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When that right hook goes sailing straight into my throat and I cough, I have to clench my fists at my sides, and I remember why I asked Tyrone to help her train instead of me.
Every instinct in my body has me on edge and my blood is pumping with need, ready to fight back.
This is the very definition of torture for me—I've never dropped my fists for anyone before.
When her next punch lands on my chin and she quickly follows it up with another, I bite my lip until I taste copper.
She slams her fist into my chest next and I automatically surge forward.
I need in that cage. I need to rip someone to pieces. I need to—
I need to put a stop to this.
I back away. “That's enough for right now. If you want more you can go in the cage with Tyrone.”
She frowns and opens her mouth to say something but Tyrone waves a hand and says, “Follow me.”
We leave the gym and I turn a few more lights on when we enter the room where the cage is.
Then all three of us stop and stare at it for a moment.
Despite not being used in over 4 months, it looks just as good as I remember. Both the black padding and the black steel illuminating under the spotlight, beckon me.
“Damn,” Tyrone says. “It's crazy what one cage can mean to all of us. How many things have happened either in that cage or because of that cage. How it co
It's true, I never thought about it that way, but this cage; although more evil than good...brought everyone together.
“Too bad Jackson's not here right now,” Tyrone says with a shrug.
Lou-Lou tilts her head in his direction. “Where is he?”
“I think he's with Alyssa shopping for—”
Panic rises in my throat but it's quickly replaced by relief when the sound of Tyrone's phone cuts him off.
He puts the phone up to his ear. “Oh, hey, Jackson. Fu
He cups the phone. “I'll be back guys.”
It's on the tip of my tongue to question him, but then I remember that I'm in front of Lou-Lou and I can't.
She turns around to face me. “Sorry for what I did back there. I took it too far.”
I take a step closer to her. “Not at all, I brought you here for exactly that reason.”
“I enjoyed it actually.” She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. “I mean don't get me wrong, I'm no professional or anything. But it felt good.”
She looks at the door and smiles. “And seeing Tyrone—” Her eyes brim with tears. “It was so good to see him. I'm so happy he's okay. I'm so happy he doesn't hate me.”
“He knows it wasn't your fault.”
“Doesn't matter. I'll always feel responsible for it.”
She looks up at me and I brush her tears off her cheekbone. “I wish you wouldn't.”
She pulls away and looks at the cage again. “When was the last time you were here?”
“Yesterday morning with Tyrone.”
“Before that?”
“4 months, 9 days.” I stare at my watch. “22 minutes.”
She grabs my hand and starts walking. “Come on.”
When I don't move, she grins back at me. “Let me hit you a few more times so I can feel better.”
“No.” I back away. “I'm not going in there with you.”
She scrunches her face. “Why.”
“Because I don't trust myself in there...not with you.”
“But you miss it,” she argues. “Ricardo, I've never seen you look at anything the way you look at that cage.”
I pull her back to me and cup her face. “Well then you're not looking hard enough.”
Her chest rises and falls on a deep breath and for the first time, she's the one inching closer to me. “Please step inside the cage with me.” She rises on her tiptoes and folds her hands around my neck. “Ricky loved that cage.”
I lean my forehead against hers. “He loves something even more.”
She presses her body against mine and I stroke my thumb along her jaw. “He loves something so much that he would do anything to protect it.”
Even give up everything else he loves.
Confusion swirls in her eyes, but I slide my hands under her neck, focusing on her lips. It's been so long since I've kissed her...too damn long.
When I dip my head, she parts her mouth for me and I lean in closer.
Until she whispers, “Why are you keeping me hostage, Ricky?” And I back away.
I won't kiss her when she thinks I'm keeping her prisoner...even though by technical standards that's exactly what I'm doing.
I told her I'd never take something from her that she didn't give me. So until she gives herself to me like she used to—because she's choosing to and not feeling forced to—I'm not taking her.
Hell, I never should have entertained the thought in the first place. That was my royal fuck up.
Because she'll be free again once I figure out a way to kill her father without putting Jackson and Tyrone's lives on the line...and without the council going after her because I went against their orders.
“You already know why,” I bark and she frowns.
“Because you're upset I went on a date with a cowboy?”
“He attacked you, Lou-Lou.”
“Yeah and you said Atticus was dead now—” Lou-Lou starts to say, but Tyrone comes in and snatches his workout bag forcefully.
He glares at me and opens his mouth, but then looks at Lou-Lou and blows out a breath instead.
I have no idea what Jackson told him during his phone call but he's obviously angry.
Lou-Lou walks over to him. “You're leaving? I thought you were going to teach me more stuff? What happened?”
He narrows his eyes at me but they soften when he looks at her. “I'm sorry, Lou-Lou, but Shelby just had a meltdown at the bakery while picking out the cake for the engagement party and I need to go meet her.”
Not the best lie, but better than nothing.
“Oh—okay. Yeah, that sounds pretty serious. Um, rain check?”
He nods and hugs her, his eyes back to glaring daggers at me over her shoulder.
When they pull away, I go to help him to the door but he throws up a hand and yells, “I got it,” before he speeds up and slams the door behind him.
With my stomach in knots now, I decide to pick up my phone and text him.
Ricardo: What the fuck is your problem?
Tyrone: I'm sure you'll find out soon enough. Surprised you didn't get another phone call about it before it hit the news again.
Shit.
I go to use the search engine on my phone but feel her eyes on me, looking over my shoulder.
I pull the hand cuffs out of my pocket, swiftly lock hers in place, and call my men to meet us out front.
When we get in the car, I toss her on my lap, not even registering that I'm holding her so tight until she starts to wince. “Ricardo, what—”
“Shut up, Lou-Lou.”
I don't want to be so mean to her, but I can't think right now and I'm liable to snap at any moment.
Less than 24 hours after Gaffney's dead and already the vice-mayor ends up in the same predicament.
The council's making moves quicker than they're supposed to...or rather, quicker than I thought they would.
My heart pounds like a drum. A drum that beats the same searing rhythm over and over again.
I'm. Ru
I drag in a deep breath, trying to come up with something that will pacify Jackson and Tyrone for the time being so they don't hate me. Because I have to keep the lines of communication open with them.