He hated being reminded of his mistake with Jessy. He knew getting involved with his boss’s daughter would be trouble but he had done it anyway. He had tried to deny the strong attraction he felt for Jessy anytime she was around. His cock got hard as a rock whenever she was in the same room with him, but his brain turned to mush. A big pile of useless mush.
A moment of weakness after a few drinks ended up with them having sex in his living room. He had been so turned on he hadn’t even had the finesse to make it to his bedroom. He didn’t know if Jared knew how far his flirtation with Jessy went. Since he was still breathing, he hoped Jared didn’t know much. His boss may be in his fifties but he was in damn good shape. Plus, he really liked this job. After a back injury forced him to retire from the fighting circuit, he had felt lost and depressed. Then he met with Jared and had liked his business proposition. Now, training upcoming fighters gave him a purpose again and allowed him to still be involved in a sport he loved.
“I tried to apologize to her, Jared, but she is stubborn,” he said defensively. He knew the blame lay on his shoulders but he didn’t like the feeling. He never stopped her from flirting with him. In fact, he had soaked in her attention and participated right back. Jessy Daniels was a beautiful woman. What man wouldn’t want to flirt back with her?
“I noticed you two sniffing around each other for months and I stayed out of it. But you had to go and mess with those tramps that hang around waiting to hook up with any fighter, and you hurt my Jessy,” Jared yelled, his cheeks turning red.
He stopped his tirade and took a deep, calming breath. “Who’s still here? I may need backup.”
Royce stood up, not wanting to get into this sensitive discussion now. He had to fix things with Jessy first. “I’ll go with you, Jared. Sam and Blake are here. They wanted to practice in some peace and quiet.”
Jared grunted and Royce took that to be an agreement. He missed being on good terms with Jessy. It had been six weeks since that awful scene that ended their friendship. Now if she saw him, she looked at him as if he was a pile of dog shit she had just stepped on. He felt like it too. He missed the days when her beautiful green eyes had sparkled with joy and laughter. She was like a bright flame that burned when you got too close. But damn, the burn had been worth it just to be in her presence. She had a way of bringing him out of one of his dark moods. He got so caught up in the past sometimes and just wanted to stay there in self-pity, but Jessy never let him. Her upbeat personality always managed to make him feel good.
Jared collected Sam and Blake along with Royce, and they all piled up in his large black SUV. Jared sped off, not bothering to pay attention to things like speed-limit signs.
They made it to the store that was about a mile away from the gym in record time, and even if the police had tried to pull Jared over, Royce doubted he would have stopped. Jared loved his only daughter and was fiercely protective of her. This wasn’t the best of neighborhoods. It was ridden with criminal activity and gangs and now even Royce was feeling anxious, too.
He was sure that the only reason he was still alive after messing things up with Jessy was because they had a full schedule ahead of them. He would like to think Jessy had begged for her dad not to kill him but he wasn’t sure if that was true or not.
Royce spotted Jessy right away, leaning against the wall with two young-looking men talking to her. He didn’t care if they were just flirting with her or not, he felt a rush of possessiveness overwhelm him. He hated having such conflicting thoughts. He didn’t want to be tied down in a relationship but he didn’t want other men having her attention either. He was consumed with scary, deep thoughts about this woman, and maybe that was the problem. One night had done nothing to quench the desire between them. They might not speak to each other anymore but all it took was one glance of her long hair and he remembered how tightly he gripped it while thrusting into her welcoming body. When he let himself glance at her rounded ass, he regretted not paying attention to it that night. He foolishly thought he would get her out of his system. But it wasn’t turning out that way with Jessy.
When he got close he could see she didn’t look alarmed or worried. In fact she had a pleasant smile on her face, as if she had been strolling through the park on a Sunday afternoon. She looked behind the two young men and spotted the group walking toward her.
Her eyes widened with surprise then she looked resigned. She knew her dad well. “Oh boy, Dad, did you have to bring the cavalry?”
“Didn’t know if I’d find someone messing with my baby girl or not,” he warned the two young men who eyed the group with apprehension. They looked like they were only in their teens but still had a tough don’t-mess-with-me look. Royce knew that look well. He had perfected it before these two were ever born. Both young men had dark short hair and tanned complexions. They had visibly tensed when they noticed four extra-large men surround them. Royce just hoped they weren’t carrying a gun, as many young men in this neighborhood did.
