Taking the Fight, page 6
CHAPTER 11
BRADEN
I didn’t know what to think about last night. Reagan gave in to me, but that didn’t mean anything. I wanted to call her, but I had a feeling I should wait for her to make the next move. After last night, things could take two different directions. Either Reagan would agree to be mine, or she’d push me away like she always did.
Grabbing my gym bag, I headed out to my car and tried to crank it up, only it didn’t turn over. All I got was a clicking noise which meant my battery was dead. After last night and where my headspace was, it wouldn’t surprise me if I’d kept my lights on accidentally. Luckily, I had another mode of transportation.
I went back inside to fetch the key to my Aprilia RSV4 1000. It was a gift to myself after I won my first UFC fight.
Once I switched the things in my gym bag over to my backpack, I was ready to go. I opened the garage and started up the bike to warm it up. It needed a few minutes, so I pulled out my phone to call Carter. Since the exhaust on my bike was loud, I moved away from it.
“Hey, man,” Carter greeted.
“Hey. I’m going to be a little late getting to the gym this morning. My battery’s dead so I’m going to the auto parts store to buy another one.”
“No worries. I’m still at home anyway. I’ll probably stay here with Emma. You know, have a little workout session of our own.”
My thoughts went to Reagan. “I had a small one of those last night.”
“With who? Reagan?”
I could still taste her on my lips. There was no doubt in my mind things would’ve escalated if I’d stayed, but I didn’t want to push it.
“Yeah, it got a little heated,” I admitted. “Thankfully, I backed off before I lost control.”
Carter laughed. “Have you talked to her this morning?”
“No. I’m hoping to see her at the gym. We have a lot to talk about.”
“I’d say so,” he said, chuckling even more. “Is Reagan training with Annika today?”
Groaning, I hung my head. “Yep. And that’s a whole other story. I’ll tell you later what happened.”
“Oh hell, I can’t wait.”
We said our goodbyes and I slid my phone into the side pocket of my backpack. The only reason why I didn’t want to go to the gym today was because of Annika, but I wanted to see Reagan. Once the pack was secured around my back and my helmet was on, I hopped on my bike and sped away. Nothing was more exhilarating than going full throttle on the highway. Sadly, it was only three miles to the auto parts store, so there wasn’t exactly a chance to do that today.
When I pulled up at the store, I slid off my helmet and carried it inside. Three men were waiting in line at the counter, and the man in front of me tapped his foot impatiently. It looked like I wasn’t the only one with car trouble this morning.
The middle-aged man huffed and glanced at me over his shoulder. “Been waiting twenty fucking minutes. You’d think they’d have more than one person working in the store.”
The young guy behind the counter looked frazzled as he typed things into his computer and scrambled around to find parts. Five minutes passed, then ten and fifteen. Only one of the men in the line had been helped during all that time. I didn’t want to waste the whole morning there, so I walked out and strapped on my helmet. There were other auto parts stores, but I decided to get a battery later. I didn’t necessarily need it now, but I also didn’t want to be stuck with just my motorcycle for transportation.
Straddling my bike, I put it in gear and slowly pulled out of the parking lot. However, I didn’t get far before a massive blast from behind sent me flying into the air.
CHAPTER 12
REAGAN
Before walking out of my apartment, I quickly texted Braden.
Me: I won’t be at the gym today, but maybe I can see you later?
I thought he’d text right back, but he didn’t. The whole way to Finn’s house, I couldn’t stop thinking about Braden, about our kiss. If he hadn’t pulled away, there was no telling what would’ve happened. Would I have let him take me, body and soul? Yes, without a doubt. That was how intense last night was for me. However, I wasn’t so sure it was the same for Braden. I kept waiting for his reply, but there was nothing.
Huffing, I gripped my steering wheel. This was what I hated about relationships: the unknown. Why wasn’t Braden texting me back? How could he kiss me the way he did and then turn around and ignore me?
When I pulled up at Finn’s house—or should I say mega-mansion—my mouth dropped to the floor. The driveway was lined with palm trees and filled with over a dozen cars. And right in the middle of it all was a giant water fountain, surrounded by lush greenery.
I parked my Mini Cooper beside Annika’s Acura and gazed in awe at the house when I got out. The place had to be at least twenty thousand square feet or more. Who the hell needed that much space?
The front door opened, and Annika waved at me. She was dressed in a pair of spandex shorts and a sports bra with her dark hair pulled back in a low bun. “Welcome,” she greeted.
I jerked my head toward the many cars in the driveway. “Having a party?”
Annika shook her head. “Not exactly. But don’t worry, we won’t be around them.”
Them? I didn’t know what to think about that.
After snatching my bag out of the car, I walked to the tall columned entry and stepped inside. Straight ahead was an illuminated circular staircase that led to the next level. The light white oak floors, black trim, and elements of glass balanced out the dark and lightness in the room; it was exquisite.
“Do you want me to show you around?” Annika asked.
I was about to say yes but then thought better of it. Was I impressed? How could I not be? I grew up in a wealthy household, but it was nothing compared to this. Could my parents afford it? Undoubtedly, so. However, their goal in life was to keep me and my siblings level-headed.
