by Bella Jewel
“Fighting, you mean like cage fighting?”
I nod. “Yep, underground cage fighting. I don’t know why. Maybe to make some money?”
“Is he not going back overseas?” Aria asks.
I shake my head. “No, something happened over there. I don’t know what, but it messed him up. He refuses to talk about it, even to Brody. We’re just trying to get him back on track. He can get benefits, start his life again, you know … but he doesn’t want to.”
Aria gives me a sympathetic smile, “Look, you’re both doing a really nice thing for Mick, letting him stay here, but be careful, honey. Brody is … going back to that place he was in when we first met. He’s not as happy anymore. He’s too focused on Mick. Blade is worried about him.”
“So he should be,” I say, staring at my wine glass, watching the bubbles rise to the surface. “I’m worried about him, too. I mean … I thought we were past all this stuff, but Mick is bringing it all back for him. He blamed Brody for being over there alone.”
Aria raises her brows. “He did?”
“Yep, and Brody took that to heart, now he’s working even harder to help Mick, but Mick doesn’t want to be helped. I don’t know how I can get him to see that.”
“You can’t, honey. Brody is … stubborn. That much I’ve learned. You can only keep trying to offer him guidance, try and get him down the right path, but if he’s determined to help Mick, nothing you can say or do will stop that, I’m afraid.”
“I’m concerned. Mick is fighting, that means he could be doing god knows what else. For all I know, he might drag Brody into it, and Brody could get hurt …”
Aria reaches over, smiling as she squeezes my arm. “Brody is smart, and he adores you; he’s not going to do something stupid. Just talk to him, tell him your concerns, keep trying to steer Mick onto the right path. I can talk to Blade, if you like. Maybe Jack? Maybe some support from his brother and dad will help?”
I shrug. “It’s worth a shot.” I exhale and give her a weak smile. “We were finally happy, you know?”
“You will still be happy, I promise. This will pass. Mick needs help, talk to Brody about getting it for him. Then you two can continue on just as you were.”
I nod, but I don’t know that that is actually an option. I don’t think Brody will send Mick anywhere Mick doesn’t want to go. Brody has underlying issues, as much as I hate to admit it, and because of what happened to his ex-girlfriend all those years ago, when he sent her away and she took her own life, I can’t see him doing the same with Mick.
So I’m going to have to figure out how to help Mick myself and keep them both safe.
Maybe I can find him a job? That would probably help, right?
“Maybe I can see if there are any jobs. If Mick is working, he might settle down a little.”
“That’s a great idea.” Aria claps. “Blade has a friend who works at a garage in town; I’ll ask if they have any spaces for another mechanic. That’s what Mick used to be, right?”
I nod. “Thank you so much!”
She stretches her glass over and clinks it with mine. “Anything for my favorite bestie.”
I laugh. “I better be more than your favorite! How are you and Blade doing?”
She smiles, happily. “Good. We’re really good.”
I feel happy for her, really I do. She deserves happiness, more than anyone I know. She is such a good person, and I know she’d do anything for Blade, even if their situation to start with was a little odd, considering he’s her step brother and all. But that’s another story for another day. They’re not related at all, so we can’t be too picky now, can we?
“Ladies.”
We turn and see Brody, Lee, and Blade walking onto the back porch. I grin when I see them because together they’re a force to be reckoned with. There’s something about brothers that makes you pull up in your tracks. Especially when there are more than two. It’s honestly like they’ve got their own little gang, they’re that close. They’d die for each other, they go into everything together.
Yep, a brother gang.
“Hi there,” I smile at them.
Brody walks over, all lusty eyed and looking so damned gorgeous it hurts. He leans down, hand sliding behind my neck, and he kisses me. Not passionate, but hard and long all the same. Then he pulls back and murmurs, “Hey, baby.”
“Hi,” I flush.
When he calls me that, my whole world flutters around me. It’s the best word in the English language, I swear it.
“How was your day?”
“Good, it was good. Yours?”
