Addicted (Sin City Gym Book 2) Read online

  Addicted Sin City Gym 2

  Ember-Raine Winters

  Addicted Sin City Gym 2

  Copyright © 2019 Ember-Raine Winters

  Cover Design: Heather Bryant

  Editor: Dark Raven Edits

  Formatter: Ember-Raine Winters

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by an information and retrieval system without express written permission from the Author/Publisher.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination, or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Chapter Forty

  Chapter Forty-One

  Chapter Forty-two

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgements

  I have the best family in the world! They put up with my crap and are super supportive. Especially, my mom and sister. They are the best!

  My DAT girls, you know who you are. Thank you so much for always being there for me during this crazy journey. I will always love you! (Even when you send me questionable pictures of Justin Beiber.)

  All of the amazing Indie Authors and bloggers I have met in our wonderful little indie world! I freaking FLOVE you! You have made the last year one of the best and I can’t wait for the next!

  My beta girls, I wouldn’t have been able to do this without you.

  Last, but not least my editor, Randie Creamer. [email protected] I couldn’t do this without you! Thank you so much!

  Dedication

  For Megan

  Chapter One

  Pete

  Sweat dripped into my eyes as I circled my opponent. The roar of the Las Vegas crowd barely registered in the background. He came in for a left hook and I dodged out of the way quickly putting my arm around his neck and securing it with my other arm. I held him there until I felt his hand slap wildly against me as I cut off his airway as soon as the ref came over and grabbed for my arm, I let go and let him lift my arm up in victory.

  I celebrated that last win but on the inside it was hollow. I wished Brandy was there to share it with me. It had been three months since our little Christmas almost fling, and she’d made it her mission to stay as far away from me as possible. The whole thing was one giant misunderstanding, but she wouldn’t listen. She took off and left me taking a piece of me with her.

  It pissed me off even more that I was sitting here supposed to be celebrating my title win and all I could think about was her. I needed a release. After the interviews with all the major sports networks, I got in the hired car and had the driver take me home. I couldn’t use a driver for what I had planned. My skin itched as I sat in the back of the black town car. I needed to go out. I wasn’t supposed to drive, but I was crawling out of my own skin.

  Once I got home, I showered and dressed in record time before I called an Uber. I still didn’t drive after what happened. I let people think it was because my license was taken away, but it wasn’t. I physically couldn’t drive unless it was an emergency.

  Hours later, I was standing at one of the high stakes craps tables with a blond on one arm and a brunette on the other. Neither were as gorgeous as my girl. My girl? Ha. She wasn’t my girl. The whole relationship had been fake, but we somehow fooled everyone including myself. The only one who wasn’t fooled was Brandy. I guess she couldn’t be fooled. Or let herself be fooled by me. The last bombshell she dropped on me still made me cringe a little bit. How had such a sexy beautiful woman gone through twenty-eight years of life and never had sex? I thought about the way she reacted to me that first night and wanted to kick my own ass. Something wasn’t right with her, but that wasn’t my problem. She was done with me. Plain and simple. I may as well get out of my head and enjoy the beautiful women on my arms.

  I finished my roll and led the girls out to my car. I wasn’t drinking, not because I was training but because I had my car and no license. I was ridin’ dirty.

  “Where are we going?” the blond asked.

  “I have a spot down the strip a little ways,” I smirked.

  “Wait, we need to discuss payment first.” The smirk died on my lips and I looked at the women in horror.

  “Payment?” I asked like an idiot. “I don’t pay for sex. Look at me. Does it look like I need to?”

  Both women looked me up and down with lust filled eyes. The brunette licked her lips before shaking her head back and forth. “Didn’t think so.”

  My arms were still around them so when a cop pulled up in front of us, I groaned, loudly. What the actual fuck did I get myself into?

  “Deedee and Chloe. What do we have here?” the officer said as he got out of the car.

  “We were just discussing where to go next,” the blond smiled as she attempted to pull me away.

  “You’re Pete Collins. I thought you had a fight tonight.” The officer looked at me with sort of stunned admiration.

  “I did. I won.” Inside I was screaming with my need to flee.

  “Good deal. I’m gonna give you a piece of advice. Those women are known prostitutes. I’d go on home without them if I were you.” He leaned in close as he spoke. I didn’t need to be told twice. I dropped my arms and took a giant step back.

  “Yes, sir, thank you.” I shook the man’s hand and left the two disgruntled prostitutes behind. The last thing I needed was anyone to find out about that.

