Chapter Four
Haven
“What's going on?” I ask, finally snapping out of the trance Lawson put me in.
“Step back, Brother,” the fourth man says, and passes the other man.
I watch him saunter through the bodies filling the hall.
He’s stunning. I want to run my fingers through his black hair and see if it’s as soft as it looks.
His suit is black and classic. It fits his built but trim body to perfection.
He tilts his head, a small smile on his lips, and my mouth goes dry.
Lawson eases back, and I frown when my body protests.
“Ten minutes, Rylee,” someone yells down the hallway.
“Shit, how can I fight now?” she pouts.
“Channel all your anger at the opponent,” Sally says helpfully.
“My name is Remy,” he says as he takes Lawson’s place. “That's Bane.” Pointing to the second man who entered, standing behind us. “He is Hunter.” He motions to the man still frozen at the end of the hall.
“Haven,” I whisper. I want to touch all of them.
“Haven,” he hums, his gaze traveling over my face.
I gasp as he wraps his fingers around the base of my ponytail.
“I’m sure you have questions.” I nod. “Can you be patient?
I promise we'll answer them all once the fight is over. Bane and Hunter have to work security, so will you sit with me and Lawson?”
“Yes.” His smile widens, and he tugs my hair and then releases me.
“Good girl.”
I have to lock my knees.
“Alright, back off,” Rylee snaps. “Haven, come here.”
“Careful, fox,” Remy says softly.
“I hope that wasn’t a threat toward my friend.” I frown and straighten. Even though they seem to have put my body in a trance, my mind is shaking off the fog of lust. “That wouldn’t make me happy.”
“Just a suggestion.” Remy curls his hand around my wrist. “Can I guide you to your seat?”
“Sure.” I glance at Bane. He’s watching me with intensity, but has yet to say anything. I let Remy pull me away from the wall. “Will they hurt me?” I ask Rylee as we stop beside her.
“No,” she grumbles.
“I want to see your fight. Don’t worry about me.” I look over my shoulder. “Sally, is your seat close to mine?”
“Of course, sugar.” She winks and smiles. “We’ll follow you.” Lawson and Bane walk behind us.
“Don’t rush her,” Rylee says.
“You should know better,” Hunter says. He blocks the door, and I hold perfectly still as he lifts his hand. I shiver as he pinches my chin and then glides his thumb across my bottom lip. “I’ll see you soon, Princess.” He turns and disappears in the crowd beyond the door.
“Protect her,” Bane growls. He drags his finger across my hip as he passes us, and my body sways.
“Stay close,” Remy says to Lawson at my back.
I follow him, his hand firm on my wrist. Lawson stays behind me, but slightly to my right.
He slides his hand to the middle of my back as we enter the arena.
My eyes widen. It’s huge and filled with people.
Remy moves confidently through the bodies, his energy making them part.
A large platform sits in the middle of the room, surrounded by pads and ropes.
The building is pumping with conversation and a low hum of music.
I have to jog to keep up with Remy’s long legs.
Someone pushes into my side, and I stumble into Lawson.
He hisses and presses the body away forcefully; the man yelps and lands on his ass.
We don’t stop, but make steady progress. Lawson’s hand returns to my waist.
There is a break in the crowd, and I release a breath.
Remy leads us to a group of empty chairs, front and center.
I expected folding chairs like the ones I’ve seen at televised fights, but these are plush.
He releases my wrist and holds down the seat of one, looking at me expectantly.
I take the cue and slide onto the seat. There are no armrests, so their bodies brush my arms as they take the seats on either side of me.
I look around helplessly, unsure how to handle the situation I find myself in.
Sally winks at me and moves behind us. For some reason, her presence in the chair at my back comforts me.
“We would never hurt you,” Lawson says, leaning close. His breath brushes my ear, and I wiggle. I’ve never been so turned on.
“I think I know that.” I cross my legs and turn toward him. Big mistake. His face is too close. I notice his eyes aren’t as sad anymore. “Why do I know that?” I whisper.
“Instinct,” he says.
“You just became the most important person in the room,” Remy drawls, slipping his arm on the back of my seat. He stretches his legs, crossing his ankles, and tilts his head toward me. My gaze bounces between them.
I open my mouth, but suddenly a roar fills the room.
Rylee enters, and she’s glaring as the cheers ring out.
A man walks beside her. He’s gorgeous, and his presence is powerful.
He holds a cane in his fist. People jump out of the way, forming a line beside them.
