Revive (Storm MC 3)

Roxie

I’m excited to share a couple of chapters from a new story I am writing, Roxie. Some of you are already following this story through my newsletter or blog. If you sign up for my newsletter you automatically receive the chapters that way. The other way you can read this story is by visiting my blog. All the links for these are at the end of this book.

So, just to clarify, this is currently a story that I’m releasing for FREE in chapters. Once it is complete, I will publish it.

Enjoy Roxie!

Nina xx

Chapter 1

Roxie

“You’re not listening to me, J.” Seriously, how the hell Madison managed to be married to this man eluded me at the moment. He was overbearing mixed with a side of asshole.

He breathed out a long, frustrated breath. “Trust me babe, I’m listening; I’m just not fucking liking what I’m hearing.”

Was this guy for real? “Yeah well it’s my life, my decision, and I say no.” I dug my heels in.

He shook his head, pulled out his phone and made a call. I waited, resolute that I wouldn’t budge on this. Not taking his eyes off me, he spoke into the phone, “Madison, your girl here doesn’t want our help. I’ve got better shit to do than to stand here arguing with her so I’ll give you five minutes with her and then I’m outta here.” Without waiting for Madison to reply, he handed the phone to me.

I raised my eyebrows at him and then said to Madison, “How the hell do you live with him?” He didn’t even flinch at that; I bet he knew what an asshole he could be, but just didn’t care.

“Roxie, I’ll share that secret with you another day but for now just listen to me. Your hairdressing salon has been broken into three times in the last three weeks, you and the cops have no clue who’s doing it and you could really do with the help that J’s offering you. I know you prefer to do things your way and I know you can be a stubborn bitch, but don’t do that this time. Accept help for once in your life.”

“I’m fine on my own, really I am,” I promised her. The last thing I wanted was for a bossy man like J telling me what to do in my own business. No, I’d sort this shit out on my own.

She sighed. “I do love you, but you’re hard work. You know that, right?”

“You wouldn’t be the first person to tell me that,” I muttered, and handed the phone back to J. He wasn’t the only one who had better things to do than to keep going over this.

He was silent while Madison said something to him. A pained look crossed his face and then he said, “Fine, I’ll see you at home tonight and we’ll talk about this then.” He ended the call and shoved his phone back in his pocket.

“Good, that’s sorted,” I said, my hands on my hips, waiting for him to leave.

His angry glare didn’t leave my face and he replied, “If you think that’s Madison done, you don’t know her very well. As far as I’m concerned we’re done, but when my wife gets an idea in her head she doesn’t let it go till she has her way. And unfortunately for me, and you too, if she doesn’t end up getting what she wants, she has ways of making me come to the party, so I doubt this is the fucking end of it, babe.”

“Trust me when I say that I’m not a pushover either, J. I won’t be pushed into something I don’t want,” I assured him.

“Well it looks like we’re in for fun, fucking times then, doesn’t it,” he grumbled as he strode out the front door. He left without a backwards glance and I slammed the door behind him. Men!

***

Six hours later, I was elbow deep in hair colours, cuts and shitty customers. To say my day wasn’t going that well was an understatement. As soon as five o’clock hit, I was locking the front door, heading down to the pub on the corner and drowning my sorrows.

“Roxie!”

I turned at the sound of my name. Bobby, one of my hairdressers, was motioning for me to come over to the front counter. I lifted a finger in the air to indicate I’d be with him in one minute. Shifting my attention back to my client, I decided not to rush. Bobby could be the biggest drama queen sometimes. I loved him to death but boy, he did my head in some days.

“Roxie, if you don’t get that padded ass over here right this minute -”

I whipped my head around and glared at him. “Did you just say that my ass is padded?”

He fixed a smile on his face and nodded. “Yes doll, that’s exactly what I said. Now get over here so I can show you something.”

I stalked over to where he was, ready to punch him. He knew me well though, and raised his hands in a defensive gesture.

“I work this ass hard and you fucking know that -” I began to say before he cut me off.