He nods. “Same.”
He asks the guys if they want a beer, and when they all nod he disappears to get them one. I look over to Ripley, the youngest of the brothers, and smile. We’re becoming good friends, especially in the last few months. I get along really well with him. He’s such a good guy. “Hey, Lee,” I say, waving him over.
He walks over, looking down at me with a grin as he pulls up a chair. “How’s my favorite friend, no offense Ari.”
Aria laughs. “I’m technically your sister, in more ways than one, so let’s not stress too much over titles.”
Lee scrunches up his nose. “That’s just nasty.”
I giggle. “So, so nasty. How have you been?”
He grins. “Good, you?”
“Same.”
“Hey, I actually wanted to talk to you all. A friend and I are renting out a cabin on the beach in a few weeks, it’s got shit loads of room, right on the water, it’ll be tons of fun. You guys are all more than welcome to join in, if you like. We all deserve some time off, it would be good.”
Gosh, I’d almost kill for a break right now. I look to Brody and put my hands together in a pleading motion. “Can we?”
Brody looks to Blade. “You’ve got a few weeks break from work, don’t you?”
Blade nods. “Yeah we’re off for four weeks. I’m up for it. Babe?”
Aria nods. “Oh, heck yeah, I’ve been needing to get away from all this work and study for ages. I’m in!”
Lee grins. “Fuck yes, it’ll be epic.”
“I’m so damned excited!” I clap. “I love vacation.”
Brody pulls up a chair and asks, “Okay if I bring Mick?”
“The more the merrier.” Lee shrugs.
My heart sinks a little. I feel bad for it, of course, because it’s not Mick’s fault he isn’t in a good place, but I was kind of hoping for a break from him, just time with Brody and the family, fun and laughter. I hate to say it, but I feel like Mick will bring drama to the trip. The other guys aren’t aware of what he’s going through, so of course they’re okay with it.
Aria looks to me, a concerned expression on her face. She’s thinking the same thing I am.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” I ask Brody, as quietly as I can.
His eyes lock onto mine. “Why wouldn’t it be?”
“Mick is … well … he’s not in a good place right now. Are you sure bringing him is going to be the best thing? It’s not just about us …”
Brody looks pissed, and dammit, I know I’ve crossed a line. He stands and tells everyone he’s going to get another beer. Shit. I stand and follow him inside into the kitchen. When we’re alone, he spins on me, and asks, “What’s that all about?”
“Nothing, it’s just Mick hasn’t exactly been easy to live with. I don’t want it to become a problem for everyone else coming to enjoy their vacation, that’s all.”
“He’s not that much of an asshole that he’ll ruin their trip.”
“Really?” I snap, frustrated. “He has no problem ruining our day-to-day lives with his temper, fights, and issues.”
The moment the words leave my mouth, I regret it. I know I shouldn’t have said it. I know it, and I also know I can’t take it back. It isn’t Mick’s fault what he’s going through, and I feel like a monster for saying that. It’s just I haven’t seen Brody for a while, we’re always working and busy, an
d when we’re home Mick is there, or causing drama, and I miss him.
I just want to spend some time with my boyfriend.
“Do you have any idea what it’s like over there?” Brody asks, his voice a harsh whip.
“I’m sorry,” I say softly. “I shouldn’t have said that.”
“No, you shouldn’t have. Mick is struggling. If we don’t help him, who would? It’s not his fault he’s unable to gain control. If it were me, would you have such limited patience?”
“Brody …” I say, feeling like crap.
“Just don’t, Melanie. I know you didn’t mean it, but he’s my friend, and he has nobody else.”
I nod and look down, knowing I need to shut my mouth and hating that I don’t. “I just want to spend time with you, since he’s been here, we’ve barely seen each other. I thought this would be a nice time to do that.”
“He won’t be here forever. We have forever to spend time together. He doesn’t have forever. He only has now. So right now, he needs me. Understand that, yeah?”
