The Cocky Cage Fighter Six Book Box Set

by Lane Hart

  "Zelda to the front desk. You've got a visitor."

  Jude's voice over the intercom grabs my attention. Since I know the jackass is referrin’ to me, I leave the trainin’ room and head through the main floor of the gym to the front. There's no one on the visitor side of the desk except for a petite brunette, delicate lookin’ in a yellow tunic and tight jeans that show off a nice, perky ass. I’m surprised Senn hasn’t moved in on her yet knowin’ his penchant for round butts. Seein’ her long braid that reaches down to the middle of her waist I can’t help but think the same thing every man probably thinks to himself when he sees a woman's braid - That bad boy would be perfect to wrap around my fist and yank hard, pullin’ her mouth to mine when I'm fuckin’ her from behind.

  Holy fuck!

  For the first time in...forever, my dick is actually springin’ up in my jeans for a real live woman who isn’t a porn star. Well, I assume this girl isn’t into fuckin’ men on camera, but I don’t know a damn thing about her. Yet. At least not until she turns around and faces me. My Vans suddenly become glued to the fuckin’ gym floor.

  “Abby?” I ask stupidly, although I know it’s her even after all these years. How could I ever forget the beautiful face of the girl who was my first...everything? The one person I loved more than was probably healthy, and she had to go and stomp on my broken heart after she had shredded it.

  “Hey, Linc.” Abby Merchant, my high school sweetheart, smiles as her brown, puppy dog, eyes examine me from head to toe. I can’t help but do the same. There’s not much about her that’s changed in five years, which sucks. Dammit, why couldn't she have, I dunno, put on a couple hundred pounds, or turned ugly to match the evil inside of her? Her brown hair is obviously longer, and she looks a little curvier, which is good since she barely had any meat on her bones when we dated. I used to always worry that I would break her when I fucked her tiny, sexy, and always eager little body. And Goddamn it. The Cock Ness Monster is makin’ it clear that he definitely remembers all those times we were together and clearly missed her. Traitor.

  “What are you doing here?” I ask, steppin’ behind the front desk, puttin’ a buffer between us to hide my arousal. She doesn’t deserve the reaction my body automatically has for her.

  She leans her elbows on the counter, intentionally givin’ me a better view of her cleavage. I hate myself for the quick glance against my will that my eyes steal of those luscious tits. The first titties I sucked on long enough to leave hickies all over them just because I liked markin’ her as mine. I even made her come that way the first few times my mouth made it to second base.

  “I just stopped by to see you,” she says softly. “It’s been awhile, and a bunch of our class from Cary High decided to come back this weekend to catch up at the homecoming game.”

  “Well, now you’ve seen me,” I say curtly, gesturin’ to myself with my arms spread wide.

  “H-how have you been?” she asks hesitantly. Reachin’ for her braid, she pulls it over her shoulder and nervously strokes her fingers over her hair. Hell, she's probably doin’ it on purpose, tryin’ to remind me of all those times I pulled on that shit while I was balls deep inside her. Too late, my dick's already took a detour down that memory lane, thank you very much.

  “I’ve been great,” I reply, refusin’ to ask her the same question, even just to be polite. Sure, I know I’m being rude to her, but I’m all out of fucks to give. I used up the last one when I caught her cheatin’ on me just days after she gave birth to our stillborn son.

  “Good, I'm glad,” she says, lowerin’ her eyes at my tone. That’s when I notice she has a few new freckles across her nose and cheeks, more than she did five years ago, and fuck me if they aren’t adorable. She probably painted the bastards on before she came over since she knows how much I loved kissin’ the old ones. Bitch.

  “So, is that it? Because I’ve got a lot of shit I need to do,” I tell her. It comes out just as harsh as I intended, as I cross my arms over my chest.

  “Yeah. It's just...I wanted to tell you I’m sorry,” she looks up and says quickly with sad, watery eyes before ramblin’ on. “I know my apology is way too late in coming and that you probably still hate me. I’ve just been thinking about you a lot lately, and saw that you were hurt a few weeks ago, so I wanted to make sure you were okay before—”

  “Yep, I’m fuckin’ fine,” I respond. I’m growin’ more frustrated by the minute as my blood pressure rises until there’s a steady poundin’ going on inside my head.

