I close my eyesand focus my breathing. I not going into this fight as blind as the last one. Thanks to Bastian’s cousin, we managed to figure out a few days ago who I would be fighting. Not enough time to thoroughly study their technique or style, but enough time to get a general feel for her.
I’m glad Layla spent the last several days working with me. Her style and technique, as well as her build, are very similar to the girl I’m fighting. If I were healthy – my body at one hundred percent, I’d be pretty confident about this fight.
I’ve worked my ass off on my defensive style. Working with Zane and the rest has been a good way to help me prepare for so many different scenarios. If I were still wanting to pursue this professionally, their help would benefit me in so many ways. Make me a more rounded, balanced fighter.
The door to the room I’ve been placed in opens and Rossi walks in looking just as pissed as when Zane pulled me away from him earlier. “I don’t know what your boyfriend thinks he is up to, but he and McCabe are going to get your sister killed. Is that what you want?”
I have to fight the urge – the insatiable desire and hunger to punch him right in his face. I have a part to play in all of this too. If I’m not careful, I could ruin all their plans. “Yourpeople sent an invite to Diamond Industries. He’s here representing them.”
“And I’m sure he knows all about our little arrangement too. Doesn’t he? How else did you explain being here?” he hisses.
“No,” I lie. “He thinks I’m here for Cara and her boyfriend.”
He looks at me through narrowed eyes. He’s studying me. Trying to find the lie. I work hard at maintaining my façade. Making sure that I don’t give away anything with a tell.
He moves into my space running his forefinger across my collarbone. Chills erupt over my flesh at the contact as bile fills my throat. Revulsion is all I feel.
Without hesitation or thought, I slap his hand away from me.
He smiles at the reaction. “You were absolutely stunning tonight, by the way,” he tells me, his tone taking on what I’m assuming is supposed to be a seductive one. I don’t say a word in response. I don’t want him looking at me at all. He leans in, his hot breath making me want to puke as it moves over my ear. “If you’re still standing tonight, I think I just might find out what this hot little body can do. You still need to be punished for the other night; you know?”
He pulls me close to him. I can feel his erection pressing against lower belly and I’m just a little afraid of him in the moment. “It just makes it sweeter that I can take something from Valen like he did me. Like they all did.”
I shove him away. Anger passes over his face briefly before turning smug again.
I have no idea what he is talking about. Not a fucking clue what Zane could’ve possibly have done to him. I also have absolutely no intention of asking. I’m starting to think he’s unhinged.
Yeah, I'm probably a little slow on the uptake sometimes.
I’m a little afraid in spite of knowing that Zane and Jax aren’t far away and I don’t like the feeling. I don’t like being afraid of a man. I like knowing that I can handle myself, but I am beginning to realize just how right Zane and the rest were when they told me it wouldn’t be a good idea to let him find me again. I know the only thing stopping him right now is the fight that’s about to commence. He’s already tried to assault me once. He just said he was going to do it again. I don’t want to provoke him, but I also have to make certain he doesn’t see how I am intimidated by him at this moment.
A balding man with yellow teeth and a cigar walks into the room. “It’s time Mr. Rossi,” he tells us.
James nods at the man then waves him off. “Keep that tight body intact best you can,” he says, too close once again, “I have plans for it later.”
I don’t even know I’ve been holding my breath until he walks out of the room. I just want this shit to be done. That man gives the worst types of feelings. I feel dirty and in need of a shower just to get the stench of his breath off my skin.
The knob turns again, and I prepare for another round of controlling my urge to twist the fucker’s balls right off. But it’s not Rossi this time.
It’s Zane.
“What are you doing back here?” I almost hiss.
“He knows I’m here,” he shrugs.
“He doesn’t know that you know anything about all of this,” I remind him. Then it occurs to me. “Or did Diamond get the invite for theotherevents?”
He gives me a knowing look then moves in close to me. I tense at his nearness; afraid Rossi might show. “River City Mafia got invites to theotherevents. Diamond Industries got invites to the charity,” he tells me while gauging my reaction. Revulsion fills me once again. “We wouldn’t have participated, Tori. It’s just the way things are done. None of the other syndicates are proponents of this shit anymore. Not the human trafficking anyway. The fighting we still do. Even in River City, but not through force. Chicago is the last of a dying breed.”
Zane runs a hand over my shoulder. Another chill breaks over my skin. I’m still feeling the effects of Rossi. Zane notices that the gooseflesh isn’t the kind he normally evokes. “What did he do to you when he was in here?” he asks with narrowed eyes and a deadly tone.
“What did you do to him?” I want to know why he is trying to hurt Zane.
“You know what happened. We told you that Rory and Bastian took over his father’s syndicate.”
I shake my head because that’s not what I’m talking about, and I think he knows it. “He’s after them for that reason. Why is he after you? I knew by his accent that he was from the same area as you when we met. Did you know him before?”
He tilts his head toward the ceiling with his eyes closed for a second. “I didn’t know it until tonight,” he begins with a hint of trepidation to his voice, “but he is after me too. For different reasons.”
