Unshakeable Read online

  Unshakeable

  Abby Reynolds

  Chapter One

  Liam

  I finished my classes before Keira, so I headed home for the afternoon. Since she had tutoring after school, she wasn’t usually around until dinnertime. I wandered to my basement and pulled my gloves on. It was habitual. I wasn’t a fighter anymore but I still did this routine. My fists collided against the bag. My knuckles were constantly sore. I knew I would have arthritis before I was fifty.

  I’d sneak down to the basement in the middle of the night to get the workout done. I never did it around Keira, and it became my dirty secret. I knew she wouldn’t be angry or ask me to stop, but it would still remind her of the horrible scene she saw in the ring. I tore my opponent to pieces, practically killing him.

  And then she left me.

  I didn’t need to express my anger through fighting anymore, at least I thought I did. Somehow it was ingrained into me. Without it, I didn’t know what to do with myself. At some point, it became a part of me. Keira healed the infected and festering wounds, and now I was finally put back together. But something was missing.

  There wasn’t any closure. When I beat the shit out of Derek, my sister’s boyfriend, I didn’t kill him. And if I had, I wouldn’t suffer like this. My sister would be around, her laugh echoing in my halls. My family wouldn’t have been ripped apart. I blamed my parents for her death, but maybe I blamed myself in reality.

  Every opponent was a stranger I didn’t know. I didn’t research the men I faced beforehand. That wasn’t my style. But I pictured Derek’s face, wishing it were his face I was destroying. He was the final opponent I needed to face. After that maybe I could finally let it go.

  My sister’s anniversary was near. Every year it was worse than the one before. I tried to forget about it entirely but I never could. Sometimes I heard her voice in my head, calling me an ass for using all the hot water in the morning before school. Sometimes I heard her laugh at me, saying I was the dumbest guy in the world.

  And other times, I heard her scream.

  When I realized what I was doing, it was too late. The punching bag was on the floor. I must have hit it too hard. My hands stung, but not unbearably so. I was numb. I felt pain so often that it was my norm.

  Keira was the only person who understood that. Even with me in her life, she wasn’t healed. She wasn’t complete. But she was pretty damn close.

  I kept thinking about that fucker sitting in jail. He didn’t get the death penalty, just a lifetime in prison. And I regretted that. At least if he wasn’t convicted, I could come after him and slit his throat. The blood would drip out of the cut.

  He had a sister name Stacy. She was a few years younger than he. I wasn’t sure if they were close, but it was the only sibling he had. And the dark disturbing thoughts settled on me. I contemplated taking her life for retribution for what he did to Eva. But then the guilt would well up inside. She was innocent and she did nothing wrong. That wasn’t fair.

  But then again, life wasn’t fair.

  I hid these thoughts from Keira. She would leave me if I told her the truth. And she should.

  “We’d offer you double,” Johnny said firmly. He had a maniacal look in his eye, like if I said no he would rip my throat out. He was more invested in my career than I was.

  I shook my head. “I shouldn’t have even come.” We were meeting at Surf Taco, a shaggy store that had plastic chairs for furniture and surfboards that hung from the ceiling.

  “You are the most promising talent we’ve seen. How can you just walk away? You want to work in an office for the rest of your life? Or do you actually want to be remembered? Actually do something you’re good at?”

  “I said no, Johnny. I’m sorry.”

  “Why?” he snapped. “Why?”

  I leaned back in the chair. “I just don’t want to.”

  “Bullshit.” He leaned over the table. “Be real with me.”

  “My girlfriend isn’t exactly a fan.”

  He sighed then rolled his eyes. “You’ve got to be kidding me. You’re picking pussy over wealth?”

  My shoulders tensed and I gave him a look of menace. My hand formed a fist, and I leaned over the table, threatening him. “Don’t. Say. That. Again.”

  He narrowed his eyes. “What’s her problem?”

  “None of your business.”

