Chapter 14
“Use your fists, not your feet, dumbass!” I call to the ring where the newbie is training. Turning with a scoff to Reacher, I shake my head. “These young ones.”
“I remember when you were that eager,” he teases as he leans back, his tracksuit crinkling.
I sigh dramatically. “Now I’m all old and washed up.”
“You aren’t even thirty,” he scoffs.
“Physically.” I nod. “Mentally, I’m ninety. I like naps, comfy beds, and watching hot men on TV.”
He blinks, and my grin grows. Muttering to himself, he looks back at the newbies. “Was the fire you?”
“You have to ask?” I gasp, offended as I uncap my beer and take a sip. He spares me a look, and I shrug. “They fucked with mine.”
“Fair.” He nods. “There are rumors going around.”
“When isn’t there?” I groan. “I swear, Reacher, you love gossip more than Tay.”
“I’m worried about you, kid.” I meet his eyes and see he means it. “You’re in bed with some very powerful, bad people, and it’s putting a target on your back.”
“Not in bed with them, trust me. I might as well get the perks at this rate, though, if people are going to think I am,” I quip before sighing. “I’m not with them. It was a mix-up, one I will guarantee they make certain everyone knows. You know my rules.”
“I do.” He nods. “Do they?”
“They’ll find out,” I mutter as I take another sip. “You have a lot of new blood here.”
“Gotta make money somehow,” he comments.
“I’m getting too old to run around on these streets, so this is all I’m good for anymore.
Besides, it stops them from running guns and drugs if they are in here.
You’re moving too slow!” His yell is sudden, and I follow his gaze to a boxer beating the bag.
“Even Bex could kick your ass with her eyes closed.”
“Her?” The big bastard chuckles as he cracks his knuckles, trying to appear intimidating as I watch him. “She looks like I could break her in a second. How about it? Show me how tough you are.”
“I’m so scared.” I feign a shiver. “Sure, but I don’t play fair.” He stalks my way, and I press my hand to the table until he moves close enough.
Flicking the cap, I watch it smash into his face, and he goes down hard, making Reacher sigh. “The one you just blinded is my best fighter.”
“Oops. He had a big mouth.” I shrug. “He has another eye. It’s just greedy to think he needs both.”
“Bexley,” he admonishes as the boxer is dragged away. “There are other rumors.”
“Tell me.” Information is power, and he might be a gossip, but he also knows more than anyone else around here. It’s how he has survived so long.
“Apparently, the eldest Sai is missing—an inside job, I hear.” This piques my interest. I didn’t tell anyone about Kane missing, and I doubt they would either, but it’s reached the streets. “I even heard who might be behind it.”
“Well? Don’t keep me waiting,” I drawl, but he looks far too serious as his eyes dart around.
“Butcher,” he murmurs, and I freeze, hardening all over.
“How sure are you?” I ask, my voice callous.
“Almost a hundred percent. His men were bragging in a bar outside Mai,” he admits. “Are you okay, kid?”
I nod as I breathe through my anger and panic.
If Butcher went for them, then I don’t stand a chance.
If he thinks I’m in bed with them, he’ll come after me again.
This peace I’ve had will dissolve, but worst of all, it means he’s back.
I’ve been waiting for this for a while, but now that I’m faced with his return, all the old fear and pain return. I drink the beer and slam it down.
“He’s back then?” I ask.
“Looks that way. I guess he’s stopped lying low. He’s probably trying to get his name and land back, thinks going after a big dog like Sai will get him that, or he’s just batshit crazy.”
“A bit of both,” I murmur, knowing him far better than I wish. “If it’s true, Kane—Sai is in big trouble.”
“Why do you care?” He eyes me, and I force my expression to blank.
“I don’t. Just saying.” I shrug.
“Kid, don’t do it.” He leans over. “You got out. You aren’t that scared girl anymore. Don’t go back there.”
“If he finds out I’m here and alive, he’ll never let me go,” I explain. “I need to strike him first.”
“Damn it, kid.” He slams his fist onto the table. “You barely escaped, and now you want to go back?”
I cover his hand. “I survived because of you. If he finds out, you’ll pay too. You’re right. I’m not that scared girl anymore. I’m a weapon, his karma. I’ll remind him of that.”
Sighing, he takes my hand. “Don’t die, kid, alright?”
“Me? Never. I’m living forever, remember?” I tease, and we’re both quiet for a moment before he pulls away and opens another beer with his teeth.
