Redemption (8 page)

Chapter Eight

Neveah

I was drenched with sweat. I woke up at six to run because I’d gotten no sleep the night before. Dinner was awkward. I couldn’t stop looking at my plate because everywhere I looked I felt uncomfortable. Even my dad’s eagerness to get the conversation going made me queasy.

The guest house came into my view and a low hum glided down to my toes.
Dammit.
As badly as I wanted to dislike him something so magnetic beckoned me nearer, and it wasn’t getting any better.

Lucy bounded toward the porch of the guest house before looking over her shoulder at me. I frowned. “We’re not going in there,” I said. “No.”

She whined but followed me toward the house. I took time shaving my legs and fixing my hair. I felt like a sixteen-year-old girl getting ready for a date, but obviously, it wasn’t a date—not by a long shot.

It wasn’t going to happen, anyway. He’d bluntly said it, and I meant to say it.

After I finished getting ready, I pulled on the tightest pair of colorful leggings, a white shirt and a blue jean button-down unbuttoned. Something inside of me told me to obey the man’s wishes. He’d asked
somewhat
nicely for me not to wear leggings, but I liked them. To be honest, they were mostly what my wardrobe consisted of.

When ten hit and Declan hadn’t showed any sign of being alive, I walked over to the guest house and knocked.

“Come in.”

Pressing my palms against the door, I shoved it opened and saw him standing by the bathroom door, slipping on one of my dad’s gym T-shirts. I was able to get a brief look at the muscles in his stomach and butterflies fluttered in my own. Of course he wore my dad’s shirt, and it was way too small for him causing the seam to stretch around his biceps.

“Nice shirt.”

He peered my way, and I knew the moment his eyes fell on my leggings, because his entire body went tense. The muscles in his chest hardened and sent an all-consuming fire to my lady bits.

Nonchalantly, I lifted a brow. “What’s wrong with you?”

A snarl spread across his face, and both of his hands clenched by his sides. “Not a goddamn thing,” he snapped.

I bit the inside of my lip to keep from smiling. “Well, alright then, we better get going. We have tons of shopping to do.”

Declan kept his narrowed gaze on me, and something coiled in my stomach at the way the corner of his lip rose into a smile.

Instead of shivering like I wanted, I turned and walked out of the door. The sun was hot already and sweat built on my upper lip. Nervously, I licked it off and quickened my pace toward my car.

I hadn’t made it around the house when I felt his hand on my waist, and then the outside of the house against my back. “Hey,” I barked out, but he stopped me with his wild, reckless eyes.

A delicious chuckle vibrated through his chest, and he dipped his head so that his mouth was closer to mine. His fierce breaths hit my parted mouth in uneven blows. “You don’t think before you do, huh?” Four rough fingers dug into my ass, and his thumb hooked over the front of my thigh. “You have no idea what you’re asking for, Champ. I’d ruin you.” He tugged on my hip and searched my face. “Is Cooper what you’re used to? Chase?” Desperation filled my stomach. “I’d fuck you raw every day. Do you understand that?”

I actually couldn’t understand anything. Comprehending anything other than his mouth so close to mine was proving impossible. 

A slow almost violent pleasure started in my stomach and threatened to take over my entire body. “Answer me.”

Shakily, I met his grey eyes and bit my bottom lip. “I understand that you’re scared to do what you want to do to me. That you do a lot of talkin’ but nothing to back it up.”

God, I wanted him, so badly I’d drenched my panties. Those fingers on my waist clutched tighter, and he pressed his erection against my stomach, forcing me back against the house. “Always talking shit,” his voice dropped.

Want knotted in my stomach. He dipped his mouth to my neck and bit the sensitive flesh. My lungs turned into rocks, my body melted into him. A dark chuckle hit my skin, and Declan skimmed his teeth along my neck until he hovered over my mouth. “You’re shaking,” he whispered, his thumb pushed the front of my leggings down a centimeter.

An embarrassing whimper escaped my throat. “Declan,” I whispered.

He dropped his head to my forehead and slid his hand down the front of my leggings, separating my panties from my pussy. The adrenaline inside of me electrified and every part of myself was focused on his callouses pressed against me. When he stopped my body went frantic. The taste of blood filled my mouth at my attempt not to cry. “No,” he ground out. “I’m sorry.”

And I was suddenly cold against the outside of our house. When my eyes settled from the blurry haze, he stood six feet away. The finger that had been against me was in his mouth.

Holy shit.
I braced myself against the house, and I was fully aware that it was the only thing keeping me upright.

Wait, holy shit, he just
stopped
.
Suddenly I was angry. “What the hell was that?”

