Outside The Ropes: OtherSide Of Fear Part 26

He didnt flinch, but his eyes narrowed like he caught me. "Against who? Gage? Where was he today, Regan? He didnt make it to your appointment." He dropped his gaze to my stomach. "His priorities are going to get him put in jail. You have to be the one to make the right choice if you want that baby to stand a chance at a decent life."

I heard the truth in his words, but I couldnt show that to him.

He stepped back, letting me go. "Nows the time to decide. Whats it going to be?"

I didnt hesitate. I turned and walked away from him without looking back.

The moment I stepped into the condo and locked the door, my mask burst and all strength left me. My stomach clenched with nerves that wrecked me. I tried calling Gage repeatedly, but his phone went straight to voicemail.

Desperate, I called Sal.

"Mrs. Lawson, do you need a ride?"

"Are you with Gage?" I cut off his question.

"Not yet."

"But you know where he is."

He hesitated. "Hes at the Dollhouse, Im on my way now. Ill tell him you called."

I hung up and called the club. A girl answered, and when I asked for Gage, she put me on hold.

"h.e.l.lo, can I help you?" Cherrys clipped tone frayed my nerves.

"I need to speak to Gage."

"Who is this?" She questioned, voice low.

"His wife. Its important."

The music in the background faded and she laughed. "Im sure it is, but were busy. Call his phone, he can decide if he wants to talk to you or not."

Anger torched my thoughts as she hung up. I wanted to strangle her. I wanted to strangle him for not answering.

I called back, but Cherry grabbed the phone from the girl that answered the second she knew who it was.

"Look, take a hint. Hes busy. Let the adults deal with business. You can whine to him later."

She hung up again, and I went to the room and changed, grabbing my keys and gun on the way out. I had to talk to Gage and warn him about what Anthony said, but Id also show that b.i.t.c.h she couldnt dismiss me.

The drive to the club didnt give me time to cool off. It only gave me time to replay the conversation over and over, reinforcing the anger tearing through me.

I stormed into the club on a mission, no one stopping me. The place was packed, and I couldnt see who all filled the main room, but I weaved through the tables and people, going straight to Gages office-or his old office.

The door was locked, and I banged on it with no answer.

A girl, Porsha, stopped in front of me with a smile. "Mrs. Lawson, theyre all in the paradise lounge right now. Can I get you a drink?"

I shook my head and walked away, unable to pretend at any pleasantries.

There were several VIP lounges and the paradise room was the biggest. I was met with a wall of people when I entered. Too many to see through, and I felt claustrophobic as I weaved between men in suits and girls in barely anything. I spotted Ian sitting on the couch that ran along the far wall.

He saw me and rose to his feet, something flickering in his eyes. "Regan, what are you doing here?" He gripped my elbow the moment he was next to me and walked me out of the room. "Does Gage know youre here?"

"Where is he? I need to talk with him." I went with him, hoping hed talk.

"Ill get him, but..."His nervousness was suffocating as he looked around. "You shouldnt be here. He wont like that."

"Just go get him." I pulled out of his grip as we walked into the hall. Some people spotted the walls, but the open s.p.a.ce allowed me to take a breath.

Ian looked down at me with a nod. "Yeah, okay. Ill get him, just stay here." Instead of stepping away, he looked down the hall some. "No, actually wait in here." He pulled me to a smaller room and flipped on the lights, illuminating it in a soft red glow. "Wait here."

He walked away, and I tried to make sense of what was going on, I tried to quiet the fear screaming in me.

I couldnt stand still and went to the doorway to wait for Gage to come down the hall. But instead, what I saw made me regret leaving the condo.

Anatoli Rusnak stepped out of the Paradise room. His eyes landed on me just as retreated to hide in the room. But I realized my mistake too late. I should have stayed in the hall. I tried to step back out, but he was already at the door.

His body filled the frame, dark grey suit moving with him like a second skin. His hair was slicked back but a strand fell in his face, the only thing out of place.

