Fighting to Stay (Fighting Madly Book 2)

by Ziegler, S. L.

“I may have.”

  “I’m scared to find out what’s in the other two.”

  “Nah. Don’t be, one is from me—nothing too special, just your ‘something blue’ your mother made me promise to make sure you got. Just in case you forgot.” He bends down, picking one of the other presents from the chair. I take it from his hands, and just as carefully, I open it. And a stunning pair of deep-blue sapphire earrings dangle in the box.

  “Oh, daddy. Thank you so, so, so much! They match my engagement ring to a T.” I stand on my tiptoes and press a kiss on his cheek.

  My father’s face turns a deep red from my praise. He shakes it off. “Yep. Sarah and Courtney helped pick them out for me. I’m going to head out for a few, get some air before I have to hand over my baby girl and he just plucks you away.” He squeezes me tight before leaving me alone.

  I sit down then place the slippers on my feet. They fit me like a glove. I stretch my legs out. The light from the outside dances off the crystals. One day I will have a daughter, either adoptive or biological, and I will pass them on to her, along with the note and the strong meaning behind them. I always said it means the world to me, but never once did something take hold as well as this.

  I rise to my feet, and each step feels like walking on air. It’s bittersweet, knowing I’m walking in the same shoes my mother did. Certainly big shoes to fill.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Shit, Reed, you aren’t supposed to see me.” My arms fly up, trying to hide my dress from his view.

  He takes slow and steady steps toward me, so devilishly handsome in his black, button-up shirt, and red tie. “I couldn’t have the first time I saw you in this be with all those fuckers around. Wouldn’t want to hold myself back from getting my hands on you. Probably bad wedding shit to rip off the dress with guests around.” Reed’s hands meet my hips, gathering me against him.

  “Who is taking care of Owen?”

  He pinches his eyebrows together. “Who doesn’t want to hold a six-month-old bad-ass in a three-piece suit?”

  “You’re having him passed around so you can get laid?”

  “Nah, I’m not that big of a pig, just wanted to scare the shit out of you. Don’t worry, Sarah and Laura have their eyes on him. Now stop all this mindless chatter and let me get down to business about the reason I’m here.”

  I pull my bottom lip between my teeth and grin up at him. Leave it to Reed to break tradition to get laid before the wedding night. Yet I can’t even pretend to be mad at him for doing it because him in a suit, and those tattoos peeking out of his sleeves and neck, does wild things to my insides. “And what would that certain business be?”

  “Why, to fuck my beautiful bride up against that wall before my dick breaks in these pants. But first, I want to give you my present.”

  “Is that what the other present is that my dad had? It’s not going to make me cry, right?”

  “Who knows with you?” He drops one hand from my waist, picks up the box, and shoves it in my hands. “Now this is from Owen and me, and no, your dad doesn’t know I’m up here.”

  This time, I pay no attention to the wrapping and rip it as fast as my fingers can move, the pieces of paper falling to the floor. I’m stunned as the small, red box lies in my hands and Reed pops open the top for me.

  “Reed…what did you do? This…” I stare up at him, my face has to be beaming with a lifetime of love, happiness, and contentment. My heart overfills with emotions.

  “I never said I didn’t do all this romance shit.”

  “This will never be taken off.”

  Reed takes the necklace out of the box, then turns me around and hooks it behind my neck. My fingers slide all around the charms, a sparrow, a moon, and a star. They are the things that mean the most to me. “It’s perfect.” I twist my neck, kissing him dead on the lips. My heart beats feverishly against my chest.

  “You can thank me now.”

  “That I can do. But we only have ten minutes till you have to be waiting for me.”

  “Quality over quantity babe. And my quality is the shit.” He pushes me up against the wall and crashes his lips to mine.

  “May I have this dance, Mrs. Collins?” Reed reaches down, holding out his hand for me to take.

  “You certainly may, Mr. Collins.”

  “Don’t call me that shit. Mister is for someone not cool like me.”

