Page 9 of Falling Hard
“I must really be crazy,” I scoffed. “Maybe I should just go back to my room and spend the evening making you watch reruns ofSay Yes to the Dresswith me,” I taunted as we reached the elevator. I stuck out my tongue as he scrunched up his face as if he’d just eaten something rotten.
“I will tell you as long as you promise not to freak out and still come with me, willingly, because I’m not against tying you up and taking you against your will,” he challenged, glaring at me as we entered the elevator and headed for the lobby.
I bit on my bottom lip, contemplating his words, not liking the tone of his voice. I already guessed I wasn’t going to like what came out of his mouth next, but my curiosity was getting the best of me, so I cautiously nodded my head for him to continue.
“So you know how some of the guys participate in underground fighting?” I nodded my head, and he continued, “Well, there’s one going on tonight. Some of the guys are gonna be there too.’ He looked at me warily. “I swear you’ll be safe. I won’t leave your side, and if you don’t enjoy yourself, we can leave as long as you give me at least half an hour of genuinely trying,” he said in a low tone as we walked through the lobby and out of the hotel. When Critter nodded toward the left, I turned and looked to see his bike, a blue 2015 Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-Eight, parked at the end of the parking lot.
“A fight? You want to take me to an illegal, highly dangerous, underground fight, knowing violence scares the crap out of me? My father would rearrange your face for even suggesting we go to a fight!” I started to back away from him. “No, no way am I getting on the back of that bike. I don’t have the ability to handle that kind of situation, Critter, and you know this. Have you seen me? I’m tiny and defenseless. What if something happens, what if we get separated, what if the cops show up? I’ve heard how rowdy that crowd can get. There is no way…” I rambled on, panicking slightly. I stopped dead in my tracks, eyes wide, and began fiddling with my hair, a nervous habit I’d picked up over the years.
“Whoa, whoa, calm down, Libby. I’ve already told you everything will be fine. There’s going to be tight security inside, and men will be watching at least a mile if not more out from the perimeter of the warehouse in case cops do happen to raid,” he reassured me. “Not to mention, there will be a few brothers there too. Plus, you have me, and have I ever let you down”—he held up a finger—“and before you answer that, what happened when we first met doesn't count! Now, deep breaths.” He somehow started to convince me to get me on the bike.
I hesitated, weighing the pros and cons. On one side, it was going to be crowded, there would be drinking and violence, but on the other hand, the thought of it was kind of exciting, thrilling even, and truth be told, I didn’t want to be stuck in the hotel room the whole time I was here.
“All right, I’ll come, but if you so much as take more than ten steps away from me at any time, I’m never going to speak to you again,” I threatened. “And you have to promise that if I want to leave, we will,” I added sternly as I got on the back of his bike, already second-guessing my decision to go but wanting to try to push myself out of my comfort zone as well.
“I promise, you’ll have fun. Just say the word, and we can take off.” He smiled, then revved the engine and took off.
