Taking His Victory: (The Men of River City book 4)

by Nola Marie

  “What the fuck is he doing here?” Rossi growls.

  Zane’s eyes never leave mine. “I was on the guest list asshole. And I’m here to dance with my fucking girlfriend.”

  I know it was planned for him to make his presence known. To not leave me alone with Rossi for any longer than absolutely necessary. I don’t think he is supposed to be antagonizing Rossi though.

  But from the look in his eye and the smirk on his face, he doesn’t give a fuck. He is marking his territory and staking his claim for everyone in this room to see. It’s something I never knew I wanted. I always thought of myself a not only my own person, but also belonging to no one.

  Now? Now I belong to Zane. I’m not sure when this shift happened. I don’t know if it was gradual or if it has been all along. The love I never wanted is all encompassing and consuming. I want to be his. Just like he’s mine.

  So many things I never knew I wanted until Zane Valen swooped into my life.

  “Back the fuck off, Valen. This is business and it doesn’t concern you,” Rossi hisses with a hatred I’ve never seen in anyone before.

  “This is my girlfriend. Anything that concerns her, concerns me, Rossi. Or should I call you Sanders?”

  Rossi’s eyes flash with shadows of recognition and irritation. I’m expecting more confrontation, but it doesn’t come because Zane, with a hand on the small of my back, leads us back through the crowd where people are dancing.

  When we are surrounded by the crowd, he turns me toward him. His wavy blond hair hangs to his shoulders as he smiles at me. Again, the look in his eyes steals my breath and my balance as my knees turn to jelly.

  “What are you doing to me?” I ask in a dreamy tone.

  “I’m dancing with you.”

  I smile and shake my foggy head. “You’re doing so much more than that. I’ll never be able to concentrate on my fight if you keep looking at me like that.”

  He pulls me close, wrapping an arm around my waist while taking my hand in his. We begin to move and sway with the music in a dance I don’t know but I don’t need to. Zane leads me every step. “Looking at you like what?” he whispers in my ear. “A man possessed? A man consumed? A man that has found his reason for breathing?”

  “All of it,” I say breathlessly.

  “I can’t. It’s who I am, Tori. Who you’ve made me.”

  He moves us across the floor with ease and grace. He twirls me through the crowd, and the girl who has never believed in fairy tales feels like a princess. He dips me slightly bringing his lips to my throat. When he pulls me back, we are so close, we feel like one person.

  I look into his eyes and I realize we have what he was telling me about all those months ago. This between us is epic