Paytons POV

i didn't even bother changing out of my gym clothes, I grabbed my duffle bag from the locker room and high tailed it out of there.

I could care less if i got in trouble for skipping the rest of my classes, i lived on my own anyways, nobody would  even notice.

As i wandered down the hall to the parking lot.  I was scared of the look Ashton gave me, the intense suspicion in his brown eyes. He was observant and calculating, He knew something was up and he would be relentless until he figured it out. I couldn't let anyone figure out my secret.

I almost let out a breath of relief once i stepped outside into the sunlight until i seen Ashtons Broad form inspecting my bike.

God he was sexy as hell.

I walked up to him, my heart rate rising realizing that i had left the gym before him. How did he make it outside before me?

"This is a Nice bike, although i doubt its yours, there is no way you can ride this thing" he commented his back still to me as i neared. I froze unsure of what to say, this guy was like a ninja.

" looks a-lot like the one that peeled out of the underground last night." He drawled, his comment sent chills racing down my spine. He was there? Why was Ashton at an illegal ring anyways?

No matter the reason of why he was at an illegal fight club, Ashton couldn't of figured my secret that quick could he? There's no way. It just wasn't possible, i was being careful and if it only took him half the morning it wouldn't take long for others to figure it out either and my ass either in Jail or worse dead. I didn't think the gang that ran the club would be too happy with their fight club operations becoming public knowledge.

"So how long have you been fighting then Payton?" He responded once he realized I wasn't going to respond anytime soon.

...And there was my answer. He definitely knew.

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Ashtons POV

I turned to watch her walk away, her brown ponytail swaying with each step she took,  something familiar flooded my mind. The underground ring. It couldn't be? Could it?

Frowning  at the sudden realization i followed Payton out of the gym. It was time for some answers.. I had to find out, if she was fighting in a Russian mafia owned ring she would be dead as soon as they found out she was James Rivers daughter.

The teacher called my name as I raced out of the gym  and grabbed my stuff. I headed down Hall C towards the side doors. It was quicker to the student parking lot this way and a you were alot less likely to get caught leaving campus early, but since Payton was new here i doubt she would know that.

Stepping out of the school i glanced around the parking lot looking for Paytons figure before noticing the black street bike from last night.

Walking up to investigate it,  I automatically recognized the old bike.

I used to work on the motorcycle with James, naming it the black beauty. I was only 15 when James and i started working on it but he taught me more about life then my own father ever did.

I rubbed the tiny engraved JR & AW initials scratched on to the tail pipe. Whoever owned this bike definitely had some connection to him and to the unground ring, but i think i already knew the answer to who.

Payton.

I was still admiring the meticulously maintained  bike partially in disbelief and partially in anger. The sound of soft footsteps walking towards me interrupting my moment of reverie.

I knew from the feminine presence it was Payton "Nice bike, although i doubt its yours there is no way you can ride this thing"  i nodded briskly at the  glorious machine, Although it does look a lot like the bike that peeled out of the underground last night."  I added.

Her soft footsteps faltered, when she didn't reply  after a moment i pressed further.

"So how long have you been fighting for the Russian Mafia Payton?" I asked casually knowing fully well she had been caught red handed.

A soft huff of annoyance came from the girl behind me and I felt a slight frustration boil beneath my skin. How stupid was this girl? Did she not know how her father died?

Payton Rivers was boxing for my enemy's fight club. The vary people who murdered her father.

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Paytons POV

"First off  what are you talking about and secondly you don't even know anything about me to be making such assumptions" I tried to defend myself.

Maybe if the circumstances weren't stacked against me, Ashton would of fallen for my clueless act.. but it just so happened that he was there watching me fight last night at the ring.

I was caught red handed and he knew it.

"Princess I'm not stupid, i know when i see a trained fighter." He paused "besides i recognized you from last night...some fight by the way" he smirked now facing me.

"Besides it would take more then coloured contacts and a hoodie to keep me from recognizing you babe"  he murmured in my ear making the flutter in my heart run rampant and my panties soak.

The mixed emotions frustrated me and i snapped. "Get away from me and my bike Ashton, you don't know me or anything about my life"

His smirk widened before stepping back.

"Ooh someones feisty...Fine princess, we both know?i know your little secret so  on that note, where are you headed ?" He asked leaning against a black Audi conveniently parked next to my bike.

"Away from you" i snapped in annoyance, storming over and swinging my leg over the glorious bike before pulling my helmet out of my bag.

"Well i know a place thats good for hitting bags if you wanna come? From one fellow boxer to another" Ashton offered before pulling out his keys and hitting the unlock button on the Audi.

Inspecting his car appreciatively, i weighed the pros and cons before putting on my helmet and nodding at him to lead the way. The powerful machine rumbled to life beneath me. I needed to alleviate some stress and punching something... or someone

sounded mighty fine about now.

Pulling my bike out of the parking stall i waited for Ashton to steer out of the parking lot and then followed him down the road and out onto the freeway.

Once we hit the freeway, all my worries momentarily melted away. I twisted the throttle and zipped past Ashton giving him the finger as i passed. I cant ride huh? Boy was he gonna get a show. Laughing i pulled the bike into a cat walk down the paved road between two yellow cabs before zigzagging around traffic as Ashton tried to keep up.

Racing down the freeway was an escape, maybe not the safest but the adrenaline helped erase my anxieties. There was nothing here but me and my dads bike.

Drifting into La La land I barely noticed  Ashton gas it past me, zooming ahead. Shaking my head, to clear it from anymore distractions i followed him off the QE2 exit ramp and down through the heart of the city.

High rises glimmered in the sun as the cold concrete jungle rose from the ground reaching high into the brilliant blue sky. Ashton pulled onto a side street with me following closely behind him and parking my bike.

Looking at the single standing bricked building it looked out of place amongst the cold steel and reflecting glass of the modern towers. reading over the sign plastered on the front of the building I easily recognized the gym name. Whyte out.

Holy shit. Ashton Whyte as in Whyte Industries? Things just got a-lot more interesting.

"Like what you see?" Ashtons smug voice broke me out of my appreciative gaze.

"Pffttt"

i hissed under my breath before marching past him towards the heavy glass doors.

Inside was immaculate but in a industrial grungy way, exposed brick and concrete walls offset the expensive black matted floor, there were punching bags in different sparing areas and a large gleaming ring in the centre of the space.

Walking past all the equipment i followed Ashton towards the back of the room. Slight Disappointment thickening in the back of my throat.

"Um where are we going?" I asked curious as we passed the glorious gym. Subtly checking a few tempting male species as we passed.

"We're using my personal gym" he answered non-chalant before opening two giant sliding metal doors, revealing a a smaller boxing space, set with its own smaller boxing ring.

"So your Ashton Whyte .. as in Whyte industry's huh?" I commented even though the answer was clearly obvious.

"Yea something like that" he rolled his eyes before getting in the ring and tossing me a set of gloves. "Common up princess" he smiled trying to intimidate me.. little did he know nothing really scared me anymore.