Three months ago, after my talk with Cole, Gunner was able to put some of the missing pieces of the puzzle together after. But the only puzzle piece he couldn't figure out was Shelby's relationship with The Tormentor. Gunner still believes Cole and Torrence are lying, whereas I think differently about the situation.

Obviously, I never knew her, and I don't know anything about her, so I can't be too sure about what her motives were. And if the truth ever were to come out, and I was wrong, I'd feel terrible about what my assumptions have been.

Gunner is adamant that Torrence wanted Shelby back and was doing or saying everything possible to make her take him back. I agree with Gunner there, but where we think differently is. He believes Shelby told Torrence she would take him back under the pretense she would, hoping to get him off her back. It set him off when that didn't happen and after the disqualification of the fight that landed Gunner in the hospital.

He also believes The Tormentor planned for months on what he would do, and because Torrence knew Gunner was in the Championship fight, he chose that night to hurt Shelby and hurt all chances of Gunner winning.

Gunner lost that night.

This is what I think may have happened. I could be wrong, but I believe Shelby and Torrence were in talks of getting back together. But she wanted to wait to say anything to Gunner until after his championship fight. I feel The Tormentor couldn't wait any longer for her to leave Gunner and felt Gunner talked her out of leaving him. So Torrence ended her life in case he did lose her to Gunner.

I agree with Gunner that The Tormentor felt if he couldn't have Shelby, neither could Gunner. And since she was with Gunner's father that night, they ended his life to keep him from getting in their way from hurting Shelby.

Hopefully, soon, Gunner will find out the truth. I hope it won't break him, whatever the fact may be.

Since that wild night, I met with Cole, Gunner, and Neron have had me in the gym training. Not only have they been teaching and strengthening my self-defense moves, but they've also been teaching me how to fight.

Neron still thinks he'll get me in the ring. And then there's Gunner, who outright refuses that ever happening.

As for me? I don't know what to think. I can't fight, and I can't ever see myself in the ring doing what Gunner does. I feel the same as Gunner; I don't want to walk around with cuts and bruises on my face.

I stared at the door, watching all the morning coffee snobs entering the coffee house, standing and waiting in line for their morning caffeine fix, then lifted my mug to my lips, about to take a sip, until Justin spoke.

"Aria, it's been months since you've been home. Why don't you just sell your place?"

I set my mug down. "I would love to, but Gunner wants me to wait until this is all over. I think he wants to use my home as bait since Shelby's home got destroyed before they got to her," I sighed.

"That could be months or even years. It's been six years, as it is," Justin emphasized. "How much longer is this going to take? I absolutely hate that you've gotten yourself involved in the mix," Justin groaned.

"Yeah, thanks to Cole," I hissed. "I still cannot believe you hid his fighting from me."

He furrowed his brows. "Would it have mattered?"

I shook my head. "No, not really. But it makes me wonder what else you've hidden from me." I picked up my caramel latte macchiato and stared at the heart they designed into the froth. "Did you go to all of Cole's fights?"

"Not all of them, but some. Cole wasn't that exciting to watch. There was absolutely nothing to brag about with him. Now, Gunner? That's a different story. He's been my favorite fighter for years. He's exciting to watch, and he knows how to fight. Whereas Cole, he's kind of a pussy," he snickered.

I giggled. "Cole may be that, but he's still threatening my life."

"With the help of The Tormentor and Bk the Tiger. Were you ever able to get Stewart fired?"

"I didn't have to. Stewart quit after management confronted him about how he was treating the patients. I worry about Walter, though. He was the one who complained the most."

He scrunched his brows together and lifted his cup of coffee to his lips. "They didn't say who was complaining, did they?"

"No. You know how patient confidentiality works—they can't. But it doesn't stop me from worrying about him. Stewart knew Walter hated him. I guess one good thing about it is that Walter wasn't the only one complaining about him."

"That's good. I wouldn't worry too much about Walter, then. If anyone has to worry about Stewart, it's you."

"I know, but I don't have to worry too much. Gunner makes sure he gets to my work before I get off. And he meets me in Walter's room. And when he drops me off in the morning, he doesn't leave until I get inside."

