Page 27 of Mean Machine

Back at the gym, Brooklyn hurried inside—he knew Curtis was just itching to catch him out.

Here, the world went on like it always had. The other boxers looked up when he came in, but otherwise, precious little acknowledgement. Les, who’d been working with another boxer, saw him and signalled with an open hand. Five.

That was “powwow in five minutes.” Brooklyn dropped his bag and resisted the impulse to hop under the shower.

The smell from the hotel shower gel lingered. And faintly, the smell of the new clothes and Nathaniel’s aftershave. He’d left the clothes with Nathaniel—he had no use for them in the gym, and it seemed like a promise they’d meet again.

Well, Nathaniel had offered him representation, so they had to meet again. But when? Nathaniel had said “as soon as I can,” but what did that really mean?

Brooklyn changed into training clothes and went back to the main gym, where Les caught his gaze and waved him over into his own room.

“How’re you doing?”

“Yeah, I’m good.”

“Great. Cash called and said you’re on to fight Odysseus. They’ve agreed to do the fight in three months, in London. You must have impressed Dick.”

Brooklyn grinned. “I’m good with dicks.”

Les laughed. “I walked into that one.” He shook his head. “I can’t believe you’ll fight a title holder. Brook, that’s amazing.”

“I’ll beat him too.” Brooklyn aimed a playful jab at Les and found himself parried. It was nothing but a reflex, but Les’s boxing responses were still very much intact. “Are we starting with the training, then, today?”

“I have to meet with ISU to discuss your schedule and what we’ll need for the training camp. Three months isn’t a lot of time, Brook. The Greek is a very good technician. We’ll have to polish your technique a bit or you’ll suffer a great deal before you put him down.”

“Okay. So we’re starting tomorrow?”

“Did you hear a word I said?”

“Yes. I can take him. Let’s do it.”

“I should be done in the late afternoon. Just do normal, light training, and we’ll start once I come back.”

“THAT’S ITfor today, Brook.”

Brooklyn slowed down his skipping and then stopped. They were the last ones in the gym; everybody else was already gone or in bed. And he was more than ready to follow them. As nice as the weekend of sex had been, he still felt the fight, and he was a lot more mellow than normal. Almost human.

“One more thing,” Les said.

Brooklyn paused and glanced back. He wanted to know what ISU had said, but hadn’t asked. None of his business. But Les hadn’t looked like he’d liked the outcome very much.

“There are a couple of things we need to talk about.”

“Sure. Shoot.”

“What did you tell Nathaniel Bishop?”

“About?”

“How you’re being treated.”

“Nothing.”

“Bishop is connected. He’s very, very well connected. Just don’t tell him anything. Do what he wants you to do, but be careful.”

“Means I can fuck him but not talk dirty to him?”

“Brook, listen to me.”

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