“Yeah,” I whisper.
But forever … Do we really have that long?
Because sometimes forever can become only a day.
6
NOW – MELANIE
“So you said you’re not sure of the name of the man Brody is after?” Damon asks, typing something onto a laptop as we sit at Lincoln’s awesome garage, Rumblin’ Knights.
It’s probably the coolest garage I’ve ever seen.
It’s decked out with some pretty incredible old school memorabilia, and yet at the same time it’s modern, and sleek, and super flash. I like it, a lot.
I’ve always had a thing for garages. There’s something about the smell, and the grease, and mostly the cars. Occasionally, the men. In this case, I have no doubt women thoroughly enjoy bringing their cars in here to get serviced; I mean come on, every man I’ve seen so far has been drop dead gorgeous, ripped, and so damned alpha it’s hard not to go to a puddle.
Yep, popular place, no doubt.
“No, I don’t, sorry. He never did tell me the name. I can only give you as much information on Mick as I can because that might be your best way of finding who it is Brody is after.”
“Great idea.” Damon smiles and passes me a pen and paper. “Write it all down.”
I start writing anything at all I can remember about the people involved with Mick, the names I did hear getting dropped during their arguments, and anything else I might have overheard Brody talking about. I know every little detail will count.
“Do you work here?” I ask Damon when I’m done.
He shakes his head. “No, I’m not the mechanic type.”
I smile, and for the first time, it’s genuine. “Why is that?”
“I prefer … cleaner work. Don’t judge.”
I shrug my shoulders. “No judgement here. Do you have a girlfriend?”
He nods. “I do, her name is Penny. I’m sure you’ll meet her soon.”
“That will be nice.”
“There you two are!”
We both turn to see Lucy coming in, brown paper bag in hand with something that smells really good and really sweet coming out of its contents. My stomach rumbles, and I look down at it in shock. It hasn’t rumbled for quite some time. Heart break has a way of doing that to you. Why it has suddenly decided it likes food again is anyone’s guess.
I can only assume it’s these great people, the lack of pressure, and finally being in the right place.
Things were getting too hard at home with everyone panicking, and freaking out, and coddling me and trying to fix everything. I couldn’t breathe—some days it felt like I was drowning. Here, these people are helping, but they’re doing it in a calm, easy manner, which makes me feel far more at ease.
Plus the lack of knowledge about Brody and my backstory helps.
They have nothing to judge on, and it feels nice.
“I got muffins,” she says, holding up the bag. “Every type they had, I couldn’t decide.”
“Like you need any more muffins,” Damon says to her, with a grin. “You’re already hyper enough.”
“Ohhh, you’re lucky, Damon Knight, I was about to drop you because I was sure you were going to make a comment about my weight.”
He snorts. “Even if I were, there is nothing wrong with your weight, so your anger would have been pointless.”
He’s right, Lucy is gorgeous and there is most certainly nothing wrong with her incredible curvy figure. I envy her; right now I look like a bag of bones.
Okay, slightly dramatic, but it feels a whole lot like it when I look in the mirror.
“I’ll take two muffins, I need it.” I smile, and Lucy shakes her head, handing me the muffin bag to pick.
“Girl, you do not need it. You’re gorgeous. I wish I was slim and beautiful like you.”
I purse my lips. “Trust me, I’ve lost a lot of weight lately, it’s probably not the healthiest. Being around you all is helping my appetite, though. So thanks.”
Lucy smiles. “Glad to be of assistance. I’m going to take one of these to Nicolai, and then I’ll be back to help with whatever you need.”
“I appreciate it.”
Lucy skips past us, and I turn to Damon and smile. “I really like her.”
He grins. “Me too.”
“Have you found any information on Mick?” I ask Damon, sitting cross-legged on the sofa and watching him as he takes a bite of his muffin.
“No, nothing as yet, well, nothing to lead us in the right direction, but I’m hoping by the end of the day I’ll have something.”
