Fire And Ash by Nia Davenport Read Free Book Online Page A

classes to the schedule. Frank claims he has other things to do and between running this place, training Rashard full time, and instructing the advanced classes I don’t have the time. It will only be a part-time gig consisting of a few hours a week so it won’t take up much of your time but I figure it will make a fun summer job for you. You’re good enough to teach the classes and know what you’re doing. If you like it and enrollment stays up after the summer we can even work out an after school schedule too if you want.”
      I don’t hesitate to accept the offer. Mick reminds me that I also have to get approval from Dad but I know he’ll say yes. He likes Mick. They were classmates in high school and were on the wrestling team together. They still go out drinking together from time to time.
    Grandma will okay it for over the summer. Continuing to work when school starts back will be a harder sell, but if I promise her All A’s and B’s instead of the few C’s I normally have sprinkled in she will agree to it on a probationary basis.
    I make a quick trip to the locker room to grab an extra water bottle out of my gym bag and a towel before class starts. When I return Mick is standing in the ring. He sees me and waves me over.
    I walk over to the ropes and lean against them.
    “Climb in the ring Jacobs. We have a newcomer who thinks he belongs in the advanced class, but he needs to prove it. I’m using you to measure his skill.”
    I’m pulling my gloves on when a shirtless boy about an inch taller than me exits the men’s locker room. If It were not Derek I would have taken a minute   or two to admire the defined six pack not too many guys my age possess. His gaze locks with mine as the door swings shut behind him and we stay staring at each other as he walks to the ring and climbs into it.  
    Oh this is too good.
    His dark eyes twinkle with laughter as he pulls on his gloves. “And this was supposed to be hard,” he mutters to no one in particular.
    I narrow my eyes at him. “Don’t worry, it will be.” I plan on paying him back for every last rude thing he said to me at his house.
    His mouth splits into a smile that matches the laughter in his eyes. “You seriously want me to fight a girl?”   He asks Mick. I know the question is simply to get under my skin.
    “I’m sure,” Mick drawls with amusement. Newcomers always underestimate me and he gets a kick out of watching them realize their error.
    Mick runs down the rules, announces he will be acting referee then gives the signal for the fight to start. He winks at me as he does. It’s his way of saying kick his ass Jacobs .  
    “I don’t hit girls unless they hit me first so after you.”  
    While Derek is sweeping down into a mocking bow, I move faster than I know he has anticipated that I can and land a powerful kick to his stomach. My bare foot is left feeling like it just connected with granite.  
    He barely grunts as he straightens up. The right corner of his mouth upturns to mock me. “Is that all you’ve got?”
    I move to kick him again, this time in the head, to make him see stars and wipe the infuriating smirk off his face, but he moves as fast as I do and stops my foot in mid-air. His hands wrap around my ankle and my back is suddenly connecting hard with the ground. Pain shoots up the length of it but I ignore it. If he didn’t wince, I’m not going to either.  
    I jump to my feet and come up swinging. When I land a left hook to his jaw it feels so good.  
    “That’s for being an ass,” I can’t help but to retort.  
    The smug smile on his face remains in place as I find my back slamming against the mat again. This time I can’t clearly recall how he’d moved to cause me to do so. My back stings, but my pride stings more.
    “Bastard,” I hiss jumping to my feet again. I act like I am going to hammer an uppercut to his chin, but when he shifts his weight to block it, I sweep his legs out from under him and he goes