Chapter 14
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
MATTHEW
“So what are you going to do about the dog?” I ask Nico as he pushes the door to the gym open.
I step inside, my body relaxing instantly as the familiar sounds and scents surround me.
The grunts, sweat, and buzzing of the machines.
The smell of antiseptic and the clash of metal against metal, or even leather connecting with leather.
It’s all familiar to me. The gym is one of the places where I’ve always been able to find some semblance of peace, some semblance of control.
Nico runs his hand over his face. “I don’t know. Jenkins is all for it, but he said if I want to do it, I have to figure it out on my own.”
“Why am I not surprised?”
Typical Jenkins.
But you can bet your ass that if Nico manages to find a way to get the dog for the department, or even better yet, if the dog is successful at his job, the asshole will claim him as his own without blinking an eye.
“Look, there’s the owner. Let me—”
The guy turns around, his eyes narrowing on us when he spots us. He nods at the guy he was talking to and then walks toward us.
“Rookie, this is—”
But before he can finish, the guy grins at me as he extends his hand. We bump our fists, and he pulls me into a one-armed hug. “Williams. Well, I’ll be damned. I’ve heard the rumors, but I figured it was all crap because you’d have already been here if you had actually moved back.”
“Been busy.” I pull away, looking around the gym. “Nice place you’ve got here.”
Quentin nods. “Top of the line. Perk of the job.”
It really is. The equipment is top notch. The whole place is. My gaze lands on the ring that’s placed in the center of the room where two guys are sparring already.
“You guys know each other?” Nico asks, clearly confused.
Quentin and I exchange a knowing look, the corner of my mouth tipping upward. “Went to school together.”
Quentin smirks. “That’s one way of putting it.”
Nico’s eyes narrow at us, but he doesn’t probe further.
It’s the truth. We went to school together.
We played football, chased girls, and got into trouble together.
He came from a fucked-up family, and saw the same demons he was fighting in me.
He was the one who introduced me to boxing in the first place.
He was big in the world of underground fighting back in the days, and he got me an in.
The money was good, but more than that, I needed the release for all the pent-up tension and hurt I was dealing with.
Quentin eyes me. “Keeping in shape, I see.”
“Gotta do it so I can chase the bad guys.”
His brows shoot up. “Jenkins let you in?”
I shake my head. “Not willingly, that’s for damn sure.”
Quentin chuckles at that. He’s equally familiar with Jenkins, if not more so. “You here for a workout? I could use a sparring partner. It will be like in the good ol’ days.”
“You box?” This comes from Nico, who just shakes his head. “Forget I asked. I don’t want to get in trouble.”
“Hey now. Nothing shady happening here, man,” Quentin slaps him on the shoulder. “Just two old friends catching up. So what do you say, Williams?”
“Hell yeah.”
We make our way to the ring where the two guys have to be pulled apart. Quentin tells them something that has them scurrying off. I peel off my shirt, tossing it into my gym bag, then grab some tape and start wrapping my fingers.
“Coming prepared.” Nico hums softly as he watches me with interest. “Didn’t take you for a fighter.”
“There is a lot you still gotta learn.”
I’m just finishing when Quentin comes to me and hands me a pair of red gloves before we climb through the ropes and into the ring.
From the corner of my eye, I can see a few heads turning in our direction when they see Quentin enter the ring, but all my focus is aimed at the man opposite me.
“I see the gym’s not just for show,” I murmur as we slowly start to circle one another.
It’s been a few years since we last fought each other, and he’s even more ripped than he was back in the day. He’s a few inches shorter than me, but what he lacks in height, he has in build.
“Not in the slightest.”
Before I can blink, his fist jabs toward me, quick and on point.
Wicked.
Can’t forget about that.
Quentin was always one wicked son of a bitch.
However, I’m faster, slipping out of his reach by half an inch.
“Still quick on your feet,” he muses, not even winded. “Good. You’re gonna need it, Williams.”
Before he even finishes, he goes into a two-three combination, but I’m ready. I duck his left hand, my right one connecting to his chin.
My heart kicks up as the adrenaline surges through me, and I’m not the only one. There is a gleam in Quentin’s eyes as he wipes the back of his hand over his jaw, smearing blood across his chin.