"That's good," he said, taking a sip of his coffee. "So, how's your training coming along?"

"It's going really well."

He laughed and shook his head. "I still can't get over the fact that my little sister is learning how to fight and learning self-defense. I never thought I'd see the day, you learning what you always hated."

I agree.

"Me either. But now, after everything that's been happening, I'm happy that I am. I've learned a lot, and believe it or not; I'm enjoying it."

"I love it. I've got to hand it to Gunner for finally getting you to realize you needed to learn how to defend yourself. As well as Neron, I have to thank him, too. They're both amazing."

I giggled. "I love kicking Neron's ass. The funny part about him allowing me to do that to him is that I think he enjoys it."

"Who wouldn't love a girl showing them what kind of badass they've become? Especially after years of you being afraid of confrontation and failure. You were always afraid of what people thought of you." He leaned forward. "You were afraid of confidence, and you went through years of being afraid to say what was on your mind. Now, look at you. You have no fear in saying what's on your mind, you've grown self-confidence, and you showed Cole what kind of person you have become. And the best part of your positive change and what you've shown us all is that you're not afraid of failure. You continue doing whatever it takes to strengthen yourself."

He reached across the table with an enormous grin and squeezed my forearms and upper arms. "Look at those. You finally have some fucking muscle. So now I can officially tell everyone I have a badass fucking sister."

I smiled, giggled, then twisted my lips.

"I feel fat."

He laughed. "You're not fat, that's for sure. That's all muscle... if you think you're fat now, wait until you have something growing inside you," he laughed, holding his arms out in a circle, showing a baby bump.

I shook my head, grinning. "Nope. There'll be no babies for me. Not for a long, long time."

"You say that now... eventually, you'll change your mind. Anyway, I cannot wait for us to leave for Malaysia tomorrow. This will be one hell of an exciting fight! I know Gunner will have his hands tied with this guy, but he'll be able to take him. I just know it."

We'll see...

Gunner told me this guy was tough and that he had lost to him before.

"I'm more excited about the trip than the fight. I've never been out of the country like you have. And it doesn't help my confidence that Gunner isn't too sure about the fight, either."

"He'll win this time. So have faith," he winked, finishing the last of his coffee. "And once we're out there, I'm sure we'll all have fun..."

***

"Wake up, Aria. We're about to land," Gunner murmured, kissing my lips. "You can't be lying on the bed while we're landing. It's dangerous..."

I opened my eyes and smiled. Seeing Gunner's big, chocolatey brown eyes staring at me made my insides melt. And now I wish he would have woken me up differently. "I'm awake, and just an FYI? Dangerous is my middle name," I whispered, giggling. I reached to him and then wrapped my arms around him. "How much time do we have until we land?"

He smirked, then pecked his lips on mine. "I know what you're thinking, and that'll have to wait."

Bummer...

I pouted.

I caught him off guard just as he lowered his face. I wrestled him, and once I got him onto his back, I pinned him to the bed. "We have our own room, correct?"

"Of course," he smiled. "Why wouldn't we?"

"Good. Because I was worried you'd have us sharing a room with my brother and Nikki."

"I'm not that stupid," he snickered. "But then again, that could have been fun, too," he winked. "I would have just done what I had done to you a while back," he reminded, bringing me back to the time on the airplane to New York.

I giggled while lowering my face to his. "There's no fucking way I'd allow you to do that to me again."

"Now I have more reasons to figure out a way to do that to you again... and with them in the room," he grinned, showing his teeth.

"Nope, if anything. I should figure out a way to do it to you," I giggled, lowering my mouth to his while slipping my hand inside his pants and wrapping it around his hard-on I felt pressing against me.

"Aria," he moaned. "Now isn't the time."

"Is it ever?"

"We're landing."

"So..." I grinned wickedly.

"We better get back to our seats."

"Fine," I pouted, rolling off him with my hand still inside his pants.

He chuckled, reached his hand between my thighs, and began tickling me, making me laugh. "Do you plan on walking out there with your hand where it is now?"

