Collision

by K. A. Sterritt

  I closed my eyes and allowed the noise in the room to disappear. I needed to find something deep inside me and take it into the next round.

  The tattoos on Leo’s back popped into my head and resonated in me with such force my eyes snapped open. When I’d asked him about them, he was evasive about when and where he’d had them done, but explained with such passion about Buddhist philosophies and finding strength from within.

  “What is it, Jules?” Zac asked. “You look like you’ve just had a breakthrough.”

  “I think I’m ready now, Zac.” I felt an inner calm I realised I’d been lacking to that point.

  “You’re no quitter, Jules. Go out there and own this. Remember. Cowards never start, the weak never finish and winners never quit. Stay off the ropes and work off the jab.”

  Fuck it, I thought to myself. I’m really going to give it a crack. I’m no coward, I’m no quitter and I’m going to use that strength I know is within me.

  Chapter Forty-Two

  Leo

  She wouldn’t see me. She wouldn’t know I was there. No one could know I was there. Her life might have depended on it, but it felt like mine depended on seeing her again.

  Her first two rounds had been hard to watch. I hoped her trainer was telling her to slow down and stop expending so much nervous energy. I wanted to be in the audience supporting her then taking her home afterwards, but I had to accept that wasn’t going to happen tonight.

  A hard slap to my back startled me. “Leo Ashlar? I’ll be damned.”

  Standing next to me was Nick, my childhood boxing coach. I came to this gym three nights a week after school for years until my desire to get into medicine meant devoting every night to studying.

  “Nick. Long time, no see. How’s things, mate?” I asked, shaking his hand.

  “Good. Good. What brings you back out this way? I haven’t seen you in a while.”

  I nodded. “Sorry, mate.” I should’ve stayed in better touch. I’d approached him at the funeral and asked him to hook me up with a trainer in the city. He gave me a number that I called the very next day. “I’ve been busy.”

  “Hey, mate. You weren’t in good shape at the funeral. I was real sorry about your parents. Nasty business that.”

  “Thanks. Appreciate it.”

  “So word on the street tells me you’re making waves in the illegal scene.”

  It didn’t surprise me that he knew. The fighting community was close knit, and everyone knew everyone else’s business.

  “It helps.”

  “I get that, mate. I do. Just be careful. I don’t want to read about you in a coma in the hospital.” His hand slapped my shoulder and I appreciated his support. “If you ever need anything, you know where I am. Okay?”

  I nodded just as the buzzer sounded for Juliette’s final round, and both our heads turned towards the ring.

  “Blondie up there. She’s new. Man, if I was your age. Wow.” Nick was laughing and I knew he was joking, but my stomach turned just the same.

  “Steady on, old man.” I attempted to match his jovial tone.

  We half chatted and half watched the start of the fight. Something had changed in Juliette and she moved like a lioness, stalking her prey. Our chatting ceased as we both watched, riveted. Her opponent knew she was the gazelle, trying not to stumble, and the scene that played out was poetry in motion. She had the perfect blend of power, grace and a steely resolve, obvious to everyone in the room. Christina had a strong left hook, and finally, Juliette was moving deftly in response.

  This was the real Juliette—strong and beautiful, inside and out. This was the Juliette that shone when she allowed her inner self to explode instead of allowing others to push her down.

  Juliette dominated every sequence and was declared victorious to the shouts and cheers of the appreciative crowd.

  Her whole body glistened with sweat. She’d never looked sexier than she did in that moment, and I couldn’t take my eyes off her. I knew she’d seen me when her whole body stiffened and her eyes changed from wide and happy to slits. She was narrowing her vision, clearly unsure if it was actually me. I had to get out of there. I gave her a half smile, trying to convey my congratulations, and then I turned towards the back door.

  “Bye, Nick,” I said hurriedly. “I’ll come back soon.”

  “Good luck, mate.”

  I pushed the fire door open with more strength than needed, keen to make my escape. It burst open and I exhaled with the cloak of darkness. I pulled my leather jacket on as I made my way over to my bike.

  As I pulled my helmet over my head, I glanced back at the door, half hoping and half dreading that Juliette would appear. I revved the throttle and counted to three in my head. She wasn’t coming. Of course she wasn’t coming. I was meant to stay away from her, so it was better that way.

  Who the fuck was I kidding? It wasn’t better. It was fucking unbearable.

  With one more glance back, I sped off, full of rage—an emotion I was very familiar with. I was going to sort this shit out. Then I was going to win her back.

  Chapter Forty-Three

  Juliette

  Seven weeks later

  I’d only flown in the night before, so I was exhausted when I pulled into the gravel parking area in front of the Dartmoor Wellness Centre. Despite my jetlag, I was happy. My experience overseas had been incredible and I felt like a new person. With every day that had passed, my horizons broadened and my instinct to run from situations I feared lessened.

  I was so busy staring through the front windshield at the imposing white brick building that I hadn’t noticed the black Jeep pull up.