“Keeping in shape, huh?”
I lift my shoulder in a half shrug. “A bit of lifting, mostly boxing. I like to stay sharp.”
Instead of being annoyed, Quentin’s grin only widens, and he lunges at me. We swing and block with equal precision, moving lightly on our feet. His fist connects with my side, leaving me breathless for a second, but I quickly bounce back, hitting him with a body shot of my own.
“Is that really the best you’ve got?” I taunt as he stumbles back.
“Fuck you, Williams.”
I shoot him my most charming grin. That’s when I see it. A flash of honey hair in the distance. My head snaps up just as Quentin lunges forward.
Pain explodes in my face before I even see it coming.
His fist connects with my cheekbone, making my head snap back. The pain causes white spots to dance across my vision.
Fucking hell, that hurts like a bitch.
Some people are groaning, others are cheering as I stumble, falling on my ass, my back hitting the ropes.
“You’re distracted.” Quentin crosses his arms over his chest and shoots me a disapproving look.
“No shit,” I mutter, lifting my hand to rub it over my jaw, knowing damn well this shit will leave a bruise.
“Matthew James Williams!”
My body goes still at the sound of my full name and then I see none other than the reason for my distraction slipping between the ropes and climbing into the ring without a care in the world.
Jessica crouches down next to me, brushing my hand back. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“I was trying to work out.”
She lets out a low grunt as she tilts my head to the side, examining my face. “Of course you’d choose a sport that requires you to get pummeled.”
“Hey, I’m usually the one doing the pummeling,” I protest, a soft grunt coming out of my mouth when she touches a particularly sensitive spot.
“Mhmm…”
Her tone is almost placating as her soft fingertips skim over my cheek, and I can feel the goosebumps rise on my skin.
“I am.”
“Not from where I’m standing,” Quentin interjects with a smirk, eyeing us with interest.
“Fuck off, Q.”
“Gladly. I’m taking the W, but if you want a rematch, let me know.” He winks at me.
Jessica glares at him as he leaves the ring before her attention shifts back to my face. “I don’t think anything’s broken.”
“Don’t worry, Trouble. My pretty face is still intact.”
Some of that fire flickers in her irises, and the corner of my mouth twitches in amusement, which makes sparks of pain ignite again.
“Serves you right.”
She stands and turns her back to me.
Shit.
I push to my feet quickly, my gloved hand slipping around her middle and tugging her back. Jessica sways on her feet, her body crashing against my chest.
“What do you—”
She tilts her head back. Her honey hair is pulled into a ponytail, wild strands curling around her face.
Her cheeks are pink, a few droplets of sweat clinging to her skin.
She sucks in a breath as I lift my hand.
I sink my teeth into the glove’s ties and tug hard.
Jessica’s gaze zeroes in on the movement, her eyes darkening slightly.
I slide my palm under one arm, squeezing tightly as I slip my hand out.
Letting go of her, I do the same with the other one, only this time she grabs the glove, holding on to it as I slip my hand out.
“Thanks.” I flex my fingers a few times to relax the muscles.
“Is your hand hurting?”
I lift my arm before she can grab it, and tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “It’s cute. You’re already looking like a worried girlfriend.”
Her eyes narrow, lips parting. I can hear the words on the tip of her tongue, but she realizes we’re the center of attention, so she bites them back.
“If you don’t stop it, I’ll show you what an annoyed girlfriend looks like.”
The corner of my mouth tips upward in amusement. “I’d love to see that. If nothing else, it’d give me a reason to get you on your back.”
The color on her face deepens, spreading down her neck and over her cleavage. Cleavage that’s pushed up high in the tiniest fucking sports bra I’ve ever seen. I’m sure every guy in this room has been looking at it since she stepped into the gym. As they did at her ass in those leggings.
Can I blame them? No. She looks hot as fuck. Do I want to smash my fist into their faces so they don’t look? I sure as hell do.
Especially a certain face.
My eyes narrow as I spot none other than Jessica’s ex standing next to the weight bench, but instead of keeping an eye on his friend who’s lifting, his gaze is fixed on us, throwing daggers in our direction. The guy’s clearly pissed.
