Lili #2
His face changed. I’d seen it so many times before. When Dad lost his temper, he got angry and belligerent.
“Don’t fucking complain! This helps me out and—”
“Get out!” I screamed. I flew at him, landing a solid punch to his gut. He had trained me to throw a decent punch.
He grunted and shoved me back.
“You’re dead to me,” I whispered. “You weren’t much of a father, but…” I shook my head, pain and anger tearing through me.
He’d been all I’d had, and I’d fooled myself into thinking that somewhere inside him, he loved me. I was an idiot.
No one cared. No one loved me.
He looked like he was going to say something, a muscle ticking in his jaw, then he spun and stomped out.
He’d sold me.
My mind spun like an out-of-control carnival ride. He didn’t care what Anton would do to me.
I’d never felt so alone in my life.
I waited to hear the door lock, but the metal clicking sound never came.
My heartbeat took off like a frightened rabbit. I inched toward the door and tested the handle. It opened.
This was my chance to get away.
I made myself wait a few minutes. To make sure Dad was gone. Every second was agony, my brain screaming at me to run.
Opening the door, I peered out into the hall. There was no one in sight.
The back door. There was an old loading dock at the back of the warehouse, and it didn’t get used much, except for deliveries. That was my best bet.
I slipped out and moved fast. My ballet flats were silent on the concrete floor.
I had no idea where to go, but that didn’t matter. I’d jump in my car, empty out the money in my bank account, and drive. Once I was far away from Las Vegas, I’d worry about everything else.
As I got closer to the back door, the knots in my stomach tightened. I was almost there.
Then…voices. I froze and pressed my back to the wall.
“You’re a fucking asshole, Goodyear,” a deep voice bellowed. “I should have been done with you years ago.”
I knew that voice. It was Bronco. He was another of Goodyear’s fighters.
Chuck “Bronco” Jones was in his fifties, past his prime, and constantly injured.
He’d once been famous in the ring for shaking off any fighter, but he should have retired years ago.
Scuffling sounds followed, and I closed my eyes. Please go away.
“You’re washed up, Bronco. So was your whore.”
Goodyear’s smug, blustering voice made the air in my lungs freeze.
I heard thuds and a grunt. I knew the sound of punches being thrown.
“And what do you know about my kid, Goodyear!”
I sucked in a breath. Bronco’s daughter was Ava-Jane. We’d met here at the fight ring. She was a few years younger than me and stunningly beautiful. Like model gorgeous. She dreamed of walking the catwalk.
What would Goodyear know about Ava-Jane? Like me, she avoided the man.
“You don’t give a fuck about your daughter,” Goodyear snapped. “You’ve used the last of my patience, Jones.”
There was the sound of more punches, followed by a long groan.
“This is punishment for trying to fuck with me,” Goodyear said, voice steady.
“I never fucked with you,” Bronco shouted.
“You’ve been sending me notes, setting my alarm off at home, keying my cars.”
“I never did any of that, you crazy son of a bitch.” A grunt and more thuds. “Gloria never did anything.”
I knew better, but I peered around the corner.
There was Goodyear, in an expensive suit, accompanied by three of his thugs. Two of those men were holding Bronco, slamming punches into the older man’s gut. The third was holding an unconscious woman over his shoulder.
I swallowed a gasp, putting my hand over my mouth. That was Gloria, Bronco’s girlfriend. I recognized her bright-red hair. She always dyed it on a regular schedule and that was her favorite gold sequin jacket. She was Bronco’s age, and loud and saucy.
Quickest way to a man’s heart is a blowjob, Lili. Mark my word.
Her sayings weren’t exactly something to embroider on a pillow, but she’d always been kind to me.
I envy you that hair, Lili. You’re a pretty little thing. Don’t let life chew you up and spit you out.
As I watched, I saw something drip off her dangling hand. I sucked in a sharp breath. Blood.
Oh, no. They’d hurt her. Was she dead?
My stomach pitched and my throat burned. I swallowed, desperately trying not to be sick.
“Enough,” Goodyear ground out. He reached into his jacket.
And pulled out a gun.
I gasped and jerked back. Oh, my God. What should I do?
Bang.
I jolted.
I heard Bronco cry out, then nothing.
“Get them out of here and take care of things,” Goodyear ordered. “I have an appointment to get to, then I need to be back for the big fight tonight.” He sounded excited.
Heart fluttering like a frightened bird, I chanced another look.
I saw Goodyear’s men dragging Gloria and Bronco’s bodies out the back door. Goodyear just watched with a faint smile.
My escape route was gone. I couldn’t go out this way.
And I couldn’t let Goodyear see me.
Quickly, I jogged back down the hallway. There was no way I could make it out the front. Goodyear had guards out there. Maybe I could find a window—
I rammed into a hard body and stumbled back.
“What the fuck are you doing out here?”
It was another one of Goodyear’s men. One who’d locked me in the room earlier. He didn’t wait for an answer. He grabbed my ponytail and yanked me down the corridor.
Pain exploded through my scalp and tears filled my eyes.
Without any ceremony, he tossed me back in the room. I lost my balance and hit the floor. Pain flared in my hip.
He disappeared out the door, then reappeared holding a black dress. “You need to wear this tonight.” He tossed it at me.
I caught the cheap satin. The dress had tiny straps and was short. Very short. It was designed to show off everything. He tossed a pair of cheap, strappy high heels at me.
I swallowed, my stomach hollowing out. There was no way for me to escape.
Tonight, I’d be the prize for Anton to win.
“Who…who’s fighting tonight?”
“Rampage,” the guard said with an ugly smile.
“And?”
“The Wolf.” He strode out the door. It slammed behind him, and this time, I heard the lock click.
But as I sat there, the dress clenched in my hand, I felt a tiny shred of hope.
The Wolf.
Cole Black was one of the best fighters in the ring. He didn’t fight all the time, but when he did, he always won and the crowd loved him.
Anton had lost to him recently and had been enraged. He was desperate for a rematch.
I hugged the stupid dress to my chest. I’d spoken with Cole a couple of times. He was quiet, a little scary, but he seemed decent.
I needed the Wolf to win.
He was my only chance.