It’s been 20 minutes. It will be quick, she said. Yeah right.

  Almost immediately after Dante's thought came out, so too did Emmy appear. No longer did she wear her protective gear and headset. Free of the gear, her natural blond, bob-cut hair bounced with each step, catching the gym's overhead lights in golden flashes. Her face resembled a more mature version of Emma's, yet still held many of the same soft features, with slightly sharper cheekbones and a more defined jawline that hinted at the few years between them.

  She wore a nearly see-through long-sleeved shirt that did little to conceal the fair skin beneath. Instead, it merely cast a faint shade over it with its pale hue.

  Seriously, Emmy? In this weather? That shirt has to have microheating sewn in it. I mean, heck, I can even see your bra.

  “Hot pink, huh,” Dante muttered. Drawing a glance from Emmy.

  “Enjoying the view, you little pervert?”

  “Yup,” Dante responded with no shame.

  “Come on, sister, you can’t take that from him. You should beat him up!” Emma chimed in.

  “Maybe I will!” Emmy walked in front of Dante and gave a dramatic step as she placed her hands on her hips, causing her body to bounce softly as she looked up, standing a thumb’s height taller than her sister, Emma.

  “Bouncy,” Dante said, his eyes relentlessly staring at Emmy’s breasts.

  “You like, huh?” Emmy gave a distracting grin before quickly moving to cross Dante’s gut.

  The hit caused Dante to take two quick steps back to avoid it.

  “You missed me, now you got to kiss me,” he said with a playful tongue sticking out.

  “Oh, I’ll kiss you alright. But it will be a passionate one. With a balled-up fist,” Emmy responded, her expression clearly annoyed that Dante dodged her so easily.

  “That is what makes a fist, Emmy, yes. When you ball up the hand. I’m so glad you learned so much from boxing.”

  Emma giggled at Dante’s relentless verbal attack.

  “Oh shut up, Dante,” Emmy pouted.

  “Fine, I’m sorry, ok? You look good, Emmy. It’s sexy, cool, and stylish. The shorts and leggings too, perfectly shows off the leg exercises I know you kill yourself doing. I mean, it can barely contain your incredible curves. Happy?”

  “Only if you mean it,” Emmy kept pouting with one eyebrow raised.

  “Yes, I mean it. What do you want from me? For me to drool while staring?”

  “Can you do that on command? That would be great.”

  “How about me, Dante?” Emma cut in, feeling left out.

  “Yes, yes, you too, Emma. Good girl, good girl,” Dante patted her head.

  Emma quickly removed Dante’s hands. “You’re a weirdo.”

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  “Me patting your head’s weird but not everything else?” he laughed.

  “Ok, come on, let’s go. You’re coming to our place, Dante?” Emmy asked.

  “No, I have to head home. I’ll walk you girls, but afterwards, that’s it. But I’ll be there to hang out with you on your 20th birthday next week.”

  “Alright then,” Emmy said.

  “Ok, let’s go.”

  “That’s what I just said, Emma,” Emmy put her arms around Emma, embracing her.

  "Hey Emmy!" a man with a tanned complexion called out from the side. His shirtless body glistening in the light, muscles deliberately flexed as he approached.

  Did he oil his body? Who oils up before hitting a punching bag?

  …

  Whatever, I honestly don’t care enough to spend more time thinking about that.

  Dante thought until he noticed the man staring up and down at Emmy. There was something about the way he looked at her, as though he were stripping her with his eyes. Dante moved his gaze to Emmy, who looked uncomfortable by the man but kept a polite front.

  I take it back. He is clearly an asshole. It’s also unlike Emmy to stay quiet about things she doesn’t like, which means this guy has some pull.

  Dante looked around at the people nearby. Many glanced for a moment and then noticeably avoided paying attention to what was going on where the man was concerned. Some pulled their gaze away from their friends who were curious, whispering in their ears, causing the gaze to return for a moment, only to look down nervously.

  The women around looked on with hidden disgust.

  But not all avoided the man’s space. Some women pushed up their bras, showing off cleavage while staring at him with greed.

  Not lust. Greed.

  Other men tried to get closer with respect and subservience in their posture.

  Hah, another jackass who thinks his influence and power makes him a king, I guess. Way too little respect in the gazes around to say he deserves to think that.

  So, the only conclusion I can briefly make is that he throws his weight around often. There are definitely enough avoided looks to hint at it, and it would make sense with Emmy’s personality.

  I’ll give it 10 seconds. If Emmy doesn’t say anything, I’ll get her out of here.

  “Hi Pablo, I was just leaving,” Emmy, though uncomfortable, stood her ground.

  “Oh come on, stay a while. I just got here,” Pablo grinned, massaging his oiled, muscled chest like a peacock trying to show off its feathers.

  “Sorry, we have things to do,” Emma spoke up, annoyed. Dante glanced at his watch and noticed a message from her that read:

  Dante, I don’t like this guy! I mean, who oils up right when they start training!?!

  Dante felt amused by the fact that she thought the same as he did.

  “And who are you?” Pablo turned his unscrupulous gaze to Emma, looking her up and down as he did her sister.

  Interesting.

  Dante thought as he saw Emmy’s worried look.

  Emma comes by at least once a week to see her sister. Either this guy is new or Emmy purposely makes sure Emma comes on a day Pablo isn’t around. Either way, I have to get back home myself. Let’s wrap this up.

  “Emma, Emmy, let’s go,” Dante said, his voice coming out more authoritative than he had meant it.

  “Ah, yes! Of course,” Emmy responded.

  “You’re right, let’s go,” Emma said, the two preparing to turn and leave with Dante.

  “And who are you?” Pablo said, clearly annoyed.

  “No one you want to know,” Dante answered.

  “Ha, look at this punk acting mysterious and smug. Tell you what. You want to leave? Meet me on the ring first,” came Pablo’s taunt.

  “No thanks,” Dante said, already walking away with the girls.

  Three seconds later, it happened. Emma’s warning as she screamed, “Watch out!” Emma barely had time to raise her arms defensively before Pablo's punch slammed into her block, the impact generating a harsh cracking sound that instantly drew Dante's cold attention.

  Dante stared at Emma, holding her arm. Emmy asking if she was ok, the people around turning blind eyes, suddenly finding their phones or equipment incredibly interesting. The gym's previously energetic atmosphere now held an uncomfortable tension.

  Three seconds...

  That’s all it took for his eyes to enter the depths of the ocean once again. His response in words that were cold, sharp like the predators of the sea.

  “Alright, get on the ring.”