“But I’m not anybody else and you wouldn’t dream of threatening a professional NFA fighter, would you?” I squinted, giving him an I double dog dare you look.
“Fucking asshole.”
“Got the tattoo to prove it.” I patted my chest.
“Hm.” He grunted and moved on as if I haven’t spoken. “Speaking of fucked up career moves, what the hell is wrong with you lunging at that reporter?”
“Now, we finally come to the real point of this impromptu drop-in.”
“First, your ass owes me for the flight. That’s a round trip ticket. Ass face, next time answer your fucking phone. What the hell, Luke? You know your ass can get kicked out of the Association for shit like that.”
“They’re not about to kick me out.” I dismissed his warning with a shake of my head.
“And what if they do? This isn’t the first time you let that hot-headed temper get the best of you with a reporter.”
“Suddenly I’m the only one with a hot head?”
“Nope, but it takes one to know one, remember? We don’t let one another fuck up where it matters most.”
I clenched my teeth because what the hell was I supposed to say to that? Pit was right, but I hated admitting it, so I shut the fuck up.
“Look, get your shit together, man. Hopefully, this new trainer…” He paused as his gaze slowly moved to the window staring again at Syd. “Will kick your ass back into shape.”
“You’ve got a real fucking way with words, Pit.” I stood, glaring at him.
He snorted and chuckled at the same time. “I do, don’t I. You better be there. She wants it.” He nodded at the paper on my desk.
I picked up the paper, along with one of the push pins I kept in a holder on my desk and pinned it to the corkboard that hung on the wall.
“If it’s on the board, it’s as good as done.”
Pit nodded. “Keep your ass out of trouble and your nose clean in the meantime.”
“The fuck is the fun in that?” I grunted. “Hey, you spoken to Kelex lately?”
He looked at me with that same forlorn look all of us got when that subject was brought up.
“I’ll take that as a no. He showed up at a fight of mine last year. That was the last time I’ve seen him.”
Pit nodded. “Skittles knows how to find his ass. I’ll reel him in.”
I nodded, knowing he would.
The pit in my stomach grew as I thought over how long it’d been since I’d been back to Vander City to hang with Pit and the rest of the crew. Maybe it was time to make a trip back to catch up with Pit, Skittles, Deacon, Tak, and maybe even Kelex. If his ass would quit acting like a bitch and show his damn face.
Pit headed out the door. I didn’t bother following, but my eyes narrowed when I watched him saunter over to where Syd was still setting up, pausing to talk to her.
Something rose in my chest, causing me to glare at both of them. Typically, I could care less about most conversations that didn’t concern me. Yet I found myself questioning what the hell he was saying to her.
Syd
I watched as both men strolled in the direction of Luke’s office. They didn’t look alike at all, but there was a certain type of similarity there. I couldn’t put my finger on it, and I forced myself to not even think about it. This was my first day at this job and I needed to prove to myself I hadn’t bitten off more than I could chew.
Stepping out of the heels I wore, I proceeded to size up the entire space of the gym, figuring out where to set up what I needed and how to do so. Once I heard the door shut to Luke’s office, I padded across the floor to the crates that held the punching pads and mitts. Carrying those to the mats along with a speed jump rope and timer, I placed them down at the center.
Pulling out my phone, I busied myself by going over the workout I had designed for Luke that day along with sending a text message to a nutritionist I knew. I suspected Luke would need a new meal plan, and somehow, I also knew he’d be resistant when I told him as much.
I heard the door to Luke’s office open but didn’t pay much attention until I felt someone standing behind me. Turning, I was surprised to find not Luke, but the guy introduced as Pit standing over me. His expression was unreadable. I started to look toward Luke’s office window, but I didn’t want to break eye-contact with Pit. It seemed as if he was searching for some sort of weakness.
