The ties that bind 3, p.24
The Ties That Bind 3, page 24
part #3 of The Ties That Bind Series
“Are you sure it isn’t a mutual thing?” Nick taunted smugly. “Is your ego feeling bruised?”
The biker had a couple of inches on him and at least fifteen pounds. They weren’t evenly matched, yet Nick refused to back down. It was as if the devil was riding him to rebel and extract his pound of flesh. Resentment and jealousy festered and clawed like an unfed monster at the notion that this undeserving thug was the only thing the woman he craved could see. Even if she was blind to the fact, Billy deserved more than this low-life piece of shit that would only ruin her life.
“After all, we do have a lot in common, but she still has a lot to learn. As her instructor, I intend to see she receives an extensive education. I’m looking forward to giving Billy what she never knew she was missing…”
Ransom’s eyes flashed violently. It was the last thing Nick saw before he heard the sickening crunch and then an explosion of white-hot pain detonated in the center of his face. The headbutt gave him an instant migraine and knocked him off balance. Blood was spurting from his nose even before he hit the ground. The fireworks behind his eyelids impaired Nick’s vision; however, his hearing still worked fine. A ruthless chuckle filled his ears as he struggled unsuccessfully to sit up. He fell back in a daze, swallowing a wave of rising bile, and tried to swipe away the blood running down his face.
“You’re right about one thing, Professor. School is in session, so I suggest you take notes. I don’t share. You want to be a thief then I’ll treat your ass like one. That was me being polite, bitch. You even cough or sneeze in Billy’s direction, and shit will get downright disrespectful. Then I’ll report you to the faculty. Let’s see if your carefully crafted Hollywood image can save your reputation from going down in flames after the news breaks that you chase after your female students. In case you haven’t noticed, you’re in a lose-lose here. No matter how you choose to view the situation, the end result will be your privileged ass getting obliterated, first by me and then the media. I have no qualms about whichever comes first. Don’t say you weren’t warned, motherfucker.”
Nick wisely lay there, resorted to an injured animal focused on surviving an apex predator’s ambush. Only when the door shut behind Lawson’s ominous footsteps did he stagger to his feet and lock the door, fearful that he’d return. He tried to make it to the bathroom to see the damage. Unfortunately, it was located near his office on the other side of the theater. The pain was too excruciating for Nick and ultimately, he passed out halfway there. His last thought as he slid into oblivion was of vengeance.
Billy was impatiently pacing the length of the Camry when Ransom finally materialized. Spying him, she halted. Worriedly she searched him from head to toe as he approached. Billy winced at the red imprint on his forehead. She reached out to touch him, and Ransom turned away, evading her touch. Stunned at his rejection, her hand fell limply to her side. He might as well have struck her; it felt like a physical blow.
“Are you okay, Ransom?” Billy ventured uncertainly. “I was stressed—”
“Okay? No. I didn’t love finding my woman fraternizing with the enemy if that’s what you’re asking,” he retorted grimly, steel injected into his voice. “What was that back there? Don’t try to divert me with nervous chit-chatter either, Willamina.”
She flinched at the rabid accusation in his eyes and his use of her full name.
“You think I’m interested in him?”
“Are you?!” Ransom was unable to shake how fucking intimate she and the professor had looked.
“No!” Billy shouted, shaken by the volatile turn their evening had taken. “Absolutely not! I resent the insinuation and take that bass out of your voice when you talk to me, dammit!”
“Then what the fuck was he doing all up on you?!”
“Why are you tripping like this?!”
Ransom served her crazy eyes. “You really gotta ask? Have you looked in the mirror lately? It comes with the fucking territory!” he derided.
Billy covered her nose and mouth and breathed deeply. “Stop, okay? Just…stop! Professor Olente told me something in confidence that I could relate to. I had no intention of ever sharing the information with anyone and betraying his trust. That’s not how I operate when someone shares a confidence with me. I was waiting for you, and he…saw me and kept me company,” she finished lamely.
God, the way Ransom was looking at her made Billy feel awful as if she was going to vomit any second now. It was the same look he’d given her when he first confronted her about Kent.
