Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 82662 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82662 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Chapter 2
Ari
His tattooed knuckles gripped the steering wheel and the only thing more tense was Frankie’s jawline. He had the same look he got when he was ready to fight. Freakshow to all, but Frankie to me.
He’d hurt others, but he’d never hurt me.
“I knew I shouldn’t have brought you to the fight.”
“We’ve discussed this over and over.” I sighed. “If we’re going to make this change to the gym and focus on the fights that make real money, then I need to be familiar with it. You know this.” I spoke as calmly as I could, even though adrenaline and even an ounce of fear still coursed through my body.
“I’m familiar. That’s all we need. This is my world. Not yours.” He glanced down at the blood that stained my white dress.
We drove the rest of the way from south Seattle to Ballard in silence. Not that the conversation was over, but I knew Frankie better than anyone, and I had learned a long time ago that the man needed time to cool off. Silence was best until his blood pressure lowered.
He pulled into the parking lot of our gym, his eyes focused on the worn-down building ahead. It was after-hours and the only other vehicle in the parking lot was mine.
The muscles in his arms flexed as he turned off the engine, the silence in the car heavy with unspoken words.
I looked down at my dress, now dried with a deep crimson, and a shiver ran down my spine.
“Your father would kill me if he were still alive. No way would he be cool with this.” That Frankie’s first words weren’t cussing was a good sign. And he wasn’t wrong, but I wasn’t going to admit that fact to him. Especially not now.
“This is who I am, Ari. This is what I’ve always been a part of,” he said, his voice low and intense. “But that doesn’t mean you have to be a part of it. You could have been hurt tonight. Look at you. You’re covered in blood.”
“Not my blood,” I clarified.
Frankie sighed, running a hand through his dirty blond hair. “I knew bringing you was a bad idea. I shouldn’t have let you talk me into this. This world is rough and unforgiving.”
I met his gaze, hoping he’d see the determination reflected in my eyes. “I want to be a part of it. I need to be a part of it. If we’re going to make this gym successful, then we have to make this change. Cage fighting has a shitload of money potential. Boxing... well it just doesn’t anymore. And we know this.”
“Boxing was your father’s legacy.”
“A legacy that’s on the verge of dying,” I countered. “Hardly anyone comes to our gym anymore to train. And the ones that do want MMA or the underground circuit. It’s not the same anymore. You know this.”
Frankie stared at me for a long moment, searching my face as if for any hint of doubt. When he didn’t find any, he let out a slow breath. “I don’t fucking like it… But you need to understand what you’re getting into. It’s not what you were brought up around. This isn’t some glamorous sport. There aren’t clear rules like there is with boxing. It’s not a gentleman’s game. It’s brutal and raw. And it’s dangerous.”
I nodded, my resolve unwavering. “So you keep saying, but I also know that we can’t keep going the way we are. We need to adapt or we’ll get left behind. We need the money or our doors close. It’s black and white in my mind.”
“Nothing about this is black and white. Or simple.”
“The money is. Either we have it or we don’t. Pretty simple, if you ask me.”
He nodded, a ghost of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “You always were the smart one.” But then his eyes darkened, and he adjusted his body so he was staring at me with more intensity. “But you stay away from Bones Vega.”
I smirked. “Jealous? Since when do you care who I play with?”
Frankie narrowed his eyes. “This isn’t a joke, Ari. Bones is a dangerous man. He’s got a reputation for being ruthless in the cage and out of it. He’s fucked up, too. A goddamn hot mess. I don’t want you anywhere near him.”
Frankie had always been protective of me, ever since we were kids. It was one of the reasons I had always looked up to him, even when we butted heads.
The man boiled my insides.
Sometimes in a good way, and most definitely in a bad way.
Hot and cold. But right now, seeing him protective and even a little rattled by what happened tonight, my blood was definitely boiling hot.
I leaned in to kiss his mouth, running my tongue on the piercing that hung on his lower lip.