But I also knew Cole would be utterly relentless. He’d never stop fucking with Carter, or Sawyer, or Bodie, for as long as I continued to associate with them. He’d ruin their lives, just as he’d ruined mine, if I didn’t agree to his demands.
Then again, I was sick and fucking tired of placating this child in a giant’s body.
FUCK!
The knot felt like a bowling ball now, sitting in the pit of my stomach. Still, a hard choice had to be made. I could continue down the endless road of submitting to this asshole’s demands, or I could put my trust in three men who seemed to genuinely care about me. No, scratch that — men whodidcare about me. Men who asked me to entrust them with my safety and well-being, even at the detriment of themselves.
They’d shown sacrifice. Selflessness. Love. Even if they didn’t fully understand what they were getting themselves into. Even if, by helping me, their lives would be turned upside-down.
But shit, I had to take a stand.
“Know what, Cole?”
The big ogre I couldn’t believe I’d dated wiped sweat from his brow with an even sweatier arm.
“What?”
“Go fuck yourself.”
Cole’s stupid mouth dropped all the way open. I could’ve hit him over the head with a cinder block, and he would’ve looked less surprised.
Whatever expression crossed his face next was lost on me, as I headed straight for the door.
~ 35 ~
HAYDEN
There were certain things that felt warm and comforting, in life. Rain lightly tapping the roof, for example, while you’re safe indoors. Or your favorite soft blanket, fresh from the dryer.
These things were nice, but they paled in comparison to the triple hug I received once I arrived home. And it really did feel like home. There was no doubting that now.
“You never should’ve gone over there,” Bodie warned again. His long arms were like steel cables, wrapped tightly around me. “We should’ve come with you.”
“No,” I told him, cuddling against his chest. “That training center is Cole’s turf. He’d have home field advantage.”
“He came into my bar,” Carter reasoned. “Why should we care about going to a place that’s not even his?”
“Because itishis,” I told him. “Not technically, but when Cole made the UFC roster everyone in that place went with him. Some physically, some only in spirit, but he became a hometown hero, practically overnight. The second you walked in there you’d have a hundred pairs of eyes, grilling you down.”
“So fucking what?”
Sawyer’s voice seethed with a barely controlled intensity. Out of the three of them, for some reason he seemed the most angry.
“I’m serious,” he continued. “Who gives a shit about anything but nailing this guy to the wall for fucking with us? I don’t care how famous he is, or was, or—”
“Look, we’ll figure this out tomorrow,” reasoned Carter. “Right now it’s late. Everyone’s high strung.”
Sawyer swung his head slowly left and right. “Fuck that. I’m tired of waiting around for Diesel Doomhammer to do something else. And he will, you know. Next time, maybe even to her.”
He pointed at me, then grabbed his motorcycle helmet.
“Sawyer—”
It was already too late. Sawyer was in motion, and judging by his energy level, I knew there was no stopping him. The others knew it too. They watched, solemnly, as the door slammed behind him.
“Shit,” said Bodie.
“Yeah,” agreed Carter. “I know.”
