Chapter 11
Torch
She’s still avoiding me. Still acting like we didn’t have a connection last night.
But I’m not buying it for one second.
There’s a reason she’s keeping her distance, and tonight, I’m going to get down to the bottom of it.
“So, are we all set?” I ask Roller.
“Yeah, we’re good. I’ll make sure his ass stays in that seat all night.”
Caleb’s about to hit a lucky streak. I don’t care how much money I have to pay to keep him locked down at the poker table, I just need him out of my way so I can claim my girl.
“Thanks, brother. I owe you one.” I give him a fist bump, ready to go collect my girl for our date.
“Nah. This one’s on the house. Still owe your ass for taking out that Crusader who had me pinned to the wall. My life is still flashing before my eyes.”
Those fuckers thought they could cruise into our territory and take what we’ve built.
But they learned the hard way that we are never going to relinquish our power.
We took out their Prez, their Enforcer, and their VP, then watched the rest of the soldiers race out of town like their asses were caught on fire.
Now, we have to deal with the damn mobsters moving in. They’re a different breed of problems.
“Alright.” I shake his hand. “I’m heading out. I’ll text you when we’re on our way back.”
Then if all goes to plan, she’ll be in my bed tonight and Caleb will be on the first plane out of here in the morning.
“Sounds good. Can’t wait to meet this girl and see why she’s worth all the trouble.”
There’s a laundry list of reasons why she’s worth the trouble.
Her smile. Her kindness. Her laugh. That innocence that feels like a breath of fresh air to the chaos that is my life.
Her humbleness in spite of being one of the wealthiest girls in the world.
And I can’t forget the way those nipples peaked this afternoon, and the way she soaked her bikini bottoms.
I head out of the casino, meandering my way through the crowd, heading down to the restaurant.
The place is packed tonight. As it is every other night.
I’m looking forward to getting away from the noise for a few hours and getting to talk to Evie.
My father and his old war buddies did most of the talking last night.
Tonight, I want to learn everything there is to know about my pretty girl.
“Torch,” Deuce greets me as I approach their table. Evie was having dinner with her dad tonight. But by the looks of her full plate, it’s like she didn’t even eat. “Do you have plans with our guests tonight?”
Her shoulders tense as soon as I approach her side. What the fuck did I do to get her to recoil from me?
“I’ve got tickets to an exclusive attraction. It’s a surprise though. Are you two ready to head out?” I ask, looking directly at Evie, ignoring the loser sitting next to her. She still hasn’t looked at me. Why the fuck won’t she look at me?
“I’m a little tired.” She tries to cop an excuse, but her boyfriend isn’t having it.
“It’s only seven thirty,” he practically whines like a toddler. For someone his size, he sounds like he’s five.
“Okay. Fine, I’ll go.” She stands in a huff. Something has bent this girl out of shape, and I need to know what the fuck it is.
“Aren’t you forgetting something, babe?” Caleb nudges her as he rises out of his chair and moves in next to her. At least I’m not the only one her shoulders are tensing up over. “Wasn’t there something you wanted to ask your dad?” He gives her a look.
“Oh, right.” She nods, looking almost annoyed at him for bringing it up. “Caleb was wondering if he could fight in the fight next weekend. Would you be able to arrange it?”
That’s a joke, right? This kid wants to fight? He’s liable to get himself killed.
“He’ll be up against Torch,” Deuce states, his voice echoing my same doubts. He doesn’t think he stands a chance either, but Deuce is trying to placate Hemsworth. And whatever his daughter wants, goes.
“I can take him.” Caleb’s eyes narrow in on me. “That’s a piece of cake.”
He’s as stupid as they come. I didn’t get my nickname The Exterminator for being weak.
Everyone knows there’s a fifty-fifty chance you don’t survive when you enter the ring with me, and that choice is solely at my discretion.
If the members want me to let my opponent live, I do.
If they want me to finish him off, the guy leaves in a body bag.
Caleb’s fate will be decided by Evie.
“Wait. He’ll be fighting you?” Evie finally meets my eyes. Her expression casts the same doubt.
“Yes, little one. It’s me he’ll have to take down in the ring.”
“Oh.” She swallows hard, looking back at Caleb, knowing he doesn’t stand a chance. “Maybe you shouldn’t do this.”
The little shit shakes his head. “Come on. You know how fucking strong I am.”
Not strong enough. It’s not as much about physical strength as it is intelligence. Your mental acuity has to be sharp. You have to be able to read your opponent. This guy… he’s as stupid as they come.