  “Whatever,” he said with a frustrated sigh. “If this girl really loves you, she wouldn’t ask you to forget about your dream.”

  “There’s more to the story than you understand.”

  “No, there isn’t.” He stood up then fixed his tie. “You want to throw your life away? Go ahead. But I’m moving on and finding a guy that can actually go the distance.” He gave me one more look. “Good luck, kid.”

  I stayed in my seat and watched him walk out. I wasn’t sure why I showed up to the meeting. I already said no, and I said it again. But here I was, listening to him beg me to reconsider.

  Chapter Two

  Liam

  Five Years Earlier…

  After football practice, I headed to the locker room and showered. The guys were talking about the game on Friday night. The cheerleaders from the opposing team were fun to party with—and even more fun to fuck.

  “The girl didn’t even take off her skirt,” Jeremiah said. “And guess what? No panties.” He winked then headed to his locker. Towels wrapped around our waists, we finished changing then grabbed our backpacks. “And this girl was fucking loose. Picture this. Throw a hotdog down a hallway. That’s how slutty this girl was.”

  I slept with five of the girls on the squad, but I wasn’t vocal about it. I wasn’t a saint or even a gentleman, but I didn’t brag about my conquests. Besides, they all blurred together at some point. I loved sex, especially since my hormones were racing. And being the captain of the football team¸ I had a quota.

  “What about you?” Jeremiah asked me. “I saw you with Becky.”

  I shrugged. “We had a good time.”

  He shouldered me. “Come on. Spill it. She good?”

  I shrugged again. “I gotta run. See you later.”

  “What?” Tom asked. “You aren’t going to share the details?”

  I smirked. “You guys are too young.”

  “Whoa…” Jeremiah clapped. “Apparently, we have a lot to learn.”

  “You aren’t men yet,” I said.

  Nathan put his baseball cap on, his hair still wet. He had a huge crush on my sister, and just when he was going to make his move, Derek moved in first. He missed his chance, but I didn’t feel bad for him. You had to go after what you wanted.

  Nathan looked at me. “I heard Derek saying things about Eva…”

  Derek was on the team so I stayed away from him. I never cared for him and thought he was a fucking asshole. I told my sister I didn’t like him but she said she didn’t give a shit. But I stayed away from this topic. I was protective of my sister and didn’t care for locker room talk.

  “I guess they got in a fight about something,” Nathan said. “He was pretty fucked up to her.”

  “What do you mean?” I asked.

  “He yells at her a lot. I saw them going at it behind the bleachers.”

  “Couples fight,” I said dismissively.

  “I don’t know…”

  “What are you saying?” I asked.

  Nathan shook his head. “I don’t know, man. But I don’t like the guy.”

  “Well, he’s a line backer,” Jeremiah said. “He’s not exactly the best on the team.”

  Nathan ignored him. “I just get a bad feeling from him.”

  “Because you want to get your dick wet,” Tom said.

  I turned on him, rage in my eyes. “Talk about her again, and I’ll
smash your skull.”

  Tom backed down and averted his gaze.

  I slammed my locker shut then grabbed my bag. After I stormed off, I headed to my truck in the parking lot.

  Having a hot sister was annoying. It was okay when guys said disgusting shit about girls you weren’t related to, but it was nauseating when it was your flesh and blood.

  And I hated Derek. He was a typical jerk. I wasn’t the greatest guy in the world, but I certainly wasn’t a fucking asshole like he was. Hearing him yell at my sister made me sick. What did she see in that guy? I couldn’t figure it out. Their relationship would burn out eventually and I wouldn’t have to deal with it anymore, but how long would that be?

  I headed home then hit the books. I hated studying and doing my homework, but I wanted to get into college. I wasn’t sure what else to do with my life. And I was good at football, but not a professional athlete. I wouldn’t get a football scholarship. I’d have to get in on my grades alone.

