Beneath These Scars Read online

  “How much?”

  His eyebrows shot up. “I shouldn’t—”

  “How much?” I repeated.

  He rattled off a number, and I nodded. “Now, go learn how to keep your clients’ information confidential.”

  “But, sir?”

  I walked away.

  So Yve wanted to buy Dirty Dog. Interesting. From everything Levi had rambled on and on about his boss, she ran the business independently for an absentee owner, and by his estimation, it was a profitable business. Levi actually knew more about business than one would think, given that he’d soaked it up hanging around me. I rarely talked of anything else, despite his constant protest when he was a kid.

  Now I had to wonder—what would Yve do next? How determined was she?

  With anyone else, I would have taken the information and filed it away to be employed at a useful time, but with Yve, my curiosity was piqued to a ridiculous degree. Also, with anyone else, I would have relayed my orders to Colson to find out what was going on, but I still remembered the way he’d looked at her in the kitchen of the gym. He wanted her.

  Possessive instincts flooded me once more. She wasn’t for him. Which meant I’d handle this matter personally.

  And the thought of the gym gave me my next source of information. I was due to pay Con a visit to see how he was spending the cool mil I’d dropped on that boxing lesson. I’d decided to consider myself a patron of the place, which would piss him off to no end. But if he was willing to bargain, I’d be willing to pay for more information about Yve.

  Might seem shady to some, but I was a man who got what I wanted, and damn the means.

  Decision made, I flipped open my board packet and settled in to listen to the meeting.

  Two hours later I was pulling into the parking lot of the gym. It was probably a crapshoot as to whether my car would still be here when I came out, but considering Con’s Harley and Lord’s ’Cuda were parked there and unharmed, I took the chance.

  But then again, people in this neighborhood actually liked them. I was persona non grata, even before the boxing lesson. But what Con didn’t know was that he no longer had to worry about me trying to steal his woman; my interests had moved firmly elsewhere.

  I knocked on the heavy steel door and pressed the buzzer. A solid two minutes later, the center plate in the door slid open and Reggie’s dark brown eyes peered out.

  “Whatcha want?”

  “To talk to your other coaches.”

  “They’re busy.”

  “I’ll wait.”

  He slammed the metal plate home, and I wondered if I’d be waiting in my car. But Reggie apparently decided that I passed muster because the door swung open.

  “You can help Vanessa and Elle in the kitchen while the boys finish up. Don’t need no flashy distractions. Or cheap shots.”

  I looked down at my three-piece Armani suit. Was the old man insane? No, I’m the crazy one because I’m here looking for answers. But my need to know kept growing. I’d get what I came for and get the hell out.

  I started toward the kitchen, but Reggie stopped me with a hand on my arm. “You try anything with Ms. Vanessa, and Con’ll rip your dick off.”

  “Duly noted.”

  “Better be.”

  He continued down the hall, and I turned into the kitchen doorway. Vanessa Frost and Elle Snyder stood near a prep table covered with paper sacks, loaves of bread, peanut butter, jelly, apples, pudding cups, granola bars, and a mess of other stuff.

  “Ladies.”

  Both their heads shot up at my greeting.

  “What the hell are you doing here?” Elle demanded without preamble.

  “Came to see how Con was spending my donation.”

  Vanessa’s hands propped on her hips. “After your move? You’re lucky Reggie let you in the door. Just when I think you aren’t a total asshole, you always surprise me, Lucas.” She nodded to the table. “You want to see what your money is doing? Well, here’s part of it. We’ve expanded our sack supper program a little and we’re hoping to do even more. In the gym you’ll see some new equipment, and a bunch of new pads and headgear for the kids as well.”

  “Good to know it’s going to good use.”

  “Did you think it would go to bad use?” Elle asked, her tone wry.

  “Not at all.”

  “You back to get your ass kicked? I’m sure Lord would be happy to take you on.” This also came from Elle.

  I looked down at my clothes. “Not interested.”

