by Roma, Laurie
It was fortunate that the press conference he had been talked into attending was being held at one of the nicest hotels on the Las Vegas strip, if not the best. When Hammer had arrived last evening, he had been pleasantly surprised to see that the Palace Hotel had temporarily refit one of their large spaces they normally reserved for conventions into an MMA training facility for the benefit of the CFL fighters who were staying there. It made sense since the hotel would also be hosting the championship fights next month in the Palace Arena that was attached to the hotel, and was sure to bring in a lot of business in from people in the fighting community.
When he had entered the gym, he had spent a good half an hour talking to some of the guys, saying hello to old friends and meeting some of the new blood to the sport. Hammer knew he was an icon to the sport even though he was retired, and he never minded taking the time to talk to some of the young fighters to point them in the right direction. Then again, there were always one or two little shits who thought they knew it all. He took it all in stride, but he’d passed on getting into one of the makeshift ring to spar with anyone, heading over to the bags instead to clear his head.
Years ago, at the start of his career as a professional CFL fighter, he used to love this type of thing. He loved being a fighter, but most of all he loved winning. Over time the attention lost its shine, and he began to resent the lack of privacy his lifestyle afforded him. While other champions continued their drive for frame by making movies or other endeavors that kept them in the spotlight, Hammer realized that all he wanted was normal. When he was injured, it had been like a sign for him to move on with his life, and he was damn glad he did. Living in Breakers was the life his life now, and all he wanted was to run his gym and be with Kali.
Just thinking about her made Hammer’s heart ache, and that pissed him off even more because he was stuck in Vegas until the following night. The thick chains attaching the heavy bag to the ceiling rattled as Hammer slammed his fists into the bag, over and over again. He felt that familiar sting in his wrapped knuckles each time he made contact, and strangely, it soothed his temper little by little until he was left with the joy of having a good, hard workout.
“Giving the young bloods a hint at why you were nicknamed the Hammer?”
Hammer grabbed onto the big bag, holding it as he looked over in the direction where the voice had come from, and he shot his friend, Adam Rever, a blank stare.
“The way you’re hammering away at that bag, I don’t know whether to say hello or run like hell,” Rever said with a sigh. Despite living in L.A. now, Rever hadn’t lost the Southie accent he’d acquired from growing up in South Boston.
Panting for breath and dripping sweat, Hammer finally grinned. “Wanna give me a hug?”
“Fuck off.”
Hammer let out a laugh. “Good to see you, Rever.”
“Yeah, well, it’s not like you really gave me a choice in the matter. I believe you said I should get in my car and get my ass to Vegas or else,” Rever said, irritation clear in his voice. “What the hell? I thought you said no to Rhino! Hell, I said no to him for you, too!”
“I did,” Hammer snarled, losing his smile. “He brought Leanne to Breakers.”
“Shit. That is one scary woman, no wonder you caved.”
“Tell me about it. Listen, let me get cleaned up a bit, then I’ll meet you somewhere. They gave us access to the gym locker rooms down here, so it shouldn’t take me long,” Hammer said as he began to unwind the wrist wraps he had over both of his hands.
“Come find me at Oasis. I’ll be the one drinking at the bar.”
Hammer chuckled as his friend left. Gathering up his stuff, Hammer made his way through the training area, avoiding the other fighter. He headed to the locker room where he took a quick shower. He’d brought a bag with a change of clothes in it and carried the bag with him as he walked through the casino area until he reached the lavish bar, Oasis. The hotel was set up like some lavish palace in the heart of the desert, and Oasis fit the theme perfectly. He couldn’t help thinking that Kali would love the hotel, and he made a mental note to bring her back with him soon.
He silently sighed, wishing Kali was there with him right now. Hell, he should have asked her to come with him, but being the stupid idiot that he was, he hadn’t thought of that until he was already seated on the Durbins’ private plane.
