Page 33 of Bear

“Not really looking forward to going back.”

Pedro piped up from the living room threshold, “You’re so close to graduation, Carlos. You deserve the whole cap and gown experience.”

Carlos snorted. “You’re the smart one. That was always your future, not mine.”

“Don’t talk like that,” I said, firmly. “You can have whatever future you want if you fight for it.”

Carlos’ gaze slid away. For a moment, he was quiet, deliberating.

“I’ve…um…been taking some classes. Judo, karate, and boxing - shit like that. I was stealing cars to help pay for it. I tried to hold down a job but the hours got in the way of training. My teacher says I’m pretty good and…and I might have a shot at the Summer Olympics if I work hard enough.”

“Carlos,” I breathed in disbelief. “That’s incredible. I would have gladly paid for your classes if you had come to me first.”

He shrugged but I could see how pleased he was. I couldn’t imagine how hard it must have been to keep this a secret.

“I know, but you’ve already put your whole life on hold for us, big brother. I couldn’t ask you to shell out more cash for my classes. I want to go to the Olympics real bad but…I know I gotta graduate high school. I can’t quit when things get tough, right?”

I nodded and squeezed his shoulder.

“I know exactly what you mean.”

Carlos sniffed and took a bracing breath.

“I don’t…um…I don’t really know where to go from here though. Like getting back into school and getting my grades up and finding a tutor.”

“We’ve got your back,” Pedro replied with a grin.

***

On Wednesday night, the Alpha Riders’ clubhouse was so loud that the ground vibrated from the noise. The parking lot overflowed, with even more cars and motorcycles lining the street for over three blocks. Inside, people churned around the room, packed in so tightly that they stood shoulder to shoulder like sardines in a can. The smell of cigarette smoke, alcohol, sweat, and blood hung thick in the air.

A dozen matches preceded mine. At any other time, I would have cheered for the men in the cage, rooting for my favorite alongside everybody else while I waited for my own match to begin. But so much was riding on tonight’s fight and I needed to keep a clear head.

I escaped to the alley behind the clubhouse, dark and damp, littered with beer bottles and soda cans. I pressed my back against the wall, closed my eyes, and released a long, slow breath.

I wasn’t fool enough to believe the fight would resolve the problem with Justin. He wanted Shelby back and he didn’t seem the type to take no for an answer. The fight was simply a way to publicly show that Shelby wasn’t alone. If Justin truly wanted her back, he had a long road ahead of him and it wasn’t going to be easy.

I flexed my hands into fists until the scars on my knuckles turned white. Despite dozens of fights under my belt, more wins than losses, this was the match that made my stomach twist into knots and nervous energy tremble all the way down to my fingertips.

In the past, the reward for winning was something simple - cash, mostly; sometimes a trophy.

This time, the stakes were much higher.

I didn’t want to entertain the thought of what might happen if I lost, if I couldn’t protect Shelby. That’s all she needed from me right now - protect her and her daughter, keep them safe.

I wanted to give her the world. But all I had was a cramped apartment with two teenage boys. And this. I could win this fight for her.

I had to.

The back door of the clubhouse opened and a golden slant of light sliced through the shadows. Laughter, cheering, and music spilled out into the alley, deafening and sharp. The tall, lean silhouette of Rooster stood on the threshold.

“You’re up next in the cage, brother,” he said. “Good luck.”

Chapter Twelve

Shelby

It was nearly nine o’clock at night when a knock echoed at the door. Bear didn’t usually visit this late unless he called or texted first to make sure he didn’t disturb Maisie if she was asleep.

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