“Four years! That’s how many. And three years before
that you were undefeated against Santoro!” He slaps his steering
wheel, his booming laughter filling the length of the car.
“Yeah, look we were hoping for a little private time
to talk about some things. Do you think we could put up the privacy
wall, so—”
“My cousin Junior is training with an MMA fighting
league in San Antonio. He’s been . . .”
Charles goes on and on, but my focus is on my girl
whose face is bright red from holding back laughter.
Hardy
fucking har har.
I decide I’ve heard enough from Charles and tell him
we’ll continue after the dinner, but that I need some fucking alone
time with my date. Shit.
Privacy window up and finally alone, I’m assaulted
by her smell. I practically attack her, not that she’s complaining.
I almost get my hand up her dress when the limo lurches to a stop.
Shit!
I tell Charles we need five minutes. Raven checks
her face in a mirror, and I think about everything except what I’ll
be doing to her later tonight. Great, now I’m thinking about it
again.
“You about done? If’ I don’t get out of here soon,
I’ll finish what I started.”
She gives me a sexy smile and tucks a couple loose
strands of hair back into place. “I’m ready.”
I laugh, shaking my head at her mixed message
reply.
We exit the limo, and holding hands, we walk through
Mandalay Bay Hotel’s casino to the elevators. Raven fidgets at my
side as photographers snap pictures and people start to gather.
“You look gorgeous, baby.” I try to take her mind
off being the center of attention to a bunch of strangers. She
blushes and holds my hand tighter.
This dinner is held on the sixty-fourth floor of the
hotel in a swanky restaurant called Mix. As soon as we exit the
elevator, we’re greeted by an older gentleman in a tuxedo.
“Ah, Mr. Slade. Your party is expecting you. If
you’ll follow me, I’ll escort you and Miss . . .”
Her hand locks mine in a death grip.
“Raven,” I say.
“Of course, Mr. Slade. Miss Raven. Please follow
me.”
Releasing her firm grip, she leans into my shoulder.
“Thank you.” Her whispered words are only for my ears.
I lift her hand, kiss her knuckles, and give her a
wink. She never tells people her last name, afraid of being
associated with Dominick. His name circulates among the richest of
Vegas’s philanderers. And a high-end place like this is bound to be
familiar with the name if not the man himself.
We’re led into a private dining room in the back of
the restaurant. It’s packed with roughly thirty people from the
organization. I feel Raven’s hesitation as we step into the crowd.
I spot Owen and Nikki across the room and decide to stick close to
them so that Raven will have someone to talk to.
Different people greet me with handshakes and
hellos, but all their eyes are on my girl. This is going to be a
long fucking night.
Raven
I’m at one of the fanciest restaurants in town, I
arrived by limo, and I’m wearing an outfit that cost more than I
make in a month, bought for me by my rich boyfriend.
I’m Julia Roberts in
Pretty Woman.
How appropriate.
No, Cinderella. I’m Cinderella out with my Prince
Charming. Although, I’m pretty sure my Prince Charming would kick
the real Prince Charming’s butt in a fistfight. And now my nerves
are setting up imaginary fights between cartoon characters.
Well, at least it’s taking my mind off the fact that
I’m totally out of my element. I may as well have written
I
don’t belong
on my forehead in black eyeliner. Everyone here is
either rich, famous, influential, or a combination of all three. I
need to pull it together.
I jump as Jonah places his hand on my back. I look
up to see a tall man with sandy blond hair and blue eyes eyeing
me.
“Raven, this is Taylor Gibbs, the owner of the
UFL.”
I gather my social graces. I’ve never seen so many
high-powered people in one room. The place is practically vibrating
with egos and money.
“Mr. Gibbs, it’s nice to meet you. Thank you for
having me.”
“Raven, it’s a pleasure.”
He reaches out to shake the hand I’ve extended.
Jonah tenses and pulls me closer to him, tucking me deep into his
side. Mr. Gibbs brings my offered hand to his mouth, kissing it
softly.
I press deeper into Jonah at the gesture. No one’s
touch feels welcome, except Jonah’s. To keep from embarrassing him
in front of his boss, I put on a brave face.
“I’m glad you could make it, Raven.” His glare zeros
in on Jonah and a whisper of tension charges the air between
them.
