Page 32 of Falling for the Forbidden Fighter
“But you’re better than all this…” Don says. I’ve never heard his voice break like that. “Catty, you’re better than us. We get hurt for a living. I never wanted that for you. Or Ricky, but he’s too damn stubborn to do anything else. Why? Why would you want to be with a fighter?”
“I’m not a fighter,” I say again. “After the Ruiz fight, I’m done.”
Sounds of surprise erupt all over the gym. Everyone knows about the fight. Everyone has seen me training. I know they allwish they were half as good as I am. I don’t mean to be cocky—that’s the reality.
They’d kill to be in my position, to have a professional career only a few good rounds away.
“Done?” Don laughs, eyes wild with disbelief. “Kid, you’re the best damn boxer I’ve ever trained. It’sinyou. Instinct. You’ve got the mind for it, not just the body. There’s no fear when you fight. All this work. Everything we’ve done, and you want to quit?”
“For her.” I put my hands on her shoulders. “Yes.”
Don still looks like he wants to hit me, but he laughs and takes a step back. “Quit to do what?”
“I don’t have a clue. But I don’t want to build a life around stepping in this ring. I don’t want Catherine to have to watch me get hurt, over and over again, for a fucking paycheck. One fight. That’s it… and I’m going to win.”
Lots of the guys laugh, none as loud as Ricky.
“Win?” he jeers. “You’re done. We’re not letting you fight. And if we did, you’d get destroyed.”
Don holds my gaze. “Who saidIwasn’t going to let him fight?”
In his eyes, I see the hope.
Catherine’s told me about her dad’s money problems. If I win, I’m not the only one getting paid. And even with me gone, plenty of prospects will be floated his way. He needs this.
“Finish this with me.” I offer my hand. “Take me the rest of the way. We’ve got three weeks. I’ll spend every waking moment preparing. And when I get in that ring, I’ll fight like it’s the last time I’ll ever put the gloves on. I promise you, I’ll win. And that’ll be the end of it. I promise, I’ll be a better man for your daughter.”
Ricky looks like he wants to chop my hand off. He growls in his father’s ear, eyes boring into me, “Kick his assout. He can’t win. He lied to us.”
Don examines me, searches my soul.
“The Ruiz fight, and you’re done? If you win, you’ll have offers, son. The next fight might meanmillions… you’re ready to throw that all away?”
“He can’t win!”
Neither of us is listening to Ricky. This is between Don and me. Always has been. He’s the one who pushed me to where I am, and I’m the only one who can get us this victory.
I’m the only one in this gym who would step down with so much more on the line.
“I want to be with her,” I say. “I’ll win, take my money, and find a new path. Maybe culinary school.”
Don snorts. “Culinary school?”
I shrug. “For the first time in my life, I feel like I can do anything. Catherine did that for me, sir. She makes me feel like I don’t have to fight.”
Finally, he looks at his daughter.
She’s nodding, holding onto me as if they might still attack. “Please, Dad… I’ve never… I haven’t felt this whole since Mom died.”
Don Winters—The Blizzard. The legend. A man built of iron—sucks in a breath. His mouth falls open, and he looks at his daughter as if she’s the only person who exists in the world.
We share that, Don. I know the feeling.
He moves fast, thrusting his hand into mine.
“Ruiz… that’ll be a hell of a fight,” he says with a sly smile. To his credit, no tears fall from his eyes. “Well, we’ve wasted enough time. If you’re gonna win, we’ve got work to do. And what the hell are the rest of you staring at? You heard him: this kid is aone-off! If any of you think you’ve got the grit to be my next big fighter, you’d better get back to training!”
The gym breathes again, stretching and flexing as gloves hit bags and jump ropes start swinging.