“It’s up to Torch,” Deuce states, passing the decision to me. “He gets to choose his opponents.”
I’d be more than willing to go a few rounds on his smug face. Just the thought of him spending the day with my girl makes me want to knock him out. But he has to agree to the terms.
“Fine,” I tell him. “You can fight. But you have to agree to the stakes.” I lean into his ear, stating not what but who we will be fighting for. “If I win, she’s mine. You’re out of the picture. You pack your bags and move out of her life.”
He looks back toward Evie, his jaw tight as he thinks over his decision.
If it were me, my answer would be no fucking way.
No fight, no amount of money, nothing would take me away from that girl.
But I knew he wasn’t in love with her. Either that or he truly is a stupid shit and actually believes he stands a chance of winning.
“Yeah, fine,” he agrees. “I’m gonna kick your ass anyway.”
Maybe he is that stupid.
“Shake on it,” I state. There’s no backing out of this deal. Once it’s sealed, it’s done.
“What are the stakes?” Evie asks, as Caleb’s hand tries to cut the circulation out of mine. He’ll be lucky if he’s still breathing at the end.
“Come,” I tell them, ignoring her question. Like hell I’m going to be telling her dad what we’ll be wagering on. “We have to get going or we’ll be late.”
I tip my head toward the others before I turn, leading the two towards the casino.
“What are the stakes, Caleb?” she asks him again as we stop by the poker table I’ve arranged for him to be playing at this evening.
“Nothing to worry about, babe. I’m going to win anyway.
Yo, Blowtorch!” He turns in my direction, making me want to knock his teeth out.
If he calls me that again, I’ll take a torch to his skin.
“Is there a boxing gym I can warm up in? I need to get ready over these next few days so I can kick your ass.”
The only space available is for the Steel Sinners. He’s going to have to figure something else out.
“Sorry. It’s for motorcycle club members only. You’ll have to check around town.”
“But my girl’s dad is going to be an owner of this place.” He wraps his arm around her waist, and I watch as her shoulders stiffen again. “So, doesn’t that give us special privileges?”
It gives her privileges to everything. But not this dipshit.
“Caleb, can you please stop using me and my father to get your way?”
Finally, she’s putting her foot down with the jerk.
I was wondering when she was going to hit her breaking point.
Since they showed up, this one’s been using her name to get everything he wants.
He’s even been using it at the bar, saying he’s Hemsworth’s soon-to-be son-in-law in order to get himself free drinks.
“Why are you in such a bad mood?” he asks.
As if she didn’t just explain her case.
“Do you want me to answer that?” I smirk.
“You know what…” She pulls out of his hold. “I’m going back to my room. You two have fun at the show tonight.”
She turns and starts stalking off toward the elevators. Tweedledum huffs before he goes to follow her, but I stop him.
“You need to give her space.”
“Why? So, you can swoop in and try to steal her from me? I knew you fucking had the hots for her. I saw it in your eyes the minute you saw her. She’s mine.
I’ve paid my dues for an entire fucking year.
I wasn’t even getting laid for half of it.
There’s no way I’m letting you take her from me so I can lose my grand payout.
Even if she makes me sign a prenup, I’ll still get millions. ”
I should kill him now. I should wrap my hand around his throat and squeeze the life from his lungs. I knew he was only after her money. Too bad Evie wasn’t here to witness his confession.
“I’ll tell you what.” I grit my teeth, breathing through my nose to calm my anger. “I’ll pay you a hundred grand for you to walk away right now.” If he wants his big payout, I’ll give him one. “You go back to the room, pack your shit, and I’ll have you on the next flight out of here.”
“Did you not just hear me? I’m not settling for a hundred grand when the girl is worth a hundred million,” he scoffs.
“Besides, I have a fight to win this weekend. That shit is going to put me on the map. Then everyone will want to come and train in my gym. I’ll be fucking famous because I took down a Steel Sinner. ”
The kid is going to die in the ring. I’m going to pummel him, hit after hit. Kidneys, liver, jaw, eyes, nose, dick. Everything is going to hurt before I take the final blow, crushing his skull. He no longer deserves to breathe the same air as that girl.
“She’s never going to marry you. I can promise you that. You should take the money and get on a fucking plane. It’s your only chance for seeing a dime.”
He steps in closer, and I see Roller closing in behind him. I signal for my brother to back off. This piece of shit is mine.