“Home,” he whispers softly. “That’s anywhere you are, baby.”
And with that, my man gives me a smirk that makes my heart beat faster and he stands taller before facing off the guy in front of him.
Ty kicks his ass, grabbing his neck and pulling him into his body so that Ty can drag the guy to the dirt and get a few good kidney jabs in before using his elbow to knock him out. The beefy guy Ty’s fighting doesn’t go down that easily though. He flips them over so Ty’s back is against the ground.
“Get him, Ty!” I scream, trying my best to not step across the line drawn in the dirt that would disqualify the fight.
“You’ll be lucky if he walks out of here without a concussion,” a sinister voice snarls behind me.
My heart drops and my clapping slows to a stop as I try to look around for the best possible route to get the fuck out of here.
“What is it, Roxie? Not happy to see me?” Mickey’s breath is hot in my ear as he speaks directly to me. Ty’s fighting in the pit, focused completely on trying to dodge the fist aimed for his temple. I’m locked in on the danger, but at the same time, it feels like everything is fuzzy.
What is Mickey going to do?
What can I do to make sure he leaves us alone?
Can I get Ty and I out of here?
What kind of backup does Mickey have, would we be walking into a trap?
Ty shifts under his opponent’s hold, landing a punch to the guy’s elbow that makes him roll to the side in agony. I doubt he’ll be feeling anything or able to use his arm for a good minute. Ty just bought himself the time he needed to win the fight.
“You’ve been a very bad girl. And you know what I do to bad girls,” Mickey taunts in my ear and I’m paralyzed with fear.
I do know.
Exactly what happens when someone like me pisses off someone like him.
“And your little trick of getting disgusting before I could collect won’t work this time. I’ve discovered a way to make sure you’re as clean as possible before I take what you owe me. Hydrochloric acid will make sure there’s not one trace of him anywhere on you.”
I swallow my terror down, straightening my shoulders back. That shit will disfigure me for life. He’s talking torture.
“What do you want, Mickey?” I say, gritting my teeth, and refusing to let the fear bleed into my voice.
“The debt you owe me. You’re still on the hook, regardless of what your little boyfriend says. You owe me a big chuckof change, Roxanne, and because of his little savior routine,” Mickey juts his chin out towards Ty who’s gained the upper hand and is close to winning by knockout. His opponent’s trying to block the hits, but Ty’s relentless. “I’m thinking I should add him and his friend onto your tab. If you’re not going to pay, maybe I can get it from them and their little business.”
My eyes widen and my chest squeezes in fear.
“No!” I say quickly, turning around and pleading with Mickey. “Leave them out of this.”
“No, I don’t think I will. They did start it after all.” He smiles with his yellowing teeth from too many cigarettes and shakes his head. “But because I’m such agood person, I’ll offer you a deal.”
I inhale through my nose quickly, knowing that I’m either going to be burned or beaten. But I’ll take either if it keeps Ty and Asher out of his hands.
“What’s the deal?”
“Thata girl,” Mickey smirks sinisterly. The crowd around us cheers. Turning my head quickly to glance over my shoulder, I have to make sure Ty’s okay. As soon as I see him, his eyes are on me and they’remurderous. Mickey grabs my throat, turning me around to face him, and growls.
“You’re my fighter for the next few weeks and one big fight of my choosing. Do that and I’ll keep them out of it.”
The crowd is rushing towards Ty, but I hear him roar my name.
“Roxie!”
In the split second I have to decide, I know what I have to do. I know I just told Ty not to do this, not to sacrifice because we solve our problems together, but this one… This problem is mine and I won’t jeopardize anything he’s built.
I won’t take anything from him, I won’t put him in danger.
