Page 75 of Hale's Pawn
After Ciro hangs up, I shut my eyes and sit back. After a little while, Mikonos announces that we’re at the gym. I get out and walk towards the gym with my hands in my pockets. Even my fucking walk has changed. When I step in the doorway, I’m met with Nikolai. He looks at me and I look at him. We say nothing to each other. He clears his throat because not only is Mikonos behind me, but I know my cousin, Ajedi, is here. He didn’t end up leaving, but instead chose to stay here.
“Let me see the feed. I just want to see that he’s okay.”
“Can’t do that,” Nikolai answers.
“You sure?” Mikonos says. “She’s on the list.”
“She is, but he doesn’t want to see you.”
“Well, make him,” Mikonos grits through his teeth and I know he takes a step, but I stop him.
“It’s okay. Let him do what he does best. His job. Just tell me, is he okay?” I ask.
Nikolai looks at me and he doesn’t have to say anything. “Can’t do that.”
“Well, the head of the Bishops family says so. So move,” I say to Nikolai.
He looks like he’s about to say something but he doesn’t. He follows me as my heels click on the floors. Oran is fighting with Edis, the famous boxer. Edis breaks up their session and both men look at me. I place my hands in my pockets as I stare at Oran. “You lost?” he taunts.
I smirk and shrug. I turn to Edis. “Give me gloves, I’m stepping into the ring.”
Edis looks at me like I’m crazy, so I snap my fingers and one of my men comes out from the changing room with gloves for me. I turn to face Mikonos. He doesn’t have to say anything because his eyes speak volumes. He doesn’t disagree with my method because he knows sometimes you have to fight it out. I shrug out of my blazer and remove my heels. Mikonos secures the gloves for me and I pad over to the ring. I climb up the stairs like the lady that I am and slip inside.
“What are you doing, Ainslee? I’m not going to do this with you,” Oran says.
He makes the mistake of giving me his back. “Mistake number one,” Edis says and before either man can get out of the ring, I run towards Oran and jump on his back.
I wrap my arm around his neck and my legs around his waist For a second, he doesn’t move. He doesn’t want to hurt me, I know. Edis comes behind me, grabbing me and pulls me back down. I can see from the corner of my eye why he let me go so fast, my men are getting closer. “You don’t want to pick up my phone call, you don’t want to hear me out. You don’t even want to look at me!” I yell.
Oran turns to face me with unfiltered anger. “Shouldn’t I give you the same courtesy you gave me?”Petty.
“That’s petty and a low-blow and you know it.” I square up as Oran puts his gloves up.
I don’t think he’s trying to fight me. I think he’s just trying to make me go away. I move in on him and he blocks my first hit. He tries to swing low for a less impactful hit but I block it. I counteract by sneaking a punch in on his ribs. A very precise hit that will hurt more than it leaves a bruise. Oran’s eyes widen. He wasn’t expecting that I knew my shit. I’m the Don, of course I know shit. “You cut your hair? Why?”
“You didn’t come home, why?” I ask, taking a petty page out of his book.
“Real mature, Ainslee,” he retorts.
“Enough talking,” Edis says.
“I was simply answering his question since one of us has to act like an adult.”
Oran glares at me. “We’re going down that route, are we?” He chuckles mirthlessly. “Alright, let’s settle this like adults then.”
Oran and I box, avoiding each other’s faces, well on his part more than mine since I’d have to jump up to hit his face. I’m not really in the mood for that. “Break,” Edis yells and we both back up. We’re breathing hard, sweaty, and still upset. Him more than me but I’m getting there. “You’re better than I thought, who taught you?” Edis asks me.
I look at him. “My father.”
Edis whistles and nods. “Well, hit the showers. Seems like you have work to do.”
I pull on the Velcro with my teeth to remove the first glove, then the other. I slam them down on the ring floor. “Don’t give me orders. We clear?”
Edis looks like he wants to say something but then he looks past me and I know Mikonos has just entered the ring. Edis rolls his eyes. “We need to go, Ainslee. Go shower, one of the men is bringing you a change of clothes.”
I’m listening to them, I swear I am, but I can’t take my eyes off Oran. I know he’s still pissed at me but I need him to understand that what I’m doing right now is just as important as loving him. Oran cocks his brow at me and tilts his head as if trying to read me. I know that I’ve already shown something most Dons don’t show, I’m scared. Not about taking over, but more about losing myself in this world. He’s my lighthouse. I’d swim to him just so that I could survive the raging sea.
“Ainslee…” Mikonos calls my name again. I turn away from Oran before I cry. I get out of the ring and make my way towards the private showers.
