Reese

Tapping on the glass of the door halts his response as we all turn that way.

“Someone here to see you, boss,” a familiar deep voice calls out as the door swings wide open.

I swallow as my eyes move up the man’s impressive body. Huge tree trunk legs and a wide chest thick with corded muscles lead up to the man’s handsome russet-skinned face framed with inky black hair. His golden eyes and dimpled smile are things I haven’t seen in forever.

His eyes move over me briefly before they land on Hank. I see the moment it hits him.

His eyes whip back to mine.

“Malice?” he whispers, stepping into the room.

“Hey, Blink. Long time no see.”

At six-foot-six and two-hundred-ten pounds, you’d think the man’s moves would be cumbersome. But they don’t call him Blink for nothing. One second he’s at the door, and the next, he is across the room, wrapping me up in his massive arms.

I melt into him as if the years of absence never occurred.

“Go home, Mike. Find some other get-rich scheme,” Hank tells his son. I pull back and look up at Blink, who still looks like he’s seen a ghost.

“This isn’t over,” Mike hisses, drawing my attention.

“If you can’t show him some fucking respect, then get out and don’t come back unless it’s to apologize. Or next time, I won’t be so friendly.”

He stands up with enough force to knock his chair over before storming out of the room with all the frustration of a toddler who just lost his pacifier.

Stepping out of Blink’s arms, I look at Hank and see his shoulders slump.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have stepped in on family business.”

He waves me off. “Don’t be. I’m not blind to his faults. He’s too much like his mother, and I was here so much I never noticed until it was too late.”

“Maybe. But he’s not a child anymore. And at some point, you have a choice to either keep letting the shit that marked you as a kid define you, or you need to get the fuck over it.”

He laughs, stands, and heads toward the door.

“As eloquent as always. Let me just go take care of this, and I’ll be back.”

I nod. “I’m not going anywhere.”

He leaves, and the silence suddenly feels suffocating.

“So,” I hedge.

“Where the hell have you been?” he asks, but there is no anger in his voice, only worry.

He was there the day of my last fight and saw the taint it left on my soul. I had to leave. Thankfully, Sugar’s offer came at the perfect opportunity.

“I needed a break from the limelight. I made a life for myself in the shadows once more. You know, the accolades were never something I fed on. The more attention I drew, the less I wanted to be out there.”

“I get that. You were an anomaly on the circuit. Still are, only now you’re more of a legend whispered about with reverence.”

I chuckle. “It’s still weird. Even after all this time, I still don’t get it. I was just a street kid trying to find my place in the world.”

“That’s just it, Mal. You became somewhat of a beacon for hope. Nobody cares about these kids. You know that. If you want your life to change, you have to get up and do something about it. Nobody is going to fix your hurts and kiss your boo-boos. You showed everyone it could be done, and if a scrappy little girl from the streets can do it, anyone can. You turned the despondent into dreamers. Don’t downplay the magic you weaved.”

“I forgot what a magician you are with your words. Nothing ever soothed my wounds more than a pep talk from you.” I smile.

He smiles back, stepping forward to close the gap between us once more. His hand lifts to my face, where he trails his finger down my cheek.