Tap Out (Fight It Out MMA Series Book 2) Read online

  Tap Out

  Fight It Out MMA Series Book Two

  Terra Kelly

  Table of Contents

  Synopsis

  Dedication

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  On To The Third Round

  Join TK’s Newsletter!

  About the Author

  Also by Terra Kelly

  Acknowledgments

  Synopsis

  My father tried to break me.

  He almost made me believe I was weak, so I walked away from everything in my life.

  Being alone was safe.

  Until him.

  Brooks Moore. Champion MMA fighter–and the man determined to train me to be indestructible.

  When I saw him fighting in the ring with his sexy abs and powerful kicks, I never expected he would be the only man in my life who could knock down my perfectly placed walls.

  I never planned to fall for him.

  But then my father reappears, and he’s not here to celebrate my achievements as an MMA fighter.

  Tapping out is not an option. It’s time to take back what’s mine.

  Dedication

  To my love, the one who taught me to fight for what’s mine.

  Prologue

  Twelve years ago…

  “What the fuck kind of move is that?” I yelled, falling to the mat.

  “The ‘I kicked your ass’ move,” Lily said, looming over me, trying not to laugh.

  I grabbed the hand she offered and jumped up. “I’m never going to get these mixed martial art moves right.” I reached for my towel. “How the hell did you catch on so quickly?” Lily was just swallowing some water, and it looked like she was about to choke. “Shit, are you okay?”

  “Yeah.” She waved my hand away. “Charlie, you know who my dad is, right?”

  Lily’s father was The Punisher and the current five-time middleweight champion. Fighters were unable to take the belt from him. Which meant fighting was in my best friend’s blood.

  “Will he train me?”

  “He’s getting ready for his next fight in a few months. Maybe after, though.” She paused for a beat. “Wait, what am I, chopped liver?”

  “Well, I mean…” She shoved at my arm as I tried to hold in a laugh. I looked down at the bright red watch on my wrist. “Shit, it’s already four. I need to get home before my father sends the military out to look for me.”

  My dad knew my classes let out at three, but he never arrived home until after five. Every day, Lily and I filled an hour grappling. I was determined to figure out MMA and hopefully be just as good as her someday.

  “Is tomorrow my day to pick you up?” Lily said and threw her bag over her shoulder.

  We had five months left in our senior year of high school and then freedom. “Yeah, homeroom together tomorrow.”

  There was something about my senior year that felt off. Dad was more demanding of my time and was encouraging me to apply to the top colleges. He held the key to the family’s trust funds, savings accounts, and any other money-related account. If we didn’t say yes to college, he had the power to close the account before it even hit our checkbooks. Since I was graduating soon, he wanted answers on what my plans were going to be. The problem was, all I could think about was fighting. What if I got asked to fight with AFC (American Fighters Championship)? I wouldn’t need my father’s help then. I knew fighting with AFC was a long shot, but I had to try. Which meant college was not high on the priority list.

  Lily nudged my side. “Hey C, you sure you’re okay today?”

  “Yeah, you know, the usual.”

  “Want to stay with Dad and me? There’s plenty of room.”

  I wrapped my arm around her waist and pulled her closer to my side. “I love you, Lily Bug. I’ll be okay.”

  “Promise?”

  “Cross my heart.” I made an “X” with my finger over my chest. My car was parked in a different lot. “Catch you tomorrow at eight a.m. sharp.”

  I watched as she blew me a kiss and then ran off to the main lot where her car was parked. As I approached my tiny vehicle, I noticed a note resting under one of the windshield wipers.

  “Dad is going home early. Where are you?”

  Fuck. My twin brother, Jackson, was warning me. Hopefully I could make it home before my father, but I had a feeling I was screwed.

  “Decided to make an appearance finally?” My dad was sitting at the kitchen table. He closed his laptop, stood, and walked over to where I was by the center island. “I thought your mom and I made it clear when classes ended, you were to come straight home?”

  I should have felt scared, but instead I started to feel pissed off. “When did it become a crime to work out?”

  He reached up and slapped me across the face. “Don’t talk back to me. If you wanted to add in a workout schedule, we have a fully equipped gym downstairs.” I rolled my eyes. “Do I need to slap you again?”

  Feeling defeated I finally gave in. “Lily was helping me with some wrestling moves from gym class.” That was a lie.

  “Wrestling? That is not a sport for girls.”

  “Who says?”

  “Have you ever seen a woman fight?”

  He was right, it was a man’s sport. Something I wanted to change. Women were just as capable as men to hold their own on a mat.

