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Chapter Six - Neveah
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2024-10-29 19:42:56All the lights were off when we got home. When Aunt Shelly goes shopping, the woman goes shopping. Three bags hung from each of my closed fists, and she was totally right: clothes do take the edge off.
Lucy laid in Dad's lap in the recliner. His head thrown backwards and his snores echoed throughout the silent house. Smiling, I covered them up and made my way toward my bedroom.
The crickets sang from outside, and I listened while putting away my clothes. Then I heard someone yell. I dropped my bag, and my blood turned to ice in my veins.
Again. Louder.
I couldn't make out what the person said, but I knew where it came from. Before I thought better of it, I raced out the back door into the humid summer night and forced my way into the
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Roughneck Chapter Seven - Rage
I'm going to hell.Demons would drag me out of my bed and into the fiery underworld soon. I couldn't take much more of her sarcastic, sexy as sin attitude. I wanted her so badly that I ached when I saw that kid flirting with her. Not to mention him on top of her, it took all my self-control not to drag him out of the ring.And those stupid yoga pants. Didn't she have any real clothes?"Declan, you want some more to drink?"I glanced up from my plate at Wes. He smiled over at me, offering me the jug of sweet tea. "Thank you, yes."I poured myself another glass and wished it was Bacardi. I needed a drink.Dinner had started o
Roughneck Chapter Eight - Neveah
There was nothing like a six a.m. run to get my blood pumping and potentially forget the awkward dinner from hell the night before. I couldn’t stop looking at my plate, even my dad’s eagerness to get the conversation going made me queasy. The guest house came into view and a low hum glided down to my toes. As badly as I wanted to dislike him, something so magnetic beckoned me nearer and it tittered onto my last nerve. Lucy bounded toward the porch of the guest house before looking over her shoulder at me. “We’re not going in there.”She whined but followed me to the house. I took time shaving my legs and fixing my hair, feeling 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 made it loud and clear.After I finished getting ready, I pulled on the tightest pair of colorful leggings, a white
Roughneck 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 checked her out 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 what I wanted to do, 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 I bought some jeans and a few shirts I texted Dante.Me: I’m here. Meet me at the bathroom in fifteen. I shoved my phone into my pocket and started toward Neveah. She pulled her purse higher over her shoulder. “Can we eat now?”“Let&rs
Roughneck Chapter Ten - Neveah
You’ve got to be kidding me. I yanked my IPod from my ears, stared ahead, and watched as the side of his lip pulled into a grin. “Good morning.”How did he —Aunt Shelly. It’s always Aunt Shelly. Lifting my chin, I shut the back door, stepped off the stairs and faced him straight on. I didn’t know if I’d see him or not, but I was definitely wearing workout pants that hugged me like a second skin. And my bright purple sports bra fit me just right. The most delicious look was on his face, and it started a tsunami in my stomach that threatened to make my life miserable if I wasn’t underneath him soon. His shirt was off, showing me every reason I was bitter toward him. Showing me what I couldn’t have. Each ridge in his stomach was hard, his skin pulled tightly over every perfectly formed muscle.Damn him to hell!Instead of answering because that would be too matur
Roughneck Chapter Eleven - Rage
With my forehead pressed against the shower wall, I stroked myself harder, undressing her in my mind like a fifteen-year-old boy until I released into the tornado of water at my feet. I groaned as the vision of Neveah in my mind flooded my every thought. I couldn’t stop my eyes the night before. When Chase had hit her, I felt a primal instinct to knock him on his ass, even though it was an accident. I didn’t care. I hated to see her in pain, on the ground with a black eye. Why was this happening to me? She was the dangling meat in front of a starving dog. It was almost nine when I shrugged into my T-shirt and buttoned my jeans. My head had been so wrapped up with thoughts of Neveah that I hadn’t even thought about my sister. That was what frightened me. My phone buzzed against my nightstand, Dante’s number flashed across the screen. I swiped the call, pressed my phone to my ear and asked, “Any news?”Dante si
Roughneck Chapter Twelve - Neveah
