Page 5 of No Strings

But I’ll make him watch as my life slips from my body. His face is void of any emotion. That is until he notices I’m looking at him. He gives me an evil grin, blows me a kiss. “See you in hell baby.”

Somewhere in the distance I hear my name being called out.

Tears are running down the side of my face, “Shane.” I don’t know if it’s a goodbye or a plea for help.

Ethan picks me up by my throat and slams me back down. I don’t feel the impact, and everything has started to fade.

“If you don’t want to be with me, then you don’t get to be anywhe...”

He is unable to finish the sentence, because as quick as he was on top of me, he is being ripped off of me. I try to desperately suck in air. But that only causes me to cough and splutter. It hurts to breathe, to swallow. My mind is in a haze.

I turn just in time to see Shane charge Ethan, picking him up and slamming him into the ground. His fists pound into his face over and over.

“Shane.” My voice is still weak. I try again but it only ends with me coughing.

But he hears me. Throwing Ethan to the ground, he rushes to me, not before kicking him in the ribs. When Ethan makes a wheezed cough a small part of me is happy.

Shane is on his knees lightly skimming his hands over my body, “Morgan. Fuck, Morgan are you okay?”

I hum. Because that’s all my body can give right now.

Ethan is somehow standing, pointing at me. “This isn’t over bitch.” Before he running off.

Shane looks between me and where my slimy ex-boyfriend has run off. Ultimately, he stays with me. Looking at me, I watch as he mulls over what he’s thinking. And when he has made a decision, I know I’m going to hate it.

“I’m taking you to Rhys.”

Chapter One

MORGAN

With a three-hour drive into Sydney, closely followed by a five-hour flight into Perth, we jump on a smaller plane for an additional one-hour flight before we land in Burra Point.

As soon as I step off the plane, I’m hit with the abrasive heat. Turning back to see Shane step off the plane, when he sees I am waiting for him he wordlessly nods me forward.

I could have gone by myself, but I think Shane’s using it as an excuse to see Rhys. Argh Rhys. I don’t know why I agreed. Well agreed is a loose term. I was heavily strong armed into it. It’s for your safety, Mo. I know he’s right, but I don’t have to be happy about it.

An involuntary sigh leaves my lips when we enter the building they’re trying to palm off as an airport. Taking off my sunnies, I’m met with a six-foot, four-inch, heartbreakingly gorgeous cowboy. But then that cowboy speaks.

“Morgan.”

“Rhys.”

We openly eye each other.

He somehow got broader, taller, and tanner. His sleeves are rolled up, who wears anything with sleeves in this heat? Is that some ink I see on his forearms?

Shane comes up behind me, “Rhys, ya cunt.”

“Shane,”

They shake hands while having a quick embrace, smacking each other’s back twice before pulling apart.

Men.

Rolling my eyes, I walk past them, leaving them to their reunion, heading in the direction of the baggage claim. While I am waiting for my bags, I wonder what I’m going to do here. Since I up and left the city without warning, I lost my job.

The carousel starts to move, bringing in the bags. I’m too distracted looking for my own, when a hand clasps my shoulder. I flinch and cower. Fear pumps through my veins. Gingerly looking over my shoulder to see who it is. I’m both relieved and annoyed that it’s Rhys, who is now holding his hands up, “Just me, Morgana.”