After We Fall

by Marquita Valentine

“Would you be willing to go with me and keep an open mind?”

  “Sure, I guess.” She gives me an odd look. “Why is this so important to you? Is it because of Pe—AE?”

  “He has fuck-all to do with our relationship.” My words come out harsher than I intend.

  “He fought in the Army—not mixed martial arts, but—”

  Before she can elaborate any further, her mother comes to the door. “Eva, sugar, where’s the coffee?”

  “It’s in the—never mind. I’ll be right there.” She touches my badge. “I like it when you show up wearing this. Makes me feel safe.”

  “That’s exactly what these blues should do for you.”

  “I think it’s the man who wears them.” She gives me a swift kiss on the lips, then darts inside her apartment, leaving me rooted to the spot.

  —

  The rest of the weekend seems to rush by. I’m almost one hundred percent sure it’s because I have it off, otherwise it would crawl at a snail’s pace.

  I try to stay out of Evangeline and her family’s way, but they keep inviting me over to spend time with them. I suspect that Lawson is behind this, as any dad should be. Hell, if I know anything, it’s what a father shouldn’t do for or to his kids.

  Her parents wave to us one last time from a light-blue sedan before they finally leave.

  “I think I’m going to miss them more than I did before.” Evangeline sniffs and I wrap my arm around her, pulling her into me so I can kiss her on the forehead.

  “That’s understandable, but you get to see them next month.”

  “You get to see them, too.”

  I cock my head to one side. “You sure you’re okay with that?”

  “I am very sure that I want to see you with my brothers.” Her eyes seem to twinkle at me. “You’re bigger than they are and a cop, so you might have a chance of surviving the Ambrose gauntlet.”

  “I’ll take your word for that.” Since I’m an only child, I don’t have much experience with siblings. Hayden and Dwight are the closest things I have to brothers. “We still on for tonight?”

  She nods. “Yes.”

  “Good. My buddy Hayden will be there. I’ve been looking forward to introducing you to him.”

  We walk inside, my arm still wrapped around her.

  “Is this your test for me? You met the parents, so my turn to meet the friends?”

  “Not a test. One day, I want you to meet my mom.”

  “I’d like that,” she says softly. “I’d like that a lot.”

  “Right now she’s in Tijuana with her family and doesn’t visit often. My schedule isn’t exactly the best for long trips. She likes for me to stay awhile, too.”

  As soon as my foot hits the top step, I let go of her and turn to face her. “I love you. Haven’t been able to tell you this weekend, like I wanted, but I do.”

  She searches my face, her blue eyes shining like a rare jewel I saw once in a museum. “I know you do. You showed me how much yesterday.”

  “I’m good with people,” I admit.

  “You’re very charming, Hunter, but that’s not what I meant. You took the scrutinizing from my parents without complaint. You didn’t bitch about it, didn’t throw a temper tantrum to embarrass me, or pout about not having time alone with me.”

  “How in the hell did your dad make it through a meal without laying AE out?”

  “It only happened once.”

  “Good for your dad.”

  Evangeline smiles sadly. “It didn’t happen because my dad did or said anything. Penn simply stopped showing up and later I did, too, when I couldn’t explain the bruises anymore.”

  This is not the best night to take her to The Lab, but I’m getting antsy about telling her. I have to tell her before someone else does. But who says I have to take her there in order to show her what goes on…what I actually do with my spare time.

  “You know what,” I begin. “How about instead of going to The Laboratory tonight, how about we go to your place and I show you what it’s like on my tablet?”

  “Okay, I am kinda tired from all of the visiting. Plus, I have a ton of leftovers in the fridge we can eat for lunch and supper later.”

  “If you’ll give me a minute to get my stuff, I’ll be right over.”

  “Do I at least get to walk you home?” she says with a teasing smile.

  I fucking love that smile. “The visit with your parents did you good.”

  We start walking again, heading up the stairs. Slowly.

  She grabs the center of my T-shirt and pulls me close. “You do me good.”