  **

  I woke up the next morning in a daze. There was a pounding in my head that I quickly realized I wasn’t imagining. Darren, my coach must have been in a mood if I could hear his thumping fist against my door from the second floor. Dragging my tired ass out of bed, I made my way to the front door and flung it open. Darren was standing there with his fist raised and a murderous look on his face. “What the hell did you do last night? Why is it that every time you end up in the rags it’s for something sexual? I don’t know what’s worse, the prostitutes or the damn fuzzy reindeer,” he growled.

  “What the hell are you talking about?” I yawned. I was still groggy from sleep and getting yelled at that early in the morning was no
t my idea of a good time.

  “You after the fight last night with two known prostitutes,” he yelled at me. Shit. Someone saw me. I groaned internally. “You’re lucky I don’t suspend you.”

  “Wait, what? Suspend me? Why would you do that? I didn’t go anywhere with them. As soon as that cop confirmed what I’d just started suspecting, I went home, alone.” What the hell? I didn’t deserve to get suspended because I picked up a couple of women at the casino. How was I supposed to know they were hookers?

  “Like I said,” He shot me a shut the hell up look. “I should suspend you, but all the damn rags are talking about your sex addiction and it gave me an idea. I know someone that does group therapy sessions for sex addicts. Be at this address tomorrow at two.” He handed me a piece of paper with an address on it and I deflated. I wasn’t addicted to sex. I liked sex, a lot, but I wasn’t an addict.

  “This is ridiculous, Darren. I’m not addicted to sex,” I huffed angrily, but took the paper anyway. If this is what I had to do to keep my job, I’d do it. MMA was my life.

  “It doesn’t matter if you are, but if you don’t do this program, I’m gonna have to cut you loose. You have been involved in one sex scandal after another. It’s starting to become a problem. You will do this or you will find a new career.”

  Darren didn’t have one problem lying down the law with me. “I guess I’m going to group therapy.” I shook my head in defeat.

  Chapter Two

  Brandy

  I woke up in a cold sweat just like I did most mornings since Christmas. It was hard to think that someone who’d been in my life for only two short weeks could leave such a lasting impression on my subconscious. Looking over at the alarm clock I saw the numbers flashing red and cursed. The power must have gone out in the middle of the night. Grabbing aimlessly for my phone on the nightstand I hit it to unlock it and jumped from the bed. It was late and there was no way with the way traffic was I would be able to get to my first appointment on time. I called my patient letting him know that I was running a little late and hopped in the shower. My body still tingled from the dream but I did my best to shut it down and showered in record time.

  There were a couple of reporters outside my door when I came out of the apartment. I was a little shocked. I had no idea why they would be waiting for me, but the second they saw me they swarmed. “What do you think about Pete’s latest scandal?”

  “Is it hard to see him with a prostitute after all this time?” That question made me pause.

  “What?” It wasn’t exactly my finest moment. One of them thrust their magazine in my hand and I gasped. The headline was awful. MMA Superstar is a Super Slut.

  How the hell did this happen? I knew he was a manwhore but this was ridiculous. That man didn’t need to pay for sex. Anyone who’d ever looked at him knew that. “Pete Collins is no longer any of my concern. He can do who and what he wants,” I said in a haughty tone that I hoped they bought. I most definitely didn’t believe them. Any time he was mentioned it made my heart ache. That was the reason, I’d steered clear of any of Delia’s work events. Seeing him would hurt too much.

  I made my way around the crowd that’d formed. They continued to yell out questions but I just kept walking. I had no idea why they thought my reaction mattered. I was nobody just the girl he fake dated for two weeks several months before. My opinion didn’t matter.

  I got in my car with a sigh of relief and started the engine before pulling out of the parking lot. I couldn’t get away fast enough.

  **

  The rest of the day went by uneventfully until it was time for my group session. Delia was ranting on about something I was barely paying attention to. I heard baby Jack in the background cooing softly. “Are you even listening?” she huffed. “Why can’t he meet women on Tinder like a normal horndog. He has to pick up hookers in casinos.” Delia was losing her mind, and I was already late.

  “I’m sorry, Dee, but I have to go. I’m late.” It wasn’t a lie, but she probably thought it was since I conveniently changed the subject or made up excuses to get off the phone any time Pete’s name came up.

  “Okay. Call me after group.” I thought I heard something sly in that tone but I shook it off. I shouldn’t have. I should have kept her on the phone until she spilled the beans because that would have saved me the shock of walking into my group session and seeing the very person I’d been doing my best to avoid for months sitting there looking at me with wide eyes. What the actual fuck is happening?

  My head shook back and forth of its own volition as I backed out of the room. A couple of my regular patients were looking at me like I’d lost my mind. “Brandy? Is everything okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” Bill said as he started to stand. My tongue was thick in my mouth…

  “I’m fine. I need to go.” I started to leave but a hand on my arm stopped me.

