Chapter 30 (Jackson)
I prop myself up on one elbow and watch as she yawns and stretches while sprawled out on my bed.
Her eyes are still closed and she mewls my name in her sleep, which only encourages the morning wood I'm sporting.
Her hair is a perfect combination of bed head and just been fucked hair. I lean in and get a whiff of that coconut scent that I love so much.
She stretches again, only this time the sheet falls and her breasts are fully exposed to me. Her pretty pink nipples are just begging to be sucked on.
A man can only be strong for so long. I don't know where to start first because I want to taste every part of her body. Since her breasts are mere centimeters from my face, I decide I'm gonna start there and work my way down.
I move forward and give her right nipple a little lick and wait for her response. And what a response it is, she moans and arches her back, shoving her breasts into my face.
I suck one nipple into my mouth while kneading the other one with my hand. Her eyes are still closed, but I notice the coy smile on her face. This little minx has been awake the entire time, purposely teasing me with these pretty titties of hers.
In one fell swoop, I dive under the sheet and spread her thighs apart. I loved making love to her last night and baring my entire soul to her...it was the single best moment of my entire life.
But right now? Right now her sex is wet for me and I need to issue my own brand of teasing.
When I look up, I notice her eyes are still closed and she's still trying to feign sleep and innocence, even though the little coy smile hasn't left her perfect face. Part of me thinks it's adorable, but the other part of me wants to spank that luscious ass of hers for putting on an act in front of me.
I lift the sheet off her body and throw it on the floor. I position myself between her thighs again and kiss her navel before lavishing it with my tongue. Her hips push up but I grab onto those hipbones of hers that make me lose my mind. “You move and I'll stop,” I inform her. “You wanted to be cute and pretend to be sleeping while you teased me with this gorgeous body of yours...didn't you?”
She nods and I bite the inside of her thigh. “I said don't move.”
She immediately goes still and I hear a whimper escape. The sound goes right to my cock and I have to suck in a breath.
I inhale the scent of her arousal combined with coconut and I barely suppress my growl. I work my way down her body all while whispering how beautiful she is.
I might be taking the control and teaching her a lesson, but I don't want her to get the wrong idea and think that I'm any less appreciative of her beauty and the gift of her body that she's trusting me with.
I'm very appreciative. I know I'm a lucky man. I've got what most men can only hope and wish to find in their lifetime. I've got a beautiful woman who loves me unconditionally, despite my past. And I'll spend the rest of my life matching that 10 fold.
I draw little circles on the inside of her thighs with my tongue that has her gasping. I see her hands clench at her sides and I bite the inside of her thigh again in warning.
She blows out a breath and I know she's becoming frustrated
I move my head down until I'm directly in front of her pussy. It's pink and smooth, except for the thinnest and tiniest of landing strips, giving away that she is in fact, a natural blonde. I rub my nose against it, inhale sharply, and savor it for a moment. Then I slide up her slit, finishing my slow graze with a flick of my tongue against her clit.
She whimpers again but doesn't move. Good girl.
I decide to reward her for being so compliant. If I'm being honest, I'm really rewarding myself because there's nothing like diving face first into her heat.
I eat her and suck her folds into my mouth like they're made out of goddamn candy and I'm the gingerbread man.
That's when she ruins her streak, pivots her pussy into my face and grabs hold of my hair. I let myself enjoy it for a moment because, well—it's fucking awesome.
Then before she knows what hits her, I wrap my arm around her waist, flip her over and prop her up on her knees. Her ass is sticking straight up in the air and I can't help but admire it. More than admire it, I want to build a shrine for that ass of hers and pray to it every day.
I run my finger down the seam of her ass and she jerks up in surprise. I couldn't give a fuck less about her not moving at this point, my desires are now focused elsewhere.
I repeat the gesture and her body tightens. “You've never had anyone play with your ass before...have you, baby?”
She shakes her head and I can't help but thank my lucky stars for being the lucky bastard that's going to bring her pleasure to new heights.
But, I'm not an idiot. I know that this is something that she needs to work up to slowly. Anyone who tells you that first-time anal sex is a 'wham bam thank you ma'am' with no prep—is a fucking moron who has no business participating in the act.