  “I can do you even better.”

  “It is Sunday,” she points out and nips at my bottom lip. “My favorite day of the week with you.”

  “Video first,” I say, forcing myself not to give in to her charms and race the rest of the way up the stairs.

  Evangeline doesn’t let go until the last moment. “You’re such a tease.”

  “Nah. I plan to make good afterward.”

  Laughing at her mock glare, I head to my apartment and grab my tablet, then head over to Evangeline’s. She’s left her door open, so I can go right inside, quickly shutting it behind me.

  “Bedroom or living room?”

  She walks out into the living room wearing nothing but a smile. “Bedroom, for sure.”

  I hand her the tablet and start tugging my shirt over my head. “After you.”

  Chapter 20

  Evangeline

  By the time Hunter and I make it into bed, I’m boneless and craving more.

  “That’s one,” he says, kissing a path up my back. “Two comes after the video.”

  I glance at him over my shoulder. “You are so mean.”

  He laughs, running a hand down my bare stomach. “Couldn’t help my reaction to all of this.” Rolling over, he grabs his tablet and I get into a comfortable position to watch it with him.

  I don’t know why he wants me to watch the silly video, but if it means that much to him, I will. Although, I’m pretty sure he wants to make sure that watching two guys fight won’t scare me.

  “They call that the cage,” he says, pointing to the middle of the screen. “That’s where all the matches take place.”

  “Gotcha.”

  A man comes out, dressed in only tight blue-and-white shorts. They’re not exactly tiny, but they’re not exactly what you’d see guys wearing to the beach or lake around here.

  The crowd boos.

  “They have favorites,” he says. The crowd parts before us like the Red Sea as another man makes his way to the cage. His hair is black, cut short, and his body is muscular, but not overly so.

  My stomach gets that heavy feeling of dread in it.

  “Ramos is favored to win tonight, but the guy he’s up against is not to be underestimated,” an announcer says.

  “And he’s a crowd favorite,” another chimes in. “Ladies and Gents, we have a great match for you tonight.”

  In the center of the cage, a man wearing a suit grabs the mike that has dropped down from the ceiling. He holds on to it and starts to speak into it, but I can barely make out every other word as the crowd goes nuts.

  “Whatever he’s saying, they’re liking,” I muse, taking a peek at Hunter. He’s gone quiet. Only, he’s not looking at the video. I catch him studying me. The unease inside of me grows, so I focus on the tablet again. “I’ll be okay. It’s not like I’ll—”

  Hunter swipes his finger across the screen, speeding up the action. “Here’s the part I wanted you to see.”

  As if in a dream, I watch as Hunter’s face comes into focus, as it contorts into a murderous rage, as his large fist draws back and hits his opponent, opened fist, upside the face.

  The room seems to collapse in on itself as my vision narrows. All I see is Hunter hitting another human being. Hunter playing to the crowd as he gets in a good shot. Blood runs down his opponent’s chest, while Hunter remains unmarked.

  “Oh my God,” I croak
. I barely register the arms coming around me, warming my chilled skin.

  Flesh pounds against flesh, and I fight the urge to puke. Now blood is on Hunter’s face. There’s a gash above his eye and he’s kicking his opponent in the chest.

  Ramos goes down like a sack of potatoes.

  Hunter pauses the video, but I can’t stop staring at him as he stands over his opponent, his face triumphant.

  “That’s really you?”

  “Yeah,” he says gruffly.

  “All your cuts, your bruises…your black eye?”

  He nods. “All from legal fights.”

  Like I care that they’re legal. “I…I can’t believe you’ve been lying to me.”

  He gives me a pleading look. “You don’t know how badly I wanted to tell you, or how much of an asshole I felt like for not telling you sooner.”

  “Couldn’t have bothered you that much,” I snap.

  “Swear it did, but I was afraid you would run, so I—”

  “Decided to make the decision for me,” I finish. “Gee, thanks, Hunter.” I rub my hands up and down my arms, trying to warm up. “That’s not right. If I had known, then I would have…I probably would have done things differently when it came to you.”

