Chapter 16
Evie
“Just remember your promise.” I hug him tighter. My stomach is a complete mess. I need these fights to be over with, so I can stop worrying. I’ve never been this scared in my life.
“I won’t ever break a promise, baby. Now, give me a kiss for good luck and then go take your seat with your dad and Deuce. I need to make sure you’re safe.”
I kiss him like my life depends on it, like his life depends on it. I kiss him until I can’t breathe, until I can barely stand. I need to ensure he comes back to me. I need to incentivize him to win.
“Damn, baby. Now, I’m going to be going into that ring with a hard dick. My naughty princess is going to pay for that later.”
“If you win, I’ll be coming back here and bending over so you can spank me for my bad behavior.”
“Going to spank that ass with my tongue and cock.”
Now, my body is sweltering. I’m breaking out into a sweat.
“Go on, babe. I need to make sure you’re safe before I go on.”
I place one last kiss on his lips. “I love you.”
“Love you more.”
I can’t even look back as I leave. If I do, he may see my tears.
I make my way through the crowd, wanting to plug my ears. Everyone is betting on the second fighter of the night. They think the first one will tire Torch out, and that the second one will finish the job. Those have been my same thoughts all day.
“Did you say goodbye to that outlaw?” my dad asks as I take a seat. In all my life, I’ve never been so hurt by anything he’s done or said. But this comment stabs me right in the heart.
“Why would you say that about the man I love?”
He shakes his head. “Because he’s going up against the two most dangerous opponents in the circuit. Don’t need you getting your hopes up that he’s going to survive.”
I sit back against the booth, feeling my stomach knotting tighter.
“Don’t listen to your dad,” the woman named Lola says to me.
She came with Deuce and Lauralyn this evening to watch the fight.
From the moment she arrived, I instantly liked her.
She’s real and kind and was immune to my father’s charms. He instantly started flirting with her, but she just rolled her eyes.
“Torch has never lost a fight. And now that he has someone he’s fighting for, I can guarantee he’ll be winning tonight.
I’m so certain, I placed two hundred grand on him. ”
It doesn’t make me feel better, but I appreciate her trying. And I love her for giving my father a glare.
“If I’m right…” My father looks toward her. “Will you spend a weekend on my yacht with me?”
My father’s been trying to show off his money ever since she arrived.
I don’t know what happened to the Portia girl, but she’s thankfully out of the picture.
Now, my dad is trying to move in on Lola.
I almost wish she would be charmed by him.
She’s really beautiful and much closer to his age.
I’d say she’s in her late thirties. The other one was my age, which is just disgusting.
“I would never spend the weekend with a man who bet against one of my closest friends. Now, if you don’t mind, the fight’s about to start.”
I rise from my side of the booth and go take a seat next to her. She instantly locks arms with me and squeezes my hand. “Promise he’s going to be fine, sweetie.”
I’m going to take her word for it.
As soon as Torch enters the ring, the crowd goes crazy, chanting, “The Exterminator needs to annihilate!” It’s obvious he’s the favored fighter tonight, which makes me feel a little better.
When his eyes find mine through the crowd, him mouthing the words, I love you, my heart skips a beat.
I blow him a kiss mouthing them back, and he pounds the left side of his chest and smiles.
“This one’s for my girl,” he tells the crowd.
Lola’s hand squeezes tighter. “Told you. That man is going to clean the floor with those two.”
I hope she’s right.
My dad on the other hand looks angered by Torch’s display, or maybe it’s Lola’s reaction because she’s been dodging his advances all night. Finally, there’s a woman who isn’t after his money. In fact, she looks annoyed by the fact that he’s trying to lure her with his wealth.
The other fighter enters the ring, and everyone boos. I get up and do the same. But he doesn’t seem affected by the crowd’s dislike for him. He takes the microphone and gives Torch a snarl. “We’ll see whose name you’re chanting after I kill this fucker.”
That knot tightens, almost suffocating me in my panic.
The announcer comes on, then the ref starts the fight, and the air gets caught inside my lungs.
I watch Torch dodge swing after swing, his body swiftly moving around the ring, keeping his opponent bouncing on his toes.
Another attempt, and I gasp as it narrowly misses his handsome face.
I don’t want him to be injured. His nose, his jaw, his lips, his eyes—I don’t want any part of him marred.
Torch turns and then he swings. One hard blow to the man’s ear, and the guy drops like a fly, out cold.
The ref enters the ring, counting down, and then he announces Torch the winner.
Finally, air fills my lungs and I can breathe again.
When his eyes find mine in the crowd, the knot loosens.
He gives me a wink, exuding confidence, and my stomach flutters.
The man still hasn’t regained consciousness and is being dragged from the ring.
“Next up is Crusher!” the announcer shouts into the microphone. “The man who’s been known to crush a man’s skull with his bare hands. This is the fight everyone’s been waiting for. Are you ready to find out who the true killer is? How many of you want one of them to leave in a body bag?”
The entire crowd goes crazy, and the sick feeling is back, especially when Crusher takes the stage and I see how big he is.
And how mad he is. He looks to Torch and the warning he gives has me wanting to beg Torch not to fight him.
“I’m taking you out once and for all, Torch. You’re going to be exterminated.”
“No, you won’t, jerk face!” I call out, and Torch’s eyes whip in my direction, smiling. “He’s going to kill you.”
Torch nods and gives me a wink, then he takes his place.
“Evian, you need to get ahold of yourself. You’re a Hemsworth. He’s an outlaw biker. You can do better.”
I whip my head in my father’s direction, fury raging through my veins. “I love that man, Dad. And if anything happens to him, I promise I will never speak to you again.”
