Maya and I were laid out on the sectional watching LivePD when Knox stormed in through the front door, slamming it with such force, I’m sure the neighbors were on high alert. Peering over my shoulder in confusion, I watched him stalk to the fridge, pull out a beer, and down half the bottle before even making it into the living room. What the hell happened? Had he gotten into an argument with Luis? Somehow, that didn’t seem likely. According to Reyna, Knox and Luis never fought, not even as kids. They might’ve disagreed on the odd topic here or there, but other than that, they weren’t the type to fuss and hold grudges.
“I need to talk to you,” he said, his deep voice booming in a way I’d never heard before.
Clearly, I wasn’t the only one to notice it. Maya quickly lifted herself off the couch and reached for her mug on the coffee table, shooting me an uncomfortable look I wasn’t sure how to respond to.
“About?” I asked, raising a curious brow when he plopped down beside me, and I took in the disconcerted look on his face.
“About what happened tonight.”
That was all he offered. Those four little words, and still they had the power to catapult my stomach up to my throat.
I must’ve blanched or perhaps Maya simply sensed this wasn’t the type of conversation she should be sitting in on, because from one moment to the next, she was gone. It wasn’t until I heard the click of her door that I realized she was no longer in the room. I’m not even going to lie… I was nervous as shit. What in the world could’ve happened that Knox was so anxious about? My natural reaction was to assume the worst. I mean, what girlfriend wouldn't? But that wasn't really fair on my part at all, given the fact Knox never lied to me.
“Before you go into fit of rage, I want you to listen very carefully to the entire story,” he began, startling me from the whirlwind of questions swirling around in my mind.
That sounds promising.
“Okay…” I gulped.
Running a hand through the longer strands of his hair, he turned to face me head on and let out deep sigh. “I wasn’t with Luis tonight.”
My heart lodged in my throat a little more. “Then where were you?”
“At Steel Ink.”
“The tattoo shop? Why?”
“Because I had an appointment with Pun.”
“For?” I hedged, growing more uneasy with each second that ticked by.
“For a new tat.”
What?
I didn't think it was possible to be more confused, but I was wrong.
So damn wrong.
“Well, I figured that, but what I don’t understand is why you would lie about that.”
“Because it was supposed to be a surprise, but also because I didn’t think you’d particularly care for me going back there,” he explained, which only served to baffle me all the more. Forget the surprise aspect. My brain focused solely on why he'd think I’d have an issue with him going to get another tattoo. He was covered in them, for crying out loud. Obviously, I liked them.
“Why would I care if you…” I started, but then it hit me.
Steel Ink was the shop where Knox had gone for years to get all his tats. Tats his ex – the very one who'd texted him just a few weeks ago – had so lovingly inked on him during her apprenticeship.
“Was she there?” I asked immediately, my voice hushed.
Knox swallowed deeply, his lips set in a grim line through a bout of silence before he nodded. “Yes.”
“Was your appointment really with her then?”
“No. I booked with Pun over a month ago.”
“But,” I pressed, because there was always a ‘but’ in situations like these.
“But his previous session was running over, so he asked Brie to prep me.”
No.
Dread briskly filled my veins, tossing all rationale out the window. Red flags thrashed about as alarm bells blared, my stomach churning in a nauseating fashion.
“Please don’t tell me you’re about to say you fucked her.”
“Really, baby,” he spat, his tone oozing disgust. “You think I’d cheat on you after what she did to me?”
“I would hope not, and you’ve never given me a reason to think otherwise, but then why are you so nervous?”
“Nervous? I’m not nervous, Hazel, not by a long shot. I’m pissed.”
“Why? What the hell happened?” The question rumbled in my chest around a growl. If he was angry, that meant something went down, and more than likely, that something was a probable factor I’d be pissed about too.
“Nothing I shouldn’t have expected. She was all too eager to help Pun out, and while I continued to shut her down, it only served to fuel her on.”
