章 12: The love doctor

Brad's pov

I was greeted by the cold damp air of Manhattan as I stepped out.

It's been ages since I visited the boxing ring, today being Saturday with all my schedule cleared. I decided to pay a visit. My knuckles are aching with the lure and the craving for punches.

With the tension erupting in me reaching its peak of destruction. I got to unleash the beast in me. The punching bag hasn't been able to subdue the urge. I need the real deal, a face to punch, the unwanted face of Chris Anderson flashed in mind. The punch I gave him the other day has evoked an unwaveringly aching thirst and bloodlust towards him. I await the day I can unleash the raking rage on him rapidly beating the shit of him.

His words still Sting deeply in my mind. The thoughts of him with April lingers making my blood rush with an amount of anger.

That curly hair girl is mine, I'm not planning on letting him steal her from my grasp. My lips smacked thinking of her. It's been days since I saw her. I have been staying at my Penthouse I thought keeping a distance from her could do the magic of dissolving my attraction towards her but damn it got me more raked with the urge and craving for her. With Chris Anderson lurking around, planning his inwardly next move on her, I'm baffled with the decision of what I'm going to do with her. Lest I cross a perilous Line with her, that will break down my walls leaving me exposed.

I was heading to a boxing ring in south Bronx, a dangerous suburb of New York City, with high violence and crime rate. There is a secret underground illegal boxing club running over there. I have been a member of that club for years now since I was a teenager when I discovered that darkest part of me.

I dressed up as a random guy to blend in with those hooligans. I went for a simple Tee-shirt, tracksuit pants with trainers, and a cap on with a bag pack hanging over my shoulders. I looked like an ordinary guy.

I decided to take the train because I didn't want to draw attention to my flashy car. With my means of transport, it took a while to get to my destination.

I walked into a liquor shop, there was a lanky guy at the counter. He nods at me in acknowledgment. I was a familiar face, he need not be told what to do. He led the way to the shop storage room

I took some dollar notes from my pocket and handed them to him.

He smacks, pushing a huge box, revealing a hinged trapped door beneath. He yanked it open. It was an underground huge basement that looks big enough to be a warehouse.

I stepped in climbing off a ladder down. The atmosphere was tense. When my foot landed. every eye turned on me. No matter how much I try blending in I still stand out.

A few guys sent friendly gestures at me. I'm also the most feared opponent here. In the boxing ring, I'm the king and they all know it, you don't cross paths with me and go unscathed.

Since it was an early hour of the day, there were few guys around. During the night the place is packed with a throng of people. It's when big fights take place.

I lean on a wall grasping my jaw as I watched two guys fighting in the ring.

The fight was over in a flash, the big guy among the two, knocks out his opponent with a powerful blow.

I smirked, with an inner ache dancing in my tummy, I want to take that guy on.

"long time no see " I was shot out of my thoughts by a bulky-built man, Armando. A long-time friend and former trainer.

We shoulder hugged and bump fists.

"Wish to take him on ?" he asked

I grazed my thumb on my lips. tilting my head to watch the Big guy in the ring.

My eyes glistened

Armando let out a laugh.

"Good to have you back," he said

He walked over to the ring and whispered into the guy's ears.

His eyes fell on me, and he smirked with amusement.

"Hey, pretty boy wanna get your pretty face squashed?". He said letting out a mockery snigger.

I smirked at him. A perfect opponent, the more cocky and big they look the more advantage I have.

I took off my shirt, and bag pack. I handle it over to one of Armando's novice boxers for safekeeping.

I saw the excitement in the guys here faces. They are eager to see me in action.

I stepped into the ring my face easing with calmness. He towered me, with his 6.7ft height and heavily built sturdy body, making me look like a dwarf.

He stared at me with a bored expression.

I snapped my knuckles together. Waiting for Armando's signal. I needed no gloves as it was always a bare-knuckled fight here.

"Fight" Armando shouted.

The guy rushes over to me throwing a jab to my jaw. Just like I predicted. That is always my awakening, I always allow my opponent to throw the first punch, making them think they have the upper hand

He went in for a second punch, I ducked, landing a right hook punch to his jaw making him stumble. He tangled on the ropes preventing himself from falling.

