Torn - Part Four (The Torn Series) (10 page)

“Yeah? So do it. We’ll rent a truck next week.” I kissed her again as if it would finalize the deal. It did seem to weaken her legs. She leaned into me, fitting perfectly inside my arms.

My other declaration caught in my throat.
I love you
. Was I afraid of what she might say? How she might respond? Maybe it would be too much for one evening. Emotion overload. I kissed her harder, preventing the words from spilling out while I rolled them over in my head..

She broke away to catch her breath, standing on her toes and leaning her forehead against mine. “Mal?”

“Yeah, baby?”

“I think… I think I love you.”

“Oh, goddammit.” I stepped back and held her away from me by her shoulders.

“Well that wasn’t the response I was expecting,” she sputtered, looking at me like I was crazy.

“What did you expect?” I asked, annoyed that she’d said it first. A dumb thing to be annoyed about, I knew.

“Uh, perhaps a ‘that’s nice’ at the very least? Even a ‘gee, Riley, it’s a little soon for that’ would have been acceptable.” She wrenched out of my grip. “I wasn’t expecting it back but you don’t need to be an asshole about it.”

“I am an asshole, baby,” I said, unable to contain my laughter. “You’re in love with an asshole.” I grabbed her arms once more and pulled her close. “I love you, too. I cursed because you beat me to it. You know how I feel about losing.”

“You love me, too?” she asked. Her eyes were glistening but miraculously they didn’t leak.

“Yes, I-” she cut me off with a finger against my lips. Then she stepped away and put her ear to the door. “What are you doing?”

“Shh.” She listened for just a moment. “They’re talking about the movie. I think we have a little time.”

Then she attacked my belt.

We didn’t fully undress. I bent her over my bed and took her hard and fast, covering her mouth to muffle her cries though I loved to hear them.

I would have loved to savor every minute, every sound and every touch, but there wasn’t much time with her sister waiting in the next room. Besides, we’d have all the time in the world once she moved in. We’d be able to do this every night.

Realizing that set me aflame - I pumped into her, grunting as quietly as I could, and came hard with her name on my lips.

If she called mine, I couldn’t tell. I had to hold her silent. But I could feel her body tremble and quake as her pleasure overtook her.

I released her when her breathing finally began to slow.

“I love you, Mal,” she said, her voice low. Sated. Happy. I’d done that.

I helped her stand and button her jeans back up as she realigned my belt. “Were we quiet enough?” she asked.

“Who cares?” I ran my hands through her hair, flattening a little of the wild tangle. There was no helping it, though. I’d made her sweat. Her hair was a mess.

“Yeah,” she said, noting my frustration, “The first thing I’ll be bringing over is my flattening iron.”

“I don’t even know what that is.”

“You’re in for a lot of surprises, then.” Winking, she opened the door.

And there were Katherine and Lockett, tangled on the couch. Kissing. The movie ran on, long forgotten.

“Katherine!” Riley shrieked. I couldn’t tell if she was upset or just surprised.

The two sat up abruptly looking guilty as sin. Katherine straightened her skirt and Lockett sat back, chuckling nervously.

“Not her fault,” Lockett said, “I’m just too damn irresistible.” There was truth there. I’d witnessed it myself, with Tyler’s pretty friend.

“Oh, Katherine, really?
Him?
”

“Hey!” Lockett tried to look wounded but it was obvious he found the whole thing way too funny.

“You said I ought to have a little fun,” Katherine said primly, staring straight ahead at the television.

Sounding for all the world like an older sister instead of the younger one that she was, Riley released a heavy sigh. “Get your bag. We’re leaving.”

Wisely, I held onto my laughter for later.

CHAPTER 10

My mouth was bleeding but I smiled through it. My brother could hit hard. But the split lip and the ringing in my head was nothing, because now I knew the truth.

He could hit
damn
hard. But I could hit harder. All I’d had to do was stop being afraid of him.

The venue was packed. Tony and I had arrived separately - me with some of the fighters from Lee’s, him with a few guys from his own gym. There were a couple fights lined up before ours, but we were the main attraction.

“The only thing that can keep you from winning is up here,” Surly said, jabbing my forehead with a finger.

“I hope you’re right.” I didn’t feel as strong as I wanted to feel, as fast as I wanted to feel - on the other hand, I never did. I always wanted to be better.
Just another fight like any other fight
, I told myself,
I’ve got this
.

Riley was out there in the audience with her friends and her sister. I was glad they’d all come along. I could tell that she was nervous, and I didn’t blame her, not after the last fight got busted.

It felt good to have a cheering section, too.

I didn’t watch the other fights. I warmed up with Surly, running through a few light exercises to loosen up. “Where’s your guy sitting?” I asked, referring to the recruiter he’d convinced to attend.

“Don’t worry about him,” Surly said, “Just fight your fight.”
Easier said than done
.

It was time too soon. I handed my hoodie over to Surly wordlessly, and he just nodded.

“Last fight on the night, ladies and gentleman,” the announcer called over the loudspeaker. Damn. This place had a sound system. It was already five steps fancier than anywhere I’d fought before. There were even seats. Hopefully the nicer setup was putting Riley at ease.