  Her moisture filled eyes blink up at me several times, but that ploy doesn’t work on me anymore. When she opens her mouth to say somethin’ else, I clench my jaw to prevent myself from yellin’ all the shit at her that I've kept bottled up for five long years. Then Abby's gaze lowers to my neck. Her hand reaches across the counter and lifts the ball chain necklace from underneath the front of my shirt before I can stop her.

  “You still wear it,” she whispers softly. A tear escapes and streaks down the incredible actress’s cheek as she runs her fingers over the three memorial charms my mom gave me five years ago, a small baby blue heart, silver angel wings, and a tear drop shaped pendant with “Thomas” and “12-24-09” engraved in it.

  “I didn’t know there was an expiration date for mournin’ our son,” I reply snidely, takin’ a step back out of her reach so that she has to let go. Once she does, I tuck the necklace back under my tee where it stays unless I’m trainin’.

  “Do you still blame me? Because the doctor said-”

  “Abby, just stop!” I hold up a hand and interrupt her. “This isn’t the time or place to talk about this shit even if I wanted to, which I don’t. It’s over and done. Now, will you please leave so I can get back to work?” My blood pressure is through the fuckin’ roof, roarin’ in my ears. My head may actually explode. I need to get away from her. From the memories, from the reminders. And it pisses me off that I still want her after everything she did. My traitorous body wants to feel her underneath it again, like in the good ole days. Fuck that. Never again. I’d rather die alone, jerkin’ my cock to porn than be with the heartless woman standin’ in front of me.

  “Okay,” she says with a nod, and I steel my spine when more tears come pourin’ down her face. I will not cave. Hell no, I won’t, even if a woman’s tears are Kryptonite to my soul. “I just wanted to see you one last time, and apologize...before it’s too late…”

  “It’s already too late,” I reply coldly.

  “No,” she says shakin’ her head and swipin’ her hand underneath each eye to wipe away the tears. “That’s not...what I meant. What I mean is…”

  “What, Abby? Just say it!” I yell in exasperation, literally reachin’ up and pullin’ on two handfuls of my own hair

  “I have leukemia,” she says barely above a whisper, successfully landin’ the very first knockout punch of my life.

  Chapter Six

  Claire

  I rap my knuckles three times on Mason’s door with one hand and hold the rolled up painting in my other while I wait for my little brother to answer. I know he’s home. His baby, a royal purple, 1966 Mustang convertible with shiny rims and white leather interior is sitting in the parking lot. Although, I can't actually see it since there’s a car cover draped over it. Seriously, my brother is obsessed with that freaking car. I get it, though. We’ve never really had much growing up and he worked hard to restore the old car himself with his own money. Not that I really know where he got the money since he’s never had a day job. Don’t ask, don’t tell sometimes really is the best policy.

  The rattling sound of the chain being undone tells me he’s finally awake, even though it’s almost noon. He pulls the door open, but only a few inches. “Fine, girly, I’ll take a box of thin mints and peanut butter patties if you’ll just leave me the hell alone,” Mason answers with a grin, pushing his messy, long on top, russet-colored hair out of his face. His golden-green eyes look groggy, but thankfully not bloodshot. Wearing only a pair of..
.ugh, blue boxer briefs, his thick, black tribal tattoos that start at his shoulder and come down to his hand are on full display. I swear my "little" brother grows a few inches every time I see him. He's huge, well over six feet tall now and probably close to two hundred pounds. I assume he gets the height from his father, since we had different dads.

  “You better not answer the door for girl scouts dressed like that,” I warn him.

  “Of course not, sis. I only answer the door dressed like this for those old lady, religious nuts. You know, Jehovah’s whatevers.”

  “Please tell me you didn’t,” I groan at the mental image.

  He chuckles in response. “Sure did. She shouted, ‘Jesus Christ,’ slapped a wrinkly hand to her chest, and then asked if she could anoint my body.”

  “You are so going to hell,” I tell him with an amused smile, shaking my head in disapproval.

