Eventually, he breaks the silence.
“Fine. Say I’m considering your offer. What do you want in exchange?”
“I want a place to stay.”
“What happened to your old place?”
I pull my gaze away. “I can’t stay there anymore. Because my sister stays there.”
“And you can’t stand her because . . . ?”
“She and Jax were fucking like bunnies behind my back.”
It’s weird to admit what they had done to me to a complete stranger. But I’m not ashamed of what happened. I know better than to blame myself for being cheated on.
Understanding dawns in his eyes. “So all of this makes sense now. You’re here to get even.”
I nod tersely. “That championship is a big deal to Jax.
And I want him to know exactly how it feels like to lose what you love the most.” I swallow hard, feeling the emotion catch on some of my words. Straightening myself again, I clear my throat, not wanting him to hear me falter again. “And it’s time you broke his winning streak, don’t you think?”
His eyes are ablaze with fiery retribution. “Damn right, I will. That championship is mine.”
The resentment dripping in his tone is enough to make me wonder if Kayden’s problem with Jax runs deeper than just him wanting to get even. I decide to hold off from asking him about it because I’d rather not get him fired up, and then backtrack on his decision to agree to the deal.
“So?” I prod him. “What do you say?”
There’s still hesitation in his expression as a frown runs along his lips. “I’m just wondering if I can trust you,” he says, eyeing me carefully. “If this is some elaborate ploy by you and Jax to take an opponent down . . .”
As much as his paranoia infuriates me, I can understand why he would be suspicious. Jax isn’t exactly the friendliest guy in or out of the cage; antagonism is the only language he speaks when it comes to the sport. And my persistence about making this deal happen doesn’t help ease the suspicion either.
“It’s not.” I shake my head vehemently. “I know he can be insane, but trust me, as much as he knows you’re a guy to watch out for, Jax doesn’t care about you enough to come up with a scheme like this. You can count on his massive ego for that.”
Kayden gives me another long, contemplative look.
Eventually, his eyes flutter shut and he lets out a long, defeated sigh.
“Fine,” he grumbles, stepping toward me. “You’ll train me to beat Jax and I’ll let you stay with me. If you try any funny business—if I catch you relaying any kind of information to Jax, the deal is over, you got me?”
“Deal.”
I stick my hand out and Kayden begrudgingly shakes it.
“Grab your things, Lucky. You’re moving in with me tonight,” he announces stiffly.
***
While Kayden packs up his things, I head back to the main room to collect my earnings and then swing by the hotel I’ve been staying at to grab the rest of my belongings. It’s only a short walk away from Breaking Point, and by the time I return to the gym, Kayden has yet to appear. I spot Brent by the entrance and join him, and we chat about our upcoming assignment while we wait. Just as I’m beginning to suspect that Kayden has chickened out of our deal and made a run for it, he finally appears from the back alley looking slightly less disheveled than before, now sporting a plain navy-blue shirt, a fresh pair of gym shorts, and a damp towel slung around his neck.
His eyes light up when they connect with Brent’s, and he draws Brent in for a brotherly hug.
“Hey,” Kayden says. “Thanks for coming out.”
“Of course. You know I wasn’t gonna miss it.” Brent gives him a squeeze on his arm before releasing him. “It was a good fight.”
“Funny. I thought the same, but apparently it wasn’t up to Sienna’s standards,” Kayden mutters, giving me the side-eye.
“Good luck with this one. You’re gonna need it.” Brent lets out a chuckle. Excuse me? What the hell is that supposedto mean? In response, Kayden grunts in agreement, as if he is already anticipating the responsibility. Brent turns back to me and gives me a wave. “I’ll see you on Monday.”