“How long have I been here?”
“You’ve been asleep for about five hours. You had a slight concussion when you got here, and we thought it was best if we let you rest.”
“I thought it was dangerous to let someone with a concussion sleep.”
“It can be, but we’ve been monitoring your brain activity,” he tells me pointing to a monitor next to the bed. “Medicine is often no match for sleep when it comes to healing. I can tell you’re in some pain, so I am going to give you a little something.”
I watch him use a syringe to put something in my I.V., and my hand gets uncomfortably cold as it goes in. “Am I okay?”
“You will be. You have some bruised ribs and a few other cuts and bruises that need to heal. You’re going to need to rest for at least a few days, and I’ll be recommending that you don’t spar for about a week.”
“Is that alright?” I ask Darcy, worried that I’ll be kicked out of the program.
“Yes, Sierra. You won’t be penalized for what happened,” Reina says from the doorway. “From what I’ve been told, Nate was barely able to subdue Greta. There was no way you could’ve been prepared for her. Hell, I probably couldn’t have held her off, and I’ve been fighting for years.”
“She definitely seemed to go a little crazy in there.”
“Do you know why she picked you to spar with? Jade said she called you out immediately.”
I look to Darcy, who nods. “It’s not snitching, Si. We have to work together, and if there’s a problem, Reina needs to know. One day we’ll tell you how keeping something quiet almost brought down the entire Society.”
I sigh, knowing she’s right. “She wants Joel.”
“You mean to tell me that she attacked you because of a guy?” Reina asks, barely containing her anger.
“Yes. She was flirting with him at the club the other night, but he left her when I walked in. He kissed me in the cafeteria today when Miles brought him in.”
“I know. I saw it,” she tells me with a smile.
“We all saw it,” Darcy says.
“I also saw you pretty much dismiss him afterwards.”
“He tends to say things that make me angry, but he’s promised to help me with Portuguese, so I usually ignore it. Sometimes, I don’t.” I say with a shrug.
“Sounds about right. He’s a good guy, and he actually helped me out once, but he can be a little full of himself sometimes. I’m happy to hear he’s willing to tutor you in Portuguese, though. You need to pass, Sierra.”
“I know.”
“And he’s one hot tutor,” Darcy adds.
“That he is,” I agree.
“On that note, Sierra needs her rest,” Kendrick says in his stern doctor voice.
“And we need to decide what to do about Greta.”
“She’ll expose us all if you make her angry,” I tell them, feeling the truth of it down to my bones.
“No. She won’t. In fact, if she’s forced to leave, she won’t remember ever being here,” Reina tells me with a wink.
“Don’t worry about her. And if it helps, you’re not the only one she has a problem with, so she’s already been on thin ice.”
“Darcy,” Reina says with steel in her voice before my mentor can elaborate.
“Fine. My lips are zipped. I’ll come see you tomorrow, though. We all will.”
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome. Oh, and hey, your phone’s on the table next to you. I shut it off because it was going off like crazy for a little while. Ainsley’s kept Zack in the dark for now, so I’m guessing it’s your hot tutor.”
“Oh. Yeah. I think we were going to make plans to meet up. I’ll check it.”
She gives me a little wave, and after Kendrick checks me over one more time, and orders me dinner, I turn my phone on. There are more missed calls, texts, and voicemails than I’ve ever had in one day, and they’re all from Joel. They start out nice and flirty, but by the end, he’s pissed and telling me that since I’m not holding up my end of our deal, he’s not holding up his either.
Shit. I can’t tell him exactly what happened, but I have to say something. I need his help, and if I’m honest with myself, I need more of his kisses, too. I wrack my brain for the words I need. I have a handle on Italian and French, so I’ve started looking up some Portuguese to get ready for Joel. Okay, and because I like surprising him with a word here and there. I close my eyes, and the first word I need comes to me. I type it into my phone and send it off.
Me: Desculpe. I’m sorry.
It’s almost five minutes later when his response comes.
Joel: I don’t play games off the field. Where the fuck have you been?
I can’t tell him exactly what happened, but I can tell him part of the truth.
Me: We had self-defense training today. I didn’t do so well. Estou magoado. I am hurt.
This time the response is immediate. It’s also in Portuguese, which tells me how freaked out he is.
Joel: Quanto? Onde está você? Por favor, diga.
I’m pleased to know I can translate all of it. How? Where are you? Please tell me.
Me: I’m being taken care of. That’s all I can tell you. I’ll be okay. I just have to rest for a few days.
Joel: Who were you fighting against?
Me: Greta
Joel. Merda.
Me: Yeah. Pretty much. She thinks I moved in on you when she saw you first.
Joel: You know that’s not true.
Me: I do.
Joel: Can we text? I can help you while you’re resting. I’ll send you words and phrases to learn.
Me: I’d like that. Do you have time for that, though?
Joel. Claro. I always have time for you. Boa noite, Gatinha.
Me: Eu te adoro, Joel.
