“What can I do for you, Mr. Jameson?” I said, walking past him.
His nostrils flared and he spoke through gritted teeth. “We need to talk.”
Clenching my teeth, I stopped abruptly and turned to face him. “About what?”
He huffed. “Kali, that’s what. She doesn’t need to get involved with you.”
A low chuckle vibrated from my chest. If he only knew the truth. My response pissed him off more, judging by how he balled his fists.
“You seriously think this is funny?” he spat.
Dropping the smile from my lips, I stepped closer to him. I didn’t consider Ripp an enemy, but I didn’t think of him as a friend either. He wasn’t a bad guy, and I knew he was only protecting Kali; I couldn’t fault him for that. I would do the same if I were in his shoes.
“What Kali does with her life is her business,” I replied, my eyes never leaving his. His anger started to rise, but I cut him off before he could speak. “I’m going to tell you this once and then I want you to back the fuck off. I’m getting tired of you insinuating this shit. You’ve been on my case for months now.” I moved closer. “Nothing is going on between me and Kali. If you have questions, ask her. All I want is to keep her safe, the same as you.”
His jaw twitched as he processed my words before finally releasing a long sigh from his lungs, signaling an understanding between us. If there was one thing I was known for, it was my honesty.
Ripp held up his hands. “Okay. I believe you. But I know something is going on with her.”
“And if there is,” I said, stepping away from him, “it’s not my story to tell. Have a good night.”
I walked away from him, but not before meeting Wren’s emerald eyes from across the room.
CHAPTER4
WREN
Istopped dead the second I saw the guy in the gray suit. What I didn’t understand was why he was talking to Ripp. I’d never seen him before, but there was familiarity on Ripp’s face as if he knew him well. There was tension between them that I could feel from across the room.
At first, I thought the man was Nikolai. They were so similar in appearance from their sandy blond hair, build, and facial structure. I’d only met Nikolai once, and he had a face you could never forget. But after further inspection, I realized the man in the suit wasn’t him. The eyes were completely different. But it still didn’t change the fact that chills ran down my spine the second our gazes locked.
I’d met many dangerous men in my life, and I could spot them a mile away. Whoever that guy was, he was not someone to mess with.
“Hey,” Parker called out, grabbing my arm. I jerked around to face him, and he hugged me tightly. “Congrats on the scout. What did he say?”
He let me go and there was nothing but pride on his face. Quickly, I looked over to see if I could find the man in the gray suit again, but he was gone.
“I’m in!” I shouted, loving the feel of the excitement bubbling in my chest. “James is going to send me all the paperwork I need to complete so I can start fighting in the UFC.”
It was something I’d wanted my entire life.
Parker’s gray eyes softened. “I’m glad you finally get to have everything you’ve always wanted.”
I snaked an arm around his waist and leaned against his shoulder. “Same for you.”
My gaze drifted across the room and settled on Ripp, walking through the crowd toward us. His expression was carefully blank, but a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips when he noticed me watching him. I wanted to ask him about the mysterious man in the suit, but I knew there would be plenty of time for that later.
“You’re officially one of us now, Wren,” Ripp announced, a broad smile taking over his face. “How does it feel?”
I exhaled deeply, all sorts of emotions coursing through me at once—a feeling which was both foreign and welcoming at the same time.
“I can’t put it into words,” I replied quietly, extracting myself from Parker’s side.
Ripp motioned to the far end of the room, where a colossal man stood guard before a hallway shrouded in darkness. “Come on, let’s grab your winnings and get out of here.”
We followed Ripp, and upon seeing him, the bouncer stepped aside without a word and gave us access to the corridor. A faint light shone from an open doorway near the end and when I peered inside, I found Kali standing beside Kase with piles of cash stacked high on his desk.
She met my eyes with a mischievous glint in her own and chuckled lightly. “Impressive, huh?”
