Page 13 of Splintered Desire

“Aww, don’t be like that, Foxy. I’m sure she don’t got shit on you,” he says, misreading my annoyance.

The irony of his comment has me barking a laugh before I can stop it, and his deep chuckle booms around the room, too.

“That’s better. Don’t take it all so serious. You're a fucking badass. You got this.”

I shake my head at him but don’t argue. I know better. Reed has the utmost faith in me in the ring. He has since the day I started, even when I was still getting my ass kicked. He and Ozy used to joke that I would be the undefeated champ someday. It had sounded impossible back then, but here we are.

I drop my bag next to the treadmill before peeling off my sweater, carefully avoiding pulling off my mask or messing up my hair.

The second it hits the ground, Reed whistles. I turn to look at him over my shoulder as his eyes roam my body from head to toe, even though I’ve only taken off my sweater. I feel the heat of his eyes as they trace the fox skull tattoo on my side, as if trying to commit it to memory.

“Warn a guy before you do that kind of shit, Foxy. I need a second to prepare for the blood loss to my brain.”

His tone is light and teasing, but I can see the truth in his eyes as they meet mine once again, his pupils blown wide with desire.

Thank fuck I went with the mask that covers most of my upper face, hiding the heat on my cheeks. My alter ego gives me the courage I lack in my day-to-day life, but it also puts much more of me on display. Nobody sees this much of Zela. But it’s unavoidable with Vixen, all part of the show, part of the high that comes with being in the ring.

“Keep making heart eyes at me like that, and you'll have to deal with a lot more blood loss, of the dangerous kind.” I wink at him before climbing onto the treadmill and setting it for a ten-minute run to help loosen up my muscles and get my blood pumping.

“You wound me, Foxy. I thought you felt what we have.” Reed clutches at his chest in mock pain, and I roll my eyes as I begin to pick up the pace from a light jog to a full run.

Reed moves from the door over to the treadmill to stand in front of it and stare me dead in the eyes.

Fucker is huge, at least six-five if he can meet my eyes, even with the steep incline I have set.

The smirk on his face almost makes me think he can read my thoughts as he stands watching me for a moment.

“Where’s my good-luck kiss?” He taps his cheek, leaning over the front of the treadmill into my space.

Rolling my eyes, I lean into him, pressing the mouth of my mask against his waiting cheek.

A smile pulls at his lips, and I can’t stop my own at the sight. The way he reacts, you would think I actually laid one on him. But despite us doing this dozens of times, he always seems so damn happy about it.

If he weren’t such a beast of a man, I’d say he was adorable, but as it stands, that feels like a contradiction.

“One day, I’ll have to see about one without the mask, Foxy Girl,” he says, backing up toward the door. It takes a second for what he said to sink in, and I almost lose my footing and eat the treadmill. Thankfully, Reed doesn’t catch it, and I manage to right myself.

Reed pauses just shy of the door before turning back to look at me, all traces of his earlier joking gone.

“Beat her ass, Foxy. Take her down and show those rich fucks what you're made of. With the new location, you're going to have new competition, and they're going to test you with everything they can.” His voice is low and harsh, but I get the feeling his anger isn’t for me. “You worked hard for this spot. Don’t let anyone take it away from you.” Reed pushes the door open and disappears before I can respond, which is just as well, considering I have no idea what I would have said.

It’s not often Reed is so serious, at least not with me. I let his words sink in, feeling the weight of them as I push myself to run faster, needing to feel the burn in my muscles.

This spot is mine. The one thing in this whole damn world that’s mine, and I won’t lose it, not tonight or any other, for that matter.

“Did you find her?” I snap even before Isaac can make it up the last few steps, my temper rising by the second.

When I woke this morning, I hadn’t even realized she was gone. The thought that she would run hadn’t even crossed my mind. Why would it? People rarely go against what I say, and they typically don’t work so hard to avoid us.

It’s actually quite the opposite. Any other girl would have been tripping over themselves to have the chance to sit here with us right now.

So why isn’t she here?

“No.”

I knew what he was going to say even before he said it. If he had found her, she would be here with him, but she’s not.

I stand from the chair so fast that it topples backward, the loud crash echoing around the room, no doubt drawing attention. I don’t give a fuck, though. I make my way to the rails, peering down at the ring, gripping the bar tight enough that my knuckles turn white.