Unfinished: A Small Town, Friends to Lovers, Romantic Suspense (Amber Ridge Book 6), page 9
“It’s possible.”
“Or someone else could have attacked me.” She dropped her head to the wheel, suddenly feeling deflated and tired and so incredibly over it all.
“I’m sorry, Bon. We’re not stopping our investigation though, okay?”
“I know. Thanks, Jess.”
There was a small pause. “I also wanted to let you know that Carlos came in today to make a report against Zane.”
Her head shot up. “Zane? Why?”
“Apparently, Zane put his hands on him this morning.”
What the hell? “Are you sure?”
“Yeah. We talked Carlos down, but I know you two have been spending a bit of time together, so I thought I should let you know.”
She scrubbed a hand over her face. “Okay. Thank you.”
When she hung up, she lowered the cell to the middle console.
She should go straight home. She knew she should. But she needed to know what happened between Zane and Carlos. And she needed to know if it involved her.
CHAPTER 12
Zane hit the bag. Blow after blow, the call from Jesse still in his head, pissing him the fuck off.
The asshole had an alibi. But it was him. It had to be him. Zane had seen the rage in the jerk’s eyes when he’d yelled at her. Had felt the fury in him when he’d grabbed her.
Then the guy wanted to press charges against him?
Cross punch, kick.
It really pissed him off that scumbags did shitty things but still got to walk free. It had almost happened with Monty back in Billings. And now it was happening with Carlos.
Jab, jab, cross.
He’d received a warning from Jesse. To stay away from Carlos. To walk in the other direction if he saw him.
Carlos had been in his gym though. And if he entered again, Zane wouldn’t hesitate to throw his ass out a second time.
Jab, cross, hook.
The gym had closed half an hour ago. He should have already left. But everything was annoying the shit out of him. Carlos. The murder of Ethan’s contact. Even Bonnie’s brother coming to warn him off this morning.
Three more punches, then the click of the gym door opening sounded. He stopped and turned, his hand wanting to reach for the Glock in his workout bag. The blinds were closed, so he hadn’t seen anyone from the street.
Bonnie stepped out of the hall.
The sight of her made a quiet pressure settle on his chest, the air no longer reaching his lungs quite as easily.
She offered a small smile. “Hey.”
He swallowed, arms dropping. “What are you doing here?”
“Well, that’s a bit like a hello but not.”
The memory of holding her all night had him fisting his hands, like he was trying to stop himself from reaching for her. “It’s getting late. It’s not safe for you to be out at night by yourself.”
She glanced at the window, then gave him a look. And yeah, even with the blinds shut, it was clear that it wasn’t dark just yet. But he stood by what he said.
She set her bag on the front desk like she was staying. “I want to know what happened between you and Carlos.”
Jesus Christ, he did not want to talk about that asshole.
He used his teeth to tear off the wrist wrap of the first glove. “There’s nothing to say.”
“Except he went to the sheriff’s office to report you, which means something happened. What?”
“He came in. I told him to get out. He wouldn’t because he’s an idiot. So I dragged his ass out.” He dropped the first glove into his bag before tearing off the second.
“Zane, you didn’t need to do that for me.”
He almost laughed. “You think I’d let the fucker who bruised you work out in my gym?”
She closed the distance between them. “I don’t want you getting into trouble for me.”
If she knew the kind of legal battles he’d fought in Billings, she’d realize that someone as small as Carlos was nothing. “He’s not welcome here. He steps into my gym again, I’ll do worse.”
“No. I don’t want you getting into serious legal trouble for me.”
“Did you come in here to fight with me?”
She gave a half eyeroll. “And to thank you for last night. You left before I could wake up and say it this morning.”
“You don’t need to thank me,” he said quietly.
She touched his arm. “I feel like I do.”
He glanced down at her small fingers on his arm. Not that he needed to see them. One touch and he felt her everywhere. One touch and his body betrayed him. Did that thing where it got fucking hot and his defenses folded like paper in the rain.
Then her gaze lowered to his lips, and he didn’t know what the hell happened.
One second, she was in front of him, the next, someone moved—he didn’t know who—and they were kissing, their mouths crashing together.
There was no hesitation in the kiss. She parted her lips and he dove right in, letting the taste of her blur out the world that had been pressing on his chest all day.
He swept his arms around her waist and tugged her closer, her front pressing against him. And even that, the small shift of her body into his, caused a complete quieting of every frustration and anger that had been weighing on him.
She silenced it. Dulled it. Changed it.
He lifted her and she wrapped her legs around his waist. She fit so perfectly in his arms, like this was the only place she was meant to be.
Her hair was soft as he slipped the fingers of one hand through her locks. He deepened the kiss, absorbing every moan and whimper that escaped from her throat.
What the hell was it with Bonnie? She made him want her like he’d never wanted anything or anyone else. He burned for her.
Three big steps took them to the desk, where he deposited her. Then he was leaning over her body, her back touching the desk, legs still around his waist.
The slivers of pain from her fingers digging into his shoulders were in complete contrast to everything else she made him feel.
