He growled as he left the country road and headed into town. Just the way he liked it. Pushing his body to the absolute limit was a high and all, but it was the pain that really flipped the switch inside of him. Whether it came from a killer run, a punch to the kidneys, or a knee to the temple, he’d realized long ago pain was the best and only way to deal with his emotional rage. Before that, before the UFC ring, he’d wondered if jail might be the place for him. Locked up. Someone else controlling his emotions and his actions. Even at seven a.m., the small town of River Black was hopping. The sun blazed overhead, already too damn hot for being awake only an hour. The market, bank, and post office had a steady stream of customers coming in and going out; same for the RB Feed and Tack. It was strange to be back home, the pain of the past already taking hold, reaching inside his chest and pulling out his guts. And the longer he remained, the harder it was going to get.
