Revived (Revved Series Book 2) (30 page)

INDIA HAS BEEN DISTRACTED FOR DAYS
. She was fine before qualifying, but since then, there has been a distance with her. She seems preoccupied.

Even when we make love, it’s like a part of her isn’t even there with me, and I don’t like it. I really don’t like it.

I was supposed to be heading straight to Italy with the team after leaving Budapest, but I changed my plans and flew back to London with India. I wasn’t going to leave her while she was like this. I have only got a few days before I have to fly out to Italy, and I intend on finding out what the hell is going on with her before then.

We got home yesterday, and she went into work today. Didn’t meet me for lunch. She made up some bullshit excuse about being too busy.

This is the first time I’m seeing her since we returned, and we are at her place right now. Jett is upstairs, Kit’s out on a date, and India and I are watching a movie together, but once again, I might as well be sitting here alone.

Well, I have her here with me now, and I am going nowhere until she tells me what is going on with her.

“Are you going to tell me anytime soon? Or do I just have to start fucking guessing?” My words come out a little harsher than intended.

She slides her eyes to mine. There’s a flare of anger in them. “Tell you what?”

I pick up the remote control and turn off the TV. “Tell me what it is that is bothering you.”

Her expression clears. “Nothing is bothering me.”

For fuck’s sake!

“I won the Belgium Prix on Sunday.”

She gives me a look of confusion. “I know. I was there.”

“Physically, yes. Mentally, no. You checked out on me the day before. Jesus, India, your lack of enthusiasm at my win after the first race you have been to since we got together—so it was pretty fucking important to me to have you there to witness it—and all I got was a congratulations and a pat on the shoulder.”

“Jesus, I’m sorry I didn’t give the required amount of attention!” she bites. “What did you want me to do? Stick my tongue down your throat. Strip my clothes off and screw you right there and then? I’m sorry, but that would have been inappropriate—you know, with my kid and the rest of the racing population being there!”

“Are you yelling at me?” I say to her.

Seriously, there’s something wrong with me because I get majorly turned on when she gets mad. Seeing her all fired up has my cock as hard as nails. Well, pretty much anything she does has my cock hard, but her anger is a definite aphrodisiac to me.

“Bloody well sounds like it, doesn’t it?” Her brow is all puckered into a frown.

She looks hot as fuck.

“I really want to fuck you right now,” I tell her in all seriousness.

Her eyes swing my way, wide and blazing. “Are you being serious?”

“I never kid about fucking you.”

“Jesus! You’re really pissing me off,” she huffs.

She makes to get up from the sofa, but I catch her arm, stopping her, and I pull her onto me. She makes a sound of protest but doesn’t actually try to get up.

“And you’re really turning me on,” I say to her.

Pausing she stares down at me. “I’m really mad at you right now, Leandro,” she grumbles, her voice less angry than before.

“Yes, well, I’m kind of mad at you, too, India. But I’m still hot as fuck for you.” I slide my hands to her ass giving it a squeeze.

She narrows her eyes at me. “We’re not having sex.”

“Not right now we aren’t, but as soon as Jett is asleep, I’m tying you to your bed and fucking the hell out of you.”

She shudders beneath my touch. I love that she can’t resist me, just like I can’t resist her.

“And if I have to torture the truth out of you by delaying your orgasm, then I will. But I would much rather you tell me what it is that’s bothering you, so we can fix it, and I can spend my time in bed giving you multiple orgasms.”

Her head drops to my shoulder, and she lets out a sad sounding sigh. It sets me on edge.

“Talk to me, babe.”

She lifts her eyes to mine. I see fear move through them, and then her eyes fill with tears.

I sit up straighter, taking her face in my hands. “Jesus, India, you’re really starting to scare me.”

Her eyes flick in the direction of the closed living room door and then back to me. She exhales, then, begins talking in a quiet voice, “Paul, Jett’s father, was released from prison today. While you were on the track on Saturday, I got a call on Saturday from Russell, the defense attorney who tried the case against Paul. The case I was a key witness for. The reason he went to prison.”

“You are not the reason that motherfucker went to prison.
He
is the reason.”

“Paul blamed me for him going to prison.”

“India, he went to prison because he’s a pedophile. He was having sex with teenage girls. He got you pregnant while you were still a teenager, for fuck’s sake.”

She cringes. Distress crosses her features, and a tear runs from her eye. It makes me feel like callous bastard.

I catch her falling tear, wiping it away with my thumb. “I’m sorry, babe. I shouldn’t have said that.”

“No, you’re right. Just hearing it makes me feel like a victim.”

