“Oh, good. You two are still here.”
I turn around to find Amy walking towards us. She holds up a small bundle of clothing and passes it to me. “I acquired your clothes…” she says to Tobias.
“Thanks, Amy,” I tell her. I unfold his jeans and turn to him to help him get dressed, but he quickly snatches them from me. “Tobias—”
“I got it.” He moves slowly and bends down to start sliding into them one leg at a time, wincing from the pain the entire time.
“Oh, yeah. It’s just a scratch. No worries,” I bite back with sarcasm.
He stands himself upright and zips them up with a smug look on his face.
“Also…” Amy continues, pulling her eyes away from Tobias’ sweaty body, “the Dames and I have voted — unanimously — that Pike the Punisher is banned for life from all future Alpha tournaments. We’ve made contact with other leagues as well. He’ll be blacklisted in twelve states by morning — another twenty by Monday.”
“He should be in jail,” I argue.
“I would report him myself for… you know, stabbing you, but that would draw some very unwanted attention to our operation,” she says to Tobias. “You understand.”
“I do,” he says.
“Lastly… I’ve come to deliver this.” She reaches into her jacket and withdraws a large stack of money, several inches thick, crudely wrapped together with a rubber band. “I’d say you earned it, Tobias.”
He leans back against the bike. “I don’t want it,” he says, looking away.
I hold out my hand and Amy drops the stack of bills into my palm. “He’ll take it. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” she grins. “Anyway, I’ve got to get back inside. The Dames are brainstorming the details for next year’s fights.” She looks at Tobias. “You in, Toby?”
“I think I’ll sit the next one out, actually,” he mutters.
“Boo,” Amy says. “Maybe I can pencil in a surprise appearance from this year’s reigning Alpha…?” she teases. He glares back at her silently and she sighs. “Fine.”
“Guess you’ll have to find another local to earn next year’s bonus,” I joke.
“Shouldn’t be too hard,” she considers with a raised brow. “We should have lunch. You’re going back to Chicago soon, right?”
“Umm…” I say. “There’s been a little change in plans.”
A light shines behind her eyes. “Really?”
“Yeah, I’m sticking around here for a little while longer.” She stares back at me and a devious smile crosses her red lips. “What?”
“Well…” She crosses her arms about her chest. “Lillian was so impressed with the talent this year, she wants to expand our search, establish a few new branches in our area—”
“Amy, what are you doing?” Tobias interrupts with a cautious tone.
“I’m recruiting your kissing cousin, Toby,” she answers bluntly.
“What?” I ask.
“No, you’re not,” he argues.
“Yes, I am.” Amy smiles at me. “What do you say, Claire?”
“What do I say to what?” I ask, my eyes bouncing between them.
Tobias pushes himself off the bike and grabs my hand. “Say no, Claire.”
“Say no to what?” I ask again.
“To becoming an Alpha Dame,” Amy says, “like me.”
“Me?” I shake my head. “Why me?”
“I saw the way you handled yourself with Rick,” she answers. “Lillian did, too.”
“I was just protecting myself…”
“And that kind of finesse is exactly what she looks for.”
“Claire…” Tobias squeezes my fingers. “No.”
“Alpha Dames are the most respected women in the sport, Tobias,” Amy says to him. “Why wouldn’t you want that for her?”
He exhales, but says nothing to argue with her further.
She reaches into her bra and pulls out a black business card. “Give me a call if you want to talk it over, Claire,” she says, easily slipping the card between my fingers.
“Okay…” I say.
Amy presses her fingers to her red lips and blows us a quick kiss. “Goodnight, y’all.”
“Goodnight…” I stare at the card as her heels tap away into the parking lot. A bright red font spells out Amy’s name in cursive writing, along with the Midwest Alphas logo shining next to it. I glide my fingers across it to feel the embossed lettering tickle my fingertips as a switch flicks on in my head.
“Claire…”
I look at Tobias and stuff the card into my back pocket as Charlie’s truck comes into view of the parking lot.
Tobias drops my hand. “You called my dad?” he asks.
