Zac chuckled. “He’s protective of you, Jules.”
“I’m not made of glass.”
“Well I know that. In fact, I’ve signed you up for another amateur fight night.”
“Oh. Really?” I didn’t want to take it any further, but as a hobby, I really enjoyed it. Between my training with Zac, the occasional competitive fight and the monthly car racing supersprints, I was one very happy adrenaline junkie.
“Come on. Let’s get back to it and I’ll buy you a coffee afterwards to tell you more about it. I know Juni would love to see you too. She’s meeting me down the road after this.”
“That would be awesome. I’ve really missed her and Sia.”
I had skyped with Sia a few times. She was enjoying London and things were going well with Matt. I was so happy for her, but I missed her desperately.
When I returned to my locker, thoroughly spent after an awesome session, my phone was ringing. I grabbed it hoping to see Leo’s number on the screen, but was disappointed.
My parents’ home number was flashing. I hit the green circle and held the phone to my ear while I slung my backpack over my shoulder and headed out.
“Hey, Dad.”
“Hi, Juliette. Are you busy for lunch today?”
“I’m not sure yet. Why?”
“Your mother and I have something very important to discuss with you and we hoped you would come by the house today.”
I cringed. “That sounds ominous.”
“We have some news and it impacts you. I really don’t want to talk to you about it over the phone.”
“Okay. Sure.” I figured Leo would go straight to the farmhouse from Nick’s so I might not see him until much later anyway. “I’ll be there in a few hours.”
“Thanks, sweetheart.”
After a quick shower, I changed into my favourite long flowing dress cinched in at the waist with a belt. Sitting on the change room bench, I pulled on my gorgeous long-heeled brown leather boots then headed out to meet Zac.
“Where is this fight you’ve signed me up for?” I asked, pulling on my short denim jacket as we started in the direction of the café.
“Footscray. Is that okay it’s local?”
“Absolutely.” I smiled knowing I no longer feared my mother’s reaction.
“It’ll be very much like the Lilydale fight, but you’ll be matched up with a more experienced fighter given your win last time.”
“Do you think I’m up for it?”
“Absolutely, Jules.” He slung his arm around my shoulders. “You’re the ballsiest girl I’ve ever come across.”
I chuckled at his comment. “Thanks. I think.”
“It’s a compliment. Hold your head high and accept your awesomeness.”
I smiled, grateful for his friendship.
When we entered the café, Juni stood up and waved from a table by the front window. When I reached her, she hugged me and I found myself clinging to her. “It’s so good to see you.”
She held me at arm’s length. “You too, Jules. How are you?”
“I’m great.” I was feeling so much better after my training session, but I really hoped Leo would’ve called by now.
Zac went to the counter to order our coffees while Juni and I made ourselves comfortable on the cushioned window seat.
“I spoke to Sia early this morning.”
“God, I miss her,” I said, sighing. “How is she?”
“I told her she was going to be an aunt.” She rubbed her flat stomach and winked.
Elated, I glanced at her hand. “That is so fantastic. Congratulations.” My face felt like it might split from the grin stretching across it.
“It’s made Sia want to come home though. She says she is craving sister time and doesn’t want to miss my pregnancy or the birth.” Zac arrived with the coffees and sat down opposite us. Juni leaned down to her bag on the floor and pulled out a packet of choc banana Tim Tams and placed it on the table. Without skipping a beat, she continued. “I just don’t want her to give up her chance of happiness with the wonderful-sounding guy she met.”
“Matt divides his time between Europe and Australia, so I doubt it’ll be a problem, and what’s with the Tim Tams?”
“Cravings.” She winked. “I’m blaming the cravings.”
“Perfect. Choc banana though? Ugh.” I made a face and stuck my tongue out. “You can’t mess with the original.”
“I agree, but I’ve become obsessed with them. Anyway, Sia said Matt’s brother, Charlie, is already here.”
I cringed. “He is. I saw him earlier this week.”
“Sia didn’t elaborate at all, but she might’ve hinted Charlie was pretty eager to chase you back to Australia.”
I grimaced. “I’m with Leo. Charlie and I are just friends. Nothing more.”
