Fighting Dirty - Sidney Halston Page 0,83

and for her baby.

—

Enzo had been in conference all morning, and finally—finally!—it seemed as though things would work out. Rommel had called a meeting with a separate group of moneymen who liked Enzo’s new urban proposal, and they were going to buy out his father’s original contract from right under his nose. It was an underhanded move on Enzo’s part, but his father had left him no other choice.

He looked at his phone, and there was a message from Jamie Lynn. Feeling better. Going to paint.

Once he was finished with work he ran to the nearest hardware store, bought a bunch of items, and drove to the Walls just as she was pulling up. “What are you doing here?” she asked.

“I want to tell you not to do this because you’re still too tired. But I haven’t liked seeing you in bed and I know you’re going to fight me anyway, so instead I brought supplies.”

She smiled brightly and looked inside the bag he handed her. “Gloves? A mask? No, let me rephrase it—a crazy Bane from Batman mask.”

“I’ve seen your PJs.”

“Enzo…,” she whined.

“It’s the best they had, and it’ll keep the baby safe from all those fumes. Please, just indulge me.”

She rolled her eyes, but he couldn’t help notice the big grin on her face. “Yes, of course I’ll wear it. Thank you.”

“Anything for you.” He kissed her cheek. “I also made sure that no cop will bother you all anymore.”

“Thanks, Enzo. That means a lot.”

“You sure you’re ready for this?”

“I am. I need to get out of my head, and this is the best way. I want to lose myself in this wall for the next few hours.”

“I’m going to the Academy for a bit. I’ll bring you food at your apartment.”

She kissed his cheek and turned toward the group of friends who were parking their cars.

Since arriving back at Tarpon Springs last week, Enzo had been working out daily, and an hour into his workout he still couldn’t believe how great the day had turned out. His girl was out of the house, the Walls would be saved, and he was at the gym in the middle of the day. “I can tell you trained while you were away,” Tony said as he ducked out of the way of Enzo’s kick.

“Yes. Every day. I’m serious this time. I want to fight. Not just to win, but because I enjoy the sport. I haven’t enjoyed much in the last thirty years, but now I’ve realized what’s important.”

“That’s good, man. Glad to hear it,” Tony said as they continued to spar. “You may just have a chance at that win if you keep it up.”

“Hope so,” Enzo said breathlessly.

“Let’s switch,” came a now familiar voice from the other side of the cage.

“Iggy, didn’t know you were in town!” Tony said.

“Yeah, had a few things to take care of.” He opened the cage and walked in. “Mind if we go a few rounds? Think you can take me?”

“Hell yeah. With all the metal you’re sporting, it’s like fighting with Iron Man,” Enzo teased.

Iggy put his gloves down, and his face changed from that of a happy-go-lucky jokester to the visage of a forlorn and offended man.

“Too soon, Enzo. You can’t insult a man who lost a leg defending your country. What kind of asshole are you? Not cool. Iron Man? Are you a bigot?”

Enzo’s face heated, and he wished the ground would swallow him up.

Iggy hooted loudly. “Oh my God, I wish you could see your face right now. You look mortified! I was just fucking with you!”

“You’re a dick,” Tony said to Iggy from behind them, but he was chuckling.

“You really are,” Enzo agreed.

“Come on, Pretty Boy. Take your best shot.” Iggy arrogantly held his arms out, and Enzo took the opportunity to land a punch right in Iggy’s gut.

By the time Enzo returned back to Jamie Lynn’s apartment it was almost six in the evening. “Don’t you work anymore?” She’d noticed his workout clothes as soon as he walked through the door.

He shrugged dismissively. “You look better.”

“Yeah. I bathed,” she said, looking inside the bags of food he’d brought with him.

“I was about to tell you something about the smell in the house,” he teased her. “I think getting out of the house did you good. Brought you some soup from EE’s Diner.”

“Yum,” she said as she served herself. “How’s the training coming along?”

“Great. You going to come watch me fight?”

“Of course.” She took a sip of soup.