I kiss one of her ass cheeks and slip a finger inside her pussy.
Her back bows and she sighs my name. “At some point,” I whisper. “You're going to let me have your ass.”
Her entire body goes rigid, so I rub one hand down her back in a calming motion. “But not until you're ready to give it to me.”
She visibly relaxes and I plant a kiss on her other cheek. “Do you trust me?”
“You know I do, Jackson,” she whispers. My heart swells at the statement.
I slowly slip the finger that's wet with her arousal into her ass. She blows out a shaky breath and goes stiff. “I'm not going to hurt you, baby,” I reassure her.
Making sure not to push my way in, I make small circles around the tight bud. With my other hand, I sink a finger back into her pussy and begin playing with her clit.
After a moment, she's calm again and moaning my name. Then she starts bearing down on my finger. I'm not sure if she realizes what she's doing, but it sends my own arousal into overdrive.
“You want me to stick it further in your ass, baby?”
“Yeah. It feels—” She pauses, and I wish I could see her face right now because I know she's blushing.
“It feels what, Alyssa? Tell me, I want to hear you say it.”
She pushes down on my finger until it's fully inside her. “It feels good when you play with my ass and my pussy at the same time.”
My dick twitches at those words, and I have to remind myself not to pounce because as much as I want to, I'm not taking her ass right now.
She straightens her spine and sits upright. Then she does something that almost makes me come right on the spot.
She partially sits on my lap and begins riding the finger I have in her ass. I move my other hand around to her front so I can trace her clit at the same time. “I need you inside me,” she pants. “I want you to fuck me at the same time you're doing this to me.”
I'm so turned on with her statement and the fact that she's embracing her own sexual pleasure like this. I eagerly comply and begin to enter her, letting out a groan when I'm all the way in.
“Oh my god,” she screams. “It feels even better than I thought it would.”
Hell yeah, it does. There's no way I'm going to be able to hold off if she keeps riding my cock like this. I'm going to have to speed things along in order to make sure she gets off before I do. I look down at where our bodies are joined and I quickly realize why it feels exceptionally good.
I'm not wearing a fucking condom. I bring both her and my movements to a rapid halt and slip out. “I have to put a condom on. I'm sorry, I should have been more careful.”
She doesn't freak like I assumed she would. Instead, she says the words that every straight man loves to hear when he finds himself in this predicament. “I'm on birth control. I've also been tested and I'm clean—”
She doesn't even get to finish that sentence because I thrust into her. Since one of the membership requirements of the bdsm club- that I won't ever be going back to, was getting tested semi-annually, I know I'm clean as well.
I hold onto to both her breasts while she bounces up and down on my dick. The friction between us is better than any I've ever felt before. “Oh my fucking god, Jackson,” she screams so loud I know Tyrone's going to hear, but so be it. Lord knows, I've heard him in the act more times than I can count.
I switch positions then so that I'm thrusting into her doggie style, circling her other hole with my finger, and watching her ass jiggle with my every move. Alyssa's loud moans along with the sound of my balls slapping against her fill the room and it only enhances the act.
A moment later, I get ready for my favorite part. Alyssa's orgasm.
I've never witnessed someone orgasm the way she does. It's truly an experience to watch and if I'm being honest, I really revel in the fact that I'm the only one who gets to see her come apart like this. She orgasms with her entire body. She jerks, she pants, her breasts push up into the air, she curses like a sailor, her legs shake, her little toes curl, and her pussy grabs me tighter than a damn vise.
She's on the first wave of her climax, sputtering curses into the air, when she hits her second wave and starts milking my cock, sucking every ounce of come from my balls. It feels so fucking good I begin roaring obscenities over her loud screams until I fall on top of her in a sweaty heap.
I feel her twitch underneath me slightly but I'm too distracted by the sight of my come leaking out of her.
“Momma,” she screeches.
“Momma?” I question with a smirk. “You mean like, Whoa, Momma that sure was some amazing sex we just had?”
