“One hundred percent real, bro.”

Cole laughs. “Almost as good as Xavier Cold, huh, X?”

I nod. “Almost.” I turn back to the kid. “Okay, let’s warm up, and then we’ll step in the ring and see what you’ve got.”

After about fifteen minutes, we’re loosened up and in the ring, bouncing around on our toes.

I widen my stance and wave Corey at me. “All right, kid, come at me.”

Corey shakes his hands out at his sides and then charges at me, but I easily sidestep him and push him down on the mat.

He jumps up and smacks his hands together. “Damn it. Again!”

I raise my eyebrows and then glance at Cole, who gives me an I-told-you-so nod.

I admire people who don’t give up in the ring. It’s what makes a good wrestler.

We go at it again and again for nearly two hours, but the kid never gets me in any holds. I can see the frustration growing on his face, and I want to make sure I don’t break his spirit or make him doubt his abilities too much.

I step back and hold my hands up. “I think that’s enough.”

“No, wait. I can do better. Please give me another shot.”

I can see panic in his eyes because he believes he’s failed.

“Kid, calm down. We’re not finished. We’re just done for the day. I think you’ve got something, and while I’m here, I’ll work with you.”

His eyes light up. “You will?”

I nod.

Corey jumps in the air and pumps his fist. “Hell yeah! I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He runs off toward the locker room, and I smile.

Cole nudges my shoulder. “You’re doing a good thing. This means a lot to him.”

I shrug. “It’s not that big of a deal.”

“It is to him. Remember, little things mean a shit-ton in this neighborhood.”

He’s right about that. I was all too happy to accept the handouts Bishop had offered even though what he demanded in return turned me into a thug.

I don’t want Corey to end up in that same boat.

After a shower, I head out of the gym with Corey flanking my side, asking me a million questions about what it’s like to be a part of Tension.

I’m about to answer another question for Corey, but I stop when I spot Kai leaning against the front of the same SUV he was in once before.

“Fuck,” Corey mumbles next to me. “They’ve been coming around more and more, wanting an answer from me about doing some work for them.”

I turn to him and say, “You fuck with the Block, and our training days are over.”

“That won’t happen,” Corey says. “I’ve been doing my best to avoid them, but those fuckers are relentless when they want something.”

I want to say, Tell me something I don’t know, but the less people who know about the threats Bishop’s crew has made toward me and Anna, the safer Anna will be. God knows I don’t need anyone getting any ideas to join in on the action in order to prove loyalty to Bishop.

I know it makes me a fucking asshole for not taking Anna’s calls, but I’m doing it for her own good even though it’s killing me to let her go.

Chapter 23

Anna

It’s been two days since I’ve found out about being pregnant, and the shock hasn’t worn off yet. The days passing by also means it’s been two additional days since I’ve heard from Xavier.

I guess my warning of the certain demise of our relationship if he doesn’t call me back wasn’t enough to motivate him to reach out to me.

A tear slips down my cheek, and I quickly bat it away as I finish curling my hair. Xavier warned me from the beginning that he wasn’t a good guy, and that I shouldn’t trust him, but I didn’t listen.

I thought through it all there was a good guy who had a heart of gold beneath that exterior level of toughness. Seems my gut was wrong about him because here I sit in a hotel room, alone, across the country from the city I call home now, and Xavier doesn’t even have the decency to call and check on me. He’s the only person in the world I want to talk to about this baby, and all the emotions I’m feeling—happiness, sadness, fear—but he’s making that impossible.

It crushes me that he could be so cold. Why would my heart allow me to fall in love with someone who didn’t really care about me like I thought? Turns out, he’s an excellent actor in and out of the ring.

I’ve talked to Quinn, and I’ve almost confided in her about the baby, but it won’t be right if she knows about the baby before Xavier does.

My cell rings and I answer and put it on speaker. “Hello?”

“Hey, Anna. I’ll be there in about fifteen minutes. Would you like for me to come to your room to escort you to the vehicle?” Jorge asks, his manners ever present.

“That’s sweet of you, but I’ll meet you downstairs because they charge an arm and a leg to park at this hotel because it’s downtown.”

“You sure?” he asks with a bit of skepticism in his voice. “It’s really no trouble for me to come up and make sure you’re safe.”

“I’m positive,” I reply as I shut off my curling iron and double check my makeup. “This hotel is perfectly safe.”

“All right. I’ll see you in a bit.”

We end our call, and it finally hits me that I’m about to face Jorge after the way I ran away from him. A jitter passes through me, but I quickly shake it off, reminding myself it’s okay to be tough and live life the way I want.

I double check the modest, black cocktail dress I’m wearing and hope I’m not overdressed for wherever Jorge is taking me for dinner.

After waiting in the lobby a few minutes, Jorge’s blue Audi rounds the drive in front of the hotel. I grin, elated to see a friendly face, as I step outside, and Jorge appears on the other side of the car.

He rounds the front of the car in a few long strides as he makes his way over to me. His black hair is a touch longer than the normal crew cut he usually sports, but it’s not out of place with the gray suit he’s wearing. If anything, it makes it appear more stylish.

Jorge’s dark eyes roam over me before moving back up to lock on my face. “Wow, Anna. You look amazing. You’re practically glowing.”

I smile, knowing he really means the compliment because Jorge isn’t one to stray from the truth. “Thank you. You as well. I love the hair. It’s really working for you.”