Page 14 of The Tempo of Truth
“Thanks for bringing Ky’s phone.I promised him I’d locate it by the time he was done training my student.I’ve seen you in the news, Miss.I was curious about his close friend from the Halliday family.A lot of people turned their backs on Ky when he left football behind.But you didn’t.You even helped him out without taking any of the credit.”
I tapped the mat and signaled that the practice was over.It was easy to tell my opponent was irritated and wanted to keep going to redeem himself from the earlier injury to his ego, but my focus was now on Winnie, not winning in the ring.Lev barked at the behemoth to hit the showers and continued to schmooze Winnie.
I shouldn’t have told him I left my phone at her place.He chewed me out for not picking up his call earlier.He couldn’t schedule a fight because he couldn’t get hold of me, which meant money was left on the table.When I mentioned I forgot my cell when I met with Winnie and Lowe, it was hard to ignore the scheming glint in Lev’s gaze.He hadn’t given up on the idea that I should leverage being Lowe’s father as far as humanly possible for unimaginable gains.He refused to believe I was okay with getting to know my son without a single cent promised.Lev practically had cartoonlike dollar signs in his eyes when he mentioned Winnie and Halliday Inc.Lev asked me for her number, saying he would text her and ask her to drop the phone off.I refused to give it.I didn’t want Winnie involved in this part of my life in the slightest.She already had a million-and-one reasons to keep Lowe away from me.If she came face-to-face with just how far I’d fallen in recent years, there was a solid chance she wouldn’t recognize whatever hint of good inside of me she’d always sworn was there.
I didn’t know how or who gave Lev Winnie’s hard-to-acquire cell phone number.He did have endless shady acquaintances and endless nefarious means at his disposal.I wasn’t surprised he ignored me and pulled her directly into the darkness that nearly suffocated me on the daily.I was less shocked that she showed up in a place I never expected to see her.Winnie excelled at appearing in places she wasn’t supposed to be.She treated taking me off guard like a super-fun game we were playing.One she was for sure winning.
Winnie pulled my phone out of the pocket of the oversized hoodie she was wearing.She was dressed like she’d just rolled out of bed.The glamorous socialite was nowhere to be found.The woman in front of me reminded me of the teenage girl who liked to hang out in the park and watch my soccer games.She had on loose sweatpants, high-top sneakers, and the large, hooded sweatshirt that I was almost certain was mine from when I was younger.Winnie’s face was bare except for a pair of small, gold-rimmed glasses that made her hazel eyes look wider.Her hair was twisted into a messy braid that sat on her shoulder and flicked in different directions when she moved.She looked like a high schooler.Definitely not like the mother of a five-year-old or the CEO of a major corporation.I could practically see the wheels turning in Lev’s head as he gazed at her with barely concealed greed.She looked much softer and more approachable like this than she actually was.Lev was going to find out the hard way just how difficult it was to deal with a Halliday, even if Winnie was his favorite one.
I rubbed my face with my sweaty forearm and frowned.“Set it down over by my bag.You didn’t have to bring it down here yourself.”I narrowed my eyes slightly in warning when Lev reached out to pat her shoulder in an overly familiar manner.“No need to leave Lowe alone for something like this.”
Winnie smiled softly and moved closer to the ring.She found the corner where I dropped my gym bag and set the phone down.She tilted her head back to meet my gaze and reminded me, “My family lives next door.One of the main reasons I came back to the city was to have help close by whenever I needed it.On top of having around-the-clock security, Uncle Win was at my place within two minutes to wait, just in case Lowe wakes up while I’m gone.I’ve been a single mother for five years, Ky.One with better resources and more support than most.I think I know what I’m doing.”
Properly chastised, I begrudgingly muttered, “Well, thank you for taking the time to bring me the phone.I know you’re busy.”I wanted to tell her that she could call me if she needed help with Lowe since he was also my responsibility, but I knew I hadn’t come close to reaching that level of trust yet.
Winnie grabbed the bottom rope that encircled the ring and stared up at me.Her braid slithered across her shoulder and fell behind her.I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the subtle movement.It had no business being as alluring as it was.
“You’re her security guard?”Winnie and I both looked over where Lev was practically circling around Helio.“You look like you’re in good shape.Where did you get your training?The military?”The dark-haired man narrowed his eyes and ignored the persistent Russian.“Do you think you could take my boy in a fight?”Lev’s eyes sparkled.“Wanna bet on it?I got a hundred bucks on Ky.What he lacks in discipline, he makes up for in experience.The kid’s been fighting for his life since he came into this world.”
I threw my mouthguard at the older man’s head.“He’s working.Not everyone wants to fight for your entertainment, old man.”
Helio, wearing a sharp suit and looking very out of place in the old-school gym, snorted like the suggestion was an insult.“What fight?Kent wouldn’t stand a chance against me.”
