We’re uncharacteristically silent as we cross the back parking area, past a few delivery trucks at
the loading dock, and into the warehouse.
A few of the warehouse guys nod but otherwise don’t pay much attention. Seeing us walk through
to the room in the back is not unusual, though it’s happened less this year. Ransom scans his palm on
the scanner, and shoves open the door. He tugs off his jacket as he moves to the middle of the room.
Kade slams the door shut behind us.
“So,” Ransom says, carefully removing his cufflinks. He lines them up neatly on the stool next to
the boxing ring and stares at me. “Fists or words?”
My eyes travel over the ring, then my brothers. “I don’t want to fight any of you,” I say flatly.
“We’re not kids anymore.”
Jonas pushes up his glasses. “You and I fought last weekend because I ate your leftover Pad
Thai.”
“It was really fucking good,” I yell, glaring at him. “Besides, that was fun.”
Jonas’s lips twitch. “Agreed.”
“What’s fucking with your head today?” Kade asks, leaning on the ring. When we bought this
place, it was bigger than we needed. We were still all scattered in different apartments across the city
and we decided to create a private hangout space back here. It started with a few couches and a TV.
The boxing ring came later. Now, since we live on top of each other and hang out all the time, this
room only gets used when we need to punch it out.
Privately.
I snarl at him, deciding punching it out is a great idea actually, and yank off my tie. “I’ll start with
you,” I say, flinging my shirt on the floor on top of my tie.
He grins and rocks back on his heels. “Well, all-fucking-right. Fight it is.” He strips off his jacket
and shirt. We both kick off our shoes and climb into the ring. Jonas, Nick and Ransom all move to one
side, hands clutching the ropes.
Kade’s big, a few inches taller, and definitely more muscle-bound, but I’m faster. We dance
around the ring, eyeing each other. I’m going to wipe his stupid grin off his face right— . “Like, how
bad is kidnapping, really?” I ask. “What if I just take her on a vacation, and whoops, we don’t come
back? That’s not the same thing, right?”
Kade drops his head and frowns. “Yeah, it is. I fucking checked. You get her to leave, voluntarily,
