AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Dog narrowed his eyes. “Something’s up with the brunette. Blow can’t keep his eyes off her.”
Cutter nodded. “I see it. I’ll be checking that out this week.”
Dog knew he would. Cutter acted as his unofficial manager. He dealt with promoters and handled the details, so Dog could focus on training.
Nate landed a powerful strike to Blow’s diaphragm. Blow bent at the waist, and Nate clipped his chin with an upper cut. Blow dropped to the sawdust and didn’t move. The brunette screamed and tried to climb under the ropes, but the crowd pulled her back.
The ref squatted by Blow and put a finger to his neck. “He’s alive,” he yelled. The woman slumped in her captors’ grasps.
The ref crossed to a grinning Nate. He shoved a bulging envelope into Nate’s hand and lifted it. The purse—the fighter’s base plus a percentage of the pre-fight betting—was big for this one. Another good sign.
Nate took a lap around the enclosure, fists punching the air. He stopped in front of Dog and mouthed, “Bring it on.”
Dog’s teeth ground together. He’d love to seriously damage this fucker.
After Nate left the ring, the crowd thinned. Dog’s brothers faced him.
“So, you decide?” Cutter asked.
Luke’s face mirrored the question. He had a lot riding on Dog’s decision.
“Tell the promoters, ‘Hell, yes,’” Dog replied. “Next Saturday night I’m gonna beat the fuck outta that asswipe and enjoy every minute of it.”
Chapter Two
Five days later…
“I don’t know, Charlene. Can you do what your father promised?”
Charlene Abbott, nicknamed Charley by her father, fought squirming in her seat like a teenager in the principal’s office. Walter Kravit, CEO of Global Foods, sat behind a massive desk in his posh office as he posed the question. A high-rise window overlooking downtown Knoxville backlit his thick shock of silver hair. The halo made him look like an aging angel, but the grilling he’d given Charley was straight from hell.
And that was the question. She had wondered it herself. Her father, who had been the owner of the sharpest tax accounting firm in Charlotte and her former boss, had promised many things to many people before he’d died unexpectedly—leaving Charley to clean up the mess.
Charley shifted on a leather chair, grateful her pantsuit kept her perspiration-soaked body from sticking to the seat. “Of course, sir. I wouldn’t be here if I couldn’t.”
Mr. Kravit rubbed his fingers over his five o’clock shadow. She detected the spicy scent of his aftershave, the same one her daddy had used. Tears threatened, but she blinked them back.
“Charles Abbott was a miracle worker. Never missed a tax loophole.” Mr. Kravit’s tone softened. “I’m sorry for your loss.”
Charley swallowed past the lump in her throat. “Thank you. He asked me to honor his agreements with his clients. I dropped the ball when he passed, but he wanted your business, and so do I. I promise you the same diligence he would have provided.”
Mr. Kravit rested his forearms on the desk and stared at her like he was looking deep into her soul. “Are you as good an accountant as your father?”
She gave him a weak smile. “No one will ever be my dad, but he taught me everything I know. After Carolina finished with me, that is.”
“That’s right. Master of Accounting from UNC-Chapel Hill? Top of your class?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Well done, but…you’re young, and….” He paused, and his lips flattened. Charley suspected the words he was trying to squash with those lips wereand female. She’d bumped into chauvinism when she’d taken over the business. And she was thirty-seven with fourteen years of experience, but, really, who was counting?
Mr. Kravit heaved a sigh before he stood and extended his hand. “And…you’re hired.”
Charley’s shoulders relaxed, and she smiled. Before she’d left Charlotte, the red ink in Quickbooks had made it obvious she wasn’t getting a paycheck this week if she wanted her employees to have theirs. With this deal, she’d have revenue to keep the doors open, not to mention food in her pantry.
She rose to her feet, and they shook hands. Her pink nail polish looked juvenile next to the liver spots covering Mr. Kravit’s skin.
He released her grip. “You have to get me out of this mess.”
