Fight for Me

by Jessica Linden

  And there was also the matter of X’s cops. They’d already managed to cover up so many things for X over the years. So even if he went to the police, there were no guarantees.

  Fuck.

  He remembered what Amelia had said about that cop who was digging into old files. What had she said? X’s panties were in a twist. He smiled wryly into the darkness at the mental image. He sure would like to know what that cop had uncovered, but it’s not like he could waltz into the police station and ask.

  If he were smart, he’d leave town now and not look back.

  Natalie shifted, moving her leg on top of Knox’s and snuggling closer into him.

  He rested his chin against her forehead and closed his eyes, concentrating on the feel of her body against his.

  He was one dumbass motherfucker.

  Because he knew what he needed to do.

  Once way or another, he had to take care of X. Permanently.

  Chapter 14

  Natalie stared at the contraption Knox held out to her. “You want me to do what?”

  “Get on and ride.”

  She was well-acquainted with riding a bike—the one in the gym that you didn’t have to balance on and didn’t actually move. The rusted-out piece of junk that Knox wanted her to sit on was another story.

  She had no clue where the two rusty beach cruisers had come from. Knox had disappeared for half an hour this morning and come back with these. They were probably stolen, which didn’t bother her as much as it should have—as much as it would have a few weeks ago.

  If she’d learned nothing else from this experience, she’d discovered that sometimes wrong is just plain wrong, but most times, wrong fell into a huge gray area. And that’s where she’d been spending most of her time lately.

  She swung her leg over the bike and rested her butt on the seat, the metal digging into her left ass cheek. The seat’s padding had seen better days.

  They set off toward the center of the city. They’d debated whether it was better to travel during rush hour when they could blend in or before, when there were fewer people on the road, but they’d stand out more. In the end, they’d decided to set out way before rush hour, which was why Natalie found herself pedaling on this death contraption at six A.M.

  Knox glanced over at her, flashing one of his elusive smiles. “It’s just like—”

  “Don’t even finish that sentence,” Natalie said, narrowing her eyes at him. So she was wobbling a bit on the bike. She hadn’t fallen over—yet—so she’d consider that a victory. Knox could just shut it.

  The greenhouse that was their destination was on the complete opposite end of town, so honestly, the bikes were a godsend. Otherwise, it would have taken them hours to get there.

  Natalie had done some research before they’d set out so they’d know what to expect. She’d been pleased to see that Tabatha Dimitri ran the greenhouse. She’d met the woman before and had liked her. She was much more likely than Harding to help them. Hopefully, she knew where Eleanor Simmons had ended up.

  She also hoped Tabatha hadn’t changed her routine. The news article she’d found online stated she spent her mornings at the community greenhouse, but the article was several months old.

  The greenhouse was deserted when they arrived, so they stowed the bikes around back and out of sight, and Natalie quickly picked the lock. They settled to wait behind a row of plants. Tomatoes? Zucchini? She had no idea. If she really wanted to know, she could look it up online later.

  Natalie sighed, running a leaf through her fingers. “I feel like we’ve been doing a lot of waiting around.”

  Knox shrugged. “That’s not a bad thing if it’s strategy.”

  “I just feel like we could be doing more.”

  “There’s no reason to expend energy for the sake of doing something if it won’t be effective. Like in the cage—sometimes you have to wait for the right opening. Wasting energy doesn’t help in the long run.”

  Natalie smiled at Knox. “How come you’re so smart?”

  Knox snorted. “I might know about fighting strategy, but I’m not smart.”

  “Yes, you are. You don’t give yourself enough credit.”

  “I don’t even have a high school diploma.” Knox stared straight ahead as he said this, not meeting Natalie’s eyes. She’d wondered about that.

  “I guess X didn’t care too much about education.” She tried to imagine Knox as a desperate adolescent, so desperate that he looked up to X as a father figure. She couldn’t picture it. Knox was always so in control, and he always seemed to know what he was doing.

  Knox shrugged. “Not that kind of education. He taught me to fight.”

