Page 45 of The Tempo of Truth (The Monsters Duet #3)

Ky

This gym was light-years ahead of Lev’s.

The equipment looked state-of-the-art, and the place even smelled nice, not like sweaty bodies and cheap disinfectant used to wipe down machines.

More people were using the treadmills and ellipticals than were members of Lev’s gym.

Everyone wandering around the space, looking at themselves in the mirrors on every wall, was attractive and wearing high-end workout gear.

The entire place was full of young, fit bodies and cell phones being used to film content for social media.

As soon as I stepped in the door, I knew that no one who paid for a membership here had ever been punched in the face hard enough to split an eyebrow open while working out.

The day and the difference made me want to laugh.

Even when I had money to burn, I’d never been in a gym that seemed more suitable for selfies than for working up a sweat.

However, now that I was inside, it seemed like the perfect fit for a guy like Oliver Byrd.

This was the sort of spot where you could stay in respectable shape and also maintain a flawless image. Being able to brag about the ridiculous membership fee was probably more appealing than having access to all the equipment twenty-four hours a day.

Lev would have had a heart attack if he saw so many machines and so few people working out to get stronger.

The Russian firmly believed that if you were going to put your body and mind through the paces, the result needed to be something tangible, like being able to fight barehanded or getting strong enough to protect yourself from all the evils one would face.

Working out was a necessity in Lev’s world, not a hobby or a ritual done for clicks and views.

It took a while to get myself checked in as a temporary guest on a day pass.

I didn’t meet the dress code requirements, and no one believed me when I told them Win Halliday was my sponsor.

I had to wait at the front desk while everyone coming and going shot me dirty looks.

Eventually, someone got Win on the phone, and once they spoke to him, I was handed a plastic keycard and offered a tour of the opulent space.

I turned it down and headed directly to the locker rooms because the man I came to find had gone in there while I was stuck at the desk.

I had to dodge being recorded and the expensive personal trainers who smelled fresh blood and wanted to pitch me on one-on-one sessions.

Most of them were twice my size and stacked with muscle, but I knew I could take all of them down in a fight.

They were strong but soft, which made me more confident that I could deal with what I came here to handle uninterrupted.

I swore I could fight my way out of this prissy gym, regardless of how many members tried to stop me.

The entrance wasn’t a door but a tiny maze of concrete walls I had to wind my way through until I reached my destination.

I heard laughter and the sound of a shower running.

I didn’t see who I was looking for, but I came across a naked older man who gave me a questioning look as he wrapped a towel around his waist. I spent so much time between my years playing football and working for Lev in different locker rooms that I was immune to seeing other guys’ junk.

I ignored the questioning look and made my way up and down the aisles of lockers, coming up empty when it came to locating my target.

I shifted my attention to the shower that suddenly stopped.

Sure enough, a minute later, Oliver Byrd walked out of the steamy enclosure wearing a gaudy Versace robe and matching slides.

He was rubbing his hair with a towel, so he didn’t see me standing in front of him until it was too late.

I punched him in the center of the chest, forcing him to stumble back into the shower he had just exited.

Since the floor was wet, he tripped over his feet and slammed into the wall with a bang.

The towel on his head fell to the ground as he struggled to regain his balance.

He swore loudly and looked shocked and appalled when he finally recognized who was behind the surprise attack.

Oliver raised a hand to rub the spot where I hit him. He narrowed his eyes at me and tried to look tough, which was impossible given his current state.

“How did you get in here? This is a private club. I know you can’t afford the membership. I’m going to have you removed and call the police since you’re trespassing on private property.”

I snorted at his bluster. I pulled out the day pass and threw it at him. It bounced off his chin and landed in the shower basin.

“Since you want me locked up so bad, I’m going to give you an actual reason to call the cops.

” Before he could brace himself or get situated, I grabbed a handful of his hair and held him in place while I smashed my fist into his face.

His nose made a sickening sound upon the first impact.

His bottom lip started bleeding uncontrollably on the second impact.

Oliver tried to gain some traction, but the wet tiles made fighting back nearly impossible.

He cupped his hands around his bleeding nose and tried to call for help. I heard movement behind me, but I never took my attention off the man in front of me.

“You should know better than to manhandle women. And if you’re going to leave marks on a woman like Winnie Halliday, expect there will be hell to pay in return.

I’m sure a guy like you went through all those etiquette classes, just like Winnie did.

‘Do not harm the heiress’ has to be at the top of the dos and don’ts list.” Since his face was already covered in blood and his gaze was looking panicked, I put my foot on the side of one of his knees and pressed hard.

Oliver screamed at the top of his lungs as bone and tendon shifted, pulling the kneecap out of the socket and making his leg look deformed.

The shouting brought a couple of men from the locker room into the shower area. I didn’t bother to turn around when they asked if Oliver was okay. He screamed at them to call the police while holding the discarded towel to his face to stem the flow of blood from his broken nose.

I bent down so we were eye to eye. I could see the fear in his gaze and hoped he understood the violent intent in mine.

“I didn’t kill that kid who jumped me, but I could’ve.

You tried to set me up with a believable scenario because you investigated my background.

If you know that I can take on a guy who actually knows how to throw down, what made you think I wouldn’t send you to meet your maker the second I found out you put your hands on Winnie?

” I scoffed and reached out to flick his sweaty forehead.

“Even if I left it alone, her uncles would figure out what you did, and they’re far more ruthless than I am.

You might be a privileged asshole, but you have no clue what it means to be untouchable. ”

“What are you doing?! Can’t you see he doesn’t belong here? Someone call the police. This is assault!”

“Did he just say you injured a Halliday? Do you have a death wish, Oliver? Your father is going to murder you when he hears what you’ve done!”

“I’m not getting involved if the Hallidays are angry about something you did.”

“This is a gym. Fight back if you don’t want your ass kicked.”

The commentary from the witnesses was hilarious.

It was obvious Oliver was losing it since no one present had his back.

I smacked his cheek hard enough to leave a mark and straightened up.

I pointed a finger at his now crooked nose and warned, “If you so much as think about putting a finger on Winnie again, I won’t just dislocate your knee.

I’ll break both of your legs and smash your face into so many pieces that no one will be able to put it back together. ”

Oliver finally gathered the courage and strength to scramble to his feet. The leg with the dislocated knee curved under his weight, sending him back to the ground. The impact was enough to make the men behind me cringe and whistle with audible sympathy.

“There are cameras all over this gym. There is a room full of witnesses. You’re never getting away with this, Kent.

You’re a criminal. Winnie’s family should be doing everything they can to keep her away from you.

You’re the main reason her board of directors thinks she’s not cut out for her current position. ”

I shrugged and turned to leave. “Better to go down for something I did than for something you and your company fabricated. I own my consequences.” I laughed and gave him a pointed look over my shoulder.

“Between you wanting me in jail and Winnie wanting me to wait for her after work, which one do you think is more likely to happen? Who has more influence, you or her?” I waited while he gritted his teeth and glared at me.

“And even if those suits she works with think I’m dragging her down, her uncle is the one who got me the pass to get into this so-called gym.

I’m sure you can guess which approval matters the most.”

I stepped around the small crowd that had gathered, indifferent to the curious stares that followed me.

When I exited the gym, I heard sirens coming from up the street.

It looked like someone had finally called the police.

Too bad I was going to be long gone by the time they got there.

If they showed up at Lev’s later to arrest me, I didn’t care.

Spending a few days in the slammer was worth it as long as that rich jerk learned a lesson.