23. Ava
AVA
I f you had told me a month ago that I’d be walking into a secret, underground street fighting ring hand-in-hand with Levi Cross, I would have laughed in your face.
Now . . . it’s just another peek into the man I sold my life to.
The Tomb is an underground street fighting club. It makes sense. Now, I understand why Levi always comes home with bruises and cuts.
The moment we walk through the door, my hand in his, the scent of blood, sweat, and booze hits me like a punch to the face.
People are everywhere, and the place is as loud as a nightclub with just as many drugs. There’s a cage in the center of the room where almost everyone is gathered, watching two men completely annihilate one another like this is a WWE wrestling match.
My steps must falter, because Levi looks back at me over his shoulder, and his hand tightens around mine.
“Stay close,” he says, though I can barely hear him over the crowd cheering for Cheddar, whoever the hell that is.
Heads turn as we walk past, and people whisper to their friends. Levi must be some sort of badass here, because a few people even move out of his way as we pass.
I must admit, I like being on his arm like this. His hand holding mine like he’s afraid of losing me. Like he wants the world to know I’m his girl, even if it’s only for now.
We step up to a bar, and the bartender turns, her eyes wide and locked on me.
I feel a twinge in my gut with the look in her eyes, because I know that look.
She’s in love. Or at least . . . she cares. Enough that she doesn’t like that Levi’s here with another woman.
She’s beautiful, her fire-engine-red hair piled up on top of her head. She’s the type of girl I would expect Levi to be hooked on because she doesn’t fit into a box, just like him.
I can’t deny I’m jealous because he smiles at her, and I can see they have an easy relationship.
“Cherry,” he greets, tugging my hand to drag me closer to him.
“Black . . . Long time no see,” she says, and there’s an air of grievance in her tone. “Who’s this? A friend?”
“Mine.”
My cheeks flame, my heart fluttering in my chest at the possessiveness in his tone.
Cherry, on the other hand, nods solemnly, her gaze rebounding between the two of us.
“Black,” someone calls from behind us, and I jump at the sudden intrusion of the man, Cheddar, grinning ear to ear with blood coating his face like the extra-large male version of Carrie. “Getting in the ring tonight?”
“No,” Levi hums, his arm tightening around my waist. “I’m here on business.”
Cheddar grins, showcasing a broken set of teeth. They look painful, but he doesn’t seem to notice.
“Unfortunate for you. I’ve got at least two more good rounds in me.”
Levi chuckles, patting him on his overly sweaty shoulder.
“You lose any more teeth, you’re going to be eating smoothies for the rest of your life.”
“Hello, pretty lady?” Cheddar asks, smiling at me. He reminds me of a gentle giant who doesn’t realize how big he is when he holds his hand out. His unfortunately very bloody hand.
Levi and I both turn, locking eyes with a different, much cleaner man. He’s handsome, and the most notable thing about him is how he doesn’t look like he belongs here at all, save for the bruise across his cheek. His green eyes sparkle with indifferent amusement as he flashes a grin at me.
“Donovan Palmer, though everyone here calls me Diego. You must be Ava. Welcome to my Tomb.”
I move to shake his hand, but Levi steps in the way.
“We have an appointment.”
Something unspoken passes between them. A warning, maybe? A threat? I can’t tell over the hum of the tension radiating in the air.
“Come back to my office. We’ll chat. You can even bring your pet.”
“She’ll stay here, where Cheddar can keep an eye on her.”
The man smirks, chuckling under his breath.
“Have it your way.”
He stalks off toward the back, and Levi turns back to me. Pulling me into his chest, he leans close, like you might when you’re pressing your lips to someone’s cheek, only in his case, it’s so he can whisper sweet threats in my ear.
“You leave this bar, and I’ll spank your ass until it’s as red as Cherry’s hair. Understood?”
My cheeks burn when he pulls back, only to lean in and press his lips to my forehead. It’s soft and gentle to the outside world, but to me, I can feel the threat lingering.
He would. I know he would.
The terrifying thing is that I know he’d make me like it.
“Fine,” I grumble, and he swats my ass when I turn to climb onto a bar stool.
“Cherry, whatever she wants. Ava, give me twenty minutes,” he says, and then he disappears down the hallway behind the other men.
Cheddar, who returns with a shirt on and substantially less blood, slides into the stool opposite me.
He looks like a giant beside me, and I’m sure the view is comical from behind.
“What will you have?” Cherry asks, and I can tell she’d rather serve me sewer water than anything from this bar.
“Um . . . a Coke, please.”
She stares at me like she’s bored, but nevertheless, grabs a can and slides it across the counter toward me.
I take it, feeling like a child who’s waiting on her father to conduct business while the unwilling employees look after her.
