Chapter 15
15
RUE
“M alice, what are you doing here?” I untangle out of Isaac’s arms.
“I’d ask the same of you.” He rests against the doorjamb with his arms crossed, looking mouthwatering in loose blue jeans and a black hoodie that stretches across his broad chest. “What’s she doing here, Isaac?” He jerks his head at me.
I turn to Isaac. “You two know one another?” How come he never told me he’s on a first-name basis with Malice Sterling? “Why is he here? Did he make contact, or did you?”
My tone is accusatory. Isaac is always looking for fighters who will bring in larger crowds and more money.
Isaac flips a switch. One moment, he’s my nice and protective half-brother, and the next, he’s a closed-off jerk.
“It’s none of your business.” He gets off the bed. At the door, he gestures for me to leave.
“I won’t until you give me your word he stays out of your business.”
“Not my call to make. He’s his own man. Now, go wait with the guys.” His tone is quiet and lethal. I climb off the bed and skulk past him and Malice, hurt that Isaac chose his business over my ask.
“Don’t leave without me,” Malice warns as I walk by. He is giving me a wide berth. The ache in my chest deepens. When we’re alone, I’m good enough to touch and kiss, but when we’re around others, I’m nothing but someone to boss around?
I toss my hair over my shoulder. “You’re not the boss of me.” Give Malice an inch, and he’ll think it’s within his rights to bulldoze over me.
He grabs my arm. “I said wait for me.”
I yank my arm out of his hold. “‘Don’t leave’ and ‘wait for me’ should include the word please.”
“ Rue .”
Isaac watches the exchange with a smirk on his face. “One of these days, some dude’s gonna spank the attitude out of you if you’re not careful.”
“I’d like to see him try.” Glowering at them, I walk away and sit between Colton and Johnny on the couch. The bedroom door slams shut behind me.
Colton and Johnny stare at the television and watch their boxing match as though a six-foot-two moody beast hadn’t walked past them. The other guys are gone, probably out on a beer run.
“Why didn’t you guys stop him from barging in on me and Isaac?” I glare sideways at them.
“Have you seen the size of the bitch, bruh?” Colton takes a large chug of his beer.
“Is he fighting?”
“You know better than to stick your nose in Isaac’s business.” Johnny flicks his gaze to me before returning his attention to the match.
“I’m asking for a friend.”
“Nice try, Rue.” Colton rises from the couch and heads out the sliding glass door. I peer over my shoulder. He is outside vaping.
He catches me staring and points at the vape pen. I shake my head. I wait for Malice on the couch, knees to my chest and chin on the top of my knees. Sunlight streams through the windows and hits my promise ring just right so that it glitters.
The ring is a reminder of my promise to a certain someone to guard my heart until the right guy comes along. How will I know who the right guy is? I had asked. It was right after Malice broke my heart and our hatefest started.
“When he sticks by your side and has your back no matter how deep in the shit you stand and how much he stands to lose.”
I sigh. Wise words from a guy who sucks in the relationship department. Isaac’s bedroom door opens. Malice walks out, followed by my brother.
Neither looks happy. What did they discuss?
“What did you two talk about?”
Isaac glares at me. “Guess?”
I stretch out my legs and point my fingers toward the ceiling. “And?”
“You’re not to come around anymore.”
“What?!” I shoot off the couch. “It’s not your call or his to make.” I point a finger at Malice. “I can come and go as I please.”
“It’s too late, Hard Knocks. I’ve already sent a group message. Step foot inside the Eastside, and you forfeit your share of the pot.”
“You have no right. That money is mine.” For the past two years, I’ve given Isaac a hundred dollars a month. “Plus interest.”
“I’ll reconsider. If you behave.”
“What does that mean, exactly?” I set my hands on my hips. I’ve already dealt with one no-contact order, and now my brother is telling me to stay away too.
“You can’t come around until after the fights are over. Malice”—he gestures to my arch nemesis—“says your bad habit returned.”
“And what is this habit, pray tell?” I look from Isaac to Malice. Johnny has the good sense to follow Colton outside. They’re avoiding eye contact. The glass is thin, and they can hear everything .
“You stole from him.”
“What?!” I face Malice and glare.
“My laptop. It’s disappeared.”
“I borrowed it.”
Malice leans in at the waist and sticks his face in mine. “You didn’t ask.”
I puff out a frustrated breath. “I didn’t think you would mind.”
Isaac steps between us. “Nothing can happen with this bag of money, Rue, including intentional ‘borrowing.’”
“That’s it?” I push Isaac out of my way. “You’re taking his side?” I jerk my head at Malice. “Tell me he has nothing to do with your business?”
“He’s his own man.”
“And I’m paid to go where he goes.”
“Hold up, your latest job is playing bodyguard to Malice Sterling, the top offensive lineman in this part of the state?” Isaac looks my body up and down and laughs.
What a jerk!
“It’s true,” Malice confirms.
“What’s she guarding you against, bro?” Isaac asks with his arms folded over his chest.
Malice smirks. “Me, myself, and I.”
“Shit.” Isaac runs his palm over his face. “You figure out the logistics, man. I don’t want her anywhere near the cage.”
The fight is on the first Saturday in December. Isaac’s crew does the recruiting. He collects the money. Once he has enough men signed up, he draws names. Each winner fights another winner until one man is left standing.
“You’re fighting?” I grab Malice’s arm with both hands and drag him out of Isaac’s earshot. “He’s recruited out-of-town gym nuts and grown men for these fights. You know why?”
Malice shakes his head.
“He’s run out of local guys who are dumb enough to think they can beat Isaac’s star guy. I’ve seen him, and he is huge, Malice. Please, tell Isaac no.”
“I’ve already put in my money.”
“Is there anything I can say or do to change your mind?”
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
“I am, Rue.”
“But you will tell me if there is, right? Until the fight starts, you can ask me for anything if you drop out.”
“I won’t, Rue.”
He walks out of the house. I follow. My bad rep continues wreaking havoc on my life and the people around me. I must do better, starting with the guy holding the passenger-side door of his beautiful sports car for me.
I slide in the seat. He gets in and starts the engine. Biting down on my lip, I apologize. “Next time, I’ll ask first when I want to borrow anything of yours.”
“Noted. Apology accepted.”
“Will you drop out of the fight now?”
“Nope.” And he pops the P . That butt!