Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 78725 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78725 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Lotto hummed. “I assume all of our travel and accommodations are taken care of?” He crossed his arms, muscles pressing against his Smiley’s Gym T-shirt.
“Of course, of course. Only five-star hotels for my best fighters. I need to treat them to keep them winning.”
There was something unnerving around the way he smiled at us. It wasn’t just greasy. It was like Pennywise inviting us down into the sewers by saying, “We all box here.”
Unlike Lotto and Ari, Frankie didn’t bother to hide his distaste. He grimaced and set his hands on his hips. “And what happens if we lose?”
“Well, let’s hope you don’t do that.” Lucien clapped his hands together. “It would be tough on all of us, don’t you think?”
I’d seen a lot of shady shit in the underground rings and dealt with a lot of bad customers. It was par for the course in our line of work. But damn if this guy didn’t give them a run for their money. Years I’d spent avoiding his “lucrative deals” and “exciting opportunities,” knowing it came with insane strings attached, only to wind up in the same situation I’d been running from.
Smiley’s was lucky they were all so damn talented.
Not to mention hot as fuck.
“Yeah, yeah, pipsqueak, we get it. Keep winning.”
“Or else,” Lucien confirmed.
Or else? Really? I shook my head. If he was going to threaten us, he had to do better than that. That was child’s play.
“Or else,” Teo mocked and punched Bones in the shoulder. “Listen to this guy.”
Lucien glared at Teo. “How would you like to be off the team? I own your contract, so watch how you speak to me.”
“My daughter’s boyfriend is scarier than you, and he’s five.” Teo slung his bag over his shoulder and nodded at Ari and Frankie. “I’ll go wait in the van. I shouldn’t stick around. Or else,” he mocked again and cackled as he left the venue.
Ari laughed behind a fist, clearing her throat when she finally stopped giggling. “Is there anything else you need, Lucien?”
“I won’t be traveling with you to California, but I just wanted to remind you, I expect results.”
“And results you’ll get. Just like you did today and the last two fights, in case you forgot,” Frankie deadpanned as he slid his gaze over to Bones and me. “Rest up tonight. Tomorrow we travel and are back at it.”
God, could Frankie give us a damn break? Between the past few weeks of intense practice, the first matches of the Circuit, and all this travel, I was beat and ready for more than a few rounds of drinks. Or some more “team building” activities with the rest of the Smiley’s team. Maybe Frankie could relax a bit if I sucked the tension out of him?
But at least I had one source of energy: the pictures Daisy sent me of the boys holding signs with my name on them. My nephews had apparently been going around school talking about their cool boxing legend uncle. I liked it. Boxing Legend River had a pretty damn good ring to it. I couldn’t let down the most excited five- and seven-year-olds in all of the Seattle area.
“Wonderful.” Lucien fixed his suit and tipped his head. “See you when you return.”
He turned and left. Too bad, because he missed the way we all flipped him the bird.
As soon as our benefactor was out of the venue, Bones rolled his eyes. “I might get kicked off the team before Teo. One of these days, I’m going to fucking snap.”
“Me first.” Lotto exhaled through his nose. He did that a lot when he was trying to calm himself down. “Technically, I’m not on the team, so I’ll do it.”
“Maybe I should kick his ass. I think humiliation at the hands of a girl sounds like a perfect punishment for that prick.” Ari grinned and picked up her bag. Her smile slipped when she looked over my shoulder. “Fuck me,” she whined. “I think it’s asshole day.”
I glanced behind me. Asshole Day was right. We’d already dealt with Lucien, and now here came two of my three headaches: Jace and Misty Perk. They weaved between the camera crews packing up their gear, heading straight for us. For me, probably. Damnit.
“You guys go first.” I sighed. “I’ll deal with the dick parade.”
“I wish it was a different kind of dick parade.”
Ari’s joke made me chortle. “Maybe later.”
“Don’t take too long.” Frankie eyed the Perks siblings with a frown. “We’ll grab your stuff from the locker rooms and wait for you outside.”
Bones, Ari, Lotto, and Frankie headed off to the locker rooms. I stared after them, wishing I could join.
But first, I had to smite the fuck out of some ghosts of my past.
“Beau Fitzpatrick.” Jace oozed smugness as he approached. “Look at you. King of the world. Congrats on the KO.”