Lili
Nervously, I smoothed my hands down my dress.
We were in the back seat of a big SUV. Nash was driving, Landon was in the passenger seat. Cole had already gone to the fight ring. I knew Rafe, Alessio, Bastian, and Lark were meeting us there.
Usually, when I watched the fights, I wore jeans, but Georgie has insisted we dress up.
I couldn’t believe Cole was going to fight Anton again. I swallowed. My throat was so dry. I knew, whatever happened, Cole would never let Anton touch me, but I didn’t understand why he couldn’t have just told Anton to go away.
“It’s going to be fine.” Georgie took my hand and squeezed. She was wearing an electric-blue dress covered in sparkles, with her blonde hair up in an elegant twist.
I’d wanted to wear black. Cole’s color. Georgie had helped me find the dress in the casino’s boutiques.
It was knee-length with a flippy little skirt, a V neckline, and long sleeves made of a sexy, sheer mesh.
When Georgie had realized we wore the same shoe size, she’d loaned me a pair of black heels.
I wasn’t that great at walking in them, but I had to admit, they looked amazing with their red soles, and did great things for my legs.
Georgie had done my hair in soft waves and left it out.
She’d also done my makeup, which was heavier and bolder than I usually wore.
“Cole shouldn’t have agreed to this fight.”
Georgie waved a hand. “It’s a man thing.”
Landon twisted around and looked back at us. “He needs to do this. He needs to send a very final message to Kamensky so the guy will leave you alone, once and for all.”
I twisted my hands together in my lap. “Anton has lost to him, twice. He’ll cheat. He used brass knuckles in the last fight!”
“Cole can handle him.” Nash’s steady gaze met mine in the rearview mirror. “He can handle anything.”
I nodded but my stomach was tied up in knots.
We reached the warehouse. There were so many cars parked outside. God, I hoped I didn’t see Goodyear or my dad. I might attack them otherwise.
Landon helped me out and took my hand. He looked gorgeous in a black shirt and black pants. A cool wind swirled around us and I shivered.
He tucked my arm into his and led me to the front doors.
Inside, music was pumping. Two guys were going at each other in the ring, and the crowd was cheering, although it was subdued compared to how loud they’d get later. This was only a warmup fight.
Landon pulled me through the crowd. My shoes stuck to the sticky floor where the spectators had already spilled their drinks.
In the stands, I saw Lark waving at us. She was wearing a pair of black leather pants and a one-shouldered red top.
Bastian lounged beside her in a white shirt and pants, looking way too elegant for an illegal fight. Alessio and Rafe were with them.
I was protected by an entire posse of deadly former assassins. If any of Goodyear’s men did get the idea to snatch me, they’d regret it.
We moved along the row and took our seats. God, I felt sick.
“Breathe, Lili.” Landon gripped my knee and squeezed.
My breath was ragged. “I’m too worried.”
“Seriously, Cole can handle himself.”
“He shouldn’t be doing this.”
“He wants to. For you.”
That set off tingles in my stomach. My mind went back to this morning. To waking up with him in his bed. I shivered, but this time, it wasn’t from the cold or nerves.
He was going to be fine. I didn’t want him to see me worried or nervous.
The fight finished. As the battered fighters climbed out of the ring, some of the cleanup crew climbed in to wipe the blood away.
Then I spotted my dad.
He was standing near the ring, talking with one of the fighters. I bit my lip. He looked…old. Lines creased his face, his shoulders were hunched, and he kept his head down.
I looked away. I didn’t want anything to do with him.
“Annnnnd now, the fight you’ve been waiting for.” The announcer’s deep voice echoed through the space and the lights went out, drenching us in darkness. “The rematch that will rock the ring. Rampage versus the Wolf!”
Strobe lights crisscrossed the crowd, and the spectators went absolutely wild. The cheers, stomping feet, and screams were deafening.
“Anton ‘Rampage’ Kamensky is out for revenge, ladies and gentlemen. Looking to even the score.”
A spotlight highlighted Anton as he appeared from the tunnel leading to the locker rooms. He was wearing red shorts, his massive, hairy chest bare. He pumped one huge arm into the air and roared.
The crowd roared back.
My throat was dry. Anton didn’t look nervous or worried.
Cole had beaten him twice. He should look nervous.
My stomach twisted. He had something planned. I could feel it. There were no rules in this fight ring. Often, the fighters had their own code, but I knew that the crowd loved when a fighter went rogue. Loved when they spilled blood.
“But here comes our second fighter, looking as cool as ever and ready to fight. The Wolf!”
Cole walked out, his stride brisk but steady. He didn’t look worried and he barely looked at the crowd. His focused gaze swept the ring, then he climbed in with one lithe move.
