Rise (The Phoenix Series Book 1) Page 4

  Stopping and looking into my bruised face, “You haven’t told me anything but who attacked you. I can’t help you if you don’t give me any information.”

  That’s the thing, I didn’t want her to defend me. I was, I AM, the only one who is supposed to protect myself and the people I care for. I hate the feeling of being weak, it’s not who I am.

  Sighing, “I didn’t tell you anything because I don’t want you to get involved. What happened to me…” Pausing and taking a deep, painful breath, “It wasn’t right. They will regret it, trust me on that.”

  I paused again, for a moment, trying to keep calm. “What I will let you in on, is where I was taken afterward…who saved me.”

  Thinking about Thane and his deep green eyes stirred something in me. I don’t even know why I wanted to head in his direction, but I did. What I did know was that the way he cared for me and how I felt at his home was something I haven’t experienced in a long time. I was going to take Summer there.

  She was quiet after that. I don’t know if she was trying to process what I had just told her or if she didn’t know what to say to me. Honestly, I enjoyed it. Every time I have to lie to the ones I love, darkness seems to root itself deeper into my bones. Could I eventually escape the darkness or will I let it consume me completely? That question was one I ignore on a regular basis. The fewer lies, the better off I was.

  I didn’t know what Matt had planned. If he knew I was still alive, would he be looking for me? I wondered if he ever came back and knew I survived the beating of a lifetime or would rough up the people I loved, just to find me.

  After walking a good hour and a half, we approached the road that leads to Thane’s house, I paused. I didn’t know why, but I did.

  Was he home? If he was, would he see me? Would he be angry that I left in the middle of the night?

  I don’t know why, but I cared what he had to say and what he thought of me. I don’t understand it, but I had the urge to come back and see him, so here I was. I don’t even know why I wanted Summer to know about him.

  As I stood there and stared down the road, Summer just stared at me, waiting for me to say or do something. After a while, I began walking again.

  Approaching the house, I could tell he wasn’t home and that he had gotten his truck started because it was no longer in the driveway. Did he come looking for me, was he still? This strange feeling, I had for him made my heart race and sweat began to bead on my forehead as I walked closer to the house. I stopped in my tracks. One more move and the bile in the back of my throat could come up, I was so nervous.

  “What is it, Greer?” Summer looked confused but didn’t want to rush me.

  Speaking softly and not taking my eyes off Thane’s home, “This house, the man who lives here, saved my life.” Looking from the house to her, I felt relieved that she knew. She became teary-eyed but, she said nothing nor did she attempt to touch me.

  After standing there, staring, we finally made our way back down the road. We were half a mile from the main road when I saw a truck approaching. Thinking it would just pass us, I kept my mind busy by thinking of anything but Thane and his gorgeous green eyes. I couldn’t be caught with him, for many reasons I dare not think of. Not even a few feet past us the truck came to a screeching halt, and the smell of burning rubber was distinct in the air. As Summer and I looked back, Thane was jumping out of the truck and heading our direction.

  “You’re Alive! Thank God.” He was standing in front of me with his warm, golden skin, mesmerizing green eyes and muscular body that looked as if it would tear his white shirt right down the middle. He placed his hands on both of my cheeks, staring into my eyes.

  I have no idea how long we have been staring into each other’s eyes, but out of nowhere, in a higher tone than usual, “UH HUM, I’m Summer. You are?” She had her arms crossed and her eyebrow arched.

  Removing his hands and turning to her with a reddened face from embarrassment, “Sorry, my name is Thane.” Gazing over his shoulder in my direction, the look he gave me made my heart skip a beat.

  Before either of us seen it coming, “THANK YOU!” Summer had rushed him, hugging the living hell out of him.

  Smiling like a sappy teenager would, “She’s a hugger.” He hugged her back but not without taking his eyes off me.

  Standing there, staring at what was awkward to me, “Summer, you ready? We should get going.”

  We needed to go, and I needed to come up with whatever excuse I could think of. I was stupid for thinking I could get away with seeing Thane one more time without consequences. “Those errands won’t get done themselves.” I gave her the tone that she needs to play along if she knew any better.

  Lunging back from Summer, “Leaving?” He began to stutter with his words the longer that silence filled the air. “You can come back to my place. I’ve got food I can cook out on the grill.”

  I could see he didn’t want me to go, but if I stayed any longer, I didn’t know how I would be able to control my emotions. I was in no position to be adding any more people to my lifestyle.

  Just before I could get a word out, “Rem has been searching for you. You didn’t say goodbye to her before leaving.” He was becoming desperate.

  Turning her head in my direction, “Rem? Who is that?”

  Chuckling, “Rem would be his gorgeous long haired German Shepard.”

  Looking from Summer to Thane, “Thane, I wish I could, but it’s getting late. We have a walk ahead of us. Maybe another time?” A deep burning was growing in the pit of my stomach. The mix emotions were tearing me from the inside out, I needed to leave.