He sneers at me. Good, I made him angry, just what I wanted.

He furiously started throwing unstoppable blows which I perfectly avoided each blow by bobbing and weaving my head with slipping often to my right and left.

I got bored with the mouse and cat game we were playing. I quickly threw a powerful hook blow to the right side of his head.

He retaliates throwing a punch which I perfectly dodge. I landed an uppercut punch to his stomach, I finished up with a strong right cross blow, knocking him out.

The room went uproar as the giant was down.

My knuckles were bleeding but I didn't pay much attention to it. I smirked in satisfaction.

My victory moment was cut short as I heard the catcalls and whistles of the guys in the room.

I turned to wonder what the fussing is all about.

My face dropped as I saw the person causing this distraction.

My sister, what the hell is Veronica doing here?

She was wearing a sports bra with yoga pants drawing out her beautiful figure, making the guys around to ogle at her.

I snarled at them. They quickly took their gaze off her.

She laughed.

"Protective much big bro," she said

I step out of the ring, said nothing to her. I retrieve my backpack, quickly putting on a new clean Tee-shirt

I gripped her arm dragging her along as we made our way out. she grim in protest muttering curses at me.

We passed the secret back door. which I'm sure is how she got in without being detected because she can't get in here without being a member. That means someone sneaked her in.

The back door leads to another trap door. We climbed out into the open air. We were in a junkyard, I scanned around making sure no one saw us emerging out.

I held her hand again as we hastily walk out of there before we get spotted.

I got a glimpse of a coffee shop around the corner. We entered in.

The place was empty for a Saturday morning, looking at this shady neighborhood. I'm sure people here, are more interested in drugs than coffee.

We took a seat at the window spot.

I folded my arms with a query look. She mischievously grinned at me.

"Spying on me again? what have mother put you to this time," I said hissing through my teeth.

She crossed her legs leisurely on the table, flipping her long shiny black hair, she peered at me with a smug.

"Good to see you, bro, I told you once, no matter where you are. I'm gonna find you, even if is the hell pit of a boxing ring. Don't worry mom won't find out the location, your secret is safe with me" she winks at me.

" How did you find me? "

She smiles. "I have my ways, I'm not going to tell you"

"Mom sent you right?" I asked again

She ignores my question and stood up walking to the barista, leaving me racked with my thoughts.

I hardly see my busy love coach of a sister. She got her schedule tight with all tons of hopeless romantic ladies of New York City who have nothing better doing than to baffle her with their relationship issues. she got her hand full with her lifestyle magazine and her live talk show, that airs on Tv. So it is a surprise she is visiting me. it's been months since I last saw her. Means something is up

She came back with a cup of black coffee. Didn't bother to get me one

She sunk back to her seat. I Impatiently watch her sip up her coffee.

Looking at the satisfactory look on her face, I know she is doing this on purpose to get me irritated.

She does a good job of infuriating me.

She smacked her lips when she sipped the last drop of coffee.

"Aww didn't know you got that patient in you" she flutters her eyes at me with a taunt expression.

"Just tell me why you are here Veronica," I said impatiently.

"Mother is furious, you have been with April for more than two weeks and you are yet to make a move," she said

"So mother got you to come to lecture me. I have everything under control" I replied in annoyance.

"You sure about that? why was April alone on a Friday night whilst you were home alone with that bitch Olivia parker" she rolls her eyes.

This shows my mother is spying on me and April, and she is passing on that information to her.

"What were you doing with that bimbo anyway?" she snide

Veronica has disdainful feelings towards Olivia. She bears an old grudge against her. I'm yet to know what is about.

"She just got back from her long vacation and decided to pay a friendly visit"

She snorted rolling her eyes " And you bought that?"

"Whilst you were having that chit-chat with Olivia, Chris Anderson was flirting with April at the bar" she suddenly said

That bastard again. My mood ebb with anger. I sabotage her date with the bartender Elliot just to make her fall into Chris Anderson's trap.

