Blame It on the Shame (Blame It on the Shame: Lou-Lou and Ricardo's Story #1) by Ashley Jade Read Free Book Online Page A

problem.” I sighed. “And from a business standpoint, people want to bet on a sure thing. Despite its underground nature, people like to have favorites, fighters they can root for. But in order to do that, you need to keep them around for more than a few months. That's the only way you'll ever increase revenue.”
    “You have a point.”
    I had to stop myself from looking at him in shock. I also had to stop myself from acknowledging the small pang I felt when he praised me.
    He peered over my toolbox. “I've just taken on two new fighters. Two great fighters actually. Tyrone Davis and Jackson Reid.”
    I shrugged. “Never heard of them.”
    He chuckled. “No, you wouldn't have. Seeing as I just bailed them both out of jail. Tyrone was innocent so it was fairly easy...but this guy, Jackson... he actually committed the murder.”
    “Sounds like he's right up your alley then.”
    “He killed the man who murdered his sister. And the man who beat his sister to death happened to be a professional MMA fighter.”
    I wiped my hands on the rag beside me. “Sounds like he never should have been in jail to begin with.”
    He waved a hand. “Doesn't make a difference to me. But...they both have serious potential. Potential I haven't seen since ―” He paused. “Well, you.”
    I smirked before I repeated his words, “Doesn't make a difference to me.”
    “It should.”
    I leaned against my mustang and lit a cigarette. “Why's that?”
    “I think if you trained them. You might ― ” He paused appearing to choose his next words carefully. “You might be the very thing to save their life.”
    I stayed silent trying not to let his words affect me. He knew my kryptonite.
    I hated watching people that didn't deserve to...die. I saw plenty of that over the last ten years. But even though I was surrounded by death in that club...l still loved fighting and motivating myself to make it to the next level. Hell, I loved that club...it was like home to me.
    It was the only place I felt like I ever really belonged ― the only place I had control over my life.
    The place where I fought and earned my control and power...it wasn't just handed to me because I was DeLuca's son.
    Shit, if he threw in a beautiful broad he'd have all three of my weaknesses at his disposal.
    “Perhaps, I'll even change the way the fight club runs,” he gritted through his teeth. “Not right away, but in a few years. If you agree to train Jackson and Tyrone.”
    I ignored him and took another drag off my cigarette before slamming the hood down on the mustang.
    When I still didn't answer him, he said, “Maybe I'll turn it all over to you one day. I know you love that club, son.”
    I could feel myself giving in but I didn't open my mouth just yet.
    “You'll be the one in charge ― for the most part, Ricardo. I won't ever step foot inside that club again. I'll just set up a video surveillance so I'll be able to watch every fight.”
    He took a step forward. “ Of course, it is still my club right now, so you'll have to run most things through me, but I won't interfere with your training and I'll let you have a say in any and all final decisions regarding the club.”
    “What's your game plan, DeLuca? What are you hoping to accomplish by all of this?”
    “Honestly?”
    “Yeah, that would be nice for a change.”
    He looked me in the eyes. “I want my son back.” He sighed deeply. “I realize what I did to you was wrong and unforgivable.”
    He looked like he was swallowing a box of nails before he uttered his next statement, “I guess what I'm saying is that I'm sorry and I want to make amends. You're the only son I have and I want to try and be the father I should have been.”
    I shouldn't have let his words impact me the way they did. But the fact was, DeLuca never felt bad for a single thing in his entire life. It still wouldn't take back all that he'd done, but a small part of me wanted to believe that he wanted to change, that he could be a