Page 9 of Falling for the Forbidden Fighter (She’s Worth the Trouble #3)

LOUIS

Catherine throws herself against the door. She looks like she’s trying to hold back an invasion.

There’s no stopping this fight now.

Ricky keeps hammering—he sounds like the fucking cops. For once, I think I’d rather deal with them.

“Open the door! I knew it! I knew you two were sneaking around!”

“Get the hell out of here, Ricky,” Catherine calls back, still naked and glistening between her legs. “You sound psychotic.”

“You think I’m fucking stupid!? I saw you! And two guys at the gym told me something was up! Get out here!”

The door shakes with each slam.

We get our clothes back on while he assaults the door.

This was bound to happen. We got sloppy—too comfortable. I should have come clean with Don the first time Catherine and I hooked up. Maybe even the first day, when I saw her and knew that she took precedence over everything.

“I’m letting him in,” I say, heading for the latch. “Fuck this.”

“No!”

Catherine steps between me and the door.

“If you let him in, I don’t know what he’ll do.”

“Let me in!”

I growl, “That’s what I’m trying to do, asshole!”

The door shakes even harder. “ I knew you were in there!”

Catherine turns, pleading with him while she looks through the peephole. “Ricky, we were going to tell you and Dad. I swear, we decided we didn’t want this to be a secret anymore.”

“Bullshit!”

My hands are ready. If he comes through that door swinging, if he puts Catherine in harm’s way for even a second, I won’t be able to hold back this time.

Catherine slams back. “Screw you, Ricky! This whole thing is stupid. You think either of you can tell me who I’m allowed to love? Get over yourself! Our relationship is none of your business…”

The word love, leaving her lips, nearly makes me melt. No time for that now…

Ricky laughs like something in his brain just broke. I’m reminded of that officer on the ship, the way he smiled and laughed like he’d done nothing wrong.

“He’s done ,” Ricky says. “You think Dad will train him now? I hope she was worth it, loser!”

With one last kick to the door, we listen to him trail off down the hall like an angry dog.

Catherine runs to the window. I hear the tires squeal.

“He’ll go straight to the gym,” she says.

“Yeah. Then that’s where we’re going.”

The entire ride, Catherine tries calling her dad. No answer. All she gets is his awkward, rough voice mail.

“He never ignores my calls.”

“By now, he knows,” I say, staring out the window. “Time to face the music.”

Catherine glances at me, legs bouncing. “How are you so calm?”

I shrug. “You forget I was court-martialed recently. You think I’m a stranger to getting chewed out?”

“Anyone try to hit you during your court-martial?”

I meet her soft green eyes.

“I don’t know if I can stop them from going ballistic,” she says as we turn into the gym’s parking lot. “Just be ready to get those hands up.”

“Always am.”

If I tell her what I’m planning, she’ll never let me out of this car.

The gym is busy, the usual morning rush, but everyone is standing around listening to Ricky squeal in the office. All eyes fall on us.

Some of them shake their heads. A few laugh. That old guy who’s mastered the speed bag gives me a look that says I told you.

Everyone is ready to enjoy the show.

I walk with my head held high, meeting every set of eyes until they dodge me. Half of these dudes are just jealous that Catherine never gave them the chance to break her father’s Golden Rule. They’re happy to see me finally get mine.

Catherine steps in front of me like a shield.

Through the office doorway, I spot Ricky, hands on Don’s desk, body heaving like a monster in convulsions. He turns, spots me, and charges.

I’m a heartbeat away from hurling Catherine out of the way when Don’s voice snags Ricky like a leash, “ Stop. ”

Ricky freezes, nearly stumbling with his momentum. His fist is shaking, ready to fly.

Catherine hasn’t moved.

Don’s chair groans as the big man gets up, rounds his desk, and walks slowly out of his office.

The gym sighs. I feel everyone take a step back.

Before he reaches us, I step in front of Catherine.

Here is the man who’s tortured me for the past month. Every bead of sweat I’ve poured out for this gym was produced by his command. All the blood, the pain, every ounce of suffering was of his making.

And I cherished it all—I still do. I crave it. He’s made me better than I ever was, and I don’t want it to stop.

