The Atlanta Braves were playing their final home game of the season. The Souls generally followed the Braves in baseball, the Carolina Panthers in football, the Charlotte Hornets in basketball, with a few brothers interested in the Carolina Hurricanes in hockey. Not every brother followed every team, and some had other loyalties, but there was always a crowd in the clubhouse on game day as they watched the game on the giant 65-inch television. With plenty of food and drink available, the crowds were loud, rowdy, and there was a lot of laughter as brothers, old ladies and club girls alike, booed and cheered their teams.
Vanilla, a busty blonde who was one of his favorites, was sitting in Hammer’s lap as they sipped a beer, watching as the Braves closing pitcher tried to seal the game for his team. As usual, she was getting squirmy as the game wound down, spending more time nibbling on his ear or kissing his neck than actually watching the game.
It was a tradition for him to take her home after the game, and he was intentionally heating her up by caressing her along the inside of her thigh, bringing his fingers tantalizingly close to her womanhood without actually touching her there.
She pretended to like watching the games, and he pretended he wasn’t trying to make her crazy with lust while making her wait. It was a game they both enjoyed and played to good effect.
Hammer picked up his phone when it began to ring and smiled at the name. “Hop up,” he said, giving Vanilla a playful slap on the ass to hurry her along as he accepted the call. “Hammer.”
“I thought I’d give you the news. Can you talk?” Lily asked.
“Hang on a second,” he said as he levered himself out of the chair and moved toward the two guest rooms the clubhouse contained. He entered one and closed the door, reducing the noise of the cheering crowd, both on the television and in the clubhouse, to a more reasonable level.
“Go ahead.”
“Hunter and I just heard from the chief. The DA isn’t going to press charges.”
Hammer grinned in relief. It had been eight days since he bounced that drunk asshole off the ground. He hadn’t exactly been worried about it, but it was still good to know the DA wasn’t a total prick and he wouldn’t have to defend himself in court.
“That’s good to know. Thank you for telling me.”
“I figured it was the least I could do since you bought me dinner.”
“Thanks just the same, and pass along my thanks to Hunter as well.”
“I will. I think the big thing that worked in your favor was you never drew your weapon, even when he pulled the knife. That was going above and beyond and counted big in your favor.”
“I thought you said the knife couldn’t be pinned on him since I didn’t press charges?”
“Couldn’t, but then he started making noise. Newt pulled the knife from lost and found as part of his investigation and Foster’s prints were all over it. The DA added assault with a deadly weapon and brandishing a weapon to his list of charges. Overall, he’d have been better off if he’d just kept his mouth shut.”
“Serves the asshole right.”
“Yes, it does. See, nobody was out to get you,” she teased.
“You promised to make me eat crow only once,” he replied, his smile clear in his voice.
“Okay, I thought you’d want to know.”
“Anything else?” he asked, detecting a hesitation in her tone.
“I don’t know how to ask this, but I was wondering…”
“What?” he prompted when she didn’t continue.
“I’m still embarrassed that Foster knocked me down, and I was wondering…” she began, her voice trailing off before returning strong and confident. “I was wondering if you’d mind giving me some pointers?”
“Don’t they teach you that stuff in cop school?”
She snickered. “Yeah, but there is always more to learn. I’m impressed as hell you took Foster down, twice, once while he was threatening you with a knife, without getting a scratch on you. I’ll be happy to pay you.”
This time it was Hammer who chuckled. “You don’t have to do that. I’d be happy to give you a few pointers. I teach a basic self-defense class twice a month. I know you’re too advanced for that, but we could use the mat. I know the owner of the place, and he won’t mind.”
“Is the owner you?”
He chuckled again. “No. A friend of mine owns the gym where I teach. Canvas. Heard of it?”
“Yeah. Never been in there, though.”
“They have a couple of boxing rings and a few mats for training. It’s not a big place, but it’s the only place in town where you can spar in an actual boxing ring.”
“You’re sure you don’t mind? I’m kind of embarrassed to ask.”
“Not a bit. What day works for you?”
“I’m on the seven to three shift for another couple of days, then I rotate to the three to eleven shift for a couple of weeks before I rotate to the eleven to seven for two weeks. Pick something that works for you with that in mind, and I’ll make it work. After all, you’re doing me the favor.”