She leaps up from the bed and her cheeks flush. “I meant Momma, Jackson! As in Momma just walked in, did the sign of the cross while saying the Lord's name, covered her eyes, and walked right back out!” she screams.
Oh, that Momma. Well, shit.
I forgot that Tyrone had mentioned something about Momma flying out here. If I thought Momma had bad timing the last time Alyssa spent the night, it has nothing on this time.
I try hard not to laugh at the way Alyssa's freaking out right now. Momma's caught her own son in the act quite a few times, I doubt she'll even make a big deal about it. “It's okay,” I assure her.
“Easy for you to say. Despite who gave birth to you, that woman is your mother. And the last memory that woman has of me is watching me strip down for a sex tape. Not to mention, whatever you told her about me when we broke up. This is so not okay. This is mortifying.”
Guess I didn't think of it like that.
I walk over to where she is and hold her in my arms. “I love you, Alyssa. I will never let anyone talk bad about you. Please, don't feel ashamed or embarrassed. Everything will be fine.”
I walk to my closet and throw on a pair of shorts. I hand her a t-shirt and a pair of my sweatpants. “You'll have to roll them up until they fit, but it's the best I can do right now.”
She still looks nervous so I pull her into another hug. “It's okay, baby.”
She gives me a small smile and I tilt her chin up. “That's my girl.”
The corners of her lips twitch. “It was some amazing sex by the way.”
I give her a wink. “Oh, I know .”
She begins changing and I head for the door. “I'm gonna go out there first,” I say. “But seriously, don't worry. Momma's not judging you. She's the sweetest, least judgmental person I know.”
***
The swipe of the newspaper against my arm almost causes me to laugh. “Jackson Mathew Reid,” Momma screams. “You think this is funny, boy?”
This is the first time Momma's ever middle-named me. Heck, I didn't even think she knew what my middle name was.
I ignore the howling of laughter coming from both Tyrone and Ricardo seated at the kitchen counter.
She swipes me again with the paper. “I'm fixin' to lay a real hurtin' on you. I trucked all the way to New York because I thought you were going through a hard time and needed your Momma. Then I come to find you screwing some hussy. You're supposed to be the good one!”
“Alyssa's not a hussy,” I growl.
She stops mid swipe. “Alyssa? Well, of course, Alyssa ain't no hussy. I'm talkin' bout that two- bit—”
I almost laugh again when I realize. “Momma, that was Alyssa. She just has dark hair now.”
She puts the newspaper down. “Well, I see. Glad to hear you worked things out with that girl. Bout' time. Now give me a hug.”
I pull Momma in for a big hug and Tyrone wiggles his eyebrows at me. “From the sounds that were coming through that bedroom of yours all night and this morning. I'd say you two definitely worked things out with each other.”
I open my mouth to tell him to knock it off, but Alyssa walks out, takes Momma's newspaper and swipes him across the head with it.
Momma claps her hands. “I knew I liked this girl.” She lets go of me and pulls Alyssa into a hug. “How you doin', sugar? I like the hair.”
Alyssa chuckles. “I'm fine, Momma. Need any help making breakfast?”
She waves a hand and motions for us to sit down. She scans the room and her eyes land on Ricardo. “I reckon I'm gonna be one plate short?”
He gives her a soft nod and she wipes her hands on her apron. “Hmm.”
“Hmm?” Ricardo says. “What's hmm?”
“Well, I never thought I'd say this because that Lou-Lou girl really dills my pickle, especially after she pulled that stunt. But maybe you ought to suck it up and talk to her. That sparkle in your eyes is dimmer, Ricardo. That girl had some kinda effect on you whether you're willing to admit it or not.”
Tyrone grins. “That's what I've been telling him, Momma.”
I take the stack of pancakes from Alyssa. “You know, I have to say. I'm on their side of the fence now. Running into Alyssa again was the best thing that could have happened. Even if I did screw it up by getting drunk at her workplace and saying some really messed up stuff. It led me back to her. Lou-Lou's right across the hall, you guys have been ignoring one another for months now.”
