Holding Huck's Heart (Marco's MMA Boys #3) (12 page)

CHAPTER 22

HUCK

Sitting in our conference room at the gym, James, our agent from Bellator, is talking with us about public relations and how we need to improve them.

Lox speaks up, “We offer self-defense classes for women and free ones for children. Huck is in the process of starting youth classes, so they learn some defense and have an outlet. We are really involved in our community, so I’m trying to understand what more they want.”

“Given some of the recent publicity, or the twins and yourself at the match last year in Jacksonville, we think you guys should do something charitable in the public eye. You guys are great guys and in my opinion all that you’ve done was warranted, but some people don’t feel that way,” James says stoically. “So it’s more about public view right now.”

Sly glares at him. “I’m not all about a dog and pony show here.”

My thoughts drown everyone out. I think about Pavel, Chelsea, her mom, her dad, and then an idea hits me. “What if we hosted a huge match up where all the proceeds go to a local person? A person who is sick, but their family saved one of our own.”

Everyone looks at me and realization dawns on my brother. “Yes.”

James, Lox and Marco look at me curiously, “Okay, so when the guy attacked Kara last year, she dealt with one detective a lot. He was later killed in the line of duty. His widow has cancer and is fighting it. Her chemo is expensive and his benefits don’t cover all of it. So what if it was for her?” I ramble out.

James nods. “Sounds good. You guys have a personal investment with this family, we can spin it as he saved Sly’s girl and baby, so you guys are trying to save his wife since he’s not here to do it.” He’s scribbling stuff down on a pad as quickly as he can. “We can get the company to cover the expenses, it’ll look like a grassroots type thing for us.” He looks up at Marco and the rest of us. “Let’s get to work.”

Chelsea can quit that damn club.

Marco looks over at me. “Bring Chelsea and her mom in. I want to talk to them about this. Sly, have Kara there and explain it all to her.”

We nod and go with our assignments.

~*~*~

A couple of days later, we’re sitting in the conference room again except this time Chelsea and her mom, Jenny, along with all of our families are in here. Kara tries to talk but gets choked up and can’t so Marco starts to explain our plan.

Jenny begins to cry and so does Chelsea. Jenny is wearing a face mask to cut down on the likelihood of germs since she’s taking treatments so you can’t see all of her expressions, but her eyes say enough. She jumps up and hugs Marco. “Thank you so much. I know that Chelsea has been working herself to death and I just don’t want her doing that.” She gives an uncomfortable glance to Chelsea. “She’s not supposed to be taking care of me, it’s supposed to be the other way around.”

Marco smiles and pats her on the shoulders. “Huck deserves most of the credit. He’s the man behind the idea. Although, we were all immediately on board. Leroy did so much for our dysfunctional family, we hate the idea that his is struggling when he can’t be here.”

Chelsea stands up, making her way to me and burying her head into my chest, sobbing. “Thank you so much.”

All I’m able to do is wrap my arms around her and stroke her hair. I want to show her so much more, but this isn’t the place. Her scent washes over me. I need her, I thrive on her. I never wanted to feel like this.

After everyone finishes hugging Jenny and Chelsea, Marco goes over the marketing and schedule. The company wants to do it soon so it’ll be the weekend before Marco and Elaine get married. Maybe I can talk Chelsea into going with me to the wedding. That way I won’t be the odd guy out.

Chelsea stands around while everyone else leaves the room. Once it’s just us, she walks over to me again. “Huck, thank you again. You just don’t know how much this all means.”

I lean down and kiss her forehead. “I hope this’ll make it so you can quit that damn club.”

She looks up at me with a softness in her eyes. “I hope so, too.”

I can’t help but draw her in closer, placing my lips on hers slowly. It’s not our normal kiss, it’s soft and sensual. It’s filled with emotions that normally we fight.

She pulls back. “I need to go. I do actually have to work at the club tonight.”

I tug her a little closer by the hand. “Be careful.”

She nods and quickly leaves the room. I sit down in one of the chairs as Sly walks in. He drops into a chair beside me. “So are you going to get off your ass now and get the girl?”

I shake my head. “Man, I don’t know. I’ve never been so confused in my life. I can’t deal with the whole Pavel thing, he’s doing his best to drive her crazy. Liz told me that Chels has had to change her number again and everything. I also heard from Liz that the alarm went off at her place the other night, but they never found anyone. It just gives me a really bad feeling in the pit of my stomach.”

“Then you need to be looking out for her, man. You want her to be your woman, it’s your responsibility.”

“She’s told me she wants me to stay away.”

Sly rolls his eyes. “She did not tell you to stay away. I know she didn’t.”

Running my hands through my hair in frustration, I say, “Well she might as well have. She said something about space and us being friends, understanding that I couldn’t handle all the shit with Pavel. So I’m seeing it as her way of asking me to
stay away
.”

