Beneath These Scars (Beneath #4)(31)

Two hours later I was pulling into the parking lot of the gym. It was probably a crapshoot as to whether my car would still be here when I came out, but considering Con’s Harley and Lord’s ’Cuda were parked there and unharmed, I took the chance.

But then again, people in this neighborhood actually liked them. I was persona non grata, even before the boxing lesson. But what Con didn’t know was that he no longer had to worry about me trying to steal his woman; my interests had moved firmly elsewhere.

I knocked on the heavy steel door and pressed the buzzer. A solid two minutes later, the center plate in the door slid open and Reggie’s dark brown eyes peered out.

“Whatcha want?”

“To talk to your other coaches.”

“They’re busy.”

“I’ll wait.”

He slammed the metal plate home, and I wondered if I’d be waiting in my car. But Reggie apparently decided that I passed muster because the door swung open.

“You can help Vanessa and Elle in the kitchen while the boys finish up. Don’t need no flashy distractions. Or cheap shots.”

I looked down at my three-piece Armani suit. Was the old man insane? No, I’m the crazy one because I’m here looking for answers. But my need to know kept growing. I’d get what I came for and get the hell out.

I started toward the kitchen, but Reggie stopped me with a hand on my arm. “You try anything with Ms. Vanessa, and Con’ll rip your dick off.”

“Duly noted.”

“Better be.”

He continued down the hall, and I turned into the kitchen doorway. Vanessa Frost and Elle Snyder stood near a prep table covered with paper sacks, loaves of bread, peanut butter, jelly, apples, pudding cups, granola bars, and a mess of other stuff.

“Ladies.”

Both their heads shot up at my greeting.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Elle demanded without preamble.

“Came to see how Con was spending my donation.”

Vanessa’s hands propped on her hips. “After your move? You’re lucky Reggie let you in the door. Just when I think you aren’t a total *, you always surprise me, Lucas.” She nodded to the table. “You want to see what your money is doing? Well, here’s part of it. We’ve expanded our sack supper program a little and we’re hoping to do even more. In the gym you’ll see some new equipment, and a bunch of new pads and headgear for the kids as well.”

“Good to know it’s going to good use.”

“Did you think it would go to bad use?” Elle asked, her tone wry.

“Not at all.”

“You back to get your ass kicked? I’m sure Lord would be happy to take you on.” This also came from Elle.

I looked down at my clothes. “Not interested.”

Elle shrugged. “I’m sure the guys have extra clothes. And they’d probably love to throw some punches at you. I don’t think that would ever get old. If you’re lucky, you might be able to walk out under your own steam.”

I laughed at the feisty little redhead. “Reggie has barred me from the gym until they’re done training.”

“And you’re listening to orders these days?” Vanessa asked, a reluctant smile tugging up one corner of her mouth.

She’d been the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen—until very recently.

“When it suits my purpose,” I replied, deciding I’d had enough small talk. “I seem to have made the acquaintance of a friend of yours, one who has run into some trouble lately.”

“Friend? I doubt you travel in the same circles as our friends,” Elle shot back.

“Yve Santos isn’t someone you consider a friend?”

“How the hell do you know Yve?” Elle set down the peanut butter knife and wiped her hands on a paper towel as she stepped toward me.

“It seems she employs my brother at Dirty Dog.”

Elle’s head tilted to one side for a beat. “The hipster kid who drives a Karmann Ghia?”

I nodded. “Yes, that’s Levi.”

“He’s your brother? And here I thought you were hatched from the spawn of the devil.”

“Elle,” Vanessa said in a warning tone. “Be nice. If Lucas is here out of concern, we don’t need to bust his balls too hard.”

Hearing crass words from the regal blonde amazed me. “Leahy really has rubbed off on you.”

“In the very best way possible,” she replied with a grin. “But we were talking about Yve.”

“Tell me about her,” I prompted.

“How about you start with explaining your cryptic-as-shit statements about her being in trouble,” Elle said.

“Has she mentioned anything to you about why she was afraid to stay in her apartment the night before last?”

Elle and Vanessa looked at each other. Both their heads swiveled back to me, and they looked confused. “No. Why?”

“Because she ended up at my house.”

Elle’s nostrils flared. “If you took advantage of her, I swear I will skin you alive and roast your balls over an open fire.”

I stared down the little redhead. “I’ll be sure to let Lord know that you’re so interested in my balls.”

“Dick.”