Against the Cage (Worth the Fight #1) Read Online Free Page A

to the action-packed beaches of Miami. But this was different. There was a boardwalk that went from his backyard over small sand dunes and sea grass to an empty beach.
    The fact that Jack was merely inches away unnerved her, so she quickly took a step to the side and changed the subject. “So about that key?”
    He gave her a wary look and held out a shoebox full of keys. The box jingled. “It’s one of these.”
    “Shit.” She plopped down on the chair right in front of her.
    “I know. There are a lot of keys in here. Let’s go next door and try them one by one.”
    “I don’t want to put you out. Are you still on duty?”
    “No. I was on my way home when I pulled you over.”
    “Well, I’m sure I’m interrupting some sort of date or something. I can do it myself.” She reached for the box, but he pulled it away.
    “It’s no trouble. The only plan I had was to make myself a sandwich and plop in front of the television with Drogo for the next forty-eight hours. But if you don’t mind waiting, I’d love to take a quick shower first. I’ve been on duty for twelve hours now, and I feel grimy.”
    “Drogo?” she asked, her brow furrowed.
    “My Chihuahua,” he said. He opened a door and out came the smallest dog Chrissy had ever seen.
    “Oh my goodness!” she squealed, and clapped her hands together. She loved animals and instantly reached for the tiny little dog with the spiked collar, but Jack quickly scooped up the pup with his palm before she had a chance to touch the little guy.
    “He bites. He’s a quarter pit bull,” Jack said matter-of-factly.
    “Oh, please. How can that tiny little beauty bite?” Chrissy went to reach for the dog again, but Jack moved the animal behind him. His hand was larger than the dog. “You must be kidding about the pit bull thing.” Chrissy laughed.
    “Trust me. He bites and growls. The whole nine yards. He has a Napoleon complex. Thus the name Drogo.”
    Chrissy looked at him quizzically. “Uh … sorry. I don’t think I know what or who a Drogo is.”
    He waved a hand. “Don’t worry ’bout it. It’s just the name of a character, Khal Drogo, from a show I watch. The guy is big and tough, and I was watching the show onenight when this little thing came to my doorstep barking and growling at me like the character. I opened the door expecting to find a German shepherd.”
    “Hmm. Not a lot of television in the places I visit overseas.” She put her hands behind her back and moved forward a little to speak with the tiny black dog with huge bulging eyes. The animal looked so at odds with its big owner. “I’ll make you love me. Just you see, little Drogo,” Chrissy cooed.
    Jack laughed. “Don’t call him little, he hates that. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. He’s bitten several people. All of whom underestimated him. Including your brother. Actually, he bites your brother a lot,” he snickered as he set the dog down.
    “Okay, okay. I’ll be careful. Go ahead and take your shower. I’ll make you a sandwich while I wait.”
    “Are you sure?” he asked.
    “Of course. Still like ham, cheese, and butter, or did we finally graduate to mayo, mustard, lettuce, and tomatoes?”
    “Nope. Still the butter. Vegetables are for girls. Ham and cheese is man food,” he said with a raised eyebrow. “I can’t believe you still remember.”
    “How could I forget? I made you sandwiches every day the entire summer before my junior year of high school, so you and Slade could beef up and kick ass in the ring.”
    “That’s right. I forgot about that. That’s the year we got into cage fighting. How’d you get stuck making us sandwiches?”
    “Dad made me. He said that you two needed calories for the amount of hours you were working out, and he didn’t want you guys passing out. He was at work, and so were your folks, and I wasn’t doing much that summer, so I was tasked with the honors. I always tried to change things up, but you’d get grumpy when it