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For the first time in my life, I’m finding that I not only want a man, I need one. And not just anyone. I need Beckett. I need to be close to him tonight, to feel his body on mine. I’m mad at myself for being angry with him earlier. He’s just protective of me. He loves me. I know he does.
I quietly enter the house, but when I get to Beckett’s room, his bed is empty and unmade.
I look in Andie’s room. She’s sound asleep. An adult must be here somewhere. He would never leave her alone. I check the guestrooms and see Karen asleep in one of them. I delicately shake her shoulder. Her eyes creep open.
I whisper, “Sorry to wake you. Where’s Beckett?”
Her nose scrunches. She doesn’t want to tell me.
I’m starting to freak out. Is he with another woman?
“Karen, tell me where he is.”
She thinks for a moment before rolling over and pulling out a piece of paper, handing it to me. It has an address scribbled on it. “He won’t have his cell on him. You can try Nico, but I doubt he’ll answer. The address is only supposed to be used in case of an emergency with Andie. Don’t make me regret this.”
Without saying another word, I grab it and storm down the stairs. I had sent Lou home, so I manage to slip outwithout a guard. I drive like a madwoman to the address. It’s in a really bad neighborhood in North Philly. I’m totally confused. What the hell is Beckett doing out here in the middle of the night?
I park near the rundown building and push open the big, old wooden front doors. It appears empty, but as soon as I take a few steps inside, I hear a small crowd cheering from a lower floor. It’s almost like a sporting event with hooting and hollering. But what sporting event would be in the basement of an abandoned building?
And then it hits me. This is where he comes to fight. I can’t believe he does it in a hellhole like this.
I walk two levels down a stairwell. It smells like sweat, blood, and urine. I’m pretty sure I see all those things on the floor and walls as well. It’s disgusting. This place should be condemned.
The further down I go, the louder the yelling gets. My hands are shaking as I reach for the metallic door, not knowing exactly what I’ll find.
I open it and am shocked by what I see. Beckett is shirtless in a makeshift boxing ring, fighting another man. Ahugeman. A man that must be twenty years younger and have thirty pounds of muscle on him.
They’re not even wearing regular boxing gloves. They’re wearing fingerless ones, simply trading punches back and forth, with sixty grown men watching them and cheering them on.
I stand there for what feels like forever, but in reality, it is probably only a few minutes. I think Beckett is actually winning. He’s like an animal in there. His muscles are rippling; the sweat is glistening off his body. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anything hotter in my life. And then I chastise myself for feeling that way about this barbaric event.
When the other man lands a punch on Beckett’s jaw, I can’t help but scream out. Beckett’s head whips my way, and his eyes land on me. They’re full of anger. I’ve never seen this side of him. I’ve seen him angry, but not like this.
The distraction gives the other man an opening and he lands another punch on Beckett’s jaw. This time Beckett goes down.
Before I know what’s happening, Nico is in my face, looking furious. “You need to get out of here. You’re a distraction for him.”
I yell back, “I’m not leaving without him. How could you let him do this? He’s going to get himself killed. That man is half his age.”
Nico gives a sly smile. “Trust me, Beckett will win. He’s a fucking machine. He doesn’t lose. Ever.”
Just then, Beckett stands. I’ve never seen the rage that I see in his face right now. It’s not directed at me though; it’s directed at his opponent.
He wipes the blood from his brow and then charges at the other man. They start brawling, trading punches. I grab Nico’s arm, partially hiding my eyes. I don’t want to watch but I do. I can’t seem to stop.
At some point, the only thing the other man can do is try to defend himself as Beckett hits him over and over. He punches him in the face, the ribs, the kidneys. Everywhere.
I’m in complete and total disbelief over what he’s doing in the ring.
After delivering a relentless onslaught, Beckett lands a brutal punch across his jaw and the man goes down, out cold. The crowd erupts in cheers as Beckett raises his arms in triumph and growls. He looks like a gladiator.
After a brief celebration, six men quickly whisk him away. I start to follow, but Nico grabs my arm. “You shouldgo. His adrenaline is pumping. You don’t need to see him like this.”
My adrenaline is pumping too. I shout, “I need to see him, Nico. I need to make sure he’s okay.”
“He’s fine.”
The crowd starts to make its way toward the door, which we’re blocking. As soon as we’re surrounded by bodies, I make a break for it. I run toward where Beckett and his team disappeared.
