Page 29 of Sweet Addiction
Dillan
No, that’s Jamie. We’re not related to the Beneventis.
Lexie
Except by marriage.
Kaleigh
Then who are the Beneventis related to?
Killian
Me.
Ryker
And the Kingstons.
Kaleigh
Incestuous little group you’ve got going here.
Dillan
You’ve got no idea.
ROME
Dude. . . have you gotten to chapter ten yet?
I haven’t gotten to chapter two yet.
—Text from Ryker to Rome
“Okay, let’s go over this again.”
I crack my neck as I stand in front of Hudson, legs spread wide and arms crossed over my chest, fucking spent after the first damn day of camp. I shit you not, this is how we started training today, and according to the clock over the front desk, this is how we’re ending it too.
“We’re eight weeks out from the fight. I want your ass here five to six days a week, two to three sessions per day. We’re looking somewhere between five to six hours. We can lean more five than six if you take care of your cardio at home. And I swear to God, Rome, when I say cardio, I do not mean your flavor of the week. You hear me?”
“Loud and clear, Hud.” Wonder if he’s going to give me the breakdown every day. Kind of like a countdown to the fight.
A fighter to my left lets out a loud whistle, and I turn, not sure who I’m expecting to see. Definitely wasn’t expecting my cousin and agent, Olivia St. James, to be walking through Crucible. She sticks out like a sore thumb in a tight black dress, with her dark hair pulled back and twisted into a knot. Her lips are turned down, and her five-inch shiny red heels look as much like a weapon as they do a fashion statement.
Warning bells go off in my head.
Livvy is fucking pissed.
And she’s looking at me.
“You.” She points at me, then at Hudson. “You too. I need you both in your office.”
Hudson shakes his head, smiling with outstretched arms. “What you meant to say wasHi Uncle Hudson.You look so handsome today. I missed your face.”
Livvy grumbles as I snicker, and she throws up her middle finger as she walks into Hudson’s open arms. Five-inch heels or not, she still looks small next to him. “Hi, Uncle Hudson.”
“How are you, Olivia?” he asks as he hugs her, lifting her off the floor.