His jaw stayed clenched. The evidence of everything that I wasn’t getting was erect in his jeans. My panties were definitely ruined.

We stood staring at one another until I built up enough energy to save what dignity I had left. Pushing myself from the wall, I started toward my car. Humiliation loomed over my head like a rain cloud.

I touched the hot surface of my car door when he jerked me around to face him. “Neveah,” he whispered.

A deep burn caught in my throat. “Let’s just go.”

He reached out and caught my jaw in his palm. “I know what you’re thinkin’ and it’s not that, Champ.”

I let out a bitter laugh. “And what am I thinking, Declan? Since you seem to know how to handle every situation. Tell me.”

Declan’s grey eyes grew darker. “You think I don’t want you.” He dipped his head. “Isn’t that right?”

Of course it was right but hell if I admit it.
“No,” I snapped.

His laugh tickled my mouth. “Liar.”

I shoved against his chest, and he caught my arms and pinned them against him. “Don’t mistake my self-control for not wanting you. But I will not break my promise to your dad. I’m not getting involved with you.” He lowered his mouth and eyes. “So stop trying to tempt me.”

He released my hands, shot me a smile through gritted teeth and got into the passenger’s side of the car.

***

The twenty minute drive to the mall was extricating. Declan’s fists were clutched on his thighs, and his jaw set. There hadn’t been a fucking peep said between us.

It’d taken the entire trip for my hormones to settle down. He’d left me with adrenaline unleashed in my veins, and there was nothing I could do about it. Well, not until I was alone in my shower later.

I pulled into the first open parking lot but Declan caught my jaw, his rough fingers sending pools of heat to my core. The direct obligation to look him in the eyes was almost more than I could manage, his grey gaze warmed me from the inside out. “I’m bad news for you. I made a promise to your dad, and I’m trying my best to keep it, you’re the one making it difficult.”

I tried to pull away, but he held his ground. “Don’t act like you don’t want me just as bad as I want you,” I said.

His breathy sigh sent shivers down my back. “Oh, Angel. I want more than just you, I want to have you in every way possible.” He dropped my chin. “But I can’t. Your dad is giving me a second chance.”

My aggravation settled into frustration, and I had to look the other way so he couldn’t see the disappointment. “Whatever. Let’s get this shit over with.”

I reached for the door but his fingers on my wrists stopped me. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I didn’t mean to let it get that far. You’re just so damn beautiful.”

Me? Not beautiful, but damn beautiful?
Something heavy formed in my throat and only grew as he lowered those grey eyes to my mouth. “Let’s go,” I whispered, pulling my hand away.

I scurried from my car and waited nervously for him to exit. This was going to be one fucked up summer.

Chapter Nine

Rage

Taking my eyes off of her was way harder than it should have been. She kept her distance as we shopped, lurking in the background and checking her phone. Six guys had looked at her ass while she ignored me from across the store. The fact that I took a step toward her every time a guy showed interest should have been a red flag for me to get a grip.

That aggravated eye roll came every time she caught me staring.

The ache inside of me threatened to unleash, but I had to keep myself together. I wasn’t there to start something, and I wasn’t the kind of man that started something I couldn’t finish. Hannah had to be my first priority. After getting some jeans and a few shirts, I texted Dante for the second time.

Me: I’m here. Meet me at the bathroom in fifteen.

I shoved my phone into my pocket and started toward Neveah. She rolled her eyes, yet again, and pulled her purse higher over her shoulder. “Can we eat now?”

“Let’s go.”

We got our food at the food court and took a seat in a corner booth. I scanned the faces for Dante while the busy crowd around us buzzed in my ear.

Neveah squeezed her ketchup out on her burger wrapper and dug in. I couldn’t help but smile because most girls wouldn’t eat around me, at least, not like her. “What?”

I shrugged my shoulders. “Nothing.” I nodded toward her pink bag. “What did you get?”

She took a large bite and gave me a narrowed gaze. She wasn’t going to get over what happened earlier, easily. Maybe that was for the best. Who knew what she would do to tempt me, and between friends, I had already started to wear.

“Underwear,” she said. “And some yoga pants.” The corner of her mouth pulled into a small smile, and she giggled over her hand.

My brows rose to my hairline. “Was that a giggle? It didn’t sound like something that would come out of your mouth.”

Her cheeks flushed pink, and she bit the corner of lip. “I giggle
sometimes
. Is that against the law, Officer
Samuels
.” She rolled her eyes.

“You’re such a smart ass.”

“I’m sorry. Are
you
calling someone a
smartass
? You’re always being a dickhead. It’s my only defense.”

God, I hate when her eyes go all sultry when she’s right.

“I am a dickhead, get used to it.”