He looks taken aback by my remark. I am also one who doesn’t give a shit about his money. He could cut me off and I’d be perfectly happy. The only thing that would break me is if Torch doesn’t make it out of that ring alive.
“The fight you’ve been waiting for, ladies and gentlemen. The Exterminator versus Crusher. May the best man live!”
I want Torch to knock out the announcer too for making that horrible comment. Why is everyone rooting for someone to die?
The ref blows the whistle, and the guys start circling the perimeter, both swift and steady, like two stalking lions trying to corner their prey.
Crusher makes the first swing, but Torch dodges it with ease.
It’s like he can see it coming from a mile away.
Another attempt by Crusher, but Torch ducks and spins to the other side of the ring, chuckling.
I don’t know how he can find this funny; I feel like I’m going to be sick.
“Come on, Torch, please,” I call out to him. “Please end this.”
I think he hears me through the shouts of the crowd because he pounds his heart and nods.
And then… He goes beast mode on the guy.
Hitting him from every angle. Pummeling him so hard and fast that the man can’t even defend himself.
Crusher’s knees drop to the floor, his hands barely able to hold themselves up to protect his face, and then…
he slumps forward. Dropping out cold, blood oozing from his mouth.
The referee comes over and then holds up Torch’s arm as the victor.
The entire place stands in a roaring applause.
Me… I slump back against the leather seat, finally catching my breath.
It’s over.
He won.
And he didn’t even take a single hit.
“Told you he’d be fine.” Lola leans in, giggling. “Now, should we go see your man?”
I nod and turn, but my man is already standing before me. “Told you I’d never break a promise, baby.”
I leap out of the seat, jumping into his arms, and the tears fall. All the pent-up fear and nerves come flooding out of me at once.
“Baby, why are you crying? It’s okay. I’m safe.”
“I never want to be that scared again.”
“Then I’ll never step into that ring again.”
I lift my head. “You won’t?”
“If you say you’ll be my wife, I will vow to never fight again.”
“Do you mean that?” I don’t know if he’s just making comments to ease my mind, or if he’s really asking me to marry him. I’m overwhelmed by all my emotions and might be misinterpreting.
“Do I mean that I want to marry you? Damn straight I do. So, what do you say, babe? Are you going to be walking down the aisle with me?”
“Yes! Yes, Torch! Of course, I’ll marry you.”
“Evian, you don’t even know this man. You have no idea who he is or what kind of blood he has on his hands.”
My father’s wrong. I know exactly who Torch is as a man. He’s shown me more of himself over this last week than my dad has in my entire life. And as far as the blood goes, I don’t care.
“Thought we had a deal, sir. Or are you the type of man to go back on your word?”
Deal? What kind of deal did Torch make with my dad?
“I honor my deals, and like I said, I will honor my daughter’s wishes, but I want her to think about what she’s doing.”
“I know exactly what I’m doing, Dad. I’m marrying the most incredible man I’ve ever met. Now…” I turn my attention back to my handsome man. “Isn’t it time for you to collect your prize?”
“You bet that little naughty ass it is.” He nuzzles into my neck, sending a shiver through me with his whisper. “Come on, my little future wifey. It’s time to go upstairs. I’m going to spank you so hard you come all over the sheets.”
My bottom is already tingling in anticipation. It’s time for us to make our leave.
“I hope one day you’ll be happy for me, Dad, because I truly am. And Lola…” I turn to the woman who I’m grateful to have met tonight. “I like you too much for you to end up as my father’s next divorce. Thanks for being there for me tonight. I hope I get to see you again soon.”
“You will, sweetie. We’re going to be celebrating your engagement soon.” That we will. “Congrats, you two. Oh, and Torch, thanks for making me a very rich lady tonight.”
He tips his head giving her a wink, and then he leads me away, taking me through the cheering crowd.
The cameras are flashing and everyone is trying to get an autograph or a picture with him, but he ignores them all.
When someone grabs at me, he lets out a growl, scooping me up in his arms. “If anyone touches my woman, you’ll be the next one to leave on a stretcher. ”
The crowd backs up, heeding his warning. And I’m in awe.
“You know, you’re kind of amazing,” I say as we step onto the elevator, the doors sealing us in the quiet before he sets me down.
“I think you’re the amazing one, babe.”
“Thank you for keeping your promise.” I run my fingers along his scruffy jaw. He’s so handsome. He barely broke out in a sweat while he was fighting. He still smells like his cologne. Rugged and masculine.
“Always, baby. I will always keep my promise.”
“So, we’re really doing this?”
“You bet this cute little ass we are. It doesn’t have to be now, but you are definitely going to be mine.”
“I’m sorry about my dad.”
He was acting like a jerk. Treating him the same way he treated Caleb.
“One day, I promise to earn his respect.”
Torch doesn’t have to earn anything. It’s my dad who needs to apologize.
“I hope you know that no matter how he feels about us, you’re the one I want. But speaking of my dad, what deal did you make with him?”
His lips tip up into a smirk, and now I’m more than curious.
“If I won the fight, he had to give me his approval and support you in your decision.”
“So, you’re trying to buy my hand in marriage?” My brows rise at the wagering man.
“Oh, you’ve been bought, baby.” He carries me off the elevator. Straight to his place. And straight to his room. “I won. And now, I’m collecting my prize.”
I feel like I’m the winner. No one and nothing could keep me away from this man. My father can take his trust and shove it up his ass.
They say what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but I never imagined when I got on that flight, that I would be the one staying in Vegas. I never imagined I’d win the ultimate jackpot: LOVE.