The Fighter's Block Read online

  The Fighter’s Block

  By Hadley Quinn

  Copyright © 2012 by Hadley Quinn

  The events and characters portrayed in this work are entirely fictitious and of the author’s imagination. Any similarity to real persons, living or deceased, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

  A love worth fighting for leads to a life worth living…

  Chapter One

  Indigo Lounge was bustling as usual on a Friday night. The location of the club assured that it always remained lively on the weekends, and comfortable for the slower paced on the weekdays. It sat in the middle of 2 Avenue, neighbored by several other social establishments, and the area promised that there was something for everyone.

  Donavan Kemp didn’t feel the promise of anything that night, not anymore, and he stepped out of Indigo sometime around midnight. He unbuttoned another button on his shirt, now with the top three to open his chest to more air. It had been hot as hell inside the club and he felt much better as he fanned himself with his shirt a few times.

  He took a deep breath and slowly released it, making his way into the sidewalk traffic. He waited while a couple breezed by him, drunk and barely noticing that they’d almost knocked into him. He watched them for a few seconds until he could feel his phone ringing in his pocket.

  “Van, where’d you go, man?” Quincy shouted.

  Van could tell that the club was still loud as ever, especially since he could hear the walls thumping from the sidewalk as he walked down the street.

  “I’m heading home,” he replied, taking a left at the corner.

  “What!? It’s only midnight!”

  “I know, but I got stuff to do in the morning.”

  “Bullshit! Get your ass back in here!”

  Van chuckled. “I’ll see you Monday, Q. Make sure you go home to the right place this time, okay?”

  Quincy laughed, but while he was offering more to the conversation, Van wasn’t listening any longer. He had pulled his keys out as he got closer to the parking lot, but something caught his eye and he slowed.

  “Uh, Q, I gotta go,” he interrupted his friend, and then hung up.

  The girl had her back to him, but he could tell by her body language that something wasn’t right. She was sitting on a brick planter that ran along the side of the club, shoulders slumped with her slender arms wrapped around herself, and Van thought she might be crying.

  “Uh, excuse me. Miss? Are you okay?”

  She startled somewhat but hardly glanced his way. She turned her back to him even more when she stood, but not so she couldn’t see him in her peripheral.

  Van looked her over quickly, recognizing her clothes. He’d seen that skirt and those legs before, probably an hour ago, and from what he remembered of the moment, he got a bad feeling.

  “Can I help you with anything?” he tried again. But this time he walked around her so they were facing each other, and even though the streetlight from the corner barely offered much, he could see enough.

  “Jesus, what happened to you?” he asked, stepping closer to her.

  He could tell she’d been hit in the face, and the mark that was left had welted just slightly. Van was all too familiar with battle wounds, and whereas he normally wouldn’t have blinked an eye at her injury, it looked completely wrong against her otherwise flawless face.

  “Nothing,” she finally replied. “It’s nothing—”

  “That’s not nothing,” he said.

  He tried to approach her, but she stepped away defensively.

  “I’m not gonna hurt you; I want to make sure you’re okay.” He realized just his presence could intimidate someone, and this time wasn’t any different. His six-one frame wasn’t towering, especially over this girl, but he was aware that she was already afraid of him.

  “I’m- I’m fine,” she replied, touching the side of her cheek with the back of her hand. She barely looked at him except to keep an eye on his movements, but his voice was deep and gentle, and the way he kept his distance told her he was trying to be respectful. However, she wasn’t in the best state of mind to be approached by this stranger, helpful or not.

  “Well what are you doing out here by yourself?” Van asked her. “This isn’t exactly a safe place to be by yourself this time of night.”

  She scoffed, almost laughing at the irony. It apparently wasn’t safe being with other people, either. But she decided against that particular retort and she turned to face him better. Her voice caught in her throat and the words wouldn’t come out. Something about him, his solid presence maybe, made her immobile. Maybe it was the way he was standing, casual yet totally in control of anything he wanted to be in control of.

  She finally swallowed, unnoticeably she hoped. “I… Well, do you have a phone I could use?”

  Van noticed her empty hands, thinking it unusual that she didn’t even have a purse. But the fact that she wasn’t holding anything might have been why he could tell her hands were shaking.

  “Did you get mugged or something?” he asked, handing over his phone. He held it out to her for the taking so he didn’t make her feel uncomfortable by stepping towards her.

  “Um, no, not exactly,” she replied.

  Her hands were even shakier as she took the phone, but before Van could offer to make the call for her, or call her a cab, another figure appeared from the parking lot. The scene was already played out in Van’s head before the guy even said, “Who the fuck are you? Get away from my girl!”

  Van let the guy shove a forearm into his chest and he took a step back.

  One, Van counted to himself.

  “Brian, please don’t,” she said before she could make a call.

  “Did you do that?” Van asked the guy, motioning to her cheek.

  “Eat me, dickhead. Get out of my business.” The guy grabbed her arm, causing her to drop the phone, and said, “Get in the fucking car, Dani!”

  “Hey, don’t talk to her like that,” Van warned him.

