Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 25727 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 129(@200wpm)___ 103(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25727 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 129(@200wpm)___ 103(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
“You told him the kid has no chance against Mick, right?”
Mick is Griffin’s brother-in-law, a nineteen-year-old boxing phenom. We didn’t know he was a phenom until a few months ago when Griffin took one look at Mick’s sister and decided he was going to marry her. The brother and Griffin had a rocky start, but Griffin gave him a job at the gym, the kid stepped into the boxing ring, and the rest is history. And by history, I mean this kid is going to make history in the future. Today, though, he’s going to knock some sense into another kid, and then we’re going to see if that kid is salvageable. I don’t think he is, but we have to try for Vasey and Jasmine’s sake.
“I told him. I don’t think he cares much.”
Griff looks confused. “Isn’t that his kid?”
“No. It’s his wife’s kid, and before you ask, I don’t think he cares much for her either.”
“Then why—” He cuts himself off. “Never mind. You don’t have any answers.”
I shrug. “How long do you think this kid can last?”
“Against Mick? Ten seconds.”
“Can we extend that to at least a minute?”
“Do you want him to just stand there?”
“Yes?”
Griff sighs. “I could be home with the wife. Instead, I’m here watching my teen pummel your teen into the mat.”
“Not my teen.”
“Semantics. Can’t you just kidnap Vasey and take her to a secluded island until this kid is eighteen and goes off to college?”
Both our eyes land on Ware, still sitting in his metal chair doing nothing but staring at the ring.
“Did I tell you Ware and I are neighbors now?”
“No, but if it’s because you want to be close to Vasey, I get it. If you can’t be in the same house, that’s the next best thing.”
Before his marriage, Griff would not have understood this. He didn’t understand me buying The Academy because what was the point of an expensive gift to a woman you couldn’t have? Now he gets it. He’d do anything for his woman which, prior to his marriage, was getting his hair cut weekly since that was what his woman does for a living.
I give him a chin nod and go over and greet Ware. “Griff told me that Gideon wouldn’t last ten seconds against Mick, so we can call it off right now before anyone is hurt.”
“He’s been plucking the legs off frogs, snapping birds’ necks, and leaving rats with their entrails wrapped around their necks? I think ten seconds is a gift.”
He must have talked to his daughter.
“What are you going to do about it? Him getting beat up by Mick isn’t going to change him.”
“Then, why did you give him a card to come here to your gym?”
“Because he’s a minor, and I can’t do much about that but get someone else to put the fear of God into him.”
“Seems reasonable. I’m divorcing Roberta. What happens to Gideon will depend on how much fear gets pounded into him. How long can Mick make this last?”
“A long time, and by that, I mean, maybe a minute.”
It’s not even a minute. Mick hits him once, and Gideon collapses. Ware heaves a deep sigh and pushes to his feet. He walks over to the boxing ring and peers down to see if Gideon is conscious. “I’m divorcing your mother. You two will be out of the house by the morning.”
Without another word, he turns and walks to the exit. At the door, he stops. “Vasey will still be living with me until Jasmine goes to college. Especially since you robbed Jasmine of her mother.”
“That’s all on you, man. You married the wrong woman and put your daughter in danger. Try being a father so that you don’t have to rely on a stranger to parent your kid. Vasey will continue to care for your daughter because she loves that girl, but she’ll be living with me because she loves me.”
Ware clenches his jaw.
I tilt my head toward the ring. “I’m happy to go a couple of rounds with you. Best man wins all sorts of things.”
Ware snorts. “I’m the richest man in the city because I know what battles to fight and what ones to walk away from.” The door opens and closes behind him silently.
When I get home, Vasey is in the bedroom, unpacking a suitcase. I lean against the door frame and just watch her for a while as she pushes my underwear to the side to make room for her lacy panties and bras, replaces another drawer full of white T-shirts with a colorful collection of graphic tees and sweatshirts. It’s homey and mundane, but I could watch this show for hours and never tire of it.
“You should be helping me instead of just standing there.”
“Your tits jiggle when you bend over. If I move, I won’t be able to see that.”