We spent the next hour chatting about their honeymoon and plans to move to a bigger place before the baby was born. It was wonderful to be around a couple so completely in love and making a future together. I wasn’t jealous. I was inspired. Leo and I would get there in the end. I was sure of it.
“I better get back to the gym,” Zac said regretfully, tapping his watch.
“I better go too,” I said. “I’m having lunch at my parents’, which is always good fun.” I was sure they hadn’t missed my sarcasm.
In the time we’d been sitting inside the cafe, the weather had deteriorated dramatically. Dark clouds had moved in and the temperature had dropped from fresh to straight up cold. I pulled a cream scarf from my bag and double looped it around my neck. I was very glad of the denim jacket I’d shoved in my bag at the last minute, but I still shivered as I said my goodbyes to Zac and Juni, promising to catch up with them again soon.
Rather than bothering to go home for my car, I got a cab straight to my parents’ house. It wasn’t too far and I was intrigued by their big news. I just hoped it was something positive. I didn’t think I could cope with any more drama and yearned for some quiet time. I turned my phone back on and called Leo to see how he was doing. It went straight to voicemail, so I just popped it back in my bag, figuring I’d speak to him after lunch.
Dad opened the door for me and I was a little taken aback by his borderline slovenly attire. My dad was always dressed smartly and would never be seen dead in track pants. It was a strange sight. He laughed. “I know. I know. They are actually really comfortable.”
I chuckled. “Yes they are.”
Feeling something wrap itself around my legs, I screeched when I glanced down to see what I assumed was a cat.
“What the hell is that?” I asked, frozen to the spot while the creature began prancing around me. It looked like a hairless cat, but was behaving like a dog.
Dad bent over and scooped it up, patting it affectionately. “This is Cleopatra. She’s a Sphynx cat.”
“Cute,” I said with a tight grimace. She really wasn’t cute, but on closer inspection, there was something strangely regal about her with her large, oval-shaped eyes and prominent cheekbones.
Dad laughed. “She was your mother’s choice. They are renowned for showing great affection towards their owners.”
I patted Cleopatra’s head tentatively at first, but with more confidence as I ran my hand over the chamois-like texture of her body. “Good luck, Cleopatra,” I whispered.
“Your mother is in the kitchen making tea.”
I wondered through the house and was equally surprised to find her in what looked like yoga pants and an oversized t-shirt.
“What’s going on?” I could hear the fear in my voice. I’d had a feeling something was off all day and my parents’ weirdness wasn’t helping.
She kissed my cheek then went back to pouring tea into their expensive china cups. The whole scene was giving me whiplash. “Nothing bad, Juliette. Calm down.”
Dad appeared behind me. “Let’s go sit in the lounge room.”
They certainly both seemed far more relaxed with each other than they had the last time I had been there.
When we were all seated, I looked at them both expectantly.
“We’re moving to Sydney,” Dad announced with no build-up.
“What?” Mum had mentioned moving when I saw her at Dartmoor, but I hadn’t thought she was serious. “Why?”
“It’s time for a change, and there’s an opportunity for me to open another office in Sydney, so we’re going to take it.”
“When?” I asked, a little surprised that my overwhelming feeling was relief.
“You might’ve pretended to be a little sad,” Dad said. “We were hoping you would come too. Charlie told me he’d offered you a job at his company, so you already have a job lined up in Sydney. We could all start afresh.”
I shook my head adamantly. “I’m not moving to Sydney. No chance. No way.”
My phone ringing from the kitchen was the perfect excuse to cut this conversation short. I wished Dad has just told me this news over the phone to save me the trip. I stood up and left the room.
“Juliette.” Gwendolyn’s voice sounded frantic. “You need to come out to the farmhouse.”
“What’s wrong?” I asked, standing at the French doors overlooking the courtyard.
“Leo was acting really weird. He was slurring his words and was calling out for you just before he collapsed.”
My body froze. My brain didn’t know what to do with those shocking words. My parents appeared next to me, looking curious. Nick had told me he’d taken a nasty blow at the fight. A lump in my throat made it hard to speak without losing my mind.