I smile at her, hoping to reassure her. Her expression eases, but her body is tense.
Hunter walks behind them, his focus is on the crowd on either side, yet he seems aware of where we are.
“That’s Heath,” Sally says, leaning on the back of my chair. “He won’t let anything happen to Rylee.” I twist around to respond, but the words don’t come as I see other beautiful people filling into the row.
“Did you make a new friend?” a stunning man asks. His hand is locked around a gorgeous blonde with long hair.
“You know I make friends everywhere I go,” Sally says, smiling. “This is Haven. Rylee’s friend.” She looks at me. “This is Micah, my best friend, and his mate Daisy.” Micah tilts his head.
“I love your hair,” I say to Daisy. The blonde strands are interwoven with purple.
“Thanks. Same.” She smiles.
“The big, frowning guy is Quinn,” Sally continues. “And his mate, Stephanie.” Big is right. Quinn is tall and has black hair. His face is severe, yet he guides his mate with tenderness.
“Nice to meet you,” Stephanie says.
Sally shares a look with Micah, but I’m not sure what she's trying to convey.
“The fight is about to start,” Remy says, and I ease back in my seat.
“That’s who she’s fighting?” I ask. The woman across the platform is rolling her shoulders as she stares at Rylee. She’s Rylee's height, but more muscular.
“Looks are deceiving,” Lawson says.
“Rylee is scrappy,” Remy adds.
“I don’t know if I’ll like this,” I mumble, twisting my hands in my lap.
“Don’t worry.” Remy squeezes my joined hands, and I stop fidgeting. “Does violence affect you?”
“Maybe.” My father slapped me a lot. Sometimes he used his fists. It was demeaning more than painful. Hitting Brian was a fluke. I don’t think I'll do it again. “If I lunge for the ring, grab me.”
“You think you will?” Remy asks, his eyes crinkling. I wonder how he can exude so much danger yet, at the same time, charisma.
“Who knows? I don’t like thinking about her bleeding.” Lawson trails his finger down my arm.
“I promise to grab you,” he says, and I stare at him. How can he make it sound sexual?
“Okay,” I breathe. I startle when a bell sounds.
My mouth drops open as they fly at each other, fists raised.
I don’t know any of the technical terms for what they are doing, but it seems that Rylee has the upper hand.
She lands most of her punches and avoids being taken to the ground.
I lean forward, my hands now gripping Remy’s as I watch in fascination.
It’s like a dance. A push and pull. Rylee is magnificent.
I startle when a finger touches my face.
Lawson presses underneath my chin, closing my mouth.
I tilt my head, and he winks at me before turning his attention back to the fighters.
When I turn back, Rylee takes a vicious punch to her eye, and blood drips down her face. I glare at her opponent, hoping she feels my desire for her to die.
“Why isn’t the ref guy stopping the fight?” I ask no one in particular.
“Why would he?” Remy asks.
“Rylee’s bleeding. The blood is going to get in her eye.” My death stare isn’t having any effect.
“It was a fair hit,” he says, laughter in his voice. “The other woman is bleeding too.”
“Good,” I grumble.
“Fierce little thing,” Lawson hums, twirling my hair around his finger. A pull in my stomach happens, and it almost distracts me from the scene in front of me.
The noise in the room rises as Rylee is flipped to her back, and the woman punches hard and repeatedly. Sally is yelling encouragement. My body reacts, and I start to stand. Lawson’s strong hands grip my hips, pulling me back. Remy’s hands tighten on mine, and I grind my teeth.
“Stay still,” Remy commands, and I ignore the tingle it evokes, glaring at him instead.
“I don’t like it,” I grit out.
“That’s obvious,” he drawls. “Trust her. She’s in control.”
I switch my narrowed eyes to the woman on top of my friend. Rylee bucks, and suddenly she's the one on top, her arms swinging. I’d like to take credit as if the woman felt my hatred, but it’s my friend; she's a badass.
“Yes, Rylee,” I yell, and a deep chuckle comes from my right.
“It won’t be long now,” Remy says.
A few seconds later, a bell rings, and Rylee hops to her feet.
“Did she win?” I ask.
“Not yet. That was the first round. There are more,” Lawson says.
“What? She should be the winner.” I turn toward him.
“They decide on the winner at the end,” he says.
“Damn. I have to go through this again?”
“Unfortunately,” he says, but grins.
“Isn’t it great?” Sally says, and I turn. “Uh…I guess you aren’t having fun.”