To my surprise, Alyssa nods. “It's true. Don't get me wrong, I was pissed at what Jackson did that night. But, I wanted nothing more than to talk to him and work out our issues. I'm sure she feels the same about you. I don't like Lou-Lou...for obvious reasons. But it's obvious that you both have something—” She pauses and makes a face. “Well, you have something together. And if she makes you happy that's all that really matters.”
Ricardo rolls his eyes, clearly hating that the focus is on his and Lou-Lou's former relationship. Then he looks at me and gives me a wink. Now I know he's going to somehow use me to deflect the attention off of him. “Hey, Jackson. Did you tell Momma how you basically said that Alyssa was nothing but a good time at the bar that night?”
Asshole.
Momma gasps and reaches for the newspaper again.
“He was drunk, Momma. He didn't mean it,” Alyssa says, rushing to my defense. I reach for her hand and give it a kiss.
Momma puts the newspaper down and picks up the spatula. Then she turns her gaze on Alyssa. “You work at a bar, young lady?”
Shit, I was hoping Momma wouldn't pick up on that. Fucking Ricardo.
Alyssa crinkles her nose. I squeeze her hand as a signal to deny everything, but she doesn't take the hint. “Well, yeah. I mean, it's nothing crazy or anything. It's low-key and—”
Momma cuts her off. “Do you really think that's safe? You're a pretty young thing...who knows what could happen to you.” She points the spatula at me. “I can't believe you're okay with this, Jackson.”
Alyssa waves a hand. “It's fine, Momma. Trust me, my friend Shane who owns the bar is usually there with me and he would never let anything happen to me. And it's perfectly safe, there is an alarm system and everything. I always make sure to put it on right after I close up and head upstairs to my apartment.”
This isn't good.
Momma puts her hand over her heart and takes a step back dramatically. “You live at this....this bar? What if one of the customers follows you up to this apartment? Or even worse hides up there and attacks you? Or attacks you when you're closing one night and this Shane character isn't around?” She shakes her head. “No. This just won't do.”
I've never thought about it like that before, but seeing as I pretty much did that to her not even 24 hrs ago...Shit, Momma has a point.
Alyssa opens her mouth to answer, but Momma looks at me. “How can you let this happen?”
I open my mouth to defend myself...but I've got nothing. What Momma's saying makes complete sense.
I look over at Ricardo and he's happily eating his breakfast and humming to himself. I fight the urge to throw my biscuit at his head.
I look at Tyrone and he shrugs.
“Momma,” Alyssa starts. “I like it there and even more, I can afford the rent there. New York is a ridiculously expensive place to live. What Shane charges me for rent is a steal.”
She points the spatula at her. “Until someone steals you away in the middle of the night and you end up on the news.”
The thought of that happening makes my stomach knot up.
Alyssa stands up. “You should come there tonight and see it for yourself. It's a safe place. Come and have a few drinks on me and enjoy yourself.”
Tyrone snorts. “Momma ain't going to no bar, Alyssa. She can't hang like that.”
Momma folds her arms across her chest and glares at him. “I can most certainly hang like that. And seeing as I'm here for the next two weeks...it wouldn't hurt to appease Alyssa and see this bar.” Tyrone chokes on his food, but Momma turns her ebony eyes on me again. “I'll see this bar, but I reckon a few changes will be happening by the time I hop back on that plane.”
I give her a subtle nod and finish the rest of my breakfast while answering her questions about the fight and the two bruises on my face.
***
I stand outside and watch Alyssa through the glass window of the bar. Everyone, including Momma, is there waiting for me to arrive, but I'm enjoying just watching her for a few moments.
After Breakfast, I walked Alyssa home and I went to the gym. After our workout, I told the guys to head to the bar first and said I'd catch up in a little while.
I needed the time to think.
I have no idea how to go about the situation regarding Alyssa and her apartment at the bar.
I would ask her to move in, but that would only make it that much easier for her to find out about DeLuca.
And I don't care how much of an asshole it makes me, there's no way I'm telling her about him. Her not knowing will keep her safe.
She's got a bit of a wild streak at times and I don't know how she'll take finding out about everything. But one thing is certain, if she does anything to DeLuca...he will have no problem retaliating by having her killed or doing it himself.
I just can't take that chance.
