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  “Yeah, it seems like you didn’t know. Hey, I think you better talk to your mom. If I shouldn’t have said anything, I’m sorry.”

  “It’s okay, thanks.” And he left the hotel with two mysteries.

  He got in his car and wasn’t sure where to go next when his phone buzzed. It was Cassidy.

  “Hey, baby.”

  “Hey, I have him.”

  “What?”

  “I have him. Dylan, he’s here at the gym with us.”

  “How the hell? Us?”

  “Yeah, me, Jessie, G-Man, Pete Flannigan, we’re hanging out with him. He showed up looking for you. He wanted to run away when he didn’t see you, but we got it. We’re playing Uno.”

  “Uno?”

  “Yeah, Pete Flannigan has a deck in his locker at all times, for emergency Uno situations.”

  “Okay, don’t let him go anywhere. I’ll come get him.”

  “No problem.”

  The weight of his brother was lifted. He was glad Dylan was safe, but that stress was replaced with a much darker worry after hearing that word “treatments”. His family was hiding shit from him and he needed to get it sorted out.

  The sight of Dylan in the gym was like worlds colliding. The two separate parts of his life in one place never happened. He found the scene strange as hell, The brother he always worried about and protected was right at home. G-Man, Flannigan, and Cassidy formed a little circle on the mat with Dylan.

  “Reverse, reverse, draw two! And Uno!” Dylan had just owned the regional heavyweight champion as he picked up a ton of cards. But this little stunt today wasn’t a game, Dylan deviating from a plan was life and death in Craddock’s mind. He was a kid, a little kid, in all ways but size.

  “Hi Craddock. Don’t be mad.”

  “Of course I’m fucking mad! You’re not supposed to go wandering around town. You go to work or home or where mom says or I say!” Craddock was yelling now.

  “But, but, but…” Craddock was pissed and Dylan was flustered.

  Cassidy stood up and put a hand on Dylan and another on Craddock.

  “Come on Flannigan, we better let them get sorted out.” G-Man and Flannigan left the increasingly awkward family drama.

  Cassidy looked Dylan in the eyes.

  “Dylan, why don’t you tell Craddock what you told me before, when you first got here.”

  Cassidy had immediately connected with Dylan, he seemed to calm down when she spoke to him. Of course he did, it was like he always said, if you were a good person you connected with Dylan. Of course, that meant Flannigan and G-Man were good people too.

  “And stop yelling, Craddock. It doesn’t help. Dylan didn’t mean to get lost.”

  He exhaled and tried to keep from yelling at Cassidy. She didn’t understand how serious this could have been. That’s why he was yelling, but he struggled to control himself at her request.

  Cassidy gave him a stink eye look. She was tiny as hell but he figured she could punish him for losing his cool in her own way, so he said his next words carefully, quietly, calmly.

  “What the fuck were you thinking, Dylan?”

  “Well, the fuck I was thinking was that I needed to get a job with more monies. Mom’s been working at night and going to the doctor at the daytime. I thought maybe I’d go downtown and find something nicer in the shinier buildings and then she could be home, but then I got turned around and the bus went all the way to the end, so I stayed on it and remembered the street for your gym. And that’s when I got off here.”

  “I spotted him at the window. He’s was helping me redo the file cabinet because he knows the alphabet better than most of the guys in this place, then he dominated at Uno.” She smiled at Dylan and he blushed.

  Great, now all he was going to hear about was how pretty Cassidy was, like brother like brother on that score, he supposed.

  “Dylan, the job you have is fine. If we need more money for mom, we’ll get it. Look, if I get that 21C League contract, we’ll be all set.”

  “Yeah! The big time, Cassidy, that’s the big time!” Dylan explained to Cassidy.

  She put her hand in the air. “High five for the big time,” she said.

  Dylan high fived her and they both laughed.

  “Cassidy is pretty and nice. She’s not like the sluts you normally go for. Mom’s going to like her.”

