Chapter 9
Victoria stopped at a heavy wooden door, unlocking it with a key from her robe pocket. Inside was a home gym unlike any I'd ever seen, state-of-the-art equipment, mirrors covering one wall, a boxing ring taking up the center of the room.
She flipped on lights that mimicked daylight, making me blink at the sudden brightness. Without a word, she crossed to a cabinet and extracted hand wraps and boxing gloves.
"Put these on."
I took them, bewildered. "Victoria, it's the middle of the night."
"And you're awake, drowning in self-pity instead of planning your resurrection." Her voice wasn't cruel, just matter-of-fact. "So put them on."
My hands trembled as I wrapped them, clumsy from inexperience. Victoria watched, neither helping nor criticizing, until I managed to secure the gl
