He nods me over, and I ditch the rope, flexing my hands as I cross the gym. The other regulars pretend not to watch, but everyone here loves a show. The Laurent twins, always at it, always fighting for the same invisible crown.
Liam points to the medicine ball and says, “Twenty slams.”
I lift the ball, feeling the weight. I imagine anyone getting too close to Sara leaving me furious and uncontrolled. I slam it down hard, letting the echo fill the room. Liam’s lips curl with satisfaction.
“Are you going to spot, or just stand there looking dangerous?” I ask him.
Liam’s mouth twitches, the closest he gets to a smile. “If I wanted to look dangerous, I’d ride with your girlfriend to the Café de Paris and have you chase us or maybe throw her to the sharks.” He hammers out the last word, knowing it’ll sting.
“Liam, I suggest you stay the fuck away from her,” I say through my teeth.
He grabs and holds the boxing pads, smirking like the bastard he is. He can see through me. We’re different but similar: same wrath, same goals, same threats to protect. I know we can alwayscount on each other, especially in our line of work. A life he dragged me into, and one I've taken a step further. The need to have the upper hand is visceral.
I go through our routine. The rhythm is always hypnotic, a trance that erases everything else through each punch. Except it doesn’t this time, It’s not enough. I find the edge, that razor place where the pain in my hands grows and I slip on the last combo, almost losing my balance.
Liam lowers the pads and tilts his head. “You're off your game,” he says, casual but with an edge.
I barely react, wiping sweat from my brow. “Didn’t sleep.”
“No shit?” He doesn’t have to say more.
“Drop it, man.” I drop the gloves and go for the ball, start another set.
Liam lets it sit for a minute, then walks over, towel around his neck.
“She’s not good for you, and no one ever got you on a technicality before.”
I toss the ball hard enough for him to exhale as he catches it.
“Why is she not good for me, Liam? It’s not illegal to care about someone.” I bark out a little more defensively than I mean to let out.
“It doesn’t have to be illegal to ruin your life. She’s broken,” Liam says, voice soft but hard-edged.
I feel the old fury rise. “Right, and what exactly are you, Liam? Running your mouth about her being broken. You’re thriving on scaring the shit out of people, walking around like a vulture. You think we’re not broken? Heck, you’re more broken and selfish than I am. Stop it.”
Liam looks like he wants to deck me, but I see something else in his eyes too, and it’s something close to fear, or maybe wanting the best for me, or both flicker. I know he cares, and I’ll always love the asshole for it.
“She’s not what you think,” I say, quieter now. “I wouldn’t pursue her if there weren’t something there.”
“Well, what is it?” He snickers.
“Beats me, but she’s got a hold on me I didn’t plan for.” I pause. “She’s never been with a guy before, and that complicates things.”
He lets out a devious laugh, enjoying this now more than he did months ago when Sara and I were just friends.
“Not on your bingo card, huh?” Liam lets the moment hang and sees I’m not in the mood for humor.
I nod, because no, it wasn’t on my bingo card to fall in love at this point in my life.
We finish the circuit, both of us blown out, sweat soaking our shirts. Liam’s eyes stay locked on mine, a mirror of my focus, as he throws another left hook that makes my shoulder sting like hell, but I don’t flinch.
He moves as he always does. He’s an efficient mean fuck, a predator in his brutality. Sometimes I need to be reminded that I can’t ever be just like him, consumed by a storm wrecking him from the inside, taking down anyone in his path. A vivid memory of Sara’s fingers come over me, lingering on my bruises, sadistically wanting to be ruined by new ones so I can feel her touch over them.
So, I let him punch me again and again.
Five
Sara