  “Nuh-uh,” he mutters like a three-year-old child. “She told me there’s no such thing, so ha! I can do whatever I like,” he croons the alternate lyrics to T.I.'s rap song. The boy has a lyrical response for every freaking thing, and if there's not one, he'll make up his own using a catchy tune. It's probably my and Mandy’s fault for raising him on the local radio station, 102 JAMZ. Without cable or Internet, the radio was pretty much our only source of entertainment, and the two of us always liked something with a hot beat to dance to. Even though my best moves resembled a robot having seizures, Mandy could shake everything our mother gave her in ways that made all teenage boys within a ten-mile radius pant.

  I roll my eyes in exasperation at my brother, because he's left me standing on his porch. “So are you gonna let me in or what?” I ask in a huff, glancing past his shoulder into the dark apartment.

  “No!" he exclaims, stepping forward to use his big body to block the gap. "I mean, you really don’t wanna walk in on…this. Take my word, sis.” He looks back into the apartment and then faces me again, rubbing a hand over his dark, shaggy jaw while flashing a wicked grin. At least there’s no swelling or black eyes on his handsome face today. “Sorry, but I've got company.”

  “Should’ve known,” I mutter with an eye roll. My brother, the ladies’ man. At least he doesn’t have any mini-Mason’s running around. Yet. That I know of. Shit. “Just promise me that you’re being…you know, safe.”

  “Don’t worry, sis. Believe it or not, I still remember the extremely awkward talk we had when I was fifteen.” He holds up his tattooed hand and starts counting out on his fingers. “Don’t go chasing any waterfalls. Stick to the rivers and the lakes I’m used to. Three letters took him to his final resting place. Ya’ll don’t hear me.” He closes his eyes and dances to the TLC tune obviously playing in his head, rolling his shoulders and hips with the three raised fingers in the air.

  “Right,” I snort, hoping he’s actually being responsible. “Anyway, I came by to ask you a favor.”

  “Sure. Whatcha need?” he asks, expression now serious and attentive. He may be a little...unhinged, but no matter how small or big, Mandy and I know we can always count on Mason when we need him.

  “Uh.” I glance down at the rolled up paper in my hands, and one last time, try to decide if I should deliver it myself, even though that would obviously be a stupid waste of time since I’m not who he thinks I am. If I tell Linc the truth, he'll be pissed that we conned him out of so much money. If I lie...God, I hate lying. I refuse to keep this charade up just because I'm lonely and he's...gorgeous, incredible, sweet, and amazing. So many great adjectives describe him, but it's time to put on my big girl panties and admit he and I were doomed to fail from the deceptive start. Decision made, I ask Mason, “By chance, are you going to Cary anytime soon?”

  “No, but I can if you need me to. What’s in Cary?”

  “Um, well, I painted this for someone over there and I don’t have time to take it to him.”

  “Him?” he asks with a raised eyebrow. “Who is this him and do I need to add him to my I'm-watching-your-ass list?”

  I laugh before I can stop myself. “No, he’s just a guy I told I’d paint a scene for. It’s no biggie,” I reply with a feigned shrug of indifference.

  “Liar,” he calls me out. “So who is he and where in Cary am I going to read this motherfucker the riot act?” He reaches up and grabs the side of his neck to crack it like he's warming up before a fight. Any other guy I'd probably be concerned for, getting the protective brother routine…but I know Linc can handle him just fine. Lord knows my exes were terrified of Mason. His bark is worse than his bite, though. Besides, Linc and I are definitely not seeing each other, which I'm sure Linc will reaffirm if Mason runs his mouth.

  “Well, ah, have you ever heard of a MMA fighter named Linc Abrams?” I ask hesitantly.

  “Does a bear fuck in the woods?” he asks, giving me a long blink that clearly conveys his sentiment of duh.

  “Okay, so I need you to take this to the gym he trains at, Havoc, and just drop it off for him, okay?”

  “Havoc? Hold the fucking phone, sis. When did you meet Linc Abrams?” he asks.

  “I haven’t,” I lie. “Not really.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “So will you take care of it?” I ask, offering him the painting, ready to make a break for it before he asks any more questions.

  “Hell yeah. As soon as I send them home I’ll hit the road,” he says, and then purses his lips when he realizes his slip.

