“I get that a lot,” I say with a smile. Although he is my adopted father, he’s actually my biological cousin. Our fathers were brothers and we do actually look alike.
“Where is she?” Jax asks, looking behind Benji.
“Protein shake,” Benji flashes his eyebrows and Jax laughs softly but a few seconds later a tall blonde woman, with the most incredibly toned stomach I have ever seen in my life walks out from the back room.
“Hey, handsome,” she says to Jax as she reaches us and then wraps her arms around him.
“Hey,” he replies and at least he has the good grace to appear slightly awkward as he stands there hugging her.
“And this must be Lucia,” she says when she finally lets him go. She turns to me and smiles and I notice her eyes are the most beautiful shade of blue I have ever seen. She is absolutely stunning.
“Yes. Lucia, this is Toni,” Jax replies while I stand there staring at her, wondering if he’s had sex with her too.
She smiles at me. “Jax has told me all about you. I can’t wait to teach you some moves.”
I want to like her. I really do. I mean it’s not her fault she’s beautiful and tough and that Jax is looking at her like that, is it? “Can’t wait,” I say with a forced smile.
“If you head into the back, there are some things for to change into. They’re all new, don’t worry,” she says with a wink.
“Thanks,” I force another smile before I leave the three of them talking like old friends. When I walk into the changing room, there is a pair of sweatpants, a sports bra and some sneakers waiting for me. They are pink and grey, two of my favorite colors and I wonder if that’s coincidence or they were chosen specifically. No! That would require Jax to actually know that and for him to tell her my favorite colors. Why do I assume that he thinks about me as much as I think about him?
When I’m changed, I go back out into the gym to find Toni in the ring and Jax and Benji sitting on the bench beside it.
“Come on up,” Toni signals to me.
I look to Jax. So, he’s just going to sit there and watch his MMA champion girlfriend beat the crap out of me, is that it? He nods his head to the ring, indicating I should do as she says. I roll my eyes and climb in.
“Jax says you know a little boxing and Krav Maga?” Toni asks.
I shrug. “A little.”
“Let’s see what you got then, princess.” She arches an eyebrow at me and I’m filled with a burning desire to punch her in the face.
She edges closer to me, her guard up as she bounces on her toes. I stand there staring at her. I’m about to get my ass kicked here. And for what? So Jax can teach me a lesson? Put me in my place and remind me that this is the kind of woman he usually fucks?
“I don’t want to do this,” I say, turning around and walking to the ropes.
Jax is up off his seat. “Lucia!” he growls quietly. “Toni and Benji have given up their entire day to do this.”
“I don’t care. I never asked them to,” I hiss.
“You want to work with me and your father?” He narrows his eyes at me. “Then you need to learn to take care of yourself. Now stop acting like a spoiled brat and get your ass back over there.”
I glare at him. I hate it when he calls me a spoiled brat. I hate him. I hate Toni and her perfect everything. I want to go home.
But I stand straight and roll my shoulders back. I am Lucia fucking Montoya. I am my father’s daughter and I will never back down from a fight.
I turn back to Toni and raise my guard. “Let’s see what you got, bitch.”
She laughs and flashes her eyebrows at me.
“There’s my little wildcat,” Jax says as he takes a seat.
“Don’t worry, I won’t mark that pretty face.” Toni winks at me.
I edge toward her, trying to remember everything that Hugo taught me. Keep my guard up. Get a feel for your opponent. Toni strikes first, catching me with a light tap to the side of my head. I shake it off and move forward. When her lightning fast left arm darts out again, I manage to duck it, but she catches me with a right instead.
“Come on, princess, show me what you’re really made of,” Toni taunts me. “Jax doesn’t usually bring me such weak-ass opponents.”