They continued the walk, settling into a comfortable silence. Ria debated on if now was the time to tell him she would be busy with her mother. She didn’t want to pull him into the mess of her life. She decided she wanted to enjoy the night, as planned. If he asked her out again, she would explain then.
They finished the walk and Nicholas drove her home.
She knew her apartment was a dump and hadn’t wanted to see the pity in his eyes at the start of their evening, so she had met him outside when his car had pulled up.
As he parked the car in front of her apartment, he got out and opened her door. He was being such a gentleman; not many men took the time for chivalry these days. Ria did appreciate his efforts, but she was embarrassed of her living conditions.
“I’m fine. You don’t have to walk me—”
“No,” he said firmly, cutting her off. “You didn’t let me come to the door before, which I didn’t care for. I’m walking you to your front door, Ria.”
Ria sighed. “Fine.”
They walked to her front door and she pulled her keys out. She fiddled with them for a minute, unwilling for the night to end. She looked up at Nicholas and caught him staring intently at her.
“Ria, that was one of the best evenings I’ve had in a long time. Thank you for agreeing to dinner.” He leaned in to give her a kiss on the cheek.
Ria groaned. She wanted a real kiss. He was behaving completely appropriate, and it sucked.
Nicholas laughed. “What was that for?”
Ria gasped. She hadn’t realized that she had groaned out loud.
“I don’t know,” she mumbled to the ground. She felt the sinking disappointment deep in her gut.
“Ria, you were physically assaulted less than a week ago. If you think I don’t want to throw you against the door and touch every inch of you, you’re wrong,” Nicholas said, his face hardening. “But I don’t want to scare you away, either.”
Ria stared into his eyes and could see the desire he was no longer trying to hide from her. She caught her breath then quickly put the key in the door to unlock it.
“Does it seem like I scare easily?”
He took a step forward, but a hand on his chest held him back. “My mother lives with me, and she hasn’t been feeling well.”
His eyes searched hers before Nicholas moved away. “Perhaps another night, then. I’ll give you a call.”
“Goodbye, Nicholas.”
“Night, Ria.”
She knew, when he walked away, he wouldn’t be calling again. He probably thought she led him on to shut him down.
Before she could change her mind and run after him, making a fool of herself, she quickly went inside her apartment where she leaned her head against the door. She had just wanted one real kiss from him before her life intruded, but when he had moved closer, some instinct within her had told her to run. Her head told her she had made a wise decision, yet her body had wanted to be held by the gorgeous Nicholas, and to touch the flames she had seen burning in his blue eyes.
* * *
Nicholas started his car, coldly furious at himself. He had dropped his guard during dinner, and had actually enjoyed spending time with Ria. She was funny and very similar to his sister Melanie, making it easy to relax. He had already told himself before dinner was over that he wouldn’t be seeing Ria again, though. She was the type of woman who would become too serious and get hurt.
When she had looked up at him with those soulful eyes at her door, he had felt a burst of desire so strong it had almost undermined the stringent control he kept himself under unless he was in the ring.
Thank God she had been smart enough to pull back and bring a halt to the evening, dousing the flames in his cock by telling him her mother was inside the apartment.
His instinct told him to stop seeing her, and he always listened to his instincts; that was how he had remained a champion for so long.
He pulled out into traffic. He had stopped seeing the waitress when he had shown up at her apartment, and she had prepared a candlelit dinner. Her romantic overture had him leaving without touching her.
Nick sighed. Perhaps it was time he took a break from women until he could find one that understood he had nothing to give other than his body. Recovering from his broken arm and taking back his title was where his mind needed to be. Still, he couldn’t keep from thinking about Ria as he drove home.
First thing in the morning, he would call and set up a training session. It would take his mind off her.
* * *
Ria turned from the door, flipping up the light switch. Her heart went to her throat. Her apartment was a mess; chairs had been overturned and her small television lay broken on the floor. Her dishes had been smashed, and glass was shattered on her floor.
“Mama!” Ria went running to the small bedroom she shared with her mother, frantically turning the knob. The light was on, showing the empty, trashed room. The sheets and mattress had been taken off the bed and thrown onto the floor, her cheap dresser overturned. Her clothes were ripped and torn thrown down as if they were trash. Her nightstand had been broken into several pieces. Her books and papers had been tossed around the room.
“Mama.” Ria sank to the floor, her hands covering her face. Her mother was gone and Ria knew who was responsible. Emiliano hadn’t liked his order being ignored. He had taken her mother to insure that she came to him.
Shakily getting to her feet, she searched her destroyed apartment until she found her car keys. Ria had no option. She was going to have to go see him and step back into the hell she had escaped.
Chapter 10
Ria sat outside the electronic gates of Emiliano’s home, waiting for them to open. The security guarding the gate didn’t even ask who she was as they opened it.
As she got out of the car, the front door opened. A muscular man came out and waited for her with sympathy in his eyes. She recognized him as one of the men who had taken her the night Alejandro had been killed.