The sweat from my hairline skimmed down my face, dripping from my chin before landing on the concrete floor of the gym. The Texas summer started to rear its horns, but it would only get worse. Counting the beads of sweat that dripped from my chin had been my distraction from Dec—Rage. Rage. What kind of person is named Rage? My body hummed at the thought of the night before. His rough callouses pressed against my most personal place, his fingers bringing me to the highest of highs. And yet, he still backed away. I knew he felt that connection when his mouth met mine. Warmth cloaked my cheeks, but I swallowed the shame. No one watched me in the corner of the gym, scrubbing the floors like Cinderella. Dad hadn’t asked me to do it. I just needed something to take my mind off of him. It didn’t work. Rage spent the morning laying gravel in the parking lot before jumping right into practice with the other boys. Dad talked for an hour about an upcoming me
Roughneck Chapter Thirteen - Rage
Wes stood in the middle of our semi-circle in the guest locker room. “Okay guys, let’s give it the best we have but have fun. This competition isn’t for points, just a practice match for this season.” All the guys around me were stone-faced, their backs straight and eyes focused. And all I could focus on was Neveah in the corner of the room in those shorts. And I thought the yoga pants were bad. Those little things rode up every time she bent over for something. Her white polo fit snug to her breasts and waist. Wes’s Boxing Gym printed over her right tit, drawing even more attention to the two un-buttoned buttons down the center. Someone elbowed me. I sat up straight and noticed everyone staring my way. “What’s up?”Wes frowned. “Are you okay? You seem a little distracted today.”I was. When Neveah punched her ex-fiancée, something switched inside of me. There wasn’
Roughneck Chapter Fourteen - Neveah
Those dark eyes didn’t waver from me, even when I stepped through the threshold of the small cabin, I felt his eyes on my back. The door shut quietly behind him, but I kept forward, afraid to look too soon. There were too many emotions coursing through me. Half of my brain screamed for me to run while I had the chance and the other already pulled off his clothes. “Neveah,” he whispered behind me, his breath sent chills up my spine. “You’re shivering.” I was, bad. It should have embarrassed me, but I knew he was the only person that would cure the ache. Slowly, I turned to look up at him, his grey eyes were dilated, a look of primal need on his face. “I want you,” I bravely whispered. “I can’t take this anymore.” The corner of his mouth lifted. One hand rested behind me, pinning me against the nearest wall, and the other rested on my waist. “You don’t have to take anything anymore, because I can’t wait another damn minute for you.” H
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Roughneck Epilogue - Neveah
Four months later …“He’s up next!” Aunt Shelly screamed in my ear. I didn’t need her to tell me because I’d been waiting for it. I’d counted down each fight waiting to see Rage. The New Orleans arena was huge compared to the one at home. We’d been waiting for this match since Rage started fighting at the gym. I glanced down at my blank cell phone and frowned. Dante hadn’t texted me back. I had hardly talked to him in the last three weeks, and he lived with us. After his surgery, Rage stepped up to the plate and started talking care of him. He’d been closed off and hadn’t showed any interest in anything. I’d never been in a wheelchair, but I knew he was upset about it. Who wouldn’t be?I slid my phone back into my pocket. The last I’d heard of Denver, he was awaiting trial. Knowing that the scumbag would never see daylight again made the kidnapping wort
Roughneck Chapter Twenty-Six-Rage
We spent the majority of the day at the hospital. Dante was in critical condition. When I found him in the basement I thought he was dead. But he opened his eyes when I bent down beside him. “I’m not dead yet, brother.”I smiled. “Well, we gotta keep you alive for a little while longer. You haven’t fallen in love yet.”“You’re definitely pussy whipped.”I chuckled. Carefully, I picked him up underneath his knees and back. “You’re gonna make it.”He nodded. I didn’t realize what happened to him until I got him up the stairs. Someone had hacked his shin in half. The white bone showed through the meat of his leg. The wound was fresh which meant he hadn’t bled out yet. We got him to the hospital in ten minutes. The police were waiting for us. We spent hours answering questions before they let us go check on Dante. They went into emergency surgery to amputate hi
Roughneck Chapter Twenty-Five-Neveah
Oh no. Please, God. I wiped my cheeks of the waterfall of tears that coated them. Denver snapped his fingers and two armed men from outside, grabbed Rage underneath his arms, and pulled him over to the corner of the room. “Leave him alone!” I screamed.Denver’s chuckle sent chills down my spine. He watched them chain Rage to the wall with a smile on his face before turning to acknowledge me. His piercing blue eyes twinkled, his swim trunks hung low on his hips and the lack of compassion on his face hit me like a brick. “Sweet Angel,” he said. “I’ve got plans for you as soon as your buddy over there wakes up.”He walked toward me, grabbing my foot and yanked me toward him. Fear rushed through me when his finger trailed up the inside of my thigh. I slapped it away, thankful for the use of my hands. My feet had fallen asleep two hours before due to the heavy chains that tied me down.“Oh, don&rs
Roughneck Chapter Twenty-Four-Neveah