  I got out and walked towards the steps leading to the entry, lost in thought. I can do this.

  The automatic doors opened, and I walked through to a surprisingly welcoming reception area. Perhaps I’d been expecting padded rooms and straitjackets. Pistachio-coloured walls, indoor plants and calming music made it feel more like a health retreat.

  A young woman with far too much makeup on greeted me with indifference at the reception desk. She appeared pained to have to look up from her magazine.

  “Welcome to Dartmoor.” She spoke in a bored monotone. “How can I help you?”

  “I’m here to see my mother. Isabel Fontaine.”

  “Sign in here.” She shoved a form in front of me without looking at me.

  “Do you have a pen?”

  She huffed out a breath as if I was seriously inconveniencing her. A biro was thrust on top of the form and she looked at me with a ‘there better not be anything else’ glare.

  “Thank you.” I gave her an extra-cheery smile to hopefully annoy her.

  When I had signed and dated, she told me to wait while she found out where my mother was.

  I made my way over to the cream lounges and took a seat. The coffee table was covered in a variety of brochures and flyers as well as a few token books on landscapes. There was a distinct lack of trashy magazines. I picked up the book with a collage of lakes and mountains across the front cover.

  I closed my eyes and opened the book to a random page. “Queenstown, New Zealand,” I said out loud.

  “Juliette?”

  Leo’s gravelly voice startled me, and I snapped my eyes open, dropping the book at the same time. It tumbled to the floor and hit my foot. I scrunched up my face in pain. It was a bloody heavy book.

  “Leo.” I picked up the book from the floor and replaced it on the coffee table. I closed my eyes and steeled myself against my body’s natural attraction to him. When I opened them, I realised it hadn’t helped. He was wearing faded, ripped jeans and a white t-shirt, showcasing his incredible body. If anything, he looked like he was more muscular than the last time I’d seen him. A light stubble on his face beckoned for my touch. He looked incredible, and it was physically painful to keep my distance.

  “You look really good, Juliette. How are you?”

  “What are you doing here?” I croaked, barely able to put words toge
ther.

  “Your mother called and said she wanted to see me about something important. I thought it might be about you, but I didn’t realise you’d be here.” A genuine smile lit up his handsome face.

  I pulled myself ungracefully to my feet and stood before him, staring into his beautiful, soulful eyes. I had missed this man every second I’d been away, but I’d grown up too. I was stronger and ready to trust him with my heart again. Gingerly, I reached my hand up and gently cupped his face. I closed my eyes and sighed when he leaned into it slightly.

  “Fuck it.” Leo grabbed me and the next thing I knew I’d been scooped up into his arms and his lips crashed against mine. I threw my arms around his neck and kissed him back in a frenzied daze of pent-up lust and emotion. With our foreheads touching, he whispered against my lips, “I missed you so damn much.”

  A loud sound of a throat being cleared ended our reunion.

  “Sorry to interrupt,” the suddenly very friendly receptionist said, directly to Leo.

  Leo put me down but kept hold of my hand as we awaited further instructions.

  “Mrs Fontaine is in the garden,” she continued, a blush rising across her cheeks. “She’s been expecting both of you.” She ogled Leo like she was starving and he was a juicy steak. “Go through those doors and Jackson will escort you.”

  “Thank you,” I said sarcastically, knowing she had forgotten I was even there.

  Jackson led us through multiple sets of doors, some of which required him to use his security pass to gain entry. My eyes darted around trying to take in everything, but I struggled to focus on anything with Leo next to me. I hadn’t seen him or my mother in two months, but I’d at least been able to mentally prepare myself to see my mother.

  A large wooden door with a security glass panel opened to a paved courtyard where a few tables and chairs were being used for chess games and reading. Some of the residents looked up and smiled while others just ignored our intrusion. I paused briefly.

  “I’m here, Jules.” Leo’s voice was gentle and reassuring. His physical strength matched the emotional fortitude I wanted but no longer needed.

  “I’m fine.” I meant it.

  “I know.” I looked into his eyes and saw only tenderness. “It’s really good to see you.”

  My body yearned for his touch and I squeezed my eyes shut, enjoying the feel of my hand in his—skin against skin.

  A gentle slope of beautifully tended gardens, dotted with fruit trees, led to a small lake. In the middle of the lake was a small island covered in long grasses and a few small trees. If I were there for any other reason, I would’ve enjoyed the idyllic scenery.

  “She’s having some lunch with another resident just beyond the orange grove.” Jackson pointed towards an orchard. “I’ll be in the courtyard when you’re ready to leave.”

  “Thank you,” we both said in unison.

  My feet felt heavy and I couldn’t bring myself to move. I looked to the sky and watched a few clouds drift slowly in the warm, gentle breeze.

  “Come on.” Leo tugged gently on my hand. “Let’s get this over with and then we have a lot of catching up to do.”

  I couldn’t help inhaling deeply as we walked towards the orchard. The citrus scent was overwhelming.

