She gestures for us to follow, leading the way toward the VIP elevators. The doors slide shut, cocooning us in quiet luxury.
“Where’s Preston?” Charlotte asks as the elevator begins to rise. “I thought he was coming with you tonight?”
Dana’s expression tightens instantly. The warmth flickers, replaced by a flash of irritation.
“Preston isn’t coming. Unfortunately, he and I are no longer a ‘we’.”
Charlotte’s eyes widen. “Oh no. What happened?”
“He’s been working late recently,” Dana says, her voice cool but with an edge of steel. “I did some digging. Turns out his ‘work’ had a name, and she’s a paralegal.”
“Oh, Dana,” Charlotte says, reaching out to rub her arm. “That sucks. I’m so sorry.”
“It’s fine,” Dana says, waving a hand dismissively, though the hurt is visible beneath the frustration. “Better to know now. I don’t have time for liars.”
“You deserve so much better,” Charlotte insists. “Don’t worry. Your mountain man is out there somewhere. And when he finds you, he’s going to worship the ground you walk on.”
Dana rolls her eyes, but it’s affectionate.
“Please. No more men for a while. I have a company to run.” She takes a breath, clearly eager to change the subject. “But enough about my disastrous love life. How is my favorite niece?”
“Elaine is perfect,” Charlotte beams, happy to make the pivot. “She’s teething, so she’s chewing on everything in sight. Audrey is watching her and Leo at the ranch right now.”
“I need to come see her tomorrow,” Dana says, her face softening into genuine affection. “I bought her this little tracksuit that matches Ben’s fight gear. It’s adorable.”
The elevator opens directly into the VIP suite, and I gasp. It’s gorgeous—plush leather seats facing a floor-to-ceiling glass wall that overlooks the entire arena.
“Welcome to the box seat,” Dana says, walking over to the champagne bucket. She pops the cork with practiced ease and pours three glasses. “The perks of being the CEO.”
She hands me a glass, clinking the rim against mine. “To Ben,” she says warmly. “And to you, Tilly. Welcome to the madness.”
I smile, feeling the tension in my shoulders finally start to melt. “To Ben.”
Just then, the lights in the arena go dark. A low, thrumming bass begins to shake the glass of the VIP box. The crowd noise swells into a deafening roar.
“Here we go,” Charlotte says, grabbing my hand. “It’s showtime.”
Chapter Seven
BEN
“AND STILL…THE UNDISPUTED HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD… BEN ‘THE MOUNTAIN’ MITCHELL!”
The roar of the crowd hits me like a physical blow. It vibrates through the canvas, up through the soles of my boots, settling deep in my bones. Five thousand people are screaming my name. Confetti rains down from the rafters, sticking to the sweat and blood smearing my chest.
Koda is slapping my back so hard it stings, screaming something I can’t make out. Reign is there too, grinning like a maniac, holding up the heavy gold belt.
I can’t hear any of it.
My chest is heaving, my lungs burning for oxygen, but my mind has gone terrifyingly quiet. The fight is over. The war is done. I defended the title. I did exactly what I said I was going to do.
But as I stand in the center of the ring, raising my gloved hand to the blinding lights, I don’t feel the rush of ego I used to feel. I don’t feel the hunger.
I feelstarved.
I spit out my mouthpiece, handing it to Koda without looking. My eyes are already scanning the crowd, cutting through the chaos like a laser. I ignore the ring girls. I ignore the commissioners in their expensive suits. I ignore Dana, who is trying to point me toward the cameras.
I need to findher.
