The Lily Underground

13.

"Tell me again Niko why is it that I have to learn this?"

I was standing in the entrance of the private gym, and even though it was a private gym and basically inside "our" home, It was as big as a public gym. 

Niko was only wearing workout pants and had no shirt on revealing his muscular back and chest making it very obvious that he was fit. He must've have already worked out for som time as well, cause when I got there  his skin was glistening with sweat.

"There isn't really a specifik reason why", he said while punching on a boxing bag, "a girl needs to be able to protect herself, of course as your brothers it's our job as well, but if we fail to protect you and be there for you, the best thing then, would be for you to be able to protect yourself"

Niko had given an obvious explanation, it wasn't why I needed to learn to fight that I wanted to know but more from what? If it was simple selfdefence this seemed... I don't know something just tells me that it's not as simple as what they're making it seem.

"So I won't be going too hard on you for our first week working out, cause your wound still needs to heal, also I just need to know what I'm working with" Niko then tilted his head to left "also Miya next time don't wear a hoodie to our workouts"

This was going to be great I thought, I'll just have to look like damsel in distress, cause if not I would be dealing with loads of questions, also having a sister so close to a world of criminals wasn't something I believe they were ready to know. 

I knew working out in a hoodie was going to be horrible. Already before working out I could feel the heat from it and was disgusted by the thought of how sweaty I was going to be. 

Truth is the only reason I wore the hoodie was to make sure that he wouldn't se my muscles and especially not my back muscles, which for women are super hard to define unless you workout as much as I do - he doesn't need to know how fit I am.

The workout Niko had prepared mainly consisted of him trying to figure out how good or bad I was at cardio, so basically the day went by with me just running and walking in different speed. 

Acting as if I was about to faint from a simple workout, was more simple than I thought, truth is I didn't feel satisfied after the workout finished my muscles ached to be used. The workout only ended because my acting was going too well and cause Niko thought I couldn't take anymore.

As I was about to wipe off some sweat off my forehead Niko looked at me "hei Miya has anyone told you that Evelyn also has a son that stays here as well?"

"No Niko, no one has told me that" I said a bit weirded out, "well" he said looking straight into my eyes "he's back from his trip so yeah", "so yeah what Niko?" I said irritated you know they could've told me earlier, "Nothing" he said " "I just thought you should know". 

"so when will he be here" I asked Niko but before he could answer, someone from behind us said "I'm very happy to hear that you shits didn't even tell her that i exist"

I immediately turned around and in front me stood the most handsome man I had ever seen, he had dirty blond hair, his muscles were very defined and his brown eyes were just so warm and you know why I knew that he was fit?, well because he like Niko wasn't wearing a shirt - great.

Before I even managed to greet the man who was apparently my stepbrother my eyes fell on to the tattoo he had on his shoulder that pictured two fists, the tattoo itself wasn't what I found weird it was the fact that Niko had the exact same but his was placed on his tricep. 

Then it hit me why I had found it weird, normally fighters underground tend to have these kinds of tattoos and sometimes fighters will get the same tattoo, but only if they of course are friends and if they've fought a final against each other. -Luca and I shared the same tattoo as well.

Somehow it suddenly made sense what Niko had been preparing himself for - he does underground fighting and it seems like, well now that I think about it I dont know what his name is.

I hadn't seen the hand that was reached out for me to greet, before I heard someone make a fake cough "oh yeah hi" I said reaching to shake the hand, shit I must've been staring "Jace" he said, "you have no idea how long your brothers have waited for this moment, my head has been bleeding from all the stories they've told me"

"oh shut up Jace don't act like you havn't also looked forward to this" Niko said trying to shift som blame, "well I have but you guys have just not been yourself since your dad gave you the news that Miya had been found"

"Never mind" Jace said and then looked at me and pointed a finger while raising one of his eyebrows, "Niko why is your sister and my stepsister wearing a huge hoodie to a workout?" 

"fine, I get it next time I won't be wearing a hoodie also, when were you going to tell me that you guys do underground fighting?"

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