His Gymnast by Darcy Rose

4

Knox

After tellingher I’d think about it, I went and dropped Cash and Kane off, then came back. I’ve been watching her serve food, bus tables, and sweep the floor all night. When she finally exits, I slump in my seat, hoping she won’t see me when she walks by.

Within minutes, the bus pulls up, and she hops on. I follow it through downtown, watching every person who exits at every stop until it comes up to its final stop by a nice, well-kept residential neighborhood. For someone begging for protection, I never expected her to live in such a nice place.

I creep behind her slowly, making sure my lights are off, and I don’t hit the gas too hard and make the engine roar. I don’t want her to see me. Not yet, anyway. After walking a couple of blocks, she turns off the sidewalk and starts up the steps of a basic two-story home.

As soon as she makes it to the door, her body language changes. It’s so drastic that even I can see it from across the street. Her head dips low, her shoulders slump, and she moves slower. There is no pep in her step like before at the restaurant, and it makes me wonder just what’s waiting behind her doors and who gave her the wicked bruise on her arm.

Maybe a boyfriend? Because a girl like her is bound to have a boyfriend. I mean, why wouldn’t she? She’s beautiful and seems like the type of woman normal men would like.

I try to keep my eyes on her as she steps inside and closes the door behind her, but dark curtains shield the windows and give me no sight inside. Normally, at this point, I would say fuck it and leave, but something inside me won’t let me put my car into drive and go.

I pull my phone from my pocket, keeping my eyes glued to her place even though I can’t see, and dial Ace’s number. He’s my eldest brother and now head of the family. If anyone can dig up dirt on someone, it’s him. And something about this girl isn’t sitting right with me.

I’m not sure if it’s how she had zero care in the world when walking up to us or the way her eyes shone with curiosity. It’s dumb to think she doesn’t know us because everyone knows who we are, but that—along with the bruises on her pale skin—makes me think maybe she’s dealing with an even bigger monster than me. Usually, I wouldn’t bother even entertaining the idea of helping someone like her, but if she had the balls to ask someone like me—someone who isn’t the slightest bit approachable—then it must be bad. Maybe I’m feeling a bit soft because I’m actually considering giving her what she asked for.

The phone rings three times before Ace’s voice booms through the receiver. “Knox.” It’s the only greeting I get.

“I need something.”

I hear muffled sounds as though he’s moving around before he speaks again. “What is it?”

“There is this girl. All I have is her name, address, and work address. Something isn’t right, and I want to check her out before I agree to something.” I try to make the last statement nonchalantly, but I know better. Ace isn’t the head of the family now because he lets shit slide.

“Agree to what?” He sounds almost angry, like why would I do something without keeping him in the loop.

“Protection. She needs protection.”

He chuckles. “Protection or a hit man? You’re only good at one thing and one thing only, and we all know it isn’t knitting.”

I roll my eyes. “Whatever. Are you going to help me or not?”

There is a beat of silence from him. “Fine. What's her name?”

“Aria.” Her name rolls off my tongue with ease.

“Address?”

“Four thirty-two Terrace Way.”

“Terrace Way?” I can hear the confusion in his voice.

“That’s what I said, isn’t it?”

“Huh. Just odd that someone living in one of the nicer parts of town would need protection. You think we’ll need a racket?”

My blood starts to simmer in my veins. I’ll be damned if my brothers weasel their way into this. “There is no we. I will handle this if everything checks out.”

“Easy, killer. I’d start to think maybe you like this girl.” He laughs.

I know it must seem fucking hilarious to him because I only keep women around long enough to fuck them and nothing else. Feelings are a foreign concept to me. Something I’ve never worried about developing.

I ignore his statement. “Just let me know what you find.”

“Give me till morning.”

I hang up without another word.

* * *

I didn’t sleepat all last night, which isn’t unusual. Sleep has never been my friend. It’s more like a fleeting thought than anything else. When it comes, it’s never for long, but there are many nights it doesn’t come at all.

