Chapter 21

Amber sat in the oversize chair in the spare bedroom and watched as the man she knew as The Hitman went about unpacking his bag. "I know you're probably wondering why I wanted to talk with you alone," he said casually.

She nodded as she placed her hands in her lap. "The question did cross my mind."

Bret smirked and opened the dresser drawer. "Let me start by saying that Lexi has come to really care about you. When I spoke with her yesterday she told me what happened on Christmas Eve." He picked up his shirts and paused. "I think you should know that while she might look cool and collected on the outside, inside she's a wreck over it. She feels as if this was all her fault."

Shock zipped though Amber as she stared wide eyed at one of her idols. "It's nobody's fault but my own," she argued.

Bret turned now and placed his shirts in the dresser drawer. "I won't argue with that, because I think what you did was incredibly stupid."

His verbal jab hit Amber square in the chest and she sucked in a quick breath to keep from instantly tearing up.

"However." He crossed to her now and eased down into the empty chair next to her. "I realize that things aren't quite right inside your head and that was a factor in why you did what you did."

She nodded. "I'm glad you understand. Apparently, I just don't think like a normal person," she replied as she felt the need to explain. "In my head things get twisted around until my reality is different from actual reality." Despite her best effort tears began to well. "I hate having to second guess decision I make and I really hate feeling guilty for everything."

"The fact you recognize you have a problem is good and the fact that you're willing to face it head on and get help is huge." He reached for her, took her hand in his. "You have a lot of people here who love you very much and don't want to see anything bad happen to you. That list now includes me."

She looked at him now, tears trickling down her cheeks. "Why? You don't really know me."

"I know that Lexi thinks the world of you and she loves you very much. Anybody who my daughter is willing to invest so much emotion and trust into is someone I want in my life too. So-" He arched a brow now and grinned. "I want you to know that while you don't know me very well right now, I hope that will change and I want you to think of me as a surrogate dad." He patted her hand. "If you have an issue, call me. If you need help or just want to talk, call me and if you ever need anything...call me."

She stared at him, stunned by what she was hearing. "I don't know what to say."

He grinned. "You don't have to say anything. Just know I'm here for you just as I'd be here for Lexi." He snapped his fingers. "Which brings me to our next topic. I know we talked about it earlier and I kinda made the decision without asking you, so are you sure you're ready for me to train you?"

Instantly, she nodded. What wrestler, even one who wasn't quite in their right mind, would pass up an opportunity to be trained by the great Hitman? "I would be honored if you'd train me."

"I'm happy to do it," he replied, but you should know I'm a demanding, perfectionist, hard ass." He grinned. "Just ask my daughter."

"You trained Lexi," Amber said, the words half statement and half question and nearly smacked herself before the words were completely out of her mouth. Of course he trained Lexi.

Bret nodded. "Me, her Uncle Jim and when he was alive and her grandfather."

Amber's eyes widened as realization set in. "She trained in the Hart Dungeon?"

Bret grinned. "She did, at least for a little while. Of course, that's the reason why she is as good as she is. I can make you that good too, but it will take time and you're not always going to like me."

"I want to be a star," Amber said as excitement began to build from within. "I want to be as good as Lexi and I'm willing to do whatever it takes."

"Including taking verbal abuse and severe critiquing from me?"

She smiled through her tears. "If you think I'm worth spending time on, then I'm willing to take whatever you feel I need."

He nodded. "That's what I want to hear. We'll start this afternoon, so be prepared to show me what you know and be ready to learn. In the meantime I want you to remember what I said. If you ever need anything and you're not comfortable going to Seth, Lexi or the others, call me, okay?"

She nodded. "Okay and thank you, sir."

"Dad," he corrected. "You can call me dad or pops or if you're not comfortable with that just call me Bret." He paused and leveled a look on her that made Amber squirm. "I also want to make one thing very clear."

"Yes?"

"If you ever try anything so stupid again I will personally kick your ass."

Later that afternoon, flanked by Roman and Lexi, Amber walked into the local gym, behind Bret and Sika. Apprehension and excitement blended to have her nerves dancing. It was hard for her to believe she was about to start a new training session with the great Hitman.

Seth took her hand in his and gave her a reassuring squeeze and she grinned as she glanced from Seth to Roman. "It's was nice of your mom to keep Alea for us.".

Sika chuckled. "Any time my wife can get the chance to spoil our grandbaby she'll take it. Trust me, it's her pleasure."

"Good to know," she replied, then paused. "Just curious. Why are we coming here instead of going to the training center?"

"Orlando is more than just a few hours from here. We'd have to get a hotel and stay overnight," Seth explained.

"They also can't know we're doing this, because we haven't gotten permission." Lexi air quoted the word with her fingers. "And dad isn't an official trainer with them."

Amber stopped. "Wait...are we not supposed to do this?" She glanced between her friends as worry claimed her thoughts. "I don't want anyone getting in trouble over this."

Roman placed his hands on her shoulders and pushed her forward. "Would you stop worrying and let us take care of management?"

"But-"

She protested only to have Bret cut her off. "Do you want me to train you?"

"Yes," she replied.

"Then we're doing this my way. Now all four of you need to go get changed and get your asses in the ring."