Tyler's Undoing (28 page)

I snickered again. “Jake was just telling me stories about you and your toga wearing days. I needed to hear something funny to take away the edge.”

Detective Griffin smiled and patted Tyler on the back before nodding at me and Jake. “It’s all good. Tyler can go now.” Turning on his heel, he waltzed off and passed Tyler’s file to the guy at the desk.

“So, what’s going on?” I asked, glancing down at Tyler’s hands. They were clean, with no traces of blood, and only minor scratches.

Tyler followed my gaze and looked down at his hands, sighing. “I’m in the clear. I can fight this weekend. However, I was told that I might need anger management classes.”

Jake sniggered and slapped him on the shoulder. “No, you don’t. Any full-blooded male would’ve beaten the shit out of that guy for doing what he did. Just go home and get some rest. Your father isn’t going to lighten up your training just because you spent the whole night in jail.”

“Isn’t that the fucking truth,” he grumbled.

Once Jake said his goodbyes, I walked with Tyler out to the parking lot and to his truck. I still had his keys, so I unlocked the doors and hopped in the driver’s seat.

“Have you been here the whole time?” he asked.

Nodding, I started the truck and slowly crept out of the parking lot. “Yep,” I replied. “I wasn’t going to just leave you there. Jake kept me company after a while, so it wasn’t that bad.”

“Well, I’m glad he could entertain you. Once everything is said and done, I’m going to need a good laugh as well. I came so damn close to not being able to compete.”

Licking my dry lips, my heart pounded so hard it hurt and my hands started to sweat. “Tyler, there’s something I want to talk to you about.”

He leaned his head against the seat and turned his attention to me. “What is it, beautiful?”

We pulled into his driveway and parked. I swallowed hard and turned off the ignition. My Toyota Camry sat vacant beside us and I knew that after I told him the truth, I would be getting in my car and driving away. The thought terrified me, but he had to know that my brother was going to come after him again.

“Tyler, I . . .”

That was as far as I’d gotten before his phone rang. When he looked down at it, he groaned and ran his hands down his face. “It’s my father,” he said, “I’m sure he just found out. I’m sorry, beautiful.” He got out of the truck and I followed suit, losing my nerve with each second that passed. I grabbed my purse out of his truck and pulled out the keys to my car, leaning against it as I waited on Tyler to get off of the phone.

When he did, he came over to me and wrapped his arms around my waist, holding me tight.

“Is he angry?” I asked.

“A little, but he needs me at the gym, so I have to go. He’s going to run my ass hard today.”

“But I need to talk to you. It’s kind of important.”

Pulling away, Tyler tilted my chin up with his fingers. “Are you okay? Are you mad about what happened?”

Gently, I shook my head and leaned into his touch. “No, I’m not mad.”

Visibly, he relaxed and kissed me, murmuring against my lips, “I tell you what. Why don’t you get some sleep and once you’ve rested up, come to the gym and you can talk to me all you want. Can you do that?”

I didn’t want to wait, but it was looking like I had no choice—he had to go. “Okay,” I agreed reluctantly. “I’m going to go home for a while and then I’ll see you as soon as I can.”

Before getting into my car, I kissed him quickly and watched him rush off inside his house. On the way home, I rode in silence trying to envision how I was going to tell Tyler the truth. Should I just come right out and say it? Or should I try to soften it up? Either way, it was going to be a messy disaster.

Ring, ring, ring.

Looking down at my phone, I figured it would be Tyler or Bree, but I couldn’t have been more wrong.

“What the hell do you want?” I snapped into the phone.

“We need to talk. It appears you’ve been a little busy behind my back. Care to tell me what that’s all about?”

“I don’t think it’s any of your business what I do now is it? Besides, you already know what’s going on. Or at least, I assume so, judging by what happened last night.”

He snorted. “Yeah, but it appears my plan didn’t exactly work. I must say, I don’t know whether to be disappointed or proud of you. I never thought the day would come when I’d see you fucking one of my enemies.”

“Whatever, Kyle, it’s over. Why don’t you leave me the hell alone?”

“That’s not how this is going to work. Either you talk to me now, or I go straight to Tyler and tell him who you are. I’m waiting for you at the house.”

Could I not catch a break? After seeing Jordan last night, I knew Kyle had lied when he texted me saying he went home. But then again it made me wonder . . . “How long have you known about me and Tyler?” I asked.

Kyle chuckled. “Long enough to figure out my next move. Now hurry, sis. We have lots to talk about.”

ON THE WAY to the gym, I didn’t know what to expect. My father didn’t necessarily sound angry on the phone, but he didn’t sound happy either. I wasn’t sorry for kicking that guy’s ass, but I was sorry for doing it in front of Kacey. I didn’t want her ever looking at me with fear in her eyes ever again. When she said she needed to talk to me, the first thing that came to mind was that she was done; she’d made a mistake being with me.