  Beyond the orchard, I could see two women sitting on a pair of Adirondack chairs, facing the lake with their backs to us. They both turned as we approached and stood to greet us.

  Leo stopped dead. I didn’t recognise the slender brunette woman standing by my mum’s side. To me, she seemed friendly, helpful even as she kept a protective hold of my mum’s arm. Tension rolled off Leo’s body in tidal waves, and my hand felt like it was in a death grip. I glanced at him to see what was wrong and followed his gaze to the stranger. He looked panicked, and a sheen of sweat appeared on his forehead.

  “What’s wrong?” I murmured from the corner of my mouth. “Who is she?”

  “Darling.” My mother surged forward. “Thank you for coming.”

  She hugged me, and I was forced out of Leo’s grasp. I returned her embrace half-heartedly, still concerned by the crackling tension in the air.

  “Who’s your friend, Mum?” I whispered, pulling out of the awkward, lukewarm hug.

  Leo’s next two words answered my question.

  “Hello, Mother.”

  To be continued in the next book in the series, releasing 2016.

  Acknowledgements

  Adriana Leiker, Beth Flynn, Brittainy McCane, Eli Peters, Gill Melling, Jess Milliken, Lynette Kelly, Lyndsey Aaron, Nicole Sands, Pam Lilley, Sunshine Lykos and Tesrin Afzal. I love you ladies!! Thank you so much for believing in me and for being incredible friends and loyal supporters, not only to me, but to so many of my fellow authors with your promoting and blogging. I really hope I do you proud and want you to know how much I appreciate all you do.

  Adriana. What can I say to my book bestie and all round beautiful friend? You made me believe in myself when I was crippled by self-doubt and you make me laugh. I love our quick chats that last for hours! Thank you. Seriously.

  Pam, Gill, Lynette, Brittainy and Jess. I loved you before I met you in London, but now you’re stuck with me forever. Thank you, Pam for setting up a readers group for me knowing I would never do it for myself. Thank you, Brittainy not only for your friendship, but for bringing lovely Lyndsey into my readers group and for being such a generous author supporter on Sisterhood of the Travelling Book Blog.

  Eli and Tesrin. Thank you both for being phenomenal beta readers. I haven’t known you very long, but very quickly knew we’d be friends for life. Collision benefitted immensely from your constructive critique and ongoing support. Eli, you’re the greatest wing woman a girl could hope for and I wish your blog, Page Turning Addiction, the greatest success. Tesrin, your teasers are incredible and I’m humbled by the time you take creating them on top of your busy life and the work you do on Wicked Women Book Blog.

  Beth. You rocked my world with your incredible books and again with your immediate kindness and love. It’s yet another reason I’m grateful to Adriana for insisting I read Nine Minutes. I admire you as an author and love you as a friend. It was because of you that Nicole Sands and many other Niner friends including Eli and Tesrin came into my life and for that I feel blessed.

  Sunshine. You are one of the kindest, most open-hearted and generous people I’ve met in the book community and I’m honoured to call you my friend. Thank you for all you do for me and for authors in general with the gorgeous Charity Pearce at Saucy Books.

  Tara Hanrahan. Thank you for once again proof reading for me. You have eagle eyes and caught a few things that would’ve driven me crazy. See you at Opera Bar!

  GJ Walker-Smith. Here is my something true. I love your books because they are brilliant, but even more so because they led me to you. We’ll be friends for life and beyond. It’s true. You know it and I know it. Thank you for your continued support of my writing and for the friendship I treasure.

  ES Carter, my northern hemisphere twin, and to all the indie girls - we’re in this together! I’m so grateful to be part of such a wonderful support network.

  My writing buddy and long-time friend, Lucy Fenton, acknowledged me in her latest book saying There’s no one I’d rather spend the day not talking to. It made me laugh and I agree wholeheartedly.

  To all the blogs who help promote my books and to the readers who take a chance on me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

  Murphy Rae at Indie Solutions. I love that you designed my cover and edited my story. I can’t speak highly enough of your talent and professionalism and look forward to continuing this journey with you. When I meet you one day, I’ll bring Tim Tams!

  Thank you to my family and friends. I write about love and friendship because I know about love and friendship. I have a blessed life with an amazing husband and children I love and adore. I am grateful for supportive parents and beautiful sisters, Zoë and Susie. Jen, you are my third sister and best f
riend of twenty-five years. We are lucky.

  Last, but certainly not least, I want to thank my new friend, Nick Lundh, founder of the Lightning Fight Centres in Victoria. This is one of the great joys of writing. When else would I have had reason to gain such an insight into a whole other world and befriend a Former World Professional Middle Weight Kickboxing Champion, Professional Boxer and Muay Thai Fighter? Nick, you went above and beyond helping me give the Collision fight scenes an authentic edge beyond the limits of my imagination. http://nicklundh.com.au/

  Table of Contents

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Chapter Forty

  Chapter Forty-One

  Chapter Forty-Two

  Chapter Forty-Three

  Acknowledgements