“Okay, let’s go,’’ I said as I readjusted my stance and counted the beats in my head, ready to slam my fist into her mitts once again. They landed solidly, and the jolt that reverberated from my knuckles all the way to my shoulder was as intoxicating as it was addicting, it was better than any drug I’d ever had.
A low whistle came from somewhere across the gym, not a catcall, but one of awe as I drew my fist back and counted one, two, three, four. My fists landed with such speed even I was impressed, and it drove me to fight harder against the invisible enemy within.
“I don’t know what Ridley did,” my coach called, his voice, a distant echo behind the roaring in my ears. “But my money’s on Kobe.”
“My money is on Kobe too.” Ridley laughed, her face caught somewhere between amusement and concern.
“What the hell did you do?’’ Bennett called beside coach. “Did you steal her boyfriend or something? Forget to pick her up from a bake sale. This is why girls don’t belong here, you both should be home fixing sandwiches for your man.” Bennett looked around the gym to try and garner admiration from the other men.
That was it. I lowered my hands, bared my teeth, and rounded on Bennett. I no longer cared that he was probably a head taller than me, or that he was just some dumb eighteen year old, barely out of high school, and trying to impress the other men at the gym. He was going down and I was out for blood.
“Whoa, hold up there,” Ridley jumped forward and wrapped a long toned arm around my waist and pulled me backward.
Ridley was taller than me, hell she could probably bench me, but I was fast and determined. It took two of her arms wrapped tightly around me to keep me from leaving this blue mat, and pressing his smug young face into the concrete.
“Calm down, he’s not the only one who doesn’t think women belong here, let’s not give them something to talk about,” Ridley whispered in my ear.
I inhaled deeply and relaxed as she lifted her brows, surprised by my reaction. I knew deep down that she was right, his stupid face wasn’t worth risking being banned from the gym.
“Women,” Bennett sneered, and I fisted my hands at my sides and flexed my glove covered fingers.
“And breath, two, three, four,” Ridley said, half joking, half sincere as I inhaled through my nose.
“Okay, smarts,” Coach said, “Go do five laps.”
“What?” he groaned, and I smirked at Ridley.
Bennett didn’t have to do that, of course, but if he wanted to keep the best coach in the city as his personal trainer, he was going to have to do everything he was told.
“So,” Ridley said and adjusted the mitts on her hands, “do you want to tell me what all that was about?”
“He needed someone to knock him down a few pegs.”
“That’s not exactly what I meant,” she said.
I knew what she was talking about, but it was hard to open up. Especially because the person I was closest to, I lost. No one has been able to fill that void, not that I had given anyone a real chance either.
“It’s just Bennett,” I said, not meeting her eyes.
“Yeah, you know, I don’t think it’s just Bennett.” She huffed, brushing her bangs from her eyes. “You came in here in a mood, and don’t say you didn’t because I feel like I’ve spent enough time with you over the past two weeks to know that something is wrong. I can see the weight of the stress you carry on your shoulders. My cousin Harley does the same thing,” Ridley said as I struck for the first time.
“In what way?” I asked, mildly curious, and punched again.
“You’ve got that look in your eye. You look like someone who is hell bent on revenge,” she said with a casual lift of her shoulder.
“What?” I lowered my hands and looked at her.
“You see, Harley was really sweet, funny, and outgoing. One day, Harley had to face a nasty decision.”
“What decision was that?”
“She had decide whether to die or kill her father,” Ridley said with such seriousness that I knew she wasn’t shittin’ me.
“Whoa, what?”
“Yeah, Harley was little, she had just witnessed her cop dad beat the life out of her mother.”
I chewed on my lower lip, and contemplated the woman before me. “What happened to her?”
“Harley is still alive and she is a deputy. You see, what was on her shoulders was justice. She wanted justice for her mother and every other battered woman out there. And I get the feeling that’s something that you’re going through right now,” Ridley said
I nodded, appreciating the understanding on her part.
“My mom and Harley’s mom were sisters, so Harley came to live with us. We’re close, but I still see that same look in her, that look to serve justice to abusive men. So, believe me when I say, I’m well versed in angry women. Do you want to tell me what the issue is?”
I frowned down at my red knuckles.
“Don’t tell me that Bennett’s right, and it’s about a boy,” Ridley said with a quick grin. “Just kidding. I’m kidding, a man is plenty of reason to be pissed.”
I nodded. “Well, that’s true, and it is kind of about a man, but it’s also about my brother.”
Ridley said nothing and waited for me to explain. I stood in silence for a moment as I slid back on my boxing gloves. Punching was something I was more comfortable with.
I raised my fists and hit hard, relaxing at the sting of impact against her. “My brother was murdered by a member of DT Coyotes,” I said, and her lips parted in shock. “He was murdered, and they haven’t caught the killer because no one is brave enough to speak out against those bastards.” I cleared