“First, we were talking about his work experiences, and then…the subject changed.”
“What was the topic?”
She glanced at her feet, then away, and finally back at him with a pained expression.
“His father was murdered. Today, he disclosed that they’d never caught his killer even though he’d been identified. I mentioned that cancer was a similar elusive killer, and it made me emotional thinking of Carmelita’s mother still having no closure. The conversation was brief yet weighty, but what else is new, right? I zoned out. I think I was just tired of the heavy shit…”
Billy looked so forlorn that Ransom closed the distance between them. Carefully, he framed her face with his palms and tilted it up. Under the bright parking lot lights, their eyes locked. Fear iced Ransom’s heart at the pain he saw reflected in those glossy black pools.
“You’ve been keeping shit bottled up instead of confiding in me, wildthing. Why is that?”
“I-” Billy placed her hands on his chest and stopped. The urgent pounding of his heart matched her own. “Ransom, we’re trying to get our lives on track, but there’s a woman’s family out there who can’t move forward until your mother gives them the closure they need. That’s messing with my psyche severely. I can’t move forward. I feel like I’m juggling knives while drunk and riding a unicycle. Does that make sense to you?”
He dropped his hands, and she shivered from the loss of his heated touch. Ransom went rigid, emotionless at the unspoken ultimatum. “Billy, I agree with you, but it’s not that simple.”
“Stop with the excuses!” Billy snapped. “Claudia’s had enough time, Ransom. We can’t exist in a bubble like your dead, fucked-up brother and his equally loser-ass homie’s mess is resolved!”
Ransom’s head jerked back at her harshness. Even Billy was surprised at the venom she’d spewed. He spat a humorless chuckle out. “Damn, I’ve got to give it to you, wildthing. Mincing words definitely isn’t your forte. I haven’t forgotten. Just bear with me a little longer while I get shit straight; that’s all I’m asking.”
The way he said the moniker he’d given her, in that cold flat way, made the tears she’d been struggling to hold back finally fall. Mindful of the makeup that she’d reapplied, Billy used her palms to gather them.
“I know you love Claudia and would die for her, but there’s more at stake here. Every day, I see that memorial and have to live with the fact that she was a substitute for me! I can’t even begin to tackle that process until things are transparent. The guilt is eating me alive! Besides, your career’s about to take off, and having loose ends will only muddle it. I can’t do this winging it shit and live like this anymore, Ransom. Nor will I let you jeopardize your future for anyone else’s. Even if she is your mother. She’s an adult. Let her be one.”
Ransom gathered Billy in his arms, and she buried her face in his chest. Of course, his soothing encouragement of, “It’s going to work out, baby. Get it all out”, only made her sob harder.
“I need to believe that. I never want you to doubt that you’re the only man for me, Ransom. You’re my lover and best friend. I couldn’t live with myself if I hurt you.”
Tell him about Angela, her conscience prodded. He deserves to know! Billy shut that reminder down. It wasn’t as if she wasn’t going to address it, but for now, her hands were tied.
Ransom held her close as he leaned back against the car and kissed her tears away. Eventually, his lips met hers. Billy gave herself up to the sorcery of his skills and closed her eyes. Ransom’s tongue slipped past the seam of her lips to claim the lush sweetness reserved only for him. He buried his fingers in her waves, rumpling them as the kiss deepened. Ransom ate up her breathy sighs, the reassurances that she was just as deeply affected by their bond as he was. This tenderness between them was an intimacy that ignited their souls and felt more personal than sex.
“Even with those assurances, I still can’t fucking fathom the concept of you being mine,” he growled against her tender lips. “Anytime I do allow it to sink in, I’m reminded that there isn’t a thing I can’t conquer without you by my side. We will get through this. I swear to you that I’m gonna make it right, Billy.”
She opened her eyes slowly and smiled, relieved that they’d managed to navigate one obstacle in a minefield of many that kept popping up in their relationship.
“I believe you, Ransom. Now, are we good? If not, I suggest you consider seeing a doctor for that vein.” Billy pointed, at his forehead. “smack dab in the middle there.”
