Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 76365 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76365 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
“So, you figured out how to call?” I joked. “Usually, you send snail mail. I was waiting for another postcard from some resort near the border.”
“Those resorts are tourist traps. I’m not going to another one. They swindled me out of some cash,” he complained and started swearing in Spanish.
I shook my head with a laugh. “All right, all right, no more resorts.”
“Anyway, one of the boys here helped me. Luis. He’s got a hell of a right hook. Reminds me of you when you were younger.” Dad laughed again. “Oh, I didn’t tell you, did I? I bought into a local gym with some of my winnings. Fixed it back up and got the kids new boxing gloves.”
I pushed off the front desk and took a look around the nearly rebuilt Smiley’s. Light from the setting sun cast an orange glow over the new exercise area. In a few days, a new ring would be in the middle of the room and really bring the place back to life.
Dad was doing the exact same thing we were doing: trying to keep the boxing spirit alive. Luckily, he wasn’t a dick like Troy Godwin. I was sure his money didn’t come with strings.
“You’ve got them training in fights already, huh? How old is Luis?”
“Same age you started. Got KOed his first match like you, too.”
I groaned and rubbed my forehead. “Could you not remind me of that? I got better.”
“You sure did, kiddo. I’ve been watching the videos Lotto posts to your page. Well, what the boys show me. My phone can’t do all that.”
My heart swelled, and I fought to control my smile. Knowing Dad was watching over me, even from so far away, made me feel a whole lot better about this whole mess.
“Yeah, we’re, uh.” I paused, trying to find the right way to word ‘fighting for the demon of the underground himself.’ “Hopefully stepping our game up here soon.”
“I can tell. I’m proud of you. And I saw Ari fighting, too?”
The mention of Ari made my smile drop. “Uh… yeah. Yeah, she’s got a fight tonight, actually.”
“Oh, good. She’s going to kick ass.”
The confidence in my old man’s voice made me chuckle. “You really think so?”
“She’s got you, Lotto, and that other guy by her side. Frankie?” I confirmed with a grunt and Dad laughed. “How could you go wrong with that team? I wish I had you here to train some of the other boys. Luis is a star in the making, but Pedro and Eduardo need all the help they can get. No amount of jackpots can help those kids learn to protect their heads. Just yesterday—”
I listened to Dad ramble on and on about what Pedro and Eduardo did, leaning back against the front counter. He sounded so happy. Carefree. I didn’t care what he was saying—he could recite the Mexican Constitution and I’d be happy to listen. As long as he was still around to talk my ear off about it.
“Actually, Jorge just walked in. He owns the place I bought into. La Suprema. You’ll have to come down and check it out someday.”
“Someday,” I agreed. “As long as you keep calling until then.”
“I’ll call once a week. Unless it’s a casino day.” He laughed. “I’ll call Lotto, too. Tell him Pops says hi, and we’ll talk soon. I need to drill some sense into these boys first.”
“Go easy on ’em, Dad.” I laughed. “Or else Frankie will be calling asking for tips on how to whip the rest of us into shape.”
“I’m sure. Are you still all together…”
There was a tilt to his question that made me smile. “Yeah. Yeah, the four of us.” I appreciated that even if he didn’t understand, he didn’t question. “If we can make it down, I’ll bring everyone to say hi.”
“Oh, good, good. Give them my love. Talk to you soon.” Right before he hung up, I heard Dad yell, “Eduardo, si—”
I laughed even as the phone went dead. Who knew all Dad needed to breathe some life into him was yelling at teenage boxers in Mexico City? I stared at my phone for a few seconds before pocketing it in the back of my jeans. The call with Dad made me feel… lighter. When I pushed up from the desk, I almost stumbled forward. I hadn’t realized there was so much tension in my body until it was all gone.
“Whoa, hey there, don’t hurt yourself!” Ari’s voice rang through the empty room. Smiling, she came closer, followed by Lotto and Frankie. “You’ve been gone forever. Is everything okay?”
“Yeah.” I patted the phone in my pocket and grinned. “Yeah, everything’s great. Just talked to my dad. He says hi and to kick ass out there.”
“As if I wasn’t going to,” Ari joked and tightened her long ponytail. For someone who’d spent the entire morning and afternoon practicing with Frankie, she looked fresh and ready as ever. “But thanks… there’s no way I’m losing with him in my corner.”