My introduction to Ray's fighting techniques wasn't at all like working with Herman's. Ray used his size to push me around and had no problem pummeling me. He took his teaching skills seriously. Ray was slower than Brack and Herman, but I still had trouble staying off the mats."You need to stop him from grabbing you or you'll face-plant every time," Brack said as he lifted me from my face-down position on the mat. I would scream again, but there was no air in my lungs. I wasn't sure who I hated moreBrack for the smile he tried to hide or Ray for leaving me with a body covered in bruises."Then fucking teach me how because nothing I'm doing works."Brack smoothed down my shirt, which caught beneath my boobs. "Sometimes you need to run. You're doing a great job at attacking, but you also need to know when escape is in your best interest.""That's what you think. I'm taking Snuffleupagus down if it's the last thing I do," I huffed as I walked back to the center of the mat. "Come on,
Two weeks later, I was still beat up and bruised. The only difference- my trainers were, too. It made things interesting to have three men teaching me what I needed to know. I learned each style. I also picked up from them and used the others' styles against them. Three out of five times, I was down, but the other two were when I kicked ass.Brack and I planned to barbeque with Ray and Herman later. We'd received a large supply of steaks, and Ray was out in the surf fishing. If he caught anything, we'd add it to our dinner. All three men grumbled over vegetables, but too bad. They would eat what I put in front of them.We enjoyed steak and some fresh whiting for dinner. Ray and Herman left early. They slept in split shifts and never stayed around after eating. Brack told me they camped in tents but moved the location daily. They were part of Brack's team because they adapted to their environment as well as being damn good men. He met both of them in the military.I felt a little gui
Two new bodyguards met us at the airport."No change in condition," one of them said as soon as we approached.They weren't introduced, so I didn't have names. Brack remained all business and didn't so much as give me a comforting squeeze. Match over, I thought to myself. I knew our relationship would end. This was for the best.We arrived at the hospital and the two men stayed with me in the waiting room while Brack checked on Mack's condition. I had no idea Mack was his cousin; Brack got into intensive care because he was family. A man and woman showed up a short time later. They were Mack's parents. I was glad they had no idea who I was. If I could melt into the floor I would. I prayed silently that Mack would live.Brack came out and gave Mack's parents both hugs. He thankfully didn't introduce us. They spoke quietly in the corner for a few minutes before they went back to see their son. When Brack turned to me, I could see the fury in his eyes. It was four in the morning, but
My heart rate had tripledthe large room made smaller by Brack's anger. I calmed myself just enough to hide my trepidation with a mask of stubbornness. "You knew this was coming. This guy wants me. You've done what you can by teaching me to defend myself. He'll pick off the people in my life one after the other. Your cousin is in intensive care because of me. His parents came close to losing their son." I placed my hand out when Brack came closer."This isn't a game, Olivia. This guy will kill you or, like I said, do worse. And that's only before he kills you. He's sick. My job is to keep you safe."This was it. I had to get through his block head. I knew what needed to be said, what twisted words had to be spoken, "Well, that lasted as long as it took you to climb into my pants. You already told me you compromised my safety. You think my father will continue paying you if I tell him that?" My heart almost caved at the emotions that crossed Brack's face. Hurt, anger, stubbornness, and
The new team took over. Alex Brovitch introduced himself and asked if we could sit down and talk."What is it you're looking for in a security detail?" he asked after we settled.He was nothing like Brack. Whereas Brack was large with an imposing presence, this guy would fit in just about anywhere. He looked to be in his early forties, but it was hard to tell. His dark brown eyes were direct. He didn't smile or look like he had any sense of humor at all. My gut twisted with regret. "I want you to stay in the background. I need to train and I need my privacy.""Mr. Jacobs provided your file. Is there anything you wish to add?" Still no smile. This guy was all business.I could just imagine what was in the file. I refused to ask. "No, I'm sure Mr. Jacobs' records cover everything. He's quite thorough." In bed with every inch of my body, I thought with a heavy heart. Another twist tightened my belly before I thought of something else. "Do you have any information on the condition of t
Brack's presence shook me up. I had no doubt he did it on purpose. Unfortunately, he also activated my libido. The man was a sex rocket to an orgasm and I wanted a hot ride. Just the brief glance and my panties grew wet.I took a cold shower at the club while my bodyguards waited outside the women's lounge. I had no plans to allow Ty to trap me in the shower at my apartment when he decided to pay me a visit.After I dried off, I swirled my wet hair around my finger and snapped it up in a clip. My muscles ached, but this was the best kind of pain. Okay, maybe not. Brack's pain was more delicious, the jerk. Why had he come here?One of the new bodyguards drove me to an upscale clothing store so I could find an outfit to match the plans I had for tonight. Friendless, I planned to crash my favorite nightclub. I needed something slinky and daring. I took my time perusing the racks until I found the perfect black glitz dress. I'd wear a skin-tone thong to give the added illusion of being
