Page 71 of Pulse
I grimaced. “Better than driving round the guy’s place and beating him to death.”
Dad grunted. “That’s exactly what Ash did, Ren. Twice.”
“Ash has issues, I know that. His past is-”
“A problem.”
“Dad,” I hissed. “I know everything. I know every fucked up detail and I’m still here. It doesn’t matter to me. I don’t care that he was in prison. I don’t care about his anger. We’re working through it. I trust him. I’d like to trust you, but it goes both ways.” I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around his neck. We hardly ever showed affection, so when he stiffened slightly, I didn’t think anything of it. “Please Dad. Trust me.”
“You really love him, huh?” he asked gruffly, hugging me back.
“I love him more than you can imagine.”
We stood for a while, hugging like fools, letting the events of the day sink in. Finally, Dad said, “You want to use my gym?”
I nodded.
“Then use it.”
That was his seal of approval and I was taking it before he could even think about snatching it away. Pulling back I kissed him on the cheek, another out of the ordinary display of affection.
“Thanks Dad.”
“Renee Miller!”
I glanced up at Ash who had just come out of the kitchen to grill me about my conversation with my dad, when Josie stormed across the studio, coming right for me in a whirlwind of destruction. I would know the tone her voice carried anywhere. She was in a rage alright.
“I heard,” she exclaimed, standing before me and putting her hands on her hips.
“It’s all out now,” I said as Ash began to back away. If things weren’t so on edge, I would’ve laughed at the fact that Maverick was wary of Josie of all people.
“Let me guess,” she declared, tapping a finger on her chin in mock thought. “You’re going back to The Underground.”
“Yes,” I retorted. “We are.”
“You gave up pro for that?” she shrieked, the Twins coming into my line of sight. Great, round fucking two.
“I don’t want the spotlight,” I cried. “I don’t want fame or fortune. I want to fight on my own terms, no one else’s.Mine.”
“You want revenge, right? That’s what this is about?”
“It’s about a lot of things.”
“You’re letting her go back?” Dean exclaimed, fixing his anger on Ash again.
“I don’t approve,” he replied. “I never have.”
I spun on my heel and fixed my gaze on Ash. “You’re not fucking serious. I told you…”
“I never agreed Spitfire,” he murmured like he was trying to calm a wild beast.
Casting my gaze over the assembled throng of discontent, I threw my hands up in exasperation. “What is this? An intervention?”
“If it has to be,” Josie declared.
“You of all people should understand,” I pleaded with her. “This is something I have to do. I have to go back.”
I didn’t need anyone’s approval to do what I wanted with my life, but deep down I wanted it from them. I’d been alone for so long and now that I had a family and friends… I needed their approval. I was tired of doing it all on my own.