The only reason I'm not more freaked out about her showing up at the club last night is because of her new hair color. I'm hoping that DeLuca won't realize it was her...even though I know it was a big fight for him and he's checking out the footage.
Ironically enough, it was seeing Alyssa there that helped me win that fight in the first place.
My opponent was the toughest one I ever faced at the club. There was a couple of times I thought I was going to lose.
Luckily, I looked out in the crowd and saw Tyrone doing the praying possum. As silly as it sounds, I knew that was his way of giving me advice. When he was a kid and got bullied on the playground by some racist pricks, he used to drop and 'play dead' in the middle of a fight, just like possum's do. It threw the bully off for a moment and Tyrone would use the opportunity to sprout back up and defend himself.
I saw the karate chop at the very last second and tucked my chin. His hand slipped and I swear, he just missed my carotid artery. However, the headbutt that he dealt got me bad. Bad enough where I did go down and I wasn't sure I was going to make it back up again.
I was temporarily knocked out, but I heard Alyssa's guttural cries and I thought someone was hurting her. With strength I didn't even know I possessed, I managed to get back up. I was relieved to see that she was okay, but I was beyond pissed that she was at the fight club. I used that rage as fuel to win the fight. Without her, I don't know if that would have happened.
Just like I don't know what will happen or how to go about her apartment situation.
I could ask her to move in, I'm sure Tyrone would be fine with it...but then I'd have to tell her about DeLuca...and she most definitely won't be fine with it.
I could always lease her an apartment. I'm not a millionaire or anything but I do have a decent chunk of change saved up from fighting the past few years. I could put it toward that...but something tells me Alyssa won't go for that.
Not to mention, that somewhere down the road; I figure in the next few years or so...she will want to take the next step and move in together. She'll also want to get married and have kids.
I want the same things, but I still have another 6 years and change left in my contract with DeLuca. And that's only if I continue to win at least, 99% of my fights, which in and of itself is a whole new set of problems.
The problem isn't that I'll be 33 by the time I'm done. That's still young enough to enjoy the rest my life without feeling like I'll be missing out on anything like having kids and starting a family.
The problem is, and every great fighter and athlete know this...you just can't stay on top forever. You hit your prime and only go down from there. Right now I'm 27...but I'd be an idiot to think there won't be someone younger, tougher and stronger for me to compete against in the next 6 years. Someone who could end up taking me down.
I know that's why DeLuca makes the stipulations that he does and makes the contract for as long as he does. It really is making a deal with the devil.
I rub my temples and try to focus my thoughts back on the here and now. I watch through the glass as Alyssa hands Momma a shot and Ricardo and Tyrone start doing a countdown.
I laugh when she tilts her head back and makes a face like it's horrible. Tyrone hugs her and yells, “Roll Tide!” while everyone in the bar cheers.
Alyssa is smiling from ear to ear and I swear, she's absolutely radiant. Her dimple is out and her eyes are gleaming. You wouldn't even know that she barely slept the night before.
“She's beautiful...isn't she?” some deep voice says. I turn around to face the man who's not only interrupting my thoughts but is checking out my girlfriend.
He's about an inch or two shorter than me, he looks about maybe 15 years older than me; and he's wearing a gray suit that looks vaguely familiar.
He looks to be a professional of some sort, so it's kind of odd to see him hanging around some hole in the wall bar.
For once, I decide to remain calm. Of course, I want to punch the guy...but the reality is that he's only admiring how beautiful Alyssa is. As much as I hate it, she's going to catch the eye of other men. I can't go around beating up most of the male population.
“She's gorgeous,” I tell him. I silently add 'and all mine' to the statement. He stands next to me and watches her through the glass. He's got about another 10 seconds to get his fill before I take back my previous thoughts about not punching him.
My hand's ball at my sides when I see that his eyes still haven't moved off of her. Then he says something that makes my insides twist. “You know, I preferred her as a blonde. She looked more innocent that way. But there's something to be said about the darker hair. It really brings out those eyes of hers. I think I like it.”
