91
Two months later…
Slade was in a back brace and healing at home. He was unable to do much, but he was healing well. His retired father had come to Florida to help care for him, and it felt good having so much family around. It even seemed to help Sophie feel like she had a normal life again with people who cared.
Kevin had worked as a trainer for IWX and was traveling with Candy regularly. Her pregnancy was going well, and she was happy to share the extra time with her father after so many lost years.
Sophie was going back to school to finish her teaching degree online. She hoped one day to help women to get off the streets by helping them get an education. She and Kevin had found a home near Candy’s and could be with Slade during his recovery.
It was a warm fall day when Colt walked into Slade’s room, seeing his friend playing IWX wrestling video games on Xbox. His character was fighting Colt and beating him to a pulp.
“Yeah. Take that, ya loser!”
“Really, dude? This is what you do when I’m not around. Pretending you can beat me on a video game.”
“Your game character sucks. I already figured out how to block all your moves.”
“Do you have it set on the easy version?”
Slade looked offended. “No.”
Colt raised an eyebrow, not believing a word of it.
“Yes. Jerk. I’m hurt. It makes me feel better.”
“How are ya feeling?”
“Pretty good, considering. Doctors say I’m doing great. The brace will be off soon.”
Colt sat down on the bed next to him, taking the extra game remote. “Candy says you’re struggling a little with the pills.”
Slade sighed, grumbling, “I wondered how long it would be before you brought that up. I’m trying, Colt. I had a brief setback. Now that the pain is subsiding, I think I’m doing better. I have to. I have a baby on the way and an amazing wife who depends on me. I don’t want to let them down.”
Colt patted his leg. “You won’t. You got this. You know you can always call me when you are struggling, right?”
“I know. Gage has been calling me a lot too, and it’s good hearing from you guys. It keeps my spirits up. I want to get back in that ring soon because I’m bored out of my mind just sitting here. Sophie and I have been cooking together to keep my mind off things. I think I gained ten pounds.”
Grabbing a game remote, Colt leaned his head back, playing the game with Slade. Looking over, he noticed Colt in deep thought. “What’s your problem?”
“Why are women so much trouble?”
Slade chuckled. “You met Holly, huh? I was wondering where the black eye came from.”
Colt turned his head to face Slade. “She is a bloody nightmare. Who on earth thought that woman would ever be compatible with me? I know you, and Candy said I would like her, but she’s freaking crazy. I don’t see how Wraith and Cyrus have not killed their sister by now.”
Slade grinned, pinning Colt’s character. “Ha! Got ya.”
“You’re cheating. I hate this game.”
“So, you like her?”
Colt grunted. “How can someone who is so fucking sexy be such a colossal pain in the ass?”
Slade just shook his head with a smirk and kept playing the game. “Good luck, Colt. You’re going to need it.”
-End (Book 2)-
***********
Want more of this series? Check out the second book of this collection: Between the Ropes 2
Powerbomb: Holly and Colt’s story.
Holly Evans aka Holly Bordeaux is the fire-breathing, ass-kicking, trouble-making sister of none other than IWX’s own, Doom Brothers.
After Slade’s wrestling injury, Colt has taken over Retribution. Davis is once again at his wits’ end as the new leader of the crew who has turned IWX upside down. Their playboy ways and wild antics have got the entire roster up in arms.
Leading to Isis and Gage’s wedding, cousin Holly has come to IWX to bash heads and take names to get the Retribution boys in line. Colt’s recent version of the bad boy crew will meet their match when they come toe-to-toe with the Doom Brother’s rowdy, fire-breathing sister.
When Holly becomes the faction’s glorified babysitter, Colt can’t get a handle on the girl who hangs in dive bars and loves to fight. His whole team falls victim to the rough-and-tough bad girl’s mean streak. One thing he knows for sure, something needs to give before he takes matters into his own hands. Will Holly put Retribution in check, or will Colt discover there is more to this tough girl than appears to the eye?
