The Devil You Know - K.B. Winters Page 0,5

good, Kat. What brings you by?”

Kat smiled and shook her head. “I need you to do some press leading into fight night. I know you don’t like to do it, but the people of Glitz and Vegas love you and your story,” she said with a smile. “A vet and a fighter turned coach, you’re practically a unicorn. Besides all that, you show up and talk technical fight shit and you’ll solidify your role as a top trainer in the league.”

Emmett rubbed a hand over his thick brown hair and grinned. “Shouldn’t you let me give you a few objections first?” His lips twitched in amusement, and I was glad Kat’s gaze was on him because my big ass grin would have pissed her off but good.

Kat’s smile dimmed, replaced by what I liked to call her uptight corporate chick personality. Like a Stepford, only hotter. Way fucking hotter. She smoothed the nonexistent wrinkles from her black dress and put one hand on her hip while the other held the tablet in a white-knuckle grip.

“I thought I’d save us both the time by presenting all my arguments up front. Besides, the camera loves you. Unless,” she blinked and her expression went from all business to concern. “You have other objections?”

I had to hand it to Kat, she was good. Damn good. Better than Sadie at times because she could find a way to get exactly what she wanted without threats, thinly-veiled or otherwise. She managed to bring up Emmett’s PTSD without actually saying the words, or the letters. He sighed and shook his head.

“No objections right off the top of my head,” he said in defeat, or maybe it was disappointment.

“Perfect. Don’t worry, Em, you’ll do great.”

From anyone else that would have sounded like gloating or maybe an empty compliment, but Kat didn’t give out compliments undeservedly. She didn’t get over-talkative or flowery about it, either. It was just a fact as far as she was concerned and that was what sold my brother in the end.

“Fine, but nothing that interferes with the training schedule. I got half a dozen fighters gearing up for this weekend, starting with the early prelims.”

“I’m aware,” she said with a satisfied smile. “Trust me. I’ll email you the dates and times and you tell me which ones don’t work with your schedule. If you cut out more than five, I’ll just send you five more. Got it?”

Emmett nodded. “Yeah, I’m aware Kat.”

Her shoulders relaxed now that business matters were over and her smile came easier. Friendlier.

“Good. Things look great around here. I saw Rachel Cruz when I came in, and her fitness level has definitely gone up.”

“Glad you noticed,” he said, acting a little surprised that Kat had noticed. Me too, if I was being honest.

“I did and I don’t want to keep you. Thanks for making my job easy today. I won’t forget it.”

And just like that, Kat turned on her heels and walked away, giving me an eyeful of long, shapely legs, slim waist and a nice, round ass. She was slender but toned, a lot stronger than she looked at first glance.

“I guess that answers that,” Emmett said, a knowing smile in his voice.

“What?”

“You’re still hung up on the Ashby Princess.”

I frowned. “I was never hung up on the Princess.” I lied straight through my teeth because that was my secret, and I’d take it to the grave.

“Bullshit,” he growled with a grin. “But we all have our secrets, don’t we?”

I knew what he was getting at and it gave me pause. Emmett needed to deal with his shit before it exploded at the most unfortunate time and with irreversible consequences. But I wasn’t ready to share my feelings for Kat with anyone. “For now, we do. But that could change at any moment little brother.”

“Yeah, yeah. Go chase the princess. I saw how she looked at you, there might actually be a chance this time.”

Dammit, I’d been hoping that flare of attraction had been a trick of the light or wishful thinking on my part, but if Emmett saw it too, well that changed things. Or did it? “Is that your way of telling me to get lost?”

“Nah, but I do need to get back to it. Make sure Ravager is on top form.”

He held up a fist and I bumped it with a smile, glad that the shit our folks put us through had turned us into real brothers, not just half-brothers, instead of enemies. Really, it could have