  Natalie watched him and the façade of nonchalance he displayed. He might act like he didn’t care, but she knew better. She’d seen the pain in his features and heard the desperation in his voice when he talked about his past.

  “A diploma’s just a piece of paper, you know.”

  “Money’s just paper, too, but it sure as hell matters.”

  He made a valid point. But she was sure, now more than ever, that there were much more important things in life than what could be printed on paper, money included.

  How ironic, considering they were hiding in a greenhouse, stalking a woman who could possibly help Natalie gain control of the Farrington money.

  But it wasn’t about the money exactly. It was about controlling her destiny and making sure the Farrington legacy didn’t fall to her bloodthirsty father.

  And she had to be honest here—even if it wasn’t the most important thing, money helped. It helped a lot.

  She reached over and put a hand on Knox’s arm. “I’m not going to lie. Money helps. But that doesn’t make it the most important thing.”

  He looked down at her hand, then his eyes met hers. His gaze was cool before he returned to staring straight ahead. “Someone like me doesn’t fit into your world. You deserve a doctor or a lawyer or someone who is somebody.”

  She was taken aback for a moment. After everything they’d been through, how could he still think that way?

  “You are somebody, Knox.”

  “You deserve better than me.”

  “I don’t know what I deserve,” she said slowly, “but I know I need you.”

  He slowly turned his head to look at her, his expression pained. He opened his mouth to speak, but she swallowed his words with her mouth, wanting to show him.

  She ran her hand up his chest to rest on his cheek and softly worked her lips on his. His resistance gave way, and she straddled his lap.

  He ran his hands under her shirt and up her back, pulling her close against him. His tongue parted her lips, and she welcomed the dizzy sensation that always accompanied his touch.

  How could he possibly believe he wasn’t enough for her? Up until now, she’d been living a lie, and Knox was her truth.

  She’d just have to make him believe it.

  Knox was so lost in the feel of Natalie straddling him that he almost missed the sound of the door being unlocked.

  He pulled away from her and put a finger to his lips. She nodded, her cheeks flushed and her lips swollen.

  Talk about shitty timing.

  Although making love to her on the concrete floor of a dirty greenhouse would only prove his point that he wasn’t good enough for her. She deserved five-star hotels and silk sheets, not sleeping bags in decrepit houses with no power.

  She silently removed herself from his lap, and he scrubbed a hand over his face. Then he shifted to a crouching position, ready to move if need be. Natalie did the same.

  Thank God it was only the Dimitri woman. When Natalie’s body was pressed up against him, he lost all sense of reason. She was his fucking drug.

  He hoped it didn’t get them killed one of these days.

  Tabatha flipped on the light switch and the low buzzing of the fluorescent lighting filled the silence. Natalie looked at him with the silent question in her eyes. Now? He shook his head. Tabatha w
as the only one who’d entered the building, but it was too soon to tell if she was alone. They’d give it another couple minutes.

  They watched as Tabatha flipped on the radio and tinny classical music filled the large space. What a fucking cliché.

  Natalie bounced a little in her crouching position, her fingers fidgeting. She shot him a distressed look, but he shook his ahead again. She didn’t like waiting.

  Five minutes passed by, and Tabatha was still alone. It was a safe enough bet that no one was going to join her. Still, they would follow the plan—once they were sure Tabatha wasn’t a danger to Natalie, Knox would slip out of the greenhouse to secure the area. With any luck, the most he’d have to deal with would be another spineless driver.

  What the hell was with these people and their drivers? They shelled out six figures for these fancy-ass cars that they didn’t even drive themselves.

  He motioned Natalie forward and she stood, leaning over far enough that she couldn’t be seen through the rows of plants. She continued forward with Knox close behind. When she was a few rows away from Tabatha, she showed herself.

  Tabatha let out a little yelp, her hand clutching at her chest.

  “Tabatha, don’t worry,” Natalie said, putting her palms out to show her harmless intentions. “I just want to talk to you.”