  “Or what, asshole. Mind your own damn business!” He went to grab her again but Van stepped in his way. He shoved Van in the chest with both hands and said, “You’d better watch it, man!”

  Two, Van counted. “I think you’re the one that needs to watch it,” he told him evenly. “Just turn around and leave and you can save yourself a lot of trouble.”

  Brian laughed. “Not a good night to play hero, shithead. I’m in a pissy mood, so don’t fuck with me.”

  “You beat up on girls. You really think I’m gonna let her go with you?”

  “Do I think—?” Brian laughed, too arrogant to realize what he was up against. “Do I think she’s coming home with me? Yeah, she is. So get the fuck out of my way.”

  Dani stepped around Van, feeling like she owed it to him to let him out of the bind he was in. She only wanted to find a different ride home, and now things had gotten way out of hand. She didn’t want this guy to be stuck in the middle of her mess. “It’s okay,” she told Van. “You should leave.”

  Van shook his head at her. “You don’t have to go with him. In fact, why don’t you just take my truck right now and leave.” He handed her his keys and said, “It’s the black one right there on the end.”

  Dani wanted to say yes and just get the hell out of there, but she couldn’t do it. The guilt she felt for this poor guy trying to help her out made her pause. He was serious too, she could tell.

  By then Brian snatched the keys out of her hand and chucked them across the street. “Get in the car, Dani. Now.”

  Van stepped in front of the girl again to keep her safe and faced the ridiculous fool that was just begging him for a beating. It was still count number two, right? He sighed and calmly said, “Go get my keys.”
>
  “Fuck you!” Brian laughed. “Get ‘em yourself.”

  He reached for Dani again, but Van blocked him once more.

  “You know, I’m getting really pissed off right now,” Brian growled. He shoved his fists into Van’s chest once again.

  Three. “So am I,” Van replied, shoving him back twice as hard.

  Brian was surprised at first, but then he smiled, ready for a fight. He wanted to make this asshole regret this macho bullshit.

  “Brian, don’t do this,” Dani said. “Just stop it, okay? I’m getting in the car.”

  By then she’d come up to Brian to prove that she would comply, but he was way too wrapped up in his temper to even notice her. When she put her hand on his arm to lead him to the car, he shoved her off and she almost fell.

  Brian’s reaction made Van even more upset. “Here’s the deal,” he said to Brian. “I’m gonna break your hand, but I’ll let you choose which one.”

  Brian laughed. “You’re a piece of work, faggot. I’m gonna like kicking your ass.”

  “Well you better decide right now because I’ll automatically go for your right hand. If you’d rather it not be the hand I break, then I suggest you let me know.”

  Brian laughed again, but he was pissed. There was no way he was going to let this guy show him up. For one, this jerk was smaller than him; and another, he didn’t take too kindly to being threatened by arrogant little pricks trying to pick up on his woman.

  Van had no problem taking on bigger guys. Brian was probably 6’3”, 220 lbs., but the two inches and thirty pounds meant nothing to him. He was pretty happy when Brian made the first move—a predicted right swing to his face that missed when Van blocked it. After that, he had Brian down on the pavement in a matter of seconds, his arms twisted behind him while his opponent yelled out in pain.

  “So which hand?” Van asked him. “I’m being really nice giving you an option.”

  “Jesus! You’re gonna break my fucking hand?”

  “I told you I would. Maybe next time you’ll think twice about hitting a girl.”

  “You don’t even know what the fuck hap—”

  “Which hand?” Van growled again. “Five, four, three…”

  Dani quickly walked away at that point. She half jogged, half walked to get away from it all and she heard Brian yell out a few seconds later. Tears were streaming down her face; hot, angry tears that she wished would stop. She should have used her phone the second Brian dragged her out of the club yelling at her. But no, she had to let him rant and rave until he was really mad, taking her purse and her phone from her when she said she was going to call a cab.

  Dani took a deep breath and wiped the moisture off her face. Why didn’t she see it coming? How did she get herself in such a pathetic predicament?

  “Hey!” Van called from behind her.

  She slowed just slightly, recognizing that deep voice, but didn’t turn around. If she could just make it to the convenience store around the corner, she could call a cab.

  Oh yeah, with what money?

  “Hey, Dani?” Van asked again. He was right behind her and added, “It’s Dani, right?”

  She was feeling grateful that he’d stepped in to help her out, but angry and embarrassed at the same time. “Look, I don’t know—”

  He had her purse in his hand when she turned around and he handed it to her. “Thought you might want this,” he said.

  She paused for a second, thinking it over. Gratitude washed through her and she finally asked, “You didn’t have to break his other hand in order to get it, did you?”

  Van partially smiled. “Uh, no, he was really compliant for some reason.”

  She couldn’t help but chuckle, even though the night had been hellacious and she just wanted to go home. Wait, now she no longer had a home… “Well, thank you,” she told him. “I’m, uh, really sorry about all of that, though.”

  “It’s not your fault, you shouldn’t have to put up with that. And I can take care of myself.”

  When she smiled again, Van’s insides did something funny. He thought she had a beautiful smile. Picture perfect.

