Page 54 of Steel

She shakes her hand, rubbing her knuckles. “That hurts.”

“A little bit. But the goal is that it hurts them more.”

Luna laughs, stepping back so I can get a few jabs in. One punch after another, my thoughts drift with the rhythm.

I still remember when I first learned how to throw a punch. Helix was passing through Houston, and we were living there at the time. He showed up for my ninth birthday party and took me on an errand when it was over.

We stopped by a gym so he could meet up with the owner, and when he was done, he held one ofthe punching bags and walked me through how to punch someone without breaking my hand.

It’s one of the few good things he showed me, even if Mom wasn’t happy about it.

She said men want a lady, not a warrior, and that’s one more thing I didn’t agree with her on. If she was the picture of a lady, then it was nothing to look up to. Men walked all over her, and she accepted it.

I refused to be like her—to be anything less than my unapologetic self for a man—even if it meant I couldn’t be loved.

I strike the bag again, and my knuckles burn. My entire body aches as I hit it over and over. My lungs sting as I work through it, but it feels good to get out of the house and move.

Landing a final punch, I grab the bag to steady it.

“Damn, girl, you can hit.” Luna wipes her hair off her sweaty forehead, smiling as she takes a sip from her water bottle.

“Clearly.” Jameson’s voice comes from across the barn, and I look to see him standing with Havoc in the doorway.

I’m drenched in sweat from working out, and my hair is sticking out in all directions, but I don’t try to fix it as he walks up to me.

“Jameson!” Austin runs through the barn, always so happy to see him.

He holds up his hand, and Austin gives him a high five.

I should be comforted by the trust my brother shows him, but when this is over, Jameson will be another man he’ll lose from his life.

Jameson squats down so Austin can show him his red toy car, and he points out a couple of parts when Austin asks what they are.

“Do you think the car can jump as tall as me?” Austin asks, holding his arm up.

“Only one way to find out.” Jameson stands back up, planting his hand on Austin’s head and shaking his hair around. “Go build a ramp, and we’ll test it.”

Austin runs off, and Jameson makes his way over to me.

“You’re good with kids.” My gaze moves from Jameson to Austin.

Jameson glances at Havoc when he laughs at my comment.

“What?”

“Nothing.” Jameson shoots Havoc a glare, watching him walk to Luna before glancing back at me. “I was wondering where you went.”

“Luna asked if I’d work out with her for a bit, and I needed to move around. Nice gym.” I wave my arms out. “Hope you don’t mind.”

“Of course not.”

“So what brings you here?” I ask. “Pearl knew where we were going, so I assumed she’d tell you where we went.”

“She did. And I remembered Luna asking you to teach her a few things, so I figured I’d see if you still need my services.”

“You were serious about that?”

Jameson might have volunteered himself during the barbeque, but I assumed that was just flirtation. Especially since I haven’t seen muchof him since.

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