Free Breaking Through (Atlanta #3) by Kemmie Michaels Page A

a serious need for some tension release, and the gym was the only place to go that wouldn't land him in jail or in bed with a random chick…both of which would hurt Jenna, too. Fuck ! He was like poison to his angel, no matter what he did at this point. He only wanted to keep her as his angel, not hurt her.
    As he approached the gym, he thanked his lucky stars the office light was on. He pulled right up to the entrance and parked his bike on the sidewalk against the office-wall of the gym. The blinds were shut, so he rapped his knuckles on the glass, hoping whomever was there would give him a chance for a workout, even this late on a Friday night.
    A short moment later Marcus came to the door with confusion on his face and let him in. "What's going on?" he asked.
    "I'm a fuck-up," Luke answered on his way to the locker room.
    "Well, deal with it fast," he called back. "I'm leaving in a half-hour for work."
    "Shit," Luke grumbled to himself, changing quickly so he could be out on the floor beating on everything he could for as long as he could. He didn't think thirty minutes would be enough. But then again, why would he deserve any more? Sometimes he felt he shouldn't get any relief at all.  
    The anger surrounding every dark part of him should remain stuck inside as a reminder not to fuck up anything else like he already did with Jenna. But since he was here anyway, at least he could cause his knuckles to burn again. Marcus wasn't getting anywhere near him with the tape. Not tonight. Luke wasn't training; Luke was here for self-punishment and release.
    When he was out on the floor, Marcus stood there with his hands on his head, eyeing Luke like he so often did trying to figure out what his problem was for the moment.
    "Don't," Luke uttered to him as he started in on the heavy bag.  
    "You know me better than that," Marcus replied when he steadied the canvas for him. "I'm going to."
    Luke clenched his teeth and pounded away, offering primal grunts as his only means of communication. Marcus let him work through some of his aggression before speaking again.  
    "Knee-kicks," he instructed.
    Without thinking, Luke threw his knee up into the bag with insane force, using every single muscle of his legs, abs, and back in one smooth, strong motion.
    "Nice," Marcus nodded with approval. "Three more, then switch legs."
    Luke, who had gone almost full-on caveman with his punches, slowly came to focus as Marcus encouraged him to think through his release rather than give in to his rage. As much as Marcus's intervention pissed him off, Luke knew Marcus was handling him like a pro. Luke silently appreciated his help.
    "Speed bag," Marcus said.  
    Reluctantly, Luke walked away from the blunt canvas to a piece of equipment which required more precision. Marcus was too good at this, and would have Luke talking in no time. Fuck . How was he going to get out of this?
    "Don't even think about it," Marcus said, reading his mind already. "You're going to talk. I'm not leaving."
    "You won't stay. You'll miss your shift," Luke grunted while he smoothly pummeled the speed bag. He knew better than to sound smug, but there was no way Marcus would skip work. His night-shift janitorial job was needed to buy an engagement ring, plus he wrote to his girlfriend each night when he cleaned her office desk. That's how the two of them met, and they never missed a night with those messages. Luke always thought that sounded cheesy, but after tonight he understood.  
    Marcus broke his thoughts and proved him wrong with one easy sentence about missing work…actually, not missing work, damn it.    
    "No problem," he tossed out lightly. "I'll go in late for my shift and skip my three a.m. lunch break. I suggest you talk now so I don't have to…cause I'll take it out on your ass tomorrow if I don't get to eat tonight."
    Luke gritted his teeth. Sometimes he really hated Marcus's way of doing things. He didn't have much of a choice now but to tell him at least