The gym was already alive when Luca and Sophia walked in. The smell of leather, sweat, and grit hung thick in the air. This place had always centered him. It was the home he had always wanted and the family to go with it. There were no lies and no second-guessing. All he had to do was work when he showed up to the gym, and that suited him just fine.
Tony and Rocco were already warming up in the ring while Jonesy shouted instructions at them. Well, mostly criticisms, but once in a while, he’d tell them what to do, and that seemed to work for them all. They seemed to thrive on Jonesy’s cranky ass yelling at them to do better, or be faster, for some odd reason.
“Take five, boys,” Jonesy shouted at them.
“You look like shit,” Rocco called out cheerfully. “When was the last time you slept?”
Tony snorted. “That’s what happens when you get yourself a woman.”
Luca tossed his bag down and started wrapping his hands. “Shut the fuck up.”
“You just can’t handle the truth,” Tony said, looking around Luca. “Hey, Sophia,” he said sweetly, waving at her. She giggled and waved back, causing Luca to groan.
“Don’t be nice to him when he’s being an ass to me,” Luca grumbled.
“Well, he’s not being an ass to me, so I’m going to be nice to him,” she insisted. “Hey, Rocco.”
Jonesy stepped around Luca and held out his hand to her. “I’m Jonesy, and you must be the reason why Luca has been absent around here.”
“I’m Sophia,” she said, “and sorry about keeping him from his training. I hope that I’m not too much of a distraction, but I’d love to work out while Luca gets in his time here.”
“Not a problem,” Jonesy said. “Help yourself.” Luca wasn’t sure the last time he had seen the old guy acting so pleasantly. It was almost comical to see him try to paste on a smile for Sophia.
It was a though all the guys had gone crazy just because a pretty woman was in the gym. Luca ignored them, but his jaw tightened just enough to give himself away. He hadn’t slept much—not since Sophia moved in with him. He worried that letting his guard down would give Peter an opening to get to Sophia, and he couldn’t let that happen.
Sophia went up on her tiptoes and gently kissed his cheek, causing the guys to make noises that he wished he hadn’t had to hear. “I’ll be over there on the treadmill,” she whispered in his ear. Luca nodded, pulled on his gloves, and shoved his mouthguard in his mouth. He was going to kick their asses, and this time, it was going to feel pretty damn good to do so.
They moved into sparring without another word. The world narrowed the way it always did once the bell rang. He and Tony faced off first, and Luca hit harder than usual. Tony caught onimmediately, blocking a brutal combination and backing away. “Jesus, kid. You trying to take my head off?”
“Focus,” Luca muttered, driving forward again.
Rocco circled the ring, watching. “Yeah, he’s off,” he said to Jonesy. “He’s too aggressive and has no patience.” Luca wanted to tell him to fuck off and mind his business, but Jonesy stepped in to put a halt to the fight.
“Break,” he barked, clapping once. “Both of you, now.” The bell rang, and Luca stepped back, his chest heaving, sweat already slicking his skin. Jonesy climbed up onto the edge of the ring, arms crossed, his sharp eyes locked on Luca. He wanted to hide, but there was nowhere to go. He looked over to find Sophia watching them, and he hated that he was fighting like an ass. That wasn’t what he wanted to show her today, but the guys had pissed him off, and he was taking out his aggressions on Tony.
“Are you fighting dirty today?” Jonesy asked.
Luca pulled out his mouthguard. “Just training, Jonesy.”
“Bullshit,” Jonesy said flatly. “I’ve trained you long enough to know when your head’s not in it.”
Tony leaned on the ropes. “Told you.”
Jonesy ignored him and kept his focus on Luca. “I put your name in, and now, I’m starting to regret it.”
Luca stilled. “For what?”
“For a main event,” Jonesy said. “It’s a big one in Atlantic City with national coverage.”
Rocco’s eyebrows shot up. “That’s the break you’ve been looking for, Luca.”
“It is,” Jonesy agreed. “And if he takes it, I need him locked in—fully.”
Luca dragged a towel over his face. “When is it?”
“The fight is in eight weeks,” Jonesy said. “Which means you train harder, longer, and smarter. No skipping out early, no days off, and no distractions.”
Tony glanced between Luca and Rocco. “You think he’s ready?” he asked.
