I grab two demitasse cups and set up the espresso machine to begin brewing. As the scent of coffee fills the air, Christine sits at my kitchen table.
“Is Legend going to win the fight?”
I lean back against the countertop and nod. “Yeah. He will. There’s no other choice.”
One of her reddish-brown eyebrows rises. “And if he doesn’t? You two going to be okay?”
“Of course. We’ll be fine, no matter what.”
“And the club?”
My gaze drops to the floor, and I bite my lip. “It should be fine.”
“Should be?”
I make an executive decision, swear her to secrecy, and then fill her in on Moses. By the time I’m finished, her mouth is wide open like a manhole without a cover.
“Jesus, Scarlett. You’ve kept this all from us this whole damn time? We could’ve found ways to get him money that he wouldn’t know had come from you. We could’ve had Legend make a windfall on some business deal. This could’ve all been taken care of the day after that asshole showed up.”
In my heart of hearts, I know she’s wrong. Moses won’t take money the easy way. He wants Gabe to suffer for it, and that makes me hate the monster even more.
“It doesn’t matter now. He’s under control by the mob, apparently, and he won’t be making an appearance.”
“This is some realGodfathershit, you know?” she says.
“Tell me about it.”
When our espressos are ready, I slide one cup and saucer in front of her and take the opposite chair. She lifts her cup to her lips with a murmur of appreciation.
“This is amazing. So much better than that shit on the plane.” After she sips, she sets it down in front of her. “So, tell me what I can do to help. I’m here for you, even if Ryan thinks I’m here to see his kids. We both know the truth.”
Her distinct dislike for children makes me chuckle, but I don’t have any answers for her. “Go see your niece and nephew. Everything is under control here, and there’s really not much to do.”
“Are you sure?”
“I mean ... you could go take a walk through the store and buy a few things. You know, just to help a client and friend out.”
Her eyebrow lifts as her head tilts to the side. “Are you forgetting I spent a grand on shipping last time I was here? I think about it every time I walk through my house, because it’s full of your stuff.”
“Perfect. Time for an update,” I say with a smile.
Forty-Two
Legend
The solesof my shoes hit the pavement one rhythmic stride at a time. I turn the corner leading back to the gym, where my training is slowing down so my body is rested but prepared for Saturday night.
Jeb drives behind me slowly in his silent fucking Prius that always makes me laugh, and I almost miss a step when I see a tall man in a dark suit getting out of a Rolls Royce SUV in front of the gym.
I’d recognize him anywhere.
Creighton Karas.
“Everything good?” Jeb calls from the open window.
That’s how attuned he is to me physically. I swear, my heart couldn’t have an irregular beat without Jeb picking up on it. His coaching has been so different from Johnson’s that there’s no way in hell I ever could have had a chance at winning if I’d been training the way I used to. I’m a whole new fighter now, and I’m more confident than ever.
“A friend is waiting out front of the gym.”