Guns and Mirrors

TWENTY-SEVEN

♛Cameron Dawson ♛

The gym is quieter than usual, leaving me to workout in solitude and peace. There are only about three other guys around but only one is busy with weights, the other two going at it in a ring and therefore allowing me to focus on the blue punching bag that swings in front of my face.

Raising my fists up to my face, I take in a ragged breath and begin hitting the bag in a rhythm, pushing all the frustration I'm feeling to the forefront of my mind so that I can figure a way out of this whole mess.

The fact that my parents fucked up my life the day they killed Carla.

Punch.

The fact that Frank betrayed me.

Punch.

The fact that Harley had to kill him because I was too big a wimp to do it myself.

Punch.

The fact that I didn't get rid of all of the evidence like I thought.

Punch.

The fact that Harley is literally losing herself.

Punch.

The fact that we've gotten blackmailed into a gang.

Punch. Punch.

And the fact that now we have to pick a side while not knowing which one will be our demise.

Punch.
Punch.
Punch.

"Woah, Cameron." I hear a voice from behind us and I pause, turning around with heavy breathing to see Xavier dropping a duffel bag onto a bench before approaching me with furrowed eyebrows. "What're you doing here so early?"

Swallowing hard, I wipe the back of my hand to my forehead to get rid of the thin sheen of sweat. "I just needed to get some stuff out."

"Well since you're here, let's have a round in the ring. I need to warm up anyway." He says, an almost mischievous glint in his eye. With not much energy to argue with him, I simply nod and pull myself into a ring after the tall man in front of me.

I pull my shirt off, roll it into a ball and throw into one corner of the ring before taking the usual position in front of Xavier. With my hands in front of my face, I get to see how grazed they are with little scabs and blood sticking to my knuckles.

"Come on, throw the first punch Cameron." Xavier taunts, the both of us walking in a circle with our hands raised high in preparation to fight.

I crack a smirk, finding amusement in how Xavier manages to get a rise out of me by simply just talking.

"Now we both know I prefer not to throw the first punch." I say and he smiles, causing the scar over his face to wrinkle.

"I know."

He's throwing a punch aimed at my jaw in no time but with my knowledge of knowing he likes to aim there first, I dodge it expertly. Xavier laughs, watching me like a lion stalking a gazelle as he bounces on the balls of his feet.

"You're getting good at reading me."

I narrow my eyes, shrugging one shoulder.

"I know." I use his own words, lifting my leg and kicking him straight in the stomach. Xavier recoils back, holding his torso while heaving over. When he looks back at me, I see an almost sardonic glimmer in his eyes.

"Now, that wasn't fair. I wasn't ready."

I shrug. "Are dirty fight nights fair?" I retort and Xavier nods, letting out a breath through his nose before holding both of his hands up in front of him. Sighing, I begin punching them before Xavier grabs my wrist and twists me around so that he's got me in a headlock. Clawing at his arm around my neck, I try and get free but he only tightens his hold and restricts the airflow into my lungs.