Path To Retaliation (Fighter's Den, #2)

Chapter 21 - Cameron

I barely duck in time to avoid the right hook Jaxon throws at me. I feel the leathery material of his glove graze the tips of my hair and internally cringe, knowing that if my face took the brute force of that hit my features would have been rearranged.

"Watch out for the face, will ya?" I scowl and jump a few steps back. "It's my most prized asset."

"Yeah, cause that's not self-centred or anything." His lips twitch.

"I can't help it if I'm one beautiful motherfucker. You're just jealous because you know all of this could steal your girl."

"That's totally it." He deadpans. "How could I, a mere mortal, ever compare to those godly looks?"

"I don't know, my peasant. I just know it sucks to be you."

"Assface."

"I would have went with douchenozzle." Coach remarks as he walks into the gym.

"You guys still use my word?" I slap both hands to my chest. "I have never felt so loved."

Jaxon snorts. "That's pretty sad."

"More like really fucking lame." Coach adds with a snicker.

"Oh, so now you guys are a team?"

"Guess you have that affect on people." Jax bats his eyes at me. "Isn't that what my fairy godmother is supposed to do?"

I cross my arms and huff because he's right. That's totally what I'm supposed to do.

"I'm not even going to ask what that means." Coach's comment gets a laugh out of Jax and I. "Now stop fucking around and get over here."

We share an amused glance before making our way over to him as requested. Lately, Coach has been relying on Jaxon and I more and more. He usually gets our opinion before making decisions and openly invites us to help him run Fighter's Den. It's an unexpected turn of events but then again so was Jaxon becoming his son-in-law. If I didn't know any better I'd say Jax might just run FD one day should Coach choose to step down. He knows this place like the back of his hand by now, anyways.

"Let's double check and see if we're on schedule with everything." Coach begins writing down on the piece of paper secured on his clipboard. "Status update on the new equipment?"

"It's been shipped out and should arrive by the end of the week. There were some complications with the Hyperflex Bag because the latest model was out and the price ran higher but I worked around it and told them to hold off on the standing punching bag. They're the flashy version of what we have anyways so it didn't seem like much of a priority."

"Nice." Coach nods, obviously impressed. Jaxon was a natural at this stuff. He turns to me. "Your next match details?"

"It'll be in three weeks time. Opponent is Thomas Miller and is a two-time former heavyweight champ. His offence is fucking crazy and he moves like lightening despite being such a big guy. I've watched all of his matches within the last two years and formed a fighting strategy that I'll try out with you later today and you can critique it as necessary. Offence is my forté too so we're going to have to figure something out."

"We'll come up with something before the end of today. I want you to do a one-on-one with Jax so I can see what I'm working with from the outside before I get in the ring with you. If I can see your play then I'll know how to counter it and I'll see how quick you are on your feet with whatever I dish out at you."

"That's just tough guy talk for 'I'm going to kick your ass and you won't even see it coming.' Thanks for the vote of confidence." I grumble.

"You're good but you can always be better." Coach gives me a pointed look that I reluctantly acknowledge because he's right. Every match is harder than the last and this one will be my toughest one yet.