Ryley's Revenge (Gloves Off #2)(10)

The second I got outside, I collapsed onto the ground, the asphalt digging into my knees.

“Oh, my God,” Gabriella exclaimed, rushing to my side. “Are you okay?” She rubbed a hand soothingly down my back and helped me get to my feet.

Shaking my head, I held onto her hand and laid my head down on her shoulder. “No, Gabby, I’m not okay. There’s something I need to finally tell you and I’m going to need your support.”

“You don’t have to worry about Ryley. I’m going to give him a piece of my mind when I go back inside.”

Pulling back, I wiped the hair off my face. “That’s not my only concern right now,” I confessed.

Her eyes went wide when she spotted my hand held protectively over my stomach. “Holy shit, Ash. Are you serious? Have you been to a doctor?”

I shook my head. “No, but that’s where I want your support. I need you to come with me. I can’t do this alone.”

Gabriella folded me back in her arms and held me tight. “Is it Ryley’s?”

“I’m almost positive. He’s the only one I had unprotected sex with. I won’t know for sure until I find out how many weeks I am.”

Letting me go, Gabriella held my arms. “You have to tell them, Ash. You need to tell Colin and Ryley. No more putting people in the dark, you hear me?”

Now that the truth was out, my tears flowed harder. The father of my child didn’t want me and the other man in my life wanted me, but would most likely run far away once I told him I was pregnant with another man’s child. I had no choice but to face my fears.

“I can’t tell Ryley yet. It’s not the right time. I’ll tell Colin tonight though. I might as well get that fight out of the way.” Round two was done, but at least I stood my ground. I didn’t count it as a total loss, but it definitely wasn’t a win either.





“SO THAT’S THE famous Ashleigh that left you high and dry?” Megan asked, jumping into the ring. She had her gloves on and ready to go.

About three months ago, I had met her at a club, where I got into a fight with her boyfriend after he hit her. I guess it didn’t help that he caught me about to f*ck her. Anyway, I’d been teaching her self-defense techniques and luckily it saved her life when he’d tried to come after her again. Ever since then, we’d been really close friends.

“Yes, that was her,” I snapped. “I’d appreciate it if we didn’t talk about her during our lesson.”

“Sorry, but that’s not going to happen,” Gabriella cut in angrily. She hopped up into the ring and smiled at Megan, smacking gloves with her. Gabby had been helping me teach Megan as well. “I just need a couple of minutes with him and then he’s all yours.”

“No problem. Just go easy on him.” She winked at Gabby and then hopped out of the ring.

As soon as she was out, Gabriella attacked and punched me square in the jaw, catching me off guard.

“What the f*ck?” I growled. “I guess that was for Ashleigh, huh?”

Getting into stance, Gabriella lifted her gloves and snarled, “You got that right. How could you be so mean to her? Don’t get me wrong, I know she hurt you, but that’s no reason to treat her like shit. She came home for you, jackass. I even have the text to prove it.”

She swung again, but I dodged it. “Shit, Gabby, what do you expect me to do? Frolic back into her arms like a goddamn bitch? You’re out of your f*cking mind.”

“She loves you, Ryley and I know you love her too. How long are you going to keep lying to yourself?”

After she swung again and missed, I grabbed her around the waist and took her down to the mat, pinning her beneath me. “I’m not lying to myself,” I hissed low, so only she could hear. “Do you want to know the truth?”

“You still love her.”

“And it f*cking kills me. You may think I’m a coldhearted bastard, but it ripped me apart to see her break down in front of me. I wanted to comfort her and tell her I loved her too, but I can’t. You are the only one who knows how bad I fell for her. She left me, Gabriella. I can’t go running back to her without making her fight for it. I have to know she’s not going to leave again.” Sliding off of her, I grabbed her hand and helped her to her feet.

“So you only treated her like shit for show? You humiliated her, Ryley.”

“I didn’t want to, but I have to see how far she’s willing to go.”

Glancing around the room, Gabriella approached me and released a heavy sigh. “I understand what you’re doing, but whatever you do, don’t make her suffer for long. Trust me, she’s strong, but I’m worried about her. She’s not . . . well right now.”

“Is she okay?” I asked hesitantly.

Gabriella shrugged. “Not really, but she will be once she has you back. My only concern now is your brother. Do you have your phone with you?”

Now that I thought about it, I didn’t remember putting it in my gym bag. “No, I must’ve left it at home.”

“That’s what I thought.”

“Why do you ask?” I inquired.

“Well, not only did Captain Asshat refuse to let Ashleigh in to see you this morning, but I think he texted her through your phone. It wasn’t a warm fuzzy one either.”