  My parents weren’t home. My mom had a culinary convention during the week, and my dad went with her because they did everything together. Those two were still attached at the hip, an old married couple.

  My phone vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out and looked at the screen.

  Parents R gone. Cum over.

  It was Shelly. She was such a fucking slut. I noticed the way she spelled come. And I was horny. Be there in 15.

  See you soon.

  I left the house then drove to her place. We got down to business and I fucked her on the couch. She and I were just fuck buddies. She was a junior and I was a senior. After a few months, I wouldn’t see her ever again. And I told her that.

  After I got my dick wet, I gave her a quick kiss then headed back to my place.

  My sister’s car was in the driveway, but so was Derek’s.

  God, I hated that guy.

  I came inside then looked in the living room. They weren’t watching TV. Then I heard her audible moans travel down the hallway. I heard those sounds from my partners enough times to recognize it in any setting. My instinct was to get the fuck out because I felt sick to my stomach. Imagining my sister having sex with anyone was unbelievably uncomfortable.

  But I hated Derek.

  The anger burst inside me when I thought about it. He didn’t love her. He didn’t even care about her. I saw him flirt with other girls on campus. I turned a blind eye because my sister never listened to me, but I couldn’t just ignore the rage I felt. My sister was being taken advantage of.

  I stormed down the hallway then burst into her bedroom. Derek was on top of her, the sheet over their bottoms. I kept my eyes focused on him as I grabbed him by the neck.

  Eva screamed. “What the fuck are you doing!”

  I threw Derek on the floor then socked him in the face, over and over.

  My sister pulled the sheet over her body and hid herself.

  “Stay. The. Fuck. Away. From. Her.” Every word was accompanied by a fist into his face.

  “What the fuck?” he yelled. He fought back and made a jab for my stomach.

  I grabbed his neck then squeezed.

  “Stop!” Eva yelled.

  “Leave my sister alone, you piece of shit!” I spit in his face while I watched his face turn red.

  Eva screamed. “Liam, stop!”

  I released him and let him fall back on the floor. He kicked my thigh then knocked me back.

  “Fucking psycho,” he mumbled while he wiped his nose.

  “Get out,” I said while I stared him down.

  “You in love with your sister or something?” He grabbed his clothes and pulled them on. “Fucking sicko.”

  I held my tongue and glared at him.

  “I’m so sorry.” Eva wrapped the sheet around her body and came to him. “I’m so sorry.”

  Derek moved away. “Don’t touch me!”

  “I didn’t know he would be coming home,” she said, fear in her voice.

  He fixed his shirt. “Well, I’m not coming back while this asshole is here.”

  “Good,” I snapped. I indicated to the door for him to leave.

  Derek glared at me as he passed.

  “Derek, no!” my sister shouted.

  I walked behind him then opened the front door.

  Derek spit on my face. “Go fuck yourself.”

  Eva chased after him. “Derek!”

  “Shut up, bitch.” He jumped into his car then took off.

  I wiped the spit off my face, feeling the anger all over again.

  Eva came to me, her eyes breathing fire. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

  “I don’t like him!”

  “That’s too fucking bad,” she snapped. “How dare you barge in my room?”

  “How dare you fuck him in the house?”

  She glared at me. “So, you can sneak girls in the middle of the night and fuck them senseless, but I can’t have my boyfriend over?”

  “It’s different.”

  “Fuck you. No, it isn’t. I can have sex with whoever I want. It’s none of your damn business.” She pulled her hand back and slapped me across the face. “Stay out of my room.”

  I took the hit but felt my fists clench. “He doesn’t give a shit about you. Are you blind? He’s with different girls, he tells all the guys all the shit he does to you, and he has no respect for you if he came here just to get laid. Open your eyes, Eva!”

  She stormed back to her room. “Stay out of my business, Liam! I mean it!”

  “Wait until Mom and Dad here about this.”

  Her eyes widened. “You better not!”

  I never tattled on her, but that’s how much I hated this guy.

