Paxton's Promise (14 page)

“How long do you think you’ll be gone?”

He shrugged. “A couple of hours. Do you want to come with me? You might get a little bored.”

Kicking the covers off, I stretched and arched my back, making my breasts perk up as they hit the air. Paxton growled deep in his chest. “Actually, I think I’ll stay here and work out. But if you call me when you’re on the way home, I’ll be sure to be ready for you.”

Grabbing a breast, he flicked his tongue over a nipple and bit down. My body jerked in response and I gasped. He circled his tongue around the bite marks and smirked up at me. “I look forward to it.”

I moaned. “Go already, so you can get back.”

Quickly kissing me on the lips, he jumped out of bed and disappeared into his room. A few short minutes later, he emerged wearing a pair of old, holey jeans and a faded red T-shirt. I liked that look on him. He was down to earth, unlike some of the other metrosexual guys I’d dated. Paxton could wear the old jeans and worn shirts and completely pull it off. That was who he truly was, and what killed me was that I had been so close to losing him because of my assumptions.

After the door shut downstairs, I heard his motorcycle roar to life and the sound faded off in the distance. My stomach growled, but I decided to rinse off in the shower before fixing something to eat. As soon as I dried off, I pulled out some running shorts and a sports bra and threw my hair up into a ponytail.

Now that Paxton was gone, I walked across the hall to his room and looked around. His walls were a dark gray and his large bed was covered in a similar shade of gray with silver bed sheets and black pillows. It was very masculine and modern.

On one of his dressers there were framed pictures lined with him in various times and places. There was one with him as a child, beaming at the camera with a man and woman on each side of him. Judging by the resemblance in appearances I’d have to say it was his parents. They looked so happy together. I didn’t have any pictures like that.

Next, I recognized the picture with his aunt Jackie and who I assumed was his uncle Jack. And next to that was a group picture with Paxton and two other people. They were teenagers, but it didn’t take much to recognize them as Kacey and Kyle Andrews. Kacey had her hair in braids with braces on her teeth and she was standing in the middle between Pax and Kyle. They all three looked so innocent with their beaming smiles, including Kyle. How he got to be so fucked up in the head was beyond me. People could change and thankfully Paxton figured that out before it was too late.

Not wanting to invade his privacy anymore, I made my way down the stairs and fixed a bowl of cereal and a cup of coffee. There was nothing exciting on the news, but I watched it while I ate. I never had much time to watch TV these days. When Ashleigh still lived with me I did, but that was because we loved watching our favorites. I couldn’t exactly picture Paxton watching
Pitch Perfect
or the
Vampire Diaries
.

Once out to his garage, I turned on his stereo system and wasn’t surprised to hear Avenged Sevenfold playing over the speakers. It was the same band he listened to every day he worked on his cars. The music was pretty good to exercise to as well.

I don’t know how long I worked out for, but I was drenched in sweat and my muscles ached by the time I was done. Lying on the floor, I stared up at the ceiling to catch my breath but my heart sped back up when my phone rang. Hopefully, it was Paxton saying he was on his way back. If so, I needed to jump in the shower.

When I looked down at my phone, it wasn’t him . . . it was Cliff. Dread overcame any sense of excitement I just had. “Hey,” I answered. “Please tell me I don’t have a new message waiting on me.”

“I wish I could, but I can’t.”

Immediately, I jumped to my feet and started out of the garage. What the hell was this person doing?

“I know we don’t really know each other, but I don’t like this at all. I think you should go to the station. I’ll follow you there if you want.”

Then it hit me. I told Paxton I wouldn’t go to my apartment without him.
Fuck!
“I can’t come there right now, not without Paxton. I told him I wouldn’t.”

Cliff snorted. “Are you afraid I can’t protect you? I think I’m insulted. If anything, I could kick
his
ass. Besides, it’s daylight outside and there are people everywhere. I would be more worried at night, when people can hide.”

Paxton was going to get pissed when he found out, but it was time I did something about it. “All right, I’ll be there in about ten minutes.”

“I’ll wait by your door.”

Cliff did as he said and was waiting on me by my door when I parked and glanced up. He waved as I got out of the car. Taking the stairs two at a time, I raced up them until I got to the top. He held the flowers out to me with a grim expression on his face. There were four flowers this time, all black with a note attached.

“Did you read it?” I asked, opening it up.

“I’m not going to lie, it’s not good.”

When I opened it up, my stomach twisted into agonizing knots. The message was the worst one of all.

“Holy fucking shit,” I gasped, throwing the flowers down. “I need to get out of here.”

