“What is it?”
“Open your own gym. You can train people.”
“You would do that for me?” he asks, shifting so he can look at me. I smile at him.
“I’d do anything for you.” Royal leans in and presses his lips to mine, and I savor every second of it.
Chapter 29
Royal
I wasn’t ready to let her go, but I had to. I have to finish this shit. Nothing good is going to come out of letting Brent live. He took her, hurt her, and that’s the worst thing he could have done.
I’ve fought for him for years. He was the one who gave me a chance when I first came around, but he fucked that by taking advantage of me. He used me to make so much money, almost as much as I used him, but touching River was too far.
Jeremy and I sneak in the back door and down the hall. I didn’t see many cars out front, so that’s a good sign.
We make our way quietly down the hall and stop in front of his office. I can hear him talking to someone on the phone when I kick the door open and aim directly at him.
“What the fuck is this?” he roars. Jeremy aims at Jim. I’m so fucking glad it was Jim who was in here with him.
“You fucked up, Brent. Why did you put your hands on her?” I ask him.
“This over the girl? You should be thanking me, you stupid fuck! I’ve never turned you down for a fight, Royal.”
“Thanking you? I thanked you when you gave me a chance. I thanked you when you fucked me out of money, and I still came back for more. I think I’ve thanked you enough,” I snarl at him.
“So this is it? Some little bitch comes along, and you ruin everything? Where will you fight? No one else will give you the chance I gave you.”
“You think I need you? Is that what this is?” I laugh now.
“You do need me! I’m the only one willing to let you fight! Don’t you see that?” he yells back at me. I shake my head.
“I’ve got other plans. Plans you’ll fuck up.”
“Walk out of here, and I'll let you go.”
“Is that how you think this is going to work? I walk away after you tried to kill her?” I ask him.
“She isn’t dead. If I wanted her dead, she would be.”
“You slit her fucking wrists,” I roar this time.
“Nothing she can’t heal from. Let’s make a deal. I’ll pay you the money I owe you. The money from your fights I took. You walk out of here and never come back,” he offers.
“You’re fucking crazy if you think it’s that easy.”
“You need money, Royal. I know you do,” he adds.
“Not from you. You fucked up.” I pull the trigger and watch his head explode onto the wall behind him, then I turn to Jim. I don’t wait to hear what he has to say, I just pull the fucking trigger and watch him fall. I stare at the two dead men before Jeremy moves.
“Let’s get the fuck out of here. Give me the gun,” he orders. I pass him the gun, and we hurry, leaving the gym like nothing had happened. He takes off one way, and I go the other.
I run all the way back to the warehouse, where I find River pacing the floor.
“Grab the bags,” I tell her. I start grabbing some of our shit, and she grabs the other before I lead her outside. We walk for what seems like forever before I motion for her to follow me into the tree line. She’s hesitant at first, but she does it.
“What’s this?”
