by Nana Prah
Gia still wasn’t having it. “If he liked me, as you say he did, then he should’ve told me he was under duress. He kept it a secret so he could open a new facility.”
Her sister’s widened eyes revealed her genuine surprise. “He told you about that? I had to learn of it through my sources, not Suarez either. It’s an amazing thing he and his partners are doing. I wanted to mention it in the video, but they asked me not to. At least not until everything is established.”
She couldn’t believe what she’d just heard. “Building another gym is impressive, but not something to keep secrets about.”
Trista flipped her hair over her shoulder. “What did he tell you about it?”
“Nothing other than that’s why it was so important to have you give them a positive review.”
“Okay,” Trista said with a nod before scooting forward on the couch and picking up the yogurt container. As she headed to the kitchen, Gia got up and ran after her.
“What does that mean?”
“Listen, Gia. I’ve learned my lesson.” She rinsed out the cup. “No more meddling in your life.”
“What are you talking about?”
Trista threw the plastic into the recycling bin before turning in her direction. “You need to loosen up your convictions a little and talk to Lamar. There’s something you should hear, and it shouldn’t be from me.”
Crossing her arms over her chest, Gia attempted to stare her down. “I’m not going to be talking to him any time soon, so just tell me.”
“No thanks. I’m a reformed woman when it comes to your life. You can handle it yourself. But there’s no stopping me from interfering if you’re in danger.”
Gia growled in protest.
Trista had her purse slung over her shoulder before she stepped up with her arms extended. “I’ve got to go. I’m having dinner with—”
“A client,” Gia completed as she moved into the embrace.
“I love you, sis.”
“Love you, too.” They separated. “Now tell me what I need to know about the new gym.”
With a laugh that annoyed her, Trista breezed out the door.
Fine. She’d look it up on the internet. If Trista could discover the news, then so could she. No need to speak to Lamar. Even though the thought of never seeing him again made her queasy, it was for the best.
Chapter 30
The rapid tapping that Lamar’s opponent made when he could no longer tolerate being pinned appeased him. He leapt to his feet as he released one of his most advanced students. A good fighter, but not yet where he needed to be.
The frustration and misery he’d felt before starting his hands-on training session with his students hadn’t evaporated. Until he made up with Gia, he’d deal with his aggressions the best way he knew how.
“Who’s next?”
Every single man took a step back except for one. Marcus kept his eyes a bit downcast as if dealing with a powerful prey. “We’ve been training for three hours straight. Although we’ve learned a lot, especially about how you can kick each of our asses,” he said while rubbing his lower back. “We were wondering if we could stretch.”
Lamar assessed the solemn faces of the young men. Had he been so hard on them that they now wanted to run away? The feral part of him grinned internally. The more compassionate aspect that he’d learned to connect with while training with Gia nodded.
As if choreographed, the group did an about face and jogged to the opposite side of the room to find a space to stretch.
Lamar went to where he’d flung his shirt on the bench, picked it up and slid it over his head. He’d run a few miles on the treadmill before calling it a day. The extra cardio wouldn’t soothe him, but at least he’d be tired enough to sleep.
Leaving the training room, El flanked him on the left. “Man!”
“What?”
“You killed those guys. Were you trying to show them how you became a champion?”
Lamar tilted his neck to the side until the joints cracked. “They needed the intense training. After winning their bouts at the last tournament, they’ve become cocky. I can’t have that.”
El clamped a hand on his shoulder. “True, because no one should be able to match your level of ego.”
He grinned at the joke. Little did El know how much training it took to get him back to peak shape. Lamar was as ready as he’d ever be for the upcoming tournament. He’d prove to himself and everyone else that he still belonged at the top.
At the risk of your health? Gia’s incredulous tone pierced into his brain. He shook it out.
“What’s up with you?”
Lamar turned to his friend. “Nothing. I’m cool.”
“Oh, please. Not with the way you’ve been storming around here today.” El glanced at his watch. “Isn’t this the time Gia usually comes in?”
“We’re finished with them, remember?”
“Huh. Are you also done seeing her?”
“Looks that way.” He didn’t want to believe it, but it would be impossible to get through to her if she refused to communicate.
“Great. She was sweet and funny. Since you guys weren’t official, you don’t mind if I—”
Lamar had El pinned against the wall with his forearm at his throat.
“I thought so,” El squeaked out as he tried to push the restricting arm away.
He released his friend.
El rubbed his neck. “Damn, Phantom. I should’ve known better than to goad you while standing so close.”
“Sorry, man.” The few staff members who had witnessed the outburst stared. When Lamar scowled in return, they scurried away.
“You’ve got issues,” El said as he steered Lamar towards their partner’s office. “I’m getting Suarez in on this.”
As soon as they walked into the room, Suarez looked up. “What’s happening?”
El flexed his hands into claws once they’d sat. “The grizzly is back. This time he’s included the MMA crew in his meanness and you know it takes a lot to stress those guys out. Trust me when I say they were unraveled.” He grasped his neck. “And then he decided to choke the life out of me when I suggested I make a play for Gia.”