I snarl and shove him against the glass. He gives me a smirk and flips the inside of his suit jacket open, revealing a badge. “Careful, Jackson. You don't want to go to jail for assaulting an officer.” The corners of his eyes crinkle. “Not that it would be your first time in a jail cell...now would it?”
I look at the badge and struggle not to lose my shit. Ford. Special Agent Ford fucking Baker to be exact...what the fuck kind of name is that, anyway?
I grit my teeth because it's the name belonging to the man who had his hands all over my girl that night. The man who's fucked my girl before. The man my girl said she loved.
To hell with it. I'm taking my chances and punching the bastard. One solid punch, that's all I need to feel better.
He seems to sense my thoughts because he holds up his hands and says, “DeLuca wouldn't like it if you ended up in jail. You know that as well as I do, son.”
I grab a hold of the hood to my sweatshirt so I have someplace to put my hands for the time being...because being wrapped around his neck...is looking real fucking good right about now. I decide to hit him with a low-blow of my own. “Son,” I snort. “I'm only 3 years older than her. So tell me, did you call Alyssa your daughter when you fucked her, you fucking pervert?”
His nostrils flare before he says, “No, I was too busy calling her a whore instead.”
That's. Fucking. It.
I lunge at him and my hands tighten around his throat. I don't give a fuck about DeLuca right now, I'm never going to stand by and let some piece of shit call my girl a whore.
He makes a choking sound, and his beady blue eyes begin popping out of his head.
Then it occurs to me. Alyssa might be able to understand and accept the first murder I committed...but I'm not so sure she'll forgive me for this one.
Begrudgingly, I let go of his throat. He collapses on the pavement and gasps for air.
“Fucking asshole,” he croaks. “I came here to offer you a deal.”
I bend down and laugh hard in his face. “A deal?” I laugh again. “Fuck your deal and fuck you. There's nothing you could offer me that I would want.” I gesture toward the window and give him a cocky smile. “Or that I don't already have.”
He stands up straight and makes a face. Looks like I'm not the only one trying to restrain myself now. And boy do I want the fucker to hit me. I want him to hit me so I can wipe the fucking pavement with him.
He fixes his tie and looks through the window again. “What about a life with Alyssa,” he whispers.
“Already have that, ” I reply.
I fight the urge to tell him certain details about our life together- like how I was the first one to ever make her come, or how great her ass looked when I took her from behind this morning after licking her sweet pussy. And most important of all; the way her face lights up when she tell me that she loves me.
He clears his throat and faces me. “I think you know what I mean.”
“Nope.”
“Then you've taken one too many hits to the fucking head,” he growls. “Do you think you can actually provide a life for her? The kind of life that she deserves?”
I'm not going to let him know how much that comment gets to me so instead I reply, “I can give Alyssa anything that she wants. And if I can't—I'll find a way to make it happen.”
“Yeah. But in how many years, Jackson?” he gripes. “If you're even still alive by the time your deal with DeLuca is up. If you even last that long in the cage.”
The fact that he knows about DeLuca's underground fight club unnerves me. It occurs to me that for all I know, he has a wire on him and I'm sure as fuck not giving DeLuca up.
I roll my shoulders back. “I have no idea what you're talking about. I don't know who this DeLuca is that you're referencing and I know absolutely nothing about this cage you're referring to. Now, if you continue to talk to or question me without a lawyer present there's going to be a problem.”
He pinches the bridge of his nose. “I'm not wearing a fucking wire. I'm just trying to help you.” He gestures toward the window. “But most of all, help her.”
“She doesn't need your help. She has me now.”
“For how long?”
“Long enough to spend a lifetime with her and grow old with her.”
He snorts. “Quite some fairytale you're living in.”
I look at him out of the corner of my eye. “I'll do whatever I need to, in order to make sure that happens. I'll make sure I'm around for her.”
He folds his hands and touches his pointer fingers to his lips. “I'm sure you will. But, I was referring to her.”
I grab his collar and shove him against the glass again. “Is that supposed to be some kind of threat? Because if you hurt her it will be the last thing you ever do.”
“I was talking about DeLuca, Jackson. You know, the man who killed her father.” He looks at me skeptically. “Unless she didn't trust you enough to tell you the truth about her past.”
