Page 1 of Sanction

Chapter 1

Present

Daniella

Tanner and Maverick’s engagement party.

I slammed my bedroom door so hard that the picture of my grandfather hanging on the wall in the hallway crashed to the ground. If I were in a better mood, I would have picked it up, but newsflash, I’m not.

“Such bullshit,” I mutter under my breath.

I hear my bedroom door open, then heavy footsteps trail behind me.

“Daniella will you please stop?” He pleads.

My feet hit the staircase. I pound my boots against the wood, hoping to release some of my barely contained anger. I’m on the verge of exploding. When I get to the landing at the bottom of the stairs, I have to scoot past my mom who is standing at the top of a ladder. She frowns at me while Ember hands her the corner of the banner to hang for my brother and Tanner’s party. Balloons are covering the floor, so I kick a few out of my path as I storm towards the kitchen. In my peripheral I see Widow sitting at the bar. I don’t miss his raised eye brow aimed at the indecisive man behind me. I can still feel him on my tail. I can always feel him.

Before I made it through the kitchen doorway I was caught by a callused hand. His fingers wrapped around my wrist, sending a bolt of electricity up my arm and I hate it. I hate that I can’t turn it off.

“Let go,” I hiss, twisting to glare at Travis in his disgustingly beautiful blue eyes.

“I need you to understand.” He tightens his jaw as his eyes glance back at the main room. He’s making sure we aren’t seen. Same shit different day.

“I understand perfectly.” I laugh and yank my wrist from his hold. “Do you hear yourself? Have you really thought about the excuses you’re giving me?”

He steps to me and forces me around the corner near the laundry room. “It’s not that easy and you know it.”

“It’s very easy Travis.” I shake my head and run my fingers through my hair. “You’re a coward.”

Anger flashes in his eyes and I know I have struck a nerve. I take a confident step towards him, so my front meets his muscular chest. Slowly I run my hands down his corded forearms, before reaching to lace my fingers with his. He tenses. His shoulders stiffen as his head turns, again, making sure we aren’t seen. Then I wait. I wait to see his response. He squeezes my palms, but quickly unlatches from me like I’m the plague.

Stepping away from him, I peek up to see the glassy look in his eyes. It tells me everything I need to know. It’s never going to change.

“Like I said. Coward.” I brush past him, ignoring the sting in my chest. Ignoring the ache in my heart. Ignoring the fact, I feel so damn fatigued and nauseas I could pass out.

When I made it to my room, I crawled into my bed. I just wanted to sleep. I wanted to forget about all the things that seemed to have slipped from my grip. I know we are celebrating Tanner and Maverick tonight, but I’m not in the right state of mind. They don’t need my negative energy.

Closing my eyes, I forced myself to sleep. I forced myself for just one fucking second to not think of the man who keeps breaking my heart.

When I woke up, I was groggy. My head throbbed and my side ached. I managed to pull myself out of bed and stagger down the stairs to all the commotion. The happy couple stood near the front door and I couldn’t help but give her a smile when she caught my eye. I love Tanner. She’s my best friend and I couldn’t have picked a better girl for my brother. Of course, she reads me like a book, hurrying over to meet me at the bottom of the stairs.

“Are you okay?” She asks.

“Yeah, I think it’s my gallbladder that’s been acting up. I feel like shit. I need to go get some medicine.”

“Okay.”

She glances around to find Maverick, then steps over to him by the pool tables. I’m assuming she told him we were leaving, because the next thing I know I’m being shoved into her Mini Cooper with Skittles in tow. We sped down to the corner store. It’s not far, only about ten minutes from the clubhouse.

“Do you know what you need?” She asks.

“Anything for acid reflux or vomiting.” I groan and lean my head back against the headrest as Tanner hops out to walk towards the doors of the store.

I’m tired of feeling like shit. I guess I'll have to break down and go to the doctor. I hate doctors. My eyes close as I gently massage my upper torso.

“You alright Dani?” Skittles asks from the back seat.

“Yeah…. I’m fine.” I sigh.

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