Joel: :)
I do adore him. Probably more than I should, and definitely more than is safe for me. He’s sweeter than he seems, and just as sexy as I expected. So far he hasn’t asked me to do anything I’m not comfortable with, and I’m a little disappointed. I kind of want to cook him dinner, be on his arm, and yeah, I definitely want to sleep with him.
I’m in trouble, and not from a few bruised ribs. It’s my heart that’s in danger of getting broken, and I already think it’s too late to keep that organ out of the equation.
Chapter 4
Joel
“What’s so funny?” Miles asks me as I burst out laughing after looking at my phone.
We’re eating in the cafeteria again, but Sierra’s not here this time. She thinks she’ll be released from her secret location tomorrow, and I can’t wait to see her in person. Texting is fun, but kissing is so much better.
“Sierra’s trying to guess while translating the phrase I just sent her in Portuguese. She’s failing miserably.”
I text her to try again, and then shake my head. She’s going to need to look it up, even if that means taking a blow to her pride. My girl is stubborn, but I love it. Whoa. My girl. Porra. Fuck. I realize I want her to be my girl, but not because I’m forcing her. That whole agreement thing seemed like a good idea at the time, but I don’t want it anymore. I want to spend time with her because she wants to be with me, not because I forced her into a stupid agreement.
I text her before I can second guess myself.
Me: I want this to be real.
Kitten: What about our agreement?
Me: Eu gosto de você. That agreement was stupid. I just wanted to get you to spend time with me, but I don’t want to force you.
Kitten: I like you, too.
Me: I’d like to cook you dinner tomorrow night if you get released.
Kitten: I thought I was supposed to be the one cooking.
Me: I meant what I said about the deal. All bets are off, querida. I want to help you, but I also want you in my life because you want to be with me.
Kitten: Eu te quero! I want you.
Me: Também
Kitten: I need to look up what you sen
t me earlier.
Me: I know. I’m eating with Miles right now, so I should probably talk to him instead of texting you. I’ll call you later.
Kitten: Bo apetite!
“You’ve got it bad, man.”
“No, Miles. I’ve got it good.”
“Spring Training starts soon.”
“It does.” I’ve got another six weeks before I have to report.
“What’s your plan for when you have to head back to Cali?”
“I have no fucking clue. Between you and me, I don’t even know if I’ll be ready. My shoulder’s been healing well, but is it well enough?”
“You’re doing PT, right?”
“Yeah. The guy’s pretty good, and I feel better. I need to go to the cages, though.”
“You haven’t been batting?”
“No. We do stuff to simulate hitting and throwing, but I haven’t done the real thing. I didn’t want to go down to the field and try to do it in front of the staff, and I was afraid someone would see me at a local place.”
“Shit. You should’ve said something. I have a room with cages at home, but the C&C apartments have a full regulation size cage as part of the game room on the main floor. You can use that one. I’ll get you the clearance to enter the building.”
“Is that were Sierra lives?”
“Yes, but I can’t get you access to her floor without her permission.”
“I’m cooking her dinner tomorrow if she gets released, so that’s not a problem. Maybe she’ll want to go to this game room with me after.”
“If she’s up for it. I heard she was in pretty bad shape after what happened.”
“I still don’t understand how she could get so hurt from a self-defense class.”
“From what I understand, Greta went after her like they were figthing for the title belt.”
“Crazy bitch.”
“Who’s heading this way.”
“What?”
“Hi, Joel,” she says, putting her hand on my shoulder as she stands next to my chair.
I stand up and move away from her. “Get the the fuck away from me.”
“Greta, you need to go sit down with the other girls,” Isabelle Mason says, coming up behind her.
“I don’t have to listen to you, you stupid little girl.”
“The only stupid thing I’ve done is agree to mentor you as an intern for the Foundation. Get over to that table, or get the Hell out of this building.”
Whoa. The girl genius means business. I’m impressed, and more than a little afraid, as I hear the steel in her voice. Greta tries to stare her down, but when it doesn’t work, she stomps over to a table on the other side of the room. Once she sits, everyone else stands and walks to another table, leaving her alone and fuming.
Isabelle shakes her head, and then looks at me. “Fique longe dela. Eu não posso controlá-la fora destas paredes, e eu não quero ver Sierra machucar novamente. As outras meninas vão defendê-la, mas haverá vítimas.” Stay away from her. I can't control her outside of these walls, and I don't want to see Sierra hurt again. The other girls will defend her, but there will be casualties.
“Eu não quero nada a ver com aquela vadia louca.” I want nothing to do with that crazy bitch.
“Good.”
She turns and walks away. Miles just shakes his head when I sit down again. “I thought I had it rough with Alex when we got together, but it looks like you’re in the middle of a shit show right now.”
“All I want is Sierra. She’s worth the trouble.” I just have to hope that she thinks I’m worth it, too.
* * *
Sierra
“There was an altercation in the cafeteria today,” Reina tells me as I get ready to leave the hospital wing.
“What kind of altercation?” I ask, sitting down on the bed.
“Joel was eating with Miles, and Greta tried to approach him.”
“Oh.”
“It’s a little worse than ‘oh’ I’m afraid.”
“Did he do something wrong?”
“Joel? No. He did exactly what I would expect him to do. He told her to get away from him.”
