Chapter Three- Neveah

Lucy woke me the next morning with her tongue on my face. I cringed and wiped at my mouth until she started bouncing next to the bed.

"Okay, I'm getting up," I whined. "I'll get you something to eat."

I dragged the covers from my body and stood abruptly, causing a flood of stars to block my vision. Whew, I am not a morning person.

I trudged toward the kitchen and found a note from Dad on the bar.

There is cereal in the cabinet and gravy and biscuits on the stove.

I glanced at the food sitting on the stove, and my stomach grumbled. After giving Lucy her food, I made a quick plate and ate while I got ready for my run. It was a sunny day compared to the rain storm that blew through the night before. It'd be muddy, but it'd be worth it to get some of the stress off of my back.

Lucy and I left the house in a run. The trails were like a maze, weaving in and out of the thick woods around us. I knew them like the back of my hand. The leaves were dense and soggy as we trudged through the depth of the wooded area.

Lucy trotted beside me, her tongue flopped outward, and her tail wagged heavily behind her. The scent of pine and summer brought back so many memories from my childhood. Dad and I would go fishing in a pond close by for hours when I was younger.

My mom died when I was two-years-old, so I was mostly raised by my dad. Though I'd struggled emotionally with not having a mother growing up, I didn't miss out on anything girlie because my Aunt Shelly wouldn't allow it.

Dad made up most of everything else. The boxing gym always came second to me, but I liked helping out. I'd spent my afternoons hurrying with my homework so that I could spar with the boys. There had always been a part of me that loved to box, but Dad had promised Mom if anything ever happened to her that he wouldn't let me fight—professionally at least.

Dad boxed professionally for a year or two before he broke his leg in a fight. Then he took pride in training other people to do great things. His gym was very popular, and when I moved to college it became his life.

Lucy's ears perked up, and her taking off full speed brought me back to earth. The pond glistened in the distance, and I figured she wanted to jump in. I wasn't going to join her, but she could go right ahead. The pond was eerie and grimy, not somewhere you'd want to take a dip but maybe catch a big catfish.

She bounded into the water but froze along the bank when the water touched her chest. She bent her head downward and stared back at me. What was it? A snake? I may be southern, but she was on her own with a snake—oh.

My feet stopped quicker than my heartbeat. Is that a person? Lucy sniffed the object and then looked back at me, waiting on me to do something.

With legs that felt like rubber, I walked over toward the body and glanced down at the bloody mess. The biscuits and gravy that filled my stomach tried to force their way up. His mop of raven-colored hair was tangled and dried with blood, but nothing compared to the once white shirt that was soaked a crimson red. A large gash sliced across his upper arm, blood still oozed from the wound like it was fresh.

"Oh, mercy," I mumbled.

The bloody mess of his face was tranquil beneath the grotesque scene. I wanted to reach down and magically heal every cut that caused all of that blood. I went to reach down when his eyes popped opened, and two grey stones stared up at me. I screamed, dropping down to my knees. "Can you hear me?"

His thick lips opened, and a low groan slipped from his mouth. "Yes."

"I—I don't have my phone." His eyes screwed shut, and he slumped back against the muddy ground.

His jeans were torn and bloody, but I reached down into the front pocket and found a cell phone. "I'm going to call the ambulance—,"

"No," he ground out. His voice was deep and raw but most of all filled with pain. "No, please."

No? "You're dyin'," I said, pressing my palm against his forehead. Or at least I think. "You're freezing, too. Please let me call the ambulance."

Grey Eyes groaned and tried to sit up, but I pushed him back down. "Don't move. I'm going to call my dad then."

"No," he rasped out.

I searched his face. "I can't carry you back. You're gonna die."

He knew that, and it broke my heart. I couldn't look him in the eyes and let him die. I dialed my dad's gym.

The four rings felt like fifty.

"Joe's Boxing Gym—,"

"Dad you have to come home right now. There is a guy dying in the woods by the house."

"Neveah, what? Are you serious, where at?"

I stuttered over my words and took a calming breath to slow my drumming heartbeat. "By the pond where we fish."

