Break Me

“No time.”

“I need to explain. There are more people you will hurt with this information than me.”

I laugh. “You don’t need to do shit, Dad, except stay the fuck away from me and Lo.”

“You owe me this.”

Rage fills me. I don’t hold back as I stand from my desk and shut my office door. “I don’t owe you one motherfucking thing. You better pray to any god, or the devil himself, that I don’t find the reason and opportunity to take you down. Steer clear of me and mine, Father, and I’ll do the same.”

“Don’t you threaten me, boy!”

“I’m no boy, and it’s no threat.” I don’t give him another minute of my time before I disconnect the call.

Immediately, my phone rings again, and again, I don’t bother to look at the screen. Sliding my finger to accept the call, I want nothing more than to throw the fucking thing.

“Motherfucker, I told you to back the fuck off!”

“Jason,” Lo says my name softly, and I can hear her concern.

“Lo, did my father call you? Or come see you?” I bark out as I grab my keys. If he has reached out to her in any way, I’m going to fuck him up right now.

“No, I was calling to see if you planned to go to the gym after work or go home.” She starts to ramble. “I had a moment, and I, uh . . . I thought about dinner. I could bring it home after work, which would be your normal gym time. If you’re going home right after, though, you would have to wait the few hours till my shift ends.”

“I have a fight.” I try to calm my breathing and steady my voice. I don’t want her to be upset at work over some bullshit with my father. I also don’t want to let her know I am suspicious of him until I have more proof.

I wasn’t kidding. If I find he had anything—and I mean anything—to do with her family’s deaths, I will kill him with my own two hands.

“Oh, um . . . what time?” She hesitates. “I could come to wherever you are—well, that is, if you want me to.”

I’m so amped up. Maybe she does need to come and see me fight.

“Yeah, I’ll get you the info. You really think you can handle this shit, Lo?”

She doesn’t hesitate at all. “There is nothing I can’t face, can’t do, or can’t see as long as I’m with you. Together?”

The beast inside me settles at her final word.

“Together,” I whisper.

“All right, I’ll see you there, then. Anything else I need to know?”

“Not right now, angel. I promise, when we have time, I will share with you, but this isn’t the time.”

“Okay. I’ll see you tonight.” She clicks off, and I am left in shock.

She said okay without missing a beat. She takes me as I am at every turn. I have never had someone who is with me through everything no matter what.

Regardless, fight night with my woman in my corner causes apprehension to hit me. The last woman I introduced to my world used it all against me time and time again. Lorraine isn’t Missy, though. I finally have a woman in my life who doesn’t get off on my pain.

The rest of my day passes with me amped up to beat the shit out of my opponent. Brock is picking up Lo so she doesn’t have to drive or worry about getting in tonight. I want her to know she is safe with me, even if I’m not directly by her side. Shit gets real at these things, and it certainly isn’t the place for just anyone.

This one, we get to fight in the basement of an old gym on the other side of Detroit. Walking in through the front door is an odd feeling, but somehow, it doesn’t seem as dirty as what I’m used to.

For a moment, I let myself believe I’m doing something on the up and up.

I will never be a good man. I damn sure won’t be a great man, but maybe with Lo, I can finally do something halfway right.

It starts tonight. She will see the worst side of me, no holding back. If, in the end, she can still stand by my side, then she damn sure can take all of me.

I make my way downstairs where the atmosphere immediately changes from one of working out to the adrenaline-charged, backroom fight that it is. The concrete walls aren’t painted down here like upstairs, and there are no posters or mirrors for motivation.

I go to the corner that is roped off for opponents, blowing out my breath long and hard. My lungs burn as I fight to inhale and exhale in the place. The air is damp from the lack of ventilation, and the stench of too many bodies in a small place permeates my nose.