Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 92368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
When Zeus was doing his post-fight interview, Kaden collapsed in the ring.
Brain injury. There was a clot on his brain.
From what I read in the papers, Kaden was in a coma for thirty days. He had multiple surgeries to remove the clot. He suffered from a stroke. From what I last read, he was paralyzed down the right side of his body and had speech problems. He’s currently still in the hospital, undergoing rehabilitation.
After the fight, Zeus disappeared from the public eye for twelve months. Not that the press or public blamed him for what had happened to Kaden. But I can understand why he went into hiding.
I heard some reports that Zeus would go to the hospital where Kaden was receiving treatment. I wasn’t surprised, knowing Zeus.
Well, the Zeus I knew from five years ago. And irrespective of what he did to me, going by his reaction to finding out that he had a daughter, I would imagine it to be true.
Knowing all this, after I saw him last night, I did a Google search on him to see why he was here in New York. I had a gut feeling it was for a fight, and I was right. He’s fighting Roman Dimitrov in twelve weeks.
I’d say I was shocked he was going to fight again, but I’m not. It’s who Zeus is. Boxing is all he knows.
“I know what you’re thinking,” he says low.
I flash a look his way. “No, you don’t.”
“You’re thinking I’m a bastard to fight after what happened with Scott. You’re also thinking that I’ll be at training camp to intensively prep for this fight with Dimitrov, so I won’t have time for Gigi.”
“Aside from the fact that I can’t believe you’re fighting Dimitrov—the guy’s a complete psycho—”
“I can take him, Cam,” he cuts me off.
“And maybe lose a chunk of flesh in the process.”
Dimitrov bit his last opponent on his neck when he was getting the better of him. Took a chunk out of him. The guy is a dog.
“He won’t get near me,” Zeus growls, sounding pissy that I’m even questioning him on this.
“Whatever, Zeus. Do what you want. You always have. But I know for a fact that you won’t have time for Gigi in the lead up to this fight. And I’m not introducing you into her life now, only for you to disappear on her in a few weeks.”
“What are you saying?”
“Maybe wait until the fight is over.” I soften my tone. “Then, we’ll introduce you into her life.”
“No. I want to know my daughter now. I’ll postpone the fight if I have to.”
That does surprise me. But knowing he would do that for her makes me feel a little better about bringing him into her life.
“Won’t that cause you problems?” I ask.
“Let me worry about that. Marcel set up the fight. And, with the way things stand with him and me right now, he’s going to be lucky if he’s still breathing when I’m finished with him.”
“Okay, so you postpone the fight. It’ll still have to happen at some point. You’ll still be boxing. You’ll still be spending inordinate amounts of time away from Gigi when you’re training.”
“You want me to quit?”
“I’m not asking you to do anything.”
“Don’t shy away from the truth, Cam. It’s not you.”
“Like I said, I don’t want my daughter getting attached to you, only for you to disappear on her.” I know just how much it hurts, having Zeus in your life and for him to one day be gone.
The look he throws my way sears right through me. “I won’t disappear on her.”
“You said those exact words to me,” I toss back at him. “At the airport, the first time you left to go to the Olympics. ‘I’m not gonna disappear on you, Dove,’” I say, imitating his voice.
“Jesus, Cam. I know I screwed up big time with us. And I hate that I did. I can’t change that. But I can promise that I won’t screw up with Gigi. But you can’t ask me to quit boxing at the moment. I have to fight. I don’t have a choice.”
“Of course you don’t.” I laugh emptily. “Your bank account must’ve taken a hammering over the years with all the women you’ve been entertaining.”
Jesus, I’m bitter. I don’t know how many women there’s been since me. But, a week after Zeus broke up with me, he was photographed, shopping with some model. I figured it was the one he’d cheated on me with. And I took it as his message to me to stay away.
His gaze snaps to mine. Eyes wide and angry. “I’m okay for money. But I have a family to support. A brother and sister in college. And, now, I have my daughter’s future to secure. So, no, Cam, I can’t stop fighting right now. The Dimitrov fight will bring in big money. I have to do it.”