20. Rory
Twenty
Rory
Call me a masochist, but I loved tormenting myself when it came to these women.
Widow would be shirtless and sweaty, but my sister would also be there.
Pussyblock. She would know my intent, although I could lie and claim I wanted a turn in the ring with her.
I enjoyed sparring with Cinder because it let me release my pent-up rage at her.
I stumbled into the gym to see Cinder dodge a right hook from Widow.
When I opened the door, the older woman looked at me, which gave Cinder an advantage.
She tripped Widow, causing her to tumble to the ground while Cinder straddled her hips.
I had never been more jealous of my sister than I was at that moment.
Cinder crawled off her and extended her hand to help Widow up.
“What’s up, Rory?” Cinder looked at me suspiciously.
“Vesper said you were sparring, and I wanted to watch. I have a tattoo appointment in a little while, so it would keep me busy until I had to leave.”
“You want to go a round?” she challenged.
I nodded, removing my shirt and adjusting the straps of my pink sports bra.
There was still minor evidence of my road rash, but I could fib if Cinder brought it up.
Widow’s eyes perused down my body, stopping at my cleavage for a moment before she cleared her throat and excused herself from the gym.
Maybe I needed to sneak in here when she was sparring with Vesper and get a panty-melting view.
I pivoted on my toes with my fists raised.
Cinder was the one who taught me how to fight, so she knew every one of my moves.
It was a challenge going against her, but it was something I needed to keep me on my toes.
I had come here with every intention of teasing Widow, but since she left, I guess I actually had to focus on sparring.
With a possible stalker, it would help me be prepared.
“Are you going to let me win this time?” I smirked, watching her feet. She enjoyed going for the shins.
“Real life doesn’t allow shortcuts,” she taunted as she swung her fist directly at me. I dodged it, but she immediately followed suit with a swift kick of her leg. “Come on, Rory. Fight back.”
I lunged for her, throwing my fist which she blocked, then instantly kicking my feet from under me and sending me tumbling.
Cinder goaded me more with a chuckle. She was testing me, and it was already pissing me off.
I jumped back up, swiveling as I looked at my sister.
Cinder never left herself open. It was another reason why I enjoyed going toe-to-toe with her.
Her guard was always up and ready to come at you.
We circled each other in calculated movements.
She was waiting for me to make the next move.
I knew we would play this game of cat and mouse until someone got bored, so I went in, lunging forward with quick maneuvers: a jab, cross, and when I went in for the feint low, she blocked me, grabbing my wrist and pushing me back.
“Again,” she grunted.
I gritted my teeth and went at her harder. Cinder knew my weaknesses. I growled in frustration and went in lower, using my knee and aiming for her ribs. She grabbed my leg, twisting my ankle until I fumbled to the floor, landing with a thud before I rolled onto my back.
“You need to practice,” Cinder said sternly as I accepted her outstretched hand.
“Well, for a while I didn’t need it. I guess maybe I should start training again.”
Shit.
Cinder arched her brow. “Why would you need to?” Way to go, Rory. “Is something wrong?”
“Uh, no. I’m just saying, you know, practice will help if the day comes when I need to use it.” I could fight. The six men whose asses I kicked proved it.
“You know I am always here, and so are any of the Vipers.”
“I could just stab them.” I smirked, thinking about the man who met the end of my blade while smoking. “I always keep my knife on me.”
She rolled her eyes. “I need to get you over your fear and buy you a gun.”
I grimaced. I didn’t like guns because of my mom. “Cin, you know why I don’t want one.” It was like my mom was worming her way into my mind. God, I hated that woman.
My little feet tiptoed across the hallway, following the sound of laughter and music.
I peeked into the living room to see they were playing cards.
They did that a lot. Mama didn’t have clothes on, and the men were shirtless.
Mama always had friends over. She made me stay in the room, but sometimes they wandered in there.
My eyes met one of the men's eyes. “Brit, the spawn is out.”
Mama’s eyes flew to mine, and she was angry. She was always angry. “Mama, I’m hungry.”
“I don’t give a shit. You were supposed to stay in the room.”
Her palm collided with my cheek. “Mama, I’m sorry!”
“Sorry?” she scoffed. She turned around looking for something. I wanted to run back to the room, but she grabbed me by my hair. My hair was gross with dirt and tiny bobs. Bobs were my friends that lived in the knots.
Silver caught my eye, and I screamed. Not again. I shouldn’t have come out. “Mama, no please. I sorry!”
“No, you want to be an adult, Aurora. Now you play the big girl games.”
She took all the bullets out of the gun but one. Mama did this game a lot. It scared me, too. When she did this game, the ache in my tummy left. I never should have left the room. I wanted Ellabella.
I squeezed my eyes shut. Fighting would cause more problems. My body jumped when she fired the gun, but nothing happened. When I opened my eyes, she fired again, this time a bullet flew past me and buried itself into the wall. I screamed. It was pointless, but I couldn’t help it.
“I own you, Aurora. Your life is in my hands.”
“Hey, come back.” I jumped, shaking the memory from my mind. God, I hated remembering the shit that woman did to me. “I’m sorry I sent you back there. I just want you to be safe, Rory.”
“I am safe with the Vipers. I don’t need a gun. If my knife and fists aren't enough, then so be it. I’ll yap until my death.”
“You’ll yap until I can save you,” she corrected.
“Sometimes, I can save myself, Cin.” I glanced at the clock. “I got to take a quick shower and head to my shop. I love you. I’ll see you tonight at Rejects.”