  Elle shrugged. “I’m sure the guys have extra clothes. And they’d probably love to throw some punches at you. I don’t think that would ever get old. If you’re lucky, you might be able to walk out under your own steam.”

  I laughed at the feisty little redhead. “Reggie has barred me from the gym until they’re done training.”

  “And you’re listening to orders these days?” Vanessa asked, a reluctant smile tugging up one corner of her mouth.

  She’d been the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen—until very recently.

  “When it suits my purpose,” I replied, deciding I’d had enough small talk. “I seem to have made the acquaintance of a friend of yours, one who has run into some trouble lately.”

  “Friend? I doubt you travel in the same circles as our friends,” Elle shot back.

  “Yve Santos isn’t someone you consider a friend?”

  “How the hell do you know Yve?” Elle set down the peanut butter knife and wiped her hands on a paper towel as she stepped toward me.

  “It seems she employs my brother at Dirty Dog.”

  Elle’s head tilted to one side for a beat. “The hipster kid who drives a Karmann Ghia?”

  I nodded. “Yes, that’s Levi.”

  “He’s your brother? And here I thought you were hatched from the spawn of the devil.”

  “Elle,” Vanessa said in a warning tone. “Be nice. If Lucas is here out of concern, we don’t need to bust his balls too hard.”

  Hearing crass words from the regal blonde amazed me. “Leahy really has rubbed off on you.”

  “In the very best way possible,” she replied with a grin. “But we were talking about Yve.”

  “Tell me about her,” I prompted.

  “How about you start with explaining your cryptic-as-shit statements about her being in trouble,” Elle said.

  “Has she mentioned anything to you about why she was afraid to stay in her apartment the night before last?”

  Elle and Vanessa looked at each other. Both their heads swiveled back to me, and they looked confused. “No. Why?”

  “Because she ended up at my house.”

  Elle’s nostrils flared. “If you took advantage of her, I swear I will skin you alive and roast your balls over an open fire.”

  I stared down the little redhead. “I’ll be sure to let Lord know that you’re so interested in my balls.”

  “Dick.”

  I raised an eyebrow.

  Elle’s shoulders relaxed the slightest bit, and she lifted a hand to her mouth. “Shit. I wonder . . .”

  “What?”

  “Nothing. It’s really none of your damn business, and if Yve wants you to know, she’ll tell you.”

  Women. Stubborn as hell. Elle’s defiant expression told me that demanding more answers would get me nowhere, so I tried a different tack.

  “What about buying Dirty Dog? You know about that?”

  Elle’s eyes lit up. “She’s really going to do it? Yay! I was so worried that she wouldn’t dive in. That’s so awesome.”

  Vanessa frowned. “I didn’t even know it was for sale.”

  Elle filled her friend in, and the information proved to be exactly what I’d come here to learn—at least on that topic.

  “Harriet is selling off all the businesses she owns. She’s officially retiring from everything, except she didn’t really tell Yve. Yve found out because Harriet got a letter from her business broker, and Yve opened it. Shit, Van. She was devastated.
That shop is her life. It wouldn’t be what it is without her.” Elle’s eyes shot to me. “But you didn’t hear any of that from me. And if you tell Yve I told you, I’ll deny it until they seal me into a crypt.”

  It wasn’t everything I’d wanted to know, but I’d take it. I nodded. “As delightful as this has been, ladies, I’ll be going.”

  “Oh no, you’re not,” Vanessa said. “You’re going to get those billionaire hands dirty and make PB&J. It’ll do you some good to do more than just write checks from your ivory tower.”

  I opened my mouth to tell her that would happen when hell froze over, but we were interrupted.

  “You throwing my words around, princess?” Con said from the doorway.

  “Thought I’d drop by and see how you were spending that ivory-tower check,” I said, turning to face him.

  “Didn’t come to check on my balls?”

  If he expected an apology, he wouldn’t get one.

  “No.”

  “You’re still a dick, Titan. So you want to keep tabs on your donation? Can’t say I wouldn’t do the same. I guess a mil should let you walk around, even if I want to toss your ass out. Come on. I don’t want you alone with my woman. I still don’t fucking trust you.”