An entire week passed before I stepped another foot into the gym. I was way past grumpy when Chase cornered me. “You okay?”His wide blue eyes were thoughtful, and his smile sweet. Chase had seen the entire thing and hadn’t said a word to anyone. “Better.”He gave my dad a sideways glance before touching my cheek. “Want to spar for a bit? You can take out that built-up frustration on me.”“That actually sounds like a really good idea.”Chase handed me a pair of gloves. “Well then, follow me.” We made our way to the punching bag in the corner of the gym. The same punching bag Rage had used the day we were almost caught. We fell into a rhythm. Jab, jab, hook. Jab, jab, hook. “So, are you really okay? You talked to your dad about what happened yet?”I sighed. “No, he’s been avoiding me.” I swung my arm, meeting Chase’s gaze fro
Roughneck Chapter Twenty-Three - Rage
Mayday. I blinked several times at the text from Dante. The sleepiness in my eyes vanished, and a dose of reality soaked me. I pushed the covers from my body and dialed his number. After seven rings his voicemail picked up. I dialed his number again, and listened to my heartbeat until I got the voicemail. Nerves flooded me. What had happened? Had Denver found out I was alive? I pulled on a T-shirt and jeans, before heading out the door. When I stepped onto the ground I heard the backdoor slam shut. Wes charged down the steps with Neveah on his heels. “Daddy, please. Just stop.”Not now.Tears streamed down Neveah’s face as she grabbed at her dad’s shirt. “Stop, don’t.”Wes snatched from her grip, his eyes taking in the T-shirt she wore—my T-shirt. “Wes,” I said calmly. He jerked from Neveah and before I could counteract, he’d slugged me in the jaw. &l
Roughneck Chapter Twenty-Two-Rage
Neveah hadn’t looked at me but once during dinner. Once her eyes fell to her plate, she hadn’t looked up. I wanted to get up, pull her into my arms and demand to know what made her so sad. “Did you have fun with Shelly?” I asked over the table, desperate for her to speak to me. Wes nodded and sipped his tea. “Yeah, what did y’all do? Buy anything? Do I need to hide when my credit card bill comes in?”Neveah gave a half-hearted smile. “Just some underwear. We went to Dallas to the mall and ice-skated.” Her eyes jerked from mine when she mentioned Dallas, and my blood went cold. “Sounds like fun,” I whispered.She nodded but avoided eye contact. “Yeah, a lot of fun.”Wes patted his stomach and stretched his arms behind his head. “I’m heading to the gym to do a little paperwork. You two okay to clean the kitchen?”I nodded. “Yes, sir.
Roughneck Chapter Twenty-One-
Chase lifted his water bottle to his lips and chugged what remained, using the back of his hand to wipe his mouth clean. “So, you want to spar?”I shook my head, looking over my shoulder at Dad and Rage in the ring. “No, I want to fight. All out. I want to show what I can do.”Chase ran his fingers through his light brown hair and smiled at me. “You don’t have to prove a point to him, Nev. He likes you as is.”I rolled my eyes. “This isn’t for anyone. It’s for me. I want to see what I can do.” It was definitely a lie. I wanted to show Rage that I could protect myself from a legit fighter so that he’d trust me to help with his sister. Our situation wouldn’t get better until we saved Hannah, and she needed some convincing. “I don’t know—I mean, we fight but never full force. Your dad doesn’t like when I fight you.”“I don’t care wh
Roughneck Chapter Twenty- Neveah
Kill me now … Cooper pulled into the driveway and turned off his lights. Both hands clutched the steering wheel and judging by the grim look on his face, I knew I’d pissed him off at the movies. He only tried to put his arm around me seven times and hold my hand twice before he got the hint. This wasn’t happening. “Well, this was fun,” I said, grabbing the door handle. He grabbed my knee and squeezed. “Neveah,” he whispered. “You can’t be serious? You didn’t even give me a chance.”“I told you I wasn’t interested. I gave you your date, now it’s over.”His blue eyes darkened in anger. I didn’t care. My part of the deal was done. Shoving the door open, I walked toward the porch. The lights were off inside which told me Dad had already passed out. “Neveah, wait,” Cooper said, shutting the door I’d opened. &ldqu
Roughneck Chapter Nineteen - Rage
I re-read Dante’s text for the thirteenth time. They’re back. The party turned into a poker night. Tonight is our best move. My sister was back at Denver’s house, and the plan was set. In less than a few hours, I’d have my sister safe from Denver. The same night Neveah was going on a ‘date’ with Cooper. I clutched my phone in my hand, trying my best to keep my calm. There were too many things racing through my brain. Would Hannah come with me? Could I get her alone? Would she willingly leave her life for this? For a one-bedroom guest house. How would Wes take her here? “Rage, can you go get Neveah. She hasn’t left her room in hours,” Wes called out.Wes started supper around six thirty, and I had made myself at home in their living room.There were pictures of Neveah growing up. Her senior picture, her horseback riding and a baby picture of her and her mother. “Sure,&rdq
