Sleeping With the Enemy

Chapter Twenty Six- Sadie

Once I got home from my meeting with Herrera, I was both mentally and physically exhausted, and had fallen asleep. I glanced at the clock when I woke up, realizing it was only four thirty and he wouldn't be home for a couple of hours. I hopped in the shower quickly and got myself ready.

Brandon said he was going to bring dinner home, but I felt kind of worthless sitting around here all day without doing anything. I sent him a quick text not to worry about bringing dinner and that I would make something. At least that would give me something to do. When his phone pinged from the table, it startled me. Was he home?

I made my way over there, and realized that his wallet and keys were here also. I knew he wasn't in any of the rooms upstairs, so I headed down the hall off the kitchen thinking he was probably in the gym. When I got closer and heard music blaring, my suspicions were proven correct.

I pushed the door open and set my eyes on him. Brandon was towards the back of the room, sweaty and shirtless, hitting the punching bag over and over again with such force it took my breath away. He was laser-focused and so lost in his own world that he hadn't noticed me come in, so I leaned on the door frame for a few minutes just watching him in his element. It was incredible and terrifying all at the same time. He was relentless, continuously raining down punches and kicks and nearly shredding the thing to pieces. I rarely got to see the violent and aggressive side of him, and it released a burning sensation in my chest. I wasn't sure if it was out of fear or desire or what exactly. He was so powerful and forceful that I could see how he had the reputation of being so ruthless.

He glanced my way, stopping suddenly when he saw me. The punching bag swayed into his chest and he caught it in both arms. "Hey. Sorry, I didn't hear you come in."

"I didn't mean to bother you." I said quickly. "I didn't think you were going to be home already."

Brandon grabbed his water bottle and tossed his gloves to the side onto a pile of dirty clothes. Was that blood? "I had a tough day and decided to come home and get a little aggression out in the gym." His breathing was labored, but he wasn't nearly as out of breath as I would've expected for the display I had just seen. He sat down on the mat in front of me.

"Why'd you have a tough day?" I asked, sitting down next to him.

Brandon shrugged, not meeting my eyes. "Nothing major. Just lost an account. I didn't bring home dinner; we can order something if that sounds good."

I knew something was off, but I also knew better than to push him.

"Actually, I've got an idea." I had a plan to distract him from whatever happened at work. He was notorious for coming up with crazy ideas to get my mind off of things when we were younger. I fought with my parents a lot, and Brandon was always my saving grace, whisking me off for whatever wild scheme he had come up with. Once he had taken me to visit puppies at our local animal shelter, another time it had been a day trip to the New Jersey to people watch on the boardwalk. And then there was the time he took me to the top of one of the tallest buildings in downtown and we dropped water balloons off of the top into a vacant parking lot. That one had almost gotten us arrested.

"What's that?" He shot me a sideways smirk.

"Just trust me. Go change your clothes and meet me in the living room." I stood up quickly, offering him my hand to help him up.

Brandon rolled his eyes, not the least bit interested in whatever I had planned if it meant he had to leave the house. "Sadie, I really don't feel like going anywhere tonight. Can't we just get Chinese or something?"

"No." I shook my head adamantly. "We're going to get your mind off of this and have a little fun. Now go."

He looked back at me, considering whether or not to fight me on this. Finally, he stood up. "Okay, fine. But don't let the power go to your head. I'm still in charge around here."