Read Payable On Death: A Jax Rhodes Novel, Book One (The Jax Rhodes Series 1) for Free Online Page B

it....”
    "No." There was an awkward pause and I hurried to fill it. "Sorry, I didn't mean to be short. I'm not up for talking today. Honestly, I just want to hit the gym."
    "You've never been much of a sharer, so no offense taken. Just give me a call if you need anything."
    I hung up after promising more than once to call her if I changed my mind about talking out my feelings. I almost told her not to hold her breath, barely biting back the smart ass retort before it left my mouth. She only wanted to help. It wasn't her fault my crazy life filled with demons and the Devil had started to spill over into my attempt at redemption.
    Of course, that wasn't really true anymore. Sure, I'd started volunteering to earn bonus points with the guy upstairs, hoping to win His favor and a little pull when it came to getting my soul back. In spite of my ulterior motives I'd grown to love that place and the people inside it. Helping those women, even just by fixing a hot meal, gave my life a purpose I'd never known.
    I got dressed for the gym, cut off sweats rolled down below my belly button and a fitted tank top. After slipping on my running shoes, I zipped up my hoodie and ran to BBC. Mister Joe sat in his usual spot when I topped the stairs.
    "Whoa, baby girl, what happened to your face? Where'd you get that shiner?" He grabbed my arm gently to slow me down.
    I should have known he'd see it. Mister Joe never missed a thing.
    Unable to tell him the truth, I lied. As tired of it as I was, I'd become quite adept at lying over the years. "Just a scuffle at the bar. Nothing to worry about. He got a good shot in but I got the best of him."
    I must have convinced him because he chuckled. "I said it before, they're wasting your talents behind the bar. They oughta put you at the door."
    "You know as well as I do that's not going to happen. There'd be more trouble if they did. Everyone trying to test the little girl playing bouncer?” I snorted and shook my head. “I don't want to fight every night. I'll stick to pouring, thank you very much."
    "I still say you're wasting your gifts."
    I gave him a pat on the shoulder, unzipped my hoodie, and made my way to the heavy bag where I loosened up muscles still sore from the beat down Lazarus gave me in the alley. None of the guys commented on my fading shiner or my stiff movements, both telltale signs I'd been in a fight and lost.
    I wasn't on the circuit—my fight wasn't sanctioned and bragging rights only belonged to fighters in the ring. Street fighting wasn't permitted under any circumstances and that rule applied to all members of Baltimore Boxing Club, not just its prize fighters. Still, most of the guys knew where I worked and where I lived. They also knew my work ethic when it came to the gym and knew I wouldn't jeopardize my membership in a brawl under the JFX overpass.
    I moved on to the speed bag, my arms finally loosening up. I welcomed the burn in my biceps. Sweat beaded up, glistening on my exposed skin as both my heart rate and my pace on the bag picked up. With one final swing, I hit the bag hard, sending it up and into the mounting board with a satisfying thud. A few of the guys looked over, sending an approving nod my way. Out of breath and in need of hydration, I went to the water cooler and filled a cup.
    "I've been looking for you."
    "Well, that probably makes you the world's worst private investigator. I'm not very hard to find." A creature of habit, in fact. Something I needed to change if I wanted to stay ahead of the demons.
    Dane laughed, reaching around me to fill his water bottle. "I was hoping you'd wind up here. I figured you wouldn't take too kindly to me showing up at your apartment."
    "So you admit to knowing where I live?" My breath hitched as his arm brushed against my exposed hip.
    Water bottle full, he stepped back, my body instantly chilled from the absence of his heat and the cool air hitting my sweat-soaked clothes.
    I turned to face him. "You know where I