Page 10 of Bound by Desire
This isn’t a surprise. Doesn’t mean I’ll stay in my room, either. I’ve become the master of getting out ofthisroom.
“Fine.”
“I should smack some fuckin’ sense into ya,” he grumbles, leaving. “Gonna be the one who tests us all,” he mutters on the way downthehall.
It’s not until much later that I open the door to my room and listen, thinking everyone is asleep. How wrongIam.
“What are we going to do?” my mother asks in a softvoice.
“Fuck, I don’t know. That boy’s goin’ down the wrong path. It’s mostly teenage shit, but the grades and dickin’ off at school … Beatin’ him isn’tgonnawork.”
“No, you are not beating our son,” my mother says, and I smile. She always defends me on pretty mucheverything.
“Wish he grew up to be more like Cooper. Have his head on straight and have some damn direction. He’s not gonna make it. Why can’t he just follow the path Cooper did? As much time as they used to spend together, thought for sure he’d be alright. It’s a shame.” My father’s words make the pit of my stomach fall out as the ground beneath medisappears.
I’m not goodenough.
I’m afuckup.
He wishes I was like Cooper,notme.
My father would be shocked as hell to find out the man I’ve become over the last four years. Not just Deacon Alexander Gavelson, master mechanic, but Mastermind, the hold nothing back fighter with balls of fucking steel. Too bad he’ll neverseeit.
He’ll never know the strength it took inside me to walk away and not come back. He’ll never know the broken pieces lost long before I ever had my first high. He’s never going to know a damn thing about me and the man I’vebecome.
Feeling the need to pound on something, I head tothegym.
ChapterFour
“Motherfucker,”Charlie spouts off as he lies on the floor from the kick to the gut I justgavehim.
I try hard not to laugh, but a smile still tugs atmylips.
I’ve fought since I can remember. My parents used to call me a scrapper. I laugh inside at the thought. If they could only see me now. It was bad before. Then their deaths only pushed me more. Things just got worse when I lived with Cunt Bitch, taking it to a fever pitch. Or maybe better, considering my skills have improved. Guess it’s the way you lookatit.
“Now I bet you’re pissed you trained me so well,” I chide, holding out my hand. He takes it, and I help him tohisfeet.
“If I weren’t so fuckin’ proud of you, I’d be pissed.” He slaps me on the back as we make our way over to the bench in the gym and takeaseat.
I did set him down pretty hard, and he is getting older. Not that he’s out of shape. He’s more on the stocky side, but with a lot of muscle. His hair is more salt than pepper, but he’s still got themoves.
He’s been training me since I landed my ass here. I actually found him because of Schade. Somehow, we justclicked.
“Right.” With a roll of my eyes, I grab the water bottle and down half of it as sweat pours from my body. Workouts with Charlie always end up with me drenched. I wouldn’t have it anyotherway.
“Surprised you’re not workin’tonight.”
“Tomorrow. Supposedly, some hotshot is coming in, so we have to be on the upandup.”
Schade always pays well, but when a big fighter comes to town, he pays better. That’s because the guy usually has boys who come with him. Those boys usually start something, or one of our regulars starts something with them. Newbies don’t get the welcomecarpet.
If they make Schade money, though, he doesn’t give a fuck who goes in the ring. Me, I find it quiteentertaining.
“Nice. Maybe I’ll come check it out.” He shrugs like it won’t throw a fuck of a wrench inmywork.
“Nah, I’ll be too focused on keepin’ your ass safe. Can’t domyjob.”
“Me safe?” His hand flies to his chest. “Sweetheart, if you can tell by the ring, I can holdmyown.”
