“First of all,” I say calmly as I remove my hands from my pockets, “that’s not your decision to make.”I take a step toward him, and although we’re almost matched for height, I’ve got a solid seventy-five pounds of muscle on him.On top of that, I’ve seen him in the ring; he’s slow and sloppy.“Secondly, she asked to stay, so she’s staying.”
Brock glances at the door behind me, and the fact that we’re alone must just now be occurring to him.“Fine.I’ll call the cops, and they can handle this.”
“Go ahead,” I say, taking another step closer to him.There’s nothing about his behavior that’s telling me he’s a concerned fiancé or even someone in her family that wants to help her.He’s acting like an entitled prick who is mad his toy got away.The thought makes my hands turn to fists at my side.“But I think you’d be hard pressed to prove she stole anything.Especially when it’s not on her.”If she did take something, I’m more than happy to help her hide it.“And from what Juliet has told me, you should be more worried aboutherspeaking to the cops.”
She hasn’t told me shit, but my guess was a direct hit.His face pales ever so slightly as he seems to think it over.
“I’ll have Kincade escort you out,” I tell him as I take a step back.“I won’t let you put any of my employees or members in danger.You’re banned from my gym.”
I know it’s a mistake to turn my back on him, but I do it anyway.The second I reach for the door, I feel his hand come down on my shoulder.
“You’re not going—” Brock’s words are cut off by a cry when I spin around and grab his wrist.
I turn it behind his back, it would be so easy to break it.Calling on all my control, I stop myself right before that happens.Instead, I slam his chest hard against the wall and pin him to it.
“It would be a mistake to touch me,” I say through gritted teeth as I lean closer.“Or anything that’s mine.”
“Oh, so she’s yours now?”Brock lets out a humorless laugh.
“And what if she is?”I’m letting this guy get the better of me, and I know it.I need to put an end to this.
“Then let’s fight for her.”
Brock’s words take me by surprise, and I have to blink a couple of times to make sure I heard him right.
“What?”That’s the only thing I can think of to say.
“I said let’s fight for her.”He’s still struggling in my hold, but he’s got enough skills that he might be able to break free if I don’t focus.“You and me in the ring.Winner takes the girl.”
“She doesn’t want to go with you,” I tell him.“That’s the end of it.”
“Nah,” Brock says, and then the fucker smiles.I’m confused until his left foot comes down on the inside of my calf and I grunt in pain.It’s enough of a distraction that I stumble back, and he breaks out of my hold.“I might leave today, but there’s always tomorrow, or the next day, or the next,” Brock says as I straighten.“You can’t keep her locked up in this place forever, and you know it.”
He’s got me there, and no matter how much I say I can protect Juliet, I can’t be glued to her hip for the rest of her life.Although that does have its appeal.
“So you want to fight for her?”I shake my head.“Are you telling me after I beat your ass you’ll leave her alone?”
“If you think you can.”Brock sounds overconfident as always.“I’ll fight you here.Winner takes Juliet.”
“You’re pathetic,” I tell him as my anger rises.
“Is that a yes?”
I know I could kick Brock’s ass with both hands tied behind my back.He got lucky just now by distracting me, not because he’s skilled enough to win.Kicking his ass would be a joy, and if it means getting him away from Juliet, then all the better.
“Yes,” I finally say, and he smiles.
“Then it’s settled.Saturday night, you and me.And after I win, you can watch me carry Jewels out of here on my shoulder like a prize belt.”
He bends down to grab his bag, and I lunge for him.I’m not sure what I was planning on doing exactly because at that moment, Kincade opens the office door.He probably saved me from a murder charge.
“All good, boss?”Kincade asks me, and I nod.
“Yeah, all good.”I say while I keep my eyes on Brock.
Brock slings his bag on his shoulder and heads for the door.“See you boys Saturday.”
Once he’s gone, Kincade looks back at me with a raised eyebrow.“What was all that?”
