Page 34 of Consume Me

“Let’s take this one step at a time. They’re fucking prisoners.”

They fucked us up good growing up. Having fathers like them, breathing down our necks and watching our every move, left marks. Even though they’re trapped, their existence still makes us nervous.

As we look at each other, it’s the first moment neither of us yells or goes for a hit since I returned.

Bailey walks in, and she steals a glance at Kaden, but he doesn’t acknowledge it. Fuck. Our family is in tatters if Kaden and Bailey are on bad terms.

“Hey, I was thinking...” We both look at her, and she continues, “I want to learn how to fight.”

“He’s not a teacher, Bailey. He’s a damn fighter. You’d need to start with the basics.”

“I could teach her,” Hunter says, walking in and sucking the air from the room. Bailey’s back goes ramrod straight as their eyes lock. The tension they both emanate is all-encompassing. I have my own problems, so I leave and head toward the basement.

Excitement takes over Celine’s features as we tap our hands wrapped in white gauze. She gets into a fighting stance, legs spread shoulder-width apart, hands up. “I haven’t fought in a while.”

“I’ll hold back. It’s not me disrespecting you as a fighter, it’s knowing my boundaries. If you’re okay with that, we can begin.”

“Thank you. We don’t have much time. Kaden’s going to come in here at any moment.”

“Overbearing asshole.”

She giggles, and I gesture for her to approach me. Her fist flies toward my face, but I deflect it. I lift my arms in a defensive posture as we circle each other. Whenever she looks for an opening, I punch her in the shoulder. She huffs but doesn’t stop, all feisty and determined.

“Were you always this freaking good? I don’t know whether to be impressed or pissed at you.”

“I held back with everyone, Celine. Nothing personal.”

“It can’t be easy posing as someone you’re not.”

In one swift movement, I am behind her. Locking my arm around her throat, I take her down. “Don’t let your guard down.”

She tries to roll away, but I have her in a chokehold before I finally let her go.

She pants slightly. “Damn, that hit my ego hard.”

“You’re not the sore loser I thought you’d be.”

“I am happy and that helps. I don’t fight to prove a point anymore, but because I like it.”

That must feel fucking amazing, finding peace. I purge that useless thought away and focus back on the fight when Kaden comes inside, to no one’s surprise. “Daddy’s here.”

“Shut up,” she smiles and tries to hit me again.

“Come on, asshole. I know you’re dying to get at me.”

“Two against one?” he asks. “Doesn’t seem fair.”

“No disrespect, but I fought in cages with guys on steroids and nothing to lose.”

They exchange a worried look, and while the asshole tapes his hands, he says, “I see you’re not over your suicidal tendencies.”

“Less talking, more fighting.”

They surround me, fully in fight mode. Like a well-oiled machine, they come at me one after the other. They land a few hits, but I hit them twice as much.

A genuine smile parts my lips when the asshole grunts.

“I don’t know what angers me more. That you don’t even break a sweat or that we’re two against one, and you’re still winning.”

---