Chapter 10
Three Weeks Later
With a tired moan, I toss my bag over my shoulder as I walk through the Cage and toward the back door. Straightening my arm next to my side, every muscle in my body screams out to me in agony. It’s a pain I’ve grown accustomed to and enjoyed . . . or so I thought. The last few weeks have been pure hell on my body, yet I really shouldn’t complain now that I’m in the best physical and mental shape of my life. It’s just difficult to fit everything into a twenty-four-hour time period when there’s hours of work, training and the need to spend time with Taryn. I’m only one person and I’m not willing to slack on any of my life’s choices.
Walking through the door and to my truck, the brightness of the sky is quickly fading. With each step I march toward my truck, the muscles in my back tighten and a stiffness begins to lurk its way up my neck. Today has been brutal and the only thing I want is to meet Taryn at her place and fall asleep with her in my arms. Boring, I know. But after hours of grueling fights and strength training this afternoon, I’m exhausted. There are only two more rounds of fights before the finals and no one is willing to stop until they’re holding the winning belt. I wish I could say that I’ve got the win in the bag, but that’s certainly not the case knowing very well who I’ll wind up against . . . Hank. It’s unsettling to know that my own flesh and blood absolutely despises me and there’s nothing anyone can do or say to clear his mind of the hatred he is feeling toward both me and Taryn.
Sliding into the cab of my truck, I rest my hands onto the steering wheel allowing my head to fall onto my forearms.
You’ve gotten yourself into one hell of a mess here, Trenton. One that I love and hate all at the same time. I wish it was easier.
There’s so much I want to say to my brother. He’s known how I felt about Taryn for years. He’s the one who clouded her mind with hope when all he wanted was a quick lay. She’s gorgeous. She’s loving. She’s kind. He took advantage of the desire she once felt and treated her like the others he’s fucked and left in the past. He’s the man who turned his back on her. It all seems so simple for me to understand, but he’s so jaded by his own ways that he refuses to listen to reason. At the Cage, we act like complete strangers who are training for the ultimate prize: the win we’ve both wanted our entire lives. In between the wires of the cage, we are not only opponents, we’re enemies. We are two men who have lived our entire lives as a pair of relentless fighters, who have always strived for the best . . . the win. Now that the end is drawing near, I’m not certain of what will happen. Will he win and my pride be destroyed? Will I win and he’ll hate me for the rest of our lives because I took the one thing away that he’s dreamed of achieving?
Wait!
It’s as if a lightbulb has illuminated the interior of my truck.
That’s it. Is it? There’s no way. He couldn’t be angry because of that . . . because he lost her and I’ve won.
I’ve known my brother my entire life. He’s never backed down from a challenge. He’s never lost something he’s fought for or wanted. That is, until now. He was always the playboy, hell, we all were at one point or another. I can’t, no . . . I don’t want to believe that the reason he is so bent out of shape over my relationship with Taryn is because of his pride.
Damn it to hell. He may be my brother . . . my twin, but I’m not going to let his shit storm of pride ruin the best thing that has ever happened to me. This is my life and I’m finally taking a stand, no more hiding in the shadows. No more settling for second best. This isn’t about him anymore. I am going to do what is best for me in and out of the cage. I’ve moved past the feelings over the others in the cage. It isn’t about them either. What I do know is that I’ll never give up and I won’t let down my guard. It’s not even an option. I will win these fights and I will walk away the champion I’ve trained to become.
Just as I’m about to knock on the door, it swings open. Taryn stands in front of me in her sweat shorts, a tank and her hair piled on top of her head in a messy bun. To her she’s a hot mess, but to me she looks absolutely beautiful. With an extension of her arm, I intertwine our fingers as she pulls me inside.
“Long day?” she asks.
“You could say that,” I respond sitting on the couch. “It’s only going to get more intense as the days move on. I can’t believe we’re this close to the finals. I feel like I just got back to Brooklyn and BAM it’s all happening.”
With a smile she curls in next to me, resting her head onto my chest.
“I can’t imagine what it would be like if you weren’t here. This is your home. The Cage is your sanctuary and the final fights are yours to win. There’s no doubt in my mind that you will be claiming what has been yours all along.”
“You’re slightly biased. You know that, right?”
With a giggle, she sits up.
“I may be biased, but I’ve also watched you train and fight for better part of my life. I know your skill and the drive you showcase within the octagon.”
“You’ve been our biggest cheerleader from the start. I don’t know that I would have wanted to become in the beginning had it not been for you.”
“Oh hush. That’s a lie and you know it. Fighting is in your blood. Whether you wanted to go to the Cage when you were younger or not, you were destined to be a fighter. You would have come around eventually.”
Resting my head back onto the couch, I take a moment to let her words sink in and she’s exactly right. A little push here and there was encouragement, but fighting was something I would have done on my own. The choice was simple, although I may have struggled with it at a young age. Now looking back, I can’t imagine my life would be the same had I not taken those first few steps. I did what I had to and I’ve succeeded ever since. There’s no stopping the passion and determination I feel within the cage and I have only one more step to make before I can finally fulfill my dreams.