  Tabatha cocked her head to the side, recognition showing in her eyes after a few moments. “Natalie, I didn’t recognize you at first with that short dark hair.” Her gaze shifted to Knox. “And this must be your abductor.”

  Natalie rolled her eyes. “He didn’t abduct me.”

  Tabatha raised her eyebrows as she surveyed Knox. “I might not mind being abducted by him.”

  Natalie laughed, but it was forced.

  Tabatha didn’t seem the least bit alarmed by their presence, which set Knox on edge. Wouldn’t a lone woman normally be afraid when approached by two fugitives? Amelia hadn’t been, but she’d had two big-ass dogs. Plus, she just wasn’t afraid of anything.

  Knox jerked his head toward the door, and Natalie nodded. Time to secure the area.

  Knox opened the door, but before he stepped out, Tabatha called over her shoulder, “It’s just me.”

  While Knox appreciated her candor, he wasn’t going to take her word for it. He stepped out and the parking lot was empty, save for a white two-seater convertible sports car. She was most likely telling the truth about being alone, but Amelia’s words rang in his ears: You can’t trust the blue bloods in this town.

  Not that he needed Amelia’s warning. As a general rule, he didn’t trust many.

  He circled around the building, but the most noteworthy thing he found was a stray cat who mewed and rubbed along his ankles.

  Christ. First Tabatha and now the damn cat. Did he intimidate no one anymore?

  In a few weeks, that wouldn’t matter much anymore. Intimidation wasn’t part of most job descriptions. Then again, it was just about his only skill.

  Fuck. He’d have to get a job or something when this was all over. He was strong. Maybe he could work in a warehouse or something. But what a shitty existence.

  He’d be better suited to work as a bodyguard.

  Maybe Natalie would hire him.

  If he managed to keep her safe. Maybe this was his goddamn fucking interview.

  His hands fisted at the thought of seeing Natalie every day, but not being able to touch her, to kiss her, to love her. He never would have dared to dream of having a woman like Natalie in his life, but now that she was there, he didn’t want to live without her.

  Too bad he was barely qualified to even be her employee, much less her lover. Where the hell did he expect their relationship to go? Where could it go?

  Nowhere. No matter how deeply he felt for her, he wasn’t good enough for her. He never would be. He was nothing but a street fighter thug with no prospects for a future.

  Even still, he wasn’t giving her up without a fight.

  The clang of the door had him rounding the corner in record time. He almost ran headfirst into Natalie.

  “She doesn’t know where Eleanor is,” she said, the disappointment evident on her face. “I really thought she could help us.”

  Knox put his hands on his hips. Another dead end. No reason to hang around any longer than necessary, though.

  “Let’s go.” He ushered Natalie to the back of the building to pick up their bikes.

  She rode ahead of him on the way back, her shoulders slumped. If only he could help locate this woman. His skills didn’t extend to finding missing persons, though. He felt useless. Again. Fuck. He’d give anything to be able to help her beyond using his fists.

  The ride back was slower than the ride out because the sidewalks were riddled with pedestrians, and they had to stop for red lights at almost every other block. Knox ground his teeth as they hit their sixth red light in a row.

  Natalie made it through, but Knox was forced to stop or take out a woman with a baby in a stroller. There were few lines he wouldn’t cross to keep Natalie safe, but needlessly plowing into an infant was one of them.

  He considered darting through traffic, but his getting flattened by a dump truck wouldn’t do either of them any good. He crossed his arms, waiting for the next light cycle while Natalie lingered on the other side. He didn’t like this.

  Suddenly, a black SUV pulled to a stop in front of him, blocking his view of her.

  What the hell?

  Shit, no. This wasn’t good.

  He swung his leg over his bike, stretching to see around the SUV.

  The doors on both sides swung open and two men got out on his side. Through the back window, he could see a man approaching Natalie. The blood in his veins chilled, turning to solid ice when he saw the look of terror on her face.

  Fuck. That Dimitri bitch must have sold them out.

