Ricochet (Locked & Loaded #1) Read online

  Love. Is this what it feels like?

  He wasn’t one hundred percent sure, but if this was what it felt like, he was wondering why he waited so long to experience it.

  Grinning, Rick left the bedroom to find Quinn. He wanted to tell her how he felt, how he was falling in love with her, how he was desperate to start the next chapter of his life with her. When he didn’t find Quinn in the living room or the kitchen, his stomach started to ache, a dreadful, churning that swirled around and around, taunting him.

  He ran through the bedroom to check the bathroom. She wasn’t there either.

  Where the fuck could she be?

  Quinn didn’t have a car, so she couldn’t have gone far. Rick quickly dressed, sprinted down the stairs, and around to the front of the gym. Now in a full panic, he burst through the front door, swiping his badge to enter the main gym. It was Sunday, so the gym was mostly empty, but Rick saw Xavier training a huge black guy in the cage across the room.

  “Xav!”

  The two men stopped sparring when Rick ran up to the edge of the ring. Xavier took his mouth guard out so he could speak. His gaze flicked over Rick’s face.

  “Rick? What’s going on? You look like shit.”

  “Xav, shut the fuck up. Have you seen Quinn today?”

  The big man’s dark eyes flashed a look of annoyance, then surprise.

  “Yeah man. She asked me for a ride to Mack’s. About an hour, hour and a half ago.”

  “And you did it?” Rick yelled, his hands white-knuckling the chain links of the cage.

  “What the fuck? Of course I did. It was just a fucking ride.” Xavier and the other man were staring at Rick like he lost his mind.

  Maybe I am losing my mind.

  “Fuck.” Rick spun on his heel and ran out of the training room, back through the lobby towards his car.

  He pulled out his phone as he pushed the fob to unlock the doors, impatiently waiting for Mack to answer.

  “Rick?”

  “Mack! Thank fuck! Is Quinn there with you?” Rick’s heart was beating frantically, threatening to burst out of his chest. He suddenly understood why he had never looked for love before. It might feel incredible when everything was roses and sunshine, but when it wasn’t, it fucking hurt like a punch to the nuts.

  “No—”

  “But Xavier said—”

  “She was here. She left. Asked if she could borrow my truck to get some personal issues taken care of. Said she’d return it another time.”

  Rick stopped next to his car, leaning his elbows on the roof and fisting his hair with his free hand. “Jesus, tell me you didn’t.” The gnawing in Rick’s gut turned into a rock, sitting heavy in his stomach.

  “What did you do to her, Rick?”

  Rick swallowed back the bile that threatened to rise, keeping it down just long enough to explain. “Nothing! I didn’t do anything! I don’t… I don’t know what’s going on.” It felt as if he was going to burst out of his own skin. Anxiety bloomed deep inside Rick’s chest, forcing his heart to beat faster, making his breath catch in his lungs.

  Mack sighed, and the sound sent Rick’s emotions into a tailspin. “I didn’t realize she hadn’t spoken to you.”

  Rick hesitated, not sure if he wanted to ask. He swallowed loudly, closed his eyes, and whispered, “About what?”

  “Son, I hate to be the one to tell you this. Quinn left, and I don’t know if she’s coming back.”

  ***End Part One***

  Links

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  Twitter – https://twitter.com/HeatherLeigh_8

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  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  I want to thank everyone who supported me over the past year as I established myself as an author. My family, my husband, my fans, and anyone who read my books are my heroes.

  Hugs and kisses to my street team, who help me make decisions and spread the word when I have a release coming. Also to my betas, who always have constructive things to say. Love you all!

  This book is new to me in many ways. It’s my first non-celebrity romance, and also my first foray into serial novels. Hopefully, you enjoy the Ricochet series as much as I enjoyed writing them.

  Xoxo

  H.C. Leigh

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Heather C. Leigh grew up in New England and currently lives outside of Atlanta, GA with her husband and two children. She loves chocolate (not the white kind, because that’s not real chocolate), traveling, and the Boston Red Sox. When she’s not thinking up sexy stories, she can be found procrastinating in many interesting and creative ways.

  Books

  Sphere of Irony (a rock star series)

  Incite — Adam

  Strike — Dax (coming soon)

  The Famous Series

  Relatively Famous

  Absolutely Famous

  Extremely Famous

  Already Famous

  Suddenly Famous (a novella)

  Reluctantly Famous (a novella)

  Ricochet

  Locked & Loaded

  Friendly Fire

  Extraction Point

  Table of Contents

  PART 1

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9