  We move along, dancing across the makeshift floor outside, and the stars shine bright down on us. “Tonight’s been magical, Reed. Really, thank you for making this come true.”

  “I always said if you wanted to get married on the fucking moon, I would make it happen.” The light shines on his wedding band just right, making it glitter. And never did a piece of jewelry look so good on someone. Now I know why he is always kissing mine.

  “It’s not the moon, but pretty damn close.” I lay my head on his shoulder, glancing around at the loved ones around us. Laura, Gus, Courtney, Lance, and James all laughing at the date Matt brought. My father has Owen on his lap, making funny faces at him. Sarah and Mark are lost in their own moment. Jadon and Gracie are moving to their own beat next to them.

  Everyone here, all of these people that helped us along the way.

  It’s one special night, and one hell of a ride to get us here.

  Our love, at times, was messy. It could be called unapologetic, or a pile of a million pieces thrown all over the world.

  But it’s ours.

  At times our passion, stubbornness, and mistakes turned to decisions and awful judgment calls that turned us away from each other.

  But it was ours to turn upside down.

  Yet at times, our love was strong and steady, ready to fight. And those are the times I live for.

  It was ours, the plunge to take was on the backs of both of us.

  Nothing earth-shattering in life isn’t worth the risk. If it doesn’t take tears, time, fight, blood, or sweat, how would you ever appreciate it when you do get it? How would you be able to make it through the bad times without all that good before and after? Hearts were shattered, truths were told. But our hearts still clung to one another.

  We fought to start, when being lifted up too high was the scariest thing to face.

  We fought to stay wrapped up in each other’s arms, when nothing seemed to be right.

  And…

  We fought to survive when fate tried to pull us away.

  But we are here, with all those mistakes behind us, our future bright, and we’re ready for it all. With Owen in our arms. We’ll do it all.

  Now that’s the true, honest meaning behind loving someone to the brink of madly.

  Craving the Darkness

  By SL Ziegler

  Coming spring 2016

  Enzo was the monster my father warned me about, the one lurking in the shadows of the night. Ready to strike. The one to steal away my light right from under me.

  But here… Right here where I still feel the echoes of the gunshot through my head. Where the crimson blood of his victim still drips off his shirt. Enzo’s eyes burning—scorching—through me, I know one thing is for certain.

  I can never turn away from him.

  I can never spare a glance at another man.

  Enzo wants my light, it’s his. He wants my life, I’ll hand it over to him on a silver fucking platter.

  Because he is the monster I crave, even with all the darkness surrounding him, even if he suffocates every last breath out of my body.

  Even if it’s my blood next on his shirt.

  Unwritten

  By Lauren Runow

  Chapter 1

  Charlie

  The memories that flood through me as I walk through the door of Slim’s make me stop and smile. The smell of beer mixed with years of smoke and sweat is something that brings me back in time. Memories of my first few months in San Francisco normally haunt me but as I stand here all I can do is smile.

  I can’t believe ten years have flown by. I was bar
ely eighteen and living out of my car at the time. I had no money, and even though I’m not proud of some of the things I did, I had to do what I had to do to get by.

  One night I pick-pocketed a man for his wallet, only so I could buy food, I swear. I’ll admit that I chose him, though, because I thought we looked a lot alike and I was looking for an ID that I could use. Everything in the City was 21 and over and it just flat out sucked being only eighteen. After that, Slim’s quickly became my new hangout. I wasn’t there to get drunk, like most teenagers would have been, I was only there to listen to the bands perform. Music became my solace and gave me a sense of home when there was no place left to go.

  That’s how I first heard of Unwritten Law. They played at Slim’s the first night I was able to get in. They quickly became my favorite band, and even though I’m so far removed from the punk scene now, when I heard they were in town there was no way I was going to miss the show.

  “No fucking way!” I hear someone yell through the crowd as a hand grabs my shoulder abruptly turning me around. Everyone inside Slim’s turns, staring at me, wondering if a fight is about to brew.