My eyes dart back and forth between the two.
Jonah’s brooding is directed at his boss. Mr. Gibbs
smirks at me and releases my hand. I bring it immediately to
Jonah’s abdomen, hoping that the touch will help shake the creepy
from my hand.
Mr. Gibbs starts in with Jonah about who he needs to
touch base with at the party when a man walks up behind him. He’s
as big as Jonah in height and width, but where Jonah’s ferocity is
inviting, this man’s is terrifying. He has dark hair and eyes that
look almost black. His face is held in a permanent scowl with a
scar over his left eye and one at his chin. He stalks toward us
with the grace of a rhino.
“Well, if it isn’t my own personal punching bag,” he
says, glaring at Jonah.
Jonah’s grip tightens. “Del Toro. I thought they
only allowed civilized people into this place. Not knuckle-dragging
chimps like you.”
Mr. Gibbs moves between the fighters. “Save it for
the octagon, guys. No need to make a scene in front of the lovely
Raven.”
Del Toro’s eyes swing to me and his head tilts to
the side. He studies my face and a small smile tips his lips. His
expression is animalistic, but not a chimp like Jonah chided. He
looks more like a hungry lion.
Now I know what it feels like to be a zebra on the
Serengeti.
“Raven, when you get bored with this loser, I’ll
show you how a champion does it.” He steps forward, causing Mr.
Gibbs to use his shoulder to keep him back.
Jonah growls so deeply that I feel it before I hear
it. His eyes fix on Del Toro in the death stare to end all death
stares. “You fucking talk to her again I’ll put you in a coma right
here.”
Energy from years of animosity rolls off of them in
waves. Jonah’s jaw is tense, his icy glare fixed, and his fists
balled at his sides. He’s about to lose it. I can’t let that
happen.
I put on my sweetest smile and step in front of
Jonah, placing myself directly between two of the biggest men I’ve
ever seen. “You must be Victor Del Toro. Jonah’s told me all about
you. Six years as the Heavyweight Champion.” I whistle through my
teeth. “That’s impressive.”
Blinking, Del Toro takes his eyes from a seething
Jonah and sets them on me. His face visibly relaxes, but not by
much.
“Yeah, it’s impressive, and I don’t plan on giving
up the title anytime soon.”
“No, of course not.” I bat at him with a girlie
giggle that’s so sweet it makes Del Toro smile.
Great. It’s
working.
“About your offer, I can promise you I’ll never get
bored with Jonah. But thank you for the compliment.”
“You let me know if you change your mind,
sweetheart.” He glares at Jonah one last time and walks away.
There’s a collective sigh of relief from two of the
three people left. Jonah’s still seething, but at least his fists
are no longer clenched.
“Wow, you have a gift. I’ve never seen anyone who
can talk down testosterone-fueled fighters that quickly. Must be
those eyes.” Mr. Gibbs winks at me before excusing himself.
Once he’s gone, I turn to a still-frozen Jonah.
Pressing my body to the length of his, I slide my hands around his
neck. His eyes are unfocused, clinging to the edge of
self-control.
“Hey. You okay?”
He makes a sound that’s half grunt half groan. Hm.
Not okay. I need to try a different tactic.
I press my breasts against his chest and kiss his
chin. This gets me his eyes. Progress.
Making my way from there, I brush my lips against
his jaw line slowly, allowing him to feel my breath on his face.
His arms wrap around my waist, and his thumbs rub circles on the
exposed skin at my back. Now we’re getting somewhere.
I kiss below his ear. “You okay?”
“Better.”
I lean away, but keep my hands locked behind his
neck. “That was intense.”
“I want to beat that guy’s ass. I swear, Raven, I
don’t regret making that deal with Dominick. I’d do it a million
times over,” he whispers. “But, I’m really,
really
looking
forward to beating the shit out of that asshole when I get another
opportunity.”
I try to comfort him with a smile, but it feels off.
My chest aches. Guilt wars with gratitude. How can I do this to
him? How can I not?
This must be torture: all this talk about being the
next Heavyweight Champion, his undefeated record, and Del Toro
antagonizing him. Instead of going out there on fight night, doing
what comes naturally, he has to play possum.
I’m grateful for his sacrifice, but I didn’t
anticipate how much he would suffer. Turn his back on his
instincts. Push down his nature. All for me.