He slipped a hand beneath her shirt, and his palm slid up her stomach before he cupped her breast over the bra. Her whimper almost ended him there and then.
When he found the tight bud of her nipple, he ran his thumb over it in a circle, rewarded with more of those glorious feminine moans.
His cock was so hard it felt like stone. He was hurting for her. He actually fucking hurt.
He tore his mouth from hers, tugged the shirt up, and lowered his head to take her nipple between his lips. Then he sucked, only the thin lace of the bra separating them.
Bonnie’s fingers dug into his hair, her core grinding against him. “Oh God, Zane.”
He wasn’t sure what it was. The way she said his name, her voice cutting through the quiet, or something else…but those three words suddenly tugged him back to reality.
The one where he had an enemy. One who somehow had a reach outside the four walls of his prison cell.
He lifted his head. “Shit, Bonnie.”
He didn’t rise immediately, instead touching his forehead to hers.
“Zane.” She cupped his cheek with her warm hand. “Are you okay?”
No. He was far from okay. He wanted things. He wanted her. But damn, Monty was fucking with him. “We shouldn’t have done that.”
Her body tensed beneath him. “Why not?”
Slowly, he forced himself up. He didn’t look into her eyes as he pulled her top down and gripped her upper arms to help her up. “It’s complicated.”
He stepped away from her, finally looking at her, seeing the confusion in her eyes.
“What’s complicated?” she whispered.
“I’ve already told you, we both have stuff going on.” He scrubbed a hand over his face.
“What stuff do you have going on?”
There was no way in hell he was telling her about Monty. Not while she was dealing with so much. “Even your brother warned me not to do anything that would ruin everything.”
Bonnie frowned. “My brother? When did you talk to him?”
“He was waiting for me this morning. He wanted to make sure I was a good guy. That I wasn’t going to screw this up.” And here he was, doing exactly that.
Bonnie’s jaw dropped. Or maybe it completely hit the floor, she wasn’t sure. Because last she checked, she was a thirty-one-year-old woman who did not need her protective older brother vetting the guys she was dating…or wanting to date.
She shook her head. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Let me walk you out.”
“Actually, I do know what to say. He had no right to talk to you about me. But I’ll deal with him later.” She jumped off the desk and jabbed him in the chest with her finger. “You, on the other hand, should know that what you and I do is none of his business.”
Something passed over his face. Something that told her Zane didn’t actually care what her brother said.
“But you already know that, don’t you?” she continued. “What are you not telling me?”
His lips sealed shut. He was never going to tell her.
“I’m going to walk you out now, Bonnie.”
That was it. He’d made a decision, and she just got no say in it. “You know what? Don’t. I’m an adult. I have pepper spray in my bag. I don’t need you doing me any favors.”
Zane glanced over his shoulder to the hall at the back of the gym.
Great. He wasn’t even listening to what she was saying anymore.
“I’ll see you later.” She turned away from him, but he grabbed her arm. “Hey, I—”
His hand came over her mouth, his body suddenly pressed to her back. Then his whispered voice was in her ear. “Shh. There’s someone in the gym.”
Her heart stopped, fear wrapping around her chest like clingwrap.
The lights suddenly flicked off—and then she couldn’t breathe. Someone was here. And that someone had plunged the gym into darkness.
Oh, God.
Zane’s mouth lowered to her ear again. “Stay behind me.”
His hand shifted from her mouth to her wrist, and he tugged her toward his bag. She expected him to pull out his phone, maybe use the flashlight function. It had gotten pretty dark outside, which made it even darker in here.
He didn’t take out either of those things.
It took her a second to realize he held a gun.
“Come on,” he whispered.
Hand still in his, they moved toward the back of the gym. When they stepped into the hall, the darkness surrounded them, making it hard to see. She inched closer, the heat of Zane’s back radiating onto her.
Safe. She was safe with Zane. She just needed to keep reminding herself of that.
They passed a few closed doors. At the end of the hall by a back door, Zane stopped at the circuit breaker. He cursed before flicking a switch.
Light flooded the gym, making her blink.
“Someone turned it off?” she asked.
“Yes.”
Her breathing shortened, and she almost didn’t want to ask the next question. “How…how did they get in?”
Without a word, Zane opened the back door, just a crack. It opened easily. So not locked.
Before stepping out, Zane crouched in front of the lock and studied it. “They broke the lock.”
“Why turn the lights off? Do you think they’re still here?”
“I don’t know.” Zane lifted the gun again before stepping outside.
Her limbs trembled as she followed him, scared of what they might find. But no way in hell was she remaining inside without him.
The cool evening air slipped over her skin, making goose bumps rise over her arms. Was someone out here? Carlos? Jane? Maybe even some of Dean’s old high school friends?
The small parking lot was empty other than Zane’s truck.
“No one’s here,” Bonnie whispered.
Zane turned toward her and opened his mouth like he was going to say something. But he stopped, his gaze landing on something behind her. She turned.
The chill of her skin slipped into her blood at the spray-painted words on the building.
