Chapter Three
Christmas Eve night was always tough for Kuba.
This used to be his favorite holiday before almost exactly two years ago.
Then his mom had passed and everything about his life had changed.
He had won the title one week after she died.
Not only had she not lived long enough to see that, but his nineteenth birthday had been less than a month later.
He had gotten his first taste of having no one but his dad.
Kuba paced the living room like a trapped animal.
This season highlighted too many negative things.
While his dad had always been good to him, they hadn’t been as close as Kuba had been with his mom.
Krystof had always been more focused on his career than his family.
Not that he hadn’t been an amazing dad. He had.
Oddly, while his mom had always seemed kind of sad, Kuba didn’t think it had anything at all to do with Krystof.
When the pair were in the same room, they always spoke lovingly to each other.
Kuba still always got the impression their relationship had been more of a deep friendship than the love of a married couple.
Kuba moved to his bedroom and paced there.
He needed the change of scenery. Maybe he should hit the town.
There were probably things he could do. He should just hit the gym again.
Kuba just needed to clear his head. He gave himself a sharp nod and changed direction before realizing he should probably change clothes.
Kuba pulled off his shirt. His cellphone chirped.
He ripped the phone from his back pocket like it was his only lifeline.
Dad: The weather is amazing in L.A. What do you say we have Christmas here? It’s nothing to hire a plane for you.
While Kuba had no idea what his dad was still doing in L.A.
, since he thought Krystof had gone there solely to ask for Steel’s help, something had him not wanting to come back.
Kuba heard the reluctance in every phone call.
His fingers hovered over the phone, ready to type an agreement.
Hell, at least he would have something to do.
Another text popped up, hiding half of his texts with his dad.
Diesel: So I realize you probably have plans with your family.
Still, Mom wants to know if you’d like to hang out with us tonight and do the Christmas thing in the morning.
And yes, I do feel like a little kid asking his friend if he wants to spend the night.
“My momma says she’ll pick you up if you can find a ride home. ” LOL!
A loud bark of laughter burst from Kuba. He smiled so big, it hurt. Seriously? What was it with this guy? They barely knew each other, and he couldn’t think of a single damn thing he would rather do than hang with Diesel and his mom. He swapped messages going back to his dad’s offer.
Kuba: That sounds great, but I made other plans. It didn’t sound like you intended to return for the holidays when we talked the other day. So I figured it would be okay to kick it with a friend instead.
He swapped back to Diesel.
Kuba: Send me the address and give me a few. I’ll be there.
Diesel: Don’t forget to pack an overnight bag. *crying laughing*
The way Diesel responded immediately made Kuba wonder if he had been holding his breath waiting for Kuba’s answer.
His dad texted again.
Dad: You’re a grown man. I understand you’ll make other plans sometimes. Just know I miss you and love you. I can ship your gift if you’d like.
Kuba: Nah. We can exchange gifts whenever you get back or whatever. It’s just a date on the calendar.
Diesel: 680 Cherry Wood Ln.
Kuba: Can’t wait.
Dad: Okay. I love you and Merry Christmas Eve. Have fun with your friends.
Kuba: Merry Christmas Eve to you too. I love you too. Enjoy whatever has your attention in L.A. lmfao.
He had to add that last part so his dad didn’t get the wrong idea. Kuba genuinely wasn’t upset or anything like that. His dad should get to have a life that didn’t include him. Just sometimes he wished that life included him a little more. This time, it was on him, though.
Kuba: Grabbing my keys now. Tell Nova thanks. I was getting pretty desperate tonight.
Holy fucking shit. Seriously? What in the fuck was it with this guy?
That was all Kuba kept thinking. Kuba hadn’t even hesitated before sending that text.
It didn’t even occur to him how pathetic he sounded until it was too late.
Jesus Christ. Maybe he shouldn’t go after all.
Something about Diesel had completely addled his brain.
Kuba shoved his phone in his back pocket, put his shirt back on and started grabbing things to pack an overnight bag.
There had never been an ounce of doubt that he would go.
He couldn’t stop himself even if he tried.