  “Where’d you hear that slut thing?” Craddock asked.

  “Mom.”

  Cassidy laughed out loud at that one. Phew, he thought, that could have been a whole other fight.

  “Okay, let’s get you home. Mom’s got some explaining to do to about these treatments or whatever.”

  “I’m going to stay here and work. I’ve got my classes to catch up on.”

  “Cassidy’s going to be a social worker and get her masters and stuff.” Dylan explained to Craddock.

  “Yes, she’s getting her masters and stuff,” he said to Dylan. He turned to Cassidy, “I’ll come back by after I get this squared away with mom.”

  “Don’t worry about me, take care of your family.” She winked at him.

  Craddock took a big step forward and held Cassidy’s chin.

  “Listen, I’ve had enough of the people I love going free-range today. Can you please promise me to lock up, do your studying, and wait for me so I can get you home?”

  He was serious. He couldn’t deal with worrying about her on top of the day he had.

  “Fine. Promise.”

  He kissed her on the lips, but before it got too sexy, Dylan was chiming in mocking him by making kissing faces. Cassidy laughed. Craddock smacked him on the back of the head.

  “Let’s go.”

  When he finally got Dylan squared away, his mom came in the house. She’d worked a 2:30 to 11:30, not her day shift.

  “You worked a decade at that place to get the day shift and now you’re on nights again?”

  “Don’t play around, I know your brother told you.”

  Craddock pulled out a kitchen chair and made his mom sit. She was not someone who sat, but she did this time.

  “I have to work, I need this therapy, so I asked for the night shift. It’s not so bad.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me about the treatments?”

  “Because it’s nothing. My mammogram caught it early, only the lump had to be removed and I actually only needed a few weeks of radiation as a precaution. I’ll be back on days in less than a month.”

  “How do I know you’re telling me the truth when you didn’t tell me about this? Dylan had to. And he’s clearly very worried. He thought he could get a job at a law firm or something today.”

  “Yeah, that. I’ll be talking to him.” His mom didn’t look worried when she talked about her cancer, only when she talked about Dylan.

  “What can I do?” He felt a catch in his throat. He wanted to be strong for her, but it came out — his fear of her being sick.

  “Son, I’m fine. I’m really fine. Just a few weeks and we’re done.”

  “Can’t you take a medical leave?”

  “No need. As long as Dylan doesn’t wander off again we’re good. And did I see groceries in this house?” It was an accusation not a question.

  “Maybe, just a few things.”

  “I’ll only forgive you for spending your money on me if you bought mint chocolate chip ice cream.”

  “Luckily, I did.” He stood up and folded his Ma in a gentle hug. He didn’t want to break her. He hated the idea that she was right. She wouldn’t be around forever.

  “I love you honey. Now stop spending money on me like you already have that big fancy pro-contract.” She patted him on the back and her tone let him know that this sentimental moment over.

  “Nope.”

  “Ugh, you never listen. Call your brother in here and we’ll have that ice cream.”

  Mention of the ice cream had Dylan knocking over furniture to get to the kitchen. The three of them ate the treat and for a moment it was like he was a five year o
ld or something, his mom — invincible and young — and his Dad was in the other room watching sports.

  Except they weren’t and she wasn’t so invincible. He needed that 21C money. His mom needed it and he was damn sure gonna get it for her.

  Cassidy

  Seeing Craddock’s worry over Dylan and his mom was a surprise. The protectiveness he showed her was also the way he showed love to his family.

  Meeting Dylan gave her an idea on how to repay Craddock’s thoughtfulness of getting her approved to use the GWG computer for school. It did make her life easier — less bus tokens, less time wasted traveling back and forth, and no worry about getting in before the library was closed. She just had to concentrate on her lessons and let the day’s excitement fall away a little.

  Bess helped her apply for a grant opportunity for next year that could pay her of her tuition. That would be huge, but she no more B-level work. She blocked out all thoughts of her sexy fighter and his surprisingly sweet instincts toward his family and concentrated on her class.