I should feel dirty. I should punish Brack for fucking me in a bathroom when I was tipsy. I should fuck him again in the back of a town car. That last thought won."Naughty girl," he groaned when I straddled his lap."I'll show you naughty," I whispered as I slipped from his lap to the floorboard. It took all of six seconds to slip his cock from his pants. Brack complemented my wild side. He fucked up my plans, too. Right now I refused to think about it. I slid my lips over his dick, the soft silky feel and taste of him filling my mouth.There was no divider between the driver and us and I really didn't care what he thought. I slurped just for the hell of it. Fuck, Brack tasted divine. I circled my tongue around the head of his cock and sucked. I moved my fingers off the base and rested my hands on his thighs using only my mouth and tongue. He allowed me to control what I took. My jaw was sore the last time I did this to him and it would be sore again. I didn't want to ever adjust t
My father waited inside my apartment. He and his security team had made a surprise visit to check on my new team. A man delivering a bouquet of flowers tried to enter the building at the same time as my father. Lilies. He carried a full bouquet of lilies. When my father questioned him, the man ran. A security member followed while the other remained with my father and called the police. Because he was a U.S. Senator, half the police department showed up.They caught the man with the flowers. The lead detective in Bethany's homicide investigation had interviewed him. He wasn't my stalker and ran only because he had an outstanding warrant. He did have a vague description of Bethany's murderer or at least I hoped it was him. The man who paid him wore a dark hoodie that obscured most of his face. He was somewhere between five ten and six foot with a medium build. The flower guy hadn't looked too closely; he was more interested in fifty bucks and another fifty after he delivered the flower
I hid in Italy for three weeks. Greg came with me and kicked my ass on the court. He actually made a great practice partner. I was back to clean eating and drinking only water. It surprised me when Greg brought a bottle of wine to my room one night."What's this for?" I asked when he gave me one of his golly-gee smiles. Greg was cute. And, married to a lovely woman who worshipped him."I've been your coach for three months now and I have no idea what makes you tick. It's time for a come to daddy talk. Or in your case, come to coach. I figured the alcohol might make it easier.""You'll need more than one bottle," I told him. He came back to my room ten minutes later with two more bottles in his hands. "Does your wife know you're getting drunk with a slutty tennis star tonight?" I smiled to take the sting out of calling myself a slut."She suggested it. We've had many long conversations about you.""How romantic."He poured our first glasses and tilted the edge of his glass against
I never returned to the hospital, which was entirely unfair of me. My anger at my father carried over to Brack. I was horrible. The man I loved hadn't fully recovered and I left him at the hospital alone. Okay, he had his parents and his team. But, bottom lineI was horrible and a coward. I ignored the calls from Brack and my father. Again- coward.I needed complete control of my life. It took me two weeks to come up with a plan. During those two weeks, I hired a new coach and trained until I could barely walk. I trained with a purpose. I'd had my own money. Not just from tennis but from my mother. I'd never used it. That was the way I punished her and myself. Now, for the first time, I paid for my own coach.I liked him. I could actually smile over the fact that my father paid for Jerry all those years while the two of them hated each other. Greg, my new coach, kicked my ass. I had no idea if I had a chance this season. But, winning the Grand Slam was in my peripheral vision and not
Two days later, the doctors discontinued the medication that kept Brack in a coma. My father showed up the morning after surgery and made me go home, shower, and change clothes. Brack's parents were staying in shifts. His mom promised she wouldn't leave his side until I returned. I hadn't really spoken to them. We stayed relatively quiet in Brack's room. I whispered encouragement and told him I was there. They gave us privacy, too. That's when I told him I loved him. Again and again, I whispered the words.My father and Senator Jacobs were cordial. Brack's mother treated my dad like a family friend. Apparently she'd been friends with my mom. I tried not to think about the ramifications of our two families tied together through me and Brack. It was too much to take right now.Brack still had the ventilator. The doctor reviewed best and worst case scenarios with us. I refused to listen to brain damage, paralysis, learning to walk and talk again, and so on. My focus was full recovery. I
