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I glance over my shoulder and find Spyder aka Riggs Mitchell. “Along came a Spyder,” I reply, cocking my head to the side.
He chuckles and takes a step toward me. “And he sat down right beside her.”
The easiness falls off my face as I regard him. “Do you have something to say to me?”
His large shoulders shrug, but I see the way his jaw works. If he thinks he can tell me to stay away from Ocean, he’ll be sadly mistaken. I intend to fight for her until she’s mine in every way possible.
“I don’t know her well and I don’t know what happened, but I can see that she’s fragile. She broke and has been slowly pulling herself together. She would never breathe your name to anyone, but I think you’re smart enough to know what could happen to her if things get out of control. You were her handler what? Two years ago? She just turned eighteen.”
My eyes flick around us. “The only one putting her in danger right now is you, saying things you have no clue about.” I start to turn and continue my way out of the building. I wonder if I can get to the boxing gym before my flight. Rage is creeping in my veins and I need to unleash it somewhere.
“I might not know what happened. But at least I know what she wants.”
My hands clench into fists as I take in a few deep breaths. “So do I. And I’m in the position to give it to her. Are you?”
His lips smash together. Shaking my head, with a low chuckle, I get out of there before I bust his hand. He’d never play guitar the same again. If I wanted to, it would only take one call to the right people and I could destroy his music career before he even uttered the word sorry, and we both know it.
I slide into the vehicle waiting for me. “Take me to KO Gym,” I order, and like always, my driver obeys without askingquestions. My muscles physically ache to release the tension in them. My phone vibrates in my pocket and I pull it out.
Caleb
Mason Namara is willing to meet with you and talk negotiations.
Chapter Fourteen
Ocean
“Do you want to talk about it?” Jade asks, her hand running up and down my arm. Mia is sitting nearby and leaning toward me with the calming patience in her eyes that I’m getting used to. When I first signed with Rosen Records, I wasn’t sure how it would go, being the youngest and the newest to a group of people who had history with each other. What I didn’t expect was to find the family I had been missing. Since losing my parents, my life has been caught in a weird limbo of being lonely but also surrounded by so many people that I couldn’t breathe.
Then there was Ezra. And the time he spent in my life felt different. He made me a priority. My security, my happiness, everything good and special about my life he made sure I had. I felt loved again. I felt safe and able to dream. He was the first love of my life. When he left that way, it was a pain I had only experienced once before, but somehow it almost hurt more. He chose to leave. My parents didn’t. I also believed he loved me theway I loved him and his rejection of those feelings twisted and broke something inside me.
I haven’t been able to look at myself in the mirror. I get panic attacks if I’m alone. I haven’t slept a full night in two years, constantly punishing my body with energy drinks. Working out and eating less and less, trying to find an ideal type that isn’t me. I didn’t feel good enough. Then I felt so stupid that one man could make me feel this way about myself and the cycle started all over again.
“There isn’t much to say. He showed up, he took me to a private area and said he didn’t want to leave me. He wants to apologize.” I shrug my shoulders. Jade’s eyes narrow as if she can sense how much I just downplayed the interaction between Ezra and me a few weeks ago after the show. I didn’t even know it was on their radar until after the break when Mia showed up wanting to know what was happening.
“Spyder said it seemed intense. He said Ezra made a comment about giving you everything you wanted.” Jade’s words are almost a whisper.
Those exact words did come from Ezra, and just like then, they send shivers over my skin. “I think he’s just sorry he left the way he did.”
Mia snorts and her eyes narrow. “The man is unhinged. He’s trying to do a hell of a lot more than just say he’s sorry. Ocean, once he found out you weren’t with me in New Zealand over the break, or staying with Jade and Onyx, he went ballistic. Becks said he showed up to a show to see if you were there. He called my phone a million times and the company. Tabbi took all the calls but still.”
“I’m sorry,” I tell them, feeling the tears well in my eyes. My heart is racing in my chest. I don’t know how to make it better. I purposefully made it hard for him to find me or talk to me because I couldn’t face him again. I almost caved against him,feeling his body against mine, being caged in his arms for the first time in years. He’s still devilishly handsome, more so even now. His frame is bigger, stronger, I could feel the hardness of his chest when I pushed against him. He obviously never stopped boxing in our time apart. I can still feel the ghost of his kiss on my cheek.
“You have nothing to be sorry for.” Mia scoots forward and takes my hand. “I just want you to know that you can talk to us about anything. If you’re unsafe, I can help you.”
I shake my head violently. “It’s not like that. He wouldn’t hurt me.”
Jade tilts her head. “What happened?”
I blow out a breath and realize I can’t run from this forever. I also have two girlfriends who would never judge me and only want the best for me. They’re each going through their own relationship trial right now though. Mia and Zander seem to have turned a page, but Jade and Onyx are still dancing around each other. I can sense that it’s just a matter of time until my friend caves to her rap god.
“Ezra was my handler at BNE. He was with me for a year and he transformed my whole life. He made sure I was safe, that I had people I could trust, that my money, my name, my assets were safe. It’s thanks to him that I have most of the things I do. He was my friend.” I shrug, my throat hitching from the emotions of remembering. “He’s handsome. He’s nice. He was always so nice to me. He made me feel like a priority and safe. He gave me all the things I wanted and then I fucked it up.”
“What do you mean?” Jade asks, handing me a tissue.
“I told him I loved him and I…and I-I kissed him.” The tears fall down my cheeks rapidly. “He left after that. He didn’t say goodbye. It was like he couldn’t get away fast enough. And then things fell apart again. My uncle somehow took over. The only thing my uncle couldn’t bully me on was my security or myschedule. Not that it mattered with how far gone my uncle was already.”
I glance at Jade and Mia who share a look. “I promise nothing else happened. We just kissed.”
