Total pages in book: 171
Estimated words: 164459 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 822(@200wpm)___ 658(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164459 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 822(@200wpm)___ 658(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
“Give me one reason why I shouldn’t go back there, drag him out on his ass, and prove my fucking point? That he’s nothing but a pussy that can’t even come out and make amends with his own fucking son? His flesh and blood? The ‘creator’ of the so-called Doomsday?”
The gym is silent for a while. I look at each fighter, some new and old. I look at Crusher and Hayley, and then at Flex standing in his office again.
“Because he has an expiration date, Drake,” Hayley whispers.
My eyes drop to hers. “What are you talking about?”
She looks down. “Flex has throat cancer. He was taking treatments but they weren’t working. He’s already dying. Why shorten his days even more?”
Jenny gasps.
I stand and stare. Motionless. I hear murmuring. Whispering. The pounding in my chest. I feel Jenny holding onto me, clinging as if her life depends on it.
I look around, up at Crusher who has empathy deep in his eyes. Hayley is on the verge of tears for God knows why, and everyone that is in the gym, taking photos and recording videos, they don’t really give a shit.
They just want to see a fight.
They only want to see me fuck up.
Well, that’s too fucking bad.
They aren’t getting a show tonight. Not here. Not in Fox River, and definitely not from me against a man with a death sentence.
“The fact that he’s dying gives him all the more reason to talk to me. Make some fucking amends.” I swallow thickly, grabbing Jenny’s hands. Before I go, I turn to look at Hayley. “Tell Flex that even if I dislike him, he is still my father. He did wrong, but who hasn’t? Tell him… fuck, tell him that when he’s ready to talk, to call my manager. He knows the number. I’ll be waiting.”
She nods rapidly. “I will, Doom.”
I nod and then I turn, bustling out of the gym with Jenny’s hand tight in mine. We make it outside and as soon as we are in the SUB, I punch the back of the seat.
The passenger seat’s headrest flies off and Bill shouts, “Holy shit!” as he watches it land on the dashboard.
“Drake!” Jenny screams.
I pant heavily, focused on my fists. My hands.
She reaches forward to clasp my face in her hands. Forcing my eyes on hers, she strokes my cheekbones, swiping the unwanted tears away.
“Why are you crying?” she whispers.
“I’m pissed the fuck off,” I mutter. “I got cheated out of making things right with him. I wanted to try, Jenny. I promise you.” My voice cracks and I fucking hate myself. I hate how weak I sound.
“For a second, I thought I could make things right with him. For the briefest of moments, I imagined Flex and me shaking hands tonight and getting on the same terms. I imagined him being… a father figure… maybe even my trainer. I imagined some sort of respect growing between us…somehow. It was one big fucking illusion.”
“No, no,” she coos. “It’s okay,” she assures me. “This is no longer your weight, Drake. You wanted to set things straight. He didn’t. He’s not a real man. But you are because you came here and you wanted to make things right. You heard what he said about us. He’s still angry. He’s a spiteful, lonely man and he will die that way, unless he decides to do what’s right. Let’s just hope he comes around. We can’t control what he says or does.”
I lock eyes with her and she caresses my cheek.
“This is our fresh start,” she whispers. “You tried. That’s all that matters. Now we move forward. Right?”
I unclench my fists, barely nodding. She smiles softly, picking up my hand to kiss the palm of it. Heat raids my body as I watch her kiss my skin over and over again. When she drops my hand and her lips land on my forehead, a feeling of wholeness swarms through me.
I watch her when she sits back and tells Bill to take us to the hotel. During the ride, my eyes don’t pull away from hers. I can’t look away. And I don’t know why.
My tamer.
My princess.
My woman.
Only she can do this. Make me see the good I’ve done, even when I feel like I wasn’t good at all.
“I was about to go back there, Jenny. I wanted to so badly.”
“I know.” She entwines our fingers. “But you didn’t. And like I said, that’s all that matters.” Her plump lips stretch and she presents the most innocent smile of all time.
I huff a laugh. “I still don’t know what you want with a fucker like me.”
“I love you.” Her voice is confident. She rests her head on top of my shoulder. “Isn’t that enough?”
I reach over, running my thumb across her bottom lip. I study her mouth, and then I lean down to devour it, consuming what’s mine. Right now I need her touch—her hot, little mouth on mine.