“I’m sorry I can’t give you more information. I didn’t know a great deal about him. Brody was good at keeping things quiet, you know?”
“Yeah.” Damon nods. “I’ve met him. I get it.”
“Mornin’.”
I look up to see Lincoln walking in, covered in grease, his jeans ripped, and holy. I can see why Shania is pretty happy with her choice in him. He’s gorgeous. Absolutely breathtaking.
“Hi.” I wave, and he nods at me, giving me a grin.
Yep, gorgeous.
“How are things goin’?” he asks Damon.
“Nothin’ rock solid yet, but I’ll get some names, try and link Mick to Brody, or at least to someone that can point us in the right direction.”
Lincoln nods. “These men, they have a way of keeping their shit tied up real well. I’ve got a big fight on tonight, goin’ to talk to some people there, see if I can get some information on Mick. Brody isn’t known in that world, but Mick was, might be able to link it all back.”
“You’re having a fight?” I ask Lincoln, curious.
He nods. “Yeah, I’m sure you’ve been told about my fightin’ ring. It’s hush hush, yeah?”
I nod. “I understand. Can I come?”
He stares at me, eyes narrowed. “Why would you want to do that?”
“I don’t … I don’t know. To see it, to feel it, to try and understand it. It’s Brody’s whole world now, and for a long time, it was Mick’s. It drove him to insanity, because he did the wrong thing, I guess it might help me understand … why? Does that sound completely stupid?”
Lincoln shakes his head. “It doesn’t, but darlin’, ain’t a safe place for a lady.”
“I can sit wherever you want, I’m sure you have an office, or an area where no one else is, right?”
“I can take her down, sit out back and view from there. If you’re cool with it, will keep her away from the crowds,” Damon offers.
Lincoln contemplates it for a while and then exhales and says, “Once and once only. I need you to understand it isn’t the kind of thing I like to bring women into. But I’ll let you come tonight. Know this, Melanie, you might not like it. You sure you can handle that?”
I nod, holding his eyes. “I’ve handled a lot worse, Lincoln. I promise you that.”
He nods, because he knows I’m not lying.
He knows, no doubt just by lo
oking at me, that I’ve had to handle some ugly things.
Oh, yes, ugly indeed.
~*~*~*~
The fighting ring is incredible.
In a strange, kind of dark way. It’s so well hidden out the back of the garage, Lincoln did well placing his garage so strategically well in front of an old building that has a massive underground area. It’s clever. It’s quiet. It’s subtle.
Damon insisted that I had to go down before people started showing up, so he took me in when it’s quiet with nobody around. It’s kind of good, because it lets me look around. It lets me stare at the ring, where no doubt a lot of blood has been shed, a lot of sweat-soaked bodies have hit the ground, a lot of monsters no doubt have been born here. It lets me run my fingers over the ring, wondering how it feels when their bodies are slammed into it. Does it hurt at the time, or is it only after that they feel the pain? Does the adrenaline, the rage, the broken parts of them block the pain out while they’re fighting?
Does Brody feel pain?
Has he fought here?
“Has Brody fought here?” I ask Damon, my voice small. I hate how pathetically broken it sounds.
“Yes, he has.”
“Oh.”
I take in the ring with a whole new appreciation, a whole new thought process. Brody has fought here, he has been one of those men who have probably been beaten down, right here. I can picture it, every swing, every angry grunt, every fist that flew. I can see his face, the way his eyes narrow when he’s concentrating, or the way his bottom lip sucks right into his mouth when he’s angry.
I miss him.
I miss him so much the pain is almost unbearable.
“Are you okay?” Damon asks.
“Not really, but I will be when this is over.”
“Will it ever really be over, do you think?”
It’s a valid question, a question I’ve thought of many times over. Will it ever really be over? I don’t know. I honestly don’t. Even if I save Brody now, even if he gets his revenge and lives through it, will he ever go back to normal? And even if he does, will it be with me? Will he find something else to occupy his time? Will he find another way to make the pain go away?