Suarez shook his head. “Your ass deserved that shit.”
“I wanted to prove he was shook.”
Lamar refused to admit it out loud. “She spooked when she found out I hadn’t been one hundred percent honest about why I was working with her.”
Both El and Suarez sucked air through their teeth.
“That’s rough,” Suarez said. “I’m not saying it’s a female thing, because I can’t stand a trifling woman, but they take honesty wicked serious.”
“She was good for you,” El added. “Calmed your beastly behind to the point of almost being nice. You’d better get that woman back before someone snatches her up.”
He flexed his chest muscles as he tried to control his rage at the thought. They’d been good together. Gia had everything going for her. She could make him laugh as easily as she soothed. She took him to higher levels when it came to conversing. Places he’d gone with his boys, but rarely with the women he’d been with. Not even his ex-wives, which he now found odd when it hadn’t been before.
“She won’t talk to me,” he grumbled.
“When did it go down?” Suarez asked.
“Saturday when I went to pick her up for our date. She was volcanic.” He wouldn’t mention the harsh things she’d said or how betrayed she’d appeared when talking about her parents’ rejection. Those sentiments would stay between them. “I tried to explain, but she wasn’t hearing it.”
“So, you just let her go?” Suarez asked.
“I called all day Sunday. She refused to answer. I went to her job on my lunch break today, but she called in.” He rested his elbows on his thighs and let his head hang. “I didn’t want to seem like a stalker, so I drew the line at going to her house. She probably would’ve thrown boiling water in my face. I don’t know what to do.”
The room remained silent for a beat before El made a suggestion. “Call Trista. I’m sure she can help.”
Lamar sprang out of his chair tipping it back. “Fuck no. She and that contract are the reason I’m in this hole.”
El raised both brows. “Did you get with Gia because she was forbidden fruit?”
“Of course not.”
“And now you’re in love with her,” El said.
Was it that obvious? He thought he’d hidden it. Looks like he had, but only from the one person who mattered. He sagged against the seat and squeezed the back of his neck, disappointed that Gia hadn’t been able to see how much he cared about her. “Yes,” he said on a dejected sigh that came from deep within his soul.
Suarez grunted. “Better you than me. That’s for sure. There’s only one thing you can do.”
Ready to accept any help thrown his way, Lamar looked at his friend. “What?”
“Fight for her.”
He couldn’t agree more. While they were all together, he may as well be upfront about everything. They’d hear about it soon enough with the advertising starting up, and it would be better coming from him. “I’m heading back into competition.”
“We know,” they said in unison.
Suarez nodded. “Just because you left the circuit doesn’t mean we no longer stay in the loop about the UFC. We knew as soon as the rumors started flying.”
Stumped, he glowered at his friends.
Suarez held up his hands. “Power down, Phantom. We figured you’d tell us when you were ready.”
“No talking me out of it?”
El shrugged. “Maybe we wanted to in the beginning, but then we figured you knew what you were doing. You didn’t become a winner by fluke.”
“Bastards,” Lamar growled. “You mean to tell me I could’ve been working out at a more humane hour?” And stayed snuggled up with Gia during those early mornings.
“Let’s call it payback for not trusting us,” Suarez said with a grin.
He had it coming.
El stepped up to him. “Keep your head away from people’s fucking elbows.”
Lamar tapped the temple where he’d taken the hit that had changed his life. “Yeah. I’m all over that.”
“What did your mother say?” El asked.
“I haven’t told her yet,” he mumbled.
Suarez ran a hand through his curls. “Shit. I don’t blame you. I’m pretty sure you won’t make it to the cage once she blows into town and beats your ass.”
The three laughed. “I’ll tell her soon, so you two had better keep your mouths shut.”
“Still afraid of your mama?” Suarez teased.
“Only a fool wouldn’t be. Now help me figure out a way to get Gia back.”
Chapter 31
Gia clutched her purse as the fear grew with every second they drove. She’d sped along the periphery of the rough area of Roxbury a time or two, but she’d never gone into the heart of it. The news having reported the stabbing of a twelve-year-old during a fight last night didn’t evoke calm. The area needed help. Big time.
“What are we doing here?”
“I have to drop off some food before we head to the restaurant,” Suarez said.
The scent of roasted chicken had tantalized her for the whole ride out. She’d hoped he’d created a picnic basket for them.
Gia glanced away from the run-down buildings and met Suarez’s eyes in the rearview mirror. He looked away first to focus on the road. When Trista had coerced her into escaping hermit mode by going out to lunch, Gia had expected it to be just the two of them. She’d frozen when she recognized Suarez in the driver’s seat of an SUV.
She’d survived a full week without Lamar. A century couldn’t have felt any longer. Encountering one of his best friends was too much to handle, so she’d pivoted on her heel and headed back to the house. Trista had grabbed her by the arm and escorted her to the vehicle.