  I clench my fist and just like old times, I’m ready to throw down with whoever it is in an instant. That is, until I see Mark, an old friend, standing behind me. A big smile comes across both of our faces as we complete our handshake combination from years ago without skipping a beat.

  It’s been years since I’ve seen anyone from my old crew and seeing Mark here now, I’m reminded why. His hard life is getting to him and it shows on his rough skin.

  “Where the hell have you been the last few years, man?” Mark quizzes me, looking me up and down, noticing the designer clothes and Gucci shoes.

  Damn, I should have been more thoughtful with my wardrobe so I would fit in more.

  I shrug my shoulders, trying to think of how to change the subject just as a guitar string squeals over the speakers, way too loud, startling me as the crowd erupts in applause as Unwritten Law takes to the stage. I know I’ve dodged a bullet, at least for the moment, as I turn to the band and start to sing along.

  The song California Sky plays, reminding me even more of the good ‘ol days, where life was harder, but I knew nothing better. I was thrown into this life at such a young age and survived. Shit, I not only survived, I succeeded to where I am now. I smile at the thought as I start to sing along.

  I glance around the room to see if anyone else I know is there and that’s when I spot her. She’s standing by herself and just the sight of her makes my chest ache and my dick twitch. I stare as my breath begins to rush. My heart starts to beat so hard that I quickly have to look away.

  What the fuck?

  I squeeze my now sweaty palms together and try to calm my breath. I have no clue what just happened. Shaking my head, I take a deep breath and tilt my head back in her direction.

  Whoa…

  Her hair lies long past her shoulders and falls down straight, splitting over her left breast. It’s straight, dark auburn in color and shinier than the punk rock, greasy haired people in the club. She looks to be in her early twenties with a slender face and a long, bare, sexy neckline. Her cheeks are lightly blushed with color and her pale, pink lips are making me want to bite her pouty bottom lip.

  Her jeans are torn in just the right places and she’s wearing a black, fitted tank top that reads Unwritten Law with a red heart around the words and her red bra straps showing through. She’s trying hard to fit in the punk scene, but her black Christian Louboutin red bottom high heels are a dead giveaway. I look down, laughing to myself again at my choice of wearing my Gucci sneakers to a rock show.

  I catch a glimpse of her again and my lips start to quiver as I watch her hold a drink up to her lips, taking a sip with the little black straw. My lips part, like I have no control over them whatsoever, as she holds the straw in her hand, twirling it around her tongue and sipping it like she’s playing a taunting game with my head, or my dick I should say.

  I can’t take my eyes off of her as I watch her take another sip of her drink and dance slowly to the music. Just as I realize I’m totally staring at this chick, Mark hits my arm, motioning to go get a drink. I follow him as he walks to the L shape, New Orleans style bar that runs the length of the floor.

  Mark leans up against it trying to get the bartender’s attention shouting, “Two beers!”

  The bartender hands the beers to Mark who swings around handing me one. I nod in appreciation as we click the necks of the bottles and take a drink.

  Looking over the neck of the bottle, I search for her again. Once I find her, I can’t help but stare in her direction. Like my body is totally disconnected from my mind, my lips part again as I slowly lick from one side to the other trying to imagine what it would be like to part her lips with my tongue and slip inside her sweet mouth.

  Fuck! What is wrong with me?

  I’ve never had this reaction to a girl. I quickly take a drink of my beer shaking my head, running my hand through my hair then readjusting my suddenly uncomfortable jeans.

  I’m trying to enjoy the show but I can’t help my eyes from glancing her way so many times that I’m feeling a little embarrassed, like I’m a stalker or something. I just want her to look my direction because I am dying to see her eyes.

  Even though she’s across the club, our line of vision is clear since everyone has gathered at the stage, jumping and singing with the band. I can tell she’s enjoying the show even though she is sitting near the back still tantalizingly sipping her cocktail and dancing by herself. A group of girls surround her, talking back and forth, but I can tell they’re not as into the show as she is.

