Read Flow (The Beat and the Pulse #6) for Free Online

some poor dude in the cage, I realized it was a week tomorrow since Josie had dumped me. I was butt sore about it, but I hadn’t had time to dwell. Now that my ma was sick, I’d begun to forget all about the woman who’d ripped my heart out in front of all those people.
    Josie wanted me to leave The Underground and go with her to Sydney. It was never going to work out between us, not when I kept my ma and her condition a secret from everyone in my life. I fought to pay for my mother’s care, and I fought to feel something other than helplessness. After a few years, it had become my way of life. I was bound to it.
    Now that her cancer had reappeared, I was chained and shackled. Josie had unknowingly gotten out of our dead-end relationship at exactly the right time. Lucky her.
    Standing by the bar, I watched as Lori buzzed about, serving the few customers who were still lingering before the final fight of the night. Her hair kept falling into her eyes whenever she glanced down, and her hand lifted to swat it away. That’s when I realized her fingers were tattooed too. She was covered in them, and I peered at her skin, trying to puzzle out the images.
    When she realized I was standing there, she waved and stopped before me.
    “Hey,” she said, her voice raised so I could hear her over the music. “How was your fight? It’s been crazy busy tonight, so I missed the money shot.”
    Smiling, I realized I was glad to see her. She was talking to me like a mate already, and it felt real nice.
    “Wiped the floor,” I replied.
    “Yeah? Was there any doubt?” She winked, and I squashed down the urge to let her casual gesture travel right to my dick.
    Instead, I leaned against the bar and smiled. “I would’ve come earlier, it’s just…”
    “It’s cool,” she said. “You don’t have to give me a play-by-play.”
    Realizing I was justifying my actions like I would have to Josie, I reined it in and shrugged.
    “When are you off next?” I asked.
    “Monday,” she threw back as she pulled out a stack of clean glasses from underneath the bar. “Are you fighting then?”
    I shook my head. “So…”
    She laughed as she leaned over the bar toward me. We were face-to-face, and I found myself drawn to her energy. My gaze locked on hers, waiting to see what she’d say with an excitement that surprised me.
    “Monday. Let’s do it,” she declared. “It’ll be interesting to see what the infamous Goblin is like outside of The Underground.”
    I raised an eyebrow. “I don’t put on an act. Not like some of these fuckers.”
    “You’ll just have to prove it.”
    My fingers tightened around the edge of the bar. “Is that a challenge?”
    “Do you want it to be? I was just thinking about me, you, some pizza, maybe a couple of beers, and that talking thing you’re so fond of.”
    “I’m not fond of talkin’,” I complained. “I’m attemptin’ to branch out.”
    Her lips quirked, and I wasn’t quite sure if it was a smile or not. “Was that what your friends said when you told them about me?”
    “Mate. One. Singular,” I stated. “Just so you know the deal with me, I’ve never been mates with a woman before.”
    “Is that a challenge?” she said, definitely trying to hide a smile that time.
    Leaning closer than was probably appropriate for friends, I narrowed my eyes. “Challenge accepted.”
    Lori pushed away from the bar and began laughing her ass off. “Men. Always so quick to prove how big and powerful their balls are.”
    I puffed out my chest. “I do have powerful balls.”
    “TMI, BFF.” I cocked my head to the side, and she wiggled a finger at me. “You’ll learn the ways of us womenfolk, Goblin.” Glancing down the bar, she gestured to the waiting customers. “Duty calls. Text me, okay?”
    “Sure.”
    She waved and turned away, leaning over the bar to take a new round of orders from the waiting punters.
    Wandering away, I went out back to grab my gear. I was done fighting for the