“How is she going to survive?” I ask dramatically.
“She’s a shifter,” Remy whispers in my ear. “The rounds will be shorter, so the humans in the room don’t notice how fast they heal.” I give him my attention, leaning close.
“Rylee said it’s harder to hurt shifters,” I whisper.
“Very. She won’t have any lasting damage.” He rubs his thumb across my knuckles, and I flinch. “What’s wrong?” He looks at my hand. “What happened?” His grip eases, and he lifts my injured hand.
“It’s nothing.” He narrows his eyes. “I hit something.”
“What?” Lawson asks, scooting forward in his seat.
“Umm…” The conversation behind us stops. “A man.”
“A man?” Remy asks, his voice low and lethal.
“Who?” Lawson growls.
“My ex-boyfriend. I caught him cheating.” The atmosphere turns tense.
I need to ease the men beside me. “I didn’t love him or really like him.
He was fucking a woman, and he was angry that I hadn’t let him fuck me.
It’s a very tangled story that includes a friend, the woman, yet we weren’t that close, my ex, who was a shit boyfriend, and my father.
I was going to let it go, because as I said, I was ready to break up with him, but I couldn’t stand his smug face.
” I stare at my hand. “He’s a lot taller than I am, and I’ve never hit anyone before.
Something came over me. I stood on my toes and let it fly.
It hurt. I think it hurt him more, though.
The blood started flowing, and he kind of squealed.
Now that I think about it, it’s pretty funny.
” I chuckle. “I’m half his size. I think he was pretty shocked.
I left him with his fuck buddy and came here.
” The silence is odd in the loud room. I glance up.
“Rylee put some stuff on it, so it doesn’t hurt as much. ” More silence. “Guys, it’s fine.”
“Girl, you're going to fit right in,” Sally says. She pats my shoulder and laughs.
“How long were you with him?” Lawson asks.
“Not long. I would have broken it off soon anyway,” I say.
“You said your father was involved. Why didn’t he hit him?” Remy asks, frowning.
“Well, he’s the one who set us up.” I twist my fingers with his, unsure I want to delve into that conversation now.
I shouldn’t be this comfortable with them.
We met ten minutes ago, and I feel like spilling my life story.
As if they'll help shoulder the burden. Weird.
I try to remember all the details of shifter matings that Rylee told me.
“He didn’t protect you,” Lawson says roughly.
“He never has,” I whisper, looking forward as the bell rings.
“Haven,” Remy says.
“It’s starting.” Although my body is ready to trust them and fall at their feet, I have to be careful.
I haven’t had examples of good men. Maybe they are, and Rylee is friends with them.
She was annoyed, but she wouldn’t have let me be with them if they had bad intentions.
I cringe as Rylee reels back after a wicked punch.
I thought I would enjoy seeing her fight.
Remy twirls the ring on my finger, and it calms me.
How can their touch affect me? Any woman would be attracted to them, yet this is ridiculous.
I dated frequently before Brian. Not one of them made me want to learn about their lives.
Lawson is filled with secrets and pain. I don’t know how I can physically feel his emotions.
Remy seems calm, yet there is a storm of anger deep inside.
I haven’t been close enough to Hunter and Bane to know what they are hiding.
They didn’t say, but I think they are brothers. I can see a resemblance.
“Good one, Rylee,” Sally yells, and I blink.
“Are you brothers?” I ask, watching Rylee wrap her legs around the woman's neck.
“The four of us, yes,” Remy says.
“Do you think I’m your mate?” I keep my focus forward. The heat from Remy’s body seeps into my side as he leans close.
“We know you are,” he rumbles in my ear.
“We?” I ask weakly.
“I don’t think you're ready to know.” He settles back in his seat.
“Don’t tell me what I’m ready for,” I say as I turn to him, narrowing my eyes.
“Alright.” He tilts his head, a slight smile on his lips. “Yes, to all four of us. Would you like to discuss this here or wait until after the fight? In a more private place.”
“I can wait.” I lift my chin, and he chuckles.
“I told you,” Lawson hums. “She’s a fierce little thing.”
“She’s going to need to be,” Remy whispers.
His words should terrify me.
My attention catches on Bane. He stands in the aisle to our left, his arms crossed, his focus centered on me. His eyes flicker to my hands in Remy’s, yet I sense no jealousy. His intensity is alluring.
No. I’m not terrified. Excitement flutters through my body, eager to be the center of four powerful, mysterious men's attention.