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“Don’t you have a place to stay? Is that why you were showering at the gym?”
She hunches her shoulders as she says, “It’s none of your business, but if you must know… this place is on the bus line for where I work. That makes it ideal for me.”
“Ideal is not getting shot or mugged. You said for a few days, right?”
We’ve been sitting here, in front of the entrance, for a couple of minutes, and I can see that she is working herself up to opening the door. Working herself into leaving my relative safety, and walking into what I bet is hell.
Fuck it, in for one mistake tonight, might as well make ‘em all.
Slipping the car into drive, I pull away from the building.
“What the hell?” she says loudly as I pull us into a tight half-circle and hit the accelerator.
“No way am I letting you go in there. No way in hell… Even if I didn’t have a conscience, Chase and Avery would have my balls for dropping a student of theirs off at a place like this.”
Turning to me, she says even louder, “Let me out, asshole! I can take care of myself!”
Not bothering to slow down at the turns, I race us through the streets. “No way, buttercup. I saw you in the fucking shower, broken in half like some damsel in distress. I can’t let you get murdered or worse on my watch.”
“What the actual fuck? Do I have to punch you in that big head of yours? Let me out! I can’t go anywhere else.”
“What about home?” I ask as I blow through a thankfully empty red light.
“I lost that the moment I hit eighteen,” she says through gritted teeth.
Well shit, at least she’s legal.
Getting on the loop around the city, I lean back in my seat as I feel the bad mojo from that hotel sliding off of me.
“That sucks… I left home at about nineteen… but then again I was exploring the world, not getting booted.”
Her face turns white as she asks, “Where the hell are you taking me?”
“My house. I’ve got a couch you can crash on. If you need to get to work, we’ll figure it out.”
“I’m so not sleeping in your house, creeper.”
Shrugging my shoulders, I point to her car seat. “That won’t be comfortable to sleep on.”
We make good time back to my home, even with her ranting about me being a crazy lunatic. I can see her reasoning, I really can… but fuck if I am going to let her get hurt on my watch.
Pulling into my driveway, we drive past the privacy gate. “What the heck is this place?”
Smiling at her, I say, “My home.”
It’s not as big as some of the guys I know, but it’s got a good size to it. When I was coming back from across the ocean, I brought back a wealth of knowledge and money to go with it. A lot of guys go over to the Asian countries to start a name for themselves. Most come home with busted bodies and empty bank accounts.
I didn’t.
Japan, particularly, was very good to me when it came to helping me rise to the top. I left there a champ and came back here, taking on all the challengers.
I worked my ass off for the middleweight championship belt.
I didn’t take any shortcuts when it came to working my way up to the top. I worked hard and bled for every inch as I pulled myself up the ladder. I’m at the very top for that exact reason. Hard work and determination, plus a strong desire to win.
Looking over at Christy, her eyes are wide as she takes in my place.
“This place is huge!”
“Nah, but thanks for the compliment.”
The garage door opens up for me. Pulling the car into its spot, I glance over at Christy. “Let’s go.”
“No way! I said I wasn’t going to stay here with you.”
Shrugging my shoulders, I open up the door of the car. “Suit yourself, but the walk back to the main roads is a bitch.”
Getting out of the car, I hear the booming bark of my Cane Corso. “I’m coming, Muffin, hold on!”
Leaning back down into the car, I look Christy in the eyes as she just stares daggers at me.
“I’m not some asshole, I won’t touch you. I don’t do shit like that. I’m just trying to help a fellow fighter out. That’s part of what Chase teaches you guys, right? Take care of one another? Well, it’s a code with us real fighters.”
Standing up, I walk to the door leading into the house. As I pull my keys from my pocket, I hear the car door open then shut quietly.
Opening the door to the house, my big jet black Muffin barrels into me at full speed. Ramming into my legs, she stands up to put her paws on my chest. Barking loudly at me, I smile when I hear Christy squeak behind me.