"Sweetheart, I didnt think you would come here tonight." He smiled and stepped into the room, forcing me back further.

Then he shut the door behind him, closing my escape. I stood tall, pretending that everything in me wasnt dissolving, that I was more than a puddle of fear. I let the weight of my gun, strapped to my leg under my boot, give me strength.

28: No control.

"GAGE SAID YOU WOULDNT BE HERE, BUT Im glad you are." For every step forward he took, I couldnt stop myself from taking one back. He repelled me, and I couldnt let him get close.

My fingers by my side twitched to reach for the gun, but I didnt want to act too soon. After he was several steps into the room, I started to step to the side instead of back, hoping to make my way around to the door. My pace was slow, matching his. He was a lion that might attack at any sudden change.

"Im not staying." I spoke just to break the silence.

He stopped walking then, eyes dropping over me. "You should. Just because Gage doesnt have time for you, doesnt mean I dont."

"I dont need your time." His words lit my fuse, hitting too close to the truth. I took my chance then to walk out the door, keeping my wide arc around him.

When I reached the handle, he was suddenly there, gripping my arm, pulling me back. "Dont go yet."

My other arm dipped low, almost not reaching the gun as he yanked me up, but when I turned to face him, it was out and pointing at him.

"Let go of me."

He dropped me, but then did something that shot an electric pain through my wrist. And my gun was no longer in my hands. All I had left was a throbbing arm and a new wave of fear.

But I was still at the door, so I reached behind me. He slammed me against the frame with one hand on the center of my chest, and my gun against my cheek.

"That was really, really stupid," he hissed as he took the gun away, slipping it somewhere on him. Then he gripped my shoulders, his face was too close to mine, body pressed into me. "I had thought you smarter. When I realized you hadnt told Gage, I thought maybe you would be different. You certainly seemed different."

I had to turn my head to the side as his breath heated around me, his nose almost skimming mine.

He used one hand to grip my face, turning me back towards him. "But I think youre weaker than ever before. Its a shame what you let him do to you." His other hand slid down my arm and up my legs, his height giving him the reach to feel the top of my boots without giving up leverage. "You have any other weapons on you?"

"No." I closed my eyes against his touch, but I could still feel it with every cell.

His hand slid higher up my inner thighs, slow and firm, and then he swirled it out to my hips and skimmed in the band of my jeans, fingers trailing over my skin.

His breath was harsh and hot as he leaned into me, lips now at my ear. "I only wanted to talk. Why do you always have to f.u.c.k things up? Push me too far?"

Then I was falling, landing on my side as he threw me into the room. Every action I saw of his was slow and deliberate, but he attacked in bursts too quick to see coming, like a shark.

I scrambled to my feet. His eyes flashed with lightning, warning me that the storm was only just beginning.

"I didnt know what you thought. I didnt know if you blamed me. I was only trying to protect myself." I kept one arm out as I backed away. This room had too much empty s.p.a.ce, a couch along the wall, a pole in the center with a small platform, all reflected in the mirrors on the ceiling. There was nothing to use to my advantage.

"What would I blame you for?" He stopped walking, but his eyes followed my movements.

My heart was in my throat, pounding, choking me, but I tried to talk him down, or myself down. I couldnt tell what was happening, I couldnt read him at all. "Going to prison."

He smiled, a small slick smile, and his eyes darkened as he took a step towards me. "No. I dont blame you for that. I know whose fault that was. What else?"

I shook my head, still making my slow retreat to the door. "You might have thought I told Gage. And you said you would hurt me."

"Tch" He sucked his teeth. "I never said I would hurt you. And you didnt tell Gage, so you have nothing to worry about. In fact, hes given up the club too, so it looks like I owe you." His head c.o.c.ked to the side. "Stop running, it makes you look guilty. But you didnt do anything wrong, did you?"

My feet stilled, listening to the command before I could even think. The adrenaline pounding in my head left little room for real thought, and his words took what little s.p.a.ce there was.

"This is wrong. I shouldnt be here." I wasnt even talking to him; it was my thoughts mistakenly spoken out loud.