Then his head turned, his gaze unerringly finding me in the crowd. Our eyes met.
Even across the distance, I felt the sheer force of his will.
He was fighting for me.
Anton shouted some more, yelling at the crowd.
Cole stood quietly, balanced and ready to fight.
“Let the fight begin!” The bell rang.
Cole turned and faced Anton.
Landon touched my arm. “It’s going to be fine. Watch.”
There were no warmup punches. Anton bellowed and charged at Cole. Cole met him, and the fight was on.
They traded hard blows. I didn’t look away. I heard the grunts, the thuds of knuckles on flesh. The feeling in the crowd was electric.
Anton kicked at Cole, who dodged, and rammed his fist into Anton’s side. The bigger man staggered.
Cole unleashed. He rained down hits and a few kicks on Anton. Soon, both men were covered in a sheen of sweat. One of Cole’s punches caught Anton in the mouth and blood splattered the floor of the ring.
My focus zeroed in on the fight. Nothing else existed except Cole.
This man who was fighting for me.
He was so powerful, moved so well. I clenched my hands together, giddy excitement twisting through me as I watched him pummel Anton. In days of old, he’d have been a warrior. Now, he was a man who still fought, still helped those he could, but for some reason, believed he wasn’t a good guy.
I watched him ram three hard punches into Anton. Bam. Bam. Bam.
Anton went down on the mats, the crowd jeering.
Cole bounced on his feet, and I watched the sexy flex of the muscles in his body.
I squeezed my thighs together, horribly aware that I was wet. I’d admired fighters before, but watching Cole was something else. Something primal.
He turned his head, his gaze finding me in an instant. The heat in his gaze scorched me.
Anton pushed to his feet. He shook his head, sweat flying, and gave an animalistic roar. Then he rushed at Cole.
That’s when I saw the glint of something in his hand.
My stomach clenched. He’d used his time on the floor. “He has a knife.” I shot to my feet.
“Easy.” Landon tugged me back down.
“Landon, Anton has a knife!” Panic was like claws inside me.
I watched Anton slash out with the blade, aiming at Cole’s torso. Cole reeled back, his face twisting.
God, the knife had missed him by a hair.
But Cole didn’t hesitate. His next punch slammed into Anton’s head. His face flew to the side, blood flying. Then Cole kicked him and Anton staggered back several steps.
Cole’s face looked like it was carved from black granite. He kept coming.
Anton slashed out again and again, but I could see he was getting sloppy. The two men moved across the ring, the noise of the crowd deafening.
Then, Anton got lucky on his next slash.
The tip of the knife skated over Cole’s shoulder, and I saw a line of red appear.
No. I pressed my fist to my throat.
“It’s minor, Lili,” Landon said calmly. “It’s shallow.”
Anton spat something at Cole, but Cole didn’t say a word. He attacked Anton, raining down ruthless hits, avoiding the knife.
Their bodies slammed together, and whatever Cole did, Anton’s body arched and he grimaced. The knife fell to the mats.
They separated, but I could see Anton’s chest working like bellows. He spat something again and Cole’s jaw turned to granite. His arm swung, muscles gleaming, then his brutal punch hit Anton’s sternum.
The bigger man’s head flew back first, then his body. He landed flat on his back with a brutal thud. His chest was rising and falling, but he didn’t get up. His eyes were closed.
Cole leaned down. I don’t know what he said, but Anton jerked and nodded.
Then Cole straightened.
The noise from the crowd was so loud, I couldn’t think.
He shot me another long look, then he was out of the ring and striding swiftly to the locker rooms.
My throat was so tight I could barely breathe. My skin felt hot and flushed. I hopped to my feet.
“I need…I—”
Landon rose. “I’ll take you. Still too many of Goodyear’s goons around, even if the asshole isn’t here.”
I didn’t look at the others.
I just needed to get to Cole.
Landon pushed through the crowd, making a path. I tried to keep up on my high heels. We headed toward the corridor, dodging spectators carrying beers and cheering.
“Lili.”
The voice made me stiffen. I turned and saw my father a few feet away.
“I have nothing to say to you.”
Landon moved closer, his scowl directed at my dad.
Dad moved closer.
“Step back,” Landon growled.
He glanced at Landon, then at me. “I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”
My eyebrows winged up. “Like you care.”
He huffed out a breath and looked away for a second. “I…I do. I’m sorry—”
I shook my head. “It’s too little too late, Dad.”
“I thought Anton would take care of you. I thought—”
“You were saving your own ass. You never thought about me.” I shook my head. “I need to go.”