by Nikki Ash
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter one
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Epilogue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Fighting for Your Love
Nikki Ash
Fighting for Your Love
Copyright © 2017 Nikki Ash
All rights reserved
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the permission of the publisher constitute unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), prior written permission must be obtained by contacting the publisher at [email protected]. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.
Cover design: Minx Designs
Cover photograph: Depositphotos
Editing: Lisa McKay
Table of Contents
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Epilogue
Coming Soon
About the Author
Acknowledgements
Dedication
To my children, who show me every day the true meaning of love.
Prologue
Ashley
Six years ago….
“Shut that fucking kid up! All he does is cry!”
“He’s a baby. Please stop yelling. You are only making it worse! Your yelling isn’t helping at all. It’s only scaring him.”
“Then make him shut the hell up!”
“I will if you move out of my…” Whack! My face jerks to the side at the impact of his hand hitting me straight across my cheek. It stings like a bitch but I don’t dare show it. I’m not about to let him know he has gotten to me. I get right in his face because I have had enough of his shit.
“You don’t even want to be here anymore. Why don’t you just leave?”
He laughs in my face like it’s the funniest thing he’s ever heard. If I knew I could do any damage, I would punch him right in the face.
“You wouldn’t even be able to survive without me. You are nothing more than a no-good little bitch.”
I want to stand up to him, I want to tell him that I think I will survive just fine without him but the fear of being smacked again, forces me to keep my mouth shut and silently pray he will walk out that door. I refuse to let him bully me anymore. Tonight, is the last night he will ever touch me again. I can’t have Tristan growing up with him as a role model, and if that means I have to leave then that’s what I’ll do. I only pray he will leave instead.
“You want me gone? Ok… I’m gone. I never wanted this fucking life anyway.”
I watch him walk to our bedroom not believing for a second he will really leave. He threatens to leave literally every other day. I head into the nursery to check on my sweet baby boy. Tristan has already stopped crying and is sleeping soundly in his crib. He’s only six months old and has learned quickly how to sleep through the screaming that has been a part of his life since the day he was born. I am hoping with him being so young he won’t remember any of this. I know something needs to change but I have been with Tyler for so long that I don’t remember how to not be with him. I pick Tristan up and cradle him to my chest giving him small kisses on his forehead, breathing in his precious baby scent. “I love you little man.” I vow here and now that if Tyler doesn’t leave, I’m going to. I’m going to get away from this man and find a way to provide a safe and loving home on my own with my son.
I set him back down in his crib, cover him with his blanket, and head back out to the kitchen to make dinner. As I am crossing through the living room I see Tyler with a bag in each hand. While he threatens to leave quite often, he’s never actually packed a bag. I stop halfway into the living room, watching him stalk through the house, and then without giving a backwards glance he is out the door and slamming it shut. The sound reverberates throughout the house and I hold my breath, hoping it doesn’t wake Tristan up. After a few seconds and no sound of him crying I know it didn’t. I let out a breath of relief I didn’t know I was holding in. Could he really be gone for good?
I continue into the kitchen grabbing the chicken from the fridge and the potatoes from the counter when the phone rings.
“Hello.”
“Good evening, this is Chase Card Services calling to speak with a… Ashley Myers regarding a personal matter. Is this Ashley Myers?
“Umm… yes, it is. Can I help you?”
After confirming my name, social security number, mailing address, and best contact number he says, “We are calling today because you are ninety days behind on your credit card payment and would like to help you make payment arrangements before it gets moved into collections.”
What the heck?
“I’m sorry. I don’t know what you are talking about.”
“Your balance on your Chase credit card is eight thousand five hundred and fifty-three dollars, and according to our records you haven’t made a payment in over ninety days. Before we send it to collections, we are asking if you would like to work out a payment plan.”
Holy fucking shit! The hair on the back of my neck rises and chills go down my spine. This can’t be happening.
“I need to call you back.”
“Ma’am…”
I don’t even listen to what he’s saying. I hang up and run into my bedroom to the desk where all the bills are kept. I pull all my credit cards and bills out of the file Tyler keeps them all in and start calling the numbers on the back of each card.
Reached its limit.
Payment overdue.
Maxed out.
Ninety days behind on the phone bill.
Thirty days behind on the electric bill.
Two payments behind on the mortgage!
WHAT. THE. FUCK!!!
I drop the cards and papers on top of the desk and stare at the beige wall in front of me having no idea where to go from here. I trusted him. Sure, it wasn’t always rainbows and sunshine but I fucking trusted him. While I have been busting my ass to make the money to pay the bills, he’s been gambling with my money instead of paying them. I always knew he had issues with gambling but he had promised he would stop. Not only did he not stop, he used all our money and savings to do it.