"I should," I giggled.

"I dare you," he said, grinning from ear to ear.

I have to do it. And now I'm curious to see how Gunner will react, so I'm doing it.

Plus, he did what he shouldn't have.

He dared me.

"Let's go," I happily said.

While we headed to our seats, Gunner tried removing my hand from inside his pants. But that only had me gripping onto his cock tighter.

"Aria," he whispered, nudging my back. "Let go."

"No. You dared me, remember?" I nonchalantly reminded.

The corners of my lips raised after hearing Nikki giggle and seeing the expression on Justin's face. "Looking for some buried treasure?" Justin asked, then laughed.

"I don't have to look. I already found it," I replied.

For the first time, I got to witness Gunner embarrassed. But, I feel that embarrassing him will cost me. And I'll be disciplined for sure, and I cannot wait.

It's what I was hoping to happen.

Justin couldn't stop laughing. He looked at me, then at Gunner while leaning towards him. "If Nikki were to do that to me, I'd be embarrassed, and I'd punish her for it... I wouldn't blame you if you punished Aria too," he relished.

Little do you know, Justin; he will punish me for it. And I did what I did so that punishment would happen. It's been a while, and I'm looking forward to it.

"Look at her... look at that huge grin on her face. I know that look. It says that she's got something up her sleeve," Justin chuckled.

Gunner looked away from Justin and over at me, wrapping his arm around my shoulder and pulling me tightly to him. "It's because Aria knows she's in trouble and knows she'll pay for what she did."

"Maybe next time, you'll think about what you're daring me to do," I enlightened, looking at Justin. He had a strange look on his face like he was trying to figure out what Gunner would do to me. And it looked like he was waiting to hear what that would be.

Instead of saying what was on his mind, he shocked me by saying, "I'd spank her if I were you, Gunner, but that might be something she might enjoy," he snickered, then yelped after Nikki smacked his chest. "What was that for?"

"Behave yourself," Nikki hissed.

He's right. I know I'd enjoy it.

***

While Neron, Maxwell, and Xavier grabbed all our belongings, Justin, Nikki, and I stood beside Gunner as he checked us into the hotel.

"We're here to check in," Gunner said to the beautiful, very tiny, dark-haired woman standing behind the counter.

She must know who he is. The way she's smiling at Gunner is priceless, and the excitement in her voice when she responded was very noticeable. Then she looked to her left with a hand resting over her heart and reached for something she had on the counter—a picture of him.

She set it on the counter and pointed. "Could you sign this for me, please? You're one of my biggest fans, and I've been anxiously waiting for you to arrive and check in."

Cute.

He smiled, took the marker from her hand, and signed his name on the picture. "Are you going to be at the fight?" he asked.

"My husband and I will be there. He bought us the tickets the second they went on sale, and we've been counting down the days since."

"Excellent. I hope you and your husband enjoy the fight."

"We will... I understand you have three rooms to check into?"

He looked away from her and then at me with a devilish grin. "I'd like to change that," he said, looking back at her. "Do you have the Villa Mutiara still available?"

Asshole!

I cleared my throat, then nudged him. "What are you doing?" I whispered.

"Checking into our room. What do you think I'm doing?"

"You're changing it to one room?"

"Damn, Skippy," he smirked. He leaned to me, beaming like a ray of light. "You want punishment? You've got it, so here's the start of the discipline you were anxious to receive."

Fuck.

"We have one of those rooms available. The rainforest view. Would that be okay?"

"It's perfect," he emphasized, smiling widely.

It's not the punishment I was looking for, but as he said, it's the start of what I asked for. And I can only imagine what he has planned for me. I looked at the girl working behind the counter and twisted my lips. "Does the room come fully stocked with alcohol?"

"Yes, it does," she happily replied. "If there is anything particular you're looking for, call, or stop by. We'll get it for you."

"Thanks."

"What's the alcohol for?" Gunner asked.

"To knock out my brother and Nikki. Actually, it's to knock them all out."

