Page 115 of A Dark Duet

Looking at her cocktail, I make sure that we only drank less than a quarter of it. We are good to drive, and I’m not even remotely buzzed.

She places the phone in her back pocket and tells me, “Nate says to meet him at the gym.”

“Let’s get to the gym. I need to help Jaden. I’m a doctor, remember? Besides, he needs me right now. I will never forget what Jaden did for me when I was hurt. What they both did for us.”

She smiles. “You still care about him deeply.”

I sigh as we walk toward her Bentley after paying for our two cocktails. “He was my first and only love, Giselle. I will always care about Jaden even if we are not together. If he gets hurt, I will be there for him and help him in any way I can. Just like I would do for you and Nate. You guys are my only family. I have no one else.”

A tear rolls down Giselle’s cheek and she swipes it away. “That is why I love you. You are the best friend and sister I could ever have asked for.”

We arrive at the gym, and I see that the guys are still inside and haven’t left, but my eyes find a familiar silver car that belongs to Janine. I’m annoyed because he called her for help instead of me, but then I realize only Giselle knows that I’m a physical therapist. He doesn’t know I just have to complete the therapy with one combat fighter at the center and I’m done.

My heels sound on the gym floor mixed with Giselle’s footsteps. We are both dressed in minidresses with our hair and makeup done. Nick is the first to spot us approaching. “Wow. You girls look beautiful,” he says.

A blush creeps in my cheeks, knowing we look out of place in an MMA gym full of hot-blooded alpha males.

“Where is he?”

“He is in the back with Nate, Brian, and Janine.”

He looks at me with concern when he mentions Janine, but I shrug it off. I didn’t come here like a jealous ex to reprimand him. He can see and fuck whoever he wants. It is not like I didn’t. I’m just here to offer him my assistance as a professional and as a friend. Jaden has fought and killed for me. He removed one monster out of the three that violated me and my best friend. I owe him that much.

Giselle follows me to the back and when I reach the open door, I can see Jaden with his shirt off and his face turned away from Janine with a scowl on his face. He looks uncomfortable with Janine’s hands on his shoulder, like she isn’t helping him by massaging the area that is causing him pain.

When he sees me standing in the doorway, he tries to get up, shrugging Janine away from him but his face grimaces in pain. Janine’s hand freezes but she doesn’t remove her hand from his shoulder, and I really want to claw her eyes out, but I remain calm and collected.

“What are you doing here? Are you okay? Do you need me?” He grimaces as he sits up on the table. “I’m a little fucked up right now, but I will do my best to kick the ass of whoever hurt you.”

I give him a grin. “I’m here because Nate called Giselle, and I heard you are in pain and I came here to help you.”

He gives me a smile and his eyes find mine. “You’re here because of me?”

“Of course, now tell me, where exactly does it hurt?”

He swallows and he motions near his joint and rotator cup. I quickly make notes in my head. He needs therapy and range of motion exercises and rest between his workouts. The problem is that he has a fight in three days, and he can’t back out at the last minute. The only thing I can offer him is a steroid shot because pain medication is not an option before a fight. Not the type of painkillers that are allowed before a fight. He doesn’t have time. I can order him the shot since I have my license, but he cannot train at all until his fight for it to work properly and give him relief.

Giselle gives me a look and she sees the look on my face. She knows I can help him. She slides her arm through Nate’s, and she looks at him with adoration in her eyes.

“Brie’s got this. Everything is going to be fine,” Giselle says.

Nate looks between me and Giselle with curiosity.

“Okay, Champ. I need you to get up and walk over to the punching bag.”

Janine steps back and rolls her eyes. I really want to punch her in the face but I keep calm and handle this like I would at the center.

Jaden doesn’t hesitate and does what I ask without protesting. I’m relieved he doesn’t question me or resist. We all follow him toward the set of punching bags their gym has set up by the mirrors. The guys all wait with confusion and a mix of surprise on their faces.

“Hold the bag for him,” I instruct and Brian quickly volunteers and holds the bag while everyone watches patiently for my next instruction.

Jaden looks at me from head to toe with a mixture of appreciation mixed with want.

“I want you to slowly, without hurting yourself, move to strike the bag and pause when you begin to feel the pain. I need to know exactly where it hurts with your range of motion when you strike your opponent. Then I’ll know exactly where, and I can alleviate the pain.”

“How would you know?” he asks.

“Trust me, baby, I’ll know.”

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