Craving the Fight, page 12
My phone vibrated in my pocket, but I couldn’t look at it yet. Hopefully, it was Emma saying she was at the gym. Scar might have said he’d leave Emma out of this shit, but I didn’t believe a fucking word that came out of his mouth. I didn’t trust that she was safe or he wouldn’t use her to get something out of me.
The vehicle stopped, and Nikolai got out. “We’re here.” The back door ripped open, but he didn’t touch me. Smart man. “Get out and take the blindfold off,” he grumbled impatiently. I stepped out and slid the black cloth off my eyes. Nikolai glared at me, clearly annoyed by the scowl on his face. “Start walking, Reynolds.”
Keeping my head forward, I walked toward the front door of the white brick mansion with Wheeler to my right and Nikolai close behind. When I stepped inside, it was the same house as last night. Instead of going down the left hallway to the study, Wheeler motioned for me to follow him down the opposite hall. We walked past the kitchen and down a service hallway to a door. Wheeler opened it to reveal a set of stairs that descended into a basement.
The sound of flesh hitting flesh echoed in the air, and I already knew what I would see when I took the last step. The room was darkly lit with concrete walls and tiny slivers of windows, and was designed as a fighting gym with weight benches, punching bags, and treadmills. There wasn’t a fighting ring, but in the middle of the room was a large mat where the two suited guys from last night were sparring each other. Scar—dressed in another expensive suit—looked on from the other side of the room with another man covered in head-to-toe tattoos from what I could tell. There wasn’t a single inch of his skin that didn’t have ink on it.
Scar noticed us and walked over. “Good. You’re here. We can get started.”
“On what?” I asked blandly.
He smiled. “Your contract. Follow me.”
Nikolai and Wheeler stayed back while I followed Scar over to the corner of the room set up like a tattoo shop with a table and all the equipment. The tattooed guy sat down in the chair by the table and turned on the power supply to his machine.
Scar pointed at the table. “If you still want to do this, take off your shirt.”
I peered over at the two men sparring, and on their backs were dragon tattoos. Lifting my shirt, I tossed it on the table before lying down on my stomach. “I’m good. Let’s get this shit over with.”
The tattoo guy prepped my skin and got to work, the needles piercing my skin like tiny jackhammers. I loved the feel of it; that was why I had so much ink to begin with. However, I knew I’d be on the table for hours so he could mark me with the large dragon.
Scar leaned against the wall and watched his men spar on the mat. From what I could tell, they were good brawlers, but they lacked longevity and endurance. Nikolai watched them from across the room before taking off his shirt and joining them; he also had the dragon tattoo on his back.
“When do I fight?” I asked.
Tilting his head to the side, Scar pursed his lips. “I’m starting you off with in-house fights next week, the same kind of fighting your buddy Rushing organizes at his club in Vegas. You’ll be in the ring every single night.” He smirked and side-eyed me. “Unless you want to recruit your friends.”
Clenching my fists, I shot him a fiery glare. “Not gonna fucking happen.”
Scar shrugged me off. “Hope your body can handle the stress.”
I wasn’t worried about it. Even if I had to fight for hours at a time, I wouldn’t let them beat me. “So, no fighting to the death?” I wondered.
He let out a throaty laugh. “Not yet. That starts next weekend for you. Nikolai has the main fight tomorrow, and I want you there. I’ll have someone come pick you up. It won’t be here.”
That was where he’d gotten smart. When he ran the Dark Side, it was in one location. Now with him holding the fights in different places he’d be less likely to get busted. Turning my attention to the mat, I focused on Nikolai and how he moved. He was quick on his feet and a hard puncher, his technique aggressive and bold.
“Is he your best fighter?”
Scar followed my line of sight and nodded. “He is. His family are the kind of people you don’t want to mess with. They’re the ones supplying the men you’ll be fighting against.”
And now it all made sense. “Basically, your fighters do the dirty work for them.”
Scar pulled out his phone and then slid it back into his pocket. “Guess you can put it that way. They do their part, and I do mine.”
I went back to studying Nikolai’s style. “Am I fighting him at some point?”