  He threw his bike to the ground and nearby pedestrians jumped out of the way, some of them cursing at him. Once they saw the two men approaching Knox, they scattered.

  Take them out quickly. Then get to Natalie.

  He had to trust that she could take care of herself long enough for him to handle these two thugs. He was outnumbered, and it wouldn’t help either of them if he let himself be distracted now.

  But the dread in his stomach didn’t lessen.

  The first guy came at Knox, not wasting any time in throwing the first punch. Knox easily dodged by ducking, coming up to uppercut the guy several times in his kidneys. The second guy charged Knox from the side, wrapping his arms around Knox’s midsection. Knox’s feet skidded until he was slammed into the side of the stone building.

  The second guy was a lot stronger and a lot better trained. His hand went to Knox’s throat but Knox swung his leg out, his foot making contact with his side. That made the guy loosen his grip, but he didn’t let go.

  Knox head-butted him hard enough to make him break contact, but also hard enough for Knox’s vision to blur for a few precious seconds.

  The second guy staggered back and the first guy charged him. Knox sidestepped and put his hand behind the guy’s head, using his own momentum to slam his forehead into the building. He slunk to the ground, leaving a smear of blood on the stone wall.

  Knox quickly pivoted, searching for the second guy while also trying to catch a glimpse of Natalie. That little loss of concentration was enough to give the second guy the upper hand. His palm slammed into Knox’s throat again, and Knox twisted before he could get a strong grip.

  His throat screamed at him with every breath he sucked in.

  Sirens wailed in the distance, and the guy looked at Knox one last time before turning and sprinting to the waiting SUV.

  Oh, fuck no.

  Knox tackled him from behind and repeatedly punched him in the temple. Yeah, it was a little dirty to hit him while he was on his stomach on the ground, but he hadn’t thought twice about outnumbering Knox, so Knox figured it was fair.

  Besides, he would do whatever it took to get to Natalie.<
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  The guy wasn’t unconscious, but he was hurt enough that he wasn’t getting up. Knox leaped up, frantically searching for Natalie.

  There. Across the street. A few male bystanders stood between the guy and her, creating a human barrier. Thank God there were a few Good Samaritans left in this town.

  The sirens grew louder, and the second guy dragged himself off the ground and jumped into the backseat of the SUV. It peeled away with a squeal of tires.

  The sound caught Natalie’s attacker’s attention and when he swung his head in that direction, his eyes met with Knox’s.

  Knox didn’t hesitate. He sprinted into traffic. Horns blared, and he narrowly missed being hit by a yellow cab.

  Natalie used the distraction to slip into the coffee shop behind her, but the guy noticed, and pushed the bystanders out of the way to pursue her.

  Knox flew into the coffee shop, hurtling over the table the guy had knocked over on his way through. Patrons all around him shrieked.

  He burst into the kitchen just in time to see the guy fly out the back door. Damn, he’s fast.

  Knox would have to be faster. Natalie’s life was at stake.

  Chapter 15

  Natalie’s legs pumped, the pounding of the assailant’s feet behind her urging her to go faster. It sounded like he was gaining on her.

  No, no, no!

  She was in an alley, similar to the first one she’d found herself in. The one where she’d killed the guard.

  Please, God, don’t let it get to that.

  As if God was listening, she felt the gun start to slip out of her pants pocket, the motion of her running causing it to ride up. With a clatter, it fell to the ground.

  Shit, shit, shit.

  Even though she didn’t want to be forced to use the gun, she didn’t want to be without it, either.

  Maybe he would stop to pick it up. She doubted it. He was probably already armed.

  Knox would be proud of her—she was actually following his first rule—run away. But it wasn’t working. Her legs were tiring, and her lungs were burning. Yet, he was still gaining on her.

  She hung a sharp left, and seeing a Dumpster, she made a split decision. She scurried to the top of it, poised to jump. If she was forced to grapple with the guy, she wanted the upper hand, literally. She just hoped that her weight and the force of her landing on him would be enough to take him down.