  “You’re right. I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.” His eyes fill with concern. “Oh, sweetheart. Don’t be afraid of me. I would never hurt you.”

  “You already have and…” It hits me right then, straight in the heart. “Did you tell me that you love me hoping I’d go easier on you?”

  “What kind of man do you think I am?”

  “I don’t know, anymore.”

  “Not fair, angel.” He takes the tablet away and sets it on the nightstand, then rolls on his side, facing me. “My dad made me start fighting when I was a kid. He liked telling his friends that I had a strong back and could hit harder than a lot of the guys. I didn’t like going there, hated that I was made to fight, and that if I didn’t win, I’d get the shit beat out of me….Worse, he’d take it out on my mom.”

  “I didn’t know,” I whisper, shaking my head. My chest starts to ache, for me…for him. I’m on the verge of crying, but I don’t want to be vulnerable in front of him anymore. However, that doesn’t stop me from saying, “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be, sweetheart. It’s not your fault.” He tucks a piece of hair behind my ear. “Toward the end, things got really bad. He started drinking more, started hitting me and my mom for no reason at all….One day he goes off the deep end and attacks my mom. I come home from school and she’s on the floor, begging for someone to help her. She’s bleeding and he’s hitting her with a belt.

  “He doesn’t stop, not even when I physically put myself over her. I take the beating, trying to defend her, and tell my dad to stop hurting us. That whatever happened, won’t happen again, you know?” His accent starts to thicken and he no longer sounds like the Hunter I’m used to. It’s almost like he’s that kid again. “My father, he doesn’t care. He laughs and laughs, then he smacks me across the face. Something inside of me breaks and I finally use my fists to get his attention. He lunges for me and I catch him on the jaw. He goes down like a pile of bricks and hits the corner of the brick mantle. Doesn’t move for a long time.”

  “What happened after that?”

  “Cops came. Took one look at my mom and me, and helped us out. Eventually, a judge ruled the cause of his death was self-defense. They sealed my file because I was a juvenile. We moved away from Forrestville. I got my shit together and applied for the police academy. Moved back about a month before I first met you. I’d like to say that I regret what went down, but I don’t. I know he would have killed my mom that time.”

  “I don’t understand why you fight now, though,” I whisper.

  “Because it gives me an outlet and because this time…it’s my choice and on my terms.”

  When he finishes, I don’t say anything. Closing my eyes, all I can see is Hunter as a child and me as his mother while he protects us both, and he takes the brunt force of a man much stronger. How can I judge him for doing something that keeps him grounded? How can I judge him for taking control of his life, for protecting the one person who did her best to protect him?

  Yes, he should have told me, but there are things I should say too.

  A sob bursts free, then another and another, until I’m crying uncontrollably. Hunter takes me in his arms, telling me that he loves me, that everything will be okay and he’ll take care of me.

  “I’m so damn lucky to have you in my life, angel.”

  I stare at him through wet lashes. “I think we’re lucky to have each other.”

  “No more lies or omissions.” He kisses the tip of my nose. “Swear to you that I don’t have any more. You know all my secrets now.”

  “No more lies,” I agree.

  He holds me closer. “Thank you for listening to me. I was afraid I was going to lose you.”

  “There’s nothing you can do to lose me now. I know what’s in your heart.”

  —

  On the way home from work the next day, my phone lights up like crazy. My lawyer’s phone number marches across the screen and my heart speeds up.

  Please don’t let this be another threat from Penn.

  “Any updates for me, Lucy?” I ask, trying to stay positive.

  “Actually, I do. In a strange turn of events, the McCarthys have generously allowed for your legal fees to be repaid and Mr. McCarthy is dropping his suit for harassment. I don’t understand how or why, but this is wonderful news.”

  “Indeed it is.” Triumphantly, I listen as she talks about how things will go much smoother now and that she will deposit the money into my account as soon as it is wired to her.