  Before she knew it, she’d taken two sessions of class and done her test from yesterday’s material. And boom! An “A.” That was more like it.

  All the fighters and Whitey had gone home and even the cleaning crew had finished. It was late, but it had been a productive night. She was looking forward to what she’d need to do for final exams for this term when a tap at the window startled her. Craddock was back.

  It still blew her away how much she loved the way he looked, from his faded jeans that hung low on his hips to the mop of dark hair that needed to be cut. Top to bottom he was perfect in her eyes.

  Craddock used his key to let himself in while she logged off her computer.

  “Good, the door was locked. I don’t have to give you shit.”

  “You like giving me shit.”

  “Something like that.” He leaned over her desk and kissed her. A quick kiss, but it still set off ripples all over her body.

  “So, do you want to tell me about your mom?”

  “I suppose I owe you an explanation. You were plopped into the middle of my Flynn Family Drama.”

  “I like Dylan a lot. He’s very funny and sweet and huge.”

  “Ha, yeah if I stop working out, that gut’s in my future.” He stuck out his abs and not one bit of fat was there, just muscle.

  “So? What’s going on with your mom?”

  “She’s been going to radiation because she has breast cancer. She says they removed a lump. And something else was fine, uh…”

  “Her glands. Maybe?”

  “Yeah, she said it was caught very early so she just has to have the treatment to be sure. Problem is she couldn’t go to work and have the treatment, so she had them switch her shift.”

  “Oh, which had Dylan all messed up, I get that he has a routine.”

  “Totally.”

  “I see where you get your toughness, by the way. It’s your mom. Is Dylan onboard with all this?”

  “Yeah, he promised to go to his normal work and my mom promised to tell me stuff like this in the future.” Craddock sat on her desk and put his head in his hands. For the first time since she’d met him, he looked vulnerable.

  She stood up and slid into his arms. “It’s okay, I’m sure your mom will be fine.”

  He wrapped his arms around her and leaned his head on her shoulder. “It just makes me so mad she has to clean at night. And her insurance is shit. She’s racking up medical debt to do this. Like $25,000 before it’s all done.”

  “Oh my.” That sum seemed incredible to her.

  “That’s why this tournament is so important. I need that contract cash. It’ll change her life, you know?”

  “I know.” She got up on the tip of her toes to kiss him. It was a soft, reassuring kiss.

  Craddock fisted the fabric of her shirt and she felt the kiss intensify.

  She tangled her fingers up in the hair at the back of his neck. His hands slid down inside the top of her skirt to her hips, the top of her backside. If they didn’t separate, they’d wind up doing it on the desk in front of the windows of the GWG.

  “Let’s go. I need you,” he whispered into her ear.

  Cassidy grabbed her bag. She’d planned ahead. It contained a pair of jeans and a sweater for tomorrow. She knew they’d be staying at his place tonight. He deserved a stress-free night and her apartment always presented challenges.

  They separated and made a very chaste drive to his place. She’d learned that the slightest touch could get them into trouble, so she stayed on her side of the car while he gave her molten looks that were almost as sexy as if he’d been touching her.

  They got to his place and he was all over her the second she walked through the back door. Her senses were overwhelmed and she could barely keep up.

  Craddock stripped off her skirt and tore her shirt off over her head. He kissed her as if it had been a year since their last time. His intensity was overwhelming. She had no hope of matching it, so she let him take over.

  He unhooked her bra and buried his face in her breasts. First one side, then the other, kissing and biting her in a way that set her on fire. He hooked his fingers on her panties and dragged them down. He went down with them.

  Cassidy’s eyes flew open as he began devouring her. His hard chin and soft tongue had her practically unglued right there, naked in the tiny kitchen. She cried out in ecstasy as he held her bottom with his hands and probed with his tongue. He sucked in at the sensitive spot between her legs and she felt a climax rip through her. She tried to move away, to finish with him inside her, but he wouldn’t stop or let her go. She leaned back on the kitchen counter for fear of collapsing in a heap as her orgasm shuddered through her.

