FIGHTER: An MMA Romance Novel Read Online Free Page A

I promise you. I'm not doing this because I have to, I'm doing this because I want to. Whatever money or whatever fame that comes with it, that's just a bonus. What I really want is to show the world what I can do, that I'm not just some sick kid who's going to let life push him around."
    There was hesitation in his mother's eyes, and she shook her head slowly, holding his hands with a firm grip as though afraid to let him go.
    "It's not like that, Jax. There's nothing wrong with enjoying an easy life. You've got nothing to prove. Baby, you've already won. Whatever anyone else says doesn't matter. Just stay home and stay safe."
    But no matter how she pleaded, Jax knew he would never be happy with himself if he didn't get out there and fight. The pay-per-view match in Brazil was waiting for him, and if he won that, there was no telling how far his career would go. A lot of eyes were already watching. His 3-0 wins were impressive for a rookie. Rookie. As if. Soon no one would call him that. Jax ‘the Ax’ was on his way to the top, and he wasn't afraid of chopping down anyone who got in the way. His mother's worries wouldn’t stop him from reaching the top, and once he got there, he had plans.
    "I can't do that, and you know it." Their eyes locked, and in them he could tell his mother had accepted defeat. It killed him to see her that sad, but there was no work around. Fighting was his passion, his future, his ticket up and out, and when he hit it big, she'd be the first to benefit from it. A big house in a nice part of the neighborhood was his first priority. He’d pay her back for all she'd done for him. After that, well, Jax wasn't too sure. He'd figure it out along the way.
    "I'm going to worry myself sick," she told him, dropping her hands from his. "What day is the fight? What channel? I need to know if you get hurt."
    "What you need to do is promise me you won’t turn on the TV at all. I’ll call you right after and let you know I'm okay, okay? The TV will just make it seem like it's way worse than it is."
    No matter how hard he got knocked around, Jack knew he’d win. The earnings from the last three matches had padded his pockets enough that he could hire on a coach, and a nutritionist. Already he was seeing improvements. Every day he trained hard, put his all into it, and in return he was getting stronger, faster, and smarter. The money went quick, but it was well spent. With his new diet, eating all the right stuff to promote muscle and wellness instead of the junk he was used to, Jax felt like nothing could take him down.
    His sock drawer. Of course. Jax stepped back into the room and pulled the drawer open, rifling through a pile of socks to come up with the mouth guard. It was all he needed. He tossed it into his bag.
    "You know," his mother said, "as much as I hate the idea of what you're doing, I'm so proud of you. There was a time when you were little when I was afraid you'd never be able to live the kind of life you wanted. Now here you are. My skinny little boy grew into a handsome man who's not afraid to chase his dreams. I couldn't ask for a better son.”
    As Jax stooped to close his bag, he couldn't help but grin. Even though she didn't want this kind of life for him, she supported his choices. He couldn't have asked for a better mother.
    "I gotta get going, as much as I wanna stick around." Jax clasped the case closed and hefted it by the handle. "I’ve gotta be at the airport two hours early, and you know I can't wait to get going so I can wait six hours on my layover."
    The sarcasm brought a smile to his mother's lips, and she seemed to relax a little.
    "Promise you'll call when the fight is over."
    "Only if you promise you won't watch it," he shot back. When she nodded, Jax moved to her side and kissed her on the cheek. At just under six feet, he towered over her. The shrimp of a kid she'd raised was long gone. The man who'd taken his place would look after her no matter what.
    "I'll even give