Breaking Beast (Pounding Hearts 4)

Sometimes it really sucks being the only chick.

I’m trying really hard not to yawn as Mark regales us with a story about him and his girl messing around in a lake when my arm is grabbed and I’m yanked to the side.

Alex pushes a piece a paper into my hands and starts going on about me putting my big girl panties on or some shit. The chatter around us dies down and I feel a dozen pairs of eyes burning into my back.

I’m so stunned by Alex’s audacity I forget to punch him in his big stupid head.

I glance down at the paper but my anxiety and heart rate have shot up so fast I’m having a hard time reading it.

Before I can truly figure out what the hell he’s going on about, Alex grabs me by the arm again and drags me over to Dale.

“I’ve got a new fighter for you. She needs to get the basics down so she isn’t killed in six weeks at the fights.”

“What fights?” I blurt out before Alex gives me a little shove, nearly shoving me into Dale.

Dale looks down his nose at me and I bristle under his regard. “What makes you think I’ve got time to train an inexperienced string bean?”

“String bean?!” I repeat angrily.

Did I miss the freakin’ memo? Is it lets insult Christy day or something?

“Have you ever trained a girl before?” Alex asks.

Oh, and now I’m a girl again.

Dale gives him a look. “I’ve trained most of the little girls in this gym.”

“Who said I want him to train me in the first place?” I ask. They’re talking about me like I’m not even here and it’s really pissing me off.

“Look at the paper, Christy,” Alex urges.

With a sigh I glance down at the flyer and the big bold number of $5,000 immediately jumps out at me.

“Five thousand dollars?” I repeat, sounding a little breathless.

Is this real? My eyes scan the words, quickly soaking them in. Five thousand dollars. Five thousand dollars! That would be more than enough to put me up in my own apartment. More than enough to survive on for a few months while I get my shit together.

Five thousand dollars would buy me true independence.

“What’s going on?” Chase asks, walking over.

He keeps looking between Alex and me with a frown twisting his lips. “Why the fuck are you harassing my student?” he straight up asks Alex, stepping up to him.

Alex isn’t a small man by any means, he ranks right up there with most of the giants around this place, but Chase is truly massive. Even retired, Chase trains here every day, not letting himself waste away or go to fat. I see him in the cage all the time, knocking the other guys around like it’s nothing.

There’s just something about Chase that is a little awe inspiring. Between his size and his infamous ‘Reaper’ grin, he’s a force to be reckoned with.

As Chase glares down at Alex, I actually feel a little frightened for him.

“He showed me this.” I thrust the paper up in Chase’s face and he blinks, breaking eye contact with Alex.

Snatching the paper from my hand, he frowns as he reads it. “What about it?”

“I want to enter it,” I say and cross my arms defensively over my chest.

Standing between the three of these guys, I truly feel like I’m surrounded by hostile behemoths.

Chase’s eyes scan the paper again and then he just stares at me. I lift my chin up, meeting his stare and refusing to show how much he intimidates me.

Inside, though, I hold my breath, afraid he’s going to say no and shut down the whole idea.

If he says no, it’s not like I could just go to another gym...

Finally, he asks, “Are you sure?”

“Yes,” I exhale, unable to mask my relief. “I’m sure.”

I’ve never been more sure in my life. This is my chance to make it.

Chase looks over at Dale and Dale is already muttering under his breath. “You gonna train her?”

“Fuck,” Dale curses. “Motherfucking shit. I guess.”

Chase smirks and gives Dale a friendly slap on the back. “Should be no problem for you. You’re the best little girl trainer we have.”

“God dammit,” Dale shakes his head and drags a hand down his face.

I’d be pissed at being called a little girl again if it wasn’t so damn satisfying to see Dale have to eat his own words. The man is notorious for talking shit, and all the fighters seem to both love and hate him for it.

I wonder if I’ll have to add myself to that list.

“And you?” Chase asks, his face hardening as he looks over to Alex.

Alex looks at me and I stare into his dark eyes, something passing between us.

“Nah,” Alex says, and slowly shakes his head, breaking eye contact. “I’ve got my own fight to train for. Don’t have time for it.”