Fight Like A Girl (Part One) Read Online Free Page A

“No, I absolutely didn’t. I
wouldn’t have associated with him if I’d known.” The news floored
me.
    “Well, that’s good then. We’ll be in touch,
but you shouldn’t have anything to worry about if you’re telling
the truth. In the meantime, Mr. Smith won’t be around for a while.”
He gave me another smile. And then they were gone. All the cops
that had just invaded the gym were nowhere to be found. They got
back into their squad cars and left, with Jeff in tow.
    I sat on the bench he’d been passed out on
and wondered what the fuck I was going to do. I had less than two
weeks until my first fight and no one to help train me. As much as
I wanted to wallow in my own self-pity, I knew it wouldn’t do any
good. Instead, I got up, changed into my favorite workout tank top
and shorts, and started training. I had to take my mind off what
had just happened.
    An hour later, several people showed up,
including Freddie. I explained to them what occurred when I got to
the gym that morning and none of them was surprised. Jeff had been
walking a fine line for months.
    “Come into my office,” Freddie directed me
and then told everyone to get to work. I followed him meekly, my
brain not really functioning properly. He gestured for me to sit in
one of the chairs across from his desk. “Are you alright?”
    “Yeah, I’m fine.”
    “Don’t lie to me, girl. I can see in your
eyes that you’re ready to give up,” he accused.
    He wasn’t wrong. With no trainer, I was done.
“It’s over, Freddie.”
    “It’s never over,” he returned, his eyes
narrowed.
    I tipped my head back and stared at the
ceiling. “You and I both know that I can’t fight without a trainer
and finding someone to train a woman isn’t exactly easy. I should
just pull out of the fight now and give someone else a chance.”
    “You’ll do no such thing!” he yelled, drawing
my attention back to him. “You’ve worked hard to get where you are,
Max and I won’t let some loser like Jeff take it all away from
you.”
    I sighed. “Then what am I supposed to
do?”
    “For now, you get out there and you train.
You work your ass off to be better than you were yesterday. And
while you do that, I’ll make a few calls, see if I can find someone
to train you. Even if it’s only temporary,” he added.
    I had to admit his plan was better than mine.
“Fine.” I got up and went back out to the gym. I knew better than
to hope Freddie would find someone who was not only willing, but
also qualified. The chances were slim, but if I was going to fight,
with or without a trainer, I needed to push myself even further
than I had for the last month.
    Two hours later, I was sweaty and in
desperate need of a shower, but still I trudged on, forcing my body
beyond its limits. I wanted to be the best, and the only way I knew
how to do that was to work my ass off. Freddie called me into his
office.
    I didn’t bother sitting down. I wiped the
sweat off my forehead with the back of my hand and glared at him.
“You couldn’t find anyone.” It wasn’t a question.
    “You have so little faith in me,” he said
with a grin.
    I rolled my eyes. “Did you or didn’t you?” I
definitely wasn’t in the mood to put up with his antics.
    “I did.”
    That got my attention. “What? Who the hell
would take the job?”
    “He’s a wild one, but if anyone can take his
shit, I’m guessing it’s you. He said he’d be here in half an hour.
Time to get to work.”
    I stood there in awe for a full thirty
seconds before I made my way out of his office. Five steps from his
door, I turned back. “Hey, Freddie,” I said. He looked up from his
desk. “Thanks.”
    “Anytime, kiddo.”
    Freddie was the only person in the industry
who knew exactly who I was. Being the daughter of an MMA fighter
wasn’t too uncommon, but the daughter of a murder suspect was
another thing altogether. Especially when the guy who was murdered
was also a fighter. I wished my past was different,