The Fighter (Barrett Boys #2) - Jordan Ford Page 0,1

the bruise on my jaw, she narrows her eyes at me. “How bad was it?”

I shrug. “I won.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

With a sigh, I lift my shirt to reveal the patchwork of bruises. She won’t let me get away with not showing her.

She hisses. “Deeks, you need to stop this. Two fights a week is too much. One fight a week is too much. Cruz is using you like some racehorse!”

“I’m a good bet.”

She touches my cheek, forcing me to look at her. “You’re not a commodity. You’re a human being, and you shouldn’t have to be treated like a punching bag just so he can make money off you.”

I fling my arms out wide, my laughter hard and tuneless. “Jade! I won! I’m not some punching bag. I didn’t even break any ribs this time.”

She tsks and shakes her head. “I don’t care if you’re the best fighter in the world. You need to get out. You’re twenty-one! You should be working a respectable job, not punching someone’s lights out while drunken idiots cheer you on! You’re smart enough to go to college even!”

I laugh, and again it’s discordant. Humorless.

Does she hear how crazy that sounds?

College?

As if!

She slaps me lightly on the arm to shut me up. “You should be living a normal, healthy life. With a normal, healthy job that doesn’t get you beat up all the time. That’s what you deserve!”

“That’s what we all deserve!” I argue. “But life doesn’t work that way! Not for people like you and me. We have to take what we can get.” I glance down at Arley, who is watching us carefully, those big brown eyes and little ears soaking it all in.

Not wanting to bicker in front of her, I run a hand through my hair, knocking my shades off and quickly catching them behind my back. My voice drops to a low murmur as I lean closer to Jade. “You know I can’t get out. Cruz won’t just let me go. Plus, I need the money.”

Jade’s cheeks flare red, and she pulls the dishtowel off her shoulder and starts running the hem through her fingers. “I’m looking for more work—”

“You better not be.” I frown at her. “You already have two jobs.”

“Deeks, I don’t want to get into this again. I can’t keep sponging off you.” She turns to head back to the kitchen, and I’m about to follow her when I’m stopped by a knock at the door.

Jade whips around, the blood draining from her face.

I gently pat her shoulder. “If it was Cruz, he wouldn’t knock.”

She lets out a breath and nods.

I walk to the door, checking the peephole for Jade’s sake and then opening the door.

“Hey, Enzel.” I smile down at the little boy with the round cheeks and big brown eyes.

He gapes at me for a second, then rushes inside to take a seat next to Arley.

“Hi, Latitia.” Jade walks forward, a big smile taking over her face.

“How’s it going?” Latitia gives me a sideways glance before focusing her attention on Jade.

They get into a quick conversation about Latitia’s shift at the hospital, the fact that Jade will take both children to her house-cleaning job in a few hours, and then Latitia will watch Arley while Jade works her evening shift at the restaurant up the road.

No wonder she’s always so exhausted. She never gets a break. There’s no way I’m letting her take a third job.

I step around the kids and head for the kitchen, figuring Jade and I could both use a coffee.

Listening to her conversation with half an ear, I remember the first time I saw her. Angelo had just brought me to Cruz’s place to see if I could get initiated into the gang.

I was alone, stressed out after losing my brother, and I needed an anchor to cling to. Angelo and I met doing community service, and we got to talking. By the time my three-month stint was up, I knew I needed a place to stay. Angelo had contacts near San Diego, and I figured, why not? I couldn’t spend the days continuing to search for Michael. He’d disappeared.

I’d lost everything, and joining the Diablos felt like a saving grace.

Jade was sitting on the sofa when I walked in to meet Cruz, her small hand resting on her pregnant belly. She looked too young to be in that position.

Young and afraid.

Her sad eyes stole my heart, and I spent the first few months thinking I was in love