Page 20 of Fight Me Daddy

"I was already in the neighborhood," I lied knowing damn well I had come forty-five minutes to his gym to see what he was doing. "We're up against more high-profile clients tonight and they're not as easy to deal with. They like to squirm their way out of everything."

Calix pinched the bridge of his nose. "This could have waited. You're interrupting my job to tell me about something that's happening hours from now. What the hell?"

I grinned. "Hey, you gotta be prepared. Besides," I trailed off as I realized the white bandage wrapped around his fist was stained with blood. My chest squeezed and I stepped toward him. "What happened to your hand?"

Calix uncrossed his arms and shoved the injured one behind his back. "Nothing."

I frowned. "Do you think I'm some kinda moron? I can see the fuckin' blood. Give me your hand."

He groaned. "It doesn't matter what happened! You've told me about tonight's collections. Can you go now? Jesucristo," he muttered under his breath. When I continued to stand there he waved a hand. "Well? I'll see you tonight so you can go."

I closed the space between us and my hand wrapped around Calix's throat. "Don't dismiss me like I work for you." I squeezed a bit and he grunted, his Adam's apple dancing against my palm. "What the fuck happened?"

Calix licked his lips and I followed the movement. "I, uh, got hurt, but it's fine."

"How?"

"Doesn't matter," he answered.

"You're stubborn as hell," I snapped as I shoved a hand into my pocket and pulled out my phone. I scrolled through the contacts until I landed on Doc and dialed her number. "It's Gabriele. I'm about to send you an address. Come here and bring your kit."

"Sure thing. I'll be over as quickly as I can."

I hung up and laid the phone down before I released Calix's throat. He tried to move away, but I gripped his arm and yanked it forward so I could see his hand. When he tried to tug it away, I growled at him.

"Move that fucking hand and I will beat your ass, Gonzalez."

Calix sucked in a sharp breath, his eyes wide as he stared at me. Somewhere in my gaze, he must have seen that I wasn't fucking around. He kept his hand still and I finally looked down to examine him.

"Good boy," I said as I started unwrapping the bandages. I gazed up to make sure I wasn't hurting him too much but Calix had turned away and was staring off into the distance, a slight pinkness on his cheeks.

Fuck. Why is he so perfect?

I stared for what felt like ages until he looked at me, confused. Quickly, I redirected my attention to his hand and continued to undress his wound. I could see where the cut on his knuckles kept trying to heal, but it was too deep.

"Where did this come from?" I tried one last time.

"It was an accident."

I stared up at Calix, but his lips were pressed tightly together. Whatever had happened, he wasn't going to tell me. I laid his hand on the desk carefully.

"Our family doctor is coming to take a look at you, but you definitely need stitches."

"How do you know?" Calix mumbled.

"I've been in my fair share of fights," I said raising a brow. "I know what it looks like when a wound needs to be stitched up. And if I had the right supplies, I could do it myself. But I don't, so I'll let Doc come check you out."

Even though I want no one to touch him but me.

Calix nodded. "It's been bleeding on and off for the past few days so I guess it can't hurt."

"The last few days?” I glared. “Why didn't you go to the doctor?"

He laughed dryly. "Who has money for that? I don't have insurance and a trip like that will take away funds from more important things," he said looking at me pointedly. "So I didn't go."

I gritted my teeth and clenched my fists tightly. Calix was the definition of a moron. He would rather bleed out than get fixed up so he could keep fighting for his stupid gym and his life? It made me want to kick his ass until he gained some common sense. But strangely, it also made me want to grab him in my arms, hiss at the world, and protect him fiercely.

There was a knock on the door and Vanessa breezed through with a bag in her hands. She sat it on the desk and smiled at Calix.

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