Something crossed over her face, but she was quick to hide it. A soft sigh escaped her mouth, and my dick protested against my zipper.
What in the hell is wrong with me? She’s just a girl.

“I have to go to the bathroom. You okay by yourself?”

She tossed a fry down. “I’m twenty-one, not three.”

Twenty-one? Six years younger than me.
Grabbing her wrist, I waited until she met my gaze. “Stay here.”

She didn’t agree but pulled away to eat.

I sped walked toward the bathrooms and found Dante leaning against the men’s room, crutches propped against the wall.

Goddammit his entire leg is broken.

Dante looked up and a smile crossed his face.
At least he hasn’t lost his sense of humor.
“Fuck man—,”

Dante stopped me with his palm. “Save it. We all know you’re not the mushy type, and I don’t want to hear it. My leg will heal.”

Dropping my head, I smiled at the floor. “You’re a good damn man, you know that?”

Dante rolled his eyes. “Whatever, now let’s talk about your sister.”

He’s frown told me everything I needed to know. “You talked to her?” I asked.

He pushed from the wall and steadied himself on his crutches. “I did.”

I lifted a brow. “What did she say?”

“She doesn’t even know you’re out of prison.”

What?
“I wrote her—,”

Dante laughed. “And you thought Denver wouldn’t keep your letters from her? She thinks you’re still in prison. She has a new cell phone and knows nothing about Denver’s career. He’s blindsided her, man.”

Shit.
Screwing my eyes shut, I tried to calm my anger. Denver was a dead man. “Did you tell her?”

Dante shook his head. “We were interrupted, and the next time I tried to find her, Denver had hauled her off to Paris for the week.”

“Paris?” I let out a bitter laugh. “The bastard took her to Paris?”
What the hell is he trying to prove? He thinks I’m dead
. “Well, he can’t keep her away from us forever. When does she get back?”

Dante pushed a mop of dreads from his face. “They’ll be back next Thursday night. I plan to tell her everything when he goes to lunch with his family.”

God, that’s an entire week away.

I nodded. “Okay, one week isn’t that bad.”

Dante pursed his lip. “No, but what’s the plan once she is back? I talk to her, but what if she doesn’t believe me?”

She will, won’t she?
I swallowed the painful lump that formed in my throat. “We’ll cross that path when we get to it. Right now, I just need to stay low until she gets back.”

Dante’s gaze flickered over my shoulder and a smile pulled at his mouth. “And take care of that unbelievably gorgeous girl you’re staying with, right?”

I frowned and glanced over my shoulder.

Neveah stopped beside me, crossed her arms and then narrowed her gaze. “This isn’t the bathroom,” she said, jutting her hand out toward Dante. “I’m Neveah.”

Dante grinned, sidestepped me and took her hand. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Dante.”

Neveah gave me a quick sideways glance. “Nice to meet you, too. Are you Declan’s friend?”

Dante’s face morphed into confusion, but he took my death glare as compliance. “Yeah, old friends. I love ole’
Declan
, here.”

I gripped Neveah’s elbow. “Well, this has been great but we need to leave.”

She slipped from my grasp and eyed Dante’s leg. “What happened to your leg?”

Dante didn’t bat an eye. “Four-wheeler wreck. I crushed it.”

The corner of Neveah’s brow lifted. “Funny how you both have such severe injuries.”

Dante kept his cool but my heart skipped a beat or twelve.
That’s all we need is for her to get curious and start snooping.
“Why don’t you mind your own business? Didn’t I tell you I’d be back?”

She grinned. “What made you think I’d do what you say? Plus, I need to get back home. My Aunt Shelly is coming over for family night.”

Family night? What is this? The Brady Bunch
? “Well, let’s go then.”

Neveah reached for Dante’s hand, and he took it. “It was nice to meet you. You’re more than welcomed to come over for dinner.”

Dante smiled. “Thanks, but I need to get out of here. My car is waiting for me outside.” His gaze lifted to mine. “I’ll talk to you soon, brother.”

We hugged, and I watched as he wobbled out of the hallway and toward the front entrance of the small mall.

When I turned back Neveah had already grabbed our bags and headed out the same entrance, her hips swayed the entire way. Her tenses shoulders told me she was still pissed.

It’s better this way, I think.

***

“Harder.”

The rage inside of me coursed through like lighting. The gloves on my hands brought back so many memories and none of them good. But despite the images of prison, it
felt
good. It felt like fate.

“Jab. Jab. Jab,” Wes called out from behind the punching bag. My knuckles burned from the impact, but I pushed harder, loving the pain that my body fought against. “There you go. Jab.”