“I’m coming.” I sounded like a robot and I felt my whole body start to shake with fear. I didn’t even have a fucking car. “I’ll call you on the way.”
Tears started running down my face when I hung up.
“What wrong?” Dad asked, placing his hands on my shoulders.
“It’s Leo,” I choked out. “There’s something wrong with Leo.”
“What happened?” My mother’s concerned voice sounded like fingernails being dragged down a chalkboard. I knew she would never approve of him.
“Not that you’d care, but it sounds like he has a concussion and has passed out.”
“Thug,” my mother mumbled under her breath.
“I need a car. I don’t have my car.” I ignored my mother’s spiteful words. It wasn’t worth the energy when Leo needed me.
“Take my car.” Dad grabbed the keys to his beloved and barely used Porsche from the bench. “Go.”
“Thanks, Dad.” I took the keys, grabbed my phone, stuffed it in my bag and bolted for the back door. The black, pristine-condition Porsche 997 GT3 was waiting for me in their garage. It was a few years old but had barely seen the light of day. Such a waste. This car was made for speed, and that’s exactly what I needed today. This beautiful piece of German engineering was going to take me to Leo in record time.
Dad was behind me as I entered the garage. “Go easy on the clutch, Juliette. It’s a lot heavier than you’re used to and it’s easy to miss a gear.” I smiled sweetly but gritted my teeth, eager to get going. “And the Pirelli P-Zero tyres might not be as grippy as they used to be, so please be careful.”
I tried not to roll my eyes. He had no idea about my driving experience. If he did, he possibly wouldn’t have offered me his baby. “Don’t worry, Dad. I promise I’ll bring it back in one piece.”
Jumping in the driver seat, I waved to my pale and mildly frazzled-looking dad. I started the ignition and heard the engine roar to life. If I hadn’t been so desperate to get out of there, I might’ve sat back and enjoyed one of my favourite sounds. Instead, I ensured there was no slack in the lap sash seatbelt, opened the garage door with the buzzer in the centre console and eased it out in first gear. I rumbled down the back alley, sure that Dad was still watching my exit. However, the second I turned the corner, I changed up a gear and gave it a bit more throttle. When I was sure the engine was warm enough, my foot went to the floor. The car responded to my need for speed instantly, as I knew it would. My back pressed into the seat as I surged forward, assessing the pattern of the cars ahead to make the best lane selections. The city was quickly behind me and the highway opened up ahead.
I hit Gwendolyn’s number on my phone and waited as the Bluetooth picked up the ringing. There was no answer. No need to panic. I refused to panic.
Two minutes later, I called again and officially panicked when it went to voicemail. I tried Leo’s number, hoping Gwendolyn might pick up, but it went straight to voicemail too. Telling myself she was probably on the phone to a doctor, I sucked in some much needed oxygen. Oh God, how was he? I was desperate to know. Even for experienced drivers, there’s a limit you don’t exceed on public roads, and I knew I was dancing precariously close to it. Every time a car in front of me slowed, I’d edge out, and with any kind of a gap to the oncoming traffic, surge past in a flash. This car could out run any Highway Patrol car and I was more than willing to risk a speeding ticket and even my license to get to Leo faster.
When I turned off the highway and onto the quieter streets leading me to the farmhouse, I really opened up the throttle. This car was a Top Gear tragic’s wet dream. I dropped down to third gear to take a tightening corner a touch faster than I should’ve, controlled the oversteer with a quick touch of opposite lock and a gentle squeeze on the throttle and rocketed out the other side. I said a quick danke schön to the Porsche engineers when the farmhouse came into view much sooner than it would’ve in my Mini.
Rather than bump down the cobbled driveway, I screeched to a stop near the front gate, leapt out and dashed down the path to the front door. I didn’t stop to wonder why I couldn’t see Leo’s Jeep, however I stopped in my tracks when I saw a red Honda Civic parked in the driveway. It had to have been Gwendolyn at the church and slowing down in front of the farm house weeks ago. Why had she been spying on us? With no time to deliberate further, I knocked on the door. When no one answered in the two seconds I was prepared to wait, I turned the handle and was relieved to find it unlocked.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Leo
I had no idea what time it was when I felt the first moments of consciousness. As my sluggish brain kicked into gear, I realised something was stuck across my mouth and I couldn’t move my arms or legs. Panicking, I opened my eyes and tried to make sense of my surroundings. I was in my Jeep, lying face down across the backseat. Zip ties bound my legs at the ankles and arms behind my back at the wrists. I figured I had duct tape over my mouth, every muscle in my body was screaming at me and my head was pounding.