“I know everything.”
I release him and he fixes his collar. “Then you know that she witnessed DeLuca do it. Now, I've done my very best to protect her. I brainwashed her and I manipulated the hell out of her...starting with forcing her to deny to everyone who her father's killer really was. I'm not proud of myself, but it needed to be done.”
He looks down at the ground. “I even went so far as to turn her into a broken girl in order to get DeLuca to forget all about her because I hoped he'd see that she was already miserable and suffering enough. That's how much I love her.”
I can't help but look at him with disgust. “Sounds like you pretty much tried to kill her yourself then. Good thing she's a hell of a lot tougher and stronger than anyone gives her credit for.”
“She is...but she's no match for him. And assuming that you know how he operates, you know that he will get his payback. It's not a matter of if...it's only a matter of when. He likes his revenge best when it’s served cold. He likes to watch his prey find happiness and flourish...before he swoops in and snaps their necks.” He blanches. “Or bashes their skulls in with a crowbar.”
He's got DeLuca pegged right, but I still can't help but wonder. “What makes you think that she's even on his radar in the first place? Trust me, if he was waiting for the perfect opportunity he's had a couple,” I say, recalling the two times she's shown up at the fight club.
“She's on his radar because of you, Jackson.”
I open my mouth to argue, but I can't.
He takes the opportunity to continue, “She showed up at his fight club on her own a few months ago. She got wind that he might be the owner and she was out for his blood, Jackson. Luckily, you saved her by denying he was the owner. I'll never be able to thank you enough for that.” He pauses.“However, If you know her well enough, you know that she can be reckless at times. She's not always mentally with it. Just look at how the sex tape came to be...she actively chose to sleep with her step-father's opponent's son. I'm not saying that it was her fault that he filmed it...but it was still her own thoughts of revenge that put her in the position in the first place. She puts herself right into the eye of the storm without thinking about the consequences.”
He looks at me, but I stay silent. I hate what he's saying but a small part of me knows it's true. She did defy me and show up at the fight club when I told her not to.
DeLuca aside, because she has no idea that he runs it ...she knew there was a chance that she could get attacked at the fight club by any guy because it happened before. And she still showed up there, all by herself. She was so determined to see me and have it out with me...she didn't care about the consequences and took that chance.
“She showed up at the fight club last night...even after I forbid her from going there. Even after she promised me that she never would.”
He points at me. “See? You know how she is. You're perfectly aware of how stubborn she can be. Now do you see where I'm going with this, Jackson?”
I nod, my heart crashing to the floor with the realization. “So what you're 'deal' really entails is me breaking up with her. And if I don't, you'll bust me for being apart of an underground fight club. And DeLuca will kill me anyway once he finds out that I led the feds to it.”
I punch the wall beside his head, hating the fact that no matter what fucking corner I go down, or how much I try...there's always something waiting in the shadows to break Alyssa and me apart.
I just want to be happy with her. I just want to wake up next to her every day of my life with her safe in my arms. I just want her to be my wife and the mother of my future child. I want to have lazy Sunday's in bed, make love to her at night, see that favorite dimple of mine every day, and spend every second of my life loving her.
He gives me a weird look and I'm not sure what to make of it, until he says, “No. That's not my deal. Alyssa's far too much in love with you for that to even be effective. She'll just chase you...and I know all too well how hard it is to resist her. And seeing as you're tied up with DeLuca, the chase will most likely end with her getting killed.”
He sighs. “What I'm offering you is an actual chance at a life.” He closes his eyes. “With her.”
My ears perk up at that. “You mean like witness protection or something?”
His eyes open and narrow into tiny slits. “No, something much better than that. DeLuca would find you eventually in witness protection, and it would only piss him off that much more knowing that you tried to run and hide. Why do you think I never put Alyssa into it?”
On some level, I guess it makes sense. “So what's this deal then?”
“I want you to kill DeLuca.”
I must be hearing things. “Yeah, because it's so easy to kill one of the most powerful mob bosses who ever lived.” I snort. “Wow, I assumed that you were still way too young for senility to be setting in.”