  He had a bit of panic in his eyes with a slight smile on his face. I didn’t know if he was trying to hide it but, I caught on. “I can drive the both of you back, it’s not a problem. I’ve finally got my truck running again and…I remembered my cell phone from work today.”

  His smile was contagious. In the small time since meeting him, when he gets nervous, he tends to reach for the back of his neck and rub it. He was doing it now, and I love that I had picked up on this.

  Summer jumped in before I could disappoint him again. “Thane, it’s very kind of you, but I actually have errands I have to run, and Greer was just being polite. I can’t stay…” Looking at me, “She can.”

  At that moment, I wanted to thank her because she knew I kept my place private…from everyone. On the other hand, I wanted to strangle her for saying yes to him. She knew I wasn’t in the right place to be mingling and why I hadn’t for the last three years.

  “Summer, are you sure? I did promise to help you.” I was hoping she would change her mind if I ‘eyebrow signaled’ her but that was a no go.

  “No, I’m good. I’m letting you off the hook, so you can chill out. You need to rest Greer, not be out and about all day long. See you whenever you get home.” Those last six words were very chipper, I hated it. With that, she turned and walked away down the road.

  Summer had left us to walk back to the house and NOT run any errands whatsoever. In my head, I believed she did this because she knew there was a connection between the two of us. I felt there was but, this can’t happen.

  Turning around I caught the smirk on Thane’s face before it disappeared to hide his amusement. In a way, Summer was right about one thing, I did need to rest and not walk back the rest of the way. I knew I had overdone it for being my first walk since the attack. I slowly but, surely hopped into the passenger seat of Thane’s truck and we rode back in silence.

  ***

  Thane had been pampering me since I had gotten back to his house. We stayed outside, and I sat on the porch swing most of the morning. When lunch came around, I offered to make it since I felt helpless doing nothing. This wasn’t like me just sitting around, but once again, he refused. By dinner time I had accomplished the task of washing the dishes, he fought that, but I won, which felt fantastic.

  “Greer, you really don’t have to do the dishes.” Laughing, “I’ll have Rem wash em
’. Please, come sit down. You really do need to rest after what happened to you the other night.”

  He was doing his nervous habit again, I loved it. Part of me wanted to reach over and touch him but, I didn’t. Instead of responding to him and arguing, I just kept quiet and proceeded to finish the dishes.

  As I was finishing up, I could see Thane’s reflection in the window in front of me. He was sitting at the kitchen table with his elbows placed on the edge and his chin in his hands. He was in intense thought.

  At that moment, as I was staring at him, he looked up at me. I felt embarrassed that I had been caught staring at him. I quickly looked back down at the soapy water in front of me and finished the last dish.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  THANE

  I was at a loss. I didn’t know if I should walk up to her and cuff her right here and take her in. The file that was in my glove box in the truck told me I should. She was not only wanted on murder charges; she was also being investigated for her illegal ring. Something is going on between us. I’m not sure what it is or why it’s happening, but it feels good.

  Just then, I felt her eyes on me. I looked up from the table to see her reflection in the window. I couldn’t stop looking at her. She was gorgeous as hell even with all the bruising that remained on her body. Since the last time I saw her before she left in the middle of the night, the swelling had gone down, and she didn’t seem like she was in agonizing pain anymore.

  She immediately darted her eyes away from me, and to the dish, she was holding. I had the urge to walk up to her, to place my arms around her and tell her everything was going to be ok. I couldn’t do that either.

  Since I had spotted her on my road, she has had this tension about her. I wanted to do something. I desperately needed to know what was causing her so much stress.

  Once she was done with the dishes and the sink was making that God-awful gurgling sound, I stood up and walked to her. She had been set on doing something all day long even though I didn’t want her to do anything at all.

  Inches from her, my lips almost touching her ear and my arms placed on both sides of her, holding onto the sink, I had to force myself to stop. “Greer, you want to come sit on the couch with me?”

  She just stood there, staring at the soap bubbles slowly draining into the pipe. Her long contoured arms were pressing against the countertop while her fingers were tapping the inside of the sink. I didn’t know if she was thinking about running again or if she was going to stay a while longer.

  Out of nowhere, she spoke one single word. “Okay.”

  I slowly held my hand out, and she grabs it. Without hesitation, I picked her up and carried her to the couch.

  “Now, back to getting you off your feet.” I had the cheesiest smirk on my face.

  Laughing for the first time but, stopping halfway through it. “Thane, you are something else. For one, you are very determined.”

  She didn’t hide it very well but, I could tell she was still in pain if she made a wrong move. What I would give to hear that laughter again.

  “When it comes to you, and your health, I am.”

  “Tha...” I put my finger over her mouth and stopped her before she could get any more of it out.

  After learning who she was, I knew the feelings between us shouldn’t happen. Instead of bringing her in like I should, I’ve decided to get to know her and see if she did what she is being accused of.

  Placing her on one end of my tiny two-seater couch, I sat down at the other end. I propped her feet up on my thighs and started to rub them.

  She tensed even more for a brief second before relaxing a little bit. Once I started to deep massage her feet, she closed her eyes, and everything in her body rested entirely. She sank into a deep sleep after a few minutes of this.