Did she see him? Is this why she all but ran to me? So she can play our little game and convince him that it’s over between them?
That was the whole fucking point, idiot.
Then why does the idea of it piss me off?
Even from here, I can see Damien’s jaw work as he grinds his teeth. He mutters something, stomping off toward the door.
Good riddance.
I let my hand drop. “Let’s get out of here.”
Slipping in between the ropes, I step on the middle one and push the top one up so she can slide through easily. Jessica comes to me, her face paling slightly.
“I didn’t realize it’s this high.”
“You climbed inside.”
“Well, I was focused on other things!” she protests, and this time I embrace the pain as a smug smile tugs at the corner of my mouth.
Me.
Jessica Richards was focused on me.
Chuckling softly, I brush my lips against the top of her head. “Hold on to the ropes tightly, okay?”
The moment I see her grab them, I jump down, drop the gloves on the floor, and turn to face her.
“C’mere.”
My hands land on her waist, her body brushing against mine as I put her on her feet.
“You’re one big scaredy-cat, Trouble,” I mutter as I spot Nico coming around the ring to us.
“Am not!” She pokes me in the chest. “I’m just not huge like some of you here.” Her eyes narrow. “And don’t you even dare voice whatever it is that just crossed your mind.”
I bite the inside of my cheek, but even the pain doesn’t help make my smile disappear.
“I mean it, Williams.”
“Not saying anything.” Not that it matters, we both know it, and her flustered state is enough for me.
“When did you get here, anyway?”
“Oh, I’m taking a class in the back with—”
Her eyes grow wide as she looks around until her gaze lands on the woman who’s standing a few feet away. She’s dressed in a similar getup of a sports bra and leggings, arms crossed over her chest and an amused smile plastered on her face.
“Shit.”
The woman slowly makes her way toward us, her smile growing bigger with every step she takes.
“I can see now the real reason why you didn’t take that offer.”
My brows pull together. “What offer?”
“Nothing,” Jessica blurts quickly. Too quickly. “Mae has something mixed up. Mae, this is…”
“Oh, I met Matthew earlier.”
Jessica’s head whips in her friend’s direction, clearly surprised by the revelation. “You did?”
“Doc…” Nico slips next to us.
Her brows pull together, smile falling as she glares at him. “Officer.”
The corner of his mouth tips upward, the tension between them sizzling to life as they just stare at one another for a heartbeat.
“You were pretty decent, Rookie. Well, until you got knocked on your ass.” Nico tilts his head, eyeing my face. “You’ll have a hell of a lot to explain tomorrow. So much for cleaning up your act.”
“The asshole got a lucky shot.” I open and close my mouth a few times, testing it, but nothing seems to be broken. Still, I’m pretty sure I’ll have a nice bruise tomorrow.
Hey, I guess it’s better than a shiner.
Nico shifts his attention back to the veterinarian. “It’s good to see you again.”
“I can’t say the same,” she fires back without missing a beat, and I have to bite back my laugh.
“Seriously, Doc?”
Jessica glances from one to the other before looking at me. “Somebody care to explain what I’m missing?”
“Earlier today we stopped at the shelter to check out Duke,” I explain while the other two continue with their staring contest.
“You’re looking to adopt a dog?”
“Not me.” I tip my chin in Nico’s direction. “Nico wants the department to get a K9, and my brother’s training Duke.”
“The better question is,” Maisie interjects, “how do you two know each other?”
Jessica’s eyes grow wide, her head whipping in her friend’s direction.
“We…” Jessica tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, clearly nervous. “We went to school together.”
“Oh, really?” Mae quirks a brow at Jessica, that smirk coming back. “You didn’t tell me that. As a matter of fact, she didn’t even mention you at all. Interesting.”
Jessica rolls her eyes. “Because it wasn’t relevant.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that.” I throw my arm over her shoulder and pull her to me. “You did just agree to go on a date with me.”
Her mouth falls open for a moment before she quickly shuts it, a spark igniting in her amber irises.
“You mean a double date.”
She thinks that’ll stop me? Well, she has another thing coming.
“Perfect. We’ll pick you ladies up on Friday at six.”