Stand Of Honor by Cathryn Williams Read Free Book Online

Richards?” They were always direct with each other; there was never any point in beating around the bush.
    “Why do you ask?” She could see Nicholas was surprised she knew anything.
    “I found out that she and Tobias have been trying to set me up for failure in the cage. I overheard them the other day. Macey said she couldn’t wait to see your face as you watched me get the shit beaten out of me.” She still couldn’t fathom anyone having that much hatred for Nicholas.
    “Christ, that stupid bitch. I had no idea her and Tobias were working together. You always said you and Macey worked out at the same gym, but it sounded like there was no interaction, so I figured she had moved on.”
    “So what happened?” she asked again.
    “About two years ago, Macey started coming to the gym. Or actually, she would wait outside for me. She was just starting to develop a name for herself and seemed to think we would be a good match. I let her talk me into a few dinners with no commitment. You know I always let them know that I don’t have time for anything serious. She seemed okay with it. We did get along well and had several sleepovers, but I made it perfectly clear that I wasn’t serious.”
    Melanie was glad he hadn’t led the woman to believe it was more than it had been.
    “ After a couple of weeks, I quit seeing her and moved on. I told her that I wasn’t interested in seeing her anymore. There was no going back and forth; I cut it off clean with her. Then, about a month later, she saw me at a restaurant with another woman and went berserk. She practically ripped my date’s clothes off before I could get them separated. I dragged her outside and told her that if she pulled another stunt like that, I would file stalking charges against her. She seemed to listen and I forgot all about her.” Nicholas’s handsome face grimaced.
    “About a month later , I walked in my apartment door to find her lying naked on the couch with a glass of wine in her hand. I could tell she had worked hard to prepare for the moment. She had the lights dimmed and candles lit throughout the room. She thought I wouldn’t be able to resist.” Nick shook his head as he finished telling the story. “I picked up a blanket and told her that I couldn’t be with her. I told her she deserved to be with someone that had the time to commit to being with her.”
    “ As I walked to put the blanket over her, she threw the wine glass at me. I was able to dodge it, but then she hit me in the chest with the fucking wine bottle.” Nick became angry with the memory. “I called the police. She was dressed by the time they arrived and apologized, but I filed stalking charges against her the next day anyway.”
    “ She stays away from me now, but I guess she figured since she couldn’t get at me any longer, she would take her revenge out on you. That damn bitch knew you were my weakness.”
    “Yeah, that must be why she’s using Tobias —to get him to do what she wants.” Melanie sighed. Some women were so evil and conniving.
    “I’m lucky I overheard them. Tobias had just told me that it was time to start thinking about a real fight. I would have been lucky to get out of the cage in one piece.” She shuddered, thinking about what could have happened. She couldn’t wait to get back at them.
    “Nick, I went to Zane.” Melanie saw her brother’s eyes widen, however he remained silent. “I asked him to start training me.”
    “Really ? What did he say?”
    “He said yes. Is that going to be a problem for you?”
    Nick paused before replying, “You know Zane is still angry with Dad, right? He’s pretty much mad at the world, but keeps everything inside. I keep waiting for him to finally let it all out. You might trigger that response and I worry about you.”
    “Why would you think I would bring it out of him?” Melanie was confused; Nick seemed overly concerned at the moment.
    “Melanie, you’re a bag full of emotions . Plus, you’re