  “Yeah, that’s pretty obvious,” Dani replied. She unzipped her purse to retrieve her phone, only to find it was dead. And she had no cash anyways since Brian cleaned her out of that as well.

  “Can I just give you a ride?” Van asked, realizing that she still might need his help.

  When Van turned to motion behind him at his truck, Dani used the moment to glance him over. She had to admit that his style was pretty casual, and maybe he wasn’t quite like the men she was used to being around. He seemed a bit rough around the edges—sexy but maybe a badass. She could tell his background was in no way similar to hers, which was good. And there was something about his demeanor that made her consider him in a different light. There was something there, something gentle, and she could sense it.

  She could also sense that he wasn’t comfortable around her, and that made her curious. He was good-looking, definitely, but it was his eyes that seemed to win her over. They were kind, genuine, and when he looked at her, he appeared cautious. But the fact that he’d rescued her from a sticky situation so easily made her wonder how often he was in the middle of that sort of thing. What was this guy’s story?

  Van was feeling even more insecure when he noticed the unusual look on her face, and he changed his mind. “Or if you don’t trust me or whatever I can just call you a cab. I’ll pay for it,” he added, pulling a wallet out of his worn jeans.

  It wasn’t that Dani didn’t trust him—for some reason she did—but where would she even go? There’s no way she’d go back to Brian’s, and for all she knew, he might call the cops on this guy anyway. “I don’t really have anywhere to go now,” she finally admitted. She held up her hand to decline the cash he tried to give her.

  “You live with that fuck wad?” Van realized.

  That made her smile somewhat, but then it disappeared. “Lived. Past tense. That’s what all of that was about. I told him we were through and that I was moving out. He didn’t exactly like to hear it.”

  “How long have you had to put up with that crap?”

  “That was the first time he ever hit me, if that’s what you mean. Before that he was just turning into a cocky jackass, but lately it’s gotten worse. I got tired of it.”

  Van slightly nodded. “I saw you in the club earlier.”

  She was surprised and looked him over. His brown hair was fairly short, but it peaked up in the front to form a very sexy little fauxhawk. It suited him for some reason, and even though she could tell he wasn’t that refined when it came to society—compared to what she was forced to grow up around—Dani was still drawn to whatever it was he did represent. She might have recalled seeing him in the club but she didn’t know if ‘maybe’ would be rude to admit. She’d been too busy dealing with Brian’s ridiculous behavior to notice much.

  “You didn’t look very happy,” he added. “Looked like you guys weren’t on good terms.”

  “Oh, you think?” she joked with a smile. Van smiled too, and that took her by surprise. He had a really nice smile and it caught her off-guard.

  Van wanted to invite her to stay at his place, but he wasn’t sure how she would take to that. She was beautiful, which is why he’d noticed her earlier. She had long dark hair, and eyes that were big and…blue? He couldn’t tell because it was night, but that was his guess. He found himself lost in those deep pools of indecision.

  “Well, I need to find a phone…” Dani began, breaking the silence between them.

  Van handed her his again and asked, “Who can you call?”

  With a sigh Dani realized she didn’t know. Her parents lived forty minutes away, and her sister had little kids that she didn’t want to wake up with her middle-of-the-night arrival.

  “You can have my room,” he finally offered. “I mean I know that probably creeps you out or whatever, but I can even stay down the hall at my buddy’s place. You can
have the entire apartment; it’s not a big deal.”

  She was really surprised by his generosity, but also cautious. She didn’t know this guy, and after dealing with Brian’s shit lately, did she really want to add another poor decision to her plate? But Van seemed really sweet—sincere, even, because he looked so uncomfortable around her—and Dani felt pressed to make a decision. She was tired, cold, and broke.

  “I’ll stay down the hall and you can deadbolt me out, if that worries you,” he added.

  She smiled, surprised he’d even consider that kind of thing.

  “Anyways, let’s get you in the truck for now,” Van said. “You look cold. And then if you come up with a better plan, you can let me know. Oh, and I’m Van, by the way.”

  Dani shook his hand with a tiny smile, saying his name in her head as she added another piece to the puzzle. “As you already know, I’m Dani.”

  Well, there wasn’t a better plan, so Dani really did go home with Van. And when he was grabbing a few things to take with him to stay down the hall, she insisted that he didn’t have to go. She told him she’d feel weird being there alone if he left, and for some reason—which she didn’t admit to him—she felt safer with him there. Brian had scared the shit out of her, and she wasn’t quite sure how to tell Van that his presence made her feel a little more secure.

  “Are you sure?” Van asked. He’d definitely rather sleep on his own couch than Quincy’s, but he didn’t want Dani to feel uncomfortable.

  “Yes, I’m sure,” she nodded.

  They were both silent as they stood there in the living room together, and then Van finally dropped his stuff on the couch and said, “Uh, we should do something for that…”

  She didn’t even realize what he was talking about until he brought her a wet towel and motioned for her to put it against her face.

  “Oh,” she said, barely touching her cheekbone before she took it from him.

  “Does it hurt?” he asked. “Let’s put some ice on it.”

  He was already to the freezer before she could reply and returned with a few ice cubes to wrap in the towel.