Page 2 of The Love of Secrets

I haven’t told my brothers about it, but something tells me that Dexter knows something is up even if he doesn’t know what’s going on. My dad already convinced me to let his fighters train here for free, but I won’t allow him to taint my dream any further. The only reason I even okayed the fighter’s training here is so I could keep an eye on my younger brother Dexter. Although he was somehow roped into fighting for our father, he recently was able to find the balls to stand up to him and stop.

I know Dexter is a grown man and now he has Hazel, but shit, he still needs me to protect him. And then there’s Alex. I furrow my brows. Don’t even get me started on Alex.

“Hey, bro. What’s up?” Speak of the devil.

“I’m working,” I grumble without even looking up from my computer. I need to finish putting Cecilia’s paperwork into the system before another person comes in here wanting to talk or something.

“What’s going on with you? You seem grumpier than normal.”

I let out an irritated breath and grit my teeth. “Nothing. I’m working. This gym isn’t going to run itself.”

Alex leans over, resting his elbows on the counter, and whispers, “Seriously, Mateo. You are so uptight. When was the last time you got laid?”

I take my eyes off the computer and stare him down, my lips pressed in a line. “Why the fuck are you asking that? It’s none of your business.”

“I’m serious, Mateo. I can help you out if you want. Set you up, you know?”

My eyes roll at his suggestion because it’s super fucking ridiculous. “I don’t need your help, Alex. Everything is fine.”

He stares into my eyes like he’s searching them for something. I guess not really seeing what he wants. His shoulders fall a little, but his eyes light up a second later. “Well, I’m serious. You need to get laid and soon. Let’s go out to Gary’s Place.”

Is this guy serious? He should know by now that I’m never going to let him hook me up with one of his many admirers. “Alex. That’s enough.”

“If you change your mind, let me know. I’m off to work out,” he says, chuckling as he walks away.

My youngest brother is never serious and only seems to care about sex. I don’t have that option. I need to make sure my good-for-nothing brothers walk the line.

Chapter two

Cecilia

As I’m slowly getting out of my car, a beater that I’ve had since high school, I take a deep breath and try to push my nerves back. This is my first job interview and I really need this one to go well. After moving out of my parent’s house, I went straight to living in the dorm at college. When I became pregnant, my parents disowned me, leaving me with few choices. Man, was I naïve. I believed him when he told me he would take care of us. He promised I would never want for anything. Moving into his house was when everything changed, and I started to see the shackles.

At first, everything was wonderful. The whole relationship felt as if it was a fairytale. An older man, ten years older, that tended to my every need and want. As time went on, I noticed the way he demanded my attention more and more. Slowly, I became more isolated from others. He’d tell me which friends I could hang out with. Every time I mentioned getting a job, he would find a way to block it, only giving me a small allowance every week. If I needed more, I would have to ask his permission. I hated this. It always led to us fighting.

My fingertips skim my lips where I could still feel the ghost of his hand smacking me across my face. The first time he hit me for not listening, he busted my lip.

Michael was the sheriff in our small Texas town. Everyone thought he could do no wrong, so I had no one to turn to. No one was going to challenge him. I could’ve gone to my brother Bennett, or as some know him, Bear, but I didn’t want Michael’s attention to turn toward him and the Wild Hellions, the motorcycle club Bennett was involved with. A shiver runs down my back, the self-doubt rising as if it would consume me.

“You can do this. You need this job. Do it for Oliver.” I give myself a much-needed pep talk. “Who cares what Michael has said? He’s wrong. He’s wrong about everything. Remember, you’re amazing and a good person. Any job would be lucky to have you.”

With that small boost reminding me why I’m here and what’s important, I wrap my hand around the handle of Gary’s Place, pull it open, and force myself to take the first few steps toward the future.

Once my eyes adjust to the darkness of the room, I’m finally able to make out the bar. It’s like transporting yourself to a whole different time, though it seems to fit perfectly in this town. The walls of the bar are lined with dark wood paneling. A huge bar is the centerpiece of the room. It looks antique, but exquisite.

Looking deeper into the bar, I spy pool tables in the back left and an old-fashioned jukebox sitting against the wall, lighting up a small section. As my gaze returns to the center bar, I spot a small stage. Stools and tables of different heights litter the room.

“This is perfect,” I whisper to myself as a smile graces my lips.

“What’s perfect?” A deep voice from my left rings out, causing me to jump.

I turn toward the voice with my hand on my chest, my heart pounding against it. “Shit. You scared me.”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. I’m Ricky. I’m the manager of the bar. Can I help you?”

Still trying to recover, I breathlessly look Ricky up and down. He’s lean with brown hair that’s been pulled back into a man bun. He’s cute but nothing like the man from this morning. And yes, I exaggerated a little this morning when I told him I had already had an interview. I’m just really hoping that this goes my way. “My neighbor said you were looking for a cocktail server. I wanted to apply for the job.”

He says nothing. He looks me up and down as if he is assessing me, not in a sexual way, but I still squirm under his scrutiny, forcing myself to keep my hands by my side. I keep my eyes on him, not wanting to show him any weakness. That was one thing that Michael taught me, whether he knew it was to never show weakness in front of a man because they will use it against you. When his eyes come back up and meet mine, I plaster on the biggest smile I can give. He nods, as if deciding something. “Do you have any experience?”

---