Page 174 of Finding Hope

“She could be. Maybe she’s out there now–”

“She sent the tickets back.” Sighing, she steps closer. “Shecan’tbe out there, Jack. This has been sold out for months. There were no general admission tickets. There’s literally no way she can be out there.”

“She’s not here,” Jon snaps. “So you need to put her out of your head for the next hour. Forget her. Focus on what you’re doing. Focus on what we’ve been training for.”

“This isn’t a gym session,” Aiden reasons. “You will die if you go out there half assed. You will have wasted everything. Get your fucking head in the game.”

“I’m here!” I snap. “I’m fine.”

“Are you here to win it, or are you here on a suicide mission?” Jon asks angrily. “Because last time you looked like this, you were ready to die. The difference this time, is that you have a direct way to get the job done.”

“Jack…” Kit’s lips quiver with devastation for her suicidal baby brother. She turns to Bobby. “The fight’s off, we’re going home.”

“No!” I push off the bench. “You’re being dumb. Quit it.”

“Jack, this isn’t a game! You have family out there. You have kids out there watching you.Mykids!”

“I’m here, Kit! Quit freaking out. Youknow, you all fucking know I’m ready. We’ve worked hard for this. Don’t throw it away.”

“I won’t stand by and watch you take a beating just so you canfeelsomething! I won’t let you hurt me like that.”

Shaking my head, I turn back and sit. Holding my half-wrapped hand out to the stunned committee official, I nod. “Finish it.”

Stepping between us, Kit brings her hands to cup my face, and with swimming eyes, lays her forehead against mine. “I want you to quit, Jack. I want you to walk away from this one.”

I consider her request. I really, truly do. The pain in her eyes, the strong grasp her hands have on my face. I want to make her happy, I want her to not worry, but I need this. I need this fight. I need this redemption.

I need the money to set my future up.

I need to do it all on my own. And I need to shut Bobby the fuck up about wasting his career on me.

I can’t walk away.

“Please.” She scrunches her eyes shut. “I’m begging you. Walk away. Live.”

“No.”

Drawing in a long breath, she pulls back and watches me. A million emotions cross her face, but she finishes on acceptance and steps back. “Okay. I love you, Jack…”

“I love you, too.”

“…But I quit.”

I recoil like her words were my opponent’s fists.“Quit?Quit what?”

“You.” Letting her hands drop, she lifts her shoulders proudly, and pulls in a fast sniffle. “I’m not your manager anymore. I’m not going to watch you die. I’m going to get my kids, then I’m going home.”

“Kit–”

“Good luck. Please don’t die.”

“Kit, stop–”

“If you do die, you should know that I’ll be okay. I’ll live for my family, so you don’t have to worry about me spiraling like you did.”

“Kit, please stop–”

“If you live, I’ll see you when you get home. You’ll always have a bed in my house. I love you so much, Jack. I always will.”

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