  “Barbarian,” Vanessa shot from across the room.

  “Damn straight,” Con replied. “Let’s go, Titan.”

  I followed him out and into the gym.

  Con didn’t waste any time. “Why are you really here?”

  I decided not to bullshit him. “Yve Santos. I want information.”

  Con stopped, and his features were branded with skepticism. “And you thought we’d give it to you?”

  “Yes.”

  “You’ve always got an angle, Titan. So, what is it this time? You want to bang her?”

  Now was not the time to tell him I already had, and would again. I stayed silent.

  He snorted. “Don’t want to tell me? That’s interesting.”

  “Let’s just say my intentions are . . . good enough.”

  “So that’s how it is,” he said and his eyes lit up. Con’s shoulders shook as he took his time laughing at me. “If there’s one woman I’m confident can take care of herself, it’s Yve. She’s liable to chew you up and spit you out. You deserve it.”

  My instincts sharpened. “You know her well.”

  “Better than you.”

  Possessiveness gripped me. That cheap shot in the balls? If I’d regretted it even remotely, that regret was now gone.

  Before I could respond, Con said, “Here’s a tip. If you try to buy that woman, you’re gonna do nothin’ but alienate her. I can promise you that.”

  My hands balled into fists at my sides. “I think I could have figured that out on my own. You gonna give me anything else?”

  His mocking mood snapped to something infinitely more serious. “Yve’s story ain’t mine to tell, but you better step carefully around her. We will fuck you up if you hurt her.”

  I didn’t acknowledge his warning; my thoughts were on Yve. The odds of Con or anyone else in this building telling me what had happened in her past were about as good as the odds as Yve telling me herself. Zero.

  “You wanna get in the ring? I owe you a cheap shot.”

  “Maybe another day, Leahy. I’ve got better shit to do with my time,” I said and turned to leave.

  “Didn’t peg you for a coward, Titan.”

  I spun back around. “You can’t bait someone who doesn’t give a fuck what you think about them. I’ll see around, Leahy.”

  “HE DID WHAT?” I YELLED into my phone.

  “Ouch, girl. You’re gonna blow my eardrum,” Elle replied. “And yeah, Titan was here. Asking about you.”

  “I’m gonna kill him. Gonna hunt him down and—”

  “Whoa, hold up, Yve. Don’t tell me. That makes whatever you’re going to do premeditated.”

  Of all the people I’d ever met, only Elle could make me laugh in any given situation. The woman was a total nut.

  My chuckle came out more like a snort.

  “That’s better. I’m only telling you because it just seemed out of character for him. And if we were talking about anyone but Lucas Fucking Titan, I’d say he’s into you. Like maybe for real.”

  Whoa. Now it was time for Elle to hold up.

  “Excuse me?”

  “He was concerned and stuff. Wanted to know about the shop, and if we knew why you’d gotten spooked out of staying at your apartment.” Her tone turned cautious, and maybe a little reprimanding. “By the way, what the hell was up with that? Why didn’t you call me? Did it have anything to do with . . . him?” Meaning he who shall not be named, at least in Elle’s book.

  I appreciated her caution when bringing him up, but first things first. “What did you tell him?”

  “Nothing really. Except maybe that you found out Harriet was selling the place and you were looking to buy it. I hope you don’t care.”

  I would have preferred Titan not know any details about my personal life, but apparently that ship had sailed.

  “It’s fine. Just don’t share anything else with him. Not that you probably need to—I’m assuming he has the resources to find out anything he wants to know.” Although knowing how well my former father-in-law had covered things up with my ex-husband, it might even be a challenge for Titan to find. The proceedings were all kept closed, the records sealed. Money could buy you a lot of things in this town, including silence.

  “So, are you going to tell me what the hell is going on? Did the voodoo doll you made not do the trick?”

