Impact (The Fight for Life #2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

for you, I swear.”
    I felt like a complete bitch, but this was out of order. “I’m sorry, but I already have lunch plans.” I glanced at Nicole, who was tapping away on her phone.
    “Oh. Of course.” Her cheeks reddened. “Another time maybe.”
    “Maybe,” I conceded, but there was zero chance I was going behind Leo’s back on this.
    “It’s no wonder Leo is infatuated by you.” She chuckled. “You’re a tough nut.”
    “I’ve had to be.”
    She nodded. “I’ve done nothing wrong, Juliette. Leo has no right—”
    “Stop.” I held up my hand. “Leo must have good reasons. This is all wrong. You need to go.”
    “For five years, he has refused to see me.” Her eyes brimmed with tears and I felt a strange pang of empathy towards her. “I’ve tried to communicate with him, but it’s a one-way street. I’m his mother.”
    “He doesn’t want anything to do with you,” I whispered, unsure why this conversation was still going.
    “I hoped you could help me with that.” Her eyes softened. “The love he has for you has changed him, and I was selfishly hoping he might have a place for me in his life again.” She looked to the sky, and when her eyes drifted back to mine, the pain on her face was evident. “I’d just like an opportunity to speak to him in person,” she continued. “I don’t think that’s too much to ask.”
    Her words resonated with me, but this was Leo’s life, not mine. “My loyalty is to Leo, and he’s made his position very clear.”
    She touched my arm gently. “Please just ask him to call me.”
    I needed her to leave. “I’ll think about it, but please don’t just show up at my work again. It’s not fair.”
    “I’m sorry.” She dabbed at her eyes with a tissue. “You've given me more hope than I've had in years.”
    As I watched her walk away, my mind was a whir of warring thoughts. I didn’t want to pressure Leo to open up before he was ready, but I hated the idea of him doing that crazy fight in Perth. I knew it had to have something to do with seeing his mother again, and I just had a really bad feeling in the pit of my stomach.
    “She seemed pretty intense,” Nicole said, interrupting my thoughts. “Who was she?”
    “She—” I bit my bottom lip and shuddered “—is a problem.”
    “Well, I’m starving. You ready to get some lunch?”
    I nodded. I was absolutely ready for some to-die-for tomato soup and a light chat with a lovely, sane person who knew nothing about all of this.
    After work, I headed home disappointed that Leo hadn’t called, but not surprised. He was stubborn, proud and damaged—a bad combination for accepting help. I didn’t want him to go, or if he had to, I wanted to be there with him. I got Nick’s number from Zac and called him at the fight club in Lilydale. Leo had said he was going with him to Perth and I needed details.
    “Nick Matthews,” he answered after a few rings.
    “Hello, Nick. It’s Juliette Salinger here.” I paused, feeling awkward. “I’m not sure if you remember—”
    “Well, well, well. How could I forget you? You were a killer against Christina Lee.”
    “Oh, thanks. Kinda feels like a million years ago now.”
    “To what do I owe this pleasure, Ms Salinger? I’m betting it has something to do with Leo Ashlar.”
    “Yes, it does, actually. How did you know?” I asked, stopping on the footbridge to watch the water run silently underneath.
    “I’ve seen a bit of Leo over the past few months and you’ve come up.”
    “Oh.” I didn’t know if that was a good thing or not.
    “It’s all good, darlin’.” He chuckled. “I’m pretty sure you’re the reason he wants to get out of the cage and back into the ring. You know. Clean up his act for the love of a good woman.”
    “Oh.” I banged my forehead with my palm. Why was I incapable of speech?
    “You wanna tell me why you’re calling?” he asked, chuckling.
    “Right.” I lifted my gaze from the mesmerising river and focused