She pulled away, her eyes darting around the room. “Yeah. I have to help set up. I’ll see you later.”
He watched her as she walked away, warmth spreading through him.
As Diablo checked the windows and doors, Charlie came up to him. “Hey,” the promoter said.
Diablo gave him a chin lift and continued checking the windows.
“I gotta talk with you.”
Diablo stopped and turned to him, his face stoic.
Charlie cleared his throat. “I heard you’re cozying up to my daughter.”
Diablo stared straight ahead at the ring.
“I want you to leave Fallon alone.”
“She’s old enough to decide what she wants to do.”
“Fallon’s not like other girls her age. She’s been sheltered most of her life.”
“She seems fine to me.”
Charlie audibly sighed. “But she’s not. She’s very shy and backward.” Diablo fixed his stare on the man’s sweaty face. Charlie laughed nervously. “I mean… you’ve seen her. She’s got a bad limp.”
“What the fuck does that have to do with her deciding who to go out with?”
“She’s self-conscious about it—even obsessed. So when a rough-looking man gives her attention, she’s obviously flattered. She may not understand that you’re feeling sorry for her. I just don’t want her to get hurt.”
Diablo’s nostrils flared. “I don’t feel sorry for her. I like Fallon. She likes me. Fuckin’ stay out of it. And the only reason I’m not smashing your face is because of her. This talk is over.” He walked away, his fists clenching and unclenching.
A half hour later, Diablo was by the door, frisking the men as they came in for the fights. Emerald and Heidi pranced around on stage in push-up bras one size too small, bikini bottoms, and fishnet thigh-highs while Sam darted his eyes nervously around the room. Diablo watched the wiry-haired man as sweat dripped down his face, his gaze flicking to Diablo’s several times. Diablo’s muscles tensed. Something was up.
Then the ring girls exited the platform and Sam blew the whistle. Two tall and well-built men entered the ring and faced each other. The one with the red shorts looked a little bit frightened and unsure of himself. The fighter in the yellow shorts grinned, then attacked. His right hook was so hard that his opponent fell down immediately. The spectators went wild as the fighter on the floor struggled to rise.
“How long’s it been going on?” Army asked, taking Diablo’s gaze away from the ring.
“Hey.” He raised his fist in front of him, greeting Army, Chains, Brutus, Cue Ball, Jigger, Goldie, and Paco. “The fights just started. The swaying dude in the red shorts went down with one punch. It was fuckin’ awesome.”
“I gotta see this,” Paco said as he, Jigger, Brutus, and Cue Ball walked toward the crowd.
“Is that sexy ring girl still here? I think her name was Diamond,” Goldie said.
“The ring girls are the same as always.” Diablo scanned the crowd.
“Her name wasn’t Diamond, it was Sapphire,” said Chains.
“Nah, that doesn’t sound right. I know it was the name of some fucking stone. Maybe Ruby.” Goldie scrubbed his hand across his chin.
“There she is, with the hot blonde who partied with us last time,” Army said.
“We’ll catch you later, bro,” Goldie said as the three brothers made a beeline for the two women who stood by the wall across from the ring.
Diablo jerked his chin and panned the room, looking for Sam. He spotted him behind the ring, watching the Night Rebels. There was something about the way he looked at Paco, Cue Ball, Jigger, and Brutus, then turned his attention to the other three brothers who were talking to the women. Sam then looked around the room again, his gaze briefly catching Diablo’s.It’s like he’s counting how many brothers are here. And he keeps looking to see if more are gonna come in.
Diablo focused all his attention on Sam, careful not to make direct eye contact with him. After twenty minutes, Sam took out his phone and went outside. Diablo motioned Rocky over and told him he’d be back in a few. Diablo went outside and walked to the back of the warehouse. For being such a tall, built man, he could be surprisingly light on his feet; as he treaded carefully, the sand underneath his feet absorbed his steps.
“I only counted seven. Oh, and the stupid fuck who’s the bouncer. I didn’t even know he was in the Night Rebels until last week when all that shit went down.”
