Chapter 35

One month later

Chloe's Point of View

Time. It's a magical thing really. It can go slow, or it can go fast, but, in my case, it dragged. Each day felt ten times longer. Was it the fact that I hated my life that much that I was making it drag? I didn't know, but it was possible.

Joe and mom had enrolled me into a Christian university, which I was forced to attend every weekday. If it was any other university, maybe I wouldn't hate it as much but it wasn't. It was one controlled by policies and rules.

Funny though, I didn't follow any of them. The first week, I was sent to the principal daily. By Friday, he told me to do what I wanted and just not come back to his office.

So I didn't follow the dress code. I did smoke on campus and I was late for classes.

Joe wouldn't allow me a car, so I was forced to walk everywhere. Considering the university was half an hour away from our home, it took me an hour to walk to it, and I hated being there every second.

As for Chase, he had left for Brisbane the day after I flew out. How did I know that? Joe had a tracker on him and I heard him confirm it on the phone. As far as Joe was concerned, the threat of Chase was over.

And he was right. It was.

I wasn't watching where I was walking, and I accidentally walked straight into a sign.

"Shit." I stumbled on my heels. Then I read the sign; something about a gym membership. I looked into the open front of the gym. It was run down. I dropped my cigarette on the ground and stomped it out, walking in.

I was looking for a gym. Even though I could afford something more expensive, and blowing Joe's money was something I enjoyed doing, this gym had character. One of the first things I got back when we got home were my credit cards. Mom insisted I went shopping. Joe liked his women looking a certain way - expensive and untouchable.

"The Pilates class is next door."

I turned, spotting a man wearing a tank top and shorts. He had one arm tattooed and a cigarette in his mouth. He was next to a boxing ring, which was in the center of the room. He would be in his twenties, and I was guessing by the way he acted that he owned the place.

"Actually, I was inquiring about the gym membership." I walked towards him.

"You wouldn't be interested." He blew me off, picking up boxing gloves.

I arched my eyebrows. Seriously? "So, do you always turn down business?" I was sick of people telling me what I'd be interested in, telling me what to do, telling me who to see and telling me how to dress. Men. Thinking they could boss me around.

"There is an all-girl gym down the road. Try there." His tone was sour.

"You're a jerk." I walked towards him. "And a really bad business owner."

I was in front of him now, and he was a good two heads taller than me. He crossed his arms, his muscles bulging.

"And you're a girl that doesn't take no for an answer." He studied my face closer. "Walk into a door, did we?"

My hand automatically went to my cheek. It was bruised from my latest run-in with Joe. I thought I had covered it up with enough makeup.

"Are you going to sell me a gym membership or not?" I huffed, avoiding his direct comment on my cheek.

"Men come here. I can't guarantee they won't be gawking at you." His tone was rough and half rude. "We aren't known for having women here."

"Believe it or not, I can look after myself."

"By the bruise on your face, I'm guessing you can't."

"I fell over," I fired back at him, lying poorly. I didn't need a bodyguard. I didn't need anyone.

He laughed. "Stubborn, aren't you?" His eyes ran down me, and then back up. He put his hand out. "Jenkins."

I looked at his hand and then lightly put my hand in his, shaking it. "Chloe."

"We are open when I open. Got a problem with that?"

"Nope. I'm not looking for a 24 hour gym." It wasn't like I was free to go out 24/7.

"What are you looking for?"

I followed him to a corner with a desk. It was covered in paperwork and he was using a dumbbell as a paper weight. There was a computer, and he lit it up. He dropped down in the chair and pointed at the plastic chair opposite him.

"Just somewhere to work out really." I took the seat. "Nothing special."

"This will be a first," he muttered, pulling out a form from his filing cabinet.

"What will be a first?"

"Having a girl. We aren't known for it."

"What are you known for?" I looked around the gym. It had all the requirements of a normal gym, size, equipment and machines. There was just a huge boxing ring in the middle.

"Producing fighters." He clicked his fingers. "ID and contact number. I also need to know your last name and bank details."

"It's Marshall." I pulled out one of the several credit cards and handed it to him. "How much is membership here?"

He pulled out the cigarette from his mouth. "30 a week."

"Charge me double." I grinned and sat back. Wasting Joe's money was my only fun hobby. "Trust me, you will be doing me a favor."

He looked at me as if I was insane. "Whatever you say, Marshall." He started scribbling down my details, and I relaxed. Somewhere to work out, now that what's I needed.

My mind flickered to the last time I was in a gym. With Chase. I swallowed hard. Just thinking about him suffocated me. Like always, my mind drifted to one question, what was Chase doing now?

"Do you want a tour?"

My head snapped up back to Jenkins. "Sure."

"I'll show you where the locker room is and the showers. Come on, Marshall. A woman in my gym." He shook his head, not believing it. "The boys are going to go mad."

My heels clicked as I followed him. Well, I guess this was my new place to hang out away from university and the stepmonster.

***

"You could at least eat breakfast, Chloe." Mom crossed her arms and stood in my path of freedom. I glanced at the clock, five to six.