I looked around the foyer and shook my head. “No, let’s just get to work.”
Annika shrugged. “Suit yourself.”
We walked past the staircase and down a hallway that was floor-to-ceiling windows. Outside of those windows was the backyard. In the distance was a spectacular view of the mountains, and just below was the pool and spa, lined with grass and lounge chairs with a covered cabana off to the side. It was a private oasis.
“Is this all your brother’s?” I wondered.
“Yep,” Annika replied, “my family doesn’t do things small. You should see our mansions in New York.”
I could only imagine. It felt like the house went on for miles as we continued to walk through it. Soon, we came upon another hallway with more windows, and that was when I saw a group of eight men on the grass, paired up and sparring with each other. I stopped and stared at them, recognizing two of them. One of the guys was Trey Miller, a middleweight fighter who competed against my brother. He had his ash brown hair in his signature man bun and a cross tattoo on his back. His father used to compete against mine back in the day. The other guy I recognized was Parks Bradshaw, another fighter in the circuit, only he was a heavyweight. I’d met him at numerous parties over the past couple of years and even had a few drinks with him.
Annika came up beside me and peered out. “What’s wrong?”
I nodded at Trey and Parks. “I know the one with the cross tattoo and that one with the whitish-blond hair. I don’t want them to see me here.”
“They won’t,” Annika promised. “Finn doesn’t want me anywhere near them.”
“What are they doing here?” I asked, glancing over at her.
She blew out a sigh. “You should know the answer to that.” Her eyes fixed on the two men. “They’re our fighters, Reagan. Those two right there,” she said, pointing at the two tallest men on the lawn who looked alike with their similar muscular build and shaved dark hair, “are my cousins, Tanner and Marcus. The rest are guys we hired. They’re here willingly.”
But did Trey and Parks really know what they were doing? Parks could be an ass at times, especially when drunk, but Trey never struck me as a bad guy. I hated the thought of something terrible happening to either of them.
Annika nudged me with her elbow. “Come on. We have lots to do. I need help with everything.”
I followed her down a set of stairs to the bottom level of the house, where Finn’s gym was. When I walked inside, it had everything we could ever need: punching bags, treadmills, weight benches, and much more.
“Wow,” I marveled, gazing around in awe.
Annika walked to the mirrors and lifted her leg onto the bar to stretch her muscles. “I know, right.”
Before I could begin to stretch with her, Finn’s reflection appeared in the mirror, his eyes meeting mine. “Good morning.”
I turned to face him. “Same to you.”
He looked different from last night, more casual in a pair of navy athletic shorts and a white tank top that showed off his tanned muscles. Even his hair was unkempt in that sexy, bedhead kind of way. He nodded toward the hallway.
“I was getting ready to go outside with my guys, but I wanted to see you first,” he said.
When I glanced back at Annika, she waved for me to go, smirking mischievously. Finn moved out into the hall, and I walked alongside him. He took me right back up the stairs Annika and I had just come down.
“I was shocked to hear you were coming here.”
I scoffed. “Yeah, I tend to shock myself sometimes. I just think it’s better to keep you both away from Fightanium. When my brother and father, and everyone else, return from their vacations, I don’t want them asking questions.”
I looked over at him and he nodded. “Fair enough. I kind of like you being here.”
He took me down a different hallway, and I could feel the nervousness well up in my chest. “Where are you taking me exactly?”
Chuckling, he stopped at a closed door and placed a hand on the doorknob. “You don’t have to be nervous, Reagan. You can trust me.”
A laugh escaped my lips, and I stared at him as if he’d just said the most ludicrous thing I’d ever heard. “Sorry. Trust is not something I have right now.”
“I understand,” agreed Finn. “After what Nikolai’s done, I can see why. Hopefully, I can change your mind on a few things.” Doubtful, but I didn’t feel the need to reply. “Are you still coming with me to the charity ball tomorrow night?”
I nodded. “Yes. I have all that money to give away.”
Finn’s lips spread into a wide grin. “Good. Then, I guess I can show you these.” He opened the door and inside was a bedroom that shimmered like a sparkling star. Everything inside was silver: the bedspread, curtains, and even the fabric of the chaise lounge chair at the foot of the king-sized bed. But that wasn’t what he wanted me to look at. On the other side of the room was a clothing rack lined with evening gowns of different colors.
Finn leaned against the doorframe and flourished a hand toward them. “Pick one. They arrived just this morning for you.”
Mouth gaping, I stepped into the room and searched through them; they were gorgeous and made by several of the top designers in New York. “Oh my God,” I breathed.
Finn laughed. “That’s what I hoped you’d say.”
Shaking my head, I turned to face him. “I can’t take one of these. It’s too much.”
He cocked his head to the side. “Yes, you can. I expect one of them to be gone by the time you leave here today.” He winked and then disappeared down the hallway, his footsteps fading away.
With a heavy sigh, I stared at the dresses; my envious heart really wanted one. I didn’t want to be seduced by fancy things, but it was nice. My sister was always pampered with expensive baubles, and so was Peyton. Never once had I been offered what they had until recently.