  “Fine. What sport is okay to do?”

  He shook his head. “Again with the smart-ass comments.” He made his way back over to the table. “Volleyball. Your mom loved that when she was in high school.”

  I repeated volleyball in my mind and made sure to not laugh out loud. “I have homework to do.” There was no way I planned to discuss fucking volleyball with my father. Slamming my bedroom door, I fell back on the bed and pulled out my phone to text Lily.

  Me: Dad wants me to take up volleyball.

  Lily: Is this a joke? Did someone steal Charlie’s phone?

  Me: Fuck off.

  Lily: You’re serious.

  Me: Is the subject of my dad ever a laughing matter?

  Lily: What are you going to do?

  Me: I don’t know.

  There was a light knock on my door. “What?”

  Jackson peeked his head around the wood frame. “Did you get my note?” he whispered.

  I sat up and crossed my legs in front of me. “Yeah, but not until four. Why didn’t you come find me?”

  “I was running late. Ethan was with Dad. They went home together. That’s how I found out.”

  “So he let you know Dad was coming home early.”

  “Exactly.”

  I shook my head and wanted to scre
am. “Well, now Dad wants me to take up volleyball. Thanks for the shitty warning.” Reaching back, I grabbed a stuffed animal sitting on my pillow and threw it at Jackson’s head. “Next time, if there is a next time, take that extra few minutes and go to the gym.”

  “Yeah, yeah.” He rolled his eyes and closed the door.

  My diary was hidden under my pillow—not really the perfect hiding place. Grabbing the small binder, I opened to the next blank page.

  Today, Lily finally helped me understand how to do a perfect submission hold. I know The Punisher is skilled at submission and wins by knockouts usually. Maybe that will be my specialty someday.

  “Charlie,” my mom said in a whisper.

  Closing my diary quickly, I shoved it back under my pillow. “Yeah.”

  She opened the door just a hair. “Can I come in?”

  My mom was always respectful of space. “Sure.” I moved to the end of the bed and threw my feet over the side. “What’s up?”

  “Did you have a good day?”

  “Sure. You know, the normal.”

  “Your dad said you were late. Everything okay?”

  I held in my sigh. My frustration was not aimed at my mom. “Yeah, just worked out with Lily in the gym.”

  “Wrestling, though?”

  “I like it.” And now my mom was going to give me the lecture on sports for men and sports for women. Whatever that meant.

  “Do they have a volleyball team you could join?”

  “Five months before I graduate?” I stood up and walked over to my desk. “Listen, I like learning wrestling and mixed martial arts. It makes me happy.”

  Mom walked up behind me. “You’re right, I’m sorry. I just want to make sure you’re happy.”

  “You do?”

  “Of course I do,” she said, turning me to face her. “Your dad just feels we should be focused on college right now. He’s anxious to hear who accepted you for the fall.” My mom followed everything my dad told her to do. She really didn’t have an option or any say in how her kids lived or what choices they made.

  I kissed her cheek. I didn’t have the heart to tell my mom Dad was going to be pissed because I never applied. Instead, I took the completed applications and set them in my glove box in my car. There were five envelopes with stamps sitting under the owner’s manual.

  The moment my dad found out, I had a feeling I would be camping out at Lily’s place for the foreseeable future.

  “I love you, sweetie.” She pulled me close for a hug and walked over to the door.

  “I love you, too.” I watched as she left the room. If I found the right man, he would never dictate my life. My heart ached for my mom.

  “Hey there, Mr. Adams,” I said, throwing my backpack on the couch and walking into the kitchen. Lily’s dad owned a beautiful home but nothing crazy huge.

  “What did I tell you about calling me, Mr. Adams?” Johnny Adams, also known as The Punisher, set the serving spoon down on the counter and turned toward me.

  “Sorry, Dad.” It felt weird calling him that, but yet, he was more of a father to me then my real dad.

  “That’s better.” He walked over to the kitchen island and rested his hands on the granite surface. “Are you staying for dinner?”

  “I don’t know.”

  Lily walked back into the room and moaned. “It’s Saturday. Can’t you hang out here with us?”

  Dad had told me this morning I needed to be home by dinner time. Something about he and Mom needing to talk to me about my future. I had no idea what he meant, and honestly, I didn’t care.

  “Let me call Mom and see if I can stay.”

  I walked to the living room for some privacy and waited until Mom picked up. But she didn’t pick up, it was Dad on the other line. “Hello, Charlie. You should be home by now.”