“How about tonight, then? Sunday’s are slow, we might have the whole place to ourselves.”
“What time does it close?”
“He closes at seven on Sunday.”
“Not a lot of time.”
Hammer glanced at the phone to check the time. It was almost five now. “Don’t sweat it,” he said. “Like I said, I know the owner. If we go late, I can lock the place up.”
There was a pause. “You’re sure you don’t mind?”
“Stop worrying! Jesus! If you were going to worry this much, why’d you ask?”
She giggled. “Okay. I can be there in about an hour.”
“Perfect. Do I need to tell you to wear comfortable clothes?”
“No. I’ve got workout gear.”
“Okay. I’ll see you there about six.”
“Great! Thank you. I’ll buy you dinner sometime.”
“Deal.”
She snickered, surprised at his quick acceptance. “Just like that? No arguing?”
“Why argue? I believe in equal rights for women. Besides, I enjoyed the hell out of dinner the last time.”
I enjoyed what happened after dinner even more, he thought to himself but said nothing.
“I like your style,” Lily said. “Let me get my shit together. See you in forty-five minutes.”
Hammer hung up and walked back into the main room. The game was at the top of the ninth with the Braves up by one. He wanted to stay and see the rest of the game, but he didn’t have time to dawdle. Vanilla rose from his chair and smiled as she stepped aside for him to sit down again.
He pulled her in and gave her a quick kiss. “Something’s come up, and I’ve got to run.” She knew what that meant, and her face crumbled.
“You’ll miss the end of the game,” she said with a breathy pout, letting him know that wasn’t all he’d be missing.
“I know.” He pulled her in and kissed her again. “And worse, I’ll miss the after-game party,” he breathed into her ear, “but it can’t be helped. Maybe I’ll stop by your place later, and you can tell me how the game ended.”
Vanilla brightened. “I’d like that,” she said as she trailed a finger down his chest. He kissed her one more time. She knew how to roll with the punches, but that didn’t mean he had to be a total asshole.
“You’re leaving?” Mike asked.
“Yeah. I have to go do a favor for someone. Nothing to worry about.”
“Be safe, brother.”
He grinned and turned to walk out. How could he be any safer? He was going to be with a cop.
He hurried home, working the bike rapidly through the light traffic, leaving it parked in his drive. Without removing his helmet or gloves, he hurried into his house and dragged his sparring bag out of the closet and threw in his gi. He filled his water bottle from the jug he kept in the ‘fridge, added it to the bag, and then zipped it shut.
Five minutes after arriving home, he was off again.
He blazed through town, his workout bag bungeed to the back of his bike. He wanted to get to Canvas early to clear staying late with Motor. He didn’t think Motor would mind, but it was common courtesy to ask first.
As he expected, Canvas was deserted. He shook his head as he dismounted. He didn’t know why Motor bothered to open on Sundays. Canvas was open noon to ten Monday through Friday, seven to ten Saturday, and noon to seven Sunday. Canvas’ business was slow but steady through the week. During the mornings the hardcore and shift works came in to work out, then his business picked up in the evenings as people with regular nine to five type jobs began to arrive. All day Saturday was a madhouse, with people waiting in line for ring time. The rush dropped off some on Saturday evenings, and that was when he taught his class. Sunday, however, the place was usually a ghost town.
He stepped off the bike and grabbed his bag. “Motor, you crazy old bastard! You in here?” Hammer roared as he stepped into Canvas.
Motor was ex-Souls, if you could ever truly be ex-Souls. He had been one of the founding members back in 1972 and had remained a member until 2013 when he’d finally hung up his helmet for good. It was Motor who had brought Hammer into the club as a prospect.
Morgan Blasick, Motor to his brothers, stepped out of his office in the back corner of the space. Now pushing seventy, he was thinner and grayer, but he still carried himself with the pride and power he once had. “What are you doing here?”
Hammer smiled. “Someone is going to be here a few minutes for a special session.”
Motor looked at him, his face twisting in curiosity. “At six o’clock on a Sunday?”
“It’s when she could make it.”
“A she?”
“Yeah. A she. You know, long hair, smells nice, has tits. A girl. You remember those, right?”
