“I’m going to grab our stuff and we’ll get out of here, okay?” Harmony said. “Jaxon’s going to stay behind and help clean up.”
“He doesn’t need to do that, NiNi, the event center will take care of it.”
“But he will make sure all of your stuff makes it home safely.”
“Okay. Thank you,” I said, and Harmony left me.
“Sit,” Doom demanded, appearing behind me with a folding chair.
“Where did you come from?”
“Just behind the stage. Take a seat, Angel.”
“Doom, I—”
“Just sit in the goddamn chair, Lyric,” he said as he unfolded it.
I lowered myself into it, nearly crying out in relief.
He hunkered in front of me and removed my heel, giving my foot a squeeze, then standing again. “You should take something.”
“I’m okay.”
“Or you could stop being brave when you don’t have to be and take a pain pill.”
I cocked my head and studied him for several seconds. “What is your deal?”
“What do you mean?”
I shook a finger at him. “You want people to think you’re an asshole, but you’re not.”
He let out a hiss which meant I’d hit pay dirt.
“You good?” he snapped.
“I’m great,” I snapped back.
He turned on his heel and stalked away and I couldn’t help a smile. I was beginning to put the pieces of one Lincoln ‘Doom’ Marxx together and I was liking what I saw.
“You look like the canary who swallowed the cat,” Harmony mused as she walked toward me.
I shook my head. “I think I’m just tired and losing my mind.”
“Well, let’s get you home and tucked into bed. You deserve to sleep for a couple of days.”
“That sounds amazing.”
* * *
Doom
I climbed on my bike and headed to Burt’s, an underground fight club that changed locations every month or so. I didn’t always go…but I always knew where it was, just in case I needed to get out some frustration.
Which I did.
Right fucking now.
I pulled up and headed inside, the smell of blood and sweat strangely calming to me. My heart raced a little as I pushed through the crowd and stood at the edge of the circle.