  CPK comes on, signaling the finale of the show. It was the band’s first hit and they always pay homage to their beginnings by playing it as their last set song.

  I’m not one to pursue a girl, hell, I already have so many I can barely keep their names straight. There is something about her though, and I can’t stop myself. Slowly I start to make my way to her, having no clue what I’m going to say.

  As I approach, a friend of hers grabs her quickly, pulling her away screaming, “Come on, this is the last song. Let’s leave before it’s too crowded.”

  And that was it. She was gone. A frown fills my face as I watch her slip away, not knowing who she was.

  –––––

  Seven in the morning hits and I lean over to turn off the obnoxious sound coming from my alarm clock. As I roll over to lie on my back, the vision of her soft pink lips pop into my head again.

  I dreamt about those lips last night, wrapped around me. It was the sexiest dream ever. I jerked off, for like the first time in forever, in the middle of the night just thinking about it.

  I rub my eyes, trying to rub the vision out of my head, and spring out of bed wearing nothing but my Calvin Klein black boxer briefs. I grab my phone to check my schedule for the day and see that I have Andrea today at two. A grin spreads across my face as I remember the last time I was with her.

  Andrea is a new divorcee whose husband cheated on her, which made their pre-nuptial agreement null and void. She was heartbroken but received half of his millions and is having no problem spending it, especially on me, whom she loving calls Mr. Ashley.

  I will never understand how I got so lucky to be in my line of work. I mean, how many men get paid $5,000 just to have sex? Yup, that’s my job and I fucking love it. No strings, no emotions, just raw, fantastic sex and then I’m out.

  I know it’s not the most respectable job, but look at my life. I make my own schedule, I live in this awesome new building, One Rincon Hill, on 1st Street in the heart of the Financial District and I can afford everything I could ever want. My life couldn’t get much better.

  Just look at this view I get to wake up to everyday. All these windows that display the Bay Bridge, and at night, it’s even more amazing. Yeah, I have no one to share my life with but who needs that? Everyone dies eventually so why not just save the heartache.

/>   I slip on a pair of flannel pants and walk into the kitchen, smiling at the welcome pot of coffee that was set on a timer and is almost finished. After pouring a cup, I walk over to the balcony, open up the door and step out. The air is crisp and cold as I take a deep breath, taking it all in.

  Looking over the railing at the people passing by, I’m stopped in my tracks when I see her, the girl from last night. She’s walking down Harrison toward 2nd Street holding a camera around her neck. Her hair blows in the wind as she dodges the morning hustle and bustle that is downtown San Francisco.

  Surprised by what I see, I walk closer to the railing and take a closer look. Yes, it is her. I would recognize those pale, pink lips from any distance. She’s wearing a long tan peacoat buttoned up with brown pants. Gripping the camera with one hand, she’s holding a large Dooney & Bourke purse with the other. Nothing punk about her today and I can tell she’s more in her element dressed in the designer clothes.

  I stare as she walks down Harrison until she disappears, turning the corner onto 2nd Street. Shaking my head, I start to rub my face again and turn back into my apartment.

  Quickly dressing in my swishy shorts and a sleeveless shirt, I grab my gym bag, a protein bar and I’m out the door.

  Walking down 1st Street toward Market, I cross onto Montgomery to the CrossFit box I attend. The trainers on the floor and a few other people working out greet me as I walk in.

  The place is one big open room with pull up bars in the middle and weights lining the walls. Music is blaring over the loud speakers playing new age rock making me nod my head to the beat.

  I place my bag in the cubby and walk over to the white board to see what today’s WOD is. The board reads: Today’s Workout Of the Day is five rounds of twenty-one box jumps, fifteen kettlebell swings and nine burpees. It’s going to be a hard one and a smile comes over my face as I think, bring it on!

  My CrossFit box is an open gym format, where anyone can either join a class or go at their own pace. Still thinking of her face from last night and again this morning, I just want to get down and kick some ass, so I decide to skip the class and do the WOD on my own.