Page 75 of Cash

“Why in God’s name are you standing in my gym?” Axel shouts while impolitely pointing a finger at Candy’s face.

“Court ordered. Judge decided anger management classes weren’t working for me, so he sent me here to ‘work off’ my anger,” Candy barks out while using quotation marks. Even that movement comes across as angry and sarcastic.

I swear I can see her body vibrating, most likely in anger for being sent here. This is one seriously pissed-off female and somehow seeing Axel has made it worse. Watching her face closely, I think the judge may be onto something. She definitely needs a constructive outlet for her anger and stress. Apparently, Axel doesn’t agree in the least.

“There’s a hundred other gyms you can go do that in! Not here! Nope, no way, not going to happen! Thanks for stopping by. Have a good day, Candy. Buh-bye,” Axel says loudly but while taking an additional step back.

“What’s the deal with her and Axel?” I ask quietly over my shoulder.

“Candy kicked Axel’s ass in a toy store showdown. Pooh and Vex had to save him. Hurt pride,” Cash answers while his body shakes hard from his laughter.

Cash tips us slightly to the side, pulls his phone out of his pocket, finds what he’s looking for on it and hands it to me. It’s a video and James leans close to watch it with me. We haven’t even seen the whole video yet and already neither of us can breathe right.

“Oh my God! That’s her?” Ava asks before dissolving into laughter too.

After a moment, Ava gets control of herself and stands. Walking up to Candy, Ava holds her hand out, interrupting the stare down going on.

“Hi Candy. I’m Ava. Welcome to the club gym. Axel is an excellent instructor and will be happy to work with you. He just needs a moment to get over the embarrassment of having the woman who beat him like a rug standing in front of all of us,” Ava says with a friendly smile and a wink.

Candy relaxes slightly while shaking Ava’s hand. Ava just had a two-for-one moment today too, made a new friend and threw her brother under the bus in a single moment. I’m even more impressed with her now.

“No! Not going to happen! I’m not—,” Axel shouts but is interrupted when Gunner steps between him and Candy.

I was so intent on what was happening, I never saw Gunner enter the building. Neither did Axel. Gunner’s grin tells me he’s here solely to ruin Axel’s day.

“Hi, Candy. I’m Gunner, President of The Devil’s Angels. I’m the one that spoke with the judge and ok’d this arrangement. I didn’t have a chance yet to inform Axel, but he’ll be happy to help you fulfill the judge’s orders. I think this will work for you and help keep your anger issues at a minimum. Punching things definitely helps me out when I’m angry. It should work for you too. If you would go to the office, Bailey will get you set up with a schedule. Leave your court papers with her, and I’ll make sure they get signed. Welcome and good luck, Candy. Any problems, please let me know.”

“Thank you, Gunner. I appreciate you helping me out. Warning though–I don’t like this guy, and I plan on taking all my anger out on that face,” Candy states while pointing at Axel. With her warning said, she walks toward the office.

As soon as the door closes behind her, Axel whirls toward Gunner.

“I’m not training her!”

“Yes, you are. It’s court-ordered that she completes 80 hours of some kind of training that allows her to work off her anger. I promised the judge that our gym would be happy to help out with this new program he wants to try out. Wewill bea success story for him, and you’re going to make it happen. He’s helped out the club several times, and this is how we’re going to repay him,” Gunner says in a no-nonsense tone.

“Fuck this, Gunner! Let Pooh train her then!” Axel shouts.

“Are you scared of her?” Gunner asks in a taunting voice.

“No! Of course not! But this arrangement isn’t fair! She’s going to use me as a punching bag! I’m fairly certain she’s a female, and I can’t hit back!” Axel continues to complain.

“Since Pooh’s getting so much enjoyment out of this, he can train her every other time she’s here. But one of you will work with her, and I’ll be checking in to see how she’s doing,” Gunner states firmly while Pooh goes from laughing to shocked.

“Wait! How’d I get drug into his mess?” Pooh exclaims.

“Done discussing it. Get busy,” Gunner barks, clearly out of patience.

“This is how you do your own damn brother-in-law?” Axel whines.

“This is how I do the brother-in-law who argues with a bird and taught my daughters to swear. Yep, this is exactly how I do my own damn brother-in-law,” Gunner says while grinning hugely.

“You and you hold mean-ass grudges,” Axel mutters while pointing first at Gunner and then at Ava before storming off toward the office.

“Can we get copies of Candy’s training schedule? I want to make sure I’m here for all of them,” Craig asks the exact question we all want to know before he bends over giggling his butt off.

“I’ll bring popcorn!” shouts Pippa from her side of the gym.

“Really, Pips? She’s going to fuck me up, and you’ll bring popcorn for that? You are now on L.O.C. privileges!” Pooh hollers at Pippa while she continues laughing.

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