Sweat poured down my face as I stepped off of the treadmill. Chase wanted to learn how to throw a punch, and I was just the guy to show him how. The only text I got from Bo was telling me she made it a few hours ago, and I love you followed after that. It wasn't like I was blowing up her phone, waiting for her to text me, but I was waiting for her to text me, let's go home.

I looked down at his hands and saw the busted wounds on his knuckles. Now I know why it worried John to see it on me. It made me worry about what happens at home. I knew nothing about this kid's home life, but I knew that something was wrong, and when it was me, everyone except for John turned a blind eye to what was happening. I was a troubled teen with a homelife no one knew about, and all I can see is Chase having the same issues.

I snatched his hands before he could slide on the gloves. He tried to pull away, but his scrawny ass was no match for my strength. I examined the bruising, noticing the scarring. The cuts were deep, and they seemed like they were getting worst. It made me wonder how long this has been going on.

"What the fuck?" He tried to rip his hands back.

I looked down at him. "How long has this been going on for?"

"I don't need your shit," he snapped, finally breaking free of my hold. "Everyone tells me to stop fighting, but I can't. How would you feel -"

"Soak them in ice," I interrupt him. "Keep them elevated to keep the pain away. How often are you fighting?"

"It's my mom's boyfriend."

"Who is it?"

"It's a different guy all of the time," he lowered his voice. "I pick fights with them. Not the other way around."

"You're lying," I looked down at him. "Tell me what is actually going on."

"What can you do to actually help me?"

"Whatever I fucking have to."

"Riley doesn't know."

"Who is picking you up?"

"I don't -"

"Great, I will take you home," I smile. "You're not taking any drugs or drinking, right?"

He looked at me with hardening eyes. "Or what?"

"Because if I see your fifteen-year-old ass picking up any pills or a bottle of alcohol, I'll break your fucking fingers. Understood?"

"You can't say that to me."

"Said who?" I pulled away. "You said you heard of me before. That means you know how many cops have tried to take me down, and it never happened."

He shoved me away. "You think your girl would let you do that to me?"

"Who do you think is going to help me hide the body?"

He snorted. "Definitely not her small ass."

I shoved him away, shaking my head at his cockiness. He stared at me with brown eyes, but I felt like I was staring at the teenage version of myself, and I wanted to do nothing more than beat his ass. He licked the inside of his cheeks as he crossed his arms.

"What are you going to do? Teach me how to fight or kick my ass?"

"I can train you by kicking your ass."

"Try me."

"Maybe you should put on your gear."

"I don't need it."

"Suit yourself."

My shoulders tipped upward before I slid my gloves on. He brought his arms up, knowing his correct stance. When he threw a punch in my direction, it was weak. The second it collided with my stomach, I started shaking my head. He threw up his arms.

"What?"

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Listen, little miss perfect. You're not perfect. Either you can take my criticism or get out."

He grinned. "You have quite the attitude."

"I can knock your little ass out and leave you here."

"Kinnick! Bo is here!" John yelled at me as a little ding sounded from the entryway door.

I looked up to see my curly-haired girl in her heels and close-fitted dress. My teeth ripped away at the velcro on my gloves. Chase watched with his mouth wide open as she walked toward John and kissed his cheek. I saw his chest quickly move up and down as he stared at her.

"Oh god," he breathed out. "She is hotter in person."

I shoved him away, pushing him to the ground as we stepped out of the ring. "Fuck off."

"Kinnick!" She yelped. "He is a kid!"

She kneeled next to him. "Are you okay?"

He let out sighs of fake fucking distress. "No, I feel a lot of pain in my shoulder."

Her little body turned around, slightly smacking my arm. "Kinnick!"

The little fucker stood behind her, smirking. "He has been mean to me all day."

A frown settled on her face. "Why?"

"He is lying!"

She stood next to him with her arms crossed. "Really? You are going to pull that card."

"This is Riley's cousin's kid," John came toward us. "Chase Cooper."

Bo smiled up at Chase. "I'm Bo or Boston. You can call me whatever."

"Can I call you mine?" He sent her a wink.

My fingers curled next to my side as he stared down at the curly-haired girl next to him with a smile. There was a gleam in his eyes. When he looked up at me, he looked at me with a smirk. I wanted to reach over and snatch him up.

Her head started shaking back and forth. "You are a flirt."

"And you are gorgeous."

"Okay," I shoved him away. "Back off."