  Elle was referring to the voodoo doll I’d made of Jay the night Valentina had told me he’d been approved for parole. It had been one of those impulse things, something to make me feel better and take out my fear and frustration and anger on. It had helped, for that night at least. Elle had been her usual amazing self and hadn’t wanted me to be alone. And now here I was, home, in an apartment that no longer felt safe.

  “Not exactly,” I said, finally responding to her question.

  “Is there something you need to tell me about, Yve?”

  I debated how much to say. I wanted to tell her everything, but I also wasn’t looking to lay my problems on Elle’s doorstep. I had to stand on my own two feet and deal with this myself, but I could share at least some of it.

  “I think I’m just flipping out because I know he’s out, but I don’t know where he is.”

  “Oh shit. That’s not cool.”

  “No. It isn’t. And I think maybe I’m just jumping at shadows. I don’t know.”

  “Look, babe. Trust your gut. If you think something isn’t right, chances are it’s not, okay? Don’t write something off as crazy just because you’re a little jumpy.”

  Her advice was certainly solid. And I would take it—by being extra careful.

  “Okay.”

  “And promise you’ll be careful.”

  “I promise.”

  “And you’ll call me if anything freaks you out.”

  I hesitated for a fraction of a second. This was my problem. “I love you, Elle.”

  “Yve, don’t think I’m missing the fact that you didn’t promise.”

  “’Bye, babe.”

  “’Bye, hon.”

  I hung up, feeling marginally less crazy, but a hell of a lot more pissed off. I had a visit to pay to Mr. Titan.

  I felt like I was storming the castle as I screeched to a halt in front of Titan’s place.

  Damn gate. He truly was a king behind his fancy wrought-iron fence, probably sitting up in his tower counting his billions and meddling in people’s lives like they were pawns.

  I climbed out of the Blue Beast, stalked up to the intercom buzzer, and pressed the button. A familiar voice answered.

  “Ms. Santos, lovely to see you this evening.”

  Confused, I glanced around, looking for the camera.

  “It’s built into the intercom panel, my dear,” Jerome replied, reading my movemen
ts accurately. “Please come right in.”

  The latch of the gate clicked and released, and I slipped inside. Striding up to the house, I tried to get my thoughts in order. What exactly was I going to say to him?

  Stay the hell out of my life?

  If you want to know something about me, then you damn well better ask me and not my friends?

  Why are you invading my thoughts when I don’t want you there?

  Okay, that last one I’d keep to myself. But everything else was fair game.

  Jerome was standing at the open front door when I reached it. “Don’t you look lovely this evening, Yve. It’s wonderful to see you again so soon.”

  I glanced down at my dress. It was a retro white number I’d picked up on eBay. It was after Labor Day, so my mama would have said I shouldn’t have been wearing white. But guess what, I didn’t care. I’m a rebel like that.

  “Thank you, Jerome,” I replied, trying to be polite, but I was a woman on a mission. “I don’t mean to be rude, but where the hell is he?”

  Jerome’s lips quirked into a smile, and I could swear his eyes twinkled. “He’s having a swim. Do you know where the pool room is located?”

  The familiar heat of my blush rose in my cheeks. “Yes, I do. Thank you.”

  I’d taken only one step when Jerome offered a friendly, “Good luck, dear. He’s in a mood tonight.”

  In a mood? I was the one in a mood.

  The scent of chlorine grew as I neared the pool. Through the glass walls, I could make out the powerful muscles of Titan’s back and arms as he cut through the water. Every flex and contraction conjured images of what he must have looked like pounding into me from behind.

  You didn’t come here to ogle the man’s fine-as-hell, totally ripped body, and you’re certainly not here for a repeat performance.

  Taking a deep breath, I grabbed the handle and pulled the door open. I crossed to the edge of the pool and stood at the end of the lane Titan was swimming in.

  Ignore the muscles, Yve.

  Impossible.

  I propped my hands on my hips and waited for about thirty seconds, and then my patience dried up. “Hey! I need to talk to you.”

  The words bounced off the walls of the room, and Titan’s head jerked out of the water as he stood in the pool.