  “Thank you so much.” Pressing End, I toss my phone into my purse, then pull into my parking spot. My hands are shaking and so are my knees. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to walk inside at all.

  Legs quivering, I run inside Hunter’s apartment without knocking, making him tense up. I really should stop doing that to him, but I’m kind of hoping I find him naked again.

  “What’s gotten into you?”

  Jumping into his arms, I wrap my legs around him and plant one on his mouth. “The video worked. He’s agreed to my demands and I don’t have to put up with his bull a second longer!”

  “That’s my woman,” he says approvingly. “How about I reward you with a daily orgasm?”

  “Can we pretend it’s Sunday?”

  “Oh yeah.” He pushes me into the sofa cushions and starts kissing his way down my body, then stops. “After dinner.”

  “You are the meanest man on the planet,” I joke, leaning up to kiss him and to change his mind.

  “I’m punctual,” he counters. “We have reservations at six with Dwight and his wife.”

  “Oh, now we are really getting deep.”

  “Yeah, next week, I’ll take you to meet my priest.”

  I snort and giggle. “I heard that you only do that with the woman you want to marry.”

  “That could be arranged.”

  “I was only joking.”

  He lets me up. “Go get dressed and I’ll be over to pick you up in ten minutes.”

  “Ten? I need at least twenty.”

  “Five minutes,” he says flatly, but his eyes dance. “You’re already beautiful.”

  I roll my eyes. “Fine,” I huff. “Come over in ten minutes. The door’s already unlocked, so you won’t have to use your key.”

  A grim look covers his face. “Don’t like it when you do that, angel.”

  “Oh, please. We’re the only two apartments on this side of the house. Who’s going to get me—besides you or Jake?”

  Jake stretches in his bed.

  “Hard life for that one,” Hunters says, then tilts his head to one side. “This is your last time leaving the door open. Got me?”

  “I got you.” I give him a sassy smile before sauntering out into the hallway. I make sure to close hi
s door. “Bless his paranoid heart.”

  With a shake of my head, I stroll into my apartment, my heart lighter than it’s ever been in years. I need to tell Hunter how I feel. I know that now.

  There’s no need for me to keep holding back from him, to keep that part of me boxed and locked up tight.

  “Hello, Eva.”

  I freeze, my mouth going dry as an asphalt road in August. I attempt to swallow, but it’s practically a useless move.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “Wanted to congratulate you on the viral video you made about us,” he says, stepping toward me.

  I really want to say in this moment that Penn is somehow smaller than I remember, or ugly, or…something derogatory, but I can’t. He’s perfectly perfect on the outside. A tall man with a beautiful, cold face and a charming smile. He’s the rattle on the snake. The one you never see coming until he’s already struck.

  But I know better now.

  “That’s nice of you, but you can’t be here. There’s a restraining order in place and as soon as I call the cops, they’ll arrest you.” I go for my phone, but he shakes his head and once again I freeze up.

  It’s like my body recognizes his power over me while my brain is screaming at me to run, to get help…to call for Hunter.

  “They won’t arrest me,” he says, taking my phone out of my back pocket. He lightly smacks it on my head and I wince. My knees tremble. “You’ve caused enough problems. My parents have cut me off. They refuse to pay for me to get additional treatment. The VA…well, you know what little the VA will do for me.”

  “I do know.” For that I do feel sorry for him. He does have problems, but I cannot be the outlet for them. “You need help, Penn. There are organizations all over the country that can help you, without cost.”

  “Like a fucking charity case,” he sneers.

  “Better than the alternative.”

  He slams my phone down on the kitchen counter, shattering the screen. “I was getting the alternative and you took that from me.”

  I start to back away from him, but he grabs my arm roughly and jerks me back. “I can smell him on you.”

  “My dog?”

  “You are a bitch, just didn’t know you were in heat.” He shoves me toward the sofa. “Bend over and I’ll mount you.”