Page 4 of Rebel Hawke

She crosses her arms over her chest and taps her stiletto-clad foot. “Cass is over there taking care of everything this morning. I haven’t been here in a while. I wanted to come watch.”

“Uh-huh. And you”—I point to Isaac—“don’t you have court?”

He grins and steals Viviana from Astrid. “Actually, I do. I’ll catch you later.”

She waves at everyone as he takes her out the door, looking annoyed at being ferried away from the gym. It’s the distraction I need to sneak off and head toward the locker room before anyone else can interject their thoughts.

At least, it should be.

But I hear Savage following behind me.

Shit.

Just what I don’t need.

He’s either going to call me out or trying to give me a pep talk I don’t fucking want right now.

I shove through the door and stalk over to the bench to dig in my bag for my clean clothes, but he catches it before it closes and enters the locker room, settling next to me without a word.

Hand clenched around my pants, I grit my teeth. “Don’t say it.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

I glance over at him. “You don’t have to. I know what you’re thinking.”

He raises his dark brows slowly, watching me carefully, seeing far too much far too easily. “Do you?”

Tossing my jeans onto the bench, I scowl at him. “You’re always the one they send to say the things that no one else has the balls to.”

He snorts but doesn’t deny it because he can’t. “They’re just worried about you.” He glances toward the gym, then back at me. “Everyone would understand if you canceled the fight after what happened.”

And end my fucking career.

I should have had my shot at the title months ago, but instead, I spent weeks in the hospital and months doing rehab that hasn’t done shit to get my shoulder back to where it was before the shooting.

It left it open for Vince Gordon to sneak in and steal the belt right out from under me, but I am not about to let him keep it.

I clench my jaw, trying to keep myself from lashing out at Uncle Savage. “I’m fucking fine, Savage. The fight is supposed to be the main event for the grand opening of the hotel. What the fuck are you going to do if I bow out?”

He shrugs. “We find a replacement.”

Fuck.

I snort. “Nice to know I can be replaced so easily, but that’s not fucking happening—”

“And you’re notfightingthe way you are right now.”

His words leave no room for argument. And when Savage lays down the law, no one questions it.

Except me.

“In case you haven’t noticed, I already have a father and a mother to baby me and tell me what I can and can’t do.”

I motion absently back toward the gym where Dad is undoubtedly discussing the session with Jenkins before he heads to the club and unloads it all on Mom so she can worry about me, too.

Savage chuckles. “Believe me, son, I’m well aware, but I’ve been where you are, trying to push too hard for something that…” He pauses for a second, like he’s contemplating his words and searches my face. “You’re going to hurt yourself even worse if you push beyond your limits.”

“The doctors cleared me.” That lie comes so easily after saying it so many times. The next one is harder. “I’m fine.”

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