Read Stone Cold Knockout (House of Pain Book 1) for Free Online

her shoulder and she could feel the familiar scowl sliding over her features. The scowl that kept anybody from fucking with her. Being the only girl in a gym full of dudes was not always fun, but she could be just as tough as any other motherfucker there. Being tough had always been her best defense.
    A tap on her shoulder sent her straight into bitch mode, and she dipped her body away from the light touch. She threw a bitch-look over her shoulder and was surprised to find a tall white girl with wavy red hair and bright pink lips staring back at her with big green eyes. She began to say something but Gennifer couldn't hear her with her headphones in. She yanked them out, the movement accompanied by one of her patented eye-rolls.
    “ Sorry, what?” Gennifer said, annoyance rearing up in her tone.
    “ No, I'm sorry.” The girl's eyes widened, as she ran her manicured nails through her hair. In her white silky camisole, black wide-legged pants, and expensive leather sandals, she looked completely out of place in the stinky, humid gym. “I was wondering if you knew where I could find Hector?” the girl said, and it was then that Gennifer noticed a fading bruise, splotched with green and yellow, on her left cheekbone.
    “ Hector?” Gennifer felt her eyebrows practically launch into outer space. The girl was NOT Hector's type. She looked like she'd just wandered out of a J. Crew ad. His last girlfriend had been named Xiandria and wore miniskirts, halter tops, and stripper heels every day of the week.
    “ He works here, right?” the girl asked, innocently, as her eyes darted around the gym. Gennifer looked too and most of the men's attentions were directed right on them. Rolling her eyes again, she groaned inwardly. The girl was like a lamb to the slaughter.
    “ Yeah, he's here.” Gennifer shifted her hips, a wave of something that sure felt like jealousy washing over her. She wondered how the girl knew Hector? Were they dating? Did he like posh girls now? Not that it mattered to her what Hector's preferences were. “Come on, I'll take you to him,” Gennifer waved for her to follow, turning her back on the girl and heading up the circular stairs to the office.
    “ Hector!” Gennifer called out, banging her palm on the door to the office.
    “ G, why you always gotta be so loud?” Hector said, his back to her as he jammed some papers into the overflowing file cabinet.
    “ I can't help it,” Gennifer said, throwing the door open, and pressing herself against it so the girl could pass by. “ Tu tienes una visita ,” she continued in Spanish.
    “ ¿Que? ” Hector glanced up, brow furrowed. The girl poked her head in the door, looking unsure.
    “ Hector?” she said. Gennifer looked pointedly at Hector, waiting for his reaction. Recognition softened his face and Gennifer felt the pang of jealousy again.
    “ Erica?” he asked, standing.
    “ You remember me,” the girl, apparently named Erica, let out a relieved whoosh of air that still managed to sound sophisticated.
    “ What happened to you, mamí ?” Hector moved around the desk to them, a murderous look on his face.
    “ I got mugged.” Erica shrugged, lifting her hand to her face.
    “ Shit,” Hector murmured.
    “ Some asshole took my purse and knocked me down in the subway,” Erica said, her lips in a tight smile. “I mean, I'm fine. Shaken up, but fine.” Hector worked his jaw, like he wished he'd been there so he could have beaten the guy's ass. Gennifer watched him, wondering how he and Erica had met. As strange as it was, preppy Erica and hood Xiandria both had one thing in common. Neither of them was anything like Gennifer. No wonder Hector had never shown any real interest.
    “ Anyway,” Erica continued. “I was wondering if maybe you could teach me how to fight.”
    Gennifer coughed to stifle a surprised laugh. Hector shot her a look and she shrugged. She couldn't imagine the prim and proper girl anywhere near the ring.
    “I know,”