Breaking the Cycle Read Online Free Page A

She was out of ideas.
    Chloe hid herself in Max’s arms for several moments, listening to the rhythm of his heartbeat. Then, she pulled away and smiled at him. “Max, if you don’t mind, I want to get a quick shower. I’m a mess.”
    “Absolutely. I’ll wait downstairs for you with your mom,” he volunteered.
    “Thank you.”
    He slowly let her go as he stood. Glancing at her one last time, he drifted down the hall. Chloe sighed sadly. She wanted to hope that Max Thomas would be willing to help her. But Max was incredibly sexy. His smile made every girl’s knees melt. His beautiful blue eyes made their hearts race. Her Zumba classes would come to a screeching halt when Max walked by. The students would stop dancing and race to the window just for a peek of his perfect body. Why would someone who could have any girl he wanted stay to take care of someone who was as sick as her?
    She shook her head. He might be a good friend. But would he be a good enough friend to really stick it out when her own father wouldn’t?
    Chloe slowly lifted herself off the bed, crossing her room on wobbly legs. She opened a drawer of her dresser to dig out a T-shirt and a pair of sweatpants then made her way to the shower.
    »»•««
    Max stepped inside Hard Drive. It was deserted. He glanced around. He had heard quite a bit about this place. The owner had been hounding him non-stop for years to train there. Until now, Max had turned him down. Training there would bring to life a past he would rather forget.
    The place was no Roadie’s. There was no perfect, stainless steel trim. There was no state of the art equipment. He scrutinized the cardio machines that were lined three deep along a wall of frosted windows then scanned the weight equipment alongside it. Everything looked like it was in working order.
    The rest of the room was lined with vinyl wrestling mats. There were signs indicating locker rooms back in the hallway. A staircase leading to a walkway on the second floor led to a couple offices and a conference room.
    One of the office doors opened. Max steeled himself as a young, well-built, suit-clad man stepped out and leaned against the metal rail. His slicked–back, black hair made him look like a used car salesman. He smiled down at Max.
    “Hey, Jack,” Max greeted coolly.
    “What brings you to Hard Drive, Max?”
    “I came to talk to you about the job offer you gave me.”
    Jack laughed. “How many times did I offer a job to you?”
    “At least a dozen times.”
    “And how many times have you turned me down?”
    “Just as many.”
    “Why would I offer it to you again?”
    “Because, to quote your own words, ‘I’m the best you could possibly dream of getting’.”
    “So, you suddenly got over your hang ups about working here?”
    Max took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “No. I am still vehemently against training your guys to the best of my ability so that you can toss them into an octagon and let them beat the crap out of each other. Seems to make the job pointless, don’t you think?”
    “I don’t toss them in there. They fight of their own free will.”
    “Is the job available or not?”
    “Of course, it is.” Jack was smug.
    “I have stipulations before I agree to it.”
    Jack snickered. “Of course, you do. More money? Do you want me to buy you a better car?”
    Max glared at him. “I want an assistant. Full time with benefits, especially medical. I write her schedule. She answers to me. Your fighters don’t touch her. If they do, we’re both out of here. Don’t raise the salary you offered me. Lower it, if you must. But I get my assistant.”
    “You really think you need an assistant?”
    “How many MMA fighters do you have here?”
    Max could see Jack’s brow crunch as he computed the numbers in his head. “Thirty.”
    “Then, yes, I need an assistant.”
    “And you realize that you aren’t going to teach Tae Bo here, right? You’re training my MMA fighters. And your assistant