9. Dax #2
Void scratched his jaw as he mulled that question over. “Let me make a few calls tomorrow, gauge what kind of fighters they have going on, get a pulse for that world again. If it would help, I’d be willing to sign up for a fight myself.”
“Alright, so we test out this plan, see if it fits while we gather more intel on Elena. Who knows, that might lead to something that gives us an in,” Eagle commented, his voice sounding tired.
“Cam, do you have any gauge on what the FBI might be looking for? Maybe something we can help them get to make a move on Diego or any of his men?”
“I’ll make some inquiries and look in the database to see what active investigations we have going on. With this task force, I’ve been given more leeway to look into cases that aren’t mine if I think we can help,” he informed us, making him even more valuable to this team than I would have guessed.
“Good, then at least we have a place to start,” Eagle said as his eyes started to droop shut. “We can’t fuck up on this one. An innocent life hangs in the balance.”
“Damn straight,” Picasso added. “Now everyone gets the hell out of here so Eagle can rest. The faster he can heal, the better it is for all our sanity.”
“Fuck you,” Eagle mumbled as Wes folded up the tray and set it next to the bed.
Picasso just shoved his brother's leg in response before slipping off the bed and heading out of the room. I stood and walked to the head of the bed, kissing Eagle’s lips. “Sleep well, boss man, we got lots of work to do, and you need to get better.”
He muttered something under his breath and grabbed my arm. “Stay.”
“Let me do one more thing, and I will come curl up next to you, okay?” Eagle grunted and let me go as he settled deeper under the covers.
Back out in the living room, I looked at the guys and crossed my arms. “Look, even if we don’t end up going the fighting route, I feel like we need to still train.
I know I’m out of practice from being shot and we’ve been so busy surviving there hasn’t been time.
This fight can’t end with one or more of you wounded and laid up in bed, or heaven forbid one of you gets killed. ”
“You make a good point, little demon,” Void agreed. “We need to be stronger than our enemy, and I know I’m not anywhere close to that. So far, the battles have been won with strategy and bullets, but we need to be prepared for it all.”
“Something also tells me they will jump at the chance to have a fight night where Void makes a comeback and Two Tricks make an entrance,” Sprocket pointed out. “In the mornings, we train. After that, we plan.”
The next morning we got down to business.
Dani was in charge of Eagle duty for half the day while we trained and worked on other things outside the house.
Then he’d join us for the afternoon planning session.
We didn’t want him to overdo it, but there was no way we could keep him out of the middle of it even if we wanted to.
“Damn, you guys have a decent setup,” I complimented as I took in the part of the clubhouse they turned into a gym of sorts.
Unlike mine at the warehouse, there wasn’t a boxing ring per se but more like a padded area meant for fighting.
Along one wall were a few heavy bags, a speed bag, and a weight bench.
They didn’t have the fancy weight machines like I did, but what they lacked in that area, they made up in free weights.
You could do all the same stuff, it was just old school.
“Do you guys have a routine?” Wes asked as he took in the space. “Just asking since Dax and I have a basic plan that we follow for keeping in shape, then tweak it if we need to work on a certain area.”
Cognac shrugged. “It’s been a long time since we did more than work out to keep fit, so whatever you have to share, I’d be interested in trying.”
“I’ve got a few different routines depending on what I need to accomplish,” Void added. “How about we see what you two do, then maybe I can add in what will be helpful for fighting a little more dirty. Underground cage fights aren’t about following the rules. It’s about who comes out alive.”
I nodded, knowing exactly what he meant. Most of my fights turned out that way, and I knew I’d been lucky so far after getting shot. A month of downtime and taking it easy, my muscles and endurance were nowhere near where I needed them to be.
“Today, I think I’m going to pace myself, gauge what needs more attention and what hasn’t suffered so much,” I shared, walking over to the treadmill. “I know for sure I need to beef up my endurance after sitting on my ass for so long recovering.”
The rest of the guys scattered, warming up their own way.
I’d gone to visit Tilly this morning, asking if I could borrow something to listen to music on.
I really needed to get my shit together and start replacing things I’d lost. Wes was making a running list of things we needed to pull from some of our safe houses and other locations we stashed stuff to build a new command center at the compound.
So I would just have to add to it when I thought of something.
Placing the headphones over my ears, I scrolled through the options on her MP3 player, amazed they still made things like this.
Then I spotted a playlist called Bad Bitches Do It Better.
That sounded like it would be perfect. When the beat to “Get Ur Freak On” by Missy Elliott started, I bobbed my head and started up the treadmill.
Keeping it a brisk walk to start as I warmed up, then I upped the speed every few minutes when I felt comfortable.
Soon, I was jogging and lost in the feel of my body burning after being abused in the battle and lack of exercise.
Sweat started to drip down my back and forehead as I ran.
When I reached the point I wasn’t sure I could keep going, I challenged myself for another two minutes. Then I started to bring the speed down, cooling off enough I wouldn’t cramp but not enough that I couldn’t continue my workout.
When I was finished, I hopped off. As I wiped my face with a towel, I noticed Cognac and Picasso on the mats sparring with each other.
Watching those two men shirtless, sweat glistening on their bodies, made my pussy weep.
Fucking hell, these guys were turning me into a sex addict, and I was totally fine with it.
I’d always had an engine that revved higher than others.
Now I had enough men to keep up with it.
“Damn, girl, how do you handle that much man all the time,” Tilly asked as she came to stand next to me. “I’ve got two and sometimes a girl just needs a night off.”
“Well, we haven’t been together as long as you have with your guys. Right now, I can’t seem to keep my hands off them any more than they can do the same for me.” I glanced at her. “Seems kinky fuckers are just drawn to each other.”
Tilly burst out laughing. “Damn, girl, just telling it like it is, huh?”
I shrugged. “Why fight it? I do feel a little bad for Dani, who has to share the house with us right now.”
“Where is the poor woman even sleeping?” Tilly asked.
“Last night, she wanted to be on the couch, so if there was any trouble, she would be there to help. But I think the guys decided they are going to double up and get some air mattresses. Void and Cam seem to get along the best and Wes will either join Cognac or in the garage with Picasso,” I shared.
“My suggestion was getting a new house, but none of them were willing to commit to that right now. They're the ones on blow-up beds so…”
Tilly shook her head. “Men can be so stubborn sometimes, seriously.”