"Not hungry, Mom."

"We’ve noticed you leave at six and aren't back till ten."

"Well, I am being forced to be here." I stuck out my leg, my ankle monitor flashing. "Remember?"

"Here is your phone. What they had to fix, I don't know, but they came and did it." Mom handed me the phone and pressed her lips together. "Why are you dressed in gym clothes?"

"Because I'm going to the gym." I took the phone off her.

"Again?"

"I go every morning, what's the big deal? I have been going every morning for weeks."

Mom was tapping her nails on the stone bench kitchen island. "Who do you go with?"

"No one."

She tilted her head. "Do you have a change of clothes? You can't go to university looking like that."

"Yes Mom, I'll change. Can I go now?" I glanced at the clock as it ticked past six. Freedom.

"Joe's got an award ceremony this weekend night. Saturday night. He has already put in a form for you to have special circumstances to be out late that night. He is being awarded for outstanding effort."

I scoffed.

"Chloe."

I rolled my eyes. "Yes Mom?"

"I want you there, dressed, with a date and looking like the perfect daughter. Do you understand me?"

"A date! I don't bloody think so."

"Chloe, bring someone from church."

"No!"

"Then bring one of your friends."

"I don't have any."

"Find someone because people are starting to talk!"

"What, about my dating life?"

"Joe wants to set you up with one of his friends so if I were you, Chloe, I'd take this opportunity to prove you don't need his help."

Seeing as I knew no one and had no friends, I knew my fate was sealed. I'd be attending this event with one of Joe's detective friends.

"I'll go with whoever, it’s not like anyone really cares what I want anyway." I gave her a fake smile. "Now I'm leaving."

She stepped out of my way. "I'd say see you at dinner, but I know you won't be home until 9.59pm ."

"Like always, it was a pleasure, Mom." I backed out of the room, walking backwards and, as fate would have it, it wasn't my day because I walked backwards straight into Joe.

I turned around in time to see his coffee mug turn upwards and all over his shirt. Usually I expected it, but this time I didn't. His fist connected with my cheek and I was on the ground in front of him straight after.

He didn't yell. No, instead, he stepped over me. Being hit like that causes tears to come to your eyes so I quickly got up and ran for the front door. I closed it, my hand on my jaw.

I pushed my gym bag up my shoulder and walked down the front steps. By the time I got to the gate, I was wiping the tears away. I wasn't crying because he hurt me. In fact, I made it a point to not cry when he hit me. As I was walking down the footpath, I admitted to myself; this time I was crying because he caught me by surprise and it really hurt.

I rubbed my jaw. Bastard. It was still dark out, and I noticed that across the road, neighbors were in their silver Mercedes. I don't know why it was always parked out the front of the house when they had a huge driveway. If I had a car that expensive, I wouldn't be parking it on the street. Its headlights lit up the street.

I glanced at the heavily tinted windows as the car drove past me.

Why would anyone else want to be up at this hour?

I watched its taillights disappear around the corner. Right now, all I needed was a good workout.

***

I arrived at the gym just as Jenkins was putting out the sign; like every morning.

"Marshall." He had his morning cigarette in his mouth and was wearing his trademark tank top and shorts. Jenkins’s skin always impressed me. It was tanned and looked like he spent all day out in the sun, although I had never seen him away from the gym.

He was actually a very good-looking guy. He had a chiseled face and deep blue eyes that drew you in. His blond hair was always messed up, like he just woke up looking that amazing. He looked like a surfer.

But he didn't compare to Chase, and that's what always got me. I was always comparing men to Chase, and they never measured up.

"Jenkins." I adjusted my gym bag on my shoulder.

Jenkins frowned and took a step closer to me, his eyes zoning in. "You're bleeding."

"What?"

He pointed to my cheek.

My hand went to it and I wiped my cheek. Sure enough, there was blood on my hand. Great, that was going to bruise badly. Just what I needed.

I avoided his eyes. I was positive my cheek was swollen and red, and I was hoping he wouldn't call me on it. Jenkins took a step back, looking at me, finally frowning. He went back to the sign.

"So, you going to try and deadlift today?" He changed the subject.

Jenkins wasn't an idiot. I was coming here nearly twice a day, every day for weeks and weeks and he would have noticed my bruises, the cut lips and black eyes.

"Yeah, I was thinking of trying fifty, but I've failed every other day." I was a regular at the gym now. At first, I was a new shiny toy, but the boys soon got used to me.

"I'll spot ya." He dropped his cigarette and gestured for me to come in.

The thing about Jenkins I had learned was he doesn't ask questions and he didn't get involved in other people's business. He also had taken an interest in my fitness and was pushing me further and further to the point I was spewing in the rubbish bins. I loved it, and it's what I needed. Every time my body was being pushed to the limit, I wasn't thinking about Chase and I wasn't thinking about my shitty situation.

***

I was putting my bra on when Jenkins walked into the locker room. I was freshly showered and had covered up my bruise from this morning with a thick coat of foundation.