“I’m guessing that didn’t go over so well.”
“No, but I’m not concerned with that. Joel isn’t one of us. I had hoped that her attack on you was a single lapse in judgement. Her insulting Isa, and then seeing the other girls ostracize her, made it clear that she can’t continue on in the program.”
“So she’s being mind-wiped?”
“Something like that,” she tells me with a laugh, before getting serious again. “I’m so sorry, Sierra. We’ve had unstable people slip through our tests before, but I feel extra responsible for Greta. I designed this program, and it kills me that I let someone like her in.”
“Don’t, Reina. I’ve seen all of you in action, and I’ve heard what you’ve told us over and over again. We’re a team here, only as strong as our weakest link. No one person decides the fate of the Society.”
“You’re right. I know you’re right, because I have said those words. Thank you for reminding me of them, Sierra. I have a couple of friends I need to remind as well. You’re okay here, and with getting home?”
“Yes. Zack’s driving me, and then Joel’s coming over to cook me dinner later.”
“Sounds like the men in your life have things covered, which is never a bad thing. Being strong women doesn’t mean we don’t need a good man by our side, especially when he’s offering his help. And God, I sound like a walking self-help book lately, don’t I?”
“No. You sound like a woman who learned some great lessons, and is imparting them to us now.”
“Yes, well, just remember that no one’s life is perfect. It shouldn’t be, because working for something just makes it more rewarding. Love included.”
“And languages, too, right?”
“All of the training you’ll be receiving falls under that category. You’re doing a great job. The tests you passed while lying injured in that bed, only prove that you belong here even more. I have complete faith in you and your ability to master the other three languages.”
“Muito obrigada, Reina.”
“De nada, Sierra.”
I endure a quiet ride home with Zack, who is still pissed that Ainsley didn’t tell him what happened right away. He can’t stay mad at her without sleeping in the guest room, but I’m fair game once he pulls into the underground garage.
“I should’ve been there with you!”
“To do what, watch over me while I slept? Darcy was already doing that.”
“I don’t know if I can handle this, Si. I worry about Ains, and she’s mostly in her lair. Now I have to worry about you going out on missions. It scares me to think about you fighting bad guys.”
“Don’t ask me to quit, Zack. I love you, but I can’t do that. I just can’t.”
“I know. I wouldn’t ask you to do that. Just know that if anything ever happens to you, I’ll go to the ends of the earth to hunt down the person who hurts you. Ainsley already promised to help me hide the body.”
“Of course she did,” I tell him, rolling my eyes, “I love you, big brother.”
“I love you too, sis. So much.”
“I know.”
We get out of the car, and he pulls me into a hug, holding onto me for longer than I think he ever has before. I hold him right back, and try to send calming vibes into him like Audrey taught us during class. I finally feel him relax against me, and we pull apart.
“Let’s get you upstairs.”
“I can do that myself you know,” I remind him as we enter into the lobby from the garage elevator.
“I know, but...what the fuck?”
“What’s wrong?” I ask looking past him into the lobby, and smile when I see Joel leaning up against one of the walls.
“What are you doing here, Cruz?”
“Cooking dinner for Sierra,” Joel tells him, standing up straight, and matching Zack’s hostile pose.
“Você é linda, Gatinha.”
“Thank you,” I say, blushing more than a little.
“What did he say to you?” Zack demands.
“None of your business,” I tell him.
“Sierra.”
“I told her she’s beautiful.”
“Oh, well yeah. Of course she is. She’s always beautiful.”
“I agree.”
Zack does the whole chin tilt guy thing, telling Joel they’re good. I get a kiss on the forehead, and he finally leaves us alone. Which makes me really happy, but also really nervous at the same time.
I really am a mess, with bruises still fading, and wearing a Legions hoodie and flannel pajama bottoms. While Joel looks as hot as ever in one of the henley style shirts he seems to favor, and faded jeans, along with biker boots. Does he have a motorcycle? I don’t even know, which makes me wonder what we’re even doing here.
“What’s that frown for?”
“I just realized how little I know about you.”
“I’ll be happy to tell you anything you want to know while I cook you dinner.”
I nod. I know it’s not fair since I can’t be completely honest with him, but there’s a lot I can still share with him. “You can ask me things, too.”
“In Portuguese?”
“We can try it. I’m not sure I’m there yet, but I’m game,” I tell him as we get in the elevator.
“Speaking of game, Miles got me access to the bottom floor here so I can use the batting cages. If you’re not too tired after dinner, do you want to hang out with me while I see if my arm still works?”
“You haven’t tried to hit yet?”
“No.”
“Are you sure you want me there?”
“Yeah. I’m sure.”
“I’ll be there. Tonight, and any other night I can.”
“Thank you.”
“You don’t have to thank me. It’s what girlfriends do.”
“Are you my girlfriend?”
“Oh, um, no. I mean...merda...you said you wanted this to be real..I shouldn’t have assumed.”
“Let me rephrase the question,” he tells me placing his fingers over my mouth. “Você vai ser minha namorada, Sierra Taylor?”
Society Girls: Sierra Page 4