Page 53 of Back in Black

“I’m already thinking of you.” She ended the call with a click, leaving Drew smiling, hard, and fucking well enchanted. So even though he’d acted like an ass, Gillian didn’t hold a grudge? Good to know.

She wasn’t an easy woman, but she wasn’t difficult, either.

He liked that about her. Hell, he liked everything about her.

No way in hell would he sit idle while someone fucked with her property. He’d find the guy responsible. As he’d told Gillian, a man in his position needed special associations. For Drew, that included a top-notch investigative group.

DREW stood in the sidelines of Havoc’s busy gym, waiting for Brett Bullman to finish up. He paced, cursed to himself, and generally emanated aFuck offvibe to anyone who thought to speak with him.

For more than a week, things had been great. With negotiations, with Gillian, with life. He’d fulfilled a lot of travel obligations, but it didn’t tire him, especially not when he had Gillian to think about—and thinking of her had turned into his favorite pastime.

Then Brett had to go and mess up his mojo.

How the hell could Brett refuse?

Most fighters would be all over this type of over-the-top publicity. But as soon as Drew thought it, he saw Havoc talking to Simon Evans, both of them now coaches as well as fighters, sweaty from sparring, and he remembered how private those two had been, too. They were each well known with a broad fan base, but they didn’t hog the limelight or seek out attention. Low-key, that described them. Damn good at what they did, confident in their abilities, and secure enough that they never had the need to prove anything—except in a fight.

Fighters could be so damned difficult.

Drew started pacing again. Many of the guys had left for the locker room to shower and change, but not Brett. Tireless and dedicated, he stayed in the ring, going full steam. He’d been at it for hours, switching up sparring partners several times, and now he went toe to toe with Gregor on his ground game.

He didn’t run out of gas.

Amazing. Brett Bullman was the real deal, a natural athlete with a rock-solid work ethic and enough heart to take him to the top. The SBC could capitalize off Brett big time, if he’d only get on board with the program.

Done talking, Simon and Havoc walked over to coach Gregor and Brett as they went through practiced moves, both in stand-up positions and on the ground.

Intrigued with possibilities, Drew watched.

As one of the most gargantuan fighters in the sport, tall, broad, all muscle and core strength, Gregor should have been able to outpower Brett. Gregor was in a weight class over Brett, and he was no slouch. He might be goofy at times, but in the ring, Gregor turned it on and went after his opponent with single-minded intent.

Didn’t matter this time.

Brett fended off every attack and launched his own with success. Brett had the kind of speed usually only seen in lightweights. From previous bouts he’d seen on the Internet, Drew knew that Brett was rock jawed, shaking off punches that would have put most down for the count, and his punches landed like sledgehammer blows.

Gregor couldn’t best him.

Getting caught up in the excitement, Simon and Dean continued to yell instructions. But now, hoping to even up the fight, it was only Gregor they coached.

Their encouragement had no visible effect.

Brett was a fucking wonder boy.

Only recently had Drew learned about Brett’s background. He came from a home so broken it bordered on abuse. As a kid, he had lived part-time on the streets, and then somehow put himself through college. After he saved a little money, the crazy s.o.b. decided to teach himself to fight.

And apparently when Brett decided to do something, he succeeded.

Not many knew about the piss-poor parents he’d had and the neglect he’d suffered. Brett kept that all real private. But the fact that he’d schooled himself off DVDs of other fights wasn’t a secret. He’d divulged that much after a win, when the commentator asked him about his training.

Now, even though Brett lacked exposure, he’d made the rounds through smaller venues, annihilating all competition until he’d become an Internet phenom.

Fans loved him.

When they learned of his past and all he’d overcome, they’d love him even more.

After some promotional buildup, Drew wanted to put him in the ring with the best, and he knew, even if Brett didn’t win, he’d put on one hell of a fight that the audience would eat up.

With the right press, Brett’s first big SBC fight could break the record at the gate.

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