“So . . . is Cheddar your real name?”
Cheddar, who takes a big swig of a beer, smiles at me.
“No. My real name is Hector.”
“Hector. I like that.” Better than Cheddar .
“What’s your name?”
“Ava,” I answer without thinking. Everyone here calls Levi Black. I don’t know if that was intentional or if they just aren’t supposed to know his real name. Maybe I’m supposed to be undercover, too.
“Miss Ava,” Cheddar smiles. “Happy to meet you.”
“You Black’s new watchdog, Cheddar?” Cherry asks from the other end of the bar.
“Mr. Black asked me to look after his lady friend, so that’s what I’m going to do.”
“What a fine babysitter you are,” she says sweetly, though Cheddar doesn’t realize it’s anything but sweet.
“Sooo . . . Hector. What is this place?”
“This is the Tomb,” Cheddar announces proudly. “On account of it being a place where people can fight to the death if they want. No rules.”
“Sounds like anarchy,” I mumble.
“Sounds like a place not fit for someone who drinks Coke at a bar,” Cherry chimes.
I grit my teeth to keep from spouting off at her and chalk it up to jealousy.
I get it.
I’m jealous too. I shouldn’t be, but a part of me hates that Levi comes here and spends time with her. She obviously cares for him, and in turn, hates me because of it.
I can’t fault her for wanting the man, any more than I can fault Cheddar for going in the ring.
Some things are just inevitable.
“How long have you been coming here?”
“Three years,” Cheddar says.
“And you always fight?”
“Only on days they tell me I’m allowed. They won’t let me fight no one smaller than me.”
Judging by his Goliath size, I’m imagining that’s not very often.
“Why do you fight, Hector? Surely, it must hurt.”
“Pure adrenaline, Miss Ava. That’s what Mr. Black calls it.”
“I take it you and Mr. Black are friends.”
Cheddar stares at me for a moment, his smile fading. I hadn’t expected such a serious look from him, but I get the feeling I struck a nerve.
“Cheddar, I’m sorry if I upset you.”
“Mr. Black saved my life,” he says darkly, and a shiver runs down my spine. “Whatever he needs from me, he’ll get.”
I pause, my heart beating faster.
“How did he save your life?”
“Cheddar,” Levi snaps from behind us, and I can’t deny the anxiety I’d felt without him melts away.
It’s annoying, because this is Levi. A man I’m literally contractually obligated to have sex with. Not a damned saint.
A moment later, strong arms cage me in, his hands pressing to the counter on either side of me. His breath, warm on the side of my neck, sends chills down my spine.
“Careful, baby girl . . .” he murmurs, so low only I can hear him. My pulse quickens, my skin heating with the warmth of his body washing over me. “Remember what happened last time you stuck your nose where it didn’t belong.”
“Miss Ava didn’t leave, Mr. Black,” Cheddar says, completely oblivious. “I made sure of it.”
Levi straightens, though his hand slides around to wrap around my waist. My stomach dips with his touch, a dull throb roaring between my legs.
Damn, he’s good.
“Yes, you did, Cheddar,” Levi says, handing him something I can’t see. “You did well.”
“I’m not a child,” I growl at him, but he ignores me, in true Levi fashion. He tosses a twenty down on the counter for Cherry, and she gives him a look I can’t understand when he takes my hand in his.
He nods at her once, and I stare at him in confusion, but of course, he doesn’t tell me anything. He hauls me off the stool and claps Cheddar on the back.
“Come on. We’re going home.”
“Good night, Hector. See you next time.”
“Night, Miss Ava,” he calls with a wave.
“Did you make friends with Cheddar?” Levi asks over the loud music as he leads me back through the throngs of people.
“Everyone deserves a friend,” I say with a shrug, and something flashes across his face before it’s quickly gone. “Even the damaged ones.”
My blood is teeming with electricity when we return home.
I feel like I ran into an electric fence nipples first, with the energy radiating through me.
The ride here was quiet. Tense, even. Levi seemed lost in his thoughts, so I decided not to prod him. I wasn’t even sure he was going to bring me home and fuck me, though I can’t lie and say I haven’t been thinking about it.
It’s like he came into my life and screwed up my libido. Before, I was content, focusing on surviving. Sex wasn’t even on my radar. Now, all I’ve been able to think about tonight is how to get his hands on me again.
I’ve found that when he’s touching me, I forget the outside world. I forget about my problems, the financial pit I’ve fallen into. My grandmother’s looming cancer diagnosis. Whoever is after us. All of it dissipates, and for a few brief shining moments, euphoria takes its place.
Honestly? It’s not even the mind-blowing orgasms.