Page 20 of Tainted Essence
I scrub a hand down my face. “I knew they’d take me with her if they thought I was him, no one knows who the fuck the Memento Mori is and they were smart keeping their identities secret.” I fill him in on everything that happened and how we got away.
“Who the fuck is this Koda, Tay?”
“No fucking idea, dude, but I plan to make this little bitch talk,” I vow.
“Taylan, you need to reign in that fucking temper, you can’t treat her like shit and whatever you do, do not get involved with her.”
I cringe. “Yeah… Uh…”
“Fuck me sideways, you already fucked her, didn’t you?” I rub the back of my neck and scrunch my face up.
“Yeah, but she consented, I made sure.”
He sighs and I can picture him tugging on the strands of his hair as he tries to calm his temper. “Tay, she doesn’t know you and what happens when things get tough for you. If you plan to sleep with her again, you need to make sure she knows your triggers, be honest with her and explain everything.”
I scoff. “She ain’t someone I plan to keep around, Knox, I’m good with just fucking bitches.”
“Taylan, the only girl you have slept with more than once is my fucking wife!”
“Lake is different and you are always there! Don’t throw that shit in my face when you both wanted it. Fuck you for bringing it up!” I snarl as I end the call, my anger from earlier resurfaces as I stomp across the lot to the entrance of the gym, ignoring my phone ringing. He knows about my past and what I went through, for him to bring that shit up and throw it in my face like that is fucked up. The sound of flesh hitting flesh is music to my ears. I look around to see people on the weights, sparring on the mats but my attention is snatched when I see the ring—it’s who is in the ring that holds my attention.
Destiny has her hair piled on top of her head, her navy blue sports bra and some tiny as fuck spandex shorts on. She’s in the ring with her dad and another girl, the girl from the call this morning! I make my way over to them but keep myself concealed behind a pillar, if I’m going to train her I need to see what she has and judge if she even has a chance to win this fight against Tiana “Prime Time” Lawson. That bitch I’ve seen fight and she is dirty as fuck. She toes the line perfectly to the point the ref can’t call her on any of the moves she makes because it’s not illegal in the ring it’s just unethical.
“When she comes in and charges you, wait till the last second and then drop down and sweep her legs out from under her,” Gage instructs her. He steps back and motions for her friend to come at her but she’s too slow and winds up getting a hook to the ribs. “Doll?” Gage shouts across the room. I follow his line of sight and balk at the sight of Kiara Murdoch. I've heard the stories about her and how she used to fight in the underground but I thought it was just bullshit stories to make the Don’s wife seem tough.
“Yeah?” Kiara calls back as she makes her way toward the ring with gloves on and a similar outfit to Destiny’s, but her long raven hair is loose and flowing around her.
“Can you give me a hand with Dest for a few minutes?” Gage asks.
“Anything for my beautiful niece, plus my class just finished so I’m all yours until Bish arrives.” Destiny is grinning like she won the lottery as her aunt climbs in the ring and her friend steps out. I look around and notice that Kiara’s presence in the ring has garnered the attention of almost everyone in this place. They all abandon what they were doing and crowd around the outside of the ring.
“I can’t hit my aunt!” Destiny says. Kiara and Gage both smirk.
“If you can land a single hit on her, I’ll even pay your new trainer and give you Sunday’s off.” Destiny scowls at her father.
“I never take days off and if I hit my aunt, Mom will kick my ass,” she defends.
“Honey, your mother knows what I am capable of and I promise you that I will pull my punches and this will stay between us.” Destiny’s jaw is slack as she stares at her aunt. I shake my head. She is underestimating her opponent and that is going to be her worst mistake. I grind my teeth knowing I should stay out of this and let her get her ass beat, but I also need to prove to her and Gage that I am an asset and can help her win against Tiana.
Fuck it.
I push my way through the crowd and drop my bag down beside the ring before climbing up, drawing the attention of the three Murdochs in the center. Gage and Kiara look surprised to see me but Destiny looks annoyed that I’m here. That shit makes me giddy, knowing I’m under her skin. I duck down and climb through the ropes and come to stand beside the little shit as I look at her father and aunt.
“Give me two minutes with my fighter.” I don’t wait for their response as I grab Destiny’s arm and drag her to the side of the ring. She tries to break free of my hold but stops when I push her in the corner and crowd her space. To anyone watching it just looks like I am coaching my fighter, but her and I know this is a power move and unless she wants daddy dearest to know I’ve slid between her sheets she won’t make a fucking scene, even though her eyes spit fire at me.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” she hisses at me.
“Helping you not get your ass beat by your own aunt.”
The defiant little shit rolls her eyes. “That’s not going to happen.”
“Don’t test me right now, Slayer. I’m already pissed off enough about your stunt this morning.” Her eyes twinkle in delight, earning a growl from me. I press in closer, brushing my lips against the shell of her ear. She tries to fight her reaction to me but the shiver that works its way down her spine gives away how she feels having me this close. “You will be making it up to me tonight when we get home.” I don’t give her a chance to respond before I pull back and stare into her eyes. “Your aunt will have you on your ass in two seconds flat if you keep underestimating her. I’ve heard the stories about how she fights and I’m sure you have to.”
Her dazed outlook vanishes and is replaced by a fierce look of determination. “Either help me or get the fuck out of my way.”
“One minute,” Gage calls out.
“Listen to everything I say and you may just make it out of here with your pride intact,” I say.