He wasn’t a vain bastard by any means; however, his hand did fly up to inspect the space she’d indicated and found nothing. Ransom frowned. “What are you talking about? I don’t have a vein there.”
“Oh, yes, you do,” Billy deadpanned. “And it pop, pop, pops like popcorn whenever you get pissed!”
Seeing the twinkle in her eyes, Ransom smacked her ass and kissed the side of her temple. “Wise-ass. Come on. We have to get going, and I still need to grab some more snacks.”
Billy was puzzled. “What are you talking about? I packed snacks in my recyclable shopping tote last night. Didn’t you see them in the backseat? The only thing left to do is pick up some subs at that delicatessen on the way.”
He gave her a sheepish look and opened the passenger door. Her happiness was short-lived. Alexis Carrington sat there with a dour expression as she surveyed an outraged Billy.
“What is she doing there? I bribed Sheldon with a batch of homemade cookies and lasagna for him to watch her!”
Ransom pressed a quick kiss to her compressed lips. “I’m sorry, babe. Although he wasn’t gung-ho to babysit, don’t blame him. Lexie bit him as soon as he tried to pet her. Not even me threatening to kick his ass for reneging would make him come around after that.”
“Lexie? That’s what you’re calling her now?”
Alexis rolled her eyes at Billy and barked happily at Ransom, wagging her tail. He obliged by reaching into the car and petting her. The dog licked at his fingers enthusiastically and nuzzled his palm, making Ransom laugh.
“Aww, relax, baby. I think you both got off on the wrong foot. This trip will be good for you. By the time we reach Santa Barbara, I want to see my girls getting along.”
Billy’s left eye twitched, and Ransom was certain that if looks could kill, he would have been incinerated on the spot.
“Let me get this straight.” She held up a hand and ticked off a few facts for him. “You and I are having sex, daily, any way you want it. Not once have I ever complained when I’ve found myself in the precarious position of my knees above my ears! I’ve got my ass in the kitchen making sure you’re fed and loving all up on you. The only thing she does is licks her privates all damn day! Please explain to me how she’s your girl too.”
Laughing his ass off would surely seal his fate. Instead, Ransom wisely refrained and apologized. “You’re right. Of course, I didn’t mean literally, wildthing.”
“No, of course, not. Go put some hand sanitizer on your hands, Ransom.”
“Yes, dear,” he joked.
Billy ignored him and pointed at the ground. “Out.”
The little dog chuffed but obeyed the command, hopping into the backseat when Ransom opened it. She glared balefully at her rival, and it was returned tenfold. Billy shook her finger firmly at the diva.
“New ground rules, Alexis! You will not pee on my things anymore! Try it and I’ll return the favor in your bed, on your toys, and even that nifty little sweater collection, which is rather adorable, by the way. Bite me and I’ll bite your little mean ass back! This was my mother’s car, and you will not disrespect it! Are we clear?”
In answer, Alexis tucked her tail between her legs and gazed up at her with woeful eyes. When that didn’t work, she rolled onto her back and gave Billy an appeasing grin. Satisfied that they’d reached a truce, she timidly patted the Lhasa Apso’s head.
Hopefully, this was the beginning of a stress-free relationship.
When Nick regained consciousness, he rolled onto his back, struggling to recall what happened. How had he ended up like wounded prey clinging to life before the final kill? Immediately he started choking on his own blood and flipped onto his side. A snarl rumbled in his throat. The fucking biker happened. Blood rushed to his ears in a thunderous roar. Nick’s hatred for Lawson intensified and nearly rivaled the depth of his feelings for Barrera. The volatile emotion took root, entrenching like thorns in his bones. Thoughts of exacting revenge were short-circuiting his brain.
Focus!