I hear a noise coming from the nursery and will myself to shake off the tears that I feel prickling in my eyes before I go to get my little man. I look down into hi
s crib; he’s lying on his back crying, ready for some dinner.
“Come here little man.” He immediately stops crying, smiling up at me while his arms reach up and his little legs stretch out as he kicks excitedly for me to pick him up.
“I don’t know how but mommy is going to handle this baby boy.” I look at my sweet baby and know it’s up to me to make sure something changes. I can’t just sit back and wait for Tyler to return.
After throwing the chicken back in the fridge, I grab my car keys and diaper bag. With Tristan in tow, I purchase new locks for the house. Once we get home, I install the locks then grab everything that belongs to Tyler and put it all by the road for the garbage men to pick up.
The only way that motherfucker is getting back inside my house again is over my dead body.
Kaden
Eleven years ago…
“Please Gabs, I am begging you with everything in me not to leave me. Please! I am so sorry!”
I am kneeling in front of my wife begging.
Begging her not to leave me.
Begging God not to let her leave me.
Knowing my begging will do no good.
But still begging.
“Please Gabs! I love you. Please, baby! Don’t leave me.”
Placing my hand into hers, I entwine our fingers and squeeze gently, but she doesn’t squeeze my hand back. I know, no matter how much I beg and plead, she will not squeeze back. She’s leaving me and there’s not a goddamn thing I can do to change it. The truth is, while she is right here in front of me, she has already left. I promised to always protect her and I broke that promise.
Chapter one
Kaden
Present day…
“Left jab…Right jab… Block… Block… Block!”
“Motherfucker, I am blocking!”
I throw a punch right to his face and it hits him square in the eye. I probably shouldn’t have hit him so hard but the guy isn’t fucking blocking!
“How the fuck do you plan to fight in six months if you can’t even block!”
“I was fucking shot! I will have this shit under control by the time the fight gets here!”
I am standing in the middle of the octagon in Cooper’s Gym training one of my best friends, Caleb Michaels, for an upcoming UFC fight. No, I don’t really expect him to be fighting up to par only five months after being shot, but as his trainer it’s my job to push him, especially when I see how badly he wants to come back. I refuse to allow him to hold back. When the UFC called with an opportunity for him, I told him he should turn it down, not to push himself, but he insisted he would be ready. So, as his trainer, it’s my job to ensure he is.
“Maybe if you are fighting at the upcoming kids’ tournament…”
“Fuck you, bro.”
I laugh softly knowing while I am pissing him off, it’s also keeping him going, which is exactly what I wanted to do, so I continue to push his buttons, getting him worked up.
“Maybe that would be a good idea… We could bring Bella, Tristan, and Marco in, and have them spar with you. You will probably be able to take the two little ones but I’m not sure if you would beat Marco.”
Caleb growls loudly and throws a punch to my gut hoping to catch me off guard. Of course, it doesn’t work. If he hadn’t been shot while saving Marco from some drug dealers last winter, he probably would have stood a chance, but with him having been shot in the chest and shoulder, he’s just not fast enough.
I jump back just before his fist connects with my stomach and I start laughing harder.
“Let me at him,” Bella yells jumping over the ropes. We both look over at the cute three-foot nothing brown haired six-year-old jumping up and down in her fighter stance ready to kick some ass. She is the perfect mixture of her parents, Liam and Lizbeth Cooper. They also have an almost one-year old son, Nathan. Liam, who goes by Cooper, is the owner of the gym. His father, who is deceased, is the one who hired me several years ago, back in Colorado.
I spent four years working at the gym, living with Bentley and Cooper, until I couldn’t handle living in Colorado anymore and decided to make the move to Las Vegas with all the guys, including Caleb who was moving here hoping for his big break. It paid off. I spent almost ten years training Cooper and Bentley, who were both in the UFC, but the last couple years they have both taken a step back. Cooper is running the gyms with his wife Liz, and Bentley is staying home with his daughters, Chloe and Faith. His wife, Kayla, is the physical therapist here at the gym.
With the two of them out of the UFC, I have taken on Caleb and Alex, who is another fighter at the gym, fulltime, aside from the personal training sessions I do with several other up and coming fighters. Caleb was well on his way to the top until he was injured. Long story short, Marco had a druggie mom who owed some guys money and Marco was selling drugs for them. He and his mom got in over their heads and Caleb came to the rescue. He saved Marco and his little sister Chloe, but couldn’t save Marco’s mom who overdosed and died that night. Caleb and Hayley, who is our onsite doctor, were married a couple months ago. Hayley adopted Marco while Bentley and Kayla adopted Chloe. If all goes well Caleb will legally be Marco’s father soon. Not that it makes any difference, he’s already like a father to Marco and Marco calls him dad.