When James reported to me about the friendly bartender he saw her speak to at the club. I became alert I knew he was a love interest that could be a threat to my plans so I had to eliminate him.

The day Olivia came over, I saw her leaving the mansion. With the outfit she was wearing, there were no doubts she was going to meet up with that bartender

The little digging I did, I got to find out where that bartender lives. immediately after April left. I instructed a trusted person to scare the shit out of him with threats and warning to him to stay away from April.

I had more deadly plans on how to get rid of him but it turns out that he was just a wimp, after all, he didn't dare to meet up with her, after the little scare. The guy I sent to do the job was a thug Armando hired for me. I'm sure he sent the scariest among his guys. I'm glad that wimp is out of the way leaving me with the psycho Chris Anderson to eliminate.

"Are you scared brother?" Veronica's face was eased into a devious smile?

"Scared of what?"

"Scared that you can't woo April. She has been with you long enough for you to spark something between you guys. Oh, I did tell mom this is going to be an impossible job for you" she teased.

"Mom hired my service to help you with your love quest" she winks

"I don't need your help."

She raised an eyebrow

"Then why no progress, you know mum has eyes everywhere. You barely interact with her. It's like you are avoiding her like a plague"

"I'm not, I'm just busy with work," I said in a defensive tone.

" Admit you just don't know how to make a girl fall in love with you. With your cocky and I know it attitude, you suck when it comes to girls. You don't have the wimps for that." She said with laughter.

"Don't worry bro you got your love doctor now" she glim a smile.

"You? It's going to be a dead-end. Since you started your love talk show over a year ago tell me how many success stories can you boast of." I taunted her with an inward snigger.

She folded her arms, her eyes glistening in anger

She popped a playful blow on my arm.

"Whether you are cool with this or not. I just got on board. I will move back to the mansion tomorrow. I got a plan, by the time mom will be back she will see a little progress." Her eyes twinkled in excitement.

"What the hell are you planning on?"

She just smiled.

"You will find out soon, just move back to the mansion, I know you are staying at your Penthouse in Manhattan. It's an order, I don't want you ruining my plans" she said with a warning look.

"One more thing did April see you with Olivia? you know, Olivia all over you in her presence"

"Well yes, she met her" I answered.

She clenched her teeth

"That bitch !" she curses

"I'm sure April got the wrong idea by now"

"What ?" I asked confusedly

"I don't know why the male species, you guys are so blind and dumb sometimes" she sighed

"Do your part by keeping Olivia at bay, leave the rest to me"

I'm confused about what she is planning on doing. what has Olivia got to do with this.

"She is cute though," she said. I noticed she is scrolling through April's pics on her phone.

"Aww she is pretty with that hair of hers," she said with admiration in her eyes. I had the edge to peep at her phone to catch a glimpse of April's pic. But I don't want Veronica teasing me about it

"Mother didn't do justice to her beauty with the description of her she gave me." She frowns

"I think I'm going to like her" she smiles

I rolled my eyes.

I won't be surprised if they end up becoming best friends they are both annoyingly crazy

Living with those two, they are going to drive me crazy.

"Mother said she is not your type," she narrowed her gaze at me.

I don't want to answer that. I'm not ready for her constant teasing.

"Don't worry, I'm going to work on that as well" she grinned

I frowned I don't like the sound of that. Knowing Veronica, I'm sure April is going to be a doll she will use as a test subject to experiment with her crazy ideas.

"No don't you dare touch even a strand of her hair." The thoughts of Veronica touching her beautiful hair make me want to take April far away, protecting her from my sister's crazy influence.

"Why?" she asked

"I don't have a spec when it comes to women. She is nice with the way she looks. No need for any transformation" I said in a stern tone.

"Okay if you say so" she shrugs.

"Well, but I would love to work some magic on that beautiful hair of hers."

"No " I snapped at her.

"I love it wild like that"

"Whoa, chill bro, why are you irritated anyway? it's just her hair"

She paused narrowing her eyes, she scrutinized me.

Her eyes widened. She gasps as the realization creep on her face

" April, oh my God, Brad you like.."

"No " I cut her off.

My pulse race. I quickly bolted out before Veronica could finish her statement.