Page 11 of King of Violence

Still, there’s something captivating about the way he moves, like he’s fighting off demons only he can see.

“Didn’t take you for a night owl,” I call out, stepping into the light.

Felix freezes mid-punch, turning toward me with a glare that could melt steel. “What, are you stalking me or something?”

“Yeah, ’cause I got nothing better to do.” I smirk as I walk toward him. “I’m here to blow off some steam. What about you?”

He wipes his brow with the back of his hand and shrugs. “It’s quiet here at night. Helps me think.”

“Exactly.” I grab a pair of gloves from the rack and slide them on. “Mind if I join you?”

Felix hesitates, his eyes narrowing like he’s trying to figure out my angle. Eventually, he nods and steps back to give me space.

I step up to the bag and throw a few quick jabs to test its weight. The leather resists nicely, the satisfying smack echoing through the gym.

“You’re not bad,” I say, glancing over at him.

Felix crosses his arms, his expression unimpressed. “I’m not here for compliments.”

“Fair enough.” I grin and throw a few more punches. “You’re tense, though. You need to loosen up. Let me show you.”

“I think I’ll manage,” Felix says, but there’s a flicker of something in his eyes—curiosity, maybe?

I don’t press, instead moving to the side of the bag. “Alright, let’s see what you’ve got.”

Felix hesitates before stepping forward. He squares his shoulders and plants his feet like he’s ready to face off against the world. His punches come faster this time, but they still lack that snap.

“Not bad,” I say, stepping up behind him. “But you’re wasting energy. Here.” I place my hands lightly on his shoulders, adjusting his stance.

Felix stiffens under my touch, his head turning slightly to look at me.

“Relax,” I say, my voice softer now. “It’s just physics. You’ve got to let your weight do the work for you.”

He mutters something under his breath, but doesn’t pull away. Instead, he lets me guide him, his movements becoming more fluid with each punch.

“Better,” I say, stepping back. “Now don’t forget to breathe.”

Felix shoots me a glare, but follows my advice.

After a while, he stops, his chest rising and falling as he catches his breath. “You’re awfully chatty for someone who’s supposed to be working out.”

I shrug. “It’s called multitasking. Besides, you look like you could use a distraction.”

Felix arches an eyebrow. “And you think you’re the distraction I need?”

“Absolutely.” I grin and toss my gloves onto the bench.

He rolls his eyes, but I catch the corner of his mouth twitching, like he’s fighting a smile.

“So, what’s got you so worked up?” I ask, crossing my arms.

Felix hesitates, his expression guarded. “Nothing that concerns you.”

“Fair enough,” I say, deciding not to push. “But if you ever need to talk…”

“And what about you?” he asks, cutting me off. “Why are you here?”

The question catches me off guard. I’m not used to people asking, let alone caring.

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