“No,” Scar barked, his tone hard. I looked up at him, and he shook his head. “You two are not to step in the ring together.”
Eyes narrowed, I stared at him, wondering why he was so adamant. “Why?”
Scar huffed. “Because you two are the best I got. I can’t have one of you taking out the other.”
“Who’s better?”
He peered down at me and lifted his shoulders. “That’s why I can’t let you fight. I honestly don’t know who would win.” His phone rang, and he walked away.
Nikolai continued to spar with the two men, and his tactics were brutal. One day, he and I would take the mat; it was inevitable.
One thing was for certain. I can’t lose.
Chapter 24
Emma
I’d been sitting in the dark for the past two hours in Carter’s living room. It was closing in on midnight, and I’d heard nothing from him. So many scenarios ran through my mind. Did he fight? Was he lying in a ditch somewhere? Had Scar done something else to him?
My phone rang, and I gasped, my heart racing as I knocked it off the couch onto the floor. I wanted it to be Carter but was disappointed to see it was Ava. I hadn’t talked to her since she left for Paris.
“Hey,” I answered.
“Hi. I know it’s late there, but I wanted to call and check up on you. You doing okay?”
“Oh yes,” I lied. “It’s been nice spending time with my family.”
“What about the letter? Did you ever figure out who sent it?”
Ava was my best friend, but it was too dangerous to tell her the truth. “I’m pretty sure it was just a prank, nothing to worry about. But you … tell me about Paris.” I had to switch the subject.
She squealed so loud I had to hold the phone away from my ear. “It’s amazing here! I can’t believe I have another week in this paradise. Then, I’ll be back in New York with you.”
Biting my lip, I leaned my head back against the couch. “I don’t know when I’m going back, Ava. Right now, I kind of like being in California. I think I’m going to stay for a while, maybe find some modeling jobs on this side of the country.”
“And here I thought you wanted to avoid Cali,” she said, laughing. And I did for a while.
“Things are different now.”
A beep sounded in my ear, and I looked at the screen to see it was Reagan calling in. “Ava,” I called out quickly, “I have to go. My sister’s on the other line. I’ll talk to you soon, okay. There’s a lot I have to tell you.”
“Okay. I miss you.”
“I miss you too.” I switched over the calls and took a quick breath. “Reagan, what’s up?”
“Is he back yet?”
“No,” I huffed. I got to my feet and paced around the living room. “Carter’s not answering any of his texts either. His phone didn’t get charged last night, so it’s probably dead.”
“Ugh, men. Are you worried?” I was more than worried: I was petrified.
“A little,” I said, downplaying my true feelings.
“Are you going to tell me the whole story now? You were exceptionally vague earlier.”
I knew that if I told Reagan something, she’d keep it to herself. I trusted her. Plus, it killed me to keep everything from her.
“Carter’s in really deep, Ray,” I confessed. “Scar gave him an ultimatum. He has to fight for him.”
Reagan hissed out a breath. “I figured as much. Are we talking fight or die?”
Just the thought made my stomach shrink in on itself. “Yes. I’m guessing it’ll be similar to the way things were when dad, Uncle Cam, and Paxton fought. And even now, I still don’t know all the details about that.”
“Neither do I,” Reagan added. “Paxton gave us some insight, but I’m sure he held back.”
There was still a considerable chunk of Scar’s ultimatum I had yet to tell her. I stopped pacing the living room and sat back down on the couch. “There’s something else, Reagan.”
“Oh hell, what else could there be?”
Closing my eyes, I slowly let out a shaky breath and opened my eyelids. “Carter has to take part in more than double the number of fights because he wouldn’t recruit anyone. I’m sure you can figure out who he’s saving here.”
Reagan gasped. “Oh my God, Scar wants our brother too?”
“And Ripp, Braden, Kase, and Hunter,” I added, peering around at the dark living room. “He wants them all. Carter refuses to tell them.”
“Are you going to? Carter can’t do this alone; it’ll totally screw with his head. Having to fight is one thing, but constantly fighting for your life is another.”
