Fighting Fire With Fire: Kings Gym, #1

By Shaw Hart

I won her but she'll never be mine. 

Niall Mason isn't supposed to be here.

If his trainer or anyone from the fighting world found out that he was competing in these illegal underground fights, he would be kicked out of Kings Gym and of UFC. 

When he sees what's happening in a back room, he wonders if risking it all might just be worth it though. 

He's known that Everly Griggs was the missing piece that he had been searching for his whole life and when he sees her up for auction, he knows that he can't let anyone else have her. 

Only now he's won her, or her virginity anyway. 

The only problem is that he'd rather have her heart instead. 

Niall isn't afraid of fighting for what he wants but will he be able to win Everly's heart?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Shaw Hart
• Release date: May 9, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223243526

Book preview

ONE

Niall

I ignore the congratulatory claps on my sweaty back as I make my way through the crowd. My hair is matted to my forehead and I can’t wait to get home and take a shower. I need to get some sleep if I want to be up and ready for training bright and early in the morning.

I keep my head down. No one’s supposed to know that I’m here. If people found out, it would mean the end for me. A promising up-and-coming boxer caught at an illegal underground fight? Yeah, that wouldn’t be good.

I just won my match, not that it was hard. I was up against some scrawny kid that was a few years younger than me. I’ve seen him fight before and he’s all over the place. Most people think that fighting is about speed, about who can land the most punches on the other guy first, but that’s not all.

It takes strength and smarts to win. You have to be strong enough that when you hit your opponent, it leaves a mark. The biggest part is knowing who you are fighting. If you can’t look at the other guy and see his weaknesses, any sore spots or moves that he telegraphs, then it doesn’t matter how strong or fast you are. You’ll lose every single time.

I stop at Adam’s chair at the back of the abandoned warehouse and collect my winnings. He’s the bookie around here and sets up these fights. It’s not always in this building, though it usually is on this side of town. I’ve heard that he has a brother on the force over in this district so he doesn’t have to worry about the cops busting up any of his dealings over here.

You looked good out there, Mason, Adam says, his cigarette dangling from his mouth as he counts out some more money.

Adam is an old guy, in his fifties, with gray hair and a bald spot in the back that he’s long since given up on trying to hide. He’s got this sharp look to him, and it’s obvious that he’s a predator. It’s in the way that his eyes track you, measuring you up in a matter of seconds.

I’ve never seen him without a cigarette in his hands or dangling from his mouth. He’s pudgy, soft around the middle now, but word is that he used to be one hell of an enforcer for the mob back when he was younger.

Thanks, I say, keeping it short with him.

Heard you’re going to go pro, he remarks, taking a drag of his cigarette.

That’s the plan.

If that doesn’t work out… he says, trailing off, and I nod.

I know what he’s offering me, but I’d never take it. My sister, Nora, would kill me and I doubt that I would be able to live with myself either.

Thanks, I say, turning and heading over to where I hid my bag.

I grab my towel out of it, wiping off my face and the back of my neck. A few girls come over, trying to congratulate me and invite me to some party but I ignore them.

I’ve been working too damn hard for too long to get distracted by ring girls. There’s only two women who can do that to me. My sister Nora, and Everly.

Speaking of the devil…

I check my phone, rolling my eyes when I see that Nora has been texting me.

Nora: Want to grab breakfast tomorrow?

Nora: Are you on a date??

Nora: LOL! JK I know that you don’t do that, though you should.

The last message is of her grinning face with her dogs Moose and Marley licking her cheeks.

Niall: I’m assuming by all of the messages that Gray is at work and you’re bored out of your mind.

Nora: Ding Ding Ding! We have a winner!

Niall: Weirdo.

Nora: You love me.

Nora: So? Breakfast tomorrow? I’ll bring the pups.

Niall: Wish I could but I have training.

Nora: Bummer. Lunch on Friday?

Niall: Have I ever missed it?

Nora: Nope, cause you’re the best big brother ever!!!

Niall: Gotta go.

Nora: Talk to you later. Night!

Niall: Night, sis.

Nora and her now fiancé, Gray, grew up together in Rosewood. When they turned eighteen, we all left that town. I had only stuck around to make sure that Nora was alright. Our dad is a real piece of work and I couldn’t stand the thought of leaving her alone in that town with him.

I know that Gray would have looked after her, but he was dealing with his own dad who was just as bad as ours, though in a different way.

When Gray got a job at Eye Candy Ink, he couldn’t wait to take it. Working there had been a dream of his and where one of them goes, the other goes. They were still saying that they were just best friends back then, but everyone could see how in love with each other they were. Now they’re together and engaged to be married soon.

I couldn’t be happier for them. They both are good people who deserve nothing but the best in life. I know that Gray would do anything for my sister, which is why I never had a problem with him being with her. He treats her like she’s the most precious thing in the world and I trust him.

Sometimes I wish that I had found my other half so young in life too. An image of Everly from the diner, her little apron tied around her curvy waist, floats before my eyes and I have to think of boxing matches before I get a hard-on in these loose shorts.

I went into Monroe’s Diner one day to meet my sister for lunch and almost fell on my ass when she smiled at me. She led me to her section and I slid into the booth, but my eyes never left Everly.

She was the prettiest thing that I had ever seen before in my life. I wanted her.

I still want her, but I barely have time to eat and sleep