  “What are you doing here?” Pete whispered and he was way too close for comfort.

  “This is my job and I don’t know how you found out about it but I can’t treat you. Not even in a group setting. It’s unethical.” I tried to move but he refused to let go of me.

  “You have to. Coach says that unless I complete this program I’m getting booted from the team. I can’t lose my career.”

  “You should have thought of that before you were seen walking the strip with a couple of prostitutes.” My voice was hard. Pete flinched.

  “How did you hear about that?” He let go as if I’d burned him and the look of embarrassment crossed his features.

  “Do you mean the vultures circling my apartment this morning trying to get my reaction on the whole thing or the fact that my best friend was screaming in my ear while she vented about the slut of the MMA. Her words not mine.” I rushed that last part in quickly.

  “The press was outside your place?” He growled out angrily. He looked pissed but it seemed like it was directed mostly at himself.

  “I’m sorry, Pete. There’s nothing I can do. I can’t treat you. I could lose my job.” I turned away. I couldn’t leave the rest of my patients hanging. Since I’d started the group sessions a couple of months before they seemed to be getting better. There was still a long road ahead, but they were improving which was a relief, but this? This was impossible. It was unethical and I couldn’t have it. What was Darren thinking? He should have known that I couldn’t treat my supposed ex-boyfriend. It was a conflict of interest in the biggest way.

  “Brandy, let the man stay. We won’t tell anyone. He’s gonna lose his job and his title if you don’t,” Bill said looking over at Pete.

  “I like him. Listen to him.” Pete grinned. It wasn’t meant to be sexy but damn if my body didn’t heat up in ways that it shouldn’t. I should have told them no and I planned to do just that.

  “Fine.” Wait, what? Did I seriously just agree to this insanity. I think I need my head examined.

  “Thank you.”

  Chapter Three

  Pete

  Darren is a dead man. He’d known, he’d had to have known where he was sending me. There’s no possible way that he didn’t. What was this? I’d kept my mouth shut when I found out Brandy was the therapist. How can a virgin treat sex addiction?

  I barely made it through the one-hour session. I’d almost forgotten how beautiful she was. It was hard to look at her and I missed her even more than I had in the last three months. What the hell was Darren trying to prove with this? He had to know that this wasn’t ideal.

  I tried to hang back to talk to her, but she fled the moment the session was done. She’d never made eye contact with me the entire time I was sitting there.

  Storming out of the office, I got an Uber and went to the one place I always felt solace. Maybe the old man would be able to give me advice. God, I hoped so.

  **

  “Hey, Pops. Where’s ma?” I asked as I walked into my childhood home. I’d tried to buy them a new house when I started my MMA career, but they loved their house and told me to save
my money.

  “She’s hiding around the corner smoking a cigarette.” He chuckled. “She thinks I don’t know.”

  “How long are you gonna let her think that?” I grinned. Nothing got past my old man. Ma tried to pull one over on him more times than I could count, but he always knew the truth.

  “I’ll let it go until I catch her in the act.” He smiled deviously.

  “That’s just wrong.” I chuckled shaking my head. They were always doing stuff like this but I guess that was their thing. Who was I to judge?

  “It is what it is.” He looked at me with a raised brow. “Why the unexpected visit?”

  I blew out a frustrated breath as I flopped down on the couch. “I screwed up.”

  “Yup, you sure did. What were you thinking?” He glared over at me.

  “I didn’t know, pops. As soon as I realized what they were, I left. I don’t want or need that.” I scrubbed a hand over my face in frustration. Everyone wanted to believe that I was this manwhore that would do anything to get laid but I wasn’t. I had standards and I’d never admit it to anyone else but I’d been through a bit of a dry spell since Christmas. No one could hold my attention.

  “After the fight last night, I was so amped up, I needed a release. I went out and said damn the consequences but I didn’t do anything with them. Now, Darren is forcing me to see a therapist in a group setting. The therapist also just so happens to be my fake ex-girlfriend,” I groaned.

  “Well, it looks like you got yourself into a pickle.” He eyed me.

  “You could say that.”

  “So, what’s the problem?” He didn’t get it. How could he? To him, Brandy had been a fake relationship. I didn’t hide that from my parents. I did hide the very real feelings for her. I hadn’t been able to process those myself. It was probably the reason I’d entertained the caterer who’d hit on me after I thought that she’d left. It had been stupid. But, after her revelation, I’d been so confused. I wanted her, but could I wait for her? “Ah, I see.”

  Pops always was way too intuitive for his own good. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”