30. Echo #2
“That’s a mismatch,” someone nearby muttered.
I smiled; it was a mismatch, but not in the way they were probably thinking.
“That’s the point,” another replied with a laugh. “Gotta humble these society kids early.”
Put your money on red stripes.
Solei replied to my text almost immediately.
Already did. He’s hella nervous.
I taught my sister well.
In these settings, nervous energy almost always turned into pure violence. Once the kid got started, he wouldn’t be stopped.
The bell rang, and the fighters circled each other.
Unfortunately, we were about to lose a rejector tonight. I could tell the moment white stripes decided to make his move, barely stepping back when red stripes hit him with a mean three-piece.
It happened so fucking fast, even I found myself entertained.
The crowd’s mixed reactions made it even more worthwhile. Forever had once stood in that ring, proving herself to both worlds. So had I, three years before her; the only time I’d stepped into his building before today.
I caught Forever’s eye across the room again and tipped my head, smiling as she did the same. We hadn’t said shit about keeping our distance tonight, but she was still following my lead beautifully.
Three more fights passed in rapid succession before they began filling all three rings at once, giving the crowd something to grow rowdier about. I pretended to be invested in the spectacle while watching the room closely.
Millicent, to be specific.
And when she slid from her seat, checked her phone, and started making her way toward the back tunnel, I knew Jayden was about to make his secret appearance.
Still meeting after spotting me and Forever in the building was a choice on Millicent’s part. Felt a lot like she was pulling both our cards, testing the limits of something that was never in her control to begin with.
I gave it a count of thirty before shifting my gaze to where Solei stood by the betting table. She nodded after I tipped my head where Violet and Gaia were sitting.
This place was covered in cameras, and Gaia had hacked the feed an hour ago just for this.
I waited a beat, and then the text came through from Solei.
Left where it splits. Office on the very end to your right.
I moved through the crowd, weaving between bodies until I reached the support beam where Forever stood, eyes on a specific fight.
“Your boy needs a little more training,” I said, nodding toward the ring where someone from her side was indeed taking a beating.
Forever didn’t look at me directly, but her lips curved into a small smile.
“His footwork is sloppy…” Her heavily lined eyes met mine. “But footwork doesn’t matter when you can shoot from a mile away.”
I chuckled.
She wasn’t wrong.
“Touché, dragonfly. Touché.”
Kai’s eyes bounced between us, but he said nothing. Her uncle, who had moved off the raised platform, merely raised an eyebrow with the same calculating look I’d seen in Forever’s eyes more times than I could count.
“Mind if I steal her for a minute?” I asked, directing the question to no one in particular while staring into my wife’s eyes.
“I mind,” Kai said, shifting enough to steal my attention from where I preferred it to be.
Forever turned to look at him, a frown on her face that sparked the kid in me.
“You won’t let them bully me, right, my forever?”
Her frown lifted, but Kai’s deepened.
“Bully you?” he asked, genuinely confused.
“Never, baby,” she answered smoothly before addressing her brother. “You said you wanted to meet my husband, not play protector.”
It was clear he’d put that conversation far out of his mind, and when it clicked into place what was she saying…
“Oh, shit…” He put his fist to his mouth. “Right. You married to this nigga.”
Instead of giving an introduction, Forever stepped closer to me and held her hand out.
“Permission to steal me is granted.”
I wrapped my fingers around hers and pulled her through the crowd and into the tunnel, ignoring the curious eyes on us.
“Is this where I get my reward?” she asked, voice dropping into that sexy bass she only used when whispering in my ear.
I slowed my pace as we neared the end of the left hallway and put my finger to her lips.
A mischievous smile spread across her face after she kissed it, the kind that reminded me why I’d fallen for her in the first place.
She was always down for my bullshit, no questions asked.
As we approached, the sounds from within became clearer: the rhythmic thumping against a desk or wall and muffled moans that couldn’t be mistaken for anything else.
“Fuck, Milli. I missed this pussy,” Jayden grunted loud enough for us to hear.
Forever stopped, eyes bucked as they met mine.
I pulled her to me because I couldn’t help myself, slid one hand around her waist while the other gripped the back of her neck. Her surprise lasted only a second before she melted into me. I kissed her right there, ready to risk it all for this fucking woman.
“I’m helping my wife settle a grievance,” I whispered against her mouth, echoing her own words from days before.
Understanding dawned in her eyes, followed by a flash of something predatory.
“Oh, I see now,” she muttered, swiping lip gloss from my lips and taking a step back. “Well. Don’t keep me waiting.”
Without hesitation, I tested the door handle, and sure enough, they hadn’t locked it. The hinges didn’t make a sound, something I’d count as lucky if I believed in luck instead of preparation.
The scene inside was exactly what I expected. Millicent was bent over a metal desk, skirt hiked up around her waist, while Jayden fucked her from behind. They were so lost in their world that it took a whistle to pull them out of it.
“What the fuck!” Jayden yelled, stumbling backward as Millicent pushed him out of the way.
She scrambled to pull her skirt down.
“This isn’t—” she started, then stopped, realizing how ridiculous any denial would sound given the circumstances.
Forever’s reaction was everything I’d hoped for and more. She laughed, a genuine, full-bodied laugh that echoed in the halls. The sound was so unexpected that it seemed to unnerve Jayden and Millicent even more than our presence.
“Oh, what a sight to see,” Forever said, going into a slow clap. Her voice dripped with sarcasm. “Stroke game is a little weak, but whatever works for both of you.”
Jayden yanked his pants up, mismatched eyes narrowed.
“Forever,” he said, trying for casual and landing somewhere near desperate. “This isn’t what it looks like.”
“Really?” She tilted her head, her expression one of exaggerated curiosity. “Because it looks like you’re fucking the head of Everwood Group. Did I misinterpret something? Was that a CPR technique I’m unfamiliar with?”
I chuckled, and as if he hadn’t noticed me before, Jayden’s eyes met mine. He took a step toward Forever, his face twisted into something ugly, but he and I both knew he wouldn’t try shit.
Not after our encounter in his apartment.
“What are you doing with him?” He jerked his chin in my direction. “Don’t think I haven’t noticed the fact that he’s still alive and always lurking around wherever you are.”
Instead of answering him with words, Forever did some shit that had me ready to carry her out of this muthafucka and head straight for home. She slid in front of me, pushed her left hand up my chest, and wrapped her fingers around my neck.
“Bring me your lips, my forever.”
And she did without hesitation, letting me suck on her tongue before turning to look at Jayden.
“Oh, him? He’s just my husband. Any other questions before we talk about how you’re going to cancel the alliance?”
Mm. I fucking love you, woman.