Finally, I get on my bike and put my helmet on before starting the engine. I rev it a few times as I’ve always done before pulling away from the curb and heading for the clubhouse. Seeing that fucker raise his hand to Taleah makes me wonder how many times he’s put his hands on her in the past seven years or however long they’ve been together. With that thought in mind, I push the limits of the road and head for the clubhouse where I can lock myself in my room and dig up everything on Taleah and the fucker with her.
Pulling into the compound, I spot Count parking his bike in the line against the clubhouse. He waits for me when he notices me pulling in. Today, I don’t want him to push his way into my life. The only thing I want to do is get in my room and start digging up the information I’m desperate to discover.
Parking, I don’t hesitate to shut my bike off and remove my helmet as Count walks up closer to me.
“What’s goin’ on? Didn’t think you’d be back this early,” he says, looking at me with that smirk he always wears on his face.
“Got somethin’ to do,” I rush out, getting off my bike and heading for my room on the first floor of the clubhouse.
Count follows me in and closes the door behind him. He knows when I’m like this that I’m on a mission and don’t let anything get in my way. I simply ignore him and go about my business.
Count and I met when we were put on the same team in the military. I kept everyone at arm’s length and rarely talked to anyone. Count refused to leave me alone and always forcedhis way into my life. He told me after the second week that he was my best friend and I didn’t have a choice in the matter. Count wasn’t lying. I didn’t have a choice in the matter and I quickly had no choice but to let him in. Even if I didn’t tell him everything from my past. Count never pushes me and always lets me say what I have to in my own time. Still, he knows nothing about Bhodi or Taleah. He barely knows about Elara and the rift I caused between the two of us.
Typing away on my keyboard, one of the screens quickly fills with an image of Taleah from her college days. She’s sitting in the quad with books surrounding her. Her head is tilted back so the sun can beat down on her face as she keeps her eyes closed tight. She’s serene and peaceful. At least that’s what she wants everyone around her to believe. I can see the tension and pain filling her body. Something no one else would ever notice unless they truly knew her. In the background of the picture, dozens of students stop and stare at her and I can’t blame them. Taleah is fucking gorgeous and has always attracted attention from everyone near her.
Her dark blonde hair shines under the sunlight, the lighter strands seeming to glow brighter than normal. There’s a tinge of redness to her cheeks from the heat of the day because Taleah always turns red when she’s in the sun. She’s wearing an old tank top under one of Bhodi’s old zip-up hoodies that makes my heart clench in pain from the sight of a reminder of him. Shorts barely cover her tanned legs as she sits cross-legged on the grass with a tree behind her. There’s no make-up on her face as usual and I know without being near her she smells of lavender and nature. The same smell she’s had since I met her when we were so damn young.
“Who the fuck is that?” Count asks me, stepping directly behind me as he looks over my shoulder at the screen.
“She’s from my past,” I answer while continuing to hit the keys so I can pull up every bit of information on Taleah before moving on to the asshole with her.
“Like the one who got away?” my best friend asks, not knowing how right he is in this moment.
I refuse to answer him as I let the programs run to pull up Taleah’s information. Next I move on to TJ. I don’t know his last name or anything about him, but that doesn’t mean anything to me. There isn’t information out there I can’t dig up with the barest amount of intel. In fact, most times, I prefer not having a lot to go on because it means I’m truly testing my skills and continuing to grow from what I’ve been taught, either by myself or by mentors, over the years. I truly enjoy testing my limits and smashing through them.
“You know you can talk to me, Master. I’m here no matter what you need to say and won’t judge you for any of it,” Count says as he takes a seat next to me and settles in.
“I know. I appreciate it, Count. Really. However, right now, I’m not ready to open up about this situation. I lost the best thing I ever had in my life and there’s nothin’ I can do to fix the mistakes I made. Now, I’ll do whatever it takes to protect her. Even if I have to do it from a distance,” I tell him, working without turning my attention to him. Count is used to being ignored when I’m in this room. He’s sat here with me more than enough times since we moved here.