"So, you finally cracked the fifty." He leaned against my locker with a smirk on his face.

"You were there, Jenkins." I pulled a dress from out of my bag. Standing in my underwear would normally be awkward, but I was so used to being in this locker room now, I didn't care.

Although I did notice Jenkins’s eyes were firmly on my body.

"What you doing tonight?" His eyes were back on my face.

"Nothing, why?"

"Dinner. You and I. Interested?"

"I don't do relationships."

"Good, cause I don't do girlfriends." He crossed his arms, his muscles bulging. Another thing I learned about Jenkins was he used to be a pro fighter before he hurt his knee in a cage fight. Now he coaches pro athletes.

I pulled a dress from my bag, slipping it on. It was just a purple t-shirt dress, nothing fancy, but it was short and showed my curves. It also had an expensive price tag. I pulled out my heels from my bag.

"So, we will be going to dinner as?" I put one heel on, arching my eyebrows, waiting for an explanation.

That smirk was still on his face. "As friends."

I smiled at that. "Friends. That I will do. Do you know the café on Ruth Street? It's on the corner."

"Yeah, it's not far from here."

I picked up my bag, "I'll be there by six. If you come, you come. No big deal if you don't." I was running late for uni and considering I had a half an hour walk in front of me, I had to get moving. "Bye, Jenkins, thanks for today."

***

Reputation. I thought I understood what it meant to have one. Before, I thought I understood what Chase's reputation was, what he was treated like and why people treated him like they did. Like I said, I thought I knew what it was like to have the reputation of being the quiet church girl.

But I was soon realizing my reputation was nothing to what it was now.

I was drinking from the water tap when someone firmly slapped me on the ass, causing my head to go into the water. Cursing, I stood up, only to see Chad with a firm smirk on his face. Chad was the 'it' guy around campus, and he had made it his personal life mission to make my life a living hell.

"Pity that dress wasn't white then we would really be in for a show." He and his friends laughed while I wiped the water off my face.

"Piss off, Chad." I went to walk around him, only for him to match my step.

"How does it feel to be a biker’s leftover?" Chad was taller than me, forcing me to look up at him.

"Can't you go annoy a girl that actually likes you?" I spat out, frustrated. My reputation for being a biker's whore was the worst one. Girls gave me flirty looks but that was nothing compared to the stories they came up with. Considering I also had a reputation for being a killer, everyone thought I was going to hell and they reminded me of this daily.

"I don't get it. You would let a biker share you, but you are saying no to a stand-up Christian?"

I tilted my head. "Imagine what your parents would say if you did sleep with me. Imagine what they would say if they heard half the things you say to me." His parents held the faith stronger than mine.

A grin slipped across his lips. "That wouldn't stop me and you know it."

I rolled my eyes and went to walk past him when he grabbed my arm. "Come on Chloe, give us a show."

I may wear short dresses and I may smoke weed but I did not ever do it for attention. I was just living up to my reputation.

"Let go of me."

"Or what? You don't have a boyfriend but that could change though." He was hinting, but I wasn't buying.

"Let go of me, or you will learn the full force of my knee in your balls."

"Hear that boys, she's talking dirty to me."

They started circling me, and I was between a wall and Chad. His grip on my arm was tightening to the point it would be leaving a bruise.

"Let go of me!" I pulled on my arm, but his grip just tightened. It was in situations like this I really realized I was on my own. I didn't have anyone coming to my rescue. I didn't have a knight, I only had myself.

His friends were egging him on. He was towering over me and it wasn't like I knew how to punch someone. A crowd was gathering around us. Chad was feeling overly confident when his other hand went for my breast.

I stomped my heel onto his foot, making him curse.

"What's going on here?"

Chad's hand dropped from my arm, as if I was on fire.

"Nothing, Jim." Chad smiled, which made me feel sick.

"I see you are the center of attention again, Chloe." Mr. Howard gave me a judging look. "Perhaps you should spend more time on your studies than flirting with men. Now everyone, move on." He started waving people away.

I wanted to defend myself. I wanted to point out I was no match to Chad but what was the point? No one would believe me.

"I'll see ya later, sweetheart," Chad whispered in my ear and walked off with his friends.

It made my blood turn cold. Maybe it was fear, or maybe I was just scared of what could happen if I was alone with him and seeing as he was taking every opportunity to try and get a one-on-one with me, it really did scare me.

I scanned the crowd as everyone parted ways and then I spotted…no, it couldn't be. I picked up my bag and weaved in and out of the crowd. I swear I just saw…Declan. I came around the corner and rounded it, only to see other students and no Declan. Great, now I was imagining Chase's brothers being here. I really was desperate.

This took missing Chase to a whole new level. Chase. What would he do if he heard how Chad spoke to me? What would he think of how everyone treated me? The biker whore who was also a murderer.

I guess it didn't matter as it wasn’t like he was around anymore. I had to move on; he would have by now. I was just some stupid girl that took the rap for something he did. I doubted he would be thinking about me like I was thinking about him.