Payable On Death: A Jax Rhodes Novel, Book One (The Jax Rhodes Series 1) Read Free

lucky...."
    "Watch your mouth, Tommy."
    "I didn't even say nothing." He looked at me sideways. "You sure you alright?"
    "I'm fine. If your mom's working late tonight, swing by the shelter. I'll fix you a plate."
    "One near death experience a day is my limit."
    I couldn't help laughing at my own expense. "Get the hell out of here. I'll see you later."
    I headed toward the gym rubbing my hip, contemplating what Tommy said. People like me didn't have good luck. So what was with all the near misses? It wasn't the first time I'd come close to cashing out and paying my debt to the Devil. If I didn't know better, I'd think someone upstairs was looking out for me.

THREE
     
     
     
     
    Baltimore Boxing Club kept it simple. No fancy equipment, just the square ring with a green canvas, an area to work the jump rope, and a few speed and body bags around the large open room on the second floor of the building. You heard the physical punishment as you walked up the steps to the gym. People came to BBC to push themselves beyond their limit, to be a champion.
    I started coming here to learn to protect myself. I kept coming because I found a place where I could leave my troubles behind or beat them into submission. The minute I wrapped my hands and slipped on my sparring gloves, everything disappeared. No demons, no deal with the Devil, and no guilt or heartache over my mother. I put leather to the bag until the exhaustion overpowered the emptiness and, for a few minutes, I didn't feel the hollow place inside where my soul used to be. I took the stairs two at a time, my workout bag slung over my shoulder, when the voices started up again. It only fueled my need to hit something.
    I wished I could blame Lazarus or the rest of the demons for the hateful things inside my head, but that was all me. No matter how many good deeds I did, that little voice wouldn't let me forget I was on a highway to Hell. Every day a war waged within me. Part of me figured since I'd already condemned my soul to Hell, I might as well live the life of a sinner. The other part desperately clung to the hope that I could atone for the ultimate sin - dealing with the Devil. When the voices got too loud, I came to the gym and beat them out of my system.
    I unzipped my hoodie, wiggling free of the sleeves before I made it past Mister Joe. He sat in a rickety old metal folding chair by the door every day making sure non-members didn't sneak into the gym. Four guys in as many years came pretty close to a title shot. Ever since, people have been trying to catch a glimpse of the trainers and their prize fighters.
    "Jax, you got that look again. Somebody bothering you?" Mister Joe set his paper on his lap, patiently waiting for an answer. "You point me his direction, I guarantee he won't mess with you no more."
    I gave Mister Joe my best smile because he deserved it. I even made the extra effort to let it reach my eyes. "I'm okay. Nothing I can't fix with some time in the gym."
    "Listen here, young lady, I may look old and worn out, but I still got moves." He threw a few ghost punches, bobbing left and feigning right. "If somebody's messing with my girl, it'll be the last damn time. Juggarnaut Jones still has a left hook or two in him."
    "Of that I have no doubt. Unfortunately, there isn't a man to point you in the direction of. My life's pretty boring."
    Liar. The Devil and his demons are far from boring.
    I needed to get started if I had any hopes of breaking a sweat and shutting the voices up before I had to be at the shelter, so I excused myself from Mister Joe's company and went over to the body bag. After tossing my stuff down by the wall, I did a few stretches to limber up and then wrapped my hands.
    The first punch hit the bag with a satisfying thud. I'd taken to imagining Lazarus every time my fist made contact. Thwack . Another hard shot to the bag. I didn't wait for the bag to stop swinging. I just stepped in and hit it again. Left, right, left right. I fired one