I pull away and he releases me from his hold. His
eyes roam the room casually, unaware of the internal struggle his
words induced.
My lungs are tight. I can’t breathe. The weight of
all that’s happened presses in from all angles. I turn to a nearby
table and lean heavy against the chair. I knew what he was giving
up on a hypothetical level, but seeing it with my own eyes, feeling
the aggression electrifying the space between them, just made this
real
.
A group of people walk up to us, but I’m so lost in
my head I don’t pay attention. My mind whirls with excuses to get
out of here. Bathroom. I’ll just run to the bathroom, gather myself
and—
What the hell?
A gorgeous blonde in a skin-tight, bright red dress
is standing way to close to Jonah. I watch in horror as the beauty
queen wraps her arms around his neck. In sickening slow motion, she
presses an open mouth kiss right on his lips.
Fuck that!
Adrenaline floods my veins.
“Hey!” My body moves before I think better of it and
I’m right in her face.
Jonah’s wiping his mouth with the back of his
hand.
“Get your hands
off
my boyfriend.”
She looks me up and down before pressing her body
closer to his. Jonah takes a step to the side, but she winds her
arms around his waist, sticking to him like a Siamese twin. “And if
I don’t? What are you going to do about it?”
Even her glare is pretty.
“Step away. Now.” My voice shakes, but I stand
tall.
Jonah gives her arms a final tug and she releases
her hold.
She steps into my space. With her slutty shoes,
she’s a good six inches taller than me. Her strapless dress reveals
cut muscles that are coiled and ready. “Do you have any idea who I
am?”
“No. Don’t care. But if you touch my boyfriend
again,
you’re
going to find out who
I
am.”
An evil glint touches her crystal blue eyes. “I’m
Camille Fisher. I fight for a living. You want to go there. Let’s
go there.”
I’m sick and tired of people messing with me. She
may be strong and trained, but I’m fed up and pushed past my
limit.
I get right in her face and give her a smile that is
most likely all teeth. “I’m Raven, Jonah’s girlfriend. And I’m a
mechanic.”
She tosses her head back, her blond hair cascading
around her shoulders, and laughs. “Mechanic. Scary.” She says the
last word in a sing-song voice and rolls her eyes. Her body closes
in.
“Baby, leave it alone. Let’s go.” Jonah slides his
hand around my waist.
“Yeah, you should be scared.” I lean in until our
noses are almost touching. “Every time you get in your car, I want
you to think about how easy it would be for me to cut your brakes.
I’m sure you have some overpriced piece of fiberglass built in some
foreign country. Do you have any idea how simple it is to
disassemble a car? A few missing bolts and the thing falls apart
while you’re driving down the freeway.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“Try me, bitch.”
Her eyes travel back and forth between Jonah and
me.
“Forget it, Camille. Let’s go,” her friend says from
behind her.
“Hey, hey, hey! What do we have here? I love a good
catfight.” Blake strolls up with a huge grin on his face, like he
saw the entire thing and finds it hilarious. “They’re way more fun
naked, but then again . . .” He scratches his chin and looks at the
ceiling before looking back at us. “Isn’t everything?”
I bite my lip against a smile.
“Blake, this is Camille Fisher.” Jonah introduces
Blake, and I don’t miss that he pulls me back a good two feet as he
does.
Camille’s eyes sparkle as she takes in all that is
Blake. He gives her a visual once- over, like he’s sizing up a
meal. It’s obvious where this will end up tonight.
“Camille, you’ve got quite a mouth on you.” Blake’s
double meaning makes me giggle-snort, earning me another glare from
the female fighter.
“Come on, baby. Leave her to Blake.” Jonah guides me
away from the group, still wiping red lipstick from his face.
“Here, allow me.” I run my thumb along his full
lower lip, rekindling my anger at the reminder that another woman
pressed her mouth against his. “Where do you think she parked her
car?”
He kisses my finger, smiling. “Don’t know. But damn,
watching you nut up on that bitch? Tough, gorgeous, and hot as
hell.”
I wrap my arms around his waist and kiss him.
“There. All memories of her erased.” My fingers absently run along
the collar of his shirt. “I don’t know what came over me. My
tolerance tank was full and I snapped.”