Undefeated: Bad Boy Fighter Romance (Fighting For Gisele #4) by Emily Jane Trent Read Free Book Online Page B

sure they haven’t harmed her.” The thought of her mother locked away was a knife to her heart. “Then I have to get her out of there.”
    Abby asked a few more questions, then swore to keep it all secret. “You’ll need me, I know it.” She leaned closer and spoke in a quiet voice. “Your mother will be okay. She just has to be.”
    Gisele sure hoped so, as she didn’t think she could tolerate any less, and nor could her dear mother. When Abby said goodbye and left for the theater, Gisele decided to attend a Pilates class, hoping the workout would give her some fresh perspective. Plus, she didn’t want to barge into the gym and interrupt Micah’s workout. She had no doubt he’d get back in the ring soon, so she wanted him in the best shape possible.
    *****
    Harlan had been reluctant to let Micah resume training, concerned that it might be too soon. But as Micah pointed out, it was better than preparing for a fight without his coach’s guidance. It was good to be back in the gym, as Micah couldn’t tolerate staying away from the ring much longer.
    Micah’s symptoms were minimal now, and his hand had mostly healed. The coach took extra care wrapping his hands, and went easy on the punching. There was a lot of technique and strength building to work on without focusing on hitting the bag, or even sparring.
    After his workout, Micah had a meeting with Luke to discuss business, and relayed his real motivation for getting back in the ring so soon. It required a bit of convincing, as Luke dragged his feet about setting up the fight, but admitted that it was the only alternative that he could see.
    Now, Micah just had to tell Gisele. That would be more difficult, but there was no way around it. So that evening over dinner at a local pub, he broached the subject.
    “I’m going to fight Max Fromer again.”
    “Oh, God, Micah…when?”
    “This weekend. Luke is setting it up. I’m going back in the ring. I’m putting it all on the line,” Micah said. “If I win, then Yuri goes away…and you can believe that he will bet heavily against me.” He paused. “That will be the deal.”
    The color drained from Gisele’s face. “And if you lose?”
    Micah shrugged, acting more nonchalant than he felt. “The German will have to kill me to keep me from winning.”
    Gisele was stunned into silence.
    “If I lose,” Micah said, “then Yuri gets everything.”
    “He will take what he wants…fight or no fight.”
    Micah lifted a finger. “Yes. But he is a greedy son of a bitch, and that’s what I’m counting on. Yuri won’t turn away from a high-stakes fight like this. He stands to win too much.”
    Gisele just stared as if she didn’t know how to respond.
    “Luke is arranging for Chernov to set up the fight for Saturday night, and then Chernov can pull Yuri into it. That’s the carrot Luke will dangle in front of him, and as the fight sponsor he will want as many heavy betters as he can rope in.”
    Micah leaned back in his chair, and continued telling her the plan. “The Kovalenkos can bet too, if they like. Lazar might want in on what he will see as easy money, and the more the merrier.
    “I want to put pressure on Yuri, and I’ll make sure that Chernov spreads the word that your mobster father is fueling the action.” Micah waited for Gisele to say something.
    “Why do that? I don’t follow. How will that help us?”
    Micah’s lips thinned into a smile. “That’s what’s so clever about it. The more Russian factions that know about the fight and Yuri’s stake in it, the better. And I want them all there that night, watching the fight. It will be hard for Yuri to back out of his promise to free us.”
    Gisele looked puzzled, so he elaborated. “The word of a mobster means little,” Micah said, “ except among other mobsters. It’s their code, criminal though it may be. They must be able to trust that when another mobster makes a promise that his word is good. So I’m counting on Yuri saving