He looks at me like I’m full of shit. “And you’re so prone to do what you’re told?” He shakes his head. “Yeah, I didn’t think so.”

I stand up quickly. “I’m going for a run. I’ll be back.”

He tips his head to the side. “You do what you gotta do to pull your big damn head out of your ass, man, but listen to me for a second.” He stands up. “I’ve known you since the womb. You never get worked up over a female. A kid, yeah, you’d let Slick or Princess rob you blind, but a woman, no. You don’t trust women at all, hell, you use two condoms. They’re nothing more than a place to stick your dick. Tell me honestly, besides when you were kids, have you used condoms with Chelsea?”

Damn it, he’s right.

He laughs and throws his hands up. “You don’t even have to answer that question. I know the look, I’ve looked at it in the mirror. When your mind is that wrapped up in someone, you could care less if you have a condom or not. She’s under your skin, in your heart, and that’s okay. She’s a good person and she deserves someone like you. That feeling, like you’re short of breath and you’re going to pass out? That’s love,” he says, slapping my back before he leaves the room.

Yeah, I need this run more than anything else right now. In some way it’s like running from it all without looking like a pussy. Without another word, I bail.

CHAPTER 23

CHELSEA

Maybe, just maybe this will be one of the last nights I have to dance here. Normally I would fight Huck on this, but I think my mom has her suspicions about my second job. I could go the rest of my life with her never knowing about it. I know she would rather die from cancer than have her daughter stripping for the money to buy her meds.

My phone pings with an incoming text.

HUCK: Liz gave me your new #. Hope it’s okay. Please be careful tonight. I’ll be happy when you don’t work at that club anymore.

ME: It’s fine that you have my number. And trust me I’ll be happy when I no longer have to do this either. I promise to be careful.

HUCK: That’s all I ask.

Maybe we’re making progress in this friend thing. I take a last look in the mirror before walking out to the stage.

Caressing the pole as I dance, the place is packed, my tips should be good tonight. It’s concerning that I can basically do this without thinking now. I can take my clothes off in front of strangers and dance around with very little care. I’m numb, that’s the only answer I can construe in my head. Yeah, really time to be done with this place. Considering when I first started this, I threw up before my show and after, now I’m not even sure I’m conscious for it. Going through the motions, I finish and walk back to my dressing room. Tugg knocks a minute or so later with my tips.

“Thank you, Tugg.” I give him a soft smile. He’s really nice looking with a ruggedness about him.

He gives me a polite nod. “No problem, Grace. Are you leaving for the night?”

“Yes, as soon as I dress.” I have no desire to stay here any longer than absolutely necessary.

“Okay, I’ll be ready to walk you out,” he says, leaving me to dress.

I reply with a simple, “Thank you,” as the door shuts.

I quickly dress in my street clothes and grab my duffle bag. Tucking the small holstered handgun in the waist of my jeans, I let the hem of my shirt cover it. I promised him I’d be safe and I will. I’m going to prove to him that I’m capable of taking care of myself. I’m done with Pavel’s shit, too, I’m going to be strong. He cannot control me like a puppet. I’m going to show him I’m done with him and his bullshit games.

Stepping in the hallway, Tugg isn’t there. I look around for a second but finally just shrug it off. I shoulder my duffle bag and walk out the back door and start toward my car.

The hairs stand up on the back of my neck, I know someone is behind me. I don’t run, but I do pick up my pace. I hoist my duffle up further and put my hand on my gun.

As I’m within reaching distance of my car, I’m suddenly shoved forward. Pain radiates as my face hits the car. The person grabs me by the hair and spins me around, placing a knife against my throat. He has a mask on. “Give Volkov a message.” I nod my head. “I did his dirty work. He owes me. If he doesn’t come up with the money, I’ll kill him.” He holds the knife closer to my face. “Such a pretty face, hate that I have to scar it up so he gets that I’m serious.” I try to shove him away and he just laughs. I feel the knife pierce my skin.

Finding any bit of courage I have, I keep squirming and manage to kick him in the shin. The knife slips and he slices my face. I scream and he yells, “You bitch!” As I shove him away, I start running.

He makes a grab for me and I fall forward. Grabbing the small hand gun from my holster, I roll over quickly and point it at him. “Go away or I’ll shoot.”

He actually laughs, starting toward me. Shaking, I pull the trigger and hear the blast. I keep pulling the trigger until it just clicks.

I feel a heaviness in my chest. I can’t breathe. It hurts. I’m trying but I can’t seem to find the air. I feel like the world is going black.

I feel someone shaking me. “Grace! Grace!” Coming to, I see Tugg crouched over me.

It startles me and I jump.