The only time Count leaves my side is to grab drinks and food. This man won’t allow me to go hungry or thirsty when I’m locked away in here. Count takes care of me when I forget to do it myself. One of the many ways he reminds me so much of Bhodi. Sometimes I feel as if Bhodi sent Count to my life because he knew I was shutting down and not allowing anyone to get near me. Count remains with me, silently, while I start afolder on Taleah and TJ. The only thing I don’t allow him to see are the pictures of my girl. I don’t know what I’ll pull up and if it’s one of us from the past, I don’t want to hear his comments. Not yet. The situation is so raw today and it’s all I can think about. My emotions are all over the place as I put stacks of paper together so I can monitor the situation between Taleah and TJ. I will continue to protect her even if I have to have someone send Elara a message to get Taleah out of a horrible situation. My sister will protect her best friend at all costs and ensure her safety when I can’t. Yes, I’ve kept tabs on my sister over the years and know she’s happily married with twins and another baby on the way. Elara and Taleah have been together through it all.
Chapter Two
Taleah
THREE DAYS HAVE passed since TJ and I got into a fight on the sidewalk in front of Fantasy Realm. It’s the bookstore I always dreamed of opening. One Bhodi always supported and talked with me for hours about. I’ve loved to read from a very young age. I grew up with my parents reading bedtime stories to us and then Bhodi took over when they became too busy at work. My big brother taught me how to read and shaped my love for reading. He encouraged me to read everything I could get my hands onto and never mocked my choice of stories. Including when I started reading darker books with spice. He simply said I was reading and didn’t let anyone disturb me. I’d spend hours reading while he kept everyone away from me. I still remember the conversation Bhodi and I had the day we came up with the name for my bookstore. Well, the day he came up with the name for it.
Bhodi and I are sitting outside on the swing he moved into the yard so we could sit under the sun. I’ve got a book in my lap while Bhodi gently swings us back and forth as a gentle breeze washes over us. It’s rare for us to be alone like this, but I cherish these moments with my brother.
“Have you thought anymore about a name for your store?” Bhodi asks me as I turn to face him and place my book between my body and the back of the swing.
“No. Everything I like seems too childish or ordinary. I’ve thought of every possibility and I just can’t decide on anything I like enough,” I answer him as I continue to think ofpossible names for the store I’ve dreamed of opening for as long as I can remember.
Bhodi and I sit in silence as I tilt my head back so my face is in the sun. I love feeling the heat of it on my face as a gentle breeze blows over my skin so I don’t overheat. My brother continues pushing the swing a little faster as I hear him typing on his phone. He’s either messaging one of two people—Elara or Rex. Still, I don’t open my eyes as I let the sun warm me from the inside out.
“What about Fantasy Realm? Your books are all fantasy that has shaped the way you view love. And you read those ones with shifters and other supernatural creatures in them. Since you don’t want just a normal bookstore, you want a coffee shop inside as well. That provides the realm aspect of it. You can design the inside anyway you want. The realm of possibilities is endless, Princess. You’ve been experimentin’ with coffee and hot chocolate for so long already and this will only make your shop better than any other one like it,” Bhodi says as I finally open my eyes and look at my brother.
“I really like it, Big Brother. You always pull through in a pinch when I need you the most. How did I ever get so lucky to have a brother like you?” I return, my voice almost a whisper as I lean into my brother’s side.
“I’m the lucky one, Princess. You’re the best little sister anyone could ever dream of havin’. I treasure the time we get to spend together and will always protect you. I’d give my life for you, Taleah. Never ever doubt that,” he responds, as his phone pings with a message and I feel him open it and read before talking to me again. “Rex and Elara are comin’ over. They’re bringin’ pizza and all the shit we usually get. Their parents are workin’ late with ours. Rex said for us to choose the movie and get everythin’ ready for us to have a night in.”
“Okay. If you want to go in now, I’m gonna sit here for a few more minutes,” I tell him, as I tilt my head toward the sun once again.
Bhodi knows how much I love being outside when the sun is out. I’d rather be outside than inside during the summer. When no one can find me, he always checks outside and that’s typically where I am. Bhodi can always find me even if he waits to look in the most likely place I’ll be last. He simply gives me more time to do what I love without anyone bothering me.
“Knew you’d say that, Princess. Take your time. You did put sunscreen on before comin’ out here, yeah?” he asks me as he stands from the swing and looks down at me.
“Yes. I know you won’t let me outside without it. Plus, after burnin’ so bad that one year we were on vacation, I won’t make the same mistake twice,” I tell him, not looking up at him because I know I’ll see the same indulgent smile on his face he always has for me alone.
