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What also infuriated me more about Seth was that he’d been nothing but respectful and pleasant to me. It was the total opposite of what I imagined a mafia boss to be like.

Slowly, I opened my eyes and exhaled a tired sigh. Seth stared straight at me; his lips pulled back slightly in a smile.

“Does my gym have everything you need?”

My gaze narrowed at him. “If it didn’t, what would you do?”

He shrugged flippantly. “I’d get you what you need.”

“Why?” I questioned curiously. “Why do you even care?”

His demeanor changed to something more serious, something deeper. “Because I think you deserve it, Wren. I watched you fight at the Labyrinth. You have a determination and a drive that I haven’t seen in anyone else, not even Kali when she’s in the ring.”

I shook my head. “That still doesn’t answer my question. I haven’t given you a reason to give me anything.”

He tilted his head to the side, his eyes shifting to my lips for a split second. A part of me wondered what it’d feel like to kiss him, but I quickly erased that from my mind.

“No, you haven’t,” he answered truthfully. “But I’m fascinated by you, Wren. What more can I say?”

My heart started to race and all those thoughts of him kissing and touching me came back with a vengeance.

“Yes,” I said quickly, hoping my voice didn’t sound breathless. “Your gym has everything I need.”

A satisfied smirk spread across Seth’s face. “Good. Then you should be ready for your fight in October.”

I snorted. “I hope so. I just wish I could be at home, training with my coach.”

Seth grinned. “Gabriella was a fierce fighter in her time. Did you ever think you’d be working with her?”

I laughed at the absurdity of that question. “Definitely not. I grew up on the streets, as poor as you could get, and stealing just to survive.” I flourished a hand at his house. “The last thing I ever imagined was being around all of this. For the first time in my life, I have a real home and real friends I care about and who care about me.”

Seth nodded in agreement. “You’re lucky you have that. People with money don’t always have family loyalty or love.”

A sharp pain pierced through my chest. “I wouldn’t call it lucky,” I said in a low voice. “It’s more like a curse. Gabriella is more than my coach; she’s a mother to me. And Peyton is like a sister, just like Ripp is more of a brother. I’ve never lost anyone I cared about, until Parker. Loving someone can be a blessing, but it hurts like a bitch when you lose them.”

Seth’s expression softened and I turned my head, trying desperately not to let my emotions surface.

“I’m sorry about your brother,” Seth spoke. “He’ll be avenged, I can promise you that.”

“Yes, he will,” I growled, jerking my attention back to him.

My heart started to pound, and I could hear it in my ears. Taking a deep breath, I let it out slowly, reining in my anger. I had to save it for the right time. Instead of commenting, Seth nodded in agreement and leaned his head against the hot tub.

Silence filled the air and I sat up, peering out at the grounds. I couldn’t see any of his men standing guard.

“Where are your guys?” I asked.

Seth sunk further into the jets and let out a small moan. “They’re around. I just didn’t want them staring at you.” His words made my body tighten in places that hadn’t been touched in a very long time.

“Why not?” I wondered.

Seth’s eyes opened and they met mine with an intensity that made me tremble. “Because you’re not here for them to look at.”

“Butyoucan?” I countered.

He smirked. “Does it bother you?”

I sat up straighter, letting my breasts rise out of the water. His eyes darkened, as if a spark of need flashed through them. “No, it doesn’t,” I answered truthfully. “Much to my dismay, it kind of turns me on, but that’s probably because it’s been a hot minute since I’ve had sex.”