He’d called her last night before he went to bed only to be told she’d been having a girl’s night out with her friends. As unreasonable as it was, he hadn’t liked knowing she was out drinking at The Fox Hole without him. He knew that Kali would never cheat on him, but he didn’t like not being there to protect her if some drunk asshole hit on her. He had worried a little when he could tell she was drunk, but then her friend Nikita had taken the phone and told him she had to go and hung up on him. It had eased his mind a little to know that Dante and some of the other guys would be there to watch out for the women to make sure they weren’t bothered, but that was just one more reason that he hated being dragged out to Vegas.
God, he missed his little fairy.
The pretty hostess eyed Hammer in appreciation as she greeted him when he entered the doors, but he waved her off politely as he spotted Rever sitting at a private table in the corner of the opulent bar. Hammer set his bag next to him as he slid into the booth, and a beautiful woman dressed in an outfit more suited to a harem walked up to their table with a beaming smile to take his order. After he ordered his beer and another for his friend, Hammer leaned back and watched Rever’s eyes following the sway of the waitress’ hips as she left.
“Seriously, bro?”
“What? She’s hot.”
“Says the man currently dating a lingerie model.”
“Not anymore,” Rever said before he took a sip of his beer. “Justina started acting all weird. I’d find her shit all over my place, then she started hinting for a ring and how we should get married. She knew the score when we started dating, so I thought it was best just to end things. For a woman who doesn’t weigh much, she’s stronger than she looks. She threw my toaster at my head.”
“You’re such an asshole.” Hammer chuckled. “You probably deserved it. Did you give her the ‘you’ve enjoyed the time you’ve spent together, but that time is over now’ speech?”
“Yeah,” Rever admitted. He knew he had issues with commitment, but he refused to feel the guilt that wanted to creep in. “Seriously, you know how I am. When women start getting all serious, I start feeling like I can’t fucking breathe. I’m all for a good time, but when things start getting intense it’s not fun anymore.”
“You’ll find the right woman someday.”
“Good God, why would you curse me like that?” Rever looked so horrified that Hammer had to laugh. “Laugh it up, asshole. You know commitment and I just don’t mix. There isn’t a woman out there that could make me want to stay with her for the rest of my life. I like variety.”
They paused their conversation when the waitress came back with their drinks. Rever flashed her a heart-stopping grin, and it didn’t surprise Hammer when he noticed the waitress send Rever an answering invitation in the form of a sultry smile before she walked away.
The simple fact was that Adam Rever loved the ladies, and they certainly loved him. With his Black Irish good looks, his black hair and electric blue eyes always caught women’s eyes where ever they went. Rever was a player through and through, but Hammer suspected that the man would eventually find a woman that would bring him to his knees, and he couldn’t wait to see it when it happened.
“Have you taken a look around this hotel?” Rever asked after he finished his first beer and switched his empty glass for the full one. “I know it’s a casino and all, but this security is fucking insane.”
“Yeah, I noticed that, too,” Hammer agreed. “Or I noticed what I couldn’t see. They must have an amazing setup. Everything in this place is so streamlined. Last night they booted a card counter from one of the tables before
he’d even blinked. I know this is supposed to be one of the best hotels on the strip … no wonder.”
“Okay, business first,” Rever said. “I took a look at the contract you sent me. It seems like you and Leanne have come up with a good arrangement. They’ll send you fighters to the gym, and all you have to do is one or two appearances a year. The money doesn’t hurt either.”
“No, it really doesn’t.”
“I got it cleared with your attorney, and you should have an email from him as well giving you the green. I’d say you are good to go if you want to sign. Even though you got conned into doing this gig, I think this worked out well. You get more money so you can pay me my exorbitant fee as your manager, and you are maintaining your connection with the CFL.”
“I’m glad you are benefiting from this,” Hammer said dryly.
Rever smiled. “It’s always a factor. Even though I’m here because you threatened me, it feels good getting out of L.A. for a few days.”
“I still don’t know how you can deal with living there.”