One royal blue gown caught my eye, and I reached for it, knowing that as soon as I touched the fabric, I’d give in. But it was just a dress.
It won’t change me.
After spending the day with Annika in Finn’s private gym, I tried not to let Braden’s failure to communicate get to me. Nevertheless, it made me angry that he never texted back. Instead of obsessing over it, I’d silenced my phone when Annika and I started our training session and put it away, determined not to look at it. As soon as I didn’t show up at Fightanium, I knew I’d get a gazillion calls. A few hours have passed since I’d looked at my phone, so there were probably some missed calls. Even though I didn’t want to look until I was back in my car, the suspense was killing me.
With my evening gown draped over my arm, I headed outside to my car. I wanted to leave before Finn finished with his fighters. He didn’t scare me or make me feel threatened like Nikolai did, but truth be told, that unnerved me more. It was evident that Finn was interested in me, and I had no idea how to proceed with everything and maintain my distance. If I turned him down, what would he do to me? Nikolai had threatened to kill my parents if my sister and Carter didn’t play by his rules. Would Finn do the same thing?
Looking up at the multimillion-dollar house, I felt a wave of unease wash over me. I wouldn't be there if it weren’t for wanting to help Annika. I probably shouldn’t have agreed to it in the first place. But unfortunately, it was too late to back out.
I quickly got in my car and drove away, able to finally breathe easier now there was some distance between the Sellingers and me. Focusing on the road, I searched my bag until I found my phone. I wanted there to be something from Braden, either a missed call or text, anything to let me know that last night meant something to him.
Once I got on the main road, I glanced at my phone. “What the …?”
There was nothing from Braden. The only missed calls or texts I had were from my sister. As there was no one behind me, I slowed down to give myself a chance to read her messages.
Emma: Hey, I need you to call me!
Emma: This is important! Where are you?
Emma: I’m starting to get worried about you.
Then, my stomach dropped when I scrolled through to the last text message.
Emma: Braden’s been in an accident. Come to the hospital—SCH at Culver City. Room #354.
That was why Braden never texted me back. It felt like all the blood drained from my face, and everything turned cold. My throat thickened and my chest tightened so much that I found it difficult to breathe. An accident? What kind of accident?
I pressed my foot harder on the gas, not caring if I got a speeding ticket. I had to get to the hospital. I called Emma and the line rang and rang.
“Dammit,” I hissed, calling her again. I called no less than ten times, and she never picked up.
Tears filled my eyes as I tried to keep my mind from wandering to the worst-case scenarios. If Braden was in the hospital, it was apparent he was hurt. But how bad was it?
The hospital was only fifteen minutes away, but it felt like an eternity to get there. Once parked, I ran inside and straight to the elevators. All I could hear was my blood rushing as I waited to be taken to the third floor. As soon as the doors opened, I raced down the hallway toward room #354 and stopped when Emma and Carter stepped out of Braden’s room.
Emma’s eyes widened when she saw me. “There you are. Where the hell have you been?”
I flung my arms around her neck. “I’ve been training someone.”
Carter moved to where I could see him. “That’s why we went to the gym to see if you were there.”
“We trained elsewhere today,” I told him, letting Emma out of my embrace. “Annika wanted a little more privacy.” Of course, it was a lie, but I didn’t know what else to say. Swallowing hard, I could feel my lips tremble as I nodded at the door. “What happened to Braden?”
Emma released a heavy sigh. “He’s okay. He’s been asking for you. But, sadly, his phone got damaged in the accident.”
Carter chuckled. “Just a few minutes ago, I thought he was going to kick the doctor’s ass if he didn’t get the discharge papers rolling.”
Clutching my chest, a sense of relief traveled through me. Braden was fine. “Did you call his parents?” I asked.
Carter shook his head. “No. Braden didn’t want them to leave Peyton.”
“Go in there,” Emma said, grabbing my shoulders. “He’s worried about you. Maybe you can get him to calm down.” She stepped to the side and my heart raced. When I opened the door, I couldn’t see Braden because of the curtain, but when I heard his voice, I froze in place.
“So help me, God, this better be you guys saying I can get the hell out of here.”
His feet pounded on the floor and the curtain flew to the side, making me gasp. The second he saw me, it was as if the world stood still. All Braden had on was a pair of athletic shorts and his chest was bare. His right leg was bandaged from mid-thigh to below his knee, and there was also a bandage from his right elbow up to his shoulder.
When I looked into his eyes, all the anger diminished from his face. I ran up to him and flung my arms around his neck. His arms wrapped tightly around me, pulling me in close.
“I have never been so scared in my life,” I cried. “What happened?”
Braden leaned into my neck, breathing me in. It made goosebumps fan out over my skin. “I like seeing this side of you,” he confessed, “I’m surprised you didn’t call me a dumb ass for landing myself in the hospital.”
I let him go and smiled. “Don’t get used to it. You know I’m not an emotional sap.”
He winked. “Yeah, I know. It’s one of the things I like about you.”
“But seriously,” I said, “what happened?”
“It’s all over the news, sunshine.” His smile faded.
