Fighting for her Life

Chapter 17 - Skye

I have been ignoring my brother's call all week and realize I need to answer him soon, or he will come to my home where he is most definitely not welcome.  On Wednesday night on my way home from the gym he calls me again and I figure it is time to figure out what he wants; "What is it, Mason?" I ask needing him to get to the point.

"Wow, I try to call you all week and that's what I get!"

"I saw you a couple of months ago so we should be good, why are you calling me?" My irritation is full blown since I don’t do small talk with my brother.

"I want to meet up with you this week.  I have something to discuss with you and I would love to do it in person if you are too busy I can come to you?"

"No need to come to me, when do you want to meet?"

"Tomorrow at six.  I will meet you and that same restaurant we met the last time."

"Fine, this better be important!"

"You ever going to let go of the chip on your shoulder? I'm your brother Skye and I love you even if the feeling is only one sided."

"See you tomorrow Mason." The rest of the way home I am so not in the greatest of moods and I am glad Jess is out with a client tonight.

Skye

The next morning my mood hasn’t changed, and I am looking forward to my time in the gym.  I get there before Johnny and start working out on the bags. When Johnny comes in, I gather he's asking the guy that opened up how long I've been here and makes his way over to me.

"Morning, what has you up and here so early?"

"Just needed some time to clear my mind, take your time I recognize you have other things to do before our training time." I continue working the bag and Jess stops the bag.

"What's up Skye?  You look like you've been at it pretty hard already, so talk to me." This is not something I am going to talk to Johnny about, so I answer as truthfully as possible. "Just a bad night and I had some extra energy I need to burn off, nothing to worry about." I smile as best as I can.

"Okay well give me 10 and I'll be back to train." He doesn't believe me, but he won't push me for more information, which is one of the things I love about him.

"Take your time."

Once Johnny is back, we head for the ring I am so full of anger that I am not holding back and have knock Johnny on his ass more than a few times. My anger blinds me and my head is so full of my brother and what he can want.  Johnny is focused on proving that my head is somewhere else and sweeps my legs out from under me and pins me to the mat.

"What the f**k is going on with you Skye?! You need to talk to me." Adrenaline leaves my body I feel so exhausted.

"Sorry Johnny.  This is personal and something I need to work through on my own." He looks like I punched him harder than I have been moments ago, he lets me up and I head for the shower to prepare work.

Jess is out of the office all day.  He has meetings with clients and working on some new business.  If he finishes earlier than he expects he said he would come by. We haven't spent the last couple of nights together and he says he can't sleep without me in his arms.  Thinking of Jess makes me so happy and sad at the same time.  I have not told him about my brother, he knows that I have a brother and that we were never close but that was about all I told him.  As pushy and bossy as he is he never pushed me for more information, he seems okay with a general description of my family.  Part of me is scared that he will realize that my brother was right, and I deserved what happened, logically I know I didn’t, I know Jess cares for me, but will that be enough for him to stay with me?  I love him so much and will be crushed if he leaves me just like Tommy and Mason. Even if Mason was what really hurt.

After work I head to the restaurant and pray this is going to be quick and painless.  As I walk into the restaurant, I see my brother sitting in a corner and his back is to me, he already has a drink in his hand when I approach, he stands and reaches out like he's going to give me a hug and then thinks better of it.

"Hi Mason, didn't we just get together?  Is something wrong?  Mom and dad, okay?" I need him to get to the point fast since I always feel jumpy and uncomfortable around Mason.

"Hi Skye.  It's nice to see you, you look good."

The waitress comes over and I order a shot of Patron Silver and Mason gives me a disapproving glance.  I hate being near him because he makes me remember how he made me suffer so long ago, I cannot help feeling like that girl all over again.

"I wanted to tell you Stephanie and I are getting married." The waitress approaches and before she leaves, I order another shot.

"Congrats I wish you both all the best!" I plaster the biggest smile on my face, now that he said what he needed to tell me I get up to leave, but he stops me by grabbing me.

"Skye, why is everything with you so difficult?  I have tried to be nice, to have you in my life, but you just put up your walls, shut everyone and everything out.  You don’t even have a social life, you go to work, then later you go home, is that the life you really want to live?" My back straightens and my hands automatically become fists because I really want to say something, but I don't because he makes me feel like a child so I wait for him to continue.