“Hey, it’s okay. I’m not going to hurt you. We called 911. They’re on the way.”

I nod, still shaking. “Chelsea!” Liz comes running over to me and falls to her knees beside me.

“Liz?”

She nods and shakes her head. “It’s all right. You got him.”

They help me sit up and soon, I hear sirens. The club manager comes out, bringing me a bottle of water. “Chelsea, I’m so sorry, this has never happened before. Tugg is fired.”

I shake my head. “No. Don’t fire him, I didn’t wait for him. He was going to walk me out. It’s my fault.”

He finally sighs and nods. “Okay.” He looks to Liz, “Keep me posted on her.”

Soon, there are officers there and EMTs. Moments later, Mack is standing in front of me. “Chelsea, they’re taking you to the hospital to get your face seen about. I’m coming down and I’ll ask you some questions down there.”

Everything goes by in a blur. All I know right now is that my face is throbbing, on fire and my head is killing me. I know Liz has been talking to me and there are a lot of lights. I keep dozing off. Every time I wake up, I’m in a new place.

~*~*~

I feel like I’m dreaming now.

“Chelsea, baby, please wake up for me.” I hear my mother’s voice.

I fight the exhaustion. “Mom,” I croak out. I force my eyes open.

She’s standing over me with a surgical mask on. “Oh sweetie, you gave me one hell of a scare.”

A minute later, Dr. Reynolds walks in with Elaine. “Chelsea, I like seeing you here, but only when you’re working. Not in a hospital bed.”

I try to laugh at Dr. Reynolds but my head hurts. “My head is killing me.”

Dr. Reynolds nods. “From the sounds of it you have a good reason, your head hit the pavement pretty hard. You have a mild concussion,” I automatically touch my face and feel gauze. He continues, “We had the plastic surgeon stitch up your face and set your nose, so your nose should be straight and hopefully the scars will be minimal. You’re going to be staying at least until tomorrow for observation because of the concussion.” He injects something into the IV I have in. “I’m giving you a little pain medicine, it shouldn’t make you too drowsy but you may be just from the concussion. Now, I’m sending your mother home,” he says sternly. “She doesn’t need to be exposed to the hospital.”

I nod in agreement. “Mom, you need to go home. You’re in the middle of a round of treatment, we can’t have you getting sick. I’ll be fine.”

Elaine steps forward. “Yes, Jenny, she’ll be fine. I have several guys out in the waiting room who won’t let anything happen to her.” She gives me a soft smile.

Mom steps up to my bedside. “Okay, sweetie. I’ll go, but you and I need to have a serious talk when you get out of here. Mack is here to take your statement if you’re feeling up to it.”

Her saying Mack’s name makes me think of the parking lot. Shit. “My gun?”

Mom looks at me sternly. “The gun is taken for evidence right now. Like I said, you and I have a lot to talk about.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I say softly. “You can go ahead and send Mack in.” I look to Elaine. “Can you ask the others to give me a few minutes to talk to Mack?”

She nods and walks my mom out of the room.

A few minutes later, Mack comes in. “Chelsea, girl, if you weren’t hurt right now, I’d beat your ass.” He shakes his head. “But on the same note, I’m glad you took care of yourself. Now, I need you to explain to me what happened.”

I tell him I started carrying the gun after that night at the house, then I fill him in on what I remember from tonight. “What happened to my attacker?”

He sighs. “You emptied the magazine into him. He was dead when we got there.”

“Oh,” I say nervously.

“So who is Pavel?” he asks cautiously.

Fumbling with the hospital blanket, I look up at the man my dad trained and the dam breaks. Tears roll from my eyes and I really can’t control it any more. “Pavel Volkov. He’s a guy I dated when I was living down south. It’s not a great story and it didn’t end on the best of terms. He’s married, and he was my boss. I’m not proud of myself and my father would be ashamed of me.”

He puts his hands up, stopping me. “Hey, we all screw up every now and then. It’s not my place to judge you. Don’t ever think your dad would’ve been ashamed of you. Now, do you know what the man in the parking lot was talking about?”

I shake my head. “I don’t know. I mean I always wondered about some of Pavel’s business deals, but I never asked any questions.”

He nods his head. “Do you think Mr. Volkov could’ve sent him to hurt you or kidnap you?”

“No, this guy said he wanted Pavel to get a message. I guess whoever it is thought we were still together.”

He finishes jotting something in his note pad. “All right, well I think you need to get some rest tonight. I’ll stop back by tomorrow and check on you. Take care of yourself, Chelsea. I’ll be contacting Mr. Volkov with some questions.”

“I figured you would have to do that. Thanks, Mack. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He nods, going out the door.

Seconds later, the door swings open and Huck fills the doorway. My breath catches in my throat as he stalks over to the bed and kisses me hard on the lips.