My hands cupped Bo's cheeks, bringing her lips to mine. She held onto my wrists, pulling me closer. When we broke contact, I looked at the expression on her face to see if she was okay. Nothing swirling in her caramel eyes told me she wasn't. In fact, she looked relieved and a little happy.

"Riley isn't coming," John talked to Chase beside us. "We also haven't heard from your mom. Is that normal? Someone should have been here to pick you up by now."

"She is doing drugs," he shrugged. "It's normal for her to not care about me."

"Do you want me to take you home?" John suggested.

I leaned into Bo's neck. "Hey, keep the kid busy, okay? I need to talk to John."

On the way toward his office, he was looking at me with questions. He wanted to know what was going on, and why I wanted to talk to him in private. I should have had Bo's consent before I came back to talk to him, but I wasn't going to wait.

"What do you know about Chase's mom?"

"I know he stays other places more than he stays at home."

"Have you met her?"

He shrugged. "No, and from what Riley has said, I don't want to."

"Why?"

"As Chase said, she is on a lot of drugs."

"Okay, and what is anybody doing to get him out of that house? Bo knows people, we can get him out of there."

"And who is he supposed to stay with?"

"Anybody who isn't his piece-of-shit mom."

"Kinnick, who is he supposed to go to? Riley doesn't trust him to stay with us."

"He can stay with me."

"What?"

"Give me the address," I shrug. "I will take him to get his shit, and he can stay with me."

"Kinnick, you don't know what goes on in that house."

"No, I don't," I admit. "That is why I won't let that fucking kid go back. He is fighting his mom's boyfriends. That was me, John. I can't let him go back there."

"What if something happens when you show up?"

"You think I am scared of some bitch and her dealing boyfriends?"

"Kinnick -"

"I'm taking that kid, and no one is going to fucking stop me."

He wanted to further our talk, but I wasn't going to wait for him to try and talk me out of it because there was no talking me out of it. I wasn't going to wait for something to happen to this kid. I also won't sit back while everyone watches his life crumble. Not like mine did.

I approached the kid standing next to Bo. "We're leaving. Let's go."

Bo looked at me with wide eyes. "What's wrong?"

"He is staying with us," I kiss her cheek. "We can talk about it when I get home."

"I am going with you."

"No," I snapped. "You are going home. I am going to take the kid to get his things."

She looked at me with a frown. "What is going on?"

"I promise everything will be okay."

On the drive toward the address the kid gave me, he barely spoke. Chase's leg bounced as we grew closer to his house. Someone made this kid believe no one was going to protect him, and the only person who could save him was himself. He was worried about what would happen when he stepped through his front door.

He needed to know I wasn't going to let him go in alone. As soon as we got there, he looked at me with alarm as I got out of the truck with him. He stayed silent as we walked up the small porch toward the open door.

"Chase! Is that you?"

A deep voice rumbled through the house. I saw the way he tensed up at the man's tone echoing through the hallway. His brown eyes were scared as the footsteps of whoever was coming grew closer.

"Go get your stuff," I nodded at him. "Now."

He looked back at me before running up the stairs. A man came through the corridor with a cigarette between his fingers. He narrowed his eyes at me before walking closer to where I stood.

"And who are you?"

I looked him up and down before directing my gaze back to the stairs. He wanted me to say something, and he wasn't going to get shit out of me. I didn't care to entertain the fucker who smoked too much and seemed to drink more than he could handle.

"I asked you a question."

Chase started slowly coming down the stairs. "You got everything you need, kid?"

He nodded. "I think so."

"Where the fuck do you think you are going?"

The second the man grabbed a hold of Chase's bag strap, I watched him tense up and bow his head. I grabbed Chase's shoulder and pulled him away from the man's hold. His brown eyes looked up at me as I told him to wait in the truck. I know he wanted me to walk with him, and I wanted to snap at him the second he wouldn't budge.

When the drunken man moved forward, I shoved him back against the wall. His fist came toward me, but with his slow movements, I was able to catch it. I pushed Chase out of the way, so he wouldn't get caught in the crossfire. Then my fingers clutched the man's throat.

My head lowered to get closer to him. "This kid is leaving with me. From what I have heard, his mom is too high to know he is ever here, but you are fully aware of what is going on. So, I am letting you know, this kid is now staying with me. I will have my lawyers send papers for full custody."

His face started to turn purple as I tightened my grip. "If you so much as think about fucking with the kid or fighting me on this, I will plant a bullet between your eyebrows and watch it sprout blood."

He gripped my wrists to try and pull me away. "So, pick your happily ever after wisely, princess."