6. Hellena

6

HELLENA

“ A gain!”

“Hng, fuck, Gavin!” I grit through my teeth.

I flow through the series of punches for the hundredth time.

If I wasn’t gasping for breath, I’d have time to think about how similar this feels, the deja vu of training with Evan. Except Gavin is an even more ruthless teacher.

My elbow flares out to the right. I already know I screwed up the hit before he even tells me.

“Lena, watch your form. You have to drive through the hips through the shoulder. Stay tight, no sloppy flailing.”

“Or my punches won’t pack a… PUNCH!” I hit the pad in his hand hard, knocking it back.

“Damn right! Again!”

“Yes, sir,” I salute mockingly, resuming my stance.

I'm drenched in sweat, a combination of exercise and my body’s protest of activity after being injured and laid out for a week. Three days up, and I already feel worlds better, stronger.

But my body went through trauma and I am still healing. Even so, I need to move. Need to do something .

I swing and almost miss, growling in frustration.

“Hey, you asked for this.”

“I know I asked for this, asshole. Doesn’t mean it doesn’t suck,” I gasp. Another combo. This time, I nail it, perfect form, speed, and strength.

Gavin snorts, shaking his head, “You're just as stubborn as your dad.”

“Speaking of which, you never talk about him.” I hit the palm bags in a different sequence.

Yeah, well, there's some stories that are better left in the past. Not that I won’t tell you. It’s just, our lives were different back then. Things were always rough, but simple at the same time, you know?”

“I get that. Do you miss it? Being a merc?” I take a sip of water, take a lap around the room.

“I never really stopped. Working for the Ghosts and the Block and any other underworld client, cleaning up bodies was basically the same thing. Money for illegal work.”

“And my dad?”

“Aside from the fact that he fell off the face of the Earth? Of course I miss him. He was my mentor and my best friend.” It’s easy to forget sometimes that they served together, left the military together, and started their own mercenary team.

Gavin’s a good ten years younger than Damon, a fact that makes our age difference a little less weird.

Not that I ever cared. I know it bothered Gavin for a while, or got in the way of his realizing what was good for him.

“Do you miss the excitement?”

“Well, I did from time to time. But then a chaos-prone, booty-short wearing woman took over my house and pulled me into a whirlwind of danger and intrigue again, so…” He chuckles, swatting my fists out of the air as I try to strike again.

“You loved my booty shorts when I cleaned the house.”

“I love it more when you don’t wear anything.”

“I knew you were spying on me…”

“Focus. I thought we were training?”

“Ha! Did it feel good, jerking off, watching me on surveillance?”

Gavin’s face goes red.

“Not as good as the real thing … ”

“Something about knowing that you were watching me, though… I couldn’t resist taking it all off for you.”

“Welp. That’s good enough for today. Don’t want you to wear yourself out,” he rattles off, blowing out a long, heated sigh.

I chase after him, laughing. “I’ll tell you when I’m done !”

Gavin adjusts himself through his sweatpants, and I can’t help looking down, biting my lip and shaking my hips a bit. He’s fucking hot.

“I suppose I should save a little energy for other… endeavors .”

“Keep that up and we’ll start another round of something…”

“Don't make promises you can't keep,” I sing over my shoulder, walking toward the stairs. “Shower time!” Already, I feel more confident, more capable.

Ever since my ordeal, I've felt weak. Not just because of my injury, but I’ve felt scared. Defenseless.

So, we both agreed it was worth the while for Gavin to train me in some self-defense. Not that it will protect me from a gunshot, but it makes me feel more able, all the same.

Additionally, he says it will help the wound heal better to work out my muscles and stay active. We just have to be careful not to overdo it.

Typical Gavin.

Tough, yet caring.

He expects as much of me as I do myself, and I can’t say how much that means to me. Plus, he's a damn good trainer and teacher. Even if it does remind me of Evan at times, which might or might not get me in a mood to bite his head off.

Not to mention the fact that I am going stir crazy being cooped up. Even with the occasional walks we take outside, I haven’t been back to any sort of civilization in what feels like forever.

Yes, I am a drama queen.

Three days of being awake is not that long.

Gavin slips up behind me, curling an arm around my waist and pulling me back into him before I can get away. He’s spectacularly strong.