  “I will kill you!”

  I held her gaze. “Then break up with him. I get along with everyone but him. There’s obviously a reason why. I’m not just pulling shit out of my ass. Why would you be with someone I hated this much?”

  She shook her head. “You’re being childish.”

  “And you’re being stupid,” I snapped. “Fucking stupid.”

  “You tell them about Derek and I’ll tell them about all your nighttime fuckings.”

  “You think I care?” I snapped. “I don’t care if I get in trouble if it gets rid of Derek. That’s a trade I’m willing to make.”

  She screamed. “I hate you!”

  “I fucking hate you!”

  She walked into her bedroom and slammed her door. “I wish I never had a brother.” Her voice was still loud through the door.

  “I wish my sister wasn’t a fucking whore!”

  She opened her door then chucked her piggy bank at my head. It was heavy and made of metal. I dodged out of the way then heard it land hard against the floor. “Fuck yourself, Liam!” She slammed the door again.

  Pissed off all over again, I grabbed my keys and left the house.

  Chapter Three

  Keira

  It amazed me how behind students were in mathematics. Some of my students were struggling with basic math. How they got into a UC was beyond me, but now I understood why English was their major.

  After a few hours of work, I collected my payment then headed to the house I shared with Liam. I just moved in so I wasn’t used to calling it home. It was odd not driving back to the house anymore. But I bet Scotty loved having his own space to bring over all his bimbos and hoes. We hadn’t talked much since I moved out. Liam and I were caught up in each other.

  When I came home, Liam wasn’t around. His truck was in the driveway, so I knew he was home. He was probably upstairs. After I grabbed a snack, I walked upstairs and heard the shower run. He was inside. Naked.

  Liam changed me into a different person. While I would always carry the weight of my grief, I wasn’t so scared to live anymore. And I never enjoyed sex before him. Finn would thrust into me, just trying to get off. He never made love to me. He never cared how I enjoyed the interaction.

  But Liam was different.

  He excited me in ways I never though
t were possible. I started to open up to him sexually, realizing I wanted him all the time. Sometimes I looked at him and only thought about sex. His body was perfectly sculpted and fine. Every dimension of his body was the result of discipline and strength. I loved running my hand over his body, feeling every groove and valley.

  I wanted to wait until he got out of the shower but I didn’t think I could. Now I was too hot for him. I removed my clothes then walked into his master bathroom. He had a glass door that opened to the running water. When I opened it, I saw him stand under the running water, his eyes closed.

  I stepped inside and shut the door. The sound caught his attention.

  He turned to me. “What a lovely surprise.” He eyed my body, particularly my breasts.

  “I thought you might be lonely.”

  “I’m always lonely when you aren’t here.”

  I stepped closer to him, feeling the warm water soak my hair and skin. My hands moved to his body and felt the chiseled muscles. Liam was a fucking brick house. He was so strong and powerful. I used to be so scared of him, but now I was safe. Those arms would protect me from everything.

  I leaned in and kissed the skin over his heart. I always did this, every morning and every night. It was my silent way of telling him I loved him, that I cherished the blood that pumped through his veins. That he was my whole world, and who without, I would be lost.

  His hand moved to my lower back while he watched me. He squeezed me gently, loving when I made him feel special. I never kissed anyone like that. The first time I did, it was an impulsive act. I felt compelled to cherish him.

  When I returned my look to his eyes, I saw the pain deep within. Something wasn’t right. “What’s on your mind?” I asked.

  His hand moved to my hair, feeling my warm neck underneath. “Nothing worth mentioning.”

  “If it makes you sad, it’s worth mentioning.”

  He smirked slightly then pressed his face close to mine. “Eva’s anniversary is tomorrow.”

  Pain shot through my heart. Now I understood his pained expression. I went through the same thing every year. “I’m sorry.”

  “I know you are.”

  “We should pick the flowers and visit her tomorrow.”