"We would love for you to be in the wedding party and Stephanie agrees you should be her Maid-of-Honor since you’re my sister, she doesn't have anyone that close to her.  Mom and dad will be flying in and seeing you next to us would make them so happy, it would make me happy too." At this point I have had two more shots and have torn my napkin into tiny little pieces, f**k I hate how he makes me feel.  He must be joking right now; I can never forget or forgive him for what he did to me all those years ago.

"I can’t. I just can't Mason." I am looking at my hands and notice that their shaking, so I place them on my lap.

"Skye -"

Jess

My meeting finished earlier than expected and I want to surprise Skye, so I stop into the restaurant around the corner from the office that is normally quiet.  Figuring they can prepare me a take-out bag in record time and then home to my girl.  When I walk in, I am taken by surprise when I see Skye at a table in the back corner with a guy.  I thought she was going to the gym after work she never mentioned anything about meeting someone for dinner, but I have been out of the office all day maybe she was going to tell me when she saw me tonight.  The caveman in me is telling me to go over there and demand to know what is happening. As I was about to make my way over; I notice something is not right.  Skye is looking scared and uncomfortable whatever she is talking about with this asshole is upsetting her, so I stand back and watch her for a moment. When she tries to get up, he stops her, and she sits back down.  What the f**k? Who is this guy? Is he from the underground fight club that called her the other day?  Is she now over her head and can't get out? There are too many questions running through my head.  I am not liking the look of my girl face, time to step in and deal with the repercussions after I get her home.  I gain my composure, make my way over and Skye doesn't hear me approach until I am at the table.

"Hi Sweetheart, I didn't realize you had plans tonight!" I lean in and give her a kiss, the look of shock is visible not only to her be but the asshole sitting at the table.

"Jess, hi what are you doing here?  I thought you had a meeting that was going to run late." I study her, try to read what is running through her pretty head.

"The meeting wrapped up early.  Thought I would grab us some dinner and surprise you at home when you got in from the gym."  I hear the guy mumble something but don't catch it, so I turn to him and introduce myself.

"Hi, sorry that is very rude of me, I'm Jess Royal." He doesn't take my hand right away and immediately starts laughing.

"Hi, I'm Mason, Skye's brother." Now I understand why she is so tense, but I keep myself in check because Skye has not opened up about this asshole yet.

"Well it's finally nice to meet Skye's brother."

"You had no idea I existed did you?" This guy is pushing me but before I lose my cool, I feel Skye's hand in mine, I turn to look at her and she is pleading with me with just her eyes.

"Actually she has mentioned you before, which is why I said nice to finally meet you."

"No man, if she did you wouldn't have said that at all.  If you don't mind though we were in the middle of having a family discussion." I glance to Skye as she stands beside me.  Another voice is heard from across the room, and I feel the tension grow in Skye, she looks like she is going to get sick any moment.

"Best Man in the House!"  the guy is screaming, and I see him heading our way, something in Skye snaps she lets go of my hand and leans on the table.

"Are you kidding me Mason?!  You invited Tommy here tonight? Did you actually think I would agree to be in the wedding party and be match up with him?" My girl is seething, I have never seen her like this before.

"I told you Skye, you need to move on and let s**t go, it was a long time ago people grow up. " Skye turns to walk away and he grabs her arm, I can’t hold my temper in any longer.

"Get your f*****g hands off her! The only hands that can touch her is mine, now remove them or I will!" I growl and bring Skye by my side; Skye finds her composure, looks at me with love in her eyes shining bright.

"It's okay Jess." She turns around, at this point the other guy has just approached the table.

"s**t, is that you Skye? Wow you sure did grow up!" As he steps toward her, I step in front of him block off his view.

"Easy man.  Skye and I grew up together, I'm Tommy."  I shake his hand and Skye is now visibly shaking.

"Sweetheart, are you okay?" I whisper in her ear and she shakes her head, it time for me to get her out of here.

"Well guys nice to meet you but Skye and I have dinner to get home before it gets cold." I wrap my arm around Skye's waist, something shifted in her, and she leans in towards her brother but looks into this guy Tommy's eyes.

"Hey Mason!"

"Yeah, Skye?" He is studying at her like he is not sure what is about to happen, I stand there because this Skye I recognize she has determination in those eyes of hers, that wasn't there just a few seconds ago.

"Are you sure she said yes?" Both guys pale with her words and she turns to me; "Are you ready to go home Jess?" I smile at my girl that she looks stronger than she did a few moments ago.

"Sweetheart, I'm always ready to go home with you." With that we walk out of the restaurant.