“Yes, I did,” I say, crossing my arms.
He leans back against the bike with shaking limbs. “I would have preferred a hospital.”
The truck stops in front of us and Charlie steps out. To his credit, he says nothing as I move under Tobias’ arm and walk him slowly towards the truck. He opens the passenger side door and we both help Tobias step up into the seat.
“What happened?” Charlie asks me after I close the door.
We step over to the motorbike and start rolling it towards the back of the truck. “Factory equipment malfunction,” I answer. I notice his lips twitch as we bend down to raise the bike into the truck bed.
“And this factory equipment…” Charlie says. “Is it still running?”
I nod. “Yes.”
He sighs and closes the bed. “Good.”
Epilogue
“Protect your face.”
A smile teases my lips as I lower my fists and turn around. Tobias steps into the barn, limping softly on his right foot as he walks. “You should be resting,” I say, catching my breath. “And using the crutch Charlie got you.”
“I don’t need a crutch,” he argues. I wipe the sweat off my brow and pull the velcro tabs free on my gloves. His eyes move down my body, taking in the sight of my tight and sweaty workout clothes. “Looks like you’re taking this pretty seriously.”
I look back at the punching bag. “It helps me think,” I say. I peel the gloves off my hands and toss them into my gym duffel on the floor.
“What are you thinking about?” he asks me.
I take a deep breath. “A lot.”
“Like Amy’s offer?”
It’s been a week since the tournament and the topic hasn’t come up yet. Between his fresh wounds and Mary’s funeral, the last few days have been rough on Tobias. He’s healing, in more ways than one, and we’ve taken comfort in each other whenever possible. It’s been a decent enough distraction, but eventually, we both knew we’d have to talk about Amy’s offer to join the Alpha Dames sooner or later.
“Yes,” I finally answer.
He sighs. “Claire, you don’t want to get involved with them.”
“You did,” I point out.
“That was different.”
“Was it?” I ask.
“Yes. It was a means to an end, not a long-term commitment.”
“You told me I should start over, Tobias,” I say. “That I should be someone better. This is my chance.”
“Binding yourself to an illegal fighting championship isn’t better, Claire.”
“It’s not worse either. When Amy handed me that card, I felt something and — to be honest — it’s the same kind of something I felt when I met you. Like it was the start of something special.” I reach out to him. “I’m sorry, but… I have to see where this leads.”
He flexes his jaw and lets out a long sigh. “Is there anything at all I can say that will change your mind?”
“Well… you’re the Alpha, Tobias,” I tease. “Tell me not to go. Tell me that I’m your girl and no one else’s and that I have to do everything you say.”
“I said change your mind,” he says with curling lips. “Not turn you on.”
I smile, but I let it fade quickly. “Tobias, I won’t do this without you. If the c
hoice is between this or you, I’m going to choose you.”
“I’m not giving you an ultimatum, Claire,” he says. “But Amy’s right. Being a Dame, it commands respect. That kind of respect brings attention — attention from people like Pike and Rick.”
“I’ll be protected.”
“I know,” he says. “By me.”
“What?”
“I’ve already spoken with Amy,” he says. “She says it’s uncommon, but not against the rules for Alpha Dames to bring in their own escorts.”
“You want to be my bodyguard?”
“That’s the deal,” he nods. “I’m never going to be comfortable with you being involved with them, but I can’t stop you either. What I can do is have your back and if you’re going in, then I’m going with you.”
I lean in closer. “What was that about turning me on again?”
He lays a hand on my cheek and pulls me in. “I love you, Claire,” he says. “Doing so has brought me nothing but trouble, but… I can’t stop now.”
“Tobias the Unstoppable,” I quip. He glares at me through narrow eyelids, but I give him a sweet smile. “I love you, too, Tobias. Doing so has brought me nothing but trouble, but…” I lay a smooth kiss on his lips. “What can I say? I live for a little trouble.”
END OF BOOK ONE
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Love and Wargames: A Bad Boy Hacker Romance Page 32