The four of us have gotten together and are currently building a sports complex for latchkey kids. It’s still in the planning stages but once it’s done, it will be a place for kids to go, where they can play all types of sports instead of going home alone.
“I said let me at him!” Bella yells again, one of the guys holding her back. I can’t help laughing. She is so tiny yet so full of life. She is UFC obsessed and will definitely be a woman’s division champion one day.
“Ok, but you need to go easy on Caleb. He’s still not at one hundred percent yet. I don’t even think he’s at ten percent,” I add under my breath laughing. That comment earns me a punch to my arm.
“Not Caleb! You!” Bella glares at me.
“Me? What did I do to you?” I look at her in shock.
“You called me little!” Her hands go to her sides and if possible, her glare gets meaner.
“Oh, don’t let him get to you, sweetie.” Hayley comes walking over with Marco. “You know what they say… those who can’t do, teach.”
Caleb throws his head back laughing loudly before grabbing Hayley and giving her a kiss.
“Ha ha, funny, Hayley. At the rate your husband is going, he will have to resort to teaching the kids’ classes for the rest of his life.” That earns me another punch to my arm.
“I’m sorry, Bella. I didn’t mean anything by it.” The guy holding her back let’s go of her.
She glares at me for a few more seconds letting me sweat it out. She’s been hanging out with these women for too damn long.
“I guess I accept your apology. Marco, want to go spar?”
“Sure.” They both head over to the kid’s area of the gym.
“How was your doctor’s appointment?” Caleb asks Hayley rubbing the bump on her belly.
I know it sounds bad but I tend to tune that shit out. While I’m happy for all my friends, it’s hard watching each of them get married and go through all that family shit.
My phone goes off and I walk over to check it.
Ashley: I can’t hang out tonight. Gotta work.
Me: Again? I thought you were only working two nights a week…
Ashley: I took on more shifts. Don’t worry about me.
I shake my head frustrated. Ashley Myers just might be the death of me. I met her a couple years ago through our friends. She is good friends with Kayla, Liz, and Hayley, and has a son, Tristan, who is the same age as Bella. We became fast friends and our friendship has grown over time. She is without a doubt my best friend. She is also the most strong-willed, independent woman I have ever met! It’s funny because the characteristics I love most about her are the same ones that frustrate the fuck out of me on a daily basis.
I dec
ide not to text her back and instead go to her house. She tends to argue less when she doesn’t have a cellphone to hide behind.
“I’m out of here!” I say packing up my shit.
“See ya, man!” Caleb gives me a fist bump and Hayley waves.
I get into my black on black four-door sexy-as-fuck Aston Martin Rapide S. She was given to me for my thirty-fifth birthday last months, courtesy of my parents. Yes, that’s right, I am one of those trust fund rich kids, only I am without the trust fund. My parents firmly believe I should earn my own way in this world and I am happy to say I am doing a good job at it; therefore, the only money they have ever given me was one million dollars for my twenty-first birthday. Any other money I get, will be in my parents and grandparents will. As a trainer for the UFC fulltime, I make a very comfortable living, so I took that money and put it into a couple investment accounts and haven’t touched any of it. Upon moving to Las Vegas, I purchased a decent sized four bedroom- three and a half bath, two-story home on the outskirts of Las Vegas on a nice piece of property. Many epic parties have been held there around the bonfire in my backyard.
My parents’ gift is more of a bribe. Since I have moved to Vegas, I have only been back once and they want me to come home soon. They are hoping by buying me the car of my dreams, it will guilt me into coming home for a visit. They know why I don’t want to go home but they feel enough time has passed. It’s been almost eleven years since my wife left me taking our son with her, and while I have moved on, the truth is even after all this time, it still hurts like hell to go home. Memories of our life together are in every nook and crevice of that town. After they left me, I lasted about four years living in that town, but the minute Cooper asked if I wanted to move, I jumped at the chance to get the fuck out of there and start a fresh life.
The guys know I was once married and that when they met me I was no longer married but I have chosen to keep the details to myself. I don’t want or need anybody’s pity. I have spent the last several years having one-night stands to try to fill a void that can’t be filled. Well, that is up until six months ago. It’s not that I can’t go out and find a woman to get into bed; I just haven’t felt like it. Call it a dry spell if you wish, I’m just not feeling it.