Page 133 of Rebel Hawke

I lower myself onto the bench next to him and drop my face into my palms, sweat rolling down my chest and back, dripping onto the floor beneath me.

Astrid moves restlessly in front of me, her white sneakers shifting in my narrow view.

Isaac leans closer, lowering his voice, as if he doesn’t want to say the words out loud. “Are you going to be okay for the fight?”

Jesus fucking Christ…

Like I need him asking me that question when I don’t have my head on straight and have no fucking clue what shape I’ll be in next week. Before Jenkins died, before he left us with this unsettling truth about what Dom did, I was ready. Physically and mentally prepared for anything Gordon threw at all—literally and figuratively.

But it feels like everything has been flipped upside down.

That doesn’t change the reality of what next weekend is, though. How important it is for the Hawkes and for me and everything I worked with Jenkins for my entire life.

I glance over at Isaac, then up at Astrid, whose blond brows are raised. “I have to be. What would it do to the opening if I lost this fucking fight?”

A minute passes while I wait for them to argue with me, to object and tell me that it isn’t as important as I’m making it out to be.

They don’t.

It confirms what I’ve always known to be true from the very moment ground broke for The Hawke Hotel and we scheduled this fight—this is the biggest project in Hawke Enterprise’s history, and we need it to be successful in every way.

We’ve sunk billions into it.

Not to mention all the time and energy everyone has spent on plans, designs, construction, personnel…

The sheer amount of work that goes into creating an experience like the one we want to offer at the hotel and casino is staggering, but it’s something the Hawkes were more than willing to take on, considering the payoff.

It’s the start of what will hopefully be a whole new empire for us, a hotel chain that will stretch along the entire Gulf Coast—if this goes as planned. And it starts with the single building and me in the ring, kicking Gordon’s ass and winning the belt as the big grand-opening act.

If I lose, all the air will be blown out of the sails.

The hurricane snuffed out.

Isaac finally manages to find his words, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees, dipping his head low near mine. “Who do you want in your corner?”

It’s a simple question, but one I haven’t been able to get my head around since Jenkins died.

It’s always been him.

Every single fight I’ve had since I was a goddamn child, it’s been Jimmy Jenkins in the corner, coaching me, encouraging me, patching me up. The thought of doing this without him chokes my breath again, and I swallow through it, refusing to fall apart in front of Astrid and Isaac.

“Other than Grayson who hasalwaysbeen my cut man, I don’t know.” I rub the back of my neck and smirk at him. “You offering?”

Isaac nods. “Always.” He sighs deeply, then pushes upright and turns to face the empty ring. “I know I’m not him, but I’ve spent enough time in this gym with you, been through hundreds of training sessions, and sparred with you. I’ve been at every one of your fights and know your strengths, weaknesses, and strategies. I’ll be there, if you want me there.” He looks over his shoulder at me. “I also think you should bring Bishop.”

He’s probably right about that.

Bishop knows me in the ring better than anyone, has sparred with me the most, and given me the toughest challenge of any of the family. She’s relentless, and that’s what I need next weekend.

Of course, I could call in a different trainer…

It’s what most fighters would do.

Bring in someone to push me through this last week.

But this close to the fight, with Jenkins gone, I can’t stomach the thought. I don’t want someone stepping in and trying to fuck with what he’s created, with what Wren and I have fought so hard to get me to.

The only way this fight happens is by putting people in my corner who know Jenkins, who understand his plan for me and this fight, who will keep pushing me the same way he would and never let me quit.

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