A Fighter's Desire (Gloves Off 0.5 & 0.6)(6)

“Okay,” he chuckled. “I’m just saying the guy’s gotten better. I’ve been watching his fights.”

So have I and I knew I could take him. “I’m not going to lose, I can promise you that.”

After setting our gym bags down, Danny nodded at us and hopped into the ring, putting on his black gloves and headgear. Danny was a retired MMA fighter just like my father had been, and also one of his good friends.

When my father died, Danny took up the role as coach and made sure to push us hard, to make us better. He was a Heavyweight fighter when he fought and even to this day he still kept up the muscle mass; it was impressive. His salt and peppered hair, however, hadn’t kept up with the times so he kept it shaved close to his head so no one would be able to tell it was thinning.

“Let’s go, boys,” he commanded. “We’ve got lots of work to do.”

Every day of training, Camden and I practiced with Danny, and the rest of the time we fought against each other. We always anticipated each other’s next steps, making it hard to ever surprise the other in an attack. When the time came for me to fight him in the ring, it was going to be one interesting battle.

Camden elbowed me in the side as I was putting on my gloves. “Hey, some of the guys are going out for drinks tonight. You want to go?”

“What time?” I asked.

“Around seven I think.”

I sighed. “I can’t. I’ll be busy.”

“All right, but if you change your mind we’re meeting at Bailey’s Bar.”

I had plans to teach Megan some self-defense moves—if she even decided to show—but if she stayed with her cocksucker boyfriend I knew she’d bail on me. I wished everyone had self-defense training. If Carter allowed it, I’d enjoy teaching a couple of classes every now and again. Knowing how to defend yourself was important; it could save your life.

Three years ago, Camden and I had shown some defense moves to our cousin, Emery, who had just graduated high school and was about to go away to college. Those moves helped her fight off an attacker one night as she was walking back to her dorm.

The guy had raped three girls during that month and she would’ve been the fourth if she hadn’t used the moves we taught her. Luckily, the campus security apprehended him as he tried to stumble away. If I was there I would’ve killed him.

“Well, if it isn’t the twins of terror,” Matt teased, leaning over the ropes. “Why don’t you boys get up here and let the professionals show you how to fight?” He had the same dark hair and green eyes as Gabriella, and both of them liked to joke around. It was uncanny how they were so much alike.

I smiled up at him and flexed my muscles. “You know I would, but I’m afraid I’ll hurt you. We can’t have that now can we?”

Matt hopped out of the ring while Camden jumped up, getting in with Mason and our coach. While they sparred back and forth a bit, I figured it would be the best time to get Matt’s approval for Gabriella.

“Are you ready for your fight this Saturday?” I asked him.

He grabbed his water and chugged it down before replying, “Yeah, are you?”

“You know it. Hey, listen, I need to ask a favor.”

Setting his empty bottle down, he chuckled and wiped the sweat off of his face with a small, dark blue towel. “Uh oh, I don’t think I’ve ever heard that come out of your mouth. I’m almost scared to know.”

“Well, it has to do with your sister.”

That definitely got his attention. Pursing his lips, he immediately crossed his arms at his chest and glared at me.

Holding up my hands, I quickly said, “Dude, it’s not what you think. She picked me up from the station last night after I got into a fight at Cloud Nine. I owe her, and her request was that I talk you into letting her come to the party this Saturday after the fight.”

Matt groaned and shook his head. “I can’t believe she asked for that. She knows I don’t like her going to the parties. I realize what happens at them.”

“Yeah, but she’s a big girl, too. Everyone understands that they need to keep their distance from her. You probably need to loosen up on her … if you don’t, she’s likely to rebel and start f*cking every single fighter she can. I’m pretty sure you don’t want that.”

“Hell no I don’t,” he growled, sounding defeated. Sighing, he sat down on one of the workout benches and started taking off his gloves. “But I guess you also have a point. If I let her go, I need you to promise me you’ll keep your eye on her. I’ll talk to Tyler and make sure he watches out for her as well.”

“And if I promise you’ll let her come?”

Reluctantly, Matt nodded in reply.

“All right, I promise then. Do you want me to call and tell her the good news, or will you?”

Taking out his phone, he shook his head. “I’ll do it. I need to talk to her anyway and ask her when she wants to meet for another training session.”

Matt clapped me on the shoulder and walked away to call Gabriella. Now all I had to do was make sure she didn’t get into any trouble at my party.





It was six-thirty and everyone had already left, including Camden and my coach. “You trying to get some extra workouts in or something?” Carter asked after training.