Page 46 of Hayes
Running down the stairs to the basement, my heart thunders in my chest. It slams to a stop when I see what’s in the basement.
Hayes is shirtless—his sculpted muscles glistening with sweat as he faces a shirtless Gage in a sparring ring. He didn’t request me to come down here to fuck me senseless. I’m here to train.
It’s back to business this morning.
Hayes throws a punch, knocking Gage to the ground. Gage offers him a rare smile as Hayes holds out his hand to him to help him to stand. Then both of their heads snap in my direction.
A flash of heat swirls in Hayes’s eyes when he sees me, but it’s gone as quickly as it appeared. Gage continues to look at me with suspicion, as if I’m their enemy, not the rest of the Retribution Kings. Gage doesn’t trust me, but the feeling is mutual.
Heat dampens in my core, even though I should focus on getting them to talk, to trust me, and to help me get revenge. But it’s hard when Hayes looks like that—all hard muscle, a hot tattoo, long hair I want to run my hands through, and those dark full-framed glasses that brighten his eyes. And don’t get me started on what I know his shorts are hiding.
“We’re working on your training today,” Hayes says.
“I don’t need training. I know enough.” I fold my arms, my grumpy demeanor instantly returning.
Hayes grins, his sunshiny self reappearing.
I sigh. Things are back to how they were before.
“Prove it. Disarm Gage.”
I glance at Gage, not wanting to get near the guy. Hayes is large, but Gage is bigger by at least a couple of inches. He has thicker muscles, and his constant serious glare is scary enough to keep me at bay.
Gage walks over to his bag and pulls out a gun. He makes a show of emptying it to prove it’s not loaded.
I frown.
“What weapon do I get?”
“Nothing,” Gage says. “Prove you can disarm me before I shoot you dead, and you’ll have no need for training.”
“If I do it, will you both trust me enough to tell me your plan?”
Hayes raises his eyebrows at Gage. Maybe it’s Gage I need to win over, not Hayes? Hayes might tell me everything if Gage allowed it.
Gage’s eyes never leave mine. “Yes.”
My eyes widen. I wasn’t expecting it to be that easy.
“Rules?” I ask.
“There are none,” Gage says.
Well, okay then.
I walk onto the mat Hayes and Gage were sparring on, while Hayes walks off the edge. He leans against the wall, not bothering to sit down. He thinks this fight will be short. But who is he betting on? Me or Gage?
Adrenaline beats through my body, and I take a deep calming breath as I face Gage. He’s holding the gun casually to one side, not even bothering to aim it at me.
It’s a trap. I know it. But if I can beat Gage, I can prove to him I’m worth trusting.
“Are you going to try to disarm me, or are you just going to stand there and be an easy target?” Gage goads me.
I grind my teeth together, and then I run at Gage full speed. He raises the gun at me, and I slide out like I’m sliding into home base on a baseball field.
I take Gage down before he gets a good aim at me. My hand knocks the gun from his hand as he lands hard on top of me. God, he weighs a ton. Hayes would try to cushion his fall on top of me, but Gage offers no such nicety. I’m going to be bruised from the impact. But I did it, so it will be worth it.
I grin widely, knowing I won. I hope it’s enough to gain Gage’s trust.
