Cruz finishes signing some other girl’s bare stomach. He’s grinning from ear to ear and looks happier than I think I’ve everseen him. I guess I see what Asher is talking about, he’s in his element. And here I am wishing I was anyplace else. I guess I should be trying to support something that is important to him. His line of sight rises directly to me, and he winks cheekily.
I can’t help but smile back, especially when the bitch off to his side throws me a death glare and places a hand on her hip as if she’s pissed I’m taking his attention away from her and her trashy friends. I kiss my hand and send it his way because I have no other way of getting them to back the hell off.
He catches the imaginary kiss and places his hand on his chest.
It sends a thrill through me. He has all that attention, and I’m the one he was searching the crowd for. “I guess I have nothing to worry about.”
“Were you really worried?” Asher laughs. “That boy has been into you from the first second he laid eyes on you.”
Jagger slides into the seat beside me. “Try not to draw attention to yourself, flower,” he mutters, unimpressed.
My eyes narrow in on him as he and his damn perfect scent invade my senses. “I thought you said I was safe with all the security around.”
“You are, but it only takes the wrong person to snap a shot of you here and send it to your family and we have another ambush waiting for us.”
“Fuck,” I mutter, sickness churning in my stomach. I’m sick to death of being stuck in that place with them, but I don’t like the uneasy way I feel out in the world again as well.
“Shit, Jagger, you’re scaring her,” Asher warns.
“Maybe it’s time I went to the top. We all know my papa is the one calling the shots. And after that conversation with Dante a couple of days ago, I have been thinking maybe I can put a stop to all of this somehow,” I suggest, knowing we can’t go on like this forever. Even once Asher and I are married, there willstill be trouble, I just know it. My family doesn’t give up on something they want that easily, and for my brother to be so invested, he’s getting something substantial out of it.
A growl comes from Jagger, and I glance at him to find his furious expression. “We handle this my way.”
I raise my hands in defense. “Okay, it was just an idea.”
His forehead creases, his grumpy mood in full force tonight. “Leave the ideas to me.”
“That would be right. I’m just a stupid girl, after all,” I huff, folding my arms over my chest. I slump back in my chair, facing away from him as much as I can when I’m so close to him. I thought after the other day he was starting to see me differently, giving me a little independence with my own gun and all. I thought maybe he was starting to respect me.
Asher gives me a sympathetic smile, but he doesn’t disagree with me or fight Jagger on it. They really are as bad as each other. If they let me, I might be able to help, maybe get to the bottom of what they really want. Maybe there’s another solution, and now that I’m feeling stronger, I want to fight for my freedom.
The lights dim, and the people on the ground floor scurry to find a seat. An announcer takes center stage of the ring, a microphone in hand. “I know you were all expecting a rematch for our title, but unfortunately, we’ve had a last-minute pull out from The Goon Rangoon, and we’ve had to do a little reshuffle.”
The crowd boos.
The announcer chuckles. “Don’t fret, people. You’re in for a treat tonight. We still have The Stryker in the flesh.” He motions for the crowd to make some noise.
“Walking on Sunshine” blares through the speakers, and Cruz enters the ring with two oversized suited men at his sides. An erratic energy about him as he bounces around with his best psychotic grin on his face. The crowd below goes nuts, his cheersquad being shoved back by security as they try entering the ring to get their outstretched hands on him.
“Drum roll, please, people,” the announcer says and the crowd grows even louder. “If you have joined us before, you know we like to play for high stakes. Stryker’s opponent is here tonight to fight for something a little unconventional. And very romantic.” He covers his chest, really playing it up for the audience. “A girl, and not just any girl but a beautiful Italian goddess.”
Screams and hollers continue as I feel the color drain from my face as my brain kicks into gear as to what’s happening. What the actual hell? This fight is over me. I can’t decide if I want to puke or start throwing punches myself. The two assholes at my sides will be the first to fall.
“Winner gets the girl’s hand in marriage. Loser will be lucky to leave alive. And just because we know the home favorite is such a top guy, tonight he’s fighting on behalf of his brother.” The announcer does his own drum roll on the microphone. “Please welcome his opponent, Leone Russo.”
Leone strolls through the crowd to boos, but it doesn’t deter him. He strides with confidence, head held high and chest puffed out. When he takes the stage, his eyes come directly to me, sending an icy shiver down my spine.
This can’t be happening. I want to disappear, melt into the metal seat like the Wicked Witch of the West, never to be seen again. “How can you gamble my life like this?” I shriek in utter horror.
“It’s not a gamble when the game is rigged.” Asher laughs cruelly.
Cruz and Leone size each other up. They’re both goliaths of men, well over six foot and built like they were made for fighting. Their broad chests glistening under the well-lit arena.Their muscles bulging. “Why would Leone sign up for this shit if it was?”
Asher leans in closer, his breath dusting over my neck. “We may have led him here with a little white lie. The fucker is huge, but he’s dumb as a doorframe.”
“It’s doorknob,” Jagger mutters under his breath.
Asher shrugs it off, not caring.