“This way.”
She followed him through the massive house until he came to a door, opening it for her after a brief knock.
Ria straightened her shoulders, going inside. She felt her stomach bottom out as Emiliano stood from behind his desk.
He was a tall, broad-shouldered man with dark hair carefully groomed. His expensive suit and shoes couldn’t hide the ruthless expression on his face, though. The sensuous mouth, which gave her a smile, didn’t hide the hint of cruelty, either.
“Ariel, it’s good to see you again.” He came to her, bending down to brush his firm lips against her pale cheek. “You’ve grown into a beautiful woman since I’ve last seen you.”
Ria, at first, didn’t know how to respond to his friendly greeting. She came to the conclusion that it would be best to play along with his courteous behavior.
“Emiliano.” Ria cleared her throat before continuing. “It’s good to see you again, too.” She should have known better. He shook his head at her, leaning against his huge desk. “If that is true, why didn’t you come when I sent for you?” His cold, black eyes stared into hers.
“I had a date.” Ria licked her lips, trying to alleviate the dryness in her mouth.
His sardonic laugh had her wincing at how immature she sounded. “So I heard. You’re seeing Nicholas Brooks?”
“I’ve been out with him twice,” Ria confirmed. “I don’t think he’ll be asking me out again anytime soon.”
“Your date did not go well?”
Ria couldn’t believe the direction the conversation was taking.
“Not really. I guess I’m not his type.”
As Emiliano’s eyes traced over her body, Ria tried not to shift uncomfortably, conscious of her black slacks and cream-colored blouse.
“I don’t suppose you are.” Emiliano straightened, going back behind his desk. “I also was informed you’re working as a waitress in a bar. I was disappointed to hear that a family member has sunk to such a low level as to have men gropin
g her while she serves them their drinks.”
“I needed the money until I could pass my paramedic test. I won’t have to do it much longer.”
“You’re right about that. I’ve already given your notice. I believe Chris will make sure that your boss knows you will not be returning.”
She took a step toward his desk. “If you hurt him—”
“He is fine, Ariel. Calm yourself.” His hard gaze pinned her in place. “I have a job that you can do for me. It will be much better suited for you, and I can guarantee that no one will touch you.”
“And if I refuse?”
“Why would you want to refuse? Unless you are enjoying having your body displayed for men’s enjoyment…”
“No. I told you it was only temporary.”
“Good, then you won’t miss it.”
“I guess not.” She had been trapped by her own words. “What job do you want me to do?”
“I have a vacancy in the organization that isn’t dangerous; it merely requires common sense. In return, I will care for your mother and see that you are moved into a much better apartment where I can keep an eye on your safety.”
“I want my mother back; that’s non-negotiable.”
“I wasn’t negotiating. Your mother will stay here because you’ve proven incapable of caring for her needs.”
Ria’s pride took a hit.
“I’m trying to undo the damage of years from your family’s abuse in a few months. So, no, I wasn’t doing a great job, but I was doing the best I could.”
His face became even colder. “Which wasn’t good enough. She was taken off drugs that she has taken for years without any medical back-up. She has been suffering needlessly. I’ve moved her to a facility that can ease her transition, which will be infinitely less painful and more humane.”
“Please, don’t put her back on the drugs. I’ll do whatever you want… please don’t.”
“Ariel, I will do what is best for her. Trust me.”
“Can I see her?”
“No. It will be best if you don’t until her treatment is completed. Now go home and pack. Mitchell will drive you to your new apartment.”
Ria could only nod. She had no other recourse as long as he had her mother. She turned toward the door when it opened and Mitchell stood waiting.
“Ariel.”
She glanced back at Emiliano.
“Don’t let me down.”
* * *
“I’ll kill you like I killed your mother!” Nick heard the voice as he tossed and turned in his sleep. The words were replaying over and over in his mind. Then a flash of a knife and blood were in his thoughts. A sense of calmness passed over him, knowing the threat was gone. It was then replaced with panic as he heard his name being called, creating an urgent need to run and hide.
Nick awoke from the nightmare, covered in sweat. When will the nightmares stop?
Nicholas thought back to the events that led to the beginning of his nightmares. He had been sixteen and had picked up Melanie from school that day. They had then gone to get their mother from the high school she had taught at.
Their mother had been a teacher at one of the rougher schools, but she had successfully obtained a grant to make the school safer, and they had celebrated her accomplishment the night before. She had asked Nick to pick up Melanie then her, so she could take them shopping for an upcoming spring break trip.
Nick recalled the circle of students—the universal sign of a fight occurring—when they had entered the building. He hadn’t thought much of it at first—it was a school known for violence—so there were fights every day. However, when he had looked over the crowd, he had seen his mother trying to stop the fight. He rushed to get to her and was just in time to watch the boy stab his mother with a knife.
His mother never made it off the cafeteria floor alive.
He, Melanie, and Zane had watched her bleed to death. The ironic part was that she had tried to comfort the children during her last breaths. That was the kind of person his mother had been. She had always put the needs of others above her own.
