Second Chances

Chapter 10

Ever since that night at the fair, Mackenzie had been jumpier than usual. The fear of being taken again was almost crippling. She was scared, even though she knew that Luke wouldn't let anything happen to her. Since their kiss in the car, he had gotten better with her but was still not talking and letting her in. She knew, though, deep down, that he would risk everything for her. The boys were each assigned a time to watch her, just to make sure she was safe. "Mackenzie, get dressed." John ordered from outside her room.

"Why? What's going on?" She asked, getting out of bed. She pulled on a pair of leggings and one of Luke's sweatshirts.

"Everything's fine, don't worry." He chuckled. "Luke just wants you down at the ring tonight."

"Are you sure everything is fine? Luke never wants me down there." Mackenzie slipped her Vans on and opened her door.

"He just wants to be with you, he's giving the rest of us a break." John smiled and walked out to the car with Mackenzie trailing behind. "He trusts himself to keep you safe more than he trusts us."

"Has anyone heard anything from Romeo since the incident at the fair?" She asked, sliding into the car with him.

"No, which is why we have to keep a close eye on you. He loves to strike when no one's expecting it." He explained as he pulled out of the driveway and sped down the street.

"What does he want from me?" She sighed and looked out the window.

"He knows that Luke would do anything for you, including give up everything we've worked for." John looked at Mackenzie as he stopped at a red light. "Luke would drop everything for you and Romeo knows that. He wants to kill you in hopes of Luke giving up the ring." He started driving again. "Luke took it from Romeo during a match where they bet everything and now he's pissed because we're better than he ever was. It technically can only be passed back if Luke dies or passes it back. So if Romeo has you and forces to Luke to give it up, he will, but everything in this gang is built around that ring and so is Luke. So, it's a tough situation for all of us," he explained.

"It's all my fault." Mackenzie sighed. "I was the one who told Luke about the ring and he probably wouldn't have gotten into it if it wasn't for me bugging him about it."

"Hey, you gave us an amazing opportunity to make millions of dollars." John shrugged. "It's not your fault you got pulled back into this, it's Luke's for leaving you in the first place." He drove down into the underground parking garage and stopped in front of the door to the building. Luke walked out the door and opened the passenger side door of the car.

"Hey, baby girl, you ready?" Luke grinned at Mackenzie.

"Ready for what, Luke?" Mackenzie asked as she got out of the car. John drove off and Luke held Mackenzie's hand.

"I'm going to teach you some self defense moves." Luke walked inside with her, fingers laced with hers. "If there ever comes a time when I'm not able to be there to save you, I want you to at least know how to get yourself out of it."

"You're going to train me to hit people?" Mackenzie looked up at him.

"Just for your safety. For this session, I'm going to have you hit me." Luke pulled her to the ring and she pulled her hand away.

"No way, Luke. I am not hitting you." She crossed her arms. "No way in hell."

"Mac, you won't hurt me. I just need to make sure you can defend yourself if I'm ever not there, which I doubt will happen but just incase." Luke sighed. "I need to know you can protect yourself. Hitting me is only for tonight." He picked up the tape and held his hand out for hers. She sighed and placed her hand in Luke's. He wrapped the tape around her hands and grabbed the pads, slipping them on his own hands. "I just want you to punch these pads, okay?" He held his hands up.