“You were a victim, but now you’re a survivor.” I curl her hair around my hand. “You are a fucking miracle. You’re the strongest person I have ever known, India. Where you came from to where you are now…most people would have given up, but you didn’t. You fought hard to give your son the best life possible. You should be proud of yourself.”

A soft look enters her eyes. “I kind of love you, you know.” She runs her fingers into my hair.

“I kind of love you, too. A whole lot.” I lean close and press my lips to hers.

Moving away, I lean my head back against the sofa. “Paul getting out of prison—what does this mean for us?”

I see her smile when I say
us
. Then, she shrugs. “He’ll be living in Manchester, where he’s from. He’ll be on electronic tag and curfew, so he won’t be able to come here even if he wanted to. But Russell has had a restraining order put in place for Jett and me.”

“Has Paul ever threatened you?”

Her eyes lower. “Yes. A long time ago. Right after he went to prison, he sent me threatening letters.”

Pure undiluted rage burns through me. That fucker goes anywhere near India and Jett and I will kill him myself.

“I’m getting security for you and Jett for when I’m not here.” I hate that I have to leave soon, knowing that bastard is out there free to do as he pleases.

“What? No, it’s not necessary.” She shakes her head. “I don’t think he’ll bother us. I haven’t heard from him since the letters. And he’s been trying for parole for a long time, and now that he’s out, I’m sure he won’t want to jeopardize it.”

“Has Paul ever asked to see Jett?”

“No. I think he attributes Jett to him going to prison. I’m pretty sure he thinks if I had never got pregnant, then he would never have been found out.”

Anger and frustration and worry for her and Jett are pulsing through my veins.

“Please, just let me put some security guys on you to keep you safe.”

“It’s not necessary, Leandro.” She presses her hand to my cheek. “I’ll be fine. But okay, for Jett, yes, that would be a good idea. Just to be safe.”

“I fucking hate that I have to go to Belgium.” I sigh. “I really don’t want to leave you. Why don’t you and Jett come with me?”

“We can’t. I have to get back to work. I have patients depending on me. I’ve already taken time off. I can’t take any more.” She blows out a breath, looking a little lost.

“I won’t go to Belgium, then.”

She looks at me, aghast, dropping her hand from my face. “No,” she states emphatically. “You have to go. You’re contracted, and this is important to you. It’s your first season back since the accident.”

I cup her face in my hands. “
You
are more important to me.”

“I’ll be fine.” Leaning close, she presses a kiss to my forehead. “Kit’s here.” Then, a kiss to the tip of my nose. “Please, don’t worry.”

I hate feeling trapped and conflicted. I really don’t want to leave her while that fucking bastard is out on the streets, but I am contractually obligated to go to Belgium. I just wish she would come with me.

I start to speak, but she cuts me off with her lips, kissing me passionately.

I know her game, but I’m helpless to the feel of her delicate tongue in my mouth, her tight body against mine.

“This isn’t over,” I murmur under her lips, my hands reaching for her ass.

“I don’t doubt it,” she whispers. Then, she deepens the kiss, grinding herself against my erection.

I can work on her later, talk her into coming with me.

Because there is no way I feel comfortable with leaving her here without me.

And if she won’t come, then I will, without a doubt, have security detail assigned to her and Jett, until I can get back to them. Then, I will figure out what the fuck I am going to do for the rest of the races because I’m sure as hell not leaving her for extended periods of time while her jailbird of an ex is on the loose.

“
HE’S DRIVING ME NUTS
!” I hiss down the phone at Leandro. “He’s everywhere I go. I can’t even pee in peace without him standing outside the door. I feel like I’m back to the days when Jett was a toddler, and he used to follow me everywhere—bathroom included!”

Leandro laughs that deep rich laugh of his.

“It’s not funny!” I bite.

“I know, babe, but Andre is only doing his job.”

“A job that I don’t want him to be doing. I told you that getting a security guy for Jett was a great idea, but I don’t need one.” I point a finger at myself as if he could see me. “And I have patients coming in while he’s sitting out in the waiting room, and he’s scaring the life out of them. He’s bad for my business. I work on privacy here, Leandro.”

“Okay, I’ll tell him to sit outside your building in his car. Would that be better?”

“Much. Thank you. I do appreciate you looking out for me,” I add so not to sound like an ungrateful bitch, even though I didn’t want the security for myself. “It’s just weird, having him shadowing me.”

“I just want you to be safe, India. You and Jett both.”

Jett doesn’t know that Paul is out of prison. I thought long and hard whether to tell him or not, and both Leandro and Kit agreed with me that the best thing would be to keep it from Jett for now. I don’t want to disrupt his life unnecessarily at the moment. He thinks we have the security because of Leandro’s fame. Honestly, he loves having a bodyguard. I think he thinks he’s a celebrity now.