Smooth Criminals: A Dark Romance Collection by Hart Lane

Author:Hart, Lane
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Editor's Choice Publishing
Published: 2021-08-05T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 26

Cain

Ivan shoots in and takes me to the mat so fast I can barely even blink. The next second he has me in a headlock, and I have no choice but to tap out on his arm pressed to my throat.

When he lets me go, both of us stay kneeling on the mat to catch our breath.

“Did you just get lucky…” I start to ask before lowering my voice. “Or do you lose fights on purpose?”

“No idea what you’re talking about,” he replies, always a man of few words.

“Your ground game is better than you let on. Why not kick ass in the cage?” I continue to prod.

“What does it matter?” he replies with a shrug. “Win or lose I’m stuck here, and not by choice.”

“Hey, man, I get it,” I tell him. “But some of us can’t afford to lose.”

“What’s Mario holding over you?” he narrows his hazel eyes to ask. “Let me guess, Gabby?”

“Fuck yes,” I groan. “All thanks to her brother,” I add, glaring in Robbie’s direction. He’s in the ring with Knox, and I’m happy to see my boy is going on the offensive, giving the asshole a run for his money.

“That’s messed up,” Ivan remarks.

“Tell me about it.”

“What if you lose?” he asks.

“Gabby’s fucked, literally,” I explain through gritted teeth.

“No wonder you’ve been putting in so many hours training. I feel sorry for the poor bastard who has to fight you tomorrow. Who is it again? Wade?” he asks, glancing around the gym looking for the big oaf.

“Yeah. What if I lose?” I question. That’s what I’ve been asking myself for weeks now. It’s the reason I barely sleep.

“You’re not going to lose. Just keep your head in the fight. Don’t let your mind get all caught up in the what ifs.”

“Easier said than done,” I tell him.

“You need to stop going to see her at night,” he says.

“No idea what you’re talking about,” I reply, throwing his own line back at him.

“When you sneak out that late, where else are you going? For a two a.m. run? Come on, man. I know you’re not fucking her, so why do you go?”

“I just…I have to check on her,” I answer honestly, pulling up the tape on my left hand.

“She’s fine at the house. You know that. And the more you see her, the more fucked up you’ll be for this fight.”

“You’re probably right,” I agree, but that doesn’t mean I won’t go see Gabby again tonight. It’s the few minutes of my day that I always look forward to, the reason I drag my ass through hours of conditioning and training. Everything I do is for her; and as a reward, I need to see her to give me the strength to get up and endure the torture all over again the next day.

“Now get your ass back to work,” Ivan says standing up and getting into the starting position, snapping me out of my musings.

“Why do you give a shit about busting ass

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