Page 19 of Fight Me Daddy

Gabriele

The wayI couldn't get Calix out of my mind was starting to become a problem.

I sat outside the gym, across the street, staring inside and watching him. He smiled at everyone. The more he did it, the more I wanted to march over there and ask him what the hell he was in such a good mood for. Wasn't he so fucking tortured every time we left his place?

Technically, it wasn't time for us to do collections. But it had been a few days since I'd last seen him in the yellowy overhead lights of the bar’s parking lot on his knees and frustrated. He really did look like a puppy.

Calix walked away from the woman he'd been talking to who I recognized as Tallia and started speaking to someone else instead. This time, it was a guy with dark hair and a wide smile. And every time Calix turned around, the man stole a long gaze at his plump ass.

My heart rate skyrocketed as heat rushed through my body. I let myself out of the car and slammed it shut behind me. I'd been sitting there long enough and I was sick and tired of seeing that bullshit. Six wasn't there and I was thankful for that. If he saw me all amped up, he'd be on my ass about being nice to his friend again. But I couldn't help that his friend was flirting with every dude that crossed his path.

I walked into the gym and made a beeline to Calix. As soon as I drew closer, he looked up, his eyes wide. I moved between him and his client and stared Calix down.

"We need to talk," I said.

The man he was with scoffed. "Excuse me, buddy. But I was here first. I paid for this session."

I turned on my heels and looked the man up and down. "Beat it."

"What the fuck? No! Why don't you beat it, dumbass?"

That’s a mistake.

I reached out and grabbed the man's wrist. Before he could even register what was happening, I yanked his arm up behind his back and pushed him to the floor. He let out a strangled noise that made me smile as I held him in place with my knee.

"Let go of him!" Calix yelled. "What are you doing?"

"Talking to you," I said as the man beneath me squirmed and tried to wriggle away. "If you keep moving you're going to break your own wrist and I won't be responsible for that. Stay still, asshole."

Calix's mouth dropped open. "Are you serious?" he hissed when he finally regained his composure. "Let Joshua go and come on," he growled.

"Joshua," I said as I glanced down at the man on the floor. "What's your last name?"

"Don't answer that," Calix cut in before he grabbed my upper arm and tugged. "Come on!"

Reluctantly, I let Joshua go. But I committed his face to memory. All it would take was a last name and he would end up lying in a puddle of his own blood. Calix tugged again, his hand so warm I could feel it through my clothes. This time, I listened and turned around as he dragged me into the back office.

I could have stopped Calix. Pulling away would be nothing, but I let him take me away from the man. When I glanced over my shoulder I glared at the guy just to let him know that I wasn't done with him yet. He stayed on the ground, his eyes huge as he stared at me. A grin curled my lips. Right where you belong, you insect.

"What is your problem?" Calix asked after he pulled me inside and slammed the office door. "I'm trying to teach and you're assaulting my clients!"

I scoffed. "Some clients you have. All that guy was doing was staring at your ass every time you turned around."

Calix frowned. "What? How would you- Are you following me?"

"I'm doing my job," I said, sidestepping the question altogether. "I needed to talk to you so I came here. It's as simple as that."

His dark eyes narrowed and I stared back with a straight face. Whatever he was searching for, he wouldn't find it. Lying came easier to me than breathing. And no way in hell was I about to admit that I liked to stalk Calix Gonzalez in my free time.

"What do you want?" he said, finally giving up and sitting on the edge of his desk. "We can't go around collecting money in broad daylight."

I could and had done just that before, but I wouldn't bring Calix along for that. Part of him becoming a fighter was that he couldn't have a messed-up record. Drugs, gun charges, and assault; all things he needed to avoid if he was going to keep growing in the Viper Fighting Championships.

"We have more collections to do tonight. This is me giving you a heads up."

Calix raised a brow. "This couldn't have been sent in a text?"

Yeah, it could have. Fuck.

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