His:Always and forever

Chapter 10

Alice's P.O.V

I've been trying to talk to james the last few days, and he has been avoiding me. But today, I will force him to talk. I need to know what that jerk meant.

The guys at the gym have told me when he comes, so I know I can catch him. I head to the gym and might as well get a workout in.

After an hour, james gets into the gym and heads to the back with a boxing ring. I go get showered and changed. I sit and watch as he trains. If you can call it that he has no form and doesn't seem to know what he is doing. I notice the other guys around leave him alone or laugh at him.

It's definitely something going on, and I will find out. James goes to shower, so I wait him out. Once he comes out, I pull him into a storage room and lock the door.

James is definitely stunned. "You have been avoiding me now. You're going to talk to me and tell me what is going on," I start with. "It's nothing. You don't need to worry." Wow, that was not convincing at all.

"Seriously, you expect me to believe you when you don't believe it yourself. Let's start with why you are fighting when you don't know how"

"I'm learning to fight,"

"That's bull, and you know it, I've watched you and nobody training you, and you're bad,"

He let's out a long sigh," Look, it's complicated, but I can handle it, just leave it."

"Not a chance tell me and while you're at it tell me who Marco is."

"s**t, marco is bad news. Just stay away from him, and you don't need to know more," he tries to leave. Well till I trip him and put my knee in his back.

"This is not over, so spill everything, or I will really start to hurt you." I'm not someone to be messed with.

"Why do you want to know?"

"Because something is going on and none of it seems good, I just want to help,"

"Fine, but there is no helping. Look, I made a mistake. I took a loan out, and the investment fell through and know I owe the money back," but there is no helping. I'm looking at the time

"I'm guessing it wasn't from a bank." he nods. "Where did you go?"

"Mafia"

I start laughing, but the side eye he gives me I stop. He's telling the truth.

"You i***t, how could you be so stupid, you could have gone to your family vut now you're in s**t"

"Look, I know I was stupid, but I wanted to do it on my own, now I'm paying the price."

I've got off of him, and he just sits against the wall while I'm looking down at him.

"So how are you paying?"

"The fight I have to go five rounds with there guys and that will pay it off"

Again, I start laughing. This is entertaining " You have got to be kidding me. You do know you will die right."

"That's why I'm training, so I have a chance."

"When's the fight?"

"Next Saturday"

"s**t, there is no time to train you, and these guys train hard. How much do you owe?"

"€50,000"

"Can't you talk to your parents loan it from them so you don't fight to the death"

"They would kill me for going near the mafia. They always told us to stay away so we wouldn't get hurt."

"Shame, you didn't listen. Is there no one else, Cole,sam, friends?"

"No, they can't find out."

"You're not making this easy, I can fight for you. at least I will get out alive. There's no time to train you,"

"No way am I letting you do that this is my problem I will handle it"

"I'm not going to sit back and let you die,"

"I will do my best not to just leave it to me,"

"Fine, but I'm coming to the fight. Someone got to make sure you make it out on one piece,"

"Fine but only because the boss wants you there."

"So Marco is the boss." he nods, "That's great, not even in Italy a month, and have had a few run-ins the the don of the Italian mafia." I must have bad luck.

"Tomorrow, we met the home gym, and I'll show you some moves that could help."

"Thank you,"

I let james leave. I can't believe him. This is a mess. I decided to go to the little cafe I found when I fist came to town and tried to think of a plan.

I get coffee and cake. I sit outside the shop it's hot but there is a nice breeze. Now to try and help james, but the only way is if I fight, which he's being stubborn on. I'm a pretty good fighter. I've been doing it for years it helped with all the anger I had.

Coming up with €50,000 that would help. I could probably get most of it from stocks that I do my old coach showed me. Maybe have a polite conversation with marco See if that would help.

If it has come down to a fight I don't know what can be done, I know bits about it as there was some Italian mafia at my old gym they were nice as long as you were on there good side. I was never interested in knowing too much but I learnt a few things. Maybe a call to Uncle b will help.

I pull out my phone and make the call. As it connects, hear Uncle b. "I thought you had forgotten about me, little one,"

"How could I forget you, old man?" We both laugh.

"So how is it going over there?"

"That's the thing, it's a mess. Well, I'm good, but my cousin has got himself in deep with the boss,"

"Well, that's not good. Tell me what you know," so I tell him about the money and the fight, I also mention the run-ins I've had with the boss.

"Well, you do like drama, but you're right. Nothing will help it's down to the fight, mainly because there is more money to be made from it."

"That's what I thought, I was hoping to be wrong. Could I take his place and fight?"

"Possibly you would have to get the boss to agree he would need to be convinced he would make more from you fighting than your cousin."

"You know I'm good at arguing, now to find him and get him to agree."

"I'm sure you can do it. Let me know how it all turns out, and don't leave it too long before you call gain. We all miss you,"

"I promise I will call it's just been busy with everything going on, and I miss you all too it's not the same here,"

"Well, we are looking at a holiday soon, so maybe we can find time to see each other."

"You guys are coming to italy,"

"We don't know yet. we will wait and see, but if we do, you best be available to see use, or we might just kidnap you."

"You can try old man just remember who trained me and I will always have time for you, I'll speak to you soon"

"Good luck and don't do anything I wouldn't." I laugh as I put the phone down. I do love him he's like family he taught me everything I know.

Now I just need to find marco and try to be nice to him. That sounds easier said than done, though.