"I'll be right there."

I pressed the end button and clutched the phone between my palms. Lucy sat beside his body, and my eyes rounded when he brought his fingers out to meet Lucy's nose. She licked him like she knew he was hurt, and tears spilled from my eyes.

Get it together, Neveah. Fumbling with my lightweight jacket tied around my hips, I got it off and ripped the sleeve from the seam. I carefully raised his arm and tied the fabric above the worst wound toward his shoulder. That should help for a while.

"What happened?" I whispered, my eyes examining his large bruised body. One man wouldn't have been able to do this to him. There had to be two or three big men because Gray Eyes was built like a building.

His gaze turned from Lucy to me, and his mouth parted. Through his blood caked face I could see he was handsome—very handsome. By the way his full lips turned down at the corners, I knew he wasn't going to share.

"Who did this?"

This time he just stared, and despite being beaten his eyes searched over my face like he tried to memorize it. I pushed back the burn between my legs, ashamed that I was turned on at a time like that.

I sighed and reached over to hold his hand. The way his fingers flinched from my touch sent heat over me again. Shock stamped his face, but the pad of his finger slid down the length of my hand. A gurgled cough vibrated in his chest, and more tears threatened my eyes. What had happened to him? My mind raced back to the gang that had brutally beaten the kid in Dallas. Had the same thing happened to him?

"You're gonna be okay," I whispered, stroking his fingers. "I've got you."

The corner of his mouth hitched up an inch. His eyes told me he didn't believe he'd be okay. "I'm Neveah," I whispered.

His gaze turned toward mine; a look I couldn't pinpoint crossed his face. "Heaven?" he groaned.

I nodded.

I knew when Dad had arrived because Lucy bounded up to meet him. But it wasn't just Dad who ran toward us, Cooper was with him. Dad slowed when he saw us, and his brown eyes widened.

"Mercy," Cooper whispered, racing toward us. His light eyes briefly flickered to mine before he bent down and started pulling his things out. He was the gym's medic. We'd dated for a couple of years in high-school. I had momentarily thought we'd get married but things didn't end on the best terms with us. He wanted to stay together, but I knew a sixteen-hour long distant relationship wouldn't work.

"Why didn't you call the ambulance?" he hissed. "He's bad off."

I narrowed my eyes at him before meeting mystery guy's gaze. "He doesn't want to go to the hospital."

Dad patted my shoulder from behind me. "It's okay. You did the right thing."

Cooper ran a hand through his ruffled blond hair. "We're going to need water to clean him up so I can see where I need to start."

We all stood, but Dad placed a hand on my shoulder. "Sweetie, I need you to go to the gym and take over. Can you practice sparring with the boys until I get back?"

Can I or will I? I wanted to stay. I bit my bottom lip and watched as Cooper pulled the man's shoulders up and leaned him upright. He groaned, but when he opened his eyes they locked on mine. Something coiled inside of my stomach at the way he looked at me. "You're not gonna take him to the hospital, are you?"

Dad frowned. "We need to, but there is obviously a reason why he doesn't want to go. Until I find out what that reason is, I don't want you here."

I mentally rolled me eyes. "Yeah, because he really looks well enough to take me down, huh?"

Dad closed his eyes briefly. "Don't be a pain, Neveah, just go. I'll be there as soon as we get him situated and find out what happened and what's wrong."

I shot one more glance in his direction and met grey eyes that I knew held so many secrets. "Okay.

***

I hurried over to the gym. For some reason I felt it necessary to hurry and get there to calm my nerves. It didn't work. My heartbeat thudded loudly in my head, reminding me each second of the dying man outside.

Only two boys had shown up so far, and I let them spar in the ring while I watched nervously from the side. Lucy yawned at my feet, and I glanced down at her big eyes. "What do you think?" I asked. "Do you think he's okay?"

"Who are you talkin' to?"

I glanced up at a young boy.

"I'm talking to my dog," I mumbled. "Can I help you?"

He looked around, obviously confused. "My name is Dakota, and I'm looking for Mr. Wes." He's bushy brows furrowed. "Who are you?"

