career as a fighter so he became a trainer. Vinnie hired him to make me the best. I have natural skills which Nate has honed to a razor’s edge.
"Nothing," I say.
"Who is she?" he asks.
I swing at him and he catches my fist just before it smashes into his face. He grins and pushes it away.
"You're going have to be faster than that," he says.
"Let's just keep working."
"Your choice," he says.
I pick up the jump rope and begin. The steady clack of the rope against the floor is soothing. I can let my mind drift while doing this. Gives me time to ask myself what am I doing? What kind of life is this for me to bring LeAnne into? She's too good for this.
"Time," Nate calls. "That's it for today. How are you feeling?"
"Good," I say.
"All right. I got some video of your opponents. Let's watch that before you go do dinner."
We watch the videos and Nate points out things about my opponents. I get a good feel for what I'll be facing. Only one of them gives me concern. I talk about it with Nate and he says he'll come up with a plan overnight to work on. So we’ll start that tomorrow.
I head for the kitchen to get my dinner. I don't eat with the rest of the family. My meals are specially prepared just for me. Every aspect of them is balanced out as ordered by Nate. The exact right amount of fuel to keep my body in tip top shape. I can't afford even the tiniest amount of drag.
"Vinnie, please," I hear LeAnne's mom begging.
What the fuck? I thought she was supposed to be in rehab already.
"Suzanne!" Vinnie yells.
I hear the sound of flesh on flesh and I know he hit her. My stomach knots up. I hate the way he treats people, especially women. I make up my mind to ignore it as Suzanne chose her own path, but then I hear LeAnne.
"Stop it! You're not helping," she yells.
My stomach sinks. I told her the first rule and she's throwing it out the window. I head for the sound of their voices.
"You think you want to step up, little girl?" Vinnie asks.
"She needs help," LeAnne says.
"Yeah, baby, I need some help, I just need a little bit to get me by," Suzanne begs.
"Shut the fuck up, Suzanne," Vinnie says.
He's not yelling. This is about to go really bad. I burst into a full run and enter the dining room quickly surveying the scene. Suzanne is on the floor and hanging onto Vinnie's right leg. Her left eye is black and blue and tears stream down her face. LeAnne is three feet away from Vinnie standing up to him with a bravery that I've never seen, not even from the hardest men. No one stands up to Vinnie. Even the heads of the other families hesitate to, but she's not backing down.
"It's your fault," LeAnne says. Her hands are closed into fists and her arms shake at her sides. "You're the one supplying her."
Vinnie's hand comes up and swings at LeAnne. I spring, leaping forward, and catch his swinging arm by his wrist. Our faces are inches apart and we stare at each other’s eyes and I see the cold stone killer in his. I don't know what he sees in mine but I'm resolved. I'll do whatever it takes to protect her. I know what he’s capable of and I don't care.
He strains against my grip on his arm, trying to push forward but I don't let him. I'm in control of the situation. All my training comes into play and I'm stronger than he is. Like a predator recognizing another superior predator, I see it happen in his eyes. The moment that fear forms in his eyes and he quits straining against my grip then takes a step backwards.
"All right," Vinnie says. "You take care this fucking slut."
He turns and walks out of the dining room. Suzanne crawls after him begging. "Vinnie? Vinnie?"
I stare after him as he leaves. It's the first time in my life I've stood up to him. It's the first time I've had anything worth standing up for. LeAnne touches my shoulder and a cold chill runs down my spine. I don't turn around until I'm sure he's gone. When I do, she smiles and the entire room brightens up.
"Thank you," she says.
I shrug and start
"Nothing," I say.
"Who is she?" he asks.
I swing at him and he catches my fist just before it smashes into his face. He grins and pushes it away.
"You're going have to be faster than that," he says.
"Let's just keep working."
"Your choice," he says.
I pick up the jump rope and begin. The steady clack of the rope against the floor is soothing. I can let my mind drift while doing this. Gives me time to ask myself what am I doing? What kind of life is this for me to bring LeAnne into? She's too good for this.
"Time," Nate calls. "That's it for today. How are you feeling?"
"Good," I say.
"All right. I got some video of your opponents. Let's watch that before you go do dinner."
We watch the videos and Nate points out things about my opponents. I get a good feel for what I'll be facing. Only one of them gives me concern. I talk about it with Nate and he says he'll come up with a plan overnight to work on. So we’ll start that tomorrow.
I head for the kitchen to get my dinner. I don't eat with the rest of the family. My meals are specially prepared just for me. Every aspect of them is balanced out as ordered by Nate. The exact right amount of fuel to keep my body in tip top shape. I can't afford even the tiniest amount of drag.
"Vinnie, please," I hear LeAnne's mom begging.
What the fuck? I thought she was supposed to be in rehab already.
"Suzanne!" Vinnie yells.
I hear the sound of flesh on flesh and I know he hit her. My stomach knots up. I hate the way he treats people, especially women. I make up my mind to ignore it as Suzanne chose her own path, but then I hear LeAnne.
"Stop it! You're not helping," she yells.
My stomach sinks. I told her the first rule and she's throwing it out the window. I head for the sound of their voices.
"You think you want to step up, little girl?" Vinnie asks.
"She needs help," LeAnne says.
"Yeah, baby, I need some help, I just need a little bit to get me by," Suzanne begs.
"Shut the fuck up, Suzanne," Vinnie says.
He's not yelling. This is about to go really bad. I burst into a full run and enter the dining room quickly surveying the scene. Suzanne is on the floor and hanging onto Vinnie's right leg. Her left eye is black and blue and tears stream down her face. LeAnne is three feet away from Vinnie standing up to him with a bravery that I've never seen, not even from the hardest men. No one stands up to Vinnie. Even the heads of the other families hesitate to, but she's not backing down.
"It's your fault," LeAnne says. Her hands are closed into fists and her arms shake at her sides. "You're the one supplying her."
Vinnie's hand comes up and swings at LeAnne. I spring, leaping forward, and catch his swinging arm by his wrist. Our faces are inches apart and we stare at each other’s eyes and I see the cold stone killer in his. I don't know what he sees in mine but I'm resolved. I'll do whatever it takes to protect her. I know what he’s capable of and I don't care.
He strains against my grip on his arm, trying to push forward but I don't let him. I'm in control of the situation. All my training comes into play and I'm stronger than he is. Like a predator recognizing another superior predator, I see it happen in his eyes. The moment that fear forms in his eyes and he quits straining against my grip then takes a step backwards.
"All right," Vinnie says. "You take care this fucking slut."
He turns and walks out of the dining room. Suzanne crawls after him begging. "Vinnie? Vinnie?"
I stare after him as he leaves. It's the first time in my life I've stood up to him. It's the first time I've had anything worth standing up for. LeAnne touches my shoulder and a cold chill runs down my spine. I don't turn around until I'm sure he's gone. When I do, she smiles and the entire room brightens up.
"Thank you," she says.
I shrug and start
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