Path To Retaliation (Fighter's Den, #2)

Chapter 13 - Cameron

Cold water hits my face and the sensation is quick to alert me. I run my wet hands through my hair and down my neck for good measure, needing the refresher. Avery asked me for a much needed break and I was more than eager to comply. There's a lot of information out in the open now that both of us need time to digest. My God, we were a couple of fucked up people. The things she told me and the things I told her...well, it's clear that our demons are beyond recovery. And if for some insane reason Avery wants to work through this, I won't be able to allow it.

My rapist constantly keeps tabs on me to make sure I don't get close to anyone. She's been controlling my life, blackmailing me into staying with her, since the day she walked into that hospital room and completely obliterated my world. Not only would she give me and my mother away to authorities, she'd threatened to publicly announce all my wrongdoings to the press in order to ruin Coach Resnick's career. After all, who would respect an ex professional boxer for training a gigolo who had a mother that was a murderer? My life hasn't been my life in a long time but I'm more than happy to take all of Miss Fucking Hannah's shit in order to protect everyone in my life from her psychotic tendencies. And that includes, especially includes, Avery. There's no telling what she would do to my sweet cheeks if she knew I was in love with her.

I considered quitting training at Fighter's Den on more than one occasion to make sure Coach and my boys would be as far away from my shit as possible. But boxing keeps me sane and there's no telling what I would do if I didn't have that anymore. I can only hope that sticking around doesn't make me selfish. I do my absolute best to put everyone before myself but boxing means the damn world to me. So does Avery. The only difference is Hannah can hurt Avery and so I can't prioritize her, no matter how much I want. And, hell, do I want to. It's a damn good thing I'm used to not getting what I want.

"Hey." I hear croaked behind me. I spin around to find Avery seating herself back on to her couch. She changed from her t-shirt to sweats and a tank top and her face is red. I can't tell if it's from crying or vigorously rubbing her face like I was moments ago. Something about her new attire, more clothed and less bared to me, makes me wonder if that's her way of closing off and no longer being comfortable around me. Both possibilities hurt me so much I can't breathe. But it's for the best. This is what I want.

I jerk my chin in her direction, unable to form words right now. I've said enough to do a lifetime of damage.

She clears her throat. "I'm sorry, Cameron."

I'm no longer able to maintain a straight face. I'm sure I look as perplexed as I feel. "For what?"

"When you first told me what...what you do, I immediately assumed the worst of you. That was wrong. You didn't think bad of me when I shared my story but that's what I did with you. Not only that, but I know you. Maybe not your secrets but I know you as a person and that should have been enough for me to trust in what you were saying. I'm sorry."

Utterly taken back at her apology, all I can do is stare. Why wasn't she telling me I disgusted her? That she couldn't look me in the face anymore? That she was wrong about me this whole time? How can she be apologizing to me?

"Stop obsessing over why I'm not running away in the other direction. You did what you had to do to survive. I get that. It doesn't make you less of a person and I won't treat you as such."

I didn't think she could shock me more any more than she already has. So, I just...keep staring.

"I told you." Her mouth twitches. "I know you, hermoso."

My throat locks up further at her endearment. I realize that this may be the very last time she calls me that.

Fuck, this is so much harder than I expected it to be. I really fucking love her, don't I?