The image of Denver’s hands on my sister flooded me, my hands quickened and my pace tripled. Something drove me on the inside that I’d never experience. An outbreak of hell

“Wow. Wow. Hold up!”

I stopped mid-swing. Wes stared at me from behind the bag with a huge smile on his face. “That’s enough for today, Kid. Damn you’re fast.”

I couldn’t help but smile.

Wes chuckled and gestured for me to follow him into his office. The other fighters eyed me but none made eye contact. I didn’t blame them. Some random man comes in and takes over their gym and their coach’s attention.

Wes guided me through the double doors to the lobby where Neveah sat behind the desk. Her gaze drifted up my naked chest to my eyes. Heat rushed me and threatened to blind me from the promise I’d made her father.

She was so damn beautiful.

“This way,” Wes called out.

I kept eye contact for as long as I could before walking into the hallway behind Wes. His office was messy with trophies and stacks of paperwork. “Sit down.”

I took a seat opposite of his desk.

The smile on his face told me he had ideas, and I was scared to hear them. No matter how good I was in the ring, I needed to keep my mind on my sister.

“You’re good,” he said, leaning backwards. “You’re talented beyond belief. A little old to start boxing but something tells me that this isn’t your first time.”

He’d be right. I’d boxed to relieve tension before and got good at it. It was always my daily stress reliever. “Once or twice.”

Wes grinned, scratched his neck and rested his elbows on his desk. “Look, I think you could go pro. You’re fast, strong and a good thinker. You’ve got massive potential, and I want to help you achieve it.”

I smiled at my interlaced fingers that rested on my belly.
Sure, it was tempting
. Hell, there had been a part of me that wanted to jump up and scream yes. But the rational part told me Hannah was my number one priority.

“I boxed for years,” Wes said. “I went pro and broke my leg.”

Ah, now I understand the passion
. “You were good then?”

His grin widened. “I was great. I—
am
great. We could try it out and see where it takes us. No commitments just yet. Just try.”

Trying wouldn’t hurt, right?
I could try for a couple of weeks until Dante talked to Hannah, and we rescued her. “Okay,” I said. “I’ll give it a shot. I appreciate your faith in me.”

Wes smiled and stuck his hand out. “I can tell you’re a good man, son. You just need a little guidance.”

I’d never heard anyone refer to me as a good man. But I’m not Rage to them, I’m Declan. They were two completely different people.

This family has no idea the things I’ve done.

***

Shelly sipped on her wine and eyed Neveah over the rim. Something was going on with those two, and it made me nervous.

Wes’ fork clanked against his plate. “Why is everyone so quiet today?”

Shelly lifted a brow. “I was just wonderin’ the same thing. Neveah you haven’t said one word tonight.”

Neveah sipped her water. “I’m tired.”

“Liar,” Shelly said. “What’s goin’ on? Does it have something to do with Heath posting that old picture of you two on Instagram?”

Neveah’s mouth popped opened. “He did? What the—,” she trailed off into a groan. “What a douchebag.”

Shelly laughed. “You can do so much better than him.”

Neveah kept her eyes down and moved her food around her plate. “What happened?” I asked. “I mean, he cheated. But what happened?”

“She found a condom wrapper in his jeans and punched him in the face,” Shelly said. “I would have given my right tit to have been there for that.”

Wes laughed. “That’s my little girl. Was it an upper cut?”

The worry line on Nev’s face vanished. “No, it was a right hook. You know those are my specialty.”

Wes laughed. “Well, I was thinkin’ since Declan is going to start training that you two could run together. I mean there has been some gang activity close by, and I don’t want you running by yourself.”

Neveah’s ponytail whipped around. “Dad,” she whispered. “I’m perfectly able to run by myself. I’ve been doing it for years.”

Shelly hid her smile behind her drink. “Who doesn’t want company when they run, Nev? I think it’s a good idea.”

Nev’s eyes rounded, then shifted to me. Something hot formed in my stomach. My body wanted to run with her, but my mind screamed ‘don’t put me through the torture.’

“What do you say, Declan?” Wes said, ignoring Nev’s death glare. “Neveah is just a loner, she’ll get used to the company. You up for an early run with her? All of my boxers run, it’s good cardio.”

Licking my bottom lip, I slowly nodded against my better judgment. “Sure. It’d be great to have a workout buddy.”

Shelly’s slight laugh beneath her breath made me smile. I didn’t look over at Neveah, but I could feel her glare against the side of my face.

Wes smiled. “Great. I’m going to bed, I have an early day tomorrow. Shelly you okay to clean the kitchen?”

She rolled her eyes. “After another bottle of wine, maybe.”

Wes sighed and pointed toward the cabinet in the far corner. “It’s behind the protein bars. No one looks there.”