Page 97 of Fracture

Lorelei’s eyes widened. “He thinks since I don’t need him that I don’t want him.”

Frannie shrugged. “That would be my guess. We’re always looking for signs around here, for warnings that a man is not going to treat you the way you deserve, but I’ve known Vinnie for a long time, and he’s the most loyal, dedicated, kind man I’ve ever known.”

“That’s what I thought, too,” Lorelei admitted.

“Then don’t let him get away. Fight for what you want. And if he’s done, you’ll let him go, but I don’t think that’s what going on here. It just stinks you have to be the one to push back.”

“She’s good at that, don’t worry,” Karli said with a wink at Lorelei.

“I better be, because I’m not ready for things to be over between us.”

21

Vinnie walked into work with a chip on his shoulder and a fire in his gut. He needed to beat the shit out of something. Forget about Lorelei and the shooting the day before and everything except wearing himself out until he couldn’t lift his arms.

“Yo, Morgan! Wanna go a round?” Arthur shouted as soon as Vinnie stepped foot in the gym.

Vinnie stopped his path toward the body bag and looked at Arthur, leaning against the ropes in the ring, a confident smirk on his shit-eating face.

Vinnie changed course, heading for Arthur.

“It’s a good day to kick your ass,” Arthur taunted. “Always is, but today feels especially fun.”

Vinnie glared at Arthur as he tossed his bag to the side. He grabbed his boxing gloves and strapped them on, tapping them together before climbing into the ring.

Arthur smirked. “Need to warm up?”

Vinnie shook his head. “I’m always ready to beat your ass.”

“Bring it,” Arthur said.

Vinnie held his hands up and watched Arthur’s movements. Arthur liked to dance around on his toes and avoid shit more than he liked to throw punches. Vinnie was more than happy to land a few blows and get out the anger he was full of.

Arthur jumped forward, and Vinnie swung, landing a jab to his side.

Arthur jumped back, chuckling, but his face told the truth. It hurt.

Vinnie was light on his feet and ready for the next time Arthur made a move, landing another jab to Arthur’s chest. Arthur didn’t move away fast enough, and Vinnie knocked him off his feet with an uppercut to the jaw.

“Whoa, Arthur. I thought you were going to kick his ass,” another guy on his team said. “You realize you’re the one on the ground, right?”

“I kicked your ass, Hector.”

“True. You got lucky. Won’t happen next time. I’ll be ready for your dirty moves.”

“I’m not dirty,” Arthur shouted. He scrambled to his feet, facing off with Hector. “You gonna come up here and say that to my face?”

Hector chuckled and shook his head. “I’ll let Vinnie say it for me.”

Arthur turned back to Vinnie, as if he forgot they were in the middle of a fight.

Vinnie wasn’t going to fight dirty and catch him off-guard, but he wasn’t going to give him extra time to get ready either.

Arthur came at Vinnie, unfocused and wild. He swung, leaving himself wide open for Vinnie to return a punch.

Jab to the chest, uppercut to the jaw.

Arthur backed up, hands up to protect himself.