"I'm his daughter, Neveah. You want to do some sparring until he gets back? There was an emergency."

His frown deepened, and he pulled at the gym bag that hung off his shoulder. "Is everything okay?"

"Yes. Not a big deal."

That seemed to satisfy him, but he quickly frowned. "There aren't enough people here to spar."

I grabbed a pair of gloves beneath my foldout chair in the gym. "I'll be sparing with you."

A look of horror crossed his face. "You're a girl. I don't hit girls."

I grinned and slid the red gloves onto my hands. "Don't worry, you won't be hittin' me."

The warm feel of my gloves soothed the anxiety coursing through me. The guy in front of me wore a frown that I'd seen one too many times growing up. "I don't want to hit you."

"You won't."

His eyes scanned the room, but he finally tossed his bag to the side, brought his hands up, and started shuffling on his feet. I hadn't boxed since Christmas, but it was second nature to defend myself. He sidestepped and gave me the weakest shove I'd ever seen.

I swung outward and knocked him in the jaw.

"Hey!" he shouted.

I shrugged. "Fight then. I've been doing this way longer than you have."

That made him mad. He corrected his stance and threw punches wildly at me until he was so tired he couldn't breathe. "You need a break."

"No, I don't."

"I think you do."

"I don't," he snapped and tried an uppercut but missed. Aggravated sounds vibrated from his chest, and I almost felt sorry for him. Almost.

When he fell to the floor, I offered him my hand. He didn't take it. I left him sulking on the mat while I washed my face off in the guest bathroom.

The guy still sat in the middle of the floor when I walked back through. Sore loser.

A woman came in almost an hour later. She searched the room and looked down the hallway, completely ignoring me. "Can I help you?"

She jerked upward and gave me an obvious onceover. "Sorry—who are you?"

Eyeing her too tight clothes, I lifted a brow. "I work here. I'm Wes' daughter."

This seemed to change things. "Oh, I'm Dakota's mother, just here to pick him up. Where is your dad?"

"Dakota and I just got finished sparring, he should be about ready."

She gave me the weakest smile I'd ever seen and sashayed through the double doors.

Two minutes later she came storming through the door with Dakota trailing behind her. Neither one of them looked my way.

***

I tapped my fingers along the desk. I knew I needed to take a look at Dad's books, but I had too much on my mind. Was the mystery guy okay? Had they found out what happened? His name?

The minutes slowly ticked by, and my nerves grew wilder. My phone buzzed in my jeans, but I knew it was Heath because it'd been him all morning. I had no intention of talking to him, and he would do good to get the hint sooner rather than later.

Then I reached into my other pocket and remembered his phone. I pulled it out and pressed the center button. The background was blue and there were no apps or anything. I felt like a nosey girlfriend, but I wanted to know who this guy was.

Glancing around nervously, I scrolled through his texts but there weren't any, and no calls either.

I clicked on the camera icon and one lonely picture pulled up. A blond girl stared back at me with big blue eyes. She looked happy and content. Something tinged in my chest. Why only have one picture? Is this his wife or girlfriend? Is she looking for him?

"Ma'am."

I dropped the phone in my lap and quickly shoved it into my jeans. "Yes?"

"When is Mr. Wes getting back? The boys are killing each other out there."

I tried not to show my annoyance. "I don't know. Tell 'em if they don't stop they're out of here."

The boy grinned and ran off toward the double doors.

Three hours ticked by before Dad finally showed up. I could tell he'd taken another shower, probably due to the amount of blood that mystery guy had shared on their long walk back to the house. Had they carried him? He looked so broad and big, he'd be difficult to carry.

I darted upward. "What happened? Is he okay?"

Dad's gaze flickered to the double doors and then back to me. "Everything is okay for right now. It doesn't look like he has any broken bones, but he's lost a lot of blood, and he's weak. It's nothing that Cooper can't fix over time."

"So you're not takin' him to the hospital, right?"

Dad rounded the corner and dropped a white paper sack soaked in grease in front of me. "Let's go back to my office and eat. I'll tell you everything. Let me talk to my boys first."