Cliff nodded and picked up the flowers before guiding me toward the stairs. “Get in your car and you can follow me to the police station. We’ll show them this and you can talk to them. Maybe they can help you figure out who it could be.”

“Okay, let’s do this,” I said, keys in hand. I was ready to go and figure out what sick fuck was leaving cryptic messages by my doorstep. Cliff followed behind me as we started down the last flight of steps.

“I know I’m not on the squad yet, but I’ll do whatever I can to help.”

Over my shoulder, I glanced back at him and gave a small smile. “Thanks, Cliff. I really appreciate you doing this.”

Before he could reply, his eyes went wide at something behind me. As soon as my foot hit the last step, a set of hands grabbed me by the shoulders and my head snapped to the front.

“And where do you think you’re going?”

Holy shit, I was in some serious trouble.

“SO IT WAS you leaving me those messages?” I ground out through clenched teeth.

Scar towered over me with his tall, bulky frame and dark eyes that almost looked black. He’d obviously acquired his name by how many he had on his body. Even across his shaved head on down to his cheeks there were scars. The only problem was, he wasn’t alone. Two other men shadowed him and they didn’t look like they were at my place for a picnic.

He snorted. “Hardly. Those are from Rage. Apparently, he’s had a thing for you since that night you ventured into the Dark Side. You’ll meet him soon, but for right now you have to deal with me.”

“Gabriella, what’s going on?” Cliff asked from behind.

Scar lifted a brow and smiled at me. “Yes, Gabriella, care to tell him what’s going on?”

I knew damn well I couldn’t say anything. I remembered the rules and I hadn’t broken them yet. “Why are you here?” I growled. “I’ve kept my mouth shut and so has everyone else.”

“That’s true, but things have changed. I think we need to go upstairs and have a little discussion.”

“And I think you need to get your hands off of her and back off,” Cliff snapped. “She’s not going anywhere without me.”

Scar huffed and turned his dark eyes to Cliff. “Suit yourself. I hope you know what you’re getting into.”

If Scar was by himself I could probably jump over the banister and make a run for it. But with the other two goons, I wouldn’t stand a chance. They were lean and lithe and obviously a lot faster. I didn’t have a choice. Turning on my heel, I started up the stairs with Cliff by my side.

“Please stay out of this,” I whispered. “You can’t get involved with them.”

“I don’t fucking care. I’m not going to leave you alone.”

“Dammit, Cliff, this is serious,” I hissed.

It was obvious he wasn’t going to listen, so I let him come with me to my apartment for fear he would call the cops. When I opened the door, Scar made me and Cliff go in first and then he followed with his goons. The tall one shut the door and stood in front of it, while the other started toward Cliff. They were both muscular, had shaved heads, and wore aviator sunglasses so dark I couldn’t see their eyes. Neither one of them spoke either.

The shorter one with the shaved red hair and goatee reached for Cliff’s arm but he jerked away. “Don’t fucking touch me man.”

“We’re not going to do anything to Miss Reynolds, so calm the fuck down. We’re just here to talk. Unfortunately, I can’t have you listening in.” Scar nodded toward Red and out of nowhere he clocked Cliff on the head with the butt of a gun.

“Oh my God,” I cried as his limp body fell to the floor with a loud thud. Trying to rush to his side, Scar held me back with a hand on my arm.

“He’ll be okay. Just a little headache when he wakes up. Now where were we?” He took a seat in one of my leather chairs and motioned toward the couch. “Please, have a seat.”

“Gee, thanks,” I grumbled. “I think I’ll stand.” I was in my own home and I couldn’t even relax. I kept my eyes and ears vigilant and my body ready to fight. He said he wanted to talk, but I was in my apartment with three dangerous men, alone. Whatever happened, I wasn’t going down without a fight.

Smirking, Scar sat back in the chair and crossed his leg at the knee, looking calm and relaxed. “I have a proposition for you, Miss Reynolds.”

I snorted. “Yeah, I think I’ll decline. You’re what, ten years older than me?”

“So you don’t like older men? It doesn’t seem to bother you with Reaper.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” I growled.

“Oh, don’t I? I’ve heard you two have gotten awfully close. My partner doesn’t seem to like it. He’s been watching you.”

“Who, Rage?” I asked incredulously. “Is he following me around? What kind of sick freak does that?”

“Obviously one that has a serious hard on for you. I suggest you calm it down with Reaper before something ugly happens.”

“Is that a threat? Because let me tell you I don’t do well with those. I think your partner needs to mind his own fucking business. What I do in my life is none of his concern.”