“We’ve got a battle of brothers, here, folks. Looks like it’s a battle of boroughs, too. Here we have Brooklyn boy Tony Catone!”

The crowd stood and cheered as he stepped into the ring. No cage, thank goodness. I’d had enough of the cage for a while.

“And here’s Queens resident Michael ‘the Mallet’ Catone!” I jogged out to wild shouts and cheers. Popularity wouldn’t help me win the fight but it sure felt good. I waved at the crowd though I couldn’t see them through the lights.
Real lighting. Why haven’t we been fighting here from the start?

It was probably expensive, that was why. Lee had really gone all out. I’d have to thank him later.

I tapped fists with Tony in the center of the ring before retreating to separate corners. He showed no trace of fear, and why should he? He was in great shape, and he’d won this fight before.
Not this time, brother
.

The bell rang. I sprang into action, faking a lunge forward before dodging aside. He adjusted smoothly. It wouldn’t be easy to get him off-balance. I knew that from our previous fights.
What would I do if I was facing Surly?

Dodge out of his reach and avoid going down at all costs, that was what.

I spotted Riley in the front row, dark as it was. Dad was next to her. I cursed to myself - how had she ended up babysitting the old man?

I had more pressing matters. Tony launched at me with an impressive high kick that landed squarely on my shoulder. The impact sent me staggering backwards. All I could think was
don’t fall
.

I kept my footing but only barely.
Fucking idiot, don’t get distracted!

I spat and glared at Tony. No words - no time for words. I came at him swinging. Tony went for a low punch and I wrapped my arms over him, trying to trap him in a guillotine. He was too fast - he escaped before I could lock him in.

It put him on awkward footing, though, and I got a few good punches in around his shoulders, backing him up against the ropes.

I heard him curse under his breath.
Good
. I pressed on, hook after hook, trying to get under his guard, to land the sort of hit that would really rattle him and get him down.

He broke away unexpectedly. One moment I was pummeling him. The next he was using my weight to yank us both around, reversing our positions. I lifted my arms to guard my head and face as he reigned blows upon me just as I’d done to him.
Shit. Shit!

I had to get out of that position. I couldn’t count on him simply wearing himself out, the man was a machine, I’d learned that the hard way before.

You’re weak.
My father’s voice echoed in my head, summoned up from the past like a ghost.
You’re weak because you’re scared. You’re afraid of getting hurt, and worse, you’re afraid of hurting him right back.

I was only a child when he said that one dark night on our building’s rooftop. He loved to pit me against my brother. Tony was bigger than me back then, because he was older.

The second part of his statement still held true. At least a little.

I took a risky overhead swing and landed a hard punch on Tony’s jaw, just as he got through my guard and slammed his fist against my nose.

Blood exploded from both of our faces.

That night on the roof was the first time I’d made Tony bleed. My tiny flying fists knocked his jaw upward, causing him to bite his tongue.

Back then he looked shocked and offended. Now, he just grinned.

Then he took me down.

He hooked one leg around mine while I was temporarily blinded by the blood on my face and slammed me down to the mat.

Letting muscle memory take over, I rolled aside, just out of his grasp before he could get a hold on me.

I went for his leg. I went for that toe-hold that Surly despised so much. I almost had him, almost, but the bell rang, ending the round.

Fuck
.

“I almost had you, motherfucker,” I hissed as I pushed myself to my feet.

“You wish, dipshit.” He spat blood. His lip was broken. I prayed that my nose wasn’t. I was too pumped up on adrenaline to tell, but it didn’t feel great.

I retreated to my corner where Surly was waiting with a towel. “That was close,” he said, mopping the blood off my face. “You almost had him.”

“Is my nose broken?”

“Doesn’t look too bad.” That didn’t answer the question but it didn’t matter. I wouldn’t end the fight over a broken nose either way.

I scanned the audience, seeking out Riley’s and Dad’s seats. His expression was unreadable. She was twisting the hem of her skirt as usual and watching me with worry. “I’m okay,” I mouthed.

She didn’t look convinced. But I’d show her.

The bell rang, signaling round two. Surly ducked out of the ring and I turned back to the center.

We met in the middle and locked arms. Tony came at me with a series of kicks that I blocked easily, turning aside each one and waiting for my opening.

Take him down,
Dad’s shouts echoed in my head. This time we were scuffling on the sidewalk while Dad and a few friends from the corner pub sat on the stoop and watched.

Take him down
. I was fifteen pounds lighter than him, then.

I wasn’t now. We were equally matched, at least physically. Tony swerved, I lashed out at his feet, and we both hit the mat.

He scrambled over me, going for the side mount. He nearly got it. He pounded me a few quick jabs as he tried to adjust his position but he’d overextended himself.

Moving fast, I reversed our positions. I was over his side, he was trapped beneath me. I returned his jabs, then added a few of my own, working him hard to get past his guard.

Harder!
Nothing was never enough for our father. The sun had set and most of his friends had scattered. Tony and I were both bleeding, both exhausted.

Maybe if we’d showed the old man a united front things would have been different. If Tony had stood with me and said to him, “That’s enough.”