“Hey, you know you're doing really well. We'll get you in ass-kicking shape in no time.”

“You don’t like my shape? Or my ass?” I pout, trying not to smile.

“Oh, I love every bit of it. Especially that sweet ass. I just want you to protect it in a pinch.”

“Pinch away. I can already kick your ass.”

“Is that right?” he says, spinning me in his arms, tugging me close against his chest. I inhale, letting him feel my breasts press into him. “And how would you do that?”

“Well, I would seduce you, of course. And you would be completely at my mercy. Nothing you can do to stop it, actually.”

“You may have me there,” Gavin rumbles against my cheek as he brushes along my face, nudging me into position to claim my lips with his.

It’s cataclysmic, the way his mouth feels on mine.

Our tongues curl into each other’s mouth, tasting, teasing. He’s always gentle with me, but there's a fiery passion rumbling under that calm.

Gavin Rorshak is an earthquake, a rumbling tremor rolling through me. Powerful. Unique. So exquisite.

“Let me shower and then show you what I mean.”

“If you take too long in there, I'm coming in after you.”

“Promises, promises, promises.” I slip out of his grip and trot upstairs, eager to be clean so we can get dirty. We’ve been at it a few times, taking it slow because of my injury, but it’s overdue for us to really get into it.

Being out here with him has been wonderful, but I am bored out of my mind.

TV and movies are fine and all, but I can’t use my phone, at least until Evan gets me a new burner phone. So all that’s left to do is fool around with my safe house roommate.

Who is also the one who won’t let me do anything on my own, yet.

The overprotectiveness is getting a little irritating.

Gavin isn’t wrong to feel that way. We don't know who this shooter is. We don’t know who is after me.

But I'm a grown woman. I'm tough and I'm smart.

“Yeah, well, tough and smart won't do shit against a bullet.” I hear Gavin's words echo through my head again.

The saving grace, and what has me rushing through my shower even more than sex with Gavin, is the fact that Tell is coming back today. I can’t wait to see him!

Especially since the last time I saw him, he ran off to throw himself in harm's way to cover my escape.

After setting off a bomb as a distraction.

I have so much I want to say, so much I want to ask.

But more than that, I just want to look at him, touch him, kiss him, hold him, and I want him to make me laugh. I need a little bit of levity after everything that's been going on. He’s pure joy, and I need a dose of it, STAT!

Wrapping myself in a towel I’m halfway to my room when the door downstairs opens, slamming shut a second later. I’m dashing for the stairs a second after that.

“TELL!” I dive off the third step. “I’ve missed you!”

“Hellen—AH!” He yelps, catching me and spinning me around like I weigh nothing. Just like Gavin and Evan, Tell knows exactly how to make me feel impossibly sexy and wanted.

Not that there’s ever been a question of whether he did.

Ever since I met Tell, he’s wanted every inch of my curvaceous body, putting so many of my insecurities to rest.

It doesn’t hurt that Tell is unbelievably tall, holding me a full foot off the floor. Fucking. Hot.

Don’t ask me why.

I feel him inhale, breathing me in.

“Sorry, my hair's still soaked. “

“It's okay, I don't care. Soak me!”

“Only if you promise to soak me back,” I purr into his neck, nipping at his skin and licking his ear. He laughs, setting me down and backing away.

His emerald eyes explore me, check me over head to toe before he dives in for a kiss, a soft moan slipping out of both of our lips as an electric zap shocks through me, down to my core and back.

The kiss is long, deep, and chock full of everything each of us wants to say.

Tell is like a buzz I can ride the entire time I’m with him, ever since the first minute we met at that stupid fucking frat party. He’s intoxicating.

After a few more seconds, he lets me go, letting me guide him to the couch. I flop down, curling into his chest and grumbling a series of happy sounds.

“Careful Tell, she’s turning into a cat. All she wants to do is snuggle, eat, and she spends all her time naked.” Gavin makes his way downstairs fully clothed, making me realize I'm still wrapped in my towel. Shivering slightly, I drag the throw blanket over my legs.

“Just in time for my return!” Tell cheers, chuckling, rubbing my skin under the covers.

Gavin growls a little in frustration, clearly as disappointed at not having a chance to have me right now. I’ll have to make it up to him.