  Looking at her, my heart sank, and I felt like I had butterflies in my stomach. I knew now, at this moment in time, I couldn’t deny it anymore.

  As I was rubbing her feet, I noticed they were incredibly soft, but every time I got near her toes, she would get this frown between her eyebrows. Looking down, I could tell at one point in time something happened to her toes. She had scars on every single one of them, some of them had more than one.

  I decided to stay away from the toes because I hated seeing that look on her face. Just then, Greer became restless in her sleep. She started moving around a lot and was mumbling something that I couldn’t make out.

  She sat up abruptly and stared at me with wide eyes. Her breathing was fast, but it slowly started to dissipate over time.

  “Greer, it’s alright. You were just dreaming.” She looked at me with shock in her eyes.

  “I’m sorry, I have to go.” Removing her feet from my lap, she stood up and collected her items.

  Before I could think about what was happening, it just burst out of me. “You don’t have to leave. You can stay tonight.”

  She turned around and looked at me. That face already told me her answer, no.

  It was like I missed my best friend or lover and by miracle, she dropped into my life again. What do I say, I just stare as if she were reading my mind?

  Here I go, all or nothing. “Greer, I don’t know what is going on here between us but, I happen to like it. When we are together, I feel this magnetic pull. Like I have known you all my life but lost you in time.”

  She just looks at me with a blank stare. I didn’t know if that was a good sign or bad since I had troubles reading her.

  Sighing, “You don’t have to go.” Rubbing the back of my neck, “Just stay, for tonight, okay?”

  She had yet to say a word. I could feel the perspiration start on my forehead. Did I just ruin this?

  Finally, “Okay, one night. Nothing more than small talk.”

  Relief flooded through me just then. I’m not a major screw up after all.

  Placing my hand on the back of my neck, trying to figure out what to do now. “Want some coffee or tea?”

  Smiling at me, “Yes, coffee please.”

  She followed me out to the kitchen as I made my way to the counter.

  Sitting at the table, “Black if that is alright.”

  I turned around and was surprised that she took her coffee like that. Honestly, I don’t know why but, I was.

  “That’s fine. I take mine black as well.” The smirk on my face wouldn’t go away. I was probably starting to look like a creeper to her.

  Once the coffee was brewed and we were seated at the table she wouldn’t stop looking at me.

  “Thane, what do you do for a living?” Crap. Did I want to tell a complete lie or a small one?

  “I work from home and report back to the company every so often. Just computer stuff.” I hope she took that and didn’t ask any more questions. In truth, I am an undercover cop and couldn’t tell her no matter how much I wanted to.

  “What about you? What do you do for a living Greer?” I wanted to see how much she would genuinely give away to me.

  She paused for a few seconds before responding. “I teach people how to defend themselves. I really like what I do, and I’m good at it.” She seemed very sure of herself.

  “Maybe I should stop by your studio and get a few lessons from you then.”

  She went from having a passionate look on her face when she was talking about what she does to have a melancholy view. “I’m bouncing around at the moment, so that is out of the question. Maybe when I find a place, we can revisit this conversation.”

  “So, what made you want to get into teaching people how to defend themselves? What was your motivation?”

  Greer clears her throat and places her elbows on the table, “Well…some people just need to be taught a lesson. I learned to defend myself growing up, and I see no reason why others shouldn’t also.” Leaning back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest, “I saw an opportunity to do something I love, and I went for it. You know fighting doesn’t always mean you’re taking it personally or defending yourself. Hell, for me it meant
dollar signs.” As she answered that question, she had the most serious look on her face.

  The more questions that I asked her, the longer it took for her to answer them.

  Greer looks down, staring at the table as if she is trying to burn a hole in it, “As for how I learned, right now we are getting a little too personal.” She tilts her head up and stares into my eyes, “My life has been in turmoil over people from my past. I take most first impressions with a grain of salt.”

  Pausing before speaking again, her look turned into sadness fast. “What I will say though, I didn’t have the best upbringing. Growing up, like that, is what lead me to where I am now.” She didn’t finish her sentence. Instead, she looked everywhere but, me.

  I just sat there, staring at her. I waited to see if she would go any further with her story. She never did.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  GREER

  I don’t know what it is about him, but he sparks a fire inside. For the first time, in a very long time, I’ve got butterflies in the pit of my stomach. I told myself I would never again, not after Drew.

  Thane and I sat on the couch, and he rubbed my feet, I mean…really rubbed them. It was incredible until I fell asleep.

  I had passed out from the excruciating pain that he inflicted on me. I don’t know how long I was out for, but it wasn’t long enough. As I came to, he was still in the room, with the tall one and the pliers.

  “Oh, lookie there, she’s awake.”

  He took his cigar, that he had put out at some point in time while I was passed out and re-lit it. They both just stared at me, admiring my half-naked body…it was disgusting.

  “Cookie, do you understand why you are here, in this very predicament?” He was flinging the pliers around in his hands as he asked me the question.