Free The Brick Yard by Carol Lynne Page B

working at a bullshit job just to make enough to scrape by each month wasn’t the goal he’d set for himself. Once again, he thought of The Great Gatsby . It was the only book he’d ever owned, and the only one he’d read from cover to cover. Fuck, he’d read the damn thing so many times he’d practically memorized it.
    “We’ll have to wait and see what happens. It’s possible. Depends on what Dray decides to do. He got out once, so I’m not sure if he’s willing to come back permanently.” Since his conversation with Dray earlier in the day, Lucky hadn’t been able to think of anything else. Dray was into him—he’d said it himself—but he’d also said he wouldn’t act on their mutual attraction. Of course Lucky knew why, and he understood Dray’s reasoning, but he didn’t believe a physical relationship between the two of them would be discovered. He trusted Dray not to talk, and he’d hid his true nature for years, so he doubted he’d give it away by his actions in public.
    “Sit tight, and I’ll get us a couple of to-go boxes while I see what the hell Mac wants.” Lucky slid out of the booth. He waited at the door to the kitchen until Mac waved him inside.
    “You tell the kid?” Mac asked.
    “Just now.” Lucky leaned against the doorframe with his arms crossed over his chest. He knew Mac had watched the fight online, he’d already admitted as much. “Did you see Brick between the second and third round?”
    “Yeah.” Mac continued to clean the grill. “Didn’t look good.”
    “It wasn’t.” Lucky took a deep breath. Mac was the only man he knew that had the power to intimidate him. He was used to Brick’s blustering, and although he knew Mac had a good heart, his opinion of the man had changed in the last few weeks. If Mac could cut Dray out of his life for disappointing him, what would he think of Lucky’s decision to fight in Bruno’s tournament? For days he’d gone back and forth on whether or not to fess up that he’d officially entered.
    “I need to ask you a favor,” Lucky began. “Brick wants to see me win something big before he dies, so I’ve entered Bruno’s bullshit tournament. The problem is, I’m not sure Brick’s well enough to train me, so I’m going to ask Dray to do it if Brick can’t.”
    Mac turned around to face Lucky and narrowed his eyes.
    Lucky held his hand up before Mac could chew him a new asshole. “It’s already done, and I’m not withdrawing. What I’m asking from you is to sit with Brick if he needs it while Dray’s with me at the gym or the fights.”
    “Does Brick know you entered one of Bruno’s blood baths?” Mac asked.
    “Yeah. He didn’t try to stop me because he believes in me.” Lucky felt his chest tighten. Brick had always believed in him.
    “You really think you can win? Those fuckers fight dirty,” Mac growled.
    Lucky grinned. “I’m not opposed to giving what I get. They want to fight dirty? I’ll give it right back to them tenfold.”
    “And if you get seriously injured? What happens then?”
    “Then I get hurt fighting. We both know there’re no guarantees in this business. Part of the thrill for me is knowing I’m putting my life on the line every time I step into the cage—knowing I’m the only one standing between me and pain.”
    Mac narrowed his eyes again. “You’re a sick fuck if you’re telling me you get off on putting your life on the line. That’s not what the sport’s about.”
    “Really? Because I can guarantee you I’m not the only one who feels this way.” Lucky took a moment to measure his words before continuing. “When I was a kid, I went to bed every night knowing it might be my last. My bitch of a mother had fucking tweakers in and out of our apartment at all hours doing that shit with her. I can’t tell you how many times I had to intervene when one of them started beating on her.” He uncrossed his arms and fisted his hands at his sides. “I was beaten nearly to death by