"Then why are you here?" There was an excitement in his voice as he stepped towards me. All of a sudden, he was back in my face, his hands on my waist.

I tried to pull away, or push him away, but he wrapped his arms around me, pinning my arms beside me in a constricting hold that took away my air.

"Relax sweetheart." His voice sent s.h.i.+vers over me, ice dripping into my veins as his nose slid up my neck. "Admit it," he whispered the demand in my ear, squeezing me till tears slid from my eyes. "You wanted to see me, you heard I was out, and you couldnt resist. You dont have to hide that with me." One hand slid around my waist, fingers splayed over my stomach. He met my eyes for a moment, an understanding sparking in them. "Its true." His grip loosened some, and I tried to break free, but he pulled me back in, trapping me in his arms. "Shh-shh-shh."

He held tight while I struggled in his arms, and then he gave up and jerked me, fingers digging in my arms. "Stop," he commanded. "Youre going to need me more than ever if youre pregnant." It almost sounded like a threat.

"Why?" I stopped fighting, stilling my body but not my racing heart and not the tears flowing in silent pleas.

"Sweetheart, dont cry. Ill help you," he murmured, loosening his grip on my arm but pulling me close, like he was providing comfort instead of trapping me. "Gage cant protect you, let alone-"

The door flew open, and Gage stormed through. Rusnak dropped me as Gage lunged for him, fist connecting with his face. Rusnak was pushed back with each blow, and Gage kept coming forward, never letting up until he was on the ground. Then Gage was swinging both fists, pulling them back and releasing them in a wide ark. Rusnaks head snapped from side to side. The attack was silent, only the rasps of breath could be heard under the ba.s.s of club music flowing through the walls and open door.

My legs wobbled beneath me, tension breaking as I watched Rusnaks face bleed, wet splatters across the dark carpet with every hit from Gage.

Then others rushed into the room, men I didnt know, and two pulled Gage back, the third going to Rusnak.

Gage tossed one man off of him, shoving him away with the shake of his shoulder.

The other man pulled out a gun and pressed it to his neck. "Hvat.i.t."

But Gage whipped around, flipping the gun from the guys hand into his own and backed him up with it. Then he turned to Rusnak, who had his own gun out.

"Dont be stupid, boy." Rusnak was on his feet and he spit blood onto the floor. "Dont throw it all away over some girl." He held the gun pointed at Gage with one hand and flicked his other hand, signaling for the men to back off.

"You know theres more to it," Gage ground out between teeth. "This has been coming for a long f.u.c.king time."

My stomach was already a whirlwind, but now it contracted painfully as I watched his finger grip the trigger.

"Do it and she dies." Rusnak swept his arm, pointing his gun at me. The long barrel was directly at my head, I could see into the darkness. "You might get off your shot, but so will I."

Gages eyes barely glanced towards me; all his focus was on Rusnak.

Rusnak must have saw the answer in Gages look because he started walking towards the door.

Gage kept his gun trained on him but didnt stop him, instead he nodded in the direction of the exit. "Get out then, but this isnt over."

"Its not." Rusnaks gun stayed on me as he touched the tips of his fingers to his b.l.o.o.d.y nose and inclined his head to Gage. "I owe you one." Then he disappeared out the door with his men following behind him.

Ian closed the door as he entered. "What the h.e.l.l does that mean?"

"Get Sal to meet me out back. And get the others. I have to make some calls, and we have to go."

Ian left without another word, and then it was only Gage and me in the room. He wouldnt look at me, and I couldnt speak.

We both stood there, tension on fire between us. Then he combusted. His fists flew at the wall, leaving dents and holes with every swing. I flinched with each punch, sure the anger was directed at me. I had no doubt it was when he charged at me with burning eyes.

"What the f.u.c.k were you doing with him?"

I could only shake my head as I stumbled back to the couch against the wall, landing on my b.u.t.t.

"Why the h.e.l.l are you here? I told you to stay away."