Lamar had tried to get to her over the week, but she’d been adept at evading him. At work, she’d made sure the security team, to their disappointment, would never let him past the lobby. She’d only left her office space when work had ended after calling the desk guards to make sure the coast was clear.
When he couldn’t get to her at work, he’d knocked on her house door. The temptation to open it had been harder than resisting baking again, but she’d retained her anti-Lamar stance.
Trista had mentioned more than once that she was being stubborn. What did her sister know about having a broken heart the size of the cosmos? She missed him so much that she found herself getting weepy at work and went to bed crying at night.
Suarez pulled into a space in the parking lot of the public high school and got out. Trista followed. When Gia stayed in place, Suarez knocked on the glass and crooked a finger. She cracked open the door.
He extended the space. “Please help me carry a box inside.”
“Will the car be here when we return?” Gia asked, only half kidding.
Suarez shrugged. “You never know in this neighborhood.”
With a grunt, she accepted one of the packages and walked beside Trista as they followed Suarez into the building.
They were met with a crew of about fifty boys and a smattering of girls stretching on a huge red and blue mat. They broke out clapping and cheering when they saw Suarez. Or was it the food they’d been hooting for?
“Other side,” a familiar deep voice yelled. In unison each of them reached over to their right leg.
Gia’s knees quivered as she spotted Lamar braced with his legs apart and hands behind his back at the side of the gym. Tall, buff, and a feast to her eyes and womanly parts. He glanced in her direction. Her heart drooped with disappointment as his expression remained neutral. Only the fear of ridicule by the young ones kept her upright.
Had he given up on her? Wasn’t that what she’d wanted? Why she had refused to talk to him?
They placed the meals on a long table that had been set up.
“I’ll be right back,” Suarez said. “There are a couple more boxes to bring in.”
“I’ll go with you,” Trista volunteered.
Gia grabbed her sister’s arm before she could get away. “Did you know that Lamar would be here?”
Trista’s eyes went wide and her lips formed an open circle as her hand went to her chest. “Me? Didn’t I promise not to interfere? We’re dropping off lunch for these children and then we’ll leave.”
“You’re the worst liar ever and I’ll get you back for this,” she hissed.
Suarez extended a hand towards the single row of bleachers which had been protracted. “Have a seat, Gia?”
She’d rather walk through the streets of Roxbury wearing Mr. T style gold chains and have cash cascading out of a Hermès Birkin handbag than stay. Tamping down the impulse to escape the presence of the man who’d broken her heart, she swallowed hard before shuffling to the bleachers.
“Everyone up,” Lamar ordered.
The participants stood, crossed their arms and held them low like she’d seen in karate movies. Was he really teaching these inner-city kids how to fight? Was that wise?
Lamar strode to the front of the room. “State the six principles.”
“Modesty. Self-control. Courtesy. Perseverance. Integrity. Indomitable Spirit,” the class said in unison.
“Recite the student creed.”
By the time the children had given the three statements, which if followed, would lead them into being exemplary people, Trista and Suarez had returned and settled the remaining food and drinks on the table.
“What’s my one rule for attending these classes?” Lamar barked while staring at the group of youngsters.
“I will use what I learn for good and be respectful to everyone I encounter,” they chanted.
He nodded. “What will happen if you don’t follow this rule?”
As if choreographed they angled their bodies forty-five degrees and pointed their right arms t
oward the back door. They wouldn’t even be kicked out through the front.
Gia turned away from the group as her eyes started to burn. Clearing her throat failed at the attempt to get rid of the lump that had formed from watching a world-renowned fighter doing his best to help where it was most needed.
What Lamar was doing with these kids by offering his time, skills, and money was inspiring. Not only providing safety, but teaching them things that would keep them out of trouble. A place of belonging so they wouldn’t turn to gangs, drugs, or worse, suicide.
The love she thought she could eradicate swelled to the point of feeling as if her heart would burst.
“Good. Excellent job today. Not that I have to remind you, but remember to get your food.”
The majority cheered. A few looked down, breaking their stance to shuffle their bare feet against the mat. Were these the hungriest of the group? They certainly were the slimmest.
A longing to hug them all and let them know that it would be all right overwhelmed her. If Lamar kept up what he was doing with them, then her reassurances wouldn’t be a lie. The man was too much. Way too much.
“No one eats until all the mats are put away.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Come to attention. Bow.” Once they’d followed his instructions, they began clapping and then an orderly round of high-fives started when he held up his hand. Each row of students ran to the front, high-fived Lamar and then did the same to the ones who had gone before until a snake of students had formed.
Gia drank in the sight of Lamar as he supervised the youth putting the mats away. Would it be so bad to just let herself be in love? To support him during his stint of insanity? The only way her brain could describe his obsession to fight.
And what about his willingness to give her half-truths? That wasn’t so easily dismissible. She hated lies. It left her feeling as if the person considered her to be a fool. If her gut hadn’t warned that something was off and Lamar didn’t have the tell of rubbing the scar on his eyebrow when nonsense came out of his mouth, she wouldn’t have been any wiser of the duplicity.