But I’d give it all up for the girl standing behind me, the girl who keeps trying to muscle between us to shield me from whatever comes next.

I’ll make him understand.

“Louis,” Don says.

Normally, Don Winters looks a little angry. It’s like every day he accidentally bites his cheek. There’s always something tugging on his temper, like he’ll blow at any minute but never does. I’d grown comfortable with that.

Right now, he looks calm.

That scares me.

“Coach.” I nod, trying to stay relaxed. “I guess Ricky had some news for you.”

“Damn right I had some fucking news—“

“Shut up, Ricky,” Don says, keeping those hard eyes on me. “You got something you need to tell me, son?”

Son . Does he know what that word does to a man like me?

I swallow hard, exhale, and start talking, “Since day one, I’ve been living with your daughter.

” Someone says Oh damn but quickly catches themselves.

“She didn’t want me staying in the motel I was at.

I didn’t have money for much else. But, Don, I’d be lying if I said that’s all it was at the start…

I knew I liked Catherine from the moment I saw her.

I intended to break your rule as soon as you laid it down. I betrayed your trust, and I’m sorry.”

Catherine is shaking, one hand on my back.

Her father drops his gaze, sighs, and rubs his temples. “Get in the ring.”

I move like it’s any other order given on a training day. Two guys who were sparring clear out quickly. Ricky shoves past me and slides in. I feel everyone crowd around.

“Dad,” Catherine pleads. “Stop. Slow down. Let’s just talk about this…”

“He knew what would happen.”

Someone says something about gloves, but Don ignores them. This isn’t sparring or boxing or anything that should be sanctioned.

Don Winters gets in the ring and stands next to his fuming son. They look like a rabid bulldog and a dangerous, quiet pit.

I knew this is where I’d end up. And now that I’m here, I find myself unbothered, calm.

My heart beats slowly.

My hands are steady.

I look to the side of the ring and find Catherine. She looks scared. I smile at her, and I hope she knows that everything will be all right. Beatings are a part of life, and sometimes, all you can do is take them.

It’ll make me stronger.

“Don’t hold back, kid.” Don cracks his fat knuckles. “We won’t.”

Ricky looks like he’ll explode at any moment.

I take a deep breath, clench my fists.

Finally, Don flies across the ring.

Damn, he can sure move fast for an old man. The Blizzard builds, cocks a fist back, and rockets it toward my face.

I stare it down, never blinking, and wait for the pain. Instead of getting my hands up, I slide them behind my back.

That big, deadly fist never arrives.

Don stops short, practically blowing smoke out his nostrils. He looks like a confused bull.

“What the hell are you doing?” he growls. “ Fight .”

I shake my head. “If this is the beating I deserve, I’ll take it.”

Ricky steps up like he’s going to shove his old man out of the way, but Don holds him back by his shirt.

“You’re a fighter,” Don says. “So fucking fight.”

“I’m not a fighter.” I shrug, hands still pinned behind me.

“I’m not like you. All of you do this because you love it…

I don’t. I do it because I’m good at it.

All my life, I’ve done it to protect myself, to get by, to do what I need to do.

I don’t love it.” I glance at Catherine and smile. “I love her.”

My girl, my fucking angel who’s shown me how amazing life can be, mouths the words back to me, tears in her eyes. She jumps into the ring, and I finally let her stand between me and her family.

“I love him, Dad,” she says, putting a hand on his chest. “He’s a good man. He’s the one who wanted to confess, to tell you everything. He respects you, but you don’t get to tell him or me or anyone else who they’re allowed to love.”

“This is some bullshit. You met a month ago, and you’re in love ? With this loser?” Ricky is pacing around the ring. “You gonna let this shit go? Come on!”

“But you’re better than all this…” Don says. I’ve never heard his voice break like that. “Catty, you’re better than us. We get hurt for a living. I never wanted that for you. Or Ricky, but he’s too damn stubborn to do anything else. Why? Why would you want to be with a fighter?”

“I’m not a fighter,” I say again. “After the Ruiz fight, I’m done.”

