Deep (Heavy Hearts Book 2) by Sarah Duncan (red seas under red skies txt) 📗

sitting between his lips. Taking a deep drag, he blows the smoke to the side before speaking again, “Pretty girl. I’ve come a long way to visit you. You really need to work on your people skills.”

“What the fuck do you want?” I still haven’t moved. I don’t want him to see an ounce of fear from me, even though I’m scared shitless right now.

“Where’s lover boy?”

“Busy. Now fuck off!”

Muz chuckles before shooting me a smile that’s nowhere near nice and then lifts his shirt so I can see the gun tucked into the front of his black jeans. He did the same move when Ayden and I ran into him in Melbourne a few weeks ago.

“I’ll ask again. Where’s Aydo?” His raspy voice sounds less impressed this time.

I shouldn’t poke the bear, but I do because I’m sick of these arseholes trying to control me with violence and threats. I can play that game too!

“And I’ll tell you again, he’s busy. Now fuck off!”

Muz moves fast, tugging the gun out and aiming it at my head. My heart just about leaps through my chest as I look down the barrel of what looks like the same gun he pulled on Ayden and me last time. Then… I lose my mind.

With heavy breathing, a heart that’s ready to burst, and legs that shake ever so slightly, I take a step forward so the barrel of the gun presses against my forehead.

“Do it!” I hiss through my teeth.

“Pretty girl, what are you doing?” His dark bushy brows draw together in confusion.

“I’m making this easy for you. Pull the fucking trigger and put everyone out of their misery already.”

My words make him flinch before he frowns again. He takes a step back but doesn’t drop the gun, so I step forward, pushing my head against the barrel again.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” He growls and steps back again.

“What’s my problem?” I ask, anger consuming me. “What’s my fucking problem?” I scream, stepping forward into the barrel again. “You are my fucking problem! People like you are! I’m fucking sick of arseholes like you who think it’s okay to control people with violence, especially women! Fuck you Muz! Fucking pull the trigger or fuck off!”

Muz is static. Not moving, face blank in shock. Then he lowers his arm and the gun and drops his head back in laughter.

“Aydo’s a lucky son of a bitch to have snagged you. I never thought I’d say this, but I’m jealous as fuck.”

My shoulders slump, and I sigh. “Muz, I’m serious. Ayden’s busy. You need to leave.” Turning my back on him then, I step back to the bag and start my punching combination.

Movement out of the corner of my eye drags my attention away from the bag, and I watch Muz sink down onto the battered couch along the side wall.

“What are you doing?”

“Sitting. Waiting.” Muz says simply, “You need to widen your stance. It will give you better balance and control.”

“My brows shoot up. “You’re giving me boxing advice?”

“Use it. Don’t use it. What do I care?” Muz says, his voice slurring slightly with tiredness. His olive skin seems paler than the last time I saw him, and the dark shadows under his eyes indicate that he’s either not well or hasn’t slept in a while. I can sympathise with the latter.

“Did I say you could sit there?” I snap, and he grins up at me from the couch as he lays back in the corner, looking like a lazy king on his throne.

“I don’t need your permission, pretty girl.”

I throw my hands up in frustration. “How about you tell me why you want to see Ayden, and I’ll pass the message on? I’m sure he has your number or something.”

“Nope. I’ll wait. Where is he? Work or school?”

“None of your damn business.” I throw him a dagger that doesn’t bother him in the slightest.

“That’s where you’re wrong. Aydo is my business.”

“Care to explain?” I ask, wanting to know more. I can’t for the life of me figure out why he’s here in Fox Pines.

“Not really.” He yawns. “Why aren’t you scared of me?”

His question takes me by surprise. The fact that he doesn’t think I’m scared of him means my acting skills have improved tenfold. Maybe I have a future as an actress?

“The real question is, why aren’t you scared of me?” I ask.

A deep gravelly belly laugh rips from Muz, his hand slapping over his tummy like the act causes him pain. Shit, maybe he’s injured.

“You’re fucking hilarious, you know that?” Muz chuckles. “I can see through it, though. You’re deflecting. You’re very good at it.”

I shrug. “It’s a skill that can’t be taught.”

That makes him laugh again. I’m on a roll here. Maybe I should be a comedian instead of an actress?

“Tell me, Lexi, why aren’t you at school?”

I shrug, “They couldn’t handle me, I guess.”

He laughs again. Yep. Comedian it is.

“You drop out?”

“No! Just taking some time off.” It’s a half-truth, right?

“Really? By choice?” He looks smug, his grin revealing a missing tooth in the upper left side of his mouth. That’s new.

“Nope.” I start hitting the bag again. Muz is obviously going to stay even if I don’t want him to.

“Damn girl, you get suspended or something?”

“Or something.” My vagueness makes him chuckle.

“You really are a surprise, Lexi. Aydo’s a lucky guy to have you.”

“He doesn’t,” I say the words before I can consider the consequences.

“Trouble in paradise? What happened?”

“You happened!” I snap and grab at my gloves, trying to rip them off.

“Me? What did I do?”

“Really? What did you do?” I growl, finally freeing one hand and tossing the glove at his head. He dodges it, smiling. “You forced Ayden to snort that shit. He was fucking clean, and you destroyed him!” I’m yelling now, my temper at the surface, ready to kill.

“I gave him options, pretty girl. Not my fault he chose badly.”

My other glove meets his head this time, and it gives me a brief