  Only then did Craddock release her from his mouth. He trailed his tongue up her stomach, between her breasts, to her neck. She tried to catch her breath.

  “That’s my girl.”

  She was still trying to get some sort of control over the tremors he’d caused when she heard the unmistakable sound of his zipper. He’d been fully clothed and contained while he’d shattered her with his mouth.

  “Hold on, baby.” He thrust inside her with such force, she thought she might explode again after one stroke. She did as he said and held on as he pounded her, again and again, until she was on the brink. Craddock had a hold of her hips and lifted her entire body each time.

  He was shattering her again and it was delicious. She felt everything tighten around him, from her inner walls to her arms around his neck. She held on like a vice as he rammed into her — unrestrained, animalistic, hotter than anything they’d done before.

  He growled her name, “Cassidy. God.”

  Her second climax ripped through her, more intense than the first. Craddock groaned as he reached his release as well.

  He pressed a kiss into her head.

  She didn’t know what all this meant and where it was going, but she knew she wanted to be with Craddock for as long as this lasted.

  Chapter Eight

  Craddock

  It was Friday Night —Fight Night — and he needed to be sure all was right at home so he could give the fight his attention. He had to give his mom a break. Not coming to the fights always irritated him, sure, but now, well, all he cared about now was that she be okay. She wasn’t coming, even though they were down the road, but he didn’t press too hard.

  He’d been checking on her every morning and calling during her shift changes. So much so, she’d told him to knock it off.

  “Look, I’m okay. You’re making me feel like I’m dying, being so nice to me,” she’d said on the phone as he entered the Grand City Convention Center, gym bag over his shoulder.

  They expected a packed house and he was keyed up. It wasn’t the big time, but it was going to be a great night. Especially hearing that annoyance in his mom’s voice — when she was annoyed with him, all was right with the world.

  “I’m just making sure you’re okay.”

  Th
e idea that Cassidy would be there was making him happy. Ever since his mom stopped coming to his stuff, he’d been missing something. He felt like, other than Whitey and the guys that weren’t douchey at GWG, the people that cheered for him were fans, not friends or family. Cassidy being there, well, she somehow seemed like both. He couldn’t wait to show her what he could do.

  He was the main attraction tonight. Well, him and Zeke. But they wouldn’t be fighting each other. Both of them were fighting guys that were trying to make names for themselves on the circuit, amateurs that were where he was about two years ago. Whereas GWG Grand City had six fighters that could possibly make a run for it at the big tournament, the guys from the Indiana Fight Factory, tonight’s opponents, were a rung below. But still, taking an opponent lightly was a bad idea. Any given fight could knock you on your ass for good if you weren’t careful.

  He had to stay back stage while the other four fights were underway, but he peeked out and there she was. Whitey had gotten Cassidy a GWG t-shirt. Sporting the tiny t-shirt and tight jeans — it wasn’t her normal look, but she looked hot He made a note that he’d have to make sure the whole place knew not to mess with her — she was his. But looking like that, ugh, he’d have to work over time to keep guys off her.

  He got so caught up in checking out Cassidy, he was shocked when he noticed who was sitting next to her. He couldn’t believe it. Next to Cassidy was Dylan! How the hell? He hadn’t taped his hands yet so he grabbed his phone to message her.

  “You look hot.”

  “Thank you. Company uniform. You doing good?”

  “Yep, is that Dylan I see with you?”

  “Yes, he’s excited to cheer for you.”

  “How did you manage to get him here?”

  “Your mom and I are friends now.”

  “I did not authorize.”

  “We made posters, so be nice.” He looked around the curtain and, sure enough, Dylan and Cassidy had posters.

  “Nice and MMA don’t really go together.”

  “Well then, kick some ass.”

  “That’s my girl. See you soon.”