This bitch.
“What. The hell. Did she do?”
“Nothing at first, until she saw the design.”
“What was wrong with the design?”
Without so much as a word, he gripped the hem of his tee and whipped it over his head, tossing it over the back of the couch. My eyes traced the lines I'd followed many times, searching for his newest addition, until they landed on the purplish ink that would wash away after a shower. It wasn’t permanent, but to say I was not expecting to see that would’ve been the understatement of the year. I gasped, my hand popping over my mouth as I stared at the script adorning his chest; Hazel Rae with an infinity symbol looped under it, right above his heart.
“Are you crazy?” I finally managed to ask.
“For you? Hell yes,” he said with conviction.
“Why would you want to risk inking my name on your body? What if something happens to us, Knox? I mean, I know coverups are a thing, but-”
I’d never found myself on my back so fast, his large hand curled around my throat, keen blue eyes holding me hostage.
“Shut up,” he growled, “and listen to me. Are you listening?”
I nodded, wrapping a hand around his wrist.
“I love you. Whether you’ve come to terms with it or not, you’re mine, Hazel. All of you, mine, forever. I’m proud of every single piece etched on my skin, regardless of the memories attached to them. And your name, right above my heart, will be the one I wear with most pride, always.”
“You’re crazy,” I mumbled, and he chuckled softly.
“We established this already, baby. Moving on…”
As much as I wanted to simply forget he’d mentioned Brie, after I thought she wasn’t going to an issue, I couldn’t push past it. I had to know what the fuck happened in that tattoo shop.
“So, she flipped out about my name?”
“In her own way, yes.”
“And what exactly is her own way?” I hedged.
Easing away, Knox laid back on the couch and pulled me into his lap. “She climbed into my lap just like this, and tried provoking a reaction in her favor by bringing up the past.”
This. Fucking. Bitch.
My blood was boiling, but I forced myself to keep a lid on it, at least until I heard it all. “Is that all?”
“Basically. The more I pushed, the more she pulled, but I didn’t tolerate it for long. I ended up storming out of there before Pun finished with his client.”
“All I’m going to say is that she’s lucky I wasn’t there,” I growled, my lip curling in a snarl.
Chuckling softly, he pulled me closer still, locking his arms around my waist. “Funny enough, I thought the same thing shortly after she walked into the room.”
“Do I wanna know what she said to you?”
“No, probably not.”
“Then let's just forget this happened.”
“Deal.” He pecked my lips. “I told Pixie the next time I called to schedule an appointment, she better be certain she penciled me in on a day Brie wouldn’t be there.”
Running my thumb along his cheek, I hesitated with my next question, but only because I didn’t want to seem like Brie had opened a massive can of insecurities. He watched me silently as I worried my lip between my teeth and contemplated how to get this out right without sounding like whiny girlfriend.
“Is Brie going to be a steady problem?” I finally asked after a few minutes. Not the best way to phrase it, but it was just one of those things you had to rip off like a band-aid.
“I sure as hell hope not, but with Brie, you just never know. She’s stubborn and she does what she wants.”
“Well, she needs to stay far the fuck away. I won’t be held responsible for what happens to her if she keeps soliciting her skanky ass around where it doesn’t belong.”
Knox howled, literally howled, at my possessive admission, his head falling back against the couch as his body shook through a bout of laughter. It was impossible not to laugh right along with him. I wanted to be mad – no, furious – but his laughter was contagious. My shoulders bobbed up and down as I giggled in his lap, the anger that’d briskly consumed me thanks to a certain ex, easing away like water to a fire.
“Now that we have that out of the way. There’s something else I have to tell you,” he said, wiping amused tears from under his eyes.
I stopped laughing almost instantaneously, and went rigid once more, eyeing him in alarm.
What else could have possibly happened?
“I got Amari,” he said with a beaming smile.