I shook my head, sending a drop of sweat flying.I was well past the age and mentality where someone could taunt me into action.
“Good.That makes me feel like Lowe is in good hands.There’s going to be an endless line of people trying to get close to him and use him for their own means throughout his life.If you can beat me, then you for sure should be able to kick the shit out of them when needed.”My gaze drifted over Winnie’s face.Her gently rounded cheeks and plush lips really made her appear softer and sweeter than she actually was.It was easy to forget how cunning and conniving she could be.“It would’ve been better if someone like you was around to keep someone like me away from anyone named Halliday from the start.”
With that admission, I slid between the ropes, grabbed my phone, and walked toward the locker room.
I needed some breathing space, justifying leaving Winnie with Lev by telling myself she could use the practice when it came to dealing with a skilled con artist who was after all of her money.If she let the slick Russian take advantage of her, she wasn’t going to last long as the big boss of Halliday Inc.
I didn’t know she was following me since she was wearing sneakers, and her footsteps were practically silent.When I caught sight of her in the cracked mirror over the sink, I was startled.
“You can’t be in here.This is the men’s locker room.”
She cocked her head to the side and stared at me with the same expression she had on her face the night of our drunken hookup.It was a look full of something sweet and alarmingly innocent.However, after all the ways I’d disappointed her and let myself down, it was tinged with a wary hint of resignation.There was no more room for Winnie to fool herself into thinking I was the honorable and heroic guy she imagined.
“When you’re a Halliday, you can go wherever you want.Very few people are going to get in your way.Even if they’re on the payroll.”She grinned at me and stepped closer as I backed up against the counter.The wet edge dug into my backside, and my taped-up hand was slightly clenched.I hated that my body gave away the fact that she intimidated me, even though I beat up men three times her size for a living.Back in the day, I treated her like a lost puppy following me around looking for affection.Now, it felt like a predator was stalking me, and I’d turned into the hapless prey.“For what it’s worth, I think you would win in a fight against Helio.”Her voice held a seductive lilt I’d never heard before.
I grunted and tried in vain to put a bit more distance between us as she leaned even closer.I could smell something floral in her hair and see the faint freckles that dotted the bridge of her nose.The glasses magnified her playful gaze to the point that it was all I could see.
“Why do you think I’d win against him?”It wasn’t like I had any formal fight training.I’d grown up rough, stayed in shape to play sports, and knew how to watch my back when I started moving in questionable circles.I was scrappy and intuitive more than deeply skilled.
“You would win because you have more to lose than he does.All that’s at stake for him is pride and job security.”
“Those seem like pretty legit reasons for himnotto lose.”I bit back a sarcastic laugh.
“Hmm…maybe.But I’ve watched you fight for your family since the very first day we met.”Winnie’s voice trailed off.She leaned closer to me, one of her hands lifted and rested on my bare shoulder.I couldn’t stop a shiver from shaking my entire body.“You’re unbeatable when you’re fighting for the things that matter the most.”
She was so close; her words brushed against my cheek, and I could feel the plush curve of her breasts where they pressed against me.I doubted she was wearing much underneath the stolen hoodie.The way her body developed and filled out after having Lowe was a total turn-on.I’d always liked the way she looked, but there was something about her having curves for days that appealed to a primal part of myself I didn’t even know I had until she entered my life again and refused to leave.
“If that were true, I’d still be playing football, not taking uppercuts for Lev.Watch out for him.He’ll take you for everything you’re worth and have you smiling while you hand over your life savings.It’s best if you just stay away from this place.I’ll come to you when it’s time to see my son.”I knew the warnings were falling on deaf ears.
Winnie’s lips ghosted over the corner of my mouth, and her fingers ticked across the underside of my jaw.My muscles stiffened, and I had to grit my teeth so hard to stop myself from reaching for her or reacting to the provocation, so much so that I was shocked they didn’t crack.When she didn’t get the response she wanted, Winnie placed a loud, smacking kiss on my cheek.I’d seen her do the exact same thing to Lowe while I was at her brownstone.
She patted my shoulder and told me, “You love your mother more than you love football.When you had to choose which one to fight for, you picked the right one.She is living her best life now, thanks to you.It might not feel like it, but you did win that battle, Ky.”Her gaze shifted to the busted screen of my phone when it started to buzz.She lifted an eyebrow and pushed away from me.I watched with unblinking eyes as she licked her bottom lip.I could’ve sworn she was searching for a taste of me from that brief kiss.“Still as popular as ever.Keep a closer eye on your phone.I can’t predict the future, but while you’re making an effort to be part of Lowe’s life, I’ll do my part to involve you in any major decisions regarding his well-being and needs.Kids grow so fast.You won’t want to miss any more of his childhood because I can’t get a hold of you.”
After the warning, she turned to leave the locker room.I called her name to stop her.She looked at me over her shoulder with curious eyes.I warned, “I’m not always going to let you have the upper hand.”
