Page 10

Asher

Blood pounds in my ears as my pulse races. I lean my head back against the door and exhale. She has more fight in her than I was expecting.

My body vibrates with every pound of her fists against the door. It’s solid wood and there’s no way she’ll be able to break through it. Still doesn’t stop her from beating the shit out of it, though. She continues to scream obscenities at me in both English and Spanish.

The longer I listen, the more my mind fucks with me. Soon, her voice morphs into a different one—one that’s painfully familiar.

“Asher!”

My eyes squeeze shut as the sounds take me back to that night. An ache cracks in my chest and spreads all the way down to my gut.

“Help me, please!”

I grind my teeth until they crack under the pressure. “No!”

She’s not Lauren. She will never be her. I push off the door and head down to the basement. If I don’t blow off some steam, I’m going to lose my shit.

The gym isn’t much. It’s equipped with the basics, but that’s all I need. Spending time in a six-by-eight cell has made such amenities unnecessary. I whip off my shirt and toss it to the floor before I wrap up my hands and forgo the gloves. I want to feel the very moment my knuckles crack and bleed.

The moment I step up to the bag, I can feel the tension that’s coiled inside of me snap. I hold my hands up and assume the boxing stance with my left foot forward and my knees slightly bent. The first time my fist connects with the bag a fire from deep inside of me is ignited. It’s been too long since I’ve punched out my frustration and I didn’t realize until now how much I need this release.

With each punch, I let it all go. All of the pent up aggression from seeing the photos fades into a distant memory the more into it I get. Punch after punch, it all falls away. Then dark hair fills my head, sending my thoughts elsewhere.

Green eyes haunt me. The flecks of gold are deeper in person, those plump lips trembling. The scent of coconut still lingers in the air. I shouldn’t have touched her, held her so close.

The soft feel of her olive skin as her body pressed against mine sparked something to life inside me—something I thought was dead. And I need to shut that shit down. It’s not gonna happen. She’s the enemy. Nothing more.

I lose track of time as I continue to beat the shit out of the bag. My body shakes from the endorphin rush, but I don’t stop. It’s either fight or fuck this shit out of my system, and the latter is not an option.

“Someone pissed you off,”

Axel taunts as he leans against the wall across from me. I shoot him a quick glance before going back to what I’m doing. Axel doesn’t heed the warning in my glare. “You know there are only two things that help me work through my anger and one of them is a hell of a lot more fun than punching a bag.”

I ignore him and keep focused on ridding myself of any excess energy that remains. I’m afraid if I speak, I’ll say something else I can’t take back.

Sweat drips down my back, fueling my motivation. The balls of my feet shift with each hit as I picture the faces of the fuckers who took my life and turned it into the shit show it is now. My fists clench with the need to inflict pain, to rip them apart piece by piece. To feel their blood dripping down my hands. To watch their eyes become empty as their souls are dragged to Hell.

The bag swings against the chain the harder I punch, the impact felt all the way down to my bones. Moisture builds underneath my wraps, but I keep going. A little blood is nothing.

“What did you say to piss him off, Ax?”

Zane comes to stand next to Axel, who is still watching my every move.

“Nothing. I just suggested he fuck it out of his system instead of hitting this like a damn pussy.”

This time I do stop. Axel’s turned into a cocky bastard since I’ve been away and I need to knock him down a peg or five. “Why don’t you put your money where your mouth is?”

That shuts his ass up.

Zane tilts his head in Axel’s direction and calls him out. “Yeah, man. Show us you still remember everything our ol’ man taught us. Or are you just all talk and no action, little brother?”

Axel thinks about it for a bit and when he flashes me a shit-eating grin, I know I have him. “Fine.”

He pushes off the wall and walks over to slip on his gloves before he comes to stand in front of me. “You’re not wearing any gloves?”

“Gloves are for pussies.”

I hold up my hands, giving him a direct view of my blood-soaked wraps.

“Fuck.”

Axel’s eyes fix on them. He does his best to keep his face blank, but it’s too late. I see the slight hesitation behind his gaze. That’s all I need to give me the upper hand.

“A hundred bucks says he knocks you on your ass within the first five minutes.”

Zane pulls out a stool and makes himself comfortable.

“Seriously?”

Axel whips his head toward Zane.

“Look at him.”

Zane shrugs. “He’s the size of a fucking tank.”

Axel shakes his head but doesn’t back out. He can’t. If he does, we’ll never let him live it down. He brings his hands up in front of his face, waiting on me to make my move. “No face shots. I have a date later this week.”

“No promises.”

We bounce on the balls of our feet, keeping our steps light as we focus on each other. My fist aims for the side of his head, but he blocks it with his left one and swings a jab at me with his right. I’m able to block the hit with my arms before he can get me in the gut.

Round and round we go, each of us bobbing and weaving, dodging the others’ fists. Axel is holding out better than I thought he would. I’m impressed with his ability to hold his own, but he’s getting tired. The hits are becoming wide and sloppy. His endurance is no match for mine.

He throws a punch and drops his other hand a bit, exposing the left side of his face. I take advantage and nail him in the eye.

“Shit.”

He shakes it off but doesn’t tap out.

His temper gets the best of him and starts coming at me fast and hard. I let him get a hit in and he’s so focused on his victory that he doesn’t see my fist until it’s too late. I throw an uppercut, hitting Axel right under the chin. He’s knocked down onto the mat and flat on his back.

“Fuck, man. What the hell was that?”

Axel groans from his sprawled out position on the mat.

“That was what happens when you get cocky and let your guard down. Remember that because there are no second chances if you fuck up out there.”

I hold out my hand and help him sit up. His bottom lip is split open and there’s a small cut along his right eyebrow, but other than that he’s fine.

We sit and catch our breath while Zane watches from his seat. He knows I needed this. The longer he stares, the more my agitation grows. I hated the way I was always watched in prison, like I was some animal they might need to tase, and I’ll be damned if one of my own does it to me.

“You know I hate it when you fucking stare like that. If you have something to say, just come out and say it.”

I don’t spare him a glance as I unwrap my hands.

“All right.”

Zane laughs. “Now that we have her, what’s our next move?”

I stop what I’m doing and meet his gaze head-on. “Now, we’re gonna take them out one by one.”

“Starting with that fucker, Benny?”

Axel asks, looking ready to maim something.

“Tomorrow night.” I nod.

“And Diego? He’s bound to know she’s missing by now.”

Zane presses his lips together into a firm line.

“We’ll make the call in another day or so. Let him tear the city apart looking for her first.”

“And the girl?”

Axel dabs at his lip and glances up at me. He’s too interested in Charlee and it’s setting me on edge.

I wipe the blood off my knuckles, letting my silence speak for itself. Charlee’s mine and I’ll take my time with her.