In the meantime, I bask in the glow of being around not one, but two of my favorite people.

This is more than a desire. I need both of them near me. With me.

My heart can’t take it.

Who am I kidding? This is heaven!

“Tell me everything !” I demand.

“There’s so much. And also not that much, unfortunately.” The second statement is more for Gavin, who sits across from us on the armchair.

“Everything’s still quiet?”

“Sort of. I can’t seem to get much from my usual sources. One thing is for sure… city hall and the Sinful are MIA. Sanctum is on a fast track to full meltdown.”

The news creases my forehead, souring my mood just a touch.

“We predicted that might happen…” Gavin mutters.

“Right. Which is why Evan has been knee-deep in favors, trying everything he can to keep the governing types here, from pulling out and bailing on the regular folk. He’s calling in favors, too, to help keep people employed, businesses running. It hides the fact that things aren’t normal, for the average populace, at least.”

“So, no riots yet. That’s good.”

“That’s what we’re calling good these days?” I ask, my shoulders slumping. “A girl goes comatose for a week and everything goes to shit.”

“It gets worse, if that makes you feel any better!”

“Why would that make me feel better?”

“I don’t know. Keeps hope alive that things keep changing, so they could totally bounce back!”

“Ever the optimist!” I quip, burying my head on his shoulder.

“So, what’s the bad news?” Gavin interrupts, leaning his elbows on his knees.

“My dad’s missing.”

“The mayor's missing?” He stares blankly at Tell for a second. “Shit, sorry. I mean, your dad. Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. I’m less torn up about the fact that my dad’s gone than the leader and face of the town vanishing into thin air,” Tell admits, running a hand through his hair. “Helps that I found out my mom and sis got out of town before that, so I think they’re safe, at least.”

“I’m so sorry, Tell. How could they not let you know?” I ask, looking up into those striking green eyes.

“Eh. Not that surprising. Tyler Jr. is a shut-in. They probably figured I’d panic or refuse to go, anyway. Or maybe my dad thought he would be able to contact me, have me help hack some computer shit for him. Or maybe they just didn’t trust me. Just speculating, though.”

“So you think someone took him?”

“Unless it’s a cover story and he left with my family, there’s no way Tyler Vanderberg just disappeared. He’s too proud for that. He’d put up a fight, let someone know something.”

“You’re sure?”

“Oh, yeah, and his safe was still full of money. No way he’d leave that.”

I squeeze Tell’s hand, basking in his warmth.

Looking over at Gavin, I realize that he's dressed to shoot, his boots on. “Are you going somewhere?”

“Yeah, I've gotta head into town for a few things, and then I need to go meet Evan.” Gavin holds up one of the new cellphones that Tell left on the coffee table. “Apparently, he found some place he wants me to go check out with him.”

“He said he found something after I left the other day, but I’ve been all over town trying to find out news about my folks. Did he say what?”

“It’s Evan,” Gavin says flatly, tossing up his hands.

“Of course he didn’t.”

“Can I come?” I ask, perking up.

“Hellena.”

“Come on! I've been stuck in this house for days. I'm going nuts.”

Tell grimaces. I can see that he wants to agree with Gavin. “I know. I promise, we'll… we'll see about getting you out of here soon. But you know, we still don't know who the shooter is. They could still be out there waiting for you to show up in Sanctum.”

“So, I'm supposed to just stay here, living in fear? That's why I have you guys to protect me. Big, strong men.” I gesture to each of them in turn.

“Big, strong men aside, you need to heal. And I'd like to spend a little more time training you, if possible.”

“I can help with that,” Tell chimes in. “There’s a few things I thought of that you can really benefit from.”

“See? Boredom gone.” Gavin laughs, getting up. “Enjoy spending some time together while you’re at it. I’ll be back in a few days, maybe sooner. I’ll check in, either way.”

Before he can make the door, I’m up and across the room, scooped up in his massive, leather jacket-clad arms. We share a deep, slow kiss.

“Be safe out there, please. If someone is gunning for me, they might be after you too. Not to mention the Ghosts and the Block might have a grudge to settle with you.”

“I’ll be careful. Evan’s got my six.” His warmth leaves me longing as he steps out, locking the door.