Aaron says something that makes Rio laugh and they both glance at the cage, where the next fighters are circling each other.
“You fighting tonight?”
Rio smirks and looks down at me.
“Am I still, Datura? Or are you backing out from our deal?”
“Dare I ask? Did the little princess get herself into deep water?” He says it with a sarcastic laugh like I’m nothing more than a child and that pisses me off.
“It’s still on,” I growl out, looking at Rio.
Both men laugh before Aaron says goodbye and disappears into the crowd with both women in tow. I watch him go, weirdly relieved when he’s gone.
Rio steers me toward a small VIP section, roped off from the rest of the room. Romeo is there, talking quietly to a huge man I recognize from the earlier fight. The one Aaron beat. The big man looks up when we approach, but doesn’t say anything.
“Saul, this is Liana. Rio’s new wife. Liana, meet Saul.”
I wave my hand awkwardly when he just grunts in response, then goes back to staring at the cage.
“Don’t mind him. He’s still pissed about the fight,” Romeo says and pats the seat next to him.
“Sit, please. You’ll have a better view here.”
I do, and Rio slides in next to me, keeping a possessive hand on my knee. Rio and Romeo start talking about the current fight but Saul doesn’t join in. He just sips his drink and watches with a blank expression.
Suddenly one of the men is hit so hard you can hear the entire crowd gasp as he goes down. His mouth is bleeding and his eyes are cold and I can't help the fear that runs through me.
“Is he dead?”
“Maybe, but I doubt it,” Romeo says from beside me. “This fight wasn’t for blood, Principessa.”
I watch in equal parts horror and fascination as the winner is handed some sort of metal collar and he bends down to clasp it around the other man’s throat. He then grabs the chain and starts hauling the man out of the cage. I breathe a sigh of relief when the man wakes up, even if he is struggling against the chain that is dragging him.
“See,” Romeo laughs. “He just woke up from his nap.”
“He’s going to wish he was still asleep though,” Rio comments as we watch the winner bend the loser over the back of a couch.
People crowd around the spectacle, blocking my view and Rio tugs my face towards him, just as I hear someone scream in pain. The sound makes me cringe.
“That is why you never wager more than you can handle, Datura.”
“Is it always like this?” I whisper.
“Depends on the night. Sometimes it’s cash, sometimes a bet. Sometimes it’s just pride. Other times, if there’s a grudge…” He trails off. “I told you this wasn’t a place for you.”
I don’t say anything to that because he’s right. I don’t belong here. But I made a bet and I’m not going to back down now. Rio leans in close, his hand never leaving my thigh.
“It’s time, Datura. Stay here. I have men watching over you.”
I shoot him a look, annoyed.
“Watching me, or watching over me?”
He grins.
“Both.” He turns to Romeo. “Behave, cabrón.”
I have no idea what he just called him but it makes Romeo laugh. Rio kisses me, hard and fast, then disappears into the crowd.
