Her punches are swift, firm, and her kicks are powering with a purpose. Her hair that I’ve seen many times now flowing down around her back is tied up high. Even from out here Ican see the perspiration that lines her bare skin glistening the paleness underneath.
My eyes are drawn to the marking on her back as she spins, giving me more of a view of the permanent etching. They call them scars for a reason. They never leave. A constant sick reminder and my blood turns hot at the sight of it.
She pauses, resting her hands on her knees as she catches her breath. Danika intrigues me. Her will and struggle have a hold on me I can’t seem to understand. But if she keeps it up, she’ll burn out.
After her drink of water, she pulls her sweatshirt back over her head and snags her bag.
I turn on my heel, heading for the clubhouse before she sees me. The place I was headed before I got distracted. There’s a job I need to finish by spring, so I’ve been spending more time at the shop over the last week or so.
I help myself with a quick drink of water at the bar, collecting my mind before heading home and making sure my brothers don’t need anything.
Tonight, I’m heading to the cabin.
The voices are quiet today. So, there’s that at least.
My body stills as Danika approaches. Another unexplained feeling. I don’t need to turn to know it’s her. There’s been a draw—a force tugging at me whenever she is close. It dulls some of the whispers, other times it makes it louder.
Out of the corner of my eye I catch her scanning the area, looking for someone. Probably Tequila is my guess. Those two have really gotten close and it’s good for them.
Her tight clothes cling to her like a second skin, and I dart my eyes back to the uninteresting glass in front of me.
“Hi.”
With my glass halfway to my mouth, I pause. The soft whisper of her voice wraps around my senses, suffocating me.
I cast a timid glance at her, but her gaze locks on my hand, I have now placed on the counter. It’s a mix of unease and surprise that shines in her eyes, her gaze holding firmly as she stares at my butterfly tattoo.
A wave of uncomfortableness hits me, and I snap my hand away.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to stare it’s just…” Her words come to a sudden halt. “I was just looking for Tequila.” There’s more to what she was going to say, but she doesn’t elaborate as she steps away toward the door.
The air returns to my lungs but she makes it about five feet before spinning back, closing the distance between us. “Were you following me the other night?”
Fuck.
What the hell can I say in response to that? She definitely saw me because no one goes around asking that unless they’re sure.
A cold sweat forms on my back. I don’t like confrontation. In fact, I’d rather we not talk at all.
“No. You must have been mistaken.” I make the error of turning my focus, meeting her eyes and a soft blush color accents her cheeks.
She nods slightly then stalks away.
But with her hand resting on the frame, she hesitates again. Our eyes lock, holding each other before she slips out the door and into the frosty winter. My eyes flutter closed, guilt weighing in on me. Why does it always come back crashing on me like a tidal wave?
Stop.
My hand is rough over my skin as I run it down over my face and finish the cold water that pours down my throat.
Tank is a hard one to miss. He slides up next to me, leaning on the counter glancing from the door back to me. “Chain gaveme a place to checkout. But figured you’d be a better man for the job.”
I know what that entails. There’s a reason they ask me. I’m their enforcer, which means every time the job is a bit nasty, I have to flip that switch. I’m no longer Liem but the crazy bastard they need me to be. Though, Liem is hardly here anymore as it is.
“What is it?”
“Grizzy’s dead.”
Not much of a loss if you ask me. But every life counted.