What the fuck?
I struggled fruitlessly against the ties, but all that did was make them cut into my skin. When I almost pulled my shoulder from its socket, I knew I needed to stop. My heart was hammering in my chest and I sucked in some air through my nose. Do not panic.
I tried to sit up, but all my limbs felt like jelly. I was sure I’d been drugged and the pain in my arm brought back memories of a sharp jab shortly before I had blacked out. In all my years of fighting, there had never been any retribution outside of fight night. It was fighter’s code to leave retribution for the cage. I didn’t even think Reaper was capable of this and he was a raving lunatic.
I strained my neck back so I could look out the window. It was overcast and there wasn’t a soul in sight. From what I could tell, I would guess it was late afternoon. Had I really been out for over twelve hours or maybe longer? It was the weekend, there were no other cars in the lot that I could see and I had no way of alerting anyone I was there. There was a chance no one would be around until Monday. I tried again to sit up and managed to get enough momentum to be successful this time. Everything swayed, so I closed my eyes and took in some more air. Once I felt my equilibrium return, I opened my eyes again.
Think. Think. Think. Who would’ve done this and why? My greatest fear was that Juliette was in danger, but if I thought too hard about that, I would drive myself insane. Every scenario I could come up with made no sense. I decided the only good use
of my energy was getting free.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Juliette
As I burst through the front door of the farmhouse, I yelled out for Leo, but I was greeted with silence. As I moved into the house, something felt really off. It was eerily quiet. Perhaps it was my fear for Leo’s safety, but I could almost feel the tension pulsing through the walls. The bricks were cracking in places where the mortar was crumbling with time and lack of maintenance. The wooden balustrade I’d once glided my hand down to admire the woodwork was missing some posts and actually looked to be rotten in places. I tried desperately to think clearly.
Feeling panicky, I walked quickly down the hall towards the back of the house, calling out as I went. My nerves were on tenterhooks and paranoia was taking hold of my brain.
“Gwendolyn? Leo?” I called out, trying not to scream the house down. I should’ve asked her for more details. Where had he been when he’d passed out?
I ran up the stairs, taking three steps at a time, and checked all the rooms, calling out as I went. When my search was fruitless, I stopped at the top of the stairs, realising I wasn’t thinking straight at all. Gwendolyn would’ve called and ambulance and had forgotten to call me in the drama of it all. I exhaled a loud breath, realising I’d been holding it for too long, and descended the stairs two at a time. I had no idea which hospital they might go to, but I was sure Google could locate the closest one for me.
At the bottom of the stairs I stopped when I thought I heard a sound in the kitchen. I turned left and rushed back down the hall. As I turned the corner, a visceral tension hit me full force. Nick Matthews was pushing Gwendolyn roughly into the kitchen through the back door. What the hell is going on and where is Leo?
Nick appeared shocked to see me and grabbed hold of Gwendolyn to stop her going any further. “What are you doing here?” Nick asked in a tone that sent fear shooting through me like a shot of adrenaline. Gwendolyn had a sly grin on her face and I knew I’d been played.
My stomach dropped as my eyes zeroed in on the gun Nick was holding and the fact it was being pushed up against the side of Gwendolyn’s neck. He had a freaking gun! My eyes met hers and all I saw were dark pools, devoid of light and warmth. I wondered if she was drunk, high, both or just plain crazy. My heart felt painfully restricted as it jackhammered against its bony confines and I could feel a light sweat break out on my forehead. Is this really happening? Standing in the very place where Leo’s father had been murdered, I was terrified. I took a deep breath and swallowed the lump in my throat, but couldn’t yet find my voice.
Impact (The Fight for Life #2) Page 20