“Lately, I don’t know either. Everything about it seems fake to me. And don’t even get me started on the women. It’s almost impossible to find anyone real in that town.”
Hammer scoffed. “You wouldn’t know what to do with a real woman, Rever. Most normal women don’t want to sleep with someone who puts an end date on their relationship before it even begins.”
“True, but I need something different than what I’ve been doing.”
“Have you considered taking a vacation? Why don’t you come on down to Breakers?”
“Funny you should mention that. About an hour ago I got a call from Nyght.”
“No shit?” Hammer grinned. Daryk Nyght was their best friend and their other business partner and part owner of Fight Hard. Hammer had been missing the hell out of him, but hadn’t heard from him in forever. Worry for his friend had started to eat away at him, but there wasn’t anything he could do about it but wait until Nyght came back on the radar. “How the hell is he?”
Rever’s smile faded as the worry settled in his gut. “He doesn’t sound good. He said he tried to call you, too, but you were probably already in the gym. He’s back from overseas.”
Hammer blinked in shock. “Seriously? He’s back? He didn’t tell us he was coming home. Fuck, I haven’t even heard from him in months besides the random email, have you?”
“Nope, which is why I was thrown off by his call today. He said he’s in Atlanta, but he isn’t staying there. Since most of his stuff is in storage anyways, he’s gonna ride his bike to Breakers to see you, but he’s gonna take his time and see a few things on the way.”
“I don’t blame him for not wanting to stay in Atlanta. Not with his crazy family. Jesus, Nyght in Breakers. That’s gonna be interesting.”
Rever laughed. “Yeah, you could say that again. Actually, talking to him got me thinking. If he’s planning on sticking around in your town, I might consider moving there for a little while. It would be nice to get away from all the shit in L.A. before I decide where my next move will be.”
“Can you do that? What about your hot shot management business?”
Rever snorted. “Dude, we both know I don’t need to work anymore. Even though I don’t have as much money as you, with what I’ve made us on our investments, I’m pretty much set for life. I work more just to have something to occupy my time. The truth is I can’t fucking stand dealing with actors anymore. They annoy the shit out of me, and the producers I have to deal with? They seem to keep doing the same movies over and over again. It’s all driving me bat-shit. I’ve already started transitioning most of my needy clients elsewhere. Someone else can babysit them from now on. I can hold most of the clients that I do financial analysis for no matter where I’m located.”
“Come to Breakers so I can put you to work at the gym. You do own part of it, you know,” Hammer said with a laugh, then he sobered. “Nyght might be in bad shape…it might be good if both of us are around if he needs us.”
“Yeah, that’s another reason I want to be there. Who knows what condition he’ll be in when he shows up. Whatever he’s been doing has taken its toll on him. I can tell by his emails, and he sounded like shit when I talked to him today.”
“I’ll let you know when he arrives and we can gauge the ground from there.”
“Sounds good,” Rever agreed. “So, are you gonna tell me why I’m really here? You didn’t need me to come out here just to bitch at me in person for not protecting you from Rhino and Leanne.”
“Yeah, about that…” Hammer fought the urge to squirm on his seat. He blew out a breath, then said, “I needed you here to help me pick out a ring for Kali.”
Rever blinked at him. “I’m sorry, I’ve suddenly gone deaf. What the fuck did you just say?”
“I’m gonna propose.”
“Why? And better yet, why?”
Hammer glared at him. “Damn it, will you be serious?”
“I am. I mean, I know you said you and Kali are tight now, but you wanna marry the girl? Sweet Jesus, did you get hit in the head or something?”
“I love her,” Hammer said through clenched teeth. “Kali is the one. I swear to God, Rever, if you ever disrespect her—”
Rever held up his hands. “You know I wouldn’t do that. Hey, if you’re sure about this, then I’m happy for you, man. Ease off, Hammer.”