My heart pounded in my throat. Reagan was right; he couldn’t do it alone. But I made a promise to him. “Please don’t say anything, Reagan. I’m trusting you to keep this to yourself.”
Reagan puffed out an angry breath. “Fine. I still think the guys should know. They’ll want to help.” I knew they would.
Headlights beamed in through the windows, and my pulse skyrocketed. “I think Carter’s back,” I burst out quickly. “I gotta go.”
“Okay. Fill me in tomorrow.”
We hung up, and I held my breath as I waited for Carter to come through the door. Finally, I could hear his jingling keys as he unlocked the door and walked inside. He immediately found me even though it was dark, his face cloaked by shadows.
“I’m sorry I didn’t text back. My phone’s been dead for hours,” Carter said, his tone low and gruff.
I stood. “I figured it would be.” Slowly, I closed the distance between us, wondering what I would see once I got a good look at his face. His eyes never wavered from mine when I stepped up to him. He looked the same, with no bruises or cuts.
“You didn’t fight tonight?” I asked.
He shook his head. “No. That starts on Monday. I’ll have one every night, and then next weekend will be a big one.” The hesitance in his eyes was my answer; I knew what next weekend would bring.
“What did you do today that took so long?” I asked, my stomach sagging with dread.
Averting his gaze, he turned around and lifted his T-shirt over his head. On his back was the same dragon tattoo Nikolai had on his, only Carter’s was freshly done and covered with a clear waterproof bandage. The tattoo took up the entire upper half of his back, and was across his shoulders, and on part of his neck.
“I see,” I said.
“It’s my contract.” His voice sounded tired and tense, as if it took effort to speak. Carter turned around and kissed the top of my head. “I’m going to take a shower.” He walked away, and I watched him go, regret plaguing me from the inside out. I should’ve handled this on my own from the beginning, and now it was too late.
Chapter 25
Emma
Carter and I had a gorgeous, beautiful Sunday to ourselves before he’d be forced to leave to watch Nikolai fight. I didn’t realize how much time he would be spending away from me. Once Carter got home last night, he took a shower, and we laid in bed. He didn’t speak; he just held me. I wanted to tell him how much I hated myself for getting him involved with Scar, but I knew he didn’t want to talk about it. So that was why I decided to give him his space. When he was ready to speak, he’d find me. But it killed me to feel the distance between us.
Closing my eyes, I tilted my head up to the sky and let the sun soak into my skin. It did nothing to calm my nerves. The back door opened, and I watched Carter stroll toward me from the corner of my eye, dressed in swimming trunks with a towel draped over his shoulder. He grabbed one of the lounge chairs and pulled it over beside mine.
“I’m sorry I slept so long. I needed it,” Carter said.
I lifted my sunglasses on top of my head and looked up at him. “It’s okay. I’m just out here relaxing.”
Taking my hand, Carter helped me up, and he sat down with me straddling his lap. He wrapped his arms around my waist, his fingers gently grazing my bare skin. “I love you, Emma.”
In his eyes, I could see the real Carter. When he came back last night, there was a wall he put up between us. Right now, it was gone, and I wanted to hold onto him.
Cupping his cheeks, I leaned in and kissed him. “I love you too.”
When I looked into his eyes, he smiled. “Tell me something good.”
“Something good, huh?” I swiveled my hips against him, and he groaned, making me smile. “Let’s see.” I thought back to all the memories we shared; there were so many. However, there was one that I never came clean about. It seemed like the perfect time to confess. “I got one,” I said, grinning wide.
Chuckling, Carter rested his hands on my hips, his cock stirring between my legs. “Uh-oh. I can’t wait to hear this.”
“Oh, you’ll love it,” I promised. “Remember that time when everyone visited my family’s cabin? You were fifteen, and I was thirteen.”
His eyes lit up. “I do. All of us took turns taking the four-wheelers out. You and I ended up riding the trails together.” We only had two four-wheelers, and the boys thought it pertinent that one of them get paired with the girls. Ethan rode alongside Peyton while Reagan and Braden were adamant about competing against each other. It was a rivalry that continued to exist today. Ripp and Brooks rode out together, leaving me with Carter.
