Inside Danger (Outside The Ropes Book 2) (11 page)

“How much?” I was all for getting a gun of my own and I still had Rusnak’s money in my bag.

“Fifteen hundred, but you can apply for credit. All I’d need is your permit and license.”

I blew out a low whistle. “I don’t have one. How long does it take to get a permit?”

His face dropped and he placed the gun back in the case. “You have to take a class first, we offer them here, then fill out the paperwork and get fingerprinted.” He walked to the register and pulled out a pamphlet. “Here’s the information about class dates and times. Give this number a call.” He circled the number with a red pen. “We can always put the gun on hold if you like?”

“That’s all right. Thanks for the information.” I took the paper and walked out, another dead end.

I walked around a bit more and then went back to the apartment. So much for taking control of anything.

“How did you like the new gym? The new trainer?” Rusnak was in the apartment, sitting at the kitchen table.

I continued my path to the refrigerator, pretending his presence didn’t unsettle me. The past couple of days had been easy without Rusnak or his goons around. Kiera mostly stuck to herself, but always spared a moment to glare at me if we happened to see each other. I always had a returning smile; making her stump away was easily becoming the highlight of my time in the apartment.

“Good.” I limited my response as I grabbed a water out of the fridge.

Truthfully, the gym was a joke. It had Zumba fitness classes going on in a glass studio in the back, twenty-four-seven. My trainer taught boxing fitness classes there too. But he wasn’t too bad, just a little hard to take serious when he put on his instructor voice and tried to pep talk me into being motivated, like smiling was a requirement in boxing.

“You’ll be ready for next weekend then? I look forward to finally seeing you box.”

I could feel his eyes on me, but didn’t turn around to address him. “Yes.” Closing the refrigerator door, I went to walk away.

“Wait.” He raised his hand slightly from the table. “How’s the shooting range? I hear you’ve been putting in time there too.” His eyes held amusement, and a challenge, as he leaned back with a knowing smile.

I met his eyes, with a challenge of my own, daring him to say more. I wanted him to. I wanted him to tell me what the guidelines were. “Good.”

Kiera popped into the entrance of the kitchen. “I’m ready.” Her smile faltered when she saw me.

Rusnak stood up smoothly, but otherwise didn’t acknowledge Kiera’s presence. “Which is your favorite gun?”

“G37.” I leaned back on the counter, trying to play off relaxed, but really wanting to give him space as he passed me by.

But he stopped in front of me, eyes gliding down me then back up. “I should have realized jewelry wasn’t your style.” He winked with a grin, then turned and walked out.

Kiera shot me one last glare before following him.

She wasn’t gone but an hour before she came huffing back in the apartment, opening and closing doors just for the sake of making noise it seemed. After about twenty minutes of her tantrum she stopped in the kitchen. She had changed out of the knit dress she had on earlier and into a tight lacy thing and her makeup was darker.

Placing her hands on the back of the chair opposite me, she leaned forward and seethed, “If you’re here to keep tabs on me for him, make sure you tell him that I left tonight to go out. And tell him how I looked, too. You can tell him, I got the message loud and clear and won’t ever mention it again.”

I set down my fork and leaned back, not from intimidation but from the shock of realization. “You think I’m here to spy on you? I don’t give him any messages. Hell, I prefer not to talk to the guy.” I shook my head as straightened up. “I won’t be telling him anything about this.” I gestured over the length of her.

Dropping into the seat with a huff, she turned her big green eyes on me. “Huh, so why are you here?” She rocked her head back with a sick look. “God, you’re young enough to be his daughter. He isn’t sleeping with you too, is he?”

I shook my head and shrugged. “No.” I wasn’t going to share any information with her. “but I thought you were reporting back about me.” I stood up with my plate and walked to the sink.

“I’ve only been told to call if you kill yourself or something,” she said absently.

I turned around to catch her expression. She was serious.

“Yeah, he was really clear about that. I’ve got instructions to keep my medicine cabinets locked up and all drugs away from you.” She stood up and smoothed down her dress. “Well, I have a friend to meet up with. We’ll talk more later.”

“You’re taking her?” I heard Kiera’s screechy voice from outside my door.