I breathed out in relief and hugged him tightly, feeling a great sense of pride at what this particular sliver of news meant for his career. The minute word got out he was training Amari Dorsette was the minute everyone and their momma were going to want him training them too. This was the best thing he could’ve followed up the Brie obstacle with and just like that, she was once again the irrelevant piece of history she’d always been. There was no way I was going to allow her to dampen this moment. I’m not saying it was going to be easy to shove her to the back of my mind, especially when Knox made it clear she was a stubborn broad, but I was damn well going to try to forget about her. My man loved me and I knew he’d never stray away from that. Or at least, I hoped he wouldn’t.
“So, this bitch just climbed into his lap and made herself right at fucking home.”
“Typical Brie,” Reyna commented, shoveling a piece of the Nutella-filled crepe into her mouth.
“Typical or not, she’s got some damn nerve,” I growled, to which Maya nodded in agreement across from me, with an IHOP mug to her lips.
“Again, typical. That girl could give two fucks Knox isn’t available. If she can’t have him, no one can.”
“Well, she better back it up real quick before Hazel goes Lioness on her. I’ve seen what she can do in that cage, and it’s not pretty,” Maya stated as she stabbed into a pile of eggs.
I smiled inwardly at her concession. The cocky bitch in me loved hearing shit like this, despite my recent loss.
“Girl, you’re preaching to the choir. I know exactly what this chick can do in there. I used to fight her.”
Maya froze, brown eyes wide. “Whaaat?”
“Mhmmm.” Reyna nodded. “It’s not fun being on the receiving end of her fury.”
“You used to fight?”
“Yup. I wasn’t the best, but I think I held my own well.”
“Oh, hush,” I scoffed. “You were top four for The League.”
“I could never get past fourth, though.” She shrugged.
“Regardless, you were a fighter. I could never, ever do that. Literally too chicken,” Maya admitted with a soft chuckle. “Why’d you stop?”
“Ehhh, it just seemed pointless after Hazel left. She was The Queen, and although making it to the top probably would've been way easier, her leave took the fun out of it. Plus, not having to deal with that shit coach is a dream come true, and not traveling around on my own gives me the chance to see her fight pro.”
“It also gives you more time with Liv,” I snickered, cutting into my sinful Cinnabon pancakes.
Cheat meal, don't judge.
Rey flushed a bright pink at the mere mention of Liv’s name. “I'm really falling for her,” she said, glancing between Maya and I to gauge our approval.
I hated that, after all the encouragement we’d offered her, she still felt like her love life was wrong. Fucking society with their close-minded bullshit…
“So fall, Rey. Based on what I've seen, she’ll catch you with her eyes closed.”
“I haven't been around for much but I'm going to have to agree,” Maya offered.
A lazy smile quirked Reyna’s lips as she took a sip of her coffee. Swallowing down a cinnamony bite, I wiped the corners of my mouth and reached for my mug. If she reddened at the sound of her name, she was going to explode when I asked this…
“Serious question. Dildo or no dildo?”
As predicted, Reyna almost choked on her breakfast. Maya spit out a mouthful of coffee into the mug, too, which only made the moment all the more comical. I almost snorted at their reactions, the tables within close vicinity turning their heads toward us curiously.
“I said serious question, guys,” I giggled, in the softest, most straight, voice I could manage.
“No dildo,” Reyna managed to utter while clutching her stomach.
“Really?”
“Yeah, I could totally do without penetration. My orgasms are all in the clit.”
“Mmm, same here,” Maya added, to my surprise. “I don't think I could do without a dick, but my orgasms are definitely not from the inside.”
The two looked to me to throw in my two cents, but suddenly I felt like the odd man out. They waited and waited until finally my shoulders slumped and I spilled the beans.
“Mine are everywhere, I guess you can say.”
“What exactly is everywhere?” Rey pressed, a dark brow arched sleekly, as though she didn't understand.
“It just feels like an explosion. Inside and outside, at once.”
