Page 3 of Striker's Foul
I shake my head. “Nothing. Just leave, please, and keep your men away from here unless they can control themselves.”
“Lia?” Julian’s voice rings through the empty bar, and once again my life is thrown into a spin.
“Commander,” Luke growls, striding toward him.
His fist flies out and connects with Julian’s face, sending him stumbling back. Julian’s business partner, Ridley, jumps between the two men, unfazed by the fact she’s smaller than both of them.
“You only get that one, Striker,” Julian says.
“You went aftermyAmelia,” Luke shouts.
And just like that, everything falls into place.
Julian has been my friend since Jude was two and I was nineteen. I met him one day when I was at the park with Jude. He stepped in when another child’s father wouldn’t take no for an answer after asking me out on a date. Later, Julian came to my papa’s place for dinner and asked me to sit with him. I told him I wouldn’t date him, and he just chuckled, saying he only wanted to be friends. And that’s what we’ve been ever since.
But now I’m worried. Luke called him Commander. I know Julian was in the military, but as I look closer at Luke, I realize he was too. It’s not just the tattoos covering his arms. It’s the way he moves and carries himself.
“Wait.” I can’t keep the hurt from my voice as I rush over to them.
Grim grabs hold of me before I get too close to the two men who’ve hurt me so badly. Luke broke me in ways I still haven’t recovered from, and if what I suspect is true, Julian has been lying to me for years.
“Let her go,” Luke yells, and Grim releases me.
I step closer and look up at Julian.
“You know him?” I whisper, holding back a sob, afraid I’m breaking again.
Julian nods, and my hand flies to my mouth as the sob breaks free.
“Get out. All of you. Get out of my bar. Now.”
“Lia, please.” Julian reaches for me, but I cringe back, and Luke grabs his arm.
“Is that your son? Did you betray me?” Luke’s voice is sharp, filled with an anger I’ve never heard from him before.
“I’d never betray you. You’re my family, but so are they. Jude isn’t my son, but he needs his father.”
“Julian,” I scream. “No!”
“That’s enough,” Ridley says loudly. “Everyone out.” She directs the men toward the door, then hits the locks behind them, locking her and me inside.
I curl into myself and fall to the floor as the sobs escape me. Julian knows Luke.
Ridley wraps her arms around me, and I feel grounded. “Striker and Julian have been friends since before I met them. I don’t understand what’s happening, but I’ll help you.”
“Why?” I look up at her.
“Because that’s what we do for family. If you’re the girl from Striker’s past and a friend of Julian’s, then you’re my family too.”
“I can’t.” I stand on wobbly legs. I’ll have to shove this into another box inside my mind until I have time to break down.
CHAPTER 2
STRIKER
As soon as the heavy bolts click into place behind us, I dive off the porch and go after the man who was more than a leader to me. He was my brother. My best friend.
“How could you?” I demand, my fist flying, but Grim holds me keeps me back.