I'd waited three hours, and I needed answers. Grabbing the sack, Lucy and I darted back to Dad's office. Nothing had changed in the months that I'd been gone besides the extra layer of dust on his trophy case and the amount of crap scattered along his desk.

I opened our lunch and pulled everything out. The bacon burger smelled so good, but my curiously had skyrocketed.

"Okay, so spill," I said as Dad finally walked through the doors.

He sighed and dug into his pocket. He slid a driver's license toward me. If I hadn't been sitting down, I would have been searching for some surface—God, he was beautiful. And I don't mean just beautiful but gorgeously beautiful. Rugged. Those gray eyes that begged me not to call the ambulance were intense, and his square jaw strong. The mop of black hair wasn't combed, but I wouldn't have changed a thing about it.

He was the most handsome man I'd ever seen.

I searched his birthday. Twenty-seven. Six years older than me.

Dad snapped his fingers, and I glanced up. "Hello?"

Had he said something? I cleared my throat. "What—what happened? Did he say?"

Dad sighed. "Not really. He did speak, but all he said was that a group of guys jumped him and left him for dead."

"Did he have any money on him?"

"Are you planning on robbing him when he goes to sleep?"

"No, I was wondering if there was because I can't imagine a group of people beating him and leaving it. I have his cell phone in my pocket but nothing came up. There are no numbers saved."

He bit into his burger. "That's odd."

I tapped my fingers and eyed my food. "So, where is he staying?"

Dad swallowed. "In the guest house right now. He has no family, he said. And I don't feel right about leaving him out on the street. But listen," he said, dropping his burger, "I don't want you getting too close. I don't know this guy, and I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt."

I grabbed my burger and avoided eye contact. Every part of me wanted to know this person and what happened so close to our home, but I nodded and nibbled on a piece of burger to look indifferent. "Sure."

"Cooper is going to come over daily to take care of him."

"Oh. Joy."

Dad lifted a brow. "That's all you have to say about that? I don't want you to feel uncomfortable. I know you two—,"

I held up my free hand. "Don't worry about it, Dad. That was a long time ago, and I'm not ready for anything right now. I mean—my fiancée did just cheat on me."

Dad reached across the table and patted my hand. "I'm sorry, baby girl."

"I'm not. Hurry and eat. There are a bunch of boys out there beating the crap out of each other."

Dad groaned and stood up. "The life of a coach."

"Dad?"

He glanced down at me. "What's up?"

"When I came home the other night, a man at the gas station said that a gang had beaten a guy to death in Dallas. Do you think the same people did that to—," I glanced down at the driver's license—"Declan?" There was something dangerous about his face and Declan didn't match it.

Dad frowned. "What did I tell you about stopping at that Texaco late at night? Only weirdos are out that late."

"Topic, please."

He grabbed a pair of sparring gloves from underneath his desk. "Possibly. But whoever did it probably thought they'd killed 'em. We found a tire iron close by, and he said that's what they used but wouldn't tell us who."

Chills fluttered through my body. Tire iron? Had that been what Lucy was growling at? Did she know they were out there? "Don't worry about it, Nev. We're going to get him cleaned up and on his way."

I gave him a careful grin. "How do you know he won't turn on us?"

"I had Michael do a background check. He's just a recent college graduate with no record, which reminds me to tell you to call your Aunt Shelly. She's so excited you're home."

I took a bite of my burger. "Why does that remind you of Aunt Shelly?"

Dad rolled his eyes. "She went on a date with Michael, and she's all he talks about."

I lifted a brow. "The cop? You know she'll never go out with him again. She's not a 'long-term' relationship kind of girl."

Dad swayed on his feet. "This isn't news to me. I'll let him find out for himself. I just needed a background check."

"I'll give her a call today."

Dad bent down and kissed my forehead. "Eat, and then you can go ahead and head home if you want. You look exhausted. Coopers staying at the house tonight just to make sure Declan's okay."

Just great. "Okay."

Dad stopped at the door and threw me a grin over his shoulder. "Plus, I'd hate to see the man that tries to hurt you."

I straightened my shoulders. "Dang straight."