Sucker Punch (The Submission Fighter Book 2) Read Online Free
Author: Sophia Hampton
Caroline associated with, but she kept her anger in. It wasn’t worth the fight, nor the risk of upsetting Caroline over it.
Alice glanced at her phone and pushed her nearly full plate to the side. “I’ve got to go. I’ve got that painting class. I’m going to go out tonight with some of the other people enrolled in my group. I may be out late. Don’t worry about me.” The painting class was an inspired lie. It at least explained why she was, all of a sudden, back to the easel and paint brushes after abandoning them for so long. Plus, it gave her a great excuse to be out of the house in the afternoon and evenings.
“Okay, sugar,” Caroline said sincerely. “Be safe, okay? I worry about you.” She could clearly tell something had happened outside of the temporary breakup. She just couldn’t put her finger on what made Alice so different today than one month ago.
Alice knew though. It was Micah. While their relationship wasn’t official, just being with him had made her stronger and more confident. She knew she would never be as bold as Caroline or as assertive as Jace, but she was transformed.
And to her, that was worth the secrecy, the lies, and the deception. To give her and Micah a fighting chance of making it another round, she was willing to sacrifice it all. She only hoped Micah was on the same page.
Chapter 3: Deals in the Backroom
Micah’s hand was throbbing almost rhythmically. He rubbed the knuckles up against his leg, pushing down at the joints for some relief. Getting in the practice ring and sparring was not going to work for him today. But despite his pain and trepidation, he knew that he could not just back out of a practice. Instead of mentally protesting further, he got in his car and drove mindlessly back to All In Gym for another grueling day at the treadmill, mat, and ring.
The scheduled two-a-day workouts, six days a week, were getting to him. They were wearing him down physically and emotionally. But as Dean often reminded him, this is what it took to make it to the next level. And now that he was fighting with the big dogs and making a name for himself on a national level, there was no opportunity to turn back. This was his job. This was his life. Everything else just had to fit in around it for the time being.
The parking lot for the gym was once again overcrowded with rented cars and vans. A small group of journalists and photographers planted themselves by the glass doors. Just like his workouts, even this had become a new norm. Ever since his big win roughly a month ago, not a day went by when there wasn’t some kind of paparazzi following his move, especially in regards to his workouts.
Micah took a deep breath, reached across the leather seat for his gym bag, and headed out his car door and into the lion’s den. With his hood pulled over his eyes, he kept his mouth shut and his head focused. He was in no mood to talk today, nor put on the dog and pony show he often had to give.
Instead, he just wanted to get today over with. As he walked, he checked the time on his phone. It was just about eleven o’clock and Alice, he remembered, would be finishing her shift at the diner soon. A little pain of remorse came over him, as he texted her a command to stay put at her apartment. He would have a car pick her up. There were too many reporters, too many distractions.
Just like the parking lot, the gym was packed to the brim with unfamiliar faces. Ever since Micah became a poster child for the All In Gym, fellow fighters had been jockeying for a chance to fight and train there. They took over his machines, his ring, and his equipment stands.
But worse than the new wannabe fighters were the men in business suits. They silently circled around the training rings, taking pictures with their phones and typing away at their laptops. Occasionally, they would take notice of Micah actually practicing, but it would last only seconds until
Alice glanced at her phone and pushed her nearly full plate to the side. “I’ve got to go. I’ve got that painting class. I’m going to go out tonight with some of the other people enrolled in my group. I may be out late. Don’t worry about me.” The painting class was an inspired lie. It at least explained why she was, all of a sudden, back to the easel and paint brushes after abandoning them for so long. Plus, it gave her a great excuse to be out of the house in the afternoon and evenings.
“Okay, sugar,” Caroline said sincerely. “Be safe, okay? I worry about you.” She could clearly tell something had happened outside of the temporary breakup. She just couldn’t put her finger on what made Alice so different today than one month ago.
Alice knew though. It was Micah. While their relationship wasn’t official, just being with him had made her stronger and more confident. She knew she would never be as bold as Caroline or as assertive as Jace, but she was transformed.
And to her, that was worth the secrecy, the lies, and the deception. To give her and Micah a fighting chance of making it another round, she was willing to sacrifice it all. She only hoped Micah was on the same page.
Chapter 3: Deals in the Backroom
Micah’s hand was throbbing almost rhythmically. He rubbed the knuckles up against his leg, pushing down at the joints for some relief. Getting in the practice ring and sparring was not going to work for him today. But despite his pain and trepidation, he knew that he could not just back out of a practice. Instead of mentally protesting further, he got in his car and drove mindlessly back to All In Gym for another grueling day at the treadmill, mat, and ring.
The scheduled two-a-day workouts, six days a week, were getting to him. They were wearing him down physically and emotionally. But as Dean often reminded him, this is what it took to make it to the next level. And now that he was fighting with the big dogs and making a name for himself on a national level, there was no opportunity to turn back. This was his job. This was his life. Everything else just had to fit in around it for the time being.
The parking lot for the gym was once again overcrowded with rented cars and vans. A small group of journalists and photographers planted themselves by the glass doors. Just like his workouts, even this had become a new norm. Ever since his big win roughly a month ago, not a day went by when there wasn’t some kind of paparazzi following his move, especially in regards to his workouts.
Micah took a deep breath, reached across the leather seat for his gym bag, and headed out his car door and into the lion’s den. With his hood pulled over his eyes, he kept his mouth shut and his head focused. He was in no mood to talk today, nor put on the dog and pony show he often had to give.
Instead, he just wanted to get today over with. As he walked, he checked the time on his phone. It was just about eleven o’clock and Alice, he remembered, would be finishing her shift at the diner soon. A little pain of remorse came over him, as he texted her a command to stay put at her apartment. He would have a car pick her up. There were too many reporters, too many distractions.
Just like the parking lot, the gym was packed to the brim with unfamiliar faces. Ever since Micah became a poster child for the All In Gym, fellow fighters had been jockeying for a chance to fight and train there. They took over his machines, his ring, and his equipment stands.
But worse than the new wannabe fighters were the men in business suits. They silently circled around the training rings, taking pictures with their phones and typing away at their laptops. Occasionally, they would take notice of Micah actually practicing, but it would last only seconds until
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