Kuba tossed the bag over his shoulder and headed for the door.
His phone dinged again. He checked it as he headed for the garage.
Diesel: Be careful. It’ll ruin my night if you get hurt.
Once again, he couldn’t stop smiling. Like Diesel said, he felt like a kid going to his friend’s house for a sleepover. Damn. He missed feeling young.
Diesel swung wildly between excited and nervous, with a touch of worry mixed in.
Kuba was meant to be his boss. They still didn’t really know each other.
The thing was, though, Diesel couldn’t help but feel like Kuba needed him for more than a guard.
He was damn good at picking up on emotional vibes.
Plus, Diesel had met Kuba’s dad. All Krystof had said about his son was Kuba would be difficult and he was hardheaded.
Maybe he would be those things down the line.
But so far, Diesel had only seen a guy who seemed lonely.
If Diesel knew nothing else, he knew that being on top was isolating.
He had seen it time and time again with clients.
They had reached that level of fame where no one could be trusted.
Everyone always wanted their money, a possible shot at fame, or just to have their name linked with a celebrity, or a combination of all three.
Diesel hadn’t guarded enough athletes to know if Kuba was considered quite that famous.
With Kuba being the reigning champion, that had to make him pretty well-known in the sports world.
Even if Kuba wasn’t famous, he came from what looked like Rockefeller money.
Diesel had researched Kuba’s family as part of his job.
He needed to know who he was guarding. Krystof Svoboda was a Czech-born billionaire who owned the largest energy company in Central Europe.
Kuba’s mom Anastasia was born in Greece and was part of a prominent family.
Her father had been Prime Minister for many years after Anastasia married.
As for Krystof and Anastasia Svoboda’s marriage and life together, there was next to no information about them online.
He supposed money bought some level of privacy.
Plus, they hadn’t been born in America. Their lives hadn’t been subjected to the U.S.
greedy appetite for gossip that couldn’t be quenched.
By the time they were U.S. citizens, their lives looked normal and boring to the soul-sucking paparazzi.
He had a little bitterness in him when it came to the media.
Too many times, he had been forced to protect a client from gossip pieces more than physical threats.
People could and would say anything, and the public ate that shit right up.
He couldn’t imagine how it felt to second-guess every move in hopes it wouldn’t be the one that ruined them.
Still, it was slightly irritating for Kuba’s family to be so mysterious to him.
He had a lot of questions he didn’t want to ask Kuba, but he still wanted to know.
Kuba had said he felt desperate tonight.
Diesel rubbed his chest at the thought. No way he would have pegged Kuba as someone who would admit that.
Diesel had the strangest urge to hug Kuba.
He imagined Kuba would balk at that. Accepting kindness was one thing, but physical contact was a whole other.
Kuba competed in a male-fueled and testosterone-driven sport.
Any type of affection was probably seen as a weakness.
That hurt Diesel’s heart. Everyone needed human touch.
He supposed Kuba got touched a lot considering he physically fought for a living.
Another thought slammed into him. Kuba very likely had women lined up around the block.
His every night was probably filled with sex parties.
Kuba’s confession of desperation aside, Diesel knew the score with celebrities.
He wasn’t so sure he could look away when it came to Kuba. Neither could he watch.
The doorbell rang, and Diesel popped to his feet.
His mom eyed him as if curious about his overenthusiasm to answer the door.
He tried to tone it down and answer a little more casually.
Then Kuba’s smiling face stood feet away.
Diesel just reacted. He pulled Kuba into a swift hug.
Diesel slapped him on the back, hoping to take the awkwardness out of the move. He released Kuba just as quickly.
Kuba was still all smiles. “Hey, guys. Thanks for the invite. It’s like you knew my dad is out of town. Oh, you probably did know that.”
Nova stood and stole a hug. “Oh no. I actually didn’t consider you likely had a family gathering of some sort.
You didn’t mention your dad at dinner. I guess I assumed he wasn’t in the picture.
That shouldn’t always be my go-to. My bitterness is showing.
” She laughed as if embarrassed to have said too much.