One Choice (Hogan Brothers 2)

“Who’s Knuckles?” she asked him.

A hand on Levi’s shoulder had them spinning around as a shorter man with a round belly and bald head said, “Glad you showed up today, Knuckles!” Even though she was basically right in his face, he didn’t even spare her a glance, and she immediately disliked the man.

“You’re Knuckles?” She turned to Levi, and he smirked. “Makes sense, I guess,” she murmured thinking of the way he fought on the weekend.

“Cam’s waiting in the ring for you,” the other man told Levi, still not acknowledging her.

“Casper!” Levi growled in a way that made her jump, his voice pure venom. “This is Hayes. I’m working with her today.” His words left no room for argument.

“Hey,” she squeaked when Casper shot her a scathing look.

“You need to be training.”

“Maybe I should go,” she whispered, trying to break free of his iron hold.

“That’s a good idea,” Casper told her. His tone no less welcoming than before.

Another man, a bit bigger than Levi, joined them with an easy smile on his face. “Hey, Levi,” he greeted, trying to break the tension. “This your girl?”

Levi beat her to the answer. “It is. You mind helping her set up some ice while I talk to Casper and find JJ.” Obviously not a question, Levi slowly lowered her to the ground, kissing her ear as he whispered, “I’ll be right there.”

“JJ took a last minute trip with his girl.” Cam informed Levi.

“Shit. Thanks man.”

Once the new guy had a firm grip on her, Levi and Casper walked into an office, and the slamming door made her flinch. “Don’t worry about them. Casper has been a pain in Levi’s ass since the day they met.”

“I should really go,” she said again. Attempting to turn around, her knee twisted and buckled under her. “Son of a donkey biscuit,” she muttered.

“I got you, girl,” the man said. “Name’s Cam, by the way. And there’s no way I’m letting you leave. Knuckles would slaughter me.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Cam.” She had no choice but to follow him to a bench near the back. A huge ice chest laid right next to it. As soon as she was sitting, he opened it, pulling out a bag of ice and setting it on her knee.

“How’s that feel?” His question followed the cool burn as it penetrated her muscles.

“Good.”

“You need me, I’ll be right over there.” He pointed towards a punching bag a few feet away.

Hayes watched as he walked over to the bag and began beating on it. The sheer force with which he hit had the guy that was holding it constantly stepping back and sometimes lifting him right off his feet.

Yelling could be heard from the office where Levi and Casper had disappeared, and she briefly wondered if she’d be able to hobble her way out of the gym unnoticed, so she didn’t cause further problems for Levi. She shouldn’t have let him bring her; going home would have been best. Neither of them needed the distraction of the other or the temptation of what could have been. No matter how much she wanted him to be real.

“I can’t fucking believe you brought her here!” Casper yelled at Levi as soon as the door was shut behind him.

“Let’s get one thing very fucking clear, Casper. You need me, not the other way around. If I want Hayes here, she’ll fucking be here.” His voice was low, deadly as he spoke. Not wanting Hayes to think her being there was a bad thing.

“I told you if you wanted pussy, I’d get you some. You don’t need the distraction of some little girl while preparing for our chance at the big leagues.”

He had to hold his temper before he killed the little man. “You’re missing the big picture here, Casper. It’s my chance, not yours. If I want to toss it away for some girl, I fucking will. Lucky for me, she’s not just some girl, she’s my girl. And so help me fucking God, if you insult her, make her uncomfortable, or feel like she’s not welcome in this gym, my life, or at my fights, we are done.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me!” he shouted, throwing his arms in the air, much the same way Nox had done earlier in the day.

“Not even in the least.”

“The guys will eat her alive.” He tried a new tactic.

“You don’t know her. What she’s capable of. She’ll be running circles around them in no time.” She may be injured, but Levi had the feeling that with the right workout and some healing, she’d have the guys on their knees by the time she was done.