Page 12 of Unveiled Wounds

He stood over me, still holding the gun. “A bitch is better cold,” he said before smacking me across the face with his hand. My head swung to the side, and I reached up to make sure my cheek was still in place, clicking my jaw a few times. Blinking, I waited until my eyes refocused.

“This bitch doesn’t go down without a fight.” I reached for the knife the prospect had given me. In one smooth motion, I hit the button, opening the blade and driving the point into his ball.

“You fucking punta!” he screamed at me. “You’re going to pay for that. I’m going to fuck you to make sure my dick works until you’re nothing but a used-up whore.”

He was all talk, but I still couldn’t get my feet underneath me. Pulling the knife out, I rolled underneath the nearest table. I thought I’d be able to stand, but the man grabbed my ankle. His hands were slimy against my skin. Kicking out, I heard a grunt, but he didn’t release his grip. “Is that all you got, punta?” he said, breathing hard.

Being flexible had only been useful in two situations. Sex with Grizz was the first, and twisting my body so that I could drive the knife into the back of his hand was the second. He released me, and I crawled as fast as I could towards the front door.

He fired a shot, but I didn’t stop until I heard the one man who’d never let me down.

“Don’t fucking think about touching my wife.”

Grizz was here, and I laid on the floor, knowing I was safe.

Chapter 6

The Scars Will Never Fade

Grizz

I knocked on Sabre’s door and waited for him to call out before walking into his office. He was reading something, so I grabbed a seat in one of the chairs in front of his desk. Stretching my legs, I crossed them at the ankles and interlocked my hands behind my head. Getting comfortable, I waited.

Sabre looked up at me, a smirk sliding into place. “I thought Meredith was going to kill you at breakfast. She didn’t want to go to the banquet center, and you weren’t bailing her ass out.”

“I ran my club errands and then took an extra ride up the coast for about an hour before texting the prospect to make sure they were gone. I didn’t lie to her.” Tilting my head back, I let loose the laughter I’d been holding in. “I could have gone with them, but I figured they might have a breakthrough.”

“That’s why I said nothing when Grace put JR in the car. I just made sure that contraption thing he hangs from was sitting next to his car seat. They won’t kill each other if the baby is in the way.” Sabre laughed with me. “How is she?” he asked when we quieted down.

“I don’t know.” I closed my eyes and rubbed them with the tips of my fingers. “There are moments when I swear she says something that sounds just like her from when it was all new, but then I look at the sweatshirt and the leggings, and I want to burn them.”

“I caught what you said at breakfast about her working. What’s up with that?” Sabre sat back in his chair, crossing his arms over his stomach.

“She’s been asking questions about her future. I’m pretty sure she knows that fancy design firm fired her. I called them and explained as best as I could, hoping they’d give her a leave of absence. Those fuckers didn’t care, and when they said she had to return to the office, I didn’t push the issue. She wasn’t strong enough then, but if she helps Grace, she might establish some routine, among other things.” I pulled my knees in and then stretched them out again.

He made a noncommittal sound. “What about the condo?”

“I won’t take it away from her in this state. Eventually, she’ll have to decide what she’s doing with it, unless the bank rears its ugly head.”

“Have they?” Sabre asked.

“Not yet, but you know they will.”

Sabre nodded his head as a calm settled in the office. It was the first time in a long time that we weren’t snipping at each other.

“What’s up with you? Talking about another baby?” If he was going to question me, then his antics were up for discussion.

“Nothing.” He shrugged, but we’d been best friends too long. He was hiding something, and I wouldn’t let it go until I got the full story.

“Is everything alright between you and Grace?” I asked, pushing a little harder.

“No, yeah, everything’s fine.” He sat back in his chair and looked up at the office ceiling. “I bought a ring.”

“When?” I hadn’t known he was thinking about marriage, and I would bet everything I owned that Pretty didn’t either. If he had, he’d be hassling Sabre every chance he got.

“A few weeks ago. I didn’t want to be the guy who buys the ring at Christmas because it’s easy. I gave her what she wanted, supporting her dreams, but I couldn’t let that shit go.”

“Yeah? So what’s the fucking problem?” Grace wouldn’t say no.

---