Fighting Chance (Rock Hard Gym Book 5)

by Ember-Raine Winters

  “You okay, kid?” Max asks clapping me on the back. I blow out a breath and nod even though I may not be.

  “A lot rides on this,” I tell him, because it’s true. I can’t get the stakes out of my head.

  “Look, you got this. Joe Sloan is a seasoned pro, but you have a talent like I haven’t seen before. I have faith in you kid, but if you don’t, we will figure out a way to help Ceara.” That’s what I love about Max. He’s always willing to help.

  “I’ve got this.” I try to sound confident, but I’ve seen Joe’s fights, and he’s a beast. He doesn’t trash talk. From what I understand, he rarely talks at all.

  “Two minutes,” someone yells as they pound on the door. I breathe out an audible breath and make my way to the door.

  I can hear the roar of the crowd. It is packed, but it’s also a fully sanctioned title match. I’m fighting Joe from Sin City Gym for the lightweight title.

  The announcer calls my name and I can’t see anyone outside the flashing lights and cameras. I’m Shipping Up to Boston by the Dropkick Murphys blasts from the speakers, and I do my best to look intimidating instead of worried. When I make my way to the front to step in the cage, I see Ceara sitting in the first row looking gorgeous in her emerald dress. She told me once that she likes wearing the color because it matches my eyes. I shine with pride as I see the beaming smile on her face.

  I remind myself one last time who this is for and blow her a kiss before I hop in the cage with Joe. She turns bright red and I grin at her blush. The only thing that matters is getting the money and the title.

  The announcer gives us the rules and we shake hands before we head back to our corners. Joe smirks at me probably realizing how young I am and thinking he’s got a huge advantage. We circle each other and I size him up. He’s not much bigger than me, but he is more experienced. He lunges for me probably trying to take me to the ground, but I’m not a ground game fighter and I spin out of the way, kicking out and catching him in the side of the head. Pain radiates up my foot, but I’m so high on adrenaline I barely notice. Joe slams into the mat out cold. I hadn’t meant to kick him in the head, and I pray that he’s okay as the announcer holds up my hand in victory. The paramedics rush in about the same time Joe wakes up and smiles holding his hand out to me.

  “I’ll get you next time, kid.” I shake Joe’s hand just before my entire family rushes into the cage. I grab Ceara around her waist and spin her around.

  “I did it, baby. Everything is going to be okay.”

  Ceara

  Connor is a sweaty mess and there are people crowding around us in the cage, the Rock Hard crew, along with announcers and Joe Sloan’s teammates. When one of the announcers makes his way over to declare Connor the winner, I try to move to the side and allow him to have the spotlight.

  I don’t make it but a few steps before I am dragged back against Connor’s sweat slick chest. He holds me close to him as he graciously accepts the win. Things move on to Joe and Connor leans down to whisper in my ear. “You know, there’s enough money for us to pay your tuition this year and for us to find a place of our own. Think about it okay.”

  I do think about it.

  During the whirlwind of congratulations on the way to the locker room.

  During the press conference set up by the AMMA.

  During the celebratory dinner.

  During the car ride home.

  I’m still thinking when Connor climbs into bed beside me.

  “Freckles, you okay? You’ve been kinda spaced since the fight.”

  “I’m fine. Just thinking. Do you really want to move out of Max and Layla’s so soon?”

  I see the hesitation in his eyes before he answers. “I want to have a place with you, to give you the freedom you deserve and fought so hard for.”

  “Then I guess we’ll be sharing this room a bit longer.”

  Connor’s brows scrunch in confusion and it’s adorable. I lean forward and run my forefinger along the grooves in his forehead until they smooth out, then place a kiss on his nose.

  “I want to wait. At least until I finish school. Things are still unsettled with my father and you are about to become a big brother. And there’s no place else I can think of that I’d rather be right now.”

  “God Ceara, you are a gift. One I am going to cherish for as long as you’ll let me.”

  “Forever. I’ll let you cherish me forever.”

  Epilogue 2

  “Forget about the O’Malleys for now. I want our focus to be on bringing down the Belikovs. They’re a bigger threat anyway.”

  The man half listens as Big Tom spouts out his plan to take over the city for himself. He tunes the Mafia leader out completely when he begins to get repetitive, but quickly zones back in when Big Tom drops a bomb in his lap.

  “What did you say?” The man asks Big Tom to repeat himself.

  “I said I have intel that will bring Viktor Belikov to his knees. And I want you to help me execute my plan.”

  The man listens intently to what Big Tom has on the more sadistic of the Belikov brothers and how he plans to use it to his advantage.

  “And you’re sure this is how you want to do it? He’s one of your most loyal men.”

  Big Tom snorts, “He isn’t loyal to me, he’s loyal to the family and I just happen to be the head right now. I know he’s a friend of yours, but when he returns and learns what happened with Ceara, all bets are off. If we keep him preoccupied, we’ll have more time to manipulate things to go our way.”

  The man knows Big Tom is right. He’s an assassin for the Kennedys first and a friend second. Hell, he doesn’t know if he can really consider the other man a friend, but it doesn’t matter, because now he’s a target.

  This one might be painful at the end of the day, but a job is a job. He’s the best at what he does and money talks. Big Tom Kennedy has the cash he needs, his conscience and morals be damned.

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