Page 76 of Conquered (Highgate Preparatory Academ:y Compendium)

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

LILLY

T he next morning after breakfast, Jax, Loki, and Kai tell me that they’re going to Enzo’s gym and ask if I’d like to join them. Ash is at his parents’ again.

I figure that I've got nothing else to do, well, I've got a whole load of homework, but I'm putting that shit off, because a girl needs a break from trying to work out where commas go in creative writing!

I go upstairs to get ready, excited to try my new activewear from Pru Apparel. It's a gorgeous matching set of tight shorts and a sports bra, in turquoise stretch fabric, with printed purple flowers that are reminiscent of African waxed cloth.

I placed an order with Lucy & Yak a couple of weeks ago, which has just arrived this morning. So I wear my brand spanking new red berry corduroy dungarees on top, grabbing one of Loki's hoodies and my heeled boots to complete the outfit. Might as well spend the money Adrian gives me.

I’ve not heard them mention Enzo before, or his gym, so I decide to ask about him as we all get into Jax's truck, and head down the drive. In Hell I’ll Be In Good Company by The Dead South comes over the speakers, and I chuckle a little at the irony given the boys. ..occupation. I call that progress.

“Who's Enzo?” I ask Jax, turning to gaze at him next to me in the driver's seat.

“He's my unofficial trainer,” Jax says, his voice a delicious rumble that always makes me a little wet between the thighs and leaves me breathless.

“Trainer?” I question. “Trainer for what?”

“Didn't you know, Pretty Girl?” Loki says from the back, and I glance over my shoulder to see an evil smirk on his face that tells me he's stirring shit somehow. “Big guy here is an underground MMA champion.”

My brows raise at this. “How am I only just finding out about this? Jax?” I turn to glare daggers at the man in question, who looks a little sheepish.

“Why do you think he’s so, well, ripped?” Loki asks, and I shrug.

“I dunno...to pin me down real good?” I tease, and I jump in my seat when Jax roars out a laugh that startles us all.

“Oh, Baby Girl,” he says, his voice dropping an octave and becoming husky, looking over to me. “That's just an added bonus.”

I rub my thighs together, to try and ease the ache that's started up there at his words and my dirty mind. Jax smirks at the movement.

“Eyes back on the road, big guy,” I say, voice mock scolding and he turns back to look out of the windscreen with a cough.

A few moments pass while I think about what I’ve just found out.

“So, can I come to your next fight?” I ask Jax, and he lifts a brow.

“Um, it’s not really a place nice girls go to,” he tells me, and I scowl.

“Who says I’m a nice girl?” I growl out, trying to sound fierce, but eliciting chuckles from them all which just pisses me off.

Then a naughty idea pops into my mind. “Please, Jax,” I whine, trying not to sound petulant as I reach over and grab his hard thigh.

“I’ll kiss all your wounds better afterwards,” I offer, lowering my own voice seductively, moving my hand upwards and eliciting a hiss from his mouth.

The leather on the steering wheel groans as he grips it hard.

“Fine,” he growls out, and I squeal, letting go and planting a kiss on his cheek. “But you’ll stay with one of the others at all times. It’s not until after Christmas anyway.”

We drive along the beautiful road that I took with Kai, heading into town, and then carrying on through, turning off Main Street onto a smaller, more worn looking street. Pulling up next to the pavement, I look up at the squat grey building to see a red sign that reads Enzo’s .

Jax parks the truck, he shuts off the engine, and we all get out, Kai grabbing our bags from the trunk. It's another beautiful sunny day, but it's freezing cold and I shiver as we head towards the double doors in the front. A warm arm settles over my shoulders, the smell of vanilla washing over me.

“I'll warm you up real good when we get inside,” Loki whispers against my ear, and I shiver for an entirely different reason.

The heat hits me like a slap in the face as soon as I walk through the door. Followed by the smell of sweaty man, and the tang of blood, all mixed with the rich scent of leather. My nose crinkles and Loki laughs at me.

“Too much like slumming it for you, Princess ?” he asks, using Ash’s nickname for me.

“Loki, you wouldn’t know what ‘slumming it’ was, if it came up behind you and bit you on your peachy arse!” I scoff at him, rolling my eyes.

“Pretty Girl, you can bite my ass anytime you want,” he quips back, nuzzling my neck and I shiver again.

Her Vagisty is in fine form I see, the hussy!