I stepped out of the room, in the same dress I wore last week since I hadn’t bought a new one.

Rusnak pressed her into the wall, lips moving to her ear. “I’ll be here to end the night with you, don’t worry.”

She gripped his head and kissed him with passion, hands moving down his neck to back.

I closed my door, gaining their attention.

Rusnak pulled away, but kept his hands on her hips as he looked towards me. “Ready?” At my nod he ducked his head down to Kiera and promised, “later.” Then we walked out.

I didn’t want to go, but wasn’t given an option. It was a charity event for kids’ athletics and half of Baltimore was going. Rusnak said the boxing center was one of the main contributors.

After several minutes of silence in the limo, Rusnak shifted on the seat, pulling a familiar case out of one of the compartments. He cocked one eyebrow up at me as he opened it. “I know you don’t wear jewelry, but for tonight you should.”

My heart bounced around, looking for an escape as he slid over next to me.

I yanked my wrist out of his grasp, unable to bear the touch. “I’ll put it on.”

Sitting back, he handed me the case and watched as I fumbled to secure it to my wrist.

Once it was in place, he leaned close to me and picked up my hand with a force I couldn’t easily pull out of. “I can be nice to you. Or I can be mean. You decide how this goes.”

I stared at him, waiting for his next move.

Satisfied by my lack of response, he dropped my hand with a smile. “I have another gift for you, too. That gun you liked, you can practice shooting it on Sunday, at my gun range.” He used one finger to move my hair off of my shoulder, sending a chill through me.

I shifted my shoulder away from him. “Save your gifts for Kiera.”

He laughed, but his eyes narrowed. “We’re picking up my wife now, so don’t speak of her again.”

I nodded and turned away, relieved when the car finally slowed in front of a home and he went in to get his wife.

They spent the ride discussing the event and who was coming, which sounded like everyone and anyone, including politicians. But Gage’s name was the only one that sparked any life in me and I spent the rest of the ride trying to build up my strength to see him and ignore him as he would me.

FOR A KIDS CHARITY WITH A CIRCUS theme, there was a noticeable lack of kids. In fact, I didn’t see one and I don’t think it would have been appropriate for them to be there. Drinks were flowing and half-dressed entertainers went around on stilts breathing fire, juggling, and other strange things.

Pretending to be strong was easy. Pretending to be happy was beyond me, but that’s what Rusnak was expecting. He warned me to put on a smile and be nice as he dropped me off at my seat. A back corner table, reserved for the no bodies probably. My smile was genuine when Rusnak walked away with his wife to the opposite end of the ballroom.

He had introduced me to some of the people at my table before he left. a mix of guys and girls whose names I had already forgotten. I ate in silence and let the others talk around me, watching my surroundings.

I didn’t see him arrive, but I saw him in a group talking and my heart skipped. He wore a fitted black suit over a dark grey shirt, the same way he wore everything, with natural confidence and ease. Gage was comfortable in his skin, had faith in his body, and it showed. Somehow he seemed even more confident tonight and stood taller than he had before. He made his way to Rusnak’s table and people followed, wanting to talk to him, be in his presence. I guess that’s what happens when you’re a future titleholder, or was it his new association with Rusnak that made him so popular?

“That was a rude question, I’m sorry.” The guy to my left leaned towards me, arms on the table and face slightly pink as he ducked his head.

Pulling my vision from Gage, I shook my head and focused on what was being said. “What was? I didn’t hear you.”

He picked his head up with a crooked smile. “Don’t worry about it. I was being nosy and asked what else you did besides boxing.” He talked with his hands in gestures that didn’t make sense. “I know you can’t make that much to start and I assume females make even less. And you don’t appear to be beat up so I assume you don’t fight much. I was just thinking you had to have another job, is all.”

“You’re right. I’m also a server.” Well, I was trying to be, but I had to find a job first.

“Oh. A server. Well, yes, I assume you can do well with tips.” He nodded, adams-apple bobbing as he swallowed. “I attempted to serve first year in college, but failed miserably. No coordination for it.” His cheeks flushed and he dipped his head. “Probably shouldn’t admit that to you.”

