Page 94 of A Dark Duet

I get up and turn away from him like his thighs are on fire and the darkness of smoke is clouding my vision. Climbing the stairs to the stage to glide my body in the air on the pole. Hints of my pain and fears in every movement bleed into the air.

My black walls of pain dancing in the darkness in a roomful of strangers like vultures trying to get a dead piece of my flesh. Let them see my pain, my darkness, my loss. Whatever is left is nothing that matters because I’m just a shell. No expression, a blank canvas that is fifty shades of darkness from the evil and depraved acts that scarred me, marking my soul. The one person I thought could save me, betrayed me, and all that is left is pain.

Briana

The next day, I am at the center where I have to complete my hours and residency requirements for the DPT program. Zavier Morales is the last patient requiring therapy that I have to complete on my own. He is considered a heartbreaker in the fighting world. He is cocky and sure of himself like all single combat fighters are. He has been behaving, but he loves to sneak in a comment here and there. Other than that, I have been making progress with his therapy and he says he is ready but my stomach clenches because him being ready means he is going to fight and I want the best for all my patients.

When I walk up to the treadmill Zavier is currently warming up on, he greets me. “Hey, Doc.”

“Hello, Zavier. How are you feeling today? How’s the knee?”

“I feel great. Can’t wait until I get in the cage. Tearing my ASL is no joke. I’m back and I have you to thank. Having only me for you to focus on has made a helluva difference.”

“I’m glad to hear that but it was the entire team of doctors and FYI, I can’t practice on my own as a doctor until I finish the required hours.”

“So that means I still have a chance to ask you out before I’m officially your patient?”

“Uh-no. I’m not interested in going out with anyone.” He looks over and I watch him as his shirtless muscled torso begins to reflect a sheen of sweat. Probably took off his shirt on purpose. He is so cocky and definitely a ladies’ man. Having experience working at the club dancing, he is the least of my worries. I can handle a little flirting and brushing it off is no big deal.

“Do you have a boyfriend?”

“I’m not discussing that with you.” I brush his question off and ask, “Are you ready for your therapy?”

He turns off the treadmill and follows me to the room where there is an exam table, and I can assess his knee and take notes on his progress. He sits on the table and watches my movements, and I can feel his eyes burning on my skin.

“Has anyone ever told you that you are very beautiful?”

“Has anyone told you that line is cheesy and a real turnoff?”

He grins. “So feisty. I like it.”

I roll my eyes, place the file and pen down on the counter of the exam room and move over to check his knee, making sure the door is wide open.

“I’m going to examine your knee before we head to the pool and you start your therapy.” He is wearing shorts, so it is easy to examine him. When I feel his knee to check, Zavier leans closer and says softly, “I know you used to date Jaden ‘The Destroyer’ Cyprus.”

My hands freeze and my head snaps up with wide eyes. “How did…”

He raises a hand, interrupting me. “It’s no big deal. I check up on everyone. I’m attracted to you, obviously, and I Googled you and there was this picture when he was managing Nate ‘The Reaper’ Phoenix and you were in it going to a gala on his arm.”

My hands begin to get clammy, and I wipe them on my uniform pants. I move to write on his open file, hoping he will drop the subject of Jaden but of course, he doesn’t.

“What happened?”

“Nothing happened. We are just friends,” I quip, not looking up. I keep writing my notes but when I look up, he has his brows still raised in question.

“What?” He can probably see the hurt on my face because his eyes soften when my eyes lower and I look away.

“He hurt you, didn’t he?”

I don’t answer him and keep quiet. I move to wash my hands after examining his knee. I’m drying my hands when he says, “I fell in love once. It was three years before I turned pro, but she didn’t believe in me, I guess, and she ended it.” My eyes are on my hands as I dry them, listening to Zavier’s story.

“I found out after I won my first fight. It was because she thought I wouldn’t have money and would probably lose my first fight or end up a washed-up wannabe pro fighter that didn’t make it. Her father has money and he convinced her that being with a combat fighter was not going to secure her future. Being with someone like me was only going to drag her down.” He shrugs his shoulder. “It sucks when you love and care for someone and they don’t return the same sentiment.”

I nod my head and give him a sad smile as I throw the balled-up paper towel in the trash bin. “Trust me, I know what you mean,” I say.

I don’t come from money and I sure as hell never had a man love or care enough about me. I thought I did but it was all a lie. If Zavier only knew of my past and what I have to do to make ends meet, he wouldn’t be flirting or calling me beautiful unless it was for a quick lay.

The tension in the air stretches and he clears his throat and asks, “How about we go out as friends, and we go for drinks and some dancing? Maybe invite some friends so it won’t seem like a date. What do you say?”

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