“Count your lucky stars.” Maya pointed her fork at me. “Not many women experience that. Knox must be packing a fucking anaconda.”
“Ew, please don't.” Reyna cringed. “He's like my brother. I don't want to imagine the size of his willy.”
“It's not a willy, I can tell you that,” I said around a sip of warm coffee.
“Ew, fucking ew. Stop, please!”
“Okay fine, dick conversation ended. Back to what were originally talking about... No dildo obviously means no strap-on. What does that leave then?”
Rey rolled her eyes and set her fork down onto her plate. “You're really gonna sit there and tell me you've never watched girl on girl porn before?”
“No, I have, but what's real and what's fake?”
“It's all real, bitch, except those nasally, exaggerated moans.”
“So that pussy gliding shit actually works?”
“Hell yes, it does. You should try it sometime.”
“I’m not opposed, but I'm too damn territorial for that shit. I don't share. One look at his cock and they're gonna expect me to no share. No, hoe, abso-fucking-lutely not.”
“I don't blame you,” Maya garbled, swallowing down another bite of her breakfast. “As Brie so unabashedly demonstrated last night, bitches be trippin’...”
“Preach, sista.” That was Reyna.
Pushing my plate away, I wiped my mouth one last time and crossed my arms. “And if she decides to unabashedly demonstrate just how much she's trippin’ again, she's gonna find herself trippin’ right into a six-foot hole.”
“You get the shovel, I'll get the garbage bags,” Reyna whispered to Maya.
“That would make you two accomplices.”
“And? Don't think I haven't wanted to kill her off for years?”
“Well, in that case, should we take a trip to Steel Ink?” I grinned and she shook her head in amusement.
“I can see the devil horns piercing your damn scalp.”
“What can I say? I'm feeling a little stabby after last night. Oh my God, last night!” I sat up a little straighter. “Huge sidebar. I forgot to tell you the rest!”
Reyna’s eyes widened, probably thinking the very same thing I’d thought a little over twelve hours ago. “Jesus Christ, there's more? What else did this cunt do?”
“No, no, not her. Knox! Amari Dorsette wants to proceed with a contract.”
She and Maya gasped. “Holy fuckballs, are you for real?”
I nodded, that sense of pride washing over me once again.
“That is insanely huge, you realize that right? That man is going to be swimming in money from Dorsette alone.”
“At least he's smart enough not to let that shit get to his head, unlike someone I know…” Maya muttered, rolling her eyes.
Interesting...
“I have a question.”
Two sets of eyes half-glared at me.
“It's not a fucking sex question again, chill. I'll only ask if you're okay with it, M.”
She reclined into her seat and hooked a shoulder. “Ask away, it's not like Dimitri can hear you.”
“What does he do for a living?”
“Well,” she started, running a hand through her dark tresses. “His cover up is the Diamanté Hotels. In all fairness, he does make a lot just from that, but I know there's something else. What that something is, I don't know because he never shared with me. Something about my virtue and blah, blah, blah.”
“Dirty money, I bet,” Reyna quipped, and Maya nodded without hesitation.
“Definitely dirty. I wanna say it has to do with Russia since he travels there so often, but what do I know. I'm just his little wife,” she said with a fake Russian accent, tying her napkin around her head.
“Not for much longer, you won't be,” I pointed out with a smile.
“Thank fuck for that. It'll out where I am, but I told Karley to send the papers. I'm done hiding. He hasn't come chasing me, not that I wanted him to, but his silence speaks volumes.”
“Will you keep Petrova after the fact?” Reyna asked.
“Hell to the no. I want nothing tying me to him, once all this shit is said and done. I will happily take Gutierrez again.”
Just the sound of that last name swelled my heart. “Your dad would be proud, ya know?”
“That's the point.” She smiled softly, looking a hell of a lot like Bernie in that moment.
Yeah, he would most definitely be proud.