Four hours later, I was passed out against Mack's shoulder when his cell rang. My brain registered the noise and I was pulled quickly from sleep."Yeah," he answered quietly. He listened for several minutes before responding. "I have her here with me. We'll be there in a minute." He slid his phone back in his pocket and looked at me. "He's in recovery. It was touch and go, but he pulled through. They have him in a sedated coma. He has a stent in his skull to relieve swelling. The doctor told his parents he came to before surgery and demanded to see you. His mom wants you up there if you think you can handle it."I was up and walking out of the emergency room before he finished, my heart pounding a hundred miles an hour. "What floor? I'm not waiting for you to waddle behind me."Snickers came from several of the guys. "I've got her," Molly said."Second floor."The elevator took so long I almost turned to the stairs. I'd do anything to get to him. Brack asked for me and I had to se
I ran toward Brack, who had fallen to the floor. There was so much blood and I tried wiping it off his face. My hands turned dark red."You did it, baby," he whispered before his body went completely limp.Sander and a woman who must be Molly ran into the enclosure with guns drawn. I could barely hear them. Echoed gunshots continued ringing in my ears."Call an ambulance and please someone check on my father. He's in the van," I said as I held Brack's head in my lap. Blood soaked my panties and covered my legs. Head wounds bleed, I kept saying to myself. Sander practically jumped over us and went straight to Ty's body. He turned back when he had assured himself Ty was no longer a threat."Where were you?" I asked softly. I didn't want Brack to hear me yelling at his team.Sander sat down next to me and took Brack's arm checking his pulse. "The bastard used some kind of scrambler. It took us a while to figure out the van didn't leave the premises. We recovered the phones. Brack had
Kids laughed. A mother scolded a young child for attempting to go under the bar and get closer to one of the cages. Brack and I stood in the center of the primate exhibit. My phone chirped. It didn't startle me this time; I was too numb. "Yes.""Walk over to the primate exhibit sign and you'll find another cell phone behind it. Exchange it for the one you're using. Have Mr. Jacobs leave his phone behind, too."Brack followed me to the sign and I did exactly as told. The phone was there. I picked it up and lay mine down. "He said to leave yours, too." Brack took his from his jeans pocket and placed it beside mine. Thankfully, no one paid attention to us. I had no idea what we needed to do next. The phone in my hand vibrated. This time I clicked the call button without saying a word."Go to your left and keep walking on the path. Did you bring my present?" I carried a bag with the dress inside so both of Brack's arms would be free. He carried a gun in a hidden leg holster."Yes, it's
The inside of my father's home was a crime scene. We sat on the couch in the front room away from the forensic team that arrived a few minutes before. The media camped at the gates added to the growing chaos.Even knowing Ty would eventually call, I jumped when my cell phone chirped. The display read "Unknown." My fingers trembled as I picked it up and answered, "Hello, Ty, or should I call you Leo?"His husky laugh sent goose bumps across my arms. "I told you not to call the police. You wouldn't listen and you'll pay for disobedience."My voice remained steady. "It wasn't me. You killed your mother, so what exactly did you expect? She worked for my dad for over thirty years. One plus one equals two, Leo." Fuller and Brack told me not to push him too hard. I had to make him believe I hadn't gone to the police, though."My mother had cancer and it was eating away at her. I did her a favor. She didn't walk in God's light. By making her repent and then killing her God may show mercy."
My heart stopped. Dread and terror filled me. Colors danced before my eyes making it hard to see. The whoosh of blood traveling into my head made it hard to hear. I had to get control of myself. I gulped in air. "You goddamn son of a bitch. If you hurt my father I'll kill you.""He that blasphemeth the name of the LORD shall be put to death and stoned. Remember that when you feel the pain of my hand, Olivia."Brack startled me by gathering me close and placing his head against mine so we both listened. "Where's my father?" I demanded."That's better. I have instructions for you, Olivia. You will follow them to the letter. Please bring that man with you. The one you've been with lately." His voice took on an eerie quality. "If a man commits adultery with another man's wife, both the man and the woman must be put to death." He breathed heavily and then gave a sadistic laugh. "You may choose your father or lover to pay for your sins. One shall die and the other walks away.""But-"He
I don't know what I expected love to be like. Violins playing, little cupids flying around with bow and arrows, hell maybe just cuddles in bed for hours. That wasn't what happened the following morning. Brack paced across the carpet of my living room with his cell to his ear listening to one of his men on the other end. He cast a glance or two my way. I could tell before the call ended that he would try his non-communication shit with me again.I was right."What's the news?" I asked the second he lowered the phone.He came over and sat beside me. "Nothing to worry about."I gave him my I'm-about-to-slam-you-with-a-tennis-racquet look. "Bullshit." I was beginning to notice his tells. The fingers traveling through his hair was a sign that he didn't want to enlighten me. I waited.He breathed out a slow and steady breath of air. "Mack didn't see his attacker, but he heard him before he lost consciousness."My heartbeat accelerated. "Okay. Spill it.""Mack told Herman that most of