Yeah, that’s what he needed to do for now. Nick managed to harness the fury that was now fueling him and rose tremulously to his feet. His watch showed that he’d been out for fifteen minutes. Using the back wall as support, he made his way to the bathroom. Nick was woozy and his face was throbbing and felt as if he’d been pounded with a meat tenderizer. When he flipped the light on and got a good look at his distorted image, he screamed his fury. With shaking hands, Nick judiciously cleaned the crusted, dried blood away, revealing the cut in the bridge of his now crooked and swollen nose and the bruising under both eye sockets. His nose would have to be reset. There was no fucking way he would be going anywhere this weekend. The last thing Nick wanted was to have Cosima fussing and worrying about him. A wave of dizziness assailed him. Fuck, his head was clanging. He snatched the first-aid kit and tried to focus on opening it and getting an aspirin packet. Nick swallowed the pills dry and gently inserted gauze up his nostrils to absorb the bleeding and headed to the office.
Once there, he sank into his chair and tipped his head back, gasping. The pain was growing unbearable, and Nick feared he might have to call an ambulance. But first things first. He grabbed from his backpack the cell phone Gualtierro had ordered him to carry at all times. Nick dialed, clenching and unclenching his fist while praying that the son-of-a-bitch wouldn’t answer.
“Hola, sobrino.”
His uncle’s slick voice instinctively triggered his animosity. Nick felt his body temperature spiking. Steady, he mentally reminded himself, rubbing his chest to ease the building tension. Christ, had he turned the heat up earlier? He couldn’t remember but the room felt stifling and he was sweating.
“Uncle,” Nick greeted him brusquely, “I won’t be able to make it this weekend. I was in an accident earlier. I’m now headed to the ER with a possible broken nose.”
Silence met his announcement.
“That is unfortunate,” Gualtierro replied, oozing with faux sympathy. “And how pray tell, did this…accidente happen?”
“I was on a trolley in the city, and it powered down while we were descending a hill,” Nick lied smoothly. “I was standing and tried to brace myself with the pole but couldn’t do shit about the people that plowed into me from behind.”
“My, what an exciting life you live, sobrino! Very well. Get some rest but expect your workload to double next week. The orders are coming in, and I have a reputation to uphold. You may even have to stay an extra day to get caught up.”
Motherfucker, I’m only there two days a week! Nick seethed internally. Queasiness swirled in the pit of his stomach and saliva gathered in his mouth, thinking about his ‘‘work’’ that was vital to his uncle’s business. It was becoming increasingly hard to keep his two lives divided.
“That’s not possible. I’ll come this weekend. It will just be on a later flight whenever I leave the hospital.”
“I appreciate your dedication, sobrino,” Gualtierro mocked. “Would you like to speak to my lovely companion?”
Nick’s eyes slammed shut at the reminder that he wasn’t free, and neither was Cosima. “Yeah, put her on the phone.”
“Ah-ah-ah!” his uncle tsked. “What’s the magic word?”
Nick swiped everything off his desk savagely. He inhaled deeply, aware that the price for displaying emotionally driven behavior with Gualtierro was an astronomically high one to pay. It was a liability that had gotten his papa killed.
“Please.”
There was a moment of silence then a muffled exchange that Nick strained to hear, followed by Cosima’s happy laugh as she came on the line. “Nico? Is that you?” she trilled.
He pressed a fist to his lips at the melodic voice of his childhood. Nick sucked in an exhale at the sting his tears created in the cut on his nose. He thumped his chest to loosen it.
“Yassou, Mi̱téra. How are you?”
“Eh, what can I say? God’s still having a good, long laugh at my expense.”
Cosima’s sarcastic answer was entirely in Greek, and it set Nick on edge, making him aware that Gualtierro was still in the vicinity, and he responded in kind.
“Don’t turn your back on a hungry tiger! Back to our mix of English and Greek, please.”
She complied. “I can’t wait to see you! I’m preparing your favorite meals. Which should I add to the dolmades? Ground Chicken or ground beef? I know you like both.”
The grape leaves stuffed with rice, pine nuts, and fresh herbs had been a favorite after-school snack that Cosima would have ready for Nick when his lessons were done for the day. He smiled sadly as a wave of homesickness pummeled him. He honestly didn’t know how he got anything done on a daily basis between thoughts of Billy and scheming on how to free Cosima. Nick knew firsthand that tomorrow wasn’t promised and felt like a bastard for almost canceling an opportunity to see his mi̱téra and make sure that she was okay.