  “Dad. Um, hey, I was just wondering if I could have dinner with Lily tonight?” I was seventeen, so technically I had to get permission. Especially because I still lived under my parents’ roof.

  “I thought we talked about having dinner together tonight?”

  “I know, but—”

  “No buts. We talked about this already. Not up for discussion.”

  Pulling the phone away from my ear, I was tempted to throw it at the wall. I reeled in that emotion and hit end instead. Why bother saying anymore to my father? He didn’t listen to anyone but himself. After seventeen years, I was starting to tire of his controlling ways. My birthday was in two months, which meant I would have the freedom to do what I wanted, that included not going to college.

  “Hey.” Lily placed her hand on my shoulder, making me jump. “Oh shit, sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

  Turning to face my best friend, I suddenly felt jealous. I wanted what she had. Her relationship with her dad was rock solid. Not having a mom was shitty, but Lily and her dad formed a bond that was unbreakable. Something I couldn’t even wrap my head around with my dad.

  “Yeah, I’m good.” I slid the phone into my back pants pocket. “I need to get home.”

  “Can’t you tell him to fuck off?”

  “I want to, believe me.” Walking back into the front room attached to the kitchen, I grabbed my bag. “Remember when Grace cut herself off from the family?”

  Grace was my older sister. She was smart and left the moment she turned eighteen. My father threatened her and said she would not get anything from them ever again. She didn’t care—just packed what she needed into one bag and walked out.

  I felt afraid to make that choice.

  “Charlie, you know you don’t have to worry about that happening to you,” Johnny said reaching into the refrigerator for eggs. “I will take care of you no matter what.”

  His words touched me, and I struggled with holding back my tears. “Why, though?” I said in a whisper.

  Johnny walked over and placed his hands on my shoulders. “Because family loves unconditionally, and I think of you like my daughter.”

  “Why does it have to be a fighting match with you every time we talk,” Dad said, throwing his napkin on the table.

  “Maybe because I’m old enough to decide if I want to have dinner with my friend. Yet, you always find a way to ruin that fun.”

  He leaned forward in his chair. “Young lady, I told you to be home at a certain time, and I expect it.”

  I took a forkful of mashed cauliflower and had it halfway to my mouth. “You do know I’m almost eighteen, right?”

  “What is that supposed to mean?”

  “Maybe treat me like an adult.”

  He pushed his chair back, ready to pounce on me. “Yeah, treat you like an adult. Well, tell me how those college applications are going?”

  How did we go from having dinner at my friend’s place to college applications? Leave it to my father to twist an argument into his favor. Now I had no idea what to say.

  “I sent them off.”

  “Did you?” he said, standing up and walking to the little desk next to the kitchen. “Then what are these?” My heart must have stopped. He was holding up the five envelopes from the glove box in my car. “Are these the ones you sent off?”

  “Why did you go through my stuff?”

  “Is that the question you have for me?”

  “Yeah, because you went through my stuff.”

  He threw the envelopes down on the table beside me. “I bought the car.”

  “So nothing is private for me. Is that what you’re saying?”

  Then he threw my diary down on top of the envelopes. “And we need to discuss this, too.”

  Now he’d crossed the line. I pulled my phone from my back pocket and placed it on the table, walked over to the landline, and called Lily.

  “What are you doing? I’m talking to you,” Dad yelled at the top of his lungs.

  I heard Lily say, “Holy shit” on the other line.

  “Hey, can you come get me?” She lived around the corner from me.

  Lily didn’t hesitate. “I’ll
be right there.”

  My dad was beside my ear and screaming. “I said I wasn’t done talking to you.”

  I kept my cool. “But I am. There’s my phone.” I pointed to the kitchen table. Then I reached into my pants pocket and pulled out my keys. “For my car,” I said and threw them down on the table. “I’m done.”

  As I walked to the front door, I knew Dad was fast on my heels. “You leave now, you lose everything.”

  I turned and he plowed into me. Pushing him away, I shook my head. “You don’t get it. I really don’t care.”

  “You should. Good luck with trying to survive with no college degree and no money in your bank account.”

  “I don’t need a college degree to be successful. Plus, I would rather have zero in my account than live like this for another second.”

  “This. Really? I took care of you. I built up my business so I could care for my kids.”

  “Correction: you built your business so you could become rich and boss us around. You never cared about us. If you did you wouldn’t treat us the way you do.” I opened the door and stepped outside. Lily’s car was waiting at the curb. “I will make my own millions. I don’t need your help.”