I look around the space, seeing that it’s a pretty standard setup.

At least, I think it is, but what the fuck do I know, never having been in a gym before I started Highgate Prep.

There's a ring in the middle of the space, where two guys are already sparring.

I notice both of them are smaller than my boys, and a sense of satisfaction washes over me.

There’s a weights area in one corner, another section with loads of punch bags hanging from the ceiling, and along one wall, mats are laid out in front of a mirror. There are a couple of guys in each area, which surprises me given it’s still early on a Sunday, so it must be a popular place.

An older guy with salt and pepper hair comes towards us, his handsome face full of smiles as he takes in the guys.

His grin widens as he sees me standing with Loki on one side, his arm still around my shoulders, and Jax standing on the other, his hand in mine.

Poor Kai is left to fend for himself next to Loki.

“Boys!” he says in a slight Italian accent, opening his arms wide and engulfing Kai in a full on man hug, kissing both cheeks.

He’s wearing some loose gym shorts and a black tank top that shows off his buff arms, which are covered in colourful old school style tattoos.

“So good to see you all again, che piacere !” he tells them, moving on to hug Jax, who wraps his own huge arms around him in return. I assume this is Enzo.

“ Come stai? Tutto bene? ” Enzo asks, pulling back but keeping Jax at arm's length. Jax nods in his usual silent way, but there's a warmth in his eyes that's not often there with anyone outside of our group.

Enzo skips me with a wink as he grabs Loki, pulling him off me to squeeze him and kiss his cheeks too.

He turns his gaze towards me, letting Loki go, and his brown eyes are full of kindness, as well as a little mischief.

“ Principessa , you must be Lilly. The boys neglected to tell me how beautiful you are, bella come la primavera ,” he says, making a blush rise to my cheeks as he takes my hand and places a kiss on my knuckles.

Jax growls which makes Enzo laugh out loud.

“Oh, don't worry, figlio mio , I’m not trying to steal her away! I’m old enough to be her father!

And Rosa, Mrs Russo,” he turns to me with another wink, “would never forgive me... sti ragazzi ,” he says, shuddering.

I hear Jax grumble which makes him chuckle more.

“You must be Enzo,” I say back, a warm smile spreading across my lips. “And the boys neglected to mention anything about you to me,” I say teasingly, narrowing my eyes at the guys, and causing Enzo to raise an eyebrow at them in mock severity.

They all rush to defend themselves, talking over each other, and their worry that they’ve upset him is actually kind of sweet.

I can see how much he means to them in the way they behave towards him.

I can’t say that I’m that surprised, given how their own parents act. Enzo seems to truly care about them.

“Don’t worry, boys, I’m sure I’ll forgive you all for your negligence, mannaggia ,” he says with a smile, to show them he’s kidding. “Now, I want you all to do your warm up, then three rounds on the punch bags, then weights, yes? Andate, forza! ” he orders, clapping his hands and dismissing them.

“Are you sparring today, Jax?” he asks my viking, who just nods. Enzo pauses, searching his gaze for a moment, then sighs before nodding back. “I’ll show Lilly around and get her settled, prego .” He holds out his arm for me to take and starts walking away.

He shows me the equipment whilst telling me all about how his father came over from Italy when he himself was a teenager, bringing his family with him.

His father set up the gym, teaching and coaching semi and professional boxers.

He points to grainy pictures on the walls of a gentleman who looks very similar to himself, alongside younger men wearing boxing gloves and holding huge belts.

“So, what would you like to do today, cara mia? ” he asks me.

“Um, well, I was thinking maybe some yoga to warm up, and then perhaps practise some self-defence moves with one of the guys. Jax has been teaching me since…” My voice trails off, realising that I’d just started to open up to a complete stranger about what happened with Robert.

Enzo’s eyes go hard, and his grip on my elbow tightens. “He deserved what he got, quel disgraziato . My boys know how to take care of things and protect their own,” he says fiercely, and I gasp.

“How do you…” I begin, confused at how, and why, they would have told him. I mean, I know they’re close with the man, but still, surely it puts them in danger if anyone else knows.

“Me and my guys, we help them to...clean up,” he replies, and suddenly, I understand who helped take Robert away.

“Thank you,” I whisper, and his hand tightens once more as we stop outside what looks like an office.

“ Senza problema, of course,” he leans, kissing my cheek gently, and I can’t help the emotion that clogs my throat.

This is what having a father must feel like.