The office door is open, and I enter to find the Webber brothers standing by the windows that overlook the fighters. I can’t remember who is who, their features a little too similar to easily differentiate.
“Cross,” one greets me. “Excellent work at the fight the other day. You really put on one hell of a performance.”
I incline my chin. “So this means you’ll get me in the cage with Fox?”
The other one winces. It’s the barest pinch of his lips and brows, but my fighting career–if we can call it that–is based on reading my opponent.
“One more,” the first says. “One more fight, and then…yes. You’ll get the chance against Wilmer Fox, as we promised.”
I tense. Can I really throw another fight?
“And if I say no?”
“Oh, oh–” Stanley throws his arm around my shoulders. “You’re not saying that, though, right? Cross?”
I clear my throat and keep the strong urge to flip them off and storm away under control. Somehow. Slowly, I shake my head.
The Webber brothers relax simultaneously. One comes forward and holds out a card. “Text this number tomorrow at eight o’clock. You’ll be given details on the fight.”
I pocket the card without looking at it. Stanley releases my shoulders and claps his hand on my back.
“Good boy,” he says in my ear. “Now, back to training. No excuses.”
“Yes, sir,” I mutter.
My skin crawls, but I hightail it out of there.
What’s the worst that could happen if Idon’tthrow this next fight? Give the twenty grand back? That’s easy–I haven’t spent any of it. With that knowledge, I swallow and keep my head high. I’m not as trapped as they’d have me believe.
I’m halfway down the stairs when I spot Tyler coming in. He holds the door for someone behind him, and my breath stalls in my chest.
What thefuckis Scarlett Wallace doing here?
Wind blasts through the door, nearly pushing her in, and sends her hair fluttering into her face. She brushes it back with both hands, one finger straying to push her glasses higher up her nose.
She spots me and immediately scowls.
Feeling is mutual, sweetheart.
She winds through the gym and meets me at the bottom of the staircase, her gaze fastened on me. Her eyes are wide, her coat tugged tightly around her. Whatever she was expecting, it wasn’t this.
And for that reason, I’m going to fucking murder Tyler.
My so-called best friend is right behind her, and he shrugs like he has no idea why she’s here.
“What is this place?”
I redirect my attention back to Scarlett, scowl fixed in place. “What does it look like? It’s a gym.”
She glances around. “There are people fighting–”
“Training,” Tyler interjects.
“Go away,” I snap at him.
I grab Scarlett’s arm and pull her away from him. Out of the corner of my eye, I spot Staney and the Webber brothers watching from the office windows above. Just what I need–more people to connect me to her and vice versa.
“What are you doing here?” I demand. My grip tightens on her arm. “You following me, Wallace?”
