One Choice (Hogan Brothers 2)

“There’s gonna be more guys here,” he warned her.

She smiled. “I’ve trained with men all my life, Levi. It’ll be fine.”

She climbed out of the car before he could question her on the training with men. She still hadn’t opened up too much about her past, and it was driving him crazy. He wanted to know everything about her.

They walked in together, his arm around her shoulder, a knowing look on her face. The music was loud as they entered, and the grunting sounded more like an orgy than a gym full of men. As they passed through the reception area, Casper could be heard yelling at someone in his office, and they chose to ignore the man.

“He yells a lot,” Hayes commented making him laugh.

“Hey, kid!” Cam called from his spot by the bags. All eyes were drawn to them at his greeting.

“Thanks, man,” Levi called back.

“How’s the leg, girl?” Cam asked, walking towards them.

“Levi has magic hands.” She smiled. Levi scowled. Cam laughed.

He was regretting his decision to bring her.

Cory and Tank were in the ring sparring and stopped when they saw Hayes. “Dayum.” Cory whistled. “Who’s t

he chick?” He jumped out of the ring and strutted over like a peacock.

“Awe,” Hayes cooed. “You didn’t tell me you had a rooster in here.” She dismissed the man before he could get more than five feet towards them.

Tank and Cam howled with laughter.

“Bitch,” Cory snapped, ripping his gear off.

Levi went to lunge at him, not willing to put up with any shit where Hayes was concerned, but she beat him to the punch. “Act like a bitch, you get treated like a bitch.” Her attitude changed as she walked closer to him. “Name’s Hayes Morrison. It’s a pleasure to meet you, but if you’re going to be a dick to me, I’ll be a bitch to you. If you’d like to be a human being, I’ll be a friend.” She stepped closer. “If you’d like to continue with the nasty looks, my brother was in the Navy. I know a trick or two.” She winked as she walked past the speechless man. Her threat clear.

Levi was curious what she knew, what her brother had undoubtedly taught her. Passing Cory, he slapped him on the shoulder. “Speechless is a good look on you.”

“She’s half my size,” he grumbled.

“Navy, huh?” Levi asked as he caught up to her.

She looked at him, guilt written in her features. “I’m sorry.”

He was confused. “For what?”

“I haven’t told you anything about Ryder. But that jerk makes me mad, and I spill the most important part about him.” Her head hung in shame.

“Oh, sugar, no. You put a guy who is easily twice your weight in his place. That’s funny as hell.” She looked up to him. “I know that when you’re ready, you’ll tell me about him. You’ve mentioned a Ryder before but nothing else, so I can admit I was a jealous fool. Knowing he’s your brother kind of makes me happy as fuck.”

“Was,” she mumbled as tears pooled in her eyes.

Was.

“Ah fuck.” He pulled her into his arms again. She didn’t need to say it for him to know the man had died.

“He’d be your age now,” she whispered. “I think he’d have liked you.”

“You tease him about the swearing, too?” he asked her.

“All the time. He’d do it just so I’d bust his balls.”

“You know,” he joked, “you swore, a couple times. I get a free pass, right?” She laughed at his earnestness.