Hammer blew out a breath and willed his body to relax. “Sorry, I just get a little tense when it comes to Kali.”
“Ya think?”
For the next few minutes, Hammer gave Rever the rundown of his relationship with Kali from the first time he saw her to what he had been feeling when he got in the limo to leave Breakers. He had talked to his friend a few times on the phone while he had been dating Kali, so he knew the gist of their relationship, but he had never really vocalized his feelings about her.
“Christ, her family is as crazy as Nyght’s is.”
“I know, but you and I both know better than most that having fucked up parents doesn’t mean you have to end up as screwed up as they are.”
Like Hammer, Rever hadn’t had much in the way of a good childhood. His mother had taken off when he was five, and his father was a drunk who had ended up in prison when Rever was fifteen after he was arrested for beating a man half to death.
“It’s crazy, I know, but I feel like I’ve been waiting for her my whole life. There is something about her…no, it’s about who I am when I’m with her. Kali is special. Damn it, she’s got me tangled up in knots, but in a good way. She’s the best person I know, and I want to be a better man around her … for her.”
Rever studied him with serious eyes. “I can’t even imagine feeling like that about a woman, but I have to say, I can understand why you wouldn’t want to let that go.” Smiling, he cracked his knuckles. “Well, Hammer. Why don’t we go see about a ring.?”
Hammer finished his beer, then set the glass back down on the table. “Leanne wants to go with us.”
“Shit.”
“Exactly. Your job is to help control her while I pick out the perfect ring.”
Rever groaned. “Now I see why you really wanted me here now, you bastard.”
Hammer just grinned.
****
Kalista was nervous as she drove up to the Beaumont Rescue Center the morning of the adoption event. It was a beautiful day out, and she was glad that the weather had given them a reprieve from the unusual cold they had been getting slapped with lately. The sun was shining, and puffy, white clouds danced lazily in the sky as she pulled into the last stretch of road that would lead her to their final destination.
She had spent the previous two nights working on the creations that the bakery would be donating with Becca, Anna, Nate and all of her part-time staff. Last night they had even used her oven upstairs in her apartment when they had run out of room in the bakery.
Wednesday morning she had gotten a rough start, since she and her friends had
been out late the night before drinking at The Fox Hole. They’d had a good time dancing and having a few drinks, but then they had started taking shots and things had started to get a little hazy.
They had been well protected while they had been at the bar. Dante and all of Jared’s other friends had seemed to show up, creating a protective circle around them as they’d had their fun. It had been almost comical to see some of the most notorious bad boys in town acting like bodyguards for a bunch of women. Nikita and Zoe had been irritated by it, but Kalista had just felt protected and cared for by the gesture.
The next morning her head had been pounding, and when she had shuffled into her kitchen she had let out a squeak as she’d found Zoe passed out on her couch. Becca had all but crawled out of the guest bedroom at the first scent of the coffee Kalista had started to brew when there had been a knock on the door. Bleary-eyed, Kalista had gone down the stairs and frowned at a very normal looking Nikita, who had grinned at her when she’d opened the door.
“I thought you could use this,” Nikita had said once they were back upstairs in Kalista’s apartment. She pulled out a large container of a dark, green sludge-like substance that had Kalista, Zoe and Becca eying it suspiciously.
“What the hell is that, and why in the world do you look so normal?” Zoe had asked as she’d frowned at Nikita.
“I have a cast-iron stomach,” Nikita had said cheerfully. “This is a secret remedy I learned from an old gypsy woman when I was in Russia.”
“When in the world were you in Russia? And that isn’t fair,” Becca grumbled. “We’re twins. How can you be okay when I have to suffer? I totally got shafted.”
“You almost did last night. Who knew my sister could dance on a bar. You have several guys panting after you,” Nikita had asked as she’d poured the three of them a tall glass of the green sludge. She ignored the question about her time spent in Russia, but that didn’t shock anyone. Nikita was very closed-mouthed about where she had spent those years away from Breakers.