His awkwardness was kind of cute, in a geeky sort of way, and I welcomed the distraction.

“I’m sorry, what was your name again?” I asked.

“Brandon.” He beamed and extended his hand for me to shake. “Brandon Cutty. I’m interning in Senator Cardin’s office.”

Brandon rambled on about his work, school, his pet iguana, and all of his family. I was content to sit and listen, the pressure of doing anything removed.

Rusnak would look over sometimes as he danced with his wife or others, but otherwise he let me be and I wondered why I had to come.

“You should try the wine?” Brandon handed me a glass from a server’s tray as she came around. “Not that I know that much about wine, but the Riesling is good and I heard they are paying top price.” He winked at me and leaned in conspiratorially. “Always take free things when the rich are paying.”

Out of curiosity, I took a sip. But the taste was the same as any other alcohol I’d tried, and it left my tongue dry. I slid the delicate glass back on the table.

Gage slid the glass even farther away and sat down in the empty chair to my right.

“You’d prefer the ice tea,” he said, setting a tumbler on the table with a lemon wedge hooked to the edge.

I didn’t touch the drink. I didn’t move. His sudden appearance surprised me and the churning in my stomach wasn’t pleasant.

Brandon extended his hand to Gage with enthusiasm. “Hello. I’m Brandon Cutty. I intern in the Senator’s office.”

Gage looked from me to him and back to me with a smug smile. “Brandon? If you’ll excuse us, I’m going to steal her away for a moment.” He stood up and extended his hand to me.

Function and thought escaped me. I looked around at the plates on the table left over from dinner and then finally up at Gage.

Impatient, he grabbed my hand and pulled me up to standing, but I stepped away before he could walk me anywhere. I could have collapsed when his eyes narrowed at me.

Brandon stood up, bouncing with nerves. “You two can stay. I’ll go and uh… get some dessert or see something…” He let his words trail off as he walked away, leaving Gage and I at the empty table. Everyone else had left to walk around after dinner.

Gage’s eyes scanned around the room, and I looked around too but didn’t see Rusnak anywhere. Then he stepped close to me, blocking everything else from view.

“Come with me, please. We need to talk,” His low, deep voice sparked something in me. The part of me he had hurt wanted to deny him, to anger him, but my sense won. He might have information I needed to know and I wasn’t sure when we would get another chance.

At my nod, he slid his hand to my back and guided me through the crowd, out of the ballroom. The lobby was just as crowded. We traveled down a side hall and turned a few corners before he opened a door to a library or office. There was a desk in front of a large curtained window and all the walls were lined with bookshelves.

He closed the door behind us and then stepped towards me, arms around my waist in one quick motion. His warm breath caressed my cheek as he dropped his head to mine.

“Are you all right?” He sucked in air as his hands traveled up my waist, over the blue silk of my dress.

His firm hold was overwhelming. I struggled not to cave in to him, but my hands slipped inside his suit jacket with a mind of their own. Before his lips could find mine, I ripped myself away, breaking my own heart, but I needed clarity and space to breathe. And answers, I needed answers.

“What happened to Demetri? What happened that night?”

His entire presence hardened, his face turning to stone as he shook his head at me. “Don’t ask. I can’t tell you.” His chest rose and fell, his expression softening as he let out air. “There are some things it’s better if you don’t know.” Crossing the space between us, he attempted to slip his arm around me again.

“That’s bullshit.” I sidestepped him and held my arms up to keep him back. “They’ve accused me of having something to do with his murder. I know it was Damien that killed him, so maybe it was my fault. I need to know what happened.” He was the only person that might tell me anything I could half believe, he had to tell me. “Please,” I begged.

“It wasn’t your fault,” he was quick to say, but he paused with a pained expression narrowing his eyes. “And it wasn’t just Damien. It was group of them, they took him by surprise. It was a set up.”

When it was clear he wasn’t going to say anything else I questioned, “But what happened? Who set it up?”

He grabbed my hand and pulled me a little closer with such gentleness that I allowed him to. I needed him to open up. His fingers tickled my palm as he moved them over my hand. His thumb ran along the bracelet Rusnak gave me.