  “Them?”

  “Don’t ask, don’t tell,” he says with a wink, reminding me of our agreement.

  I hold up a palm to prevent further TMI. “Definitely. Thanks, Mason. I owe you one.”

  “Nah, Mandy and I owe you like a million favors before we’ll ever be even,” he says, taking the painting from me and lowering his eyes, most likely trying to hide the chink in his badass armor. His heart has always been the biggest part of him, but he’s never been opposed to using his fists when standing up for himself or someone he cares about. “How’s Mandy been doing?” he asks softly. “I didn’t see her at my fight Thursday night.”

  I shrug. “Same old. I beg her not to use, she makes empty promises.”

  “I’m worried about her,” Mason says, clenching his jaw. “More so than usual. James is a bad influence.”

  “I agree,” I tell him, deciding to withhold my concern about her recent suicidal ideation. “But I don’t know what else to do.” My voice cracks and my eyes water on the last word.

  “Ah, sis. I know,” Mason says, wrapping me up in a hug. “It sucks, but we can’t make her get clean. She’s gotta be ready to take that step on her own or she’ll just keep relapsing. I hate to say it, but maybe it’s time for us to stop bailing her out of her messes.”

  “You’re right,” I say stepping back and wiping the dampness from under my eyes. “We’re enablers, aren’t we?”

  “Yep,” he agrees. “Everyone deserves a second and sometimes a third chance, but how many more are we gonna give her?”

  I nod, hating facing that truth. “It just sucks to see her keep slipping away.”

  …

  Linc

  Sittin’ at my desk at Havoc, I can’t stop twirlin’ the business card over and over on the wooden edge. The one I grabbed from the front desk yesterday for Abby to write her phone number on the back of after she told me she has cancer.

  And could very likely be dyin’.

  I didn’t sleep a fuckin’ wink last night, and have felt sick to my stomach ever since. She’s so damn young and seems so healthy; the fact that she’s sick just doesn’t make sense. I was so fuckin’ angry at her, even after all this time, and with three game changing words that shit vanished into thin air. Now I don’t know what to do. For years I planned on spendin’ the rest of my life with Abby, and if we were still together, I couldn't imagine that life endin’ so fuckin’ soon because of bullshit cancer. So I guess what I’m tryin’ to figure out is if there’s any part of me that wants to give her another chance…because it might be my last.
>
  I still love her. I think. That’s just not somethin’ that ever stops, despite the evil shit the person might do to you. The love may be buried deep under the pain and anger, but it’s still…there.

  Abby and I started datin’ our sophomore year, as soon as I turned sixteen and got my license. She was my first love, and I had hoped she would be my last. I loved her so much it made me fuckin’ dizzy, and I knew without a doubt, she felt the same way. But things changed after we graduated and she was gettin’ ready to head off to college in Greenville at East Carolina University. I asked her to marry me, and she didn't say no, but she didn't say yes, either. It was somethin’ along the lines of, "Aw, Linc, you’re so sweet, but we're way too young! I'm getting ready to start college, to be free for the first time in my life. I don't want to lose you, but please just give me some time to live on my own and think about it, okay?" Her sad, brown puppy dog eyes were so damn sincere and I didn't want to rush her into anything. She was right. We were young, and I could wait until she was ready. So, I trained during the week and commuted back and forth almost every weekend the first semester of her freshman year. Hell, I wanted to move to Greenville with her, but she insisted that she get the full college experience, livin’ in a dorm on campus. I was patient, waitin’ for her to realize what I already knew - that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her.

  I was even more certain of our future together when she came home one weekend in September and told me she was pregnant. While my first reaction was to pull her into my arms with a smile at the unexpected but happy news, Abby broke down, sobbin’ uncontrollably for hours. My heart broke right then and there when she told me I had ruined her life when I’d made her a mother. She actually said ruined, that havin’ my child was fuckin’ devastating. Her tears then turned to anger. She told me it was my fault for being careless and knockin’ her up even though we always used condoms since she could never remember to take her pills the one month she'd tried them. She actually accused me of gettin’ her pregnant on purpose, because we were growin’ apart and I didn’t want to let her go.