I pushed her off for that reason alone. I didn’t want to hear it just yet.

Walking through the front doors of the gym, I found my father down by the ring, punching the bag as hard as he could. He was dressed in his black and gold fighting shorts, the same ones he wore when he competed. There was no one around . . . just me and him. I hadn’t seen him hit the bag in years.

“I hope you’re ready to work. We have lots to do before Saturday,” he called out.

Opening my bag, I pulled out my hand wraps and gloves and taped up my hands. “So you’re not going to bitch at me for getting arrested?”

Breathing hard, my father steadied the punching bag and turned to face me. “No, son, I’m not. Jake called and told me what happened. I’m actually proud of you. I probably would’ve killed the guy if he did the same thing to your mother.”

“Trust me, it was hard to control myself.” I’d wanted to keep going.

Tightening his gloves, my father hopped up into the ring and beckoned me to join him. “Your mother and I have been talking. How would you feel about taking full responsibility of the business?”

Wide-eyed, I joined him in the ring. “You mean, take over the gym? I didn’t think you were going to retire so soon. What changed your mind?”

Getting into stance, my father attacked with a jab and left cross. I ducked and roundhouse kicked him in the back of his head. I didn’t hit him hard, but it still threw him off balance.

Righting himself, he nodded his head with a huge smile on his face. “Good one, son. You’ve gotten much better at anticipating. But to answer your question, your mother and I feel you’re ready to take over. At the end of the year, we’re stepping down and you’ll be the one in charge. Do you think you can handle it?”

For so long, my father had made comments about how I wasn’t ready and how I was never good enough. My time had finally come and I knew it was all because of Kacey. She was the one who made me want to be better, to rise above everyone else and show them I was worthy. I was more than ready to take that final step. And I sure as hell wasn’t going to let my family down.

“Yes,” I answered wholeheartedly. “I’m more than ready.”

My father and I trained for another hour before the doors opened up and a swarm of people came in for their early morning workouts. I wanted to call Kacey and tell her the good news, but I knew she had to be exhausted. I was on air and happier than I ever thought I could be.

After running on the treadmill, I started toward the break room to grab an energy bar before I began my next workout routine. However, I stopped when none other than Jaden Eller stepped in my path.

“What are you doing here?” I grumbled. “Aren’t you in the wrong city?”

Jaden Eller was one of the UFC’s female MMA fighters and Kyle Andrews’ whore. She and Gabriella fought here in my gym just a couple of months ago when Gabriella kicked her ass. Her long dark hair was pulled tight into a ponytail and her blue eyes stared at me in full blown lust. Usually I got off on that shit, but now things had changed. I wanted her to get the fuck away from me.

“I’m in town for the time being, at least until Kyle wants to head back home. He wanted to visit his family,” she informed me.

“That’s great,” I commented sarcastically. “Enjoy your time in town.” Quickly, I walked around her in hopes of getting away. Unluckily, she wasn’t done with me.

“Oh, I’ll definitely enjoy my time. But there’s something I thought I should tell you. You seem like the type of guy who likes honesty.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” I snapped impatiently. “You better start making some sense before I get pissed off.”

Smiling, she lifted her hands and nonchalantly inspected her short, pink fingernails. “Oh, I just wanted to let you know your girlfriend has a secret. I’m pretty sure she hasn’t told you yet. ‘Cause if she had, I highly doubt you’d have anything to do with her.”

“Like I’d believe anything that came out of your mouth,” I hissed. “You need to get the fuck away from me.” I was done. Turning on my heel, I marched off to the back room, hearing her obnoxious laugh behind me. Before I could turn the handle and be done with her for good, she stopped me with her next words.

“Kacey is Kyle’s sister, Rushing,” she blurted out.

I froze and the whole gym grew silent.
No, there’s no fucking way that’s true.
Her last name is Andrews, but she couldn’t be related to that fucker.

“If you don’t believe me, call her and ask. Kyle’s over at her house right now—I just came from there. I must say out of all of the things he’s done, this one takes the cake. He got you to fall in love with the enemy. I didn’t think it would be possible.”

Hearing her cackle and the whispers in the room set me off. My body was on fire, anger and rage surging through my veins. All I could see was red, as I stormed through the gym. I had to get out of there. Clenching my teeth, I grabbed my keys and headed for the door.

“Son,” my father called out.

I didn’t turn around, but I did stop.

“I’m not going to try and stop you because that would be foolish, but I want you to keep your wits about you. You can’t always believe what you hear. Don’t let your anger cloud your judgment.”

Easier said than done.
Without another word, I slammed open the door and charged toward my truck. The pieces were sliding into place and it all made perfect sense now. She knew Paxton and he was one of Kyle’s best friends, she grew up in California where Kyle was from, and I bet she knew the guy from last night that messed with her. Was it all a ploy from the very beginning? Whatever was going on, I was about to find out.

Either way, Kyle Andrews was fucking dead.