Since I had nothing better to do, I stayed outside Aria’s house watching, waiting to see if the curtains would ever open again or she would leave, but I saw neither. Not until around seven the following morning. A short man with thinning hair and a fat beer belly finally moves the dark fabric blocking the windows, giving me a perfect view inside.

I thought I would see Aria moving around, getting ready for her day, or maybe eating breakfast at the table positioned in front of the windows, but I don’t. She never came into sight, which makes me wonder where she could be. I know for a fact she never left because I watched her house all night.

My thoughts are quickly answered when she appears for a split second before pulling the door open and exiting the house. She looks different today. She has a black duffel bag gripped in her hand, her hair in a high bun on top of her head, skintight leggings wrap around her toned legs, and a T-shirt that's cut to fall off one shoulder, showing her bright pink sports bra. Normally, I don’t focus on anyone long enough to even tell you the color of their eyes, but with her, I never want to stop looking. I could stare at her body all day.

With her in view, I start my car and creep behind her the same way I did last night as she walks. She follows the same path, staying on the sidewalk until she makes it to the bus stop two blocks away. When she steps on, I pick up my speed behind and follow her in the opposite direction of Rigatoni’s.

After a few minutes, the bus makes its second stop, and she appears again. I pull onto the side of the road and kill my engine as she crosses the street and enters a gym.

Glass takes up the entire front of the building, giving me the perfect view of her as she walks inside. When she strides inside a room off the front, tiny humans swarm her, hugging her thighs with smiles on their faces. I’ve never much liked kids, but even I can admit it’s kind of cute to see them so happy when she walks into the room.

I watch her lips moving as she claps her hands together and starts pointing at different spots on the floor in the open room. The kids scurry, each one taking a different place, then look at her for direction. When she stretches and moves her body, they do the same.

I’m so engrossed in watching her touch her toes I don’t even notice my phone vibrating on the dash. The dim light coming from the screen is what grabs my attention.

I pick up the device, hit answer, then bring it to my ear. “Ace.” I greet my brother the same way he greets me.

“I looked into the girl, and she’s clean. The only thing I was able to dig up was some old news articles from when she was in high school. She was supposed to get some badass scholarship but landed wrong after a flip and tore her ACL along with some other shit, ending her being a gymnast. But she has no criminal background. She’s squeaky fucking clean and works two jobs. She’s a normal broad.”

They say those who can’t do teach, and suddenly, it all makes sense why she’s teaching these kids. “Great. Thanks.” I end the call.

For a minute, I thought Aria was only asking for help for some underlying reason. Like maybe she was close with one of my family's many enemies, but seeing as she has no criminal history, I doubt it.

As the class she teaches ends and the kids all disappear, I wait for Aria to come outside before I step out of my car. I sprint across the street and come up behind her, push her into an alley, and clamp one hand over her mouth and the other over her arm. I can hear the scream bubbling in her throat, but when I turn her around, keeping her arm clasped in my hand, and her eyes lock to mine, it dies. It’s almost as if she knows I won’t hurt her.

I drop my hold on her mouth. “Tell me why you need help.” I don’t bother with formalities. She knows who the fuck I am and what I’m talking about.

She shakes her head and points her eyes anywhere but on me. “It-it was stupid to ask. I changed my mind.” Her voice is shaky, not at all like last night. “I don’t need protection anymore.” The lie doesn't roll off her tongue with ease. She must be one of those people who rather stick to the truth, something I highly value in a person. I hate fucking liars, but I don’t hate her right now because I know she’s scared, and that’s the only reason she’s keeping something from me.

I narrow my eyes and stare at her, waiting for her to say something else, but she stays silent. “Fine. If you say so.”

I drop my hold on her arm and turn, watching her hurry from the alley and on to the bus at the stop. If she doesn’t want to tell me, I’ll figure it out myself. I’m already too obsessed with her to walk away now.

Annoyed, I race back across the street and slip into my car, wasting no time putting the key in the ignition, starting it, and peeling off.