“You have blood on your hands,” she read, her words almost a whisper. “Now it’s your turn to bleed.”
Her stomach rolled. What the hell?
“But is it for you or me?”
Her eyes widened and swung to Zane at his question. He’d asked so quietly, she’d almost missed it. Like maybe it had only been meant for him. “Zane—”
“I’ll call Jesse.” Before she could say anything else, he tugged his phone from his pocket and dialed the sheriff’s station.
As Zane spoke on the phone, Bonnie looked back at the writing.
They were about Dean…weren’t they?
But is it for you or me?
She looked back at Zane, his words repeating in her head. Did he have blood on his hands?
CHAPTER 13
Bonnie’s fingers wrapped tightly around the wheel. So tightly that her knuckles were white.
She was nervous. She probably didn’t need to be nervous. This was her family. But not just one or two members—her entire family. Well, except Aunt Pam. Bars weren’t really her aunt’s thing. But she was about to see everyone else. Her siblings. Her cousins. Everyone’s partners. She’d seen so many of them already, she shouldn’t be nervous.
But this was different. This was everyone all at once.
Maybe she was also a bit nervous because she had so much going on. Heck, a week ago, someone had spray-painted a threatening message on the back door of The Pit.
They’d left no evidence of who’d done it. It was a mystery. Just like the person who’d assaulted her outside her apartment.
Noah was angry. So was Jesse. They were trained soldiers, and right now, someone was slipping beneath their radar.
To make everything worse, the only time she’d seen Zane in the last week was during the shelter’s self-defense lesson. And dammit, she missed him. She missed the feeling of safety he instilled in her. She missed his touch. His voice.
But he didn’t want to be with her. He clearly had a secret, and that secret felt like an immoveable mountain between them.
She turned right, CJ’s coming into view up ahead. Even from here, she could see how busy the bar was. Cars packed the road. People were coming and going from the entrance.
It felt strange coming to the bar as an adult. She’d lived her entire childhood in Amber Ridge. She’s walked past CJ’s so many times but never gone inside.
When she pulled into the parking lot, she didn’t get straight out. She didn’t even take off her seat belt. She just sat there, a million thoughts playing over in her head.
Sometimes she wondered what would have happened if she’d never left. Would the pain of her parents dying have eased faster? Would she and Indie have grown closer rather than apart? And would the White family eventually have stopped blaming her for their son’s death?
Maybe some of that stuff might have happened. Or maybe she would have drowned. Maybe as a young eighteen-year-old who felt responsible for the deaths of those closest to her, the water would have lapped over her head, and she would have sunk to the bottom of the ocean.
A knock on the window made her jump and turn to see Noah on the other side of the glass.
Time was up.
She unclipped her seat belt, grabbed her cell and keys, and climbed out.
But it wasn’t just Noah outside her car. A woman with blond hair stood beside him.
Noah tugged Bonnie into his arms. “Hey, Bon.”
She dug her head into Noah’s chest. It was strange how so much time could pass, and they could both change into completely different people, yet a hug from her big brother still felt exactly the same every time.
When she finally pulled back, Noah turned to the woman beside him. “Bonnie, this is Addie. Addie, Bonnie.”
Addie’s blue eyes scrunched as she smiled. “Bonnie, I’ve heard so much about you.” She stepped forward and embraced her.
Bonnie hugged her back. “I’ve heard a lot about you too. It’s good to finally meet you.”
When Addie pulled away, she was still smiling. And Bonnie could see everything that had drawn her brother to the woman. There was a warmth in her. And when she smiled, it was with her entire face, including her eyes.
Noah studied Bonnie’s temple. “The bruise okay?”
“There’s barely a mark anymore.” It was true. How much time had passed? Two weeks? Enough for the bruise to almost disappear.
“And nothing else has happened since The Pit?” Noah asked.
“You know I would have told you if it had.”
He looked at her like he wasn’t sure if that was true. “Come on.”
They headed toward the entrance, and the closer they got to the door, the harder her heart beat against her ribs.
Why was she so nervous? This was her family.
But that wasn’t all it was. It was the history that they shared and she’d missed. Her family and the new lives they’d created were a reminder of everything she’d left behind.
They stepped inside the bar and surprisingly, the place wasn’t too full. Sure, it was busy. But compared to the bars in San Francisco, it was manageable.
Noah held Addie’s hand, but with his other, he touched the small of Bonnie’s back and led her toward two standing tables that had been pushed together.
She sucked in a sharp breath at the sight of everyone. Indie, Jesse, Becket, Clara. And all their partners.
Becket threw up his hands. “Bon-Bon! It’s been so damn long. Missed your favorite cousin?” He grinned and pulled her against his broad chest, and it was exactly what she needed to break the ice.
When Becket pulled back, he introduced her to Sky. Then Bonnie went around and greeted everyone before settling beside Indie with a can of Sun Cruiser.
“How are you settling back into Amber Ridge?” Clara asked from the other side of Indie.
“It’s different. There was no Tea House when I left, and I’d never stepped foot inside this bar, so I’m definitely feeling my age.”