He gives me an eye roll before his expression turns serious again. “I would set it up. It would take a few weeks, but I'll make it happen. There would be no witnesses...other than me.”
I push my shoulders back. “If that's the case why don't you just off him yourself?”
He sucks his teeth. “Because I'm an FBI agent, Jackson. If I'm the only one at the murder scene...it will all point back to me. And if it all points back to me, I won't be able to get you cleared—”
“And what about me?” I interrupt. “I'm tied to DeLuca. And if I'm the only one at the murder scene it will all come down on me. Not to mention the fact that his blood will be on my hands. How the fuck can I ever walk away from that alive or without spending the rest of my life in jail?”
He runs a hand through his hair. “Because you won't be the only one there...I'll be there with you. I will protect you and you won't go down for it. It will be pinned on someone else who I'll set up to be there. Someone who I have a special arrangement with. Someone who has more motive than you could ever imagine.”
Chills creep up my spine. “If you mean Aly—”
“Are you fucking crazy? Of course, I don't mean her. I love her. I would never put her in the direct line of fire, ever.”
“Then who is this person?”
He clicks his tongue. “No. You're not privy to that information until you make this deal with me. And even then, you won't know until you're standing in that room holding that gun. Trust me, it's better that way and it's the only way all the chips will fall into place.”
I lean down and rest my forearms on my thighs. This is a lot to think about and take in. There's one hell of a difference between killing someone in a rage because they killed your sister and taking out one of the world's biggest mob bosses. Not to mention, trusting a man that you pretty much hate. “I don't know. My gut feeling is telling me not to trust you. And I have no guarantee's that this will go off without a hitch. I have no guarantee that I can trust you.”
“Jackson, I'm an FBI agent. Who would know how to commit the perfect murder better than me? And you don't need to trust me, you only need to love Alyssa enough to take care of DeLuca. She'll be safe forever then. But you have my word that you won't end up doing time for it.”
I shake my head. “No. I'm sorry, but no. There's too much of a chance for this to backfire. I'll take my chances with DeLuca. He hasn't come after her yet. For all I know, maybe the fact that she's with me is working in her favor. I make DeLuca a lot of money. I'm the best fighter he has. Maybe he knows that if he fucked with Alyssa that he would end up losing me and it would impact his business. He is a businessman first and foremost.”
I close my eyes and sigh.
Maybe there's a way I can talk to DeLuca.
I'll have Ricardo set it up for me and I'll put it all out on the table and be honest with him. I'll tell him that I'm loyal to him and I'll continue to be his best fighter...the only thing I ask is that he doesn't retaliate against Alyssa.
I'll tell him to increase the terms of my contract as a sign of good faith...make it 20 years or some shit. I don't know.
All I know, is there's gotta be a better way. Hell, maybe I should tell him that an FBI agent was plotting his murder and trying to enlist me to do so he'll really believe that I'm loyal to him.
Irritation crosses over his features. “I know it's a lot to think about.” He pulls his card out of his wallet and hands it to me. “This deal won't be on the table for long. A few weeks at most.”
He goes to turn around but pauses. “The only thing I ask is that you don't tell Alyssa I was here or that we spoke about this. She doesn't want me in her life anymore and I don't want to upset her more than I already have.”
“Okay,” I agree. Not because I want to keep this conversation from her, but because I can't tell her about talking to Ford without giving up my involvement with DeLuca. A part of me wants to tell her about Ford lurking outside her bar, but there's no guarantee that she won't find him to confront him about it. And if she does, I'm sure he'll tell her all about my involvement.
After I watch him go to his car and drive off I head inside the bar.
Momma's got a line up of shots in front of her now. It seems that everyone in the bar is enamored by Momma and wants to see her get drunk.
I shake my head and laugh. Alyssa's eyes catch mine and she lets out a little squeal before running and jumping into my arms.
She gives me a kiss and I begin to lose myself in her, not caring about anything else. Only her.
I pull away and look at her. “I love you.”
She gives me a smile and I put her down. “I love you, too,” she whispers.
Then she collapses and passes out cold.
I barely even have time to catch her before she hits the ground, taking my entire heart with her.