Xavier Cold (Hard Knocks #2)(28)

“What?”

He shrugs. “I never thought I would see the day when Xavier Cold fell in love. You’re not exactly known for keeping the same girl for very long.”

“What can I say, man? Anna’s different.”

We finish training, and the muscles in my body burn. I needed this. It really helped bring things back into focus, and I realize that Anna was right. It would hurt like a motherf*cker if I could never wrestle again. I’m glad she’s kept a level head in this situation. I want her by my side when the suspension is lifted.

Cole walks with me down the stairwell, and I notice the sun is about to set.

Once we get outside, Cole turns to me. “Stop by whenever you want to train. I’m here most days.”

I reach out, and we clasp hands. “Thanks, man. I appreciate that.”

When I turn to walk to my bike, I notice Kai and another rather large man from his crew, leaning against the black Escalade that was at the house last night. My shoulders stiffen of their own accord while Cole stills next to me.

Kai is making good on his threat. The beef we had last night isn’t over. Going with him to see Bishop is the last thing I want to do, but if I don’t go, Bishop won’t stop coming at me. Leaving with him in front of Cole will give me a little peace of mind. Kai’s not stupid enough to kill me if a cop can place me with him last.

I turn toward Cole. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Cole doesn’t try to talk me out of going with Kai. He knows as well as I do that there’s no shaking Kai or Bishop in this city.

If going with him right now keeps Bishop away from Anna, I’ll do it.

I’d do anything to protect her.

I near Kai, and a knowing smile spreads over his face.

He looks like he’s won the battle. “I see you’ve come to your senses. ’Bout time.”

“Shut up, and get in the f*cking car,” I snap.

I open the door of the Escalade and hop into the backseat while Kai and one of the other guys get in the front. The engine rumbles to life, and my heart races in my chest, as I’m about to face my past head-on.





Chapter 13


Xavier


The SUV comes to a stop just outside an old building. It appears to be an abandoned factory of some type, which is common in this city. When the economy went south a few years back, most of the big businesses left, leaving it even poorer than when they had been here.

“We’re here,” Kai says before opening the door.

I follow suit and get out, wondering what in the hell we’re doing. I’m not sure if he brought me to this abandoned building to kill me.

Kai notices me staring up at the building and laughs. “You can stop that shit that’s going through your mind. Just because your bitch-ass punched me in the face doesn’t mean I’m going to kill you, no matter if I should or not. Bishop wants to talk. That’s all.”

“About what?” I ask briskly, not liking all the secrecy.

Kai lifts his chin. “It’s Bishop’s place to tell you, but trust me, you won’t want to turn it down.”

My jaw muscle clenches as I try to figure out if that was a threat or not. “And if I say no?”

Kai sets his gaze firmly on mine, his dark eyes almost appearing black. “Trust me when I say, you won’t want to do that. Now, come on. Bishop doesn’t like to wait.” He heads toward a metal door leading into the building with me close behind. Before he opens it, he turns to me and smiles. “This is going to blow your f*cking mind.”

I tilt my head as he opens the door, and music wafts outside, sounding like a party with the hip-hop bass thumping. We walk through the large open space and then round a corner before heading through a set of double doors into a room illuminated by blue and purple neon lights.

It has the feel of a nightclub, complete with a bouncer, who happens to be the other guy who showed up at the house last night.

His eyes narrow as I pass by him, and I notice he has a split in the center of his lip, no doubt caused by me. He doesn’t say anything though. He just remains on the stool he’s sitting on while guarding his post.

“What’s up, G? How are the ladies looking tonight?” Kai asks the man, like having me with him is no big deal.

The man’s gaze flicks from me to Kai as they clasp their hands together. “Some hot asses in the spot tonight.”

“Good lookin’ out, playa. I’ll see you later.” Kai grins at me after he speaks to the bouncer. “This way, X.”

We finally make it into the main room, and the man who drove us here disappears into the crowd of bodies in front of us. This place is like a full-on underground nightclub. A few topless girls dance on a small stage in the center of the room and men stand around throwing money at her.

“Where the hell are we, Kai?”

“We’re at Bishop’s place. He got tired of going to bars where he couldn’t control who came in and out, so he made his own spot. It’s the hypest place in town.”

“What’s all this got to do with me? Bishop has all the money he needs. I don’t owe him any money, and I never snitched on anything that had gone down while I ran in his crew. Why can’t he just let me be?”

Kai turns and shrugs. “Look, X, we’ve known each other for a long time. Things have changed since you’ve been out of the game, and the thing you have to get through that thick skull of yours is that Bishop gets what he wants. There’s no refusing him, and there’s no walking away when you have something he needs.”