“Dex and I just need to make sure that even if we’re moving on our own without the organization’s complete support on our beck and call, we need to have some sort of help on our side. So,I’m… doing a favor for a family friend tonight just in case we’d need them.”
I nodded, getting that point. But why do I feel like he’s not telling me everything?
“And? What kind of favors are you doing tonight?”
“Just helping out at a business event,” Siege said, and he met Dex’s own questioning gaze. It makes me think this call in for a favor was still recent, that the two of them haven’t talked about it yet.
“The Mundays.” Siege answered Dex’s silent question, and in turn, the latter wordlessly acknowledged with a nod.
It was a bit unfair that the two can exchange few words and they already know what’s going to happen, but I have to ask the right questions to know the entire picture. But hey, as long as they’re willing to answer, I’m going to keep prodding.
“What kind of a business event?”
I saw the tiniest clenching of Siege’s jaw, and I already knew that I had hit the bullseye.
“A fighting ring,” he answered, feigning casualness as if he weren’t withholding that information.
“Uh-huh, are you going to fight?” I asked, crossing my arms.
Neither Dex nor Siege answered me, and I raised an eyebrow. “I’m going,” I said, voice firm, showing them it’s not a negotiation.
“Sweetie—“
“I’m. Going,” I repeated, taking turns between the two to pin their stares with my eyes.
“Me too,” Nero said from beside me, and I nodded.
I can’t fault him for being interested in going because the idea of a fighting ring was exciting to him. He is likely to be the sort of teenage boy who enjoys watching action movies.
I suppose I ought to put up a fight considering that this will be a whole new world for Nero, but what was I supposed to say?
You’re not used to this thing? It’s not safe?
Those are exactly the excuses that Dex and Siege can probably throw my way.
Nero can take care of himself. His physique will make him appear as if he fits right in. One might even say there’s safety in numbers, right?
“That’s what I want for my prize from the volleyball match earlier, then,” I said. My voice carried a tone that left no room for doubt or further discussion. “Nero and I are coming.”
Though I was fakingmy way through tonight, even looking the part in a black bodycon dress, and a matching black leather jacket, I was nervous.
Surely, they’re professional enough to make sure the police don’t come and raid them, right? Or if they’re family friends of the Azuls, then that must mean they’re a well-established name in this world and they probably have cops on their payrolls, too.
“Should I be worried that you know the way there without even checking your GPS?” I asked Dex from the back since he was driving us again, and he just gave me a quick glance through the rearview mirror.
It wasn’t a warning look, nor a soft one; rather, there was an emptiness in his eyes.
I kept quiet after that, having the feeling that he and Siege were trying to condition themselves to get into the right headspace. There’s a lot of dissociation happening whenever Dex and Siege shift from the new life they’re trying to have with me, to the life that they’ve grown accustomed to.
We continued to go forward on the gravelly path, and it was scaring me so much that I let out a breath of relief when I saw the lit-up barn ahead of us.
Upon reaching an opening in the woods, we found cars parked all over the place. Some were fancier than the others, and what was clear from the sheer number of vehicles in the area was that this was not a small gathering. It was a full-blown event.
“Why do you need to make an appearance tonight? It looks like they’re doing just fine on their own.” I asked Siege right away as we all started piling out of the car, the gravel crunching under our feet.
“One of the scheduled fighters couldn’t make it. They need someone willing to replace him.”
“Yeah? Is that why the supposed Azul heir is the one who’s going to fight?”
