Free The Coincidence 04 The Probability of Violet and Luke by Jessica Sorensen

meaning in her tone as her gaze locks with mine and her chest heaves as she struggles to maintain her breathing.

    “No, I can’t.” I pause, dropping my bag onto the floor and retrieving my phone from my pocket to do something I really don’t want to do. I text Toverson, the guy that got me into the game. I need to know how bad it is.

    Me: I fucked up.

    I expect it to take awhile for him to text me back, but it takes seconds.

    Toverson: I know. And I fucking warned u. God dammit, Luke. What the fuck were u thinking?

    Me: I wasn’t. That was the problem.

    Toverson: Where r u now? Your house?

    Me: Can’t tell u yet. Not until I know how deep of shit I’m in.

    Toverson: Luke I’m sorry, but I can’t get u out of this mess. And warning, Geraldson knows where you live.

    A shiver rolls up my spine as I read the text and then moments later there’s a knock on my door, well more like a pounding of fists.

    “Dammit,” I curse, stuffing my phone into my back pocket. I start to pace in front of the bed, trying to figure out what the hell to do, but seeing no other alternative. I’m trapped. Violet’s trapped with me. This is so bad.

    Another loud knock. Then a bang.

    “Who is that?” Violet asks, getting to her feet. “Wait. Is it them?”

    I stop pacing and look at her. After all this time pining for her to be in my room again, I’m now wishing she wasn’t. I messed up big time and now there’s going be some heavy consequences. “Stay here,” I order, then go into the living room to look out the peephole. Sure enough Geraldson and some big dude with a shaved head that looks at least double my size are standing out there. Both are packing, guns tucked in their belt, brass knuckles on the big guy’s hand. My head slumps against the door, a sequences of curses flowing from my lips as I ram by fist into the wall until the sheetrock cracks.

    “What are we going to do?” Violet comes up behind me. “And quit beating up the wall. It didn’t do anything to you.”

    I elevate my head and turn to face her. “ We aren’t going to do anything.” I stride across the room and shove her toward the bedroom. “ You are going to stay back in here and hide while I talk to them.”

    Violet plants her feet firmly to the floor and presses her hands against my chest, refusing to move. “First of all, I really doubt they’re here to talk. And second of all, I don’t need you to protect me from this. Trust me, I’ve had my fair share of crazy shit.”

    “I’m know you have.” I give her a gentle shove toward the bedroom as I hear someone messing around with the doorknob—I’m betting their trying to pick the lock. “But it doesn’t mean that my fuck ups have to add to that list.” I start to push her toward the bedroom again when the front door flies open, the doorknob slamming into the wall behind it and leaving a hole.

    “Fuck.” I strategically place myself in front of Violet, pissed at myself for making bad choices and getting her involved. I don’t give a rats ass about myself, but her… well, it’s making me literally sick just thinking about them even so much as touching her.

    “Luke Price,” Geraldson says darkly, taking in my small apartment as he enters. The large guy strolls in right behind him, shutting the door and closing us in. “You owe me some money.”

    Gritting my teeth, I reach into my pocket and take out the fifteen hundred I won today. “There ya go.” I throw the small pile of cash on the floor between us, knowing there’s going to be more to it than that.

    Geraldson bends down and picks it up, fanning through the bills. “You think this is going to be enough?”

    “Probably not,” I say dryly. “But it’s what I won.”

    He lets out a low laugh, handing the cash to the big guy who stuffs it into his back pocket. “You steal from me ,” he slams his finger against his chest, “and you think we’re even because you gave me the winnings back.” He cracks