“R
elax, Dad. I was just telling Chico and Gabe here that you have the best gym around.” She smiled, letting them know she wasn’t in danger from the young boys. “I showed them some of the moves you taught me and I think I impressed them, for a girl.”
Jared folded his arms across his chest. He might be in his early fifties, but he still worked out every day and looked fit. His salt-and-pepper eyebrows scrunched together. “Is that right.”
“Um, yeah. Jessy here was telling us we should check it out,” one boy admitted with a smile. He had dirt all over his jeans and Royce had a feeling he had been on the ground. He looked a little embarrassed.
The second boy laughed loudly. “She knocked Gabe on his ass in less than three seconds. I asked her to marry me and be my protection.”
Gabe didn’t like his friend announcing his humiliation. He pushed him hard. “Shut up, Chico. She caught me off guard, that’s all.”
Jessy patted Gabe on the arm and went to stand by her dad. Jessy linked her arm with her dad’s. “He is the best around, boys. You wanna learn from the best. He won several boxing heavyweight belts in his time and he knows all the good moves.”
Jared nodded and gave them a business card. “Yeah, if you’re interested in staying out of trouble and doing some working out, come and see me. But be warned. I don’t put up with bullshit.”
The boys nodded and went into the store to join their friends. Jessy walked over to her dad’s SUV and got in the front, leaving Royce no choice but to sit in the back with Sam and Blake. Jared turned it on and started driving back toward the gym. Jessy looked in the back, where Royce sat quietly with Blake, also known as “Rage,” and Sam, who was known as “Steele.” “Three guys is overkill, don’t ya think, Dad?” She sounded amused.
“Better to be prepared,” her dad answered seriously, not looking very happy with the whole situation. Royce could hear the anger in Jared’s voice and he felt sorry for Kyle Evans, but not too sorry.
“Give me Kyle’s address and we’ll go kick his ass instead.” Jared sounded serious, but Jessy rubbed her fist.
“I think I broke his nose. He said he was going to sue me,” Jessy said, not sounding too worried.
Royce snorted silently. How could a man leave a defenseless woman in a shitty neighborhood like this? He was willing to show Kyle the error of his ways, and from the way Jessy’s dad sounded, he was, too. There would be no need to involve lawyers.
“Good for you, Jessy,” Blake spoke up from the backseat. “Did he try something?”
“Turns out Kyle is not so nice after all. But my knuckles hurt now.” Her voice wasn’t showing how angry and upset she was, but when she looked at Blake he could see the emotions showing in her eyes. That was one of the things Royce admired about her. She was always calm no matter the situation.
“You probably twisted your hand a bit when you threw the punch, Jess,” Sam advised her from the backseat. He was sitting next to Blake.
Royce sat there, listening to Sam and Blake give her advice on the proper way to throw a punch and he looked out the window, staying silent. Before his fight with her, he would have teased her and added his own remarks. If you could call it a fight. She never yelled at him or called him names like he expected. His ex-girlfriend would have caused a major scene for all to hear. Jessy had given him a murderous look, tilted her chin up proudly, and walked off like a regal queen. Now he was consumed with remorse for his lousy behavior. She had every right to be furious with him. They may not have verbally committed to a relationship, but he had spent the night making love to her. He liked Jessy and he knew she wasn’t an easy lay like the groupies that just wanted bragging rights of sleeping with someone famous. Relationships were not something he ever wanted to do again. Not after the last one blew up in his face. Maybe he just wanted to believe that Jessy knew he had no intention of settling down so he could silence his conscience. He told himself she was just as casual with her feelings as he was. Deep inside he knew it wasn’t true but he never let the knowledge reach his brain.
Sam shook his blond head and spoke up from the backseat. “I told you that dude was too pretty to be trusted, Jessy. He was too fake.”
“I should’ve listened to you, Sam. Next time I will,” Jessy informed him with a tired sigh. “I actually wore heels and a dress for that creep. What a waste of a good outfit.”
Blake looked at his watch, then over at Jessy with a smile. He had dark good looks and a charming smile that attracted a lot of the women. His muscular build didn’t hurt either. “Nah. It’s not even eleven yet, Jess. Let’s me, you, and Sam hit the clubs for a while. You look too hot to go home.”
“Yeah, we’ll protect you if any creeps want to hit on you.” Sam grinned, cracking his knuckles loudly.
