CHAPTER TEN
MAVERICK
The back office is an old room my dad used to take guys to when they needed, as he called it, an attitude adjustment.
It’s a room away from the cameras and has extra soundproofing on the walls.
It’s the perfect place to have a nice quiet conversation with Brock.
One where we won’t be interrupted. No matter how loudly he screams.
Kincade is standing guard outside the door, and when he sees me approach, he raises his chin. “I’m going to go fold some towels for the next seventeen minutes.”
“Make it twenty,” I say as I glance at the door and then crack my knuckles.
“Yeah, I think that’s about how long it will take me.” He casually strolls away from the door and toward the front of the gym, leaving Brock and me to have a moment alone.
As soon as I step inside, I see Brock pacing by the window. The door is barely shut behind me when he starts talking a mile a minute.
“Listen, Maverick, I don’t know what that bitch has told you, but she’s a fucking liar.”
It takes everything inside of me to stay calm, but I tuck my hands in my pockets casually and nod for him to continue. I want to give him all the rope he needs to hang himself on his own lies.
“She stole some jewelry from our stepmom and then took off without telling anyone. We’ve all been in panic mode searching for her, and then when I saw her today, I couldn’t believe it.”
“You said you’re engaged,” I say, my voice calmer than I thought it would be.
“Yeah, but she lies and says we’re not.” He glances away and then back at me like something just occurred to him. “She left the ring I gave her at home.”
“But she stole jewelry?” I cock my head to the side and pretend to think it over. “That’s curious.”
“Jewels is crazy,” Brock says dismissively. “Who knows why she does anything.” He seems to take my silence for agreement because he gives me a cocky smile. “I mean, she’s great in the sack, but the crazy ones usually are. Right?”
I’m not sure how I keep myself in check, but I manage to take a deep breath and not strangle him with my bare hands.
“What is it you want?” Clearly I’ve used up all my patience because I’m ready to put an end to this conversation.
“To take my girl home.” Brock smiles at me like we’re bros. “Don’t worry, I’ll see that you’re compensated for keeping an eye on her for me all this time.”
“She’s not going anywhere,” I tell him, and his good ol’ boy smile slips.
“That’s not really up to you to decide, is it? I’m talking to you as a courtesy, but I’m leaving here with Juliet.”
“First of all,” I say calmly as I remove my hands from my pockets, “that’s not your decision to make.
” I take a step toward him, and although we’re almost matched for height, I’ve got a solid seventy-five pounds of muscle on him.
On top of that, I’ve seen him in the ring; he’s slow and sloppy.
“Secondly, she asked to stay, so she’s staying. ”
Brock glances at the door behind me, and the fact that we’re alone must just now be occurring to him. “Fine. I’ll call the cops, and they can handle this.”
“Go ahead,” I say, taking another step closer to him.
There’s nothing about his behavior that’s telling me he’s a concerned fiancé or even someone in her family that wants to help her.
He’s acting like an entitled prick who is mad his toy got away.
The thought makes my hands turn to fists at my side.
“But I think you’d be hard pressed to prove she stole anything.
Especially when it’s not on her.” If she did take something, I’m more than happy to help her hide it.
“And from what Juliet has told me, you should be more worried about her speaking to the cops.”
She hasn’t told me shit, but my guess was a direct hit. His face pales ever so slightly as he seems to think it over.
“I’ll have Kincade escort you out,” I tell him as I take a step back. “I won’t let you put any of my employees or members in danger. You’re banned from my gym.”
I know it’s a mistake to turn my back on him, but I do it anyway. The second I reach for the door, I feel his hand come down on my shoulder.
“You’re not going—” Brock’s words are cut off by a cry when I spin around and grab his wrist.
I turn it behind his back, it would be so easy to break it. Calling on all my control, I stop myself right before that happens. Instead, I slam his chest hard against the wall and pin him to it.
“It would be a mistake to touch me,” I say through gritted teeth as I lean closer. “Or anything that’s mine.”
“Oh, so she’s yours now?” Brock lets out a humorless laugh.
“And what if she is?” I’m letting this guy get the better of me, and I know it. I need to put an end to this.
“Then let’s fight for her.”
Brock’s words take me by surprise, and I have to blink a couple of times to make sure I heard him right.
“What?” That’s the only thing I can think of to say.
“I said let’s fight for her.” He’s still struggling in my hold, but he’s got enough skills that he might be able to break free if I don’t focus. “You and me in the ring. Winner takes the girl.”
“She doesn’t want to go with you,” I tell him. “That’s the end of it.”
“Nah,” Brock says, and then the fucker smiles.
I’m confused until his left foot comes down on the inside of my calf and I grunt in pain.
It’s enough of a distraction that I stumble back, and he breaks out of my hold.
“I might leave today, but there’s always tomorrow, or the next day, or the next,” Brock says as I straighten.
“You can’t keep her locked up in this place forever, and you know it. ”
He’s got me there, and no matter how much I say I can protect Juliet, I can’t be glued to her hip for the rest of her life. Although that does have its appeal.
“So you want to fight for her?” I shake my head. “Are you telling me after I beat your ass you’ll leave her alone?”
“If you think you can.” Brock sounds overconfident as always. “I’ll fight you here. Winner takes Juliet.”
“You’re pathetic,” I tell him as my anger rises.
“Is that a yes?”
I know I could kick Brock’s ass with both hands tied behind my back. He got lucky just now by distracting me, not because he’s skilled enough to win. Kicking his ass would be a joy, and if it means getting him away from Juliet, then all the better.
“Yes,” I finally say, and he smiles.
“Then it’s settled. Saturday night, you and me. And after I win, you can watch me carry Jewels out of here on my shoulder like a prize belt.”
He bends down to grab his bag, and I lunge for him. I’m not sure what I was planning on doing exactly because at that moment, Kincade opens the office door. He probably saved me from a murder charge.
“All good, boss?” Kincade asks me, and I nod.
“Yeah, all good.” I say while I keep my eyes on Brock.
Brock slings his bag on his shoulder and heads for the door. “See you boys Saturday.”
Once he’s gone, Kincade looks back at me with a raised eyebrow. “What was all that?”
“Something that fucker is going to regret,” I tell him.