“It couldn’t have worked out perfectly if we tried,” I confessed.
Carter’s eyes narrowed with curiosity. “What am I missing?”
A snicker escaped my lips. “My four-wheeler didn’t break down that day.” I had disconnected one of the hoses, and hid it so he wouldn’t be able to fix it. That way, I’d have to ride with him through the rest of the trails.
Understanding flashed in his greenish amber gaze. “You’re a bad girl, Emma Jameson.”
I shrugged. “What can I say? I wanted to hold onto you. I never knew that silly teenager crush would turn into so much more today.”
He slid his hands up my body, grazing the sides of my breasts before cupping my cheeks. “Who would’ve thought.”
Leaning into his touch, I stared right into his eyes. “Do you see me in your future?”
A sad smile spread across his lips. “I’ve never seen anyone but you in my future, Emma. Of course, there are a lot of uncertainties, but I’d like to think that one day our lives will be what we want.” He glanced down at my lips, his gaze heated and raw. “I only want you, Emma. You are my forever.”
Tears sprung to my eyes, and my heart overfilled with joy. “Then, I guess it’s the perfect time to tell you that I plan on staying for a while. I already told my roommate not to expect me back in New York just yet.”
“How long are we talking?” Carter asked, excitement in his voice.
I shrugged. “Not sure, but we’ll figure it out. All I know is that I’m not leaving you to deal with this mess with Scar yourself. I’m going to be right here.”
He slid his hands back down my body to my waist, his gaze never wavering from mine. “I don’t want you to worry about me. The only person I’m worried about is you. I’m so afraid Scar will use you to get to me. It’s what he does.”
Sadly, I knew that, and I was prepared. “I know,” I replied softly. “And if it comes to that, I’m ready to fight. I’m not helpless, Carter. You don’t have to protect me twenty-four-seven. I’m stronger than I look.”
His smile made everything inside of me tighten. “Yes, you are.”
Wrapping my arms around his neck, I offered up a cheeky grin. “We have the day to ourselves before you have to disappear tonight. What do you want to do?”
Carter’s eyes darkened with need, his cock twitching between my legs. I thrust my hips against him, earning a low growl to escape his lips. “I can think of a few things,” he said.
Biting my lip, I ran my hands over his arms, his skin hot from the sun. “I think you need to cool off a bit.”
I nodded toward the pool, and he chuckled. “I think so too.” Grabbing the backs of my thighs, Carter lifted me and I wrapped my legs around his waist as he entered the pool. Once settled down on the stairs, he untied my bikini bottoms and mock gasped. “Whoops. Sorry about that.”
Reaching behind my back, I untied my top. “Oops. I guess I’m sorry about that too.” I tossed it behind me while my bottoms floated away along with it.
Carter’s heat-filled gaze raked down my body. “You’re doing the opposite of cooling me off.”
Snickering, I slid my hands down to his cock, freeing him from his shorts. “That’s the whole point.”
I pumped up and down his length a few times until a strangled groan erupted from his lips. “Fuck, baby. That feels so damn good.”
Hooking my arms around his neck, I teased him by trapping his arousal between our bodies, sliding his length along my wet center. Carter’s arms gripped me tightly around the waist, and he kissed me, pushing his tongue deep inside my mouth. His cock pulsed between us, and he began rocking into me with increasing pressure. I moaned into his mouth in response.
I moved my hips against him to give him a taste of what it would feel like with me riding him. Carter groaned with need and bit my lower lip. His strong grip on my ass held me firmly in place while he thrust against me.
“Stop teasing me,” he growled.
I bit his lip back, sucking it between my teeth. “It’s so fun, though.”
I lifted my hips and allowed the tip of his cock to graze my opening. By the grip he had on me, I knew I was in for the ride of my life. Slamming me down over his cock in one thrust, he stopped and held me there, maintaining eye contact. I loved being stretched to the point of pain and seeing the passion in his eyes. His fingers dug into my hips, and he squeezed, holding me still as he began pounding into me with short, fast thrusts, his breaths coming out quick and shallow. His mouth came down on my breasts, which were teasing him by bouncing in his face.
