Chapter 3 - The Unmarked Gym Across Town
The industrial brick warehouse on 4th Street looked abandoned from the outside, save for a single flickering yellow bulb above the heavy metal side door. Inside, the cavernous space smelled of old leather, sweat, and floor wax. A single overhead light rig illuminated a regulation boxing ring set dead center on the worn concrete floor.
I pushed the heavy door open, my white button-down shirt replaced by a gray athletic tee and black training leggings beneath my jacket. My hair was braided down my spine instead of its usual updo. Vincent was already there, wrapped in gray hand-wraps, standing by the canvas apron. Dominic stood near the entrance, his arms crossed over his chest, his expression sour as I walked past him.
"You actually showed," Dominic muttered under his breath, shifting his weight.
I didn't look at him. I kept my eyes on Vincent, who was testing the tension of the top rope with one gloved hand. He wore black training shorts and a sleeveless compression shirt that showed the lean, hard lines of his upper body.
"I always keep appointments," I said, stopping by the ring steps. I unzipped my jacket and let it drop onto a folding chair.
Vincent climbed through the ropes and tossed a pair of red leather 12-ounce training gloves onto the canvas. "Let's see if your reflexes are as sharp in the daylight as they were under lounge lamps."
I climbed up, my boots squeaking slightly on the canvas. The familiar smell of resin and sweat instantly settled into my lungs, waking up muscle memory I hadn't used in three years. I slipped my hands into the wraps and pulled the gloves tight, securing the Velcro with my teeth.
"Three-minute rounds," Vincent said, dropping into a relaxed orthodox stance. "No headshots until the final minute. Just movement and counter-punching. Earn the five thousand."
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He bounced lightly on his toes, closing the distance with a swift, probing jab. I blocked it easily with my left forearm, slipping outside his reach and pivoting on my heel. My counter-punch grazed his ribs before he twisted away. A sharp grin flashed across his face.
"There it is," he breathed, circling again. "Now do it again."