Nicholas punched the mattress beside him. He should have been there to protect her. If he hadn’t stopped to talk to some girl he had a crush on before picking his mother up that day, he would have been fifteen minutes earlier. She would have never gotten in the middle of that fight, and she would have been alive today.
Nick felt the anger boiling up inside of him. He had hated himself since that day. Everyone believed the image he projected: the million dollar smile for the fans, the dedicated athlete, supportive friend, and loving brother and son. No one saw how fucked up he truly was.
He threw the covers off and got out of bed. He paced, raking his hands through his hair, trying to shake off the pain of the memories. He found himself walking to a drawer and opening it.
Inside was one of three letters that he, his father, and Melanie had discovered when they’d finally built up the strength to clean out their mother’s closet. His mother loved to write, and amazingly, she had written a letter to each of them if anything ever happened to her. He read it now for the thousandth time.
My darling Nicholas,
If you are reading this, then I am no longer with you.
I have watched you grow into a fighter. Not only in the ring, but in life.
Life will always throw challenges at us. Some, we may learn from, and some, we may never understand. Whatever may come, I know you will endure. Just understand, Nicholas, that sometimes in life, there are no winners; sometimes, simply surviving is winning.
I may not be with you physically, but I am watching over you, and I know I’m in your heart as you, Melanie, and your dad will always be in mine.
You are my bright, shining star, and you have your whole life ahead of you—live it well.
I love you so very much, son.
Mom
Nick stared at the letter a while longer then put it back in the drawer. He took responsibility for her death.
Nick thought back to the girl who’d held him up. She had been popular and pretty, and Nick had wanted to be the man who won her over. Even then, he had liked a challenge. In reality, she hadn’t been worth losing his mother over. He had learned a hard lesson: set priorities and stick with them.
He went down to his basement and walked to the heavy-bag hanging in the middle of the room. When the nightmares came, he felt like he was reliving his mother’s death all over. His body flooded with anger.
Nick started throwing hard punches at the bag, carefully hitting it so as not to reinjure his arm. He went through a series of punches and kicks until he finally exhausted himself. However, it wasn’t enough. His mother was still on his mind.
He looked at the clock. It was five in the morning. Whenever his workouts weren’t enough, he always had a woman available. This time, though, he only had an empty bed. The thought of why his bed was empty finally pulled him from his reverie over his mother. It wasn’t exactly how he’d pictured the night ending.
His decision of not seeing Ria again gave him a feeling of loss, which he quickly forced down. It had always been easy to end it with the other women, but for once, he did care about the woman’s feelings. He was not going to let her distract him, though. He was going to have to stay away from her because this was the closest he had ever been to developing true feelings for a woman, and he wasn’t going to allow it to happen. No woman except his sister was going to have a hold over him.
He picked up his phone, making the call that he knew would achieve getting Ria off his mind. “I’m on the way.”
By the time he got done fighting, he would be lucky to be walking, much less thinking of Ria and her sassy mouth on his dick.
Chapter 11
The long fighting session had helped ease some of the tension, and he was ready to start the day. He was on the way to Zane’s gym to meet Ty for a training session. He had spoken with Zane a few days ago about scheduling a fight for Ty, and they had agreed to let Ty c
hoose the fighter he wanted to challenge.
As he pulled into the parking lot, he saw only Zane’s vehicle and glanced at the clock. He was almost an hour early, but he knew Ty would be up. The kid was a hard worker; he was always early and never slacked off.
Nick had been spending some additional time with Ty during their training sessions to try to get a better understanding of why he was so full of anger. A fighter always had to control his temper, or it would lead to mistakes and give their opponents power. Nick sensed there was something going on with the young man, but Ty wasn’t willing to talk. Nick never asked or pushed, simply wanting to be there when Ty finally opened up or needed his help.
“Hey, Nick. You look like shit.” Zane observed when Nick walked through the office door.
“Good morning to you, too motherfucker,” Nick retorted.
Zane leaned back in his chair to study Nick.
“Stop it, Zane. I get enough of that shit from Melanie; quit trying to find a way to fix me,” Nick said harshly.
“Man, you know we care about you. What if Melanie was doing what you’re doing to yourself? You would do everything in your power to help her, wouldn’t you?” Zane pointed out.
Nick sighed. Everyone knew Melanie was his only fucking weakness; subsequently, she was easy to use when Zane wanted to drive his point home.
“I’m fine.” Nick said with finality.
Zane narrowed his eyes at Nick. “I honestly just want to beat the shit out of you, but someone else is already doing that.”
“Can’t I have any secrets?” Nick snarled.
Zane shrugged. “Then don’t pick fighters in my gym to train with.”
Nick grinned. “I need to work on my techniques. Your fighters have the different ranges I need. Marco gives me the martial arts. Frank the boxing.”
“What’s Trey giving you?”
“An ass whipping,” Nick said wearily, sitting down in the chair across from his desk.
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