Page 5 of King of Tides

I release a laugh and smile wider. “As long as you drink plenty of water, gorgeous.”

She shakes her head as the elevator dings on our floor. “Yeah, right.” She smiles. “You have a good night, neighbor.”

“You too.”

Water Visions

Isit on the side of the boxing ring, taping my hands as Mack and Carson are locked together in conversation. I don’t mind; I want to be left alone with my thoughts.

I have a lot on my mind. I have three sisters, and we all share the same scumbag father. I haven’t been able to tell the family I grew up with about them because I’m embarrassed about who my father is.

Candido isn’t someone to be proud of. My sisters are lucky not to have known him. Well, all except Ray. However, none of them seem to know the kind of man we come from.

I’m staring off into space as Mack comes over and sits beside me. He’s the closest thing I have to a father. He’s the only father figure I’ve ever known. I still remember the day I turned up on his gym’s doorstep.

“You look like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders, sport. What’s up?” he says.

“Nothing, Papi. It’s all good.”

“I know you better than that. I’m here to listen. Go on, tell me what’s on your mind. I might be able to help.”

I lean my head on his shoulder and release a heavy breath. He reaches to palm my head and holds me in place as he kisses the top of my head.

That’s the closest I’ll allow to a hug. It took years for us to get there. Mack has been patient with me since day one. He has demonstrated the patience of a saint with us all.

Now this man I can be proud of. Has he always done the right things? Not at all. Not with three mouths to feed and a business to run to do so.

However, this gym was once my home. I’ve watched Mack do what he needed to do to make sure Hydra keeps its doors open, not because of greed or power.

This man took in three runaways and made us a family. He gave us love when the world refused to treat us like human beings who deserved to be safe and protected. There is no way I could ever repay him for that.

“I’m fine, Papi. I promise. Let me get into this ring with Carson and I’ll prove it,” I say to reassure him.

“Hija, you know once you’re in my ring, you need to be fully focused. Don’t get in there with a monkey on your back.”

“Ugh, Papi, I said I’m fine.”

“Still my little girl,” he chuckles and gets up.

I punch my fist into my palm and roll my shoulders as I stand. Carson comes to hold the ropes open for me to step in andthen he follows. I bounce around in the ring to loosen up and get my thoughts together.

“You all right?” Carson asks.

“Not you too. What the hell?”

“We know you, mommy. You wear your feelings on your face when you’re around family,” he says as he searches my face with his gaze.

“Less talk, more of me kicking your ass. Let’s get this started,” I say and nod at Mack to call the fight.

We bump knuckles and the fight starts. I dodge Carson’s first attack easily. Mack has been training us from the time he took us in.

Carson is another of Mack’s strays. He’s been like a brother to me. The other cop in the family. He works uptown with them bougie folks.

If I wanted a shot at Ricci, I needed to land midtown. That’s just what I did. I mean, how is it no one else sees Candido or his brother for who they are?

“Come on, Billy, keep your hands up. Don’t let him outfight you,” Mack calls into the ring.

I had been dirty and hungry but determined to make it on my own when Mack came into my life. I couldn’t stand the foster home they had placed me in and had the right mind to get the hell out of there before something happened to me.

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