“Enough of this touchy-feely shit,” he dismisses. “I expect you’ll need some supplies.”
“Probably, but for now let’s just watch them kick each other’s asses.” I toast him with another beer, kicking my legs up on the table. I appear casual and calm, but inside is a raging storm.
Past and present collide as everything I escaped, everything I ran from, catches up to me. Nothing really stays secret or dead in this world, not for long, and it seems my time just ran out.
I’m distracted, which is why I don’t notice the commotion at first. Fighters stop, confusion filling the air, and I glance around with a frown.
“Remember what you said about not being in bed with them?” Reacher nods, and I turn my head to see Neo and Zayn with their guards standing in the open gym doors. “Might want to remind them of that.”
Sipping my beer, I watch them as they look around before finding me, and then they walk my way like they own the place. They wear designer brands and drip with wealth, yet they move like they are as comfortable here as they are in a mansion. It’s surprising.
When they reach me, I hold up my hand. “I know why you’re here. The answer is still no. You wasted a trip.” Draining my beer, I put the bottle down and nod at Reacher. “I’m going to work off some energy on your new fighters and test them like you wanted.”
“Don’t kill them,” he grouses.
“I won’t. I will just hurt them really, really badly.” I smile as I remove my overshirt and climb into the ring, wearing nothing but my cargos and sports bra.
The three fighters hesitate as I roll my shoulders and bounce on my toes, loosening up my body before I look at them. It’s obvious they don’t want to do this, but they know the rules. To train here, they have to do as they are told.
They aren’t completely useless though, and they come at me together.
I don’t bother raising my guard as I duck and weave under them, having fun, but their wild swings go wide and they can’t keep up, so I get bored.
Leaping toward the ropes, I flip over the first and drive my fist into the back of one’s head, making him go down, hard.
Spinning, I duck under the next’s swing and plow my fist up into his chin.
I hear the click of his jaw, and then he’s down as well.
The last fighter steps back, eyeing me cautiously.
He’s smarter than the others. I could wait for him to come at me, but where would be the fun in that?
I advance on him, even as he retreats, positioning him exactly where I want, and when he has no choice but to lift his arms to protect his face, thinking I’m aiming for it, I slam my knee into his balls.
His guard breaks as he roars, and I slam my fist into his face until he goes down.
Looking around, I eye the groaning fighters and search for my next match. There is this antsy, angry feeling inside me that I need to let out.
Butcher’s name repeats in my head, bringing back old horrors, and this is the only way I can get rid of it. I ignore the Sai brothers as much as I can, but it’s clear they won’t extend me the same courtesy.
“You call this burning off energy?” I glance over to see Neo leaning against the ropes. “You aren’t even breaking a sweat. You aren’t the type to waste time on those who are weaker than you.”
“You have no idea what type I am,” I retort as I sip my water.
“No? You like a challenge, you like to win, and you like to be the strongest in the room. I hate to tell you this, but you aren’t.”
“No?” I arch an eyebrow as everyone looks between us. “Then who is?”
He smirks. “Me.”
I laugh loudly, and his smile only grows. “You? Did your daddy tell you that every night, pretty boy? You couldn’t stand one minute in this ring with me, never mind land a single hit. Go back to your designer stores and parties, little boy. You aren’t welcome here.”
“If I land one hit on you, then you have to accept my contract,” Neo snaps, clearly offended. “If I land a hit, then you have to find him.”
Heading over, I crouch before him, cupping his chin through the ropes.
I tug him close until our lips nearly touch.
“No,” I whisper when it looks like I’m going to kiss him, then I thrust him away, laughing.
I turn, but I feel movement behind me. I duck and turn to see his arm stretched out to grab me.
He got into the ring silently. I’ll give him that.
“Scared?” he calls loud enough for the others to hear, and the crowd says, “Ooh!” Someone even laughs, and I narrow my eyes, knowing what he’s doing. “I think you’re scared to lose.”
Tugging off his coat, he folds it and hands it to a guard. “Like you said, it’s designer. Now, are you going to accept or run with your tail tucked between your legs? If you do, you aren’t who we thought you were.”
The bastard backed me into a corner, and he knows it, but that’s when I’m most dangerous.
“Fine, rich boy,” I scoff as I step back. “Show me what you’ve got.”
The crowd grows, their cheering intensifying, but I ignore them as I stand casually with my arms at my sides. “Well, are you waiting for written consent?” I sass as he stares.