Chapter 40
Mila
“Dom!” I shout but it’s futile with the roar of the crowd and the announcer’s voice pounding through the speakers. Still, I keep running, trying to reach him before he steps into the ring. I am running, weaving in and out of people, and at one point I even bump into a waitress.
“Hey!” she snaps and I hear a crash but I don’t care. I can apologize for a spilled drink later. But right now, if Dom gets into a fight with Rafe, he won’t have a later.
“Dom!” I call again but he still doesn’t turn around. I wait for a break in the noise and then shout at the top of my lungs. “Dominic!”
At the last second, he turns, just as he is grabbing the ropes to duck in. His scowl deepens and I can tell he’s going to blow me off but I finally reach him and grab him.
“Dom, you can’t go up there,” I tell him.
“The hell I can’t,” he says, attempting to shrug me off but I don’t let go.
“Dom, you can’t fight him,” I insist.
“Mila. I don’t have time for this. I have nothing to say to you. Thanks to someone with loose lips, my dad knows everything. And with you pregnant, this is the last shot I have at getting the Golden Rule bid. I don’t think you understand what is at stake right now.”
“Neither do you!” I say. “Dom, Rafe is the one who told your dad about everything.”
His brow furrows. “What? How?”
“Because Brynn overheard me telling Lainey everything and I guess she told Rafe. Who told your dad. And now…he’s going to hurt you.”
Dominic chews on that for a moment. And I think he might believe me. Because it all makes sense. But he isn’t buying the last part.
“Let me fight my own battles, Mila,” he says, pulling away from me.
“But Dom! He’s wearing–” I am cut off when the announcer starts talking again.
I try again, but my voice is drowned out.
Dom hops on the stage and there is nothing I can do.
He didn’t hear me. He doesn’t know how much danger he is in.
But I can literally see the bulge across Rafe’s taped knuckles.
All the hurt and heartache are shoved aside. I don’t care. I can’t let him get hurt.
The bell rings and the match starts and I grab the ropes in an attempt to hop on the stage. But a security guard grabs me.
“Mila, what are you doing, honey? You can’t go up there,” he says.
“Trace, Dom is going to get hurt,” I argue. “I have to warn him.”
“It’s a boxing match, Mila. I’m sure one of them will get hurt. But my money is on Dom.”
“You don’t understand,” I say, pulling away.
The crowd gasps and I look up just in time to see Dom dodge a jab.
“Trace, Rafe is going to fight dirty,” I say but he ignores me and as the guy’s pivot, fists flying and I know I am running out of time.
One solid hit with his lead hand and Dom is done for.
Fear motives me around to the other side of the ring. There are two guys getting a little rowdy and the security on the corner are dealing with him, giving me the opportunity to sneak by. I grab the ropes again and hop into the ring.
“Rafe is on fire tonight boys, he’s really going for blood. But Dom’s defense is also on par. It’s anyone’s game right now.” The announcer’s words shift when I stand up. “Oh. Wait a minute. One of the dancers is in the ring. Security?”
I ignore him. “Dom! Dominic!” I shout and he glares at me, waving me away as he dodges a hit. The announcer cuts back in, calling for security again. He even tells the guys to stop fighting but it’s like they don’t hear him, throwing jabs and dodging at the same time.
“Dominic!” I shout again. “He’s got brass on! Dominic!”
Suddenly a security guard grabs me and drags me out of the ring. I fight him like my life depends on it because Dom’s life does depend on it.
“Let go of me!” I shout but he doesn’t budge, dragging me towards the back of the room. “He’s going to get hurt. Someone has to warn him!”
“He’s boxing, sweetheart,” the security tells me. “That’s how it works.”
“No, you don’t understand,” I argue, still struggling in his arms. “Rafe has brass knuckles on!”
“That’s against the rules,” he tells me.
“I know, jackass! That’s why we have to stop them!”
“Listen,” he says and a scream escapes my throat in an animalistic cry as Rafe’s fist crashes into the side of Dominic’s face, taking him to the floor with a spray of blood.
“Holy shit…” the security guard says, letting go of me.
The whole room goes quiet and I don’t know if it’s shock and realization of what is actually going on or if everything has turned to white noise in my head.
I step forward at the same time as he lets go and between the sudden release and watching Dom hit the floor, my legs give out and I land on the concrete, flat on my belly. Then, everything goes black.