Smash_ A Stepbrother MMA Romance(109)
That night years ago, and our parents getting married, all of that was why the kiss on top of the cliff was so sweet.
Why it felt like diamonds in my veins. Why even the next day I was still flying high from it.
That euphoria lasted until I reached my hidden van in the forest and grabbed the package of pills. As I hiked with the pills out toward the meeting with Thom and Jay, the memories of my few stolen kisses with Becca ringing through my head, the joy I felt slowly began to fade.
I didn’t have room for happiness. Not with the threat of the mob’s revenge hanging over my head. I needed to be totally in the moment and on my game, or else risk messing everything up.
I trekked through the woods, following the familiar path. I almost didn’t need to look down at my feet to know exactly where I was stepping, like I had the whole forest floor memorized end to end. The time passed quickly, and I found myself pushing through into the clearing.
Up ahead, Thom’s car was already there, parked next to a black sedan I had never seen before. I checked my watch, but I was actually a few minutes early. Frowning, I stopped short of approaching it. They were never early, and there had never been two cars before.
Thom climbed out of his car first, looking sheepish, and was followed by Jay.
“What’s with the two cars?” I called out.
“Precaution,” Jay said. “We’ll come together and leave separate. Make sense?”
I nodded. “Whatever you say.”
“Got my stuff?”
I held the package out and Jay took it. Immediately he pulled it open and checked over the contents. Satisfied, he closed it again and tucked it under his arm.
“You do a good job,” he said.
“Thanks.”
“You know, we are always looking for good men, men that do good jobs.”
I paused. I had never been asked to join the mob seriously before, and Thom was frowning, clearly surprised.
“No, thanks,” I said. “After we’re even, I’m going back to climbing.”
“Climbing,” Jay repeated.
“Yeah,” Thom interjected. “That’s why we call him Climber.”
“You would rather climb things than join an organization like mine?”
Jay looked angry. I stared at him but didn’t respond, refusing to back down. I felt my pulse quicken and fear jolted through my chest as Thom looked between us, clearly at a loss for words.
And just as quickly as his anger came, Jay’s expression softened. “I’m just kidding with you.”
Thom gave a nervous laugh and I relaxed slightly.
“We good here?” Thom asked.
“Sure, sure. We’re good here.” Jay nodded at me.
I nodded back. “See you next week,” I said.
“See you then, Climber.”
Jay looked between us, grinning a mad grin, and then walked over to the other car. He got into the passenger seat and the car began to drive away. The windows were tinted so dark that I didn’t even notice the man sitting behind the wheel.
Once they were gone, Thom visibly relaxed. “Fuck, that guy gives me the creeps.”
“What are you fucking doing, man?” I snapped at him.
He gave me a look. “What do you mean?”
“This shit.” I gestured around us. “Those fucking guys. What are you doing?”
“I’m making money, that’s what.”
“I got it before. Those other guys made sense. But these new guys? They’re fucking insane.”
“They’re different. I’m adjusting.”
“Adjusting,” I said flatly.
“They’re my new employers. It’s not like I can just quit.”
I sighed and shook my head. “I know. But all these changes. It’s some serious shit we’re in.”
“I know, Climber. And I’m sorry you’re stuck.”
I waived him off. “Don’t be. You know this was my choice.”
“Still. I hoped you’d be out by now.”
“I’ll be done soon enough.”
“Yeah. Soon.” Thom’s face didn’t exactly make me feel confident, but I ignored it.
“Shit party the other night,” I said.
“Yeah. I heard you knocked out Josh?”
“He had it coming.”
Thom laughed. “And I heard the chick you did it over is pretty smoking. I’m thinking about making a pass.”
I clenched my jaw. “No, you’re not.”
“Why not? You suddenly the girlfriend type, Climber?”
“She’s my stepsister. Don’t go near her.”
He blinked at how angry I was and nodded. “Sure man, whatever you say.”
I didn’t understand the rage that took me over all of a sudden. It wasn’t like I had an actual claim on Becca, or at least one that Thom knew about. As far as anyone really knew, she was just my stepsister, and Thom didn’t even know that much.