Motor gave him a look. “I’ve probably had more pussy in my lifetime than you’ll ever get. I was your age in the sixties, don’t forget.”
Hammer snickered. “I have no idea how much help she’s going to want. If we’re going a little long, you want me to lock up?”
“I could just throw your ass out at closing time.”
Hammer grinned. “You could. But will you?”
Motor smiled and shook his head. “Nah, I guess not. Don’t forget to set the alarm.”
“Yes, Mother. If you want to go early, I’ll be here.”
Motor nodded. “Maybe I will. You need help getting the mat down or back up?”
“I got it,” Hammer said as he dropped his bag and walked to the wall where the large mat was rolled up for storage. He kicked his shoes off and started unrolling it. Once it started moving, it almost unrolled itself. It was folding it back up that was the bitch, but leaving it out to be walked on with shoes would destroy it in short order.
He gave the mat one last kick to finish unrolling the twenty by twenty padded surface when he heard the door open.
Both men turned as Lily stepped in.
“Jesus Christ. Is that her?” Motor asked softly as she approached.
“Yep,” Hammer replied and then waited for Lily to reach them. “Lily Donovan, Morgan Blasick. Morgan, Lily. Morgan owns Canvas.”
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Blasick,” Lily said, offering her hand.
“Call me Morgan,” he replied, taking the hand. “Hammer said you’re looking for a few pointers on self-defense?”
“Yeah,” she said as her face heated up, not wanting to admit why she felt like she needed them.
Morgan nodded. “He’ll be able to help you. He can probably take any man in town, one-on-one.”
“Really?”
Morgan nodded and Lily could see the pride in his eyes. “Oh yeah. He was the Southeast regional Brazilin Jujitsu champion. He might have taken national if he’d gone.”
“Why didn’t you go?” she asked, looking at Hammer.
“Uncle Sam called.”
“Oh. Then I’m in good hands I guess.”
“The best,” Morgan said with a confident nod.
Morgan looked at Lily again. Hammer knew what the old guy was thinking—while it may be true that Motor’s had more pussy than him, Hammer would bet on none of them being as prime as Lily.
“I’m an old man, and I need my rest, so I’m going to leave you to lock up. Don’t let him forget to set the alarm,” Morgan said, looking at Lily again.
Hammer chuckled. He forgot to set the alarm one time, and Morgan hadn’t let him forget it since.
Lily glanced at Hammer as he chuckled. “I won’t,” she replied.
“Good, then I think I’m going to call it a night a little early,” the older man said as he turned to walk away.
“Thank you for letting me use your place on such short notice!” Lily called and then grinned when Morgan waved his hand without slowing down or turning around.
Lily looked around Canvas. It was a long thin open room with a pair of boxing rings in the center of the space. The building was older but was clean and neat, its exposed brick walls and open ceiling making it feel like a place where sweaty men toiled. Along one wall was a section of free weights and along the other was a series of speed and heavy bags, and jump ropes hanging on pegs. At the back was an office and a door that led to what she assumed were the locker room and showers. The room was windowless, but the bright spots in the ceiling provided plenty of light.
She toed her shoes off and joined Hammer on the mat that was squeezed into a space between the wall and one of the rings. “What’s first?”
“First, we change,” he said as he shrugged out of his Immortal Souls jacket, then the rest of his clothes, before tossing them over the lowest of the ring ropes. Wearing only underwear, he pulled a pair of loose looking pants from his bag. She could see there was a matching jacket as well, but he left it in the bag.
“Are you changing or not?” he asked as he skinned out of his briefs and pulled on his workout pants.
She’d become mesmerized while he’d undressed right in front of her, completely at ease with her seeing him naked. And why should he be? Three days ago he’d seen everything she had to offer, and she’d done the same.
“Sorry, got distracted there for a moment,” she teased then pulled her own shirt over her head and tossed it over the rope beside his clothes. She then slid out of her pants and added them to the growing pile over the rope. He was bouncing lightly on his toes, loosening up as she turned to face him, dressed in her athletic bra and running shorts.
“You ready?” he asked, still bouncing, then became still.
“I hope,” she said. This was going to harder than Lily thought. He was distracting as hell, and she wondered if he would mind putting a shirt on so she could concentrate. She smiled.
Fuck concentration.
She wanted his shirt off.