I drew in a deep breath and tried to focus myself.
He came at me, and I dodged his grasp. I kicked my foot out and took him to the ground before I straddled his back. I wrapped my arm around his neck and flexed, choking off his air supply as he tapped my arm.
But the second I released him, he wrapped his legs around me and took me to the mat.
We tussled for a while, but I finally got the upper hand. My mind still wasn’t clear, but I could throw my frustrations into my fights. It’s what I did most of the time, anyway. I often used my frustration and anger as fuel instead of a distraction. I had to keep my daughter as the main focus, my daughter and the child I would have with Heather. I knew what the Mafia was capable of, and if they ever found us, I needed to be willing to do whatever was necessary to stay in the game and to keep myself and my family alive.
I dodged a punch before I jammed my shoulder into Brad’s gut. I took him all the way to the ropes before I picked him up over my shoulders. I fell backward, cracking him against the mat before he rolled out of my grasp. He quickly got his legs around my neck, and I pried his thighs from around my face. I turned him over and grabbed his legs, pulling them up until he tapped out on the floor.
“Good. That’s good. You haven’t used that move in a while,” Brad said.
I needed to be ready for anything. That was why I’d hired Brad. He didn’t use traditional fighting techniques. He fought like I was coming for his life every single time. There was no boxing gloves and stereotypical punching patterns to memorize. Every attack was different, and he used everything at his disposal to take me down.
I left with many bruises and gashes most of the time.
Living with a secret identity meant I always had to have my guard up. I always had to keep an eye over my shoulder. I saw Brad’s leg kick up, and I grabbed it, twisted it around, and watched him stumble to the mat. I put my feet between his legs and pressed down into his groin, making him tap out very quickly.
“Didn’t wear your cup,” I said.
“Cheap shot, but a good one,” Brad said. “Your opponents won’t play nice, either. Nice to finally see you digesting that fact.”
I blocked every punch he threw before bringing my knee up into his stomach. He dodged it and wrapped around me, taking my arm with it. But I danced with him in a tango of anger and defense. I spun us around and released him into the ropes and then came at him with my fist.
I stopped it within an inch of his nose before a grin spread across Brad’s face.
“That’s the first time you’ve gotten out of that. Good job,” he said. “Water break. Take five.”
I wiped at the sweat on my brow as I reached for my towel. Why the fuck had I asked Heather to have dinner at my place? What in the world had I been thinking? Oh, yeah. Charlie. Whoever the hell that asshole was. I’d been thinking like a man, staking claim where there was no claim to be had. Heather wasn’t mine, only a willing subject to carry my child. We weren’t together. She wasn’t my damn girlfriend.
But I couldn't stand the way that asshole had been behaving.
I’d wanted to put the guy in his place, use some of my moves on him and break his piggish little nose. Maybe I could ask Heather about him over dinner.
I finished my sparring with Brad before I went to pick Audrey up from school. Then, I headed back to the cabin. She was so excited that Heather was coming over for dinner, and I tried to be excited with her. But mostly, I was chastising myself for asking in the first place. Nevertheless, I needed to put my best foot forward. We were still in the beginning stages of all this, and we still needed to negotiate our contract together.
I told myself that once it was solidified and signed, I could back off. The business transaction could begin, and this urge to be near her could finally go the fuck away.
I showered and cleaned myself up and then started cooking dinner, enchiladas with Spanish rice and of course, macaroni and cheese for Audrey. My daughter set the table, and I gathered all the food to be put down. Then, a knock came at the door.
“Can I get it?”
“Of course, you can,” I said. “But use your manners.”
“Well, hello there,” Heather said at the front door. “You look beautiful in that outfit.”
“Thank you. I really like your dress. Daddy’s gonna like it too.”
I furrowed my brow as I set everything down on the table. Heather’s giggle filled the room as I watched her step in, and fuck me, my daughter was right. Heather had on this deep crimson dress with pale yellow accents that fluttered dangerously around her curves. The neckline was high, but the sleeves fell off her shoulders. The dress fell down past her knees, but the bodice was tight around her waist.
The perfect amount of sexy without being inappropriate for my daughter.
I really liked that.
“She’s right,” I said. “I do like that dress.”
“Really?” Heather asked. “I haven’t had an excuse to wear it yet.”
“Then, I’m glad I could provide one, and it goes well with dinner.”