“Thanks guys, but I’ve had enough excitement for one night.” She sounded tired and Royce couldn’t help but wonder if she was having trouble sleeping, too. Every time he closed his eyes he saw her shocked face devoid of any color and eyes full of pain. He didn’t need the silent glare of the guys in the gym to make him feel guilty. He felt that all by himself. He stayed quiet because when he finally got her to speak to him, he didn’t want an audience. Everyone had seen them flirting with each other. He couldn’t even deny that it was all one sided, because he flirted right back with her. It had been lighthearted and fun. Or so he thought until she walked into a party, seeing him with someone else. Everyone had witnessed her pain and anger. She gave him such a wounded look and walked back out. Most women would have thrown a scene, but not Jessy. She walked out of the party and her silence said more than yelling would have. He knew in that moment that this was no lighthearted flirtation, like he thought.
Royce wanted to be the one to take her out, but he knew she would give him a flat no. Her black dress was draped lovingly over her curvy, sexy body. She was slender and tall but she had curves in all the right places. Her chocolate-brown hair was hanging loose down her back. Before their falling-out he would not have hesitated to let her know how gorgeous she was. He thought it would be better to remain silent for now.
Soon they were back at the gym and parking in the alleyway by the back entrance. The parking lot was well lit. Blake and Sam went inside the gym, talking about going to a club to let off some steam.
“Are you sure I don’t need to hunt this Kyle down?” her father wanted to know as they slowly walked to the door of the gym. He asked the question casually, but Royce could see the anger lingering in his boss’s eyes.
Jessy shrugged, not giving out any real information. “I took care of it, Dad. I learned my lesson and I will not be going out with Kyle again.”
“Can I talk to you, Jessy?” Royce asked, feeling nervous. He usually only felt this unsettled before a fight. He felt relieved when she agreed. Jared gave him a warning glance before going inside the gym, leaving them alone. The parking lot was empty but there was a wooden bench by the back door. He led her to the bench so they could sit and clear the air.
“What it is it, Royce? It’s been a long night.” He didn’t like this quiet version of Jessy. When he had first met her, he loved her effervescent smile. It had been contagious and refreshing. Her green eyes usually sparkled with such zest. That was all missing now.
Royce looked at her under the light. Outwardly she looked small and fragile, but inside she had a spine of steel. She looked lost and vulnerable, a side he was sure no one but her dad had ever seen. Jessy used a bright smile and keen sense of humor as a barrier against anyone getting to close to her. She pretended not to care about a lot of things but he sensed she felt things deeply. He had been so captivated by her sensual look and bubbly personality, he had never taken the time to try to understand her.
“I know you’re tired, but you avoid me and won’t let me apologize.” He wasn’t above pleading. “It’s been six weeks and you won’t let me explain. Even a condemned man gets a last word.”
Her eyes narrowed with anger, but that was better than the hurt he had been seeing lately. “What
is there to say, Royce? I got the message loud and clear. I was stupid to think that just because you fucked me it meant something to you.”
He winced at her harsh words. Jessy only cursed when she was really angry and that was rare. While her dad had a temper that could be ignited easily, Jessy was calm and easygoing.
“You could have just been honest with me instead of letting me walk in on you with that slut.” Her voice was low but he would have felt better if she had yelled at him and called him names. Instead she sat there looking like an angel who just had her wings broken, and the guilty feeling expanded in his chest, making it ache. It settled in like indigestion.
“She was the one all over me.” He knew he sounded like a broken record. He just didn’t understand his own motives, so how could he explain them to her? He could admit to himself that he had strong feelings for Jessy and it scared him deeply. He didn’t want to be vulnerable. Caring and loving meant you were vulnerable to being hurt. As an ex-fighter he would rather hurt physically than emotionally. He had no idea what possessed him to let that blonde woman flirt with him and sit on his lap. He couldn’t even remember her name or face. It had been a stupid effort to prove to himself that Jessy was not embedded in his heart. He had tried going the serious-relationship route once and his pride had gotten torn to shreds. It was not something he ever wanted to do again. He had decided putting down ties was not for him. No matter how tempted he was by the beautiful woman sitting next to him.
Chapter 3
Jessy looked up into the dark, sexy eyes of Royce “King” Sanders. He was stood six two and she barely reached his shoulder. He kept his brown hair cut really short. His shoulders were wide and muscular and his stomach was tight and flat. She had watched him spar shirtless many times over the last year.