I jab her in the shoulder the second time, and she whips around to face me.
“Scarlett! I had no idea you were—”
“Shut the hell up, Lucy.”
Her eyes narrow into slits. “Don’t you talk to me—”
“Quit talking and listen, because I’m only going to warn you once. You’re never going to approach Gabriel ever again. You’re never going to come to my store again. You’re never going to breathe my name or his name to anyone in this town or on this planet ever again. Do you hear me? You are toxic, and I don’t ever want to see you or hear about you for the rest of my life.”
Her glare intensifies, and something malevolent gleams there. “You stupid bitch. I’m here because your precious Gabriel wantsmeand not you. Shouldn’t be too much of a surprise, since your last boyfriend wanted me too. I can’t help it if you can’t keep a man satisfied, Scarlett. You’re just an uptight prude who wouldn’t know what to do with a big dick if it slapped you across the face.”
I see red as the wordssee you next Tuesdayflit through my brain.
I don’t know what happens in that moment, but I snap. I haul back and my glove slams into Lucy’s left cheek.
She stumbles back, falls against the cage, and lands on her ass before unleashing an unholy screech. “She hit me! Call the police! You’re going to jail, you bitch. I have witnesses!”
No one moves. Not me, not Gabriel, and not a single one of the other men in the gym. Everyone stares at Lucy on the floor.
From just behind me, Jeb speaks first. “I didn’t see anything. Anyone else see anything?”
The men around the room all speak up, one by one.
“Nope.”
“Not me.”
“Didn’t see nothing.”
“She must’ve tripped and fallen.”
Gabriel stands tall in the cage and stares down at Lucy. “Don’t ever come looking for me again. I didn’t promise you shit ... except that you’d scream. Looks like I followed through on that. Get the hell out of here.”
Lucy sucks in an angry breath as she climbs to her feet. Whipping her head in one direction and then the other, her glare lands on the unfriendly faces of every man in the room before finally stopping on me again.
“You just made the biggest mistake of your life, Scarlett Priest. I’m going to ruin you. Just wait. I’m going to enjoy this.”
Given what I’ve been through lately and everything we still have to navigate, her threats don’t register.
“You’re just a mean girl who never should’ve left prep school, Lucy. If you come at me, I’ll bury you. Don’t tempt me.”
She screeches again before stomping out, shoving past the trainer near the center of the room. As soon as the door closes behind her, a slow clap starts. Gabriel and the other men join in.
I walk toward the cage as Gabriel opens the gate and comes down the stairs. He wraps me in a hug and picks me up off my feet.
“Team Scarlett for the win,” he whispers, and the gym fills with cheers as he kisses me.
Jeb grins at Gabriel. “I think you’re done with your workout for the night, Gabe. Get cleaned up and then take this girl out for some dinner. You both could use a good steak tonight.”
Charlie yells, “And watch out for her right hook.”
Gabriel holds me tighter to his chest, and I’m overwhelmed with the moment.
“I punched her. In the face. I’ve never punched anyone before, let alone in the face.”
“And you did a damn good job, ladybug. I’m proud as hell.” He lowers me to my feet and drops a kiss on the tip of my nose. “How about we both shower? I’ve got some sweats you can wear home.”
My earlier thoughts about how hot it was to watch him spar come rushing back.Shower with him? In the locker room?