***

The moment we walked into our room, I was in heaven. The room was vast and spacious—mansion-like. It was also beautiful, with Malaysian-inspired furnishings and accents. The three bedrooms were spread out ideally throughout the room, and the living room and dining room both had their own private spaces. The room also included a bar, two private pools, a massive balcony with a day bed, and a living area, including direct access to the sandy beach.

This room was a hundred times better than mine and Gunner's place combined together.

I could live here if I needed to.

I noticed Neron had been awfully quiet since we got in our room, so I walked over to him, and I couldn't help but giggle when I saw the scowled look on his face. I sat on the couch next to him. Then, using my elbow, I poked his side. "What's the matter?"

"Nothing. Just thinking is all."

"What are you thinking about? You look upset about something."

He turned his head, facing me, and smiled. "I'm not upset.

"Are you upset that you're sharing a bed with Maxwell and Xavier?"

"There's no way I'm sleeping in the same bed with Bert and Ernie. So I'll take the bedroom; they can sleep on the floor or the couch. I don't care where they sleep. As long as they're not joining the bed with me."

"Why wouldn't you share the bed? They're king-sized," I teased.

"I'm not sharing. I'm an old man. I need my space. I don't know why Gunner felt the need to switch all of us into one room at the last minute. The rooms I had originally reserved were perfectly fine."

"Relax, Neron. This room is big enough for us all; they can sleep out here if you have a problem sharing the bedroom. Besides, the sofa turns into a bed, so there's enough room for everyone to sleep," Gunner assured him.

Gunner looked at me and winked. I knew Neron wouldn't enjoy sharing a bed, as I'm not caring for sharing a room with all of them. But if I were to tell him this is my fault, he'll probably not talk to me the rest of our trip here.

"What made you change your mind, anyway?" Neron asked.

Please don't blame me... please don't blame me, I muttered under my breath, then closed my eyes when I saw Gunner smiling while pointing at me. "You can blame her."

Neron snapped his head towards me, furrowing his brows. "You wanted all of us to share a room?"

No, I didn't... but I know if I were to tell him that, Gunner would call me a liar.

So, I'll play Gunner's game.

I smiled and shrugged with my hands raised, palms facing the ceiling. "Surprise..." I said nervously.

He shook his head with a frown. "I can't believe you would do this. This looks like something Gunner would do. Not you."

He's right. This was exactly Gunner's doing.

I looked at Gunner, wanting to tell Neron it wasn't me badly, but the look he was giving me was one that if I were to say, 'you're right, Neron,' Gunner would embarrass me.

He'd come right out and tell everyone why we're all sharing a room. And it's something none of them need to know, especially my brother.

"I just figured we would enjoy sharing a room. So now we can play games, do charades, or whatever anyone's heart's desire."

"I say we all get drunk," Justin exclaimed.

"While you are all doing that, I'll be stepping out for a little bit."

Wherever he was going, I wanted to go with and stood. "I'm coming with you."

"You can stay here with these guys. You can have some drinks and share some laughs. I just need to grab a few things so I won't be too long."

I plumped my ass back on the couch and crossed my arms. What the hell? We're in a unique country, and he won't let me go with him to wherever he's going?

"Where are you going, anyway?" I curiously asked.

"I forgot something. I saw a store right down the street that I could jog to. So I'll grab what I need quick, and I'll be right back," Gunner assured as he opened the door.

Before we left Seattle, Gunner had a checklist, and we went through that list like ten times before leaving. So I know there's nothing he forgot.

He's up to something. I just know it.

The only store I saw down the street was a...

Shit...

I'm fucked.

I looked at Neron and the others sitting at the bar, taking shots. They all better drink up because I want nobody hearing me tonight.

"Neron, let's have a drink."

"Why for?"

"To lighten you up. Since we're all sharing a room and nothing is going on tonight, we might as well all get drunk," I insisted, pulling Neron's hand with me as I stood. "Come on, Neron... what do you like to drink?"

Finally, he allowed me to help him off the couch. "Ah, what the hell... I'll take a damn scotch, and I want someone to fill that entire glass to the rim."

Hope the chapter was okay!🤞🤞🤞