Sounds of surprise erupt all over the gym. Everyone knows about the fight. Everyone has seen me training. I know they all wish they were half as good as I am. I don’t mean to be cocky—that’s the reality.

They’d kill to be in my position, to have a professional career only a few good rounds away.

“Done?” Don laughs, eyes wild with disbelief. “Kid, you’re the best damn boxer I’ve ever trained. It’s in you. Instinct. You’ve got the mind for it, not just the body. There’s no fear when you fight. All this work. Everything we’ve done, and you want to quit?”

“For her.” I put my hands on her shoulders. “Yes.”

Don still looks like he wants to hit me, but he laughs and takes a step back. “Quit to do what?”

“I don’t have a clue. But I don’t want to build a life around stepping in this ring. I don’t want Catherine to have to watch me get hurt, over and over again, for a fucking paycheck. One fight. That’s it… and I’m going to win.”

Lots of the guys laugh, none as loud as Ricky.

“Win?” he jeers. “You’re done. We’re not letting you fight. And if we did, you’d get destroyed.”

Don holds my gaze. “Who said I wasn’t going to let him fight?”

In his eyes, I see the hope.

Catherine’s told me about her dad’s money problems. If I win, I’m not the only one getting paid. And even with me gone, plenty of prospects will be floated his way. He needs this.

“Finish this with me.” I offer my hand. “Take me the rest of the way. We’ve got three weeks.

I’ll spend every waking moment preparing.

And when I get in that ring, I’ll fight like it’s the last time I’ll ever put the gloves on.

I promise you, I’ll win. And that’ll be the end of it.

I promise, I’ll be a better man for your daughter. ”

Ricky looks like he wants to chop my hand off. He growls in his father’s ear, eyes boring into me, “Kick his ass out . He can’t win. He lied to us.”

Don examines me, searches my soul.

“The Ruiz fight, and you’re done? If you win, you’ll have offers, son. The next fight might mean millions … you’re ready to throw that all away?”

“He can’t win!”

Neither of us is listening to Ricky. This is between Don and me. Always has been. He’s the one who pushed me to where I am, and I’m the only one who can get us this victory.

I’m the only one in this gym who would step down with so much more on the line.

“I want to be with her,” I say. “I’ll win, take my money, and find a new path. Maybe culinary school.”

Don snorts. “Culinary school?”

I shrug. “For the first time in my life, I feel like I can do anything. Catherine did that for me, sir. She makes me feel like I don’t have to fight.”

Finally, he looks at his daughter.

She’s nodding, holding onto me as if they might still attack. “Please, Dad… I’ve never… I haven’t felt this whole since Mom died.”

Don Winters— The Blizzard . The legend. A man built of iron—sucks in a breath. His mouth falls open, and he looks at his daughter as if she’s the only person who exists in the world.

We share that, Don. I know the feeling.

He moves fast, thrusting his hand into mine.

“Ruiz… that’ll be a hell of a fight,” he says with a sly smile.

To his credit, no tears fall from his eyes.

“Well, we’ve wasted enough time. If you’re gonna win, we’ve got work to do.

And what the hell are the rest of you staring at?

You heard him: this kid is a one-off! If any of you think you’ve got the grit to be my next big fighter, you’d better get back to training! ”

The gym breathes again, stretching and flexing as gloves hit bags and jump ropes start swinging.

Of course, Ricky isn’t happy.

Don pulls him aside, handling him like a wild dog, placating the tantrum. He’ll calm him down. The big man has made his decision.

Catherine turns, still shaking, looking relieved but pale.

“You all right?” I ask.

“Me? They could have killed you.”

“They’re big puppy dogs.”

Something in the office crashes, probably hurled by Ricky.

“It’s not just that,” Catherine says, smiling through the tears. “My dad… he likes you. He believes in you.”

Don gets that cigar in his mouth, shaking his head as Ricky takes off out the front doors.

“All right, kid,” he roars, sliding flat gloves off. “Get over here. Today is gonna be the worst day of your life! You ain’t leaving this gym until you’ve puked up every meal you’ve eaten for a week!”

“Yeah.” I smile and kiss Catherine on the head. “I like him, too.”