Chapter 20 #2
This better be important. “Hello,” I growl. Sol has already turned and begins walking toward her car.
“Max, Leo is fighting in the Underground.” Fuck. “He fought once. I had just walked in and saw him in the ring. He agreed to another fight.” You can hear the crowds of people cheering.
“Get Leo out of there!” I shout.
Sol stops and twists to face me. She takes the number of steps to be in front of me.
“I tried, but Daniel won’t allow it. You know how the rules go,” Xander says, his voice panicked. “I even told him I’d take the fight.”
“What was he thinking?” I know now why he quit. He thought the news article was true. I admire his loyalty to my girl. Leo was probably looking for ways to make money. “Don’t let him get in that ring until I get there,” I demand, then end the call.
“What happened?” Sol’s eyes fill with moisture.
“Leo got himself into some trouble.” I glance over my shoulder at my car.
Fuck. “I need to go to the warehouse.” But first, I need her to know the truth.
Her hand bleeds in a thin crimson line. I fish a napkin from my pocket and dab at the wound.
A hiss escapes her lips. Between the torn edges of skin, something glints—a sliver of glass.
I press the flesh between thumb and forefinger, extracting the glass with a gentle tug.
“Thank you.” Her voice is soft.
My hand gently goes to her nape, and with a tug, I bring her close to me.
“Before I go, I need you to know those articles were fake news.” I pause.
“I didn’t even know about it until Xander told me—that, and the social media posts.
I didn’t put them there; my manager did.
Believe me, they heard a mouthful of what I had to say, and they took it down.
I don’t have much time. I need to get to Leo. We need to sit and talk about it.”
“When you have time.”
I wince. I know I’m always busy, and this other career has been difficult to maneuver. It’s hard to balance it all when I’ve never had much in my life.
“I’ll find time.”
“What about tonight? You were with her.” The streetlights dance in her eyes.
“Baby, no one holds a candle to you.” She looks away. “I’ve told you before, I’m not attracted to her. Carlos had planned a dinner. I waited, then left when I figured they weren’t going to show.” I move my hand from her nape to her face and caress her lips.
She looks over my shoulder at my car, and her lips go into a straight line. “You can use my car. I’ll get an Uber.”
I laugh. What a night. “First, do you believe me?”
“I think so…”
“Okay, you think so. Have I not made myself clear that you are mine?”
She sighs. “We can talk soon. Get to Leo and take my car.”
“No, I can drive mine. I have a blanket in the trunk I use when I work on it. I can drape it over the seat. Tesoro, do me a favor and get your ass home. No more being disruptive. I don’t want you to hurt yourself.
I’m pissed you messed up my car, but I care too much about you to let the anger fuel me. ”
She nods. “Yeah, it’s best I get home. I’ll drop a check for you in the office to pay for your windows.”
I step back. “Oh, baby, you’ll pay for it. No doubt about that, but not with money. In other ways.” I lick my lips. “On your knees would be ideal.” I cock my head. “Or maybe the next time I’m inside you, I’ll have you beg for a release.”
She scoffs, but her eyes twinkle. “There might never be a next time.”
My lips drag upward. “Eres mía, Sol. Para siempre.”
You’re mine forever, I say to her, and she just peers into my gaze.
Then she averts it to my car. She makes a face of guilt now that she knows the truth.
In all sincerity, I prefer this raw emotion to the emptiness I saw in her before.
When she loses control like this, it only confirms what I already know—she loves me as fiercely as I love her.
As I once told her, we are cut from the same cloth.
She’s just as unhinged as I am. Possessive.
Capable of smashing windows over something she saw in a newspaper. I couldn’t love her more for it.
“I need to get going. Get your ass home. Yeah?”
She nods and walks in the opposite direction, probably toward her car. I see Johnny walk out of the shadows. I glance at him with a murderous look. “What the fuck? Why didn’t you stop her if you saw her with a baseball bat? Why didn’t you tell me she was at the same restaurant as me?”
“I really didn’t know you were here, and I was on my phone in my car while she was at the restaurant. I thought she would be longer. Then I saw her come out and go to a store, and I waited. I didn’t think she would do this.” He gestures with his hands at my car.
“I need to get to the Underground. Leo is on a suicidal mission. If I don’t get there in time, I’m afraid Daniel will do something. Follow her and make sure she gets home safe.”
“Got it, boss.” The asshole smirks.
Lately, he hasn’t been telling me anything about what she does. It’s always the same when I ask. He says she goes home, to work, to therapy, and to school. Not that I need to know every detail of her day. Okay, maybe I do. I want to know how her day went.
After dusting off the glass with a rag, I place a thick blanket on the driver’s side and head to the warehouse.
Leo might know how to fight because Xander and I have taught him.
Leo is not skilled enough and has very minimal experience.
These fights are brutal and not forgiving.
Some fighters fight to kill, and if he’s fighting another fight in one day, there’s a chance he might not get out alive.
They love to match the less skilled with those higher in rank.
The audience loves to see blood spilled.
Rainey
My hands won’t stop shaking, so I press them firmly on my side.
Who knew pregnancy hormones could possess a woman?
The feeling in my chest was unbearable. Anger whipped at me like a demon in disguise.
God. What have I done? It makes it so much worse knowing now it was not what it seemed.
You can’t blame me. The news article, the photos on his social media, and dinner.
What was I supposed to think? My heels click on the asphalt walking to my car.
I pass the main entrance searching for Lana.
I told her I’d be right back. She probably left.
I haven’t even checked my phone. I almost walk past her, then I see Annette’s wide smile on her stupid face.
You would think she’d find herself someone who wants her.
“Well, look who it is. How does it feel to be on the other end?”
“The other end of what?” I cock a brow at her.
“To be the one wanting someone you can’t have. Now I take your spot in bed.”
A smile curves on my lips. “You’re embarrassing yourself. You are on either end—wanting him and never having him. It seems he wants nothing to do with you if you are standing here…alone.”
She returns the smug grin. “Me embarrassing myself? No, honey, that’s you. Everyone watched you break the windows in his car. It was recorded. Everyone will see how the jealous ex reacted seeing him having dinner with his girlfriend.”
I snort and roll my eyes.
She clenches her jaw, anger rising, knowing she’s not riling me up.
Annette pulls out her phone. “Maybe this will convince you.” She scrolls, then flips the phone so I can see a photo.
It’s of Max. Eyelids hooded. He’s wearing the same shirt he came home that night, drunk, when he said she dropped him off.
She’s leaning in, puckering her lips, her cheek pressed against his.
His face slack. Unaware. Heat surges up my neck.
My vision narrows. I hear myself say something.
Then my knuckles connect. Max looks as drunk as when he walked in.
She took advantage of his state and took the photo.
A volcano is about to erupt. My knuckles crack against the bridge of her nose with a sickening pop. Thumb tucked outside my fist, just like Max showed in his gym at his house. A thin trickle of blood appears under her nostril as she staggers backward, eyes wide.
Her hands go into fists, and she’s about to swing when a hard body jumps between us. Johnny pushes her back.
“Fucking bitch!” she shouts. She tries to fight Johnny, but he keeps holding her back.
“Don’t touch her. If you hurt their child, Max will make sure you never see daylight. Remember, he knows people in the Underground who could cause accidents,” Johnny tells her wide bug eyes. Mine probably match hers because how does he know? Of course, Max hired him again. Shit.
She smears the blood off with her thumb. Annette’s face is as pale as a ghost. She looks at my stomach. No one can tell unless you see me naked or wear tight-fitting clothing. I’m sixteen weeks, and my baby bump is just coming in.
She swallows hard.