“I told you the odds were against me.” His eyes dropped to the floor.
“That’s some bullshit answer. You want to know what I don’t see?” I leaned forward, bringing his attention back to me. “I don’t see the fighter that knows how to put the money to his mouth. I don’t see the fighter that knocked me on my ass and put me in a boot.” Dillon smirked for a moment. “I need to see that fighter, because this punk ass bitch ain’t it. What else are you willing to put on the line for this?”
His eyes drifted away, his fire re-igniting in him. He nodded, took a few deep breaths.
“Atta boy. Go make yourself proud and win this fight,” I said, pumping him up.
“Ah, gramps wants to go to bed early, that’s why,” he teased, and at that moment the boy was back, and I knew he wasn’t going to lose. His eyes drifted to the side and back to me. “I’m going to win this, Shooter.”
With the warning of the next round starting, my hope for him was that he would end it once and for all. Not back down.
I couldn’t help but glance over to where he had drifted his attention. It wasn’t a coincidence. As the fight began, I tore away to find what the hell he was looking at. We had our regular group of people crowding the area, a few more suits than I could like.
But one man next to a suit and the rat Lenny was another man that must have wanted an early grave, because he’s never been here before.
Chris.
The bastard that laid hands onmywoman.
I felt a hand on my shoulder, pulling me from murderous thoughts. “Brother, your eye is twitching and you’re missing your boy about to have a knockout,” Stray said, as the crowd roared into a frenzy. Out of the side of my eyes, I see Stray focus back on the fight watching every action before him. While I had a target on a man that I was about to break a rule from the club.
Never murder someone on legal or illegal business property. What would happen if the enforcer of the club watched the blood drip from his lifeless body? Maybe I should have covered myself with his blood and showed Amelia just how far I’d go to have her and protect her.
The crowd erupted in shouts and screams as Dillon found his drive again and showed everyone the man that I knew well. Stray busted in happy shouts, knowing that Dillon would take the win. As much as I wanted to celebrate with him, hoist him up on our shoulders, I had another problem on my hands.
The final bell chimed announcing the end of the fight. Mixed emotions roamed the arena. People were happy that they were taking home a chunk of change and some furious that they didn’t pick the right man to win. A few caught my attention, one more than others. The sleaze of a man hung his head in defeat. Acouple of suits near him looked at each other and back at the ring before slowly brushing past people who were storming the ring.
Chris picked up a bottle that looked like he was nursing back to health. I wanted him out of here. The sight of him unraveled the control that I worked to keep at bay. The sight of him reminded me of the obstacle that he had become from having Amelia all to myself.
I stopped in front of him, “You shouldn’t be here.” I kept my voice calm, or at least the best I could do before he thought he had a shot of swinging at me. “Get the fuck off our property.”
The slim looked up at him, bloodshot eyes, unkempt appearance. The man looked like he rolled out of the trash and settled for a sewage smell. What Amelia saw in him, I’d never know.
He unsteadily stood up, attempting to make himself present taller. He took one sip of the beer before tossing it to the ground. Shards scattering along the ground. “You’re not the boss of me.”
Well, I didn’t think that she married him for his brains. His breath was horrid, probably could be used as smelling salts. He was just proving that I needed her out of that house, out of his life. I could have done that when I found out, but Amelia wouldn’t have trusted me as much as she did.
“Not of you, but the patch on my back means you’re on my property.” I warned him. “I’ll say it again. Leave.”
It was just him and me, no one else to hear me, no witnesses when I wanted to wring his neck, possibly snap it before common sense became my voice of reasoning. “I suggest you leave, Chris. Now. I won’t tell you again.” The fire in my voice wasn’t a warning anymore; it was a promise.
He squinted, taking a staggering step. Then a smile crept on his face, “I never told you my name. Which means, you know me through someone else.” His eyes scanned me up and down like he was looking for a way to get further under my skin. I triednot to react, but when it came to her, there were no promises. “I think you knowmywife, I think. She’s friends or something with one of your people.” He was shooting off at the mouth now, and I was inches away from snapping the light out of his eyes.
I kept failing. “Wait a second… you know her.” He studied my face before waving a finger in my face, “Yeah you know her.” He was in a drunk stupor; he didn’t know what he was saying. It was still no excuse.
Don’t give too much away, dumbass.
My hands itched to punch him, one good hit to knock him out on the floor. He kept running his mouth, taking a step closer to me, “I see that look in your eyes. Mia.”
My body started to shake. It was one thing for him to be there, but to see his mind spin even under the influence, he was testing me. “Get the fuck off my property before you land yourself six feet under and no one would care in the world. You don’t fucking belong here. Do something for once in your small dick life and stop fucking around.”
He was nearly bumping chests with mine. The cocky grin on his mouth wasn’t going to save him from my next impulsive thought. “Well, I have one person that would look for me.”
I snapped.
I blacked out.
With a forceful lunge and my hand tight around his scrawny neck, Chris was pinned to the wall behind him. Heat rose from my body, anger became fury and turmoil. “Go ahead, scream. I like it when people scream like something is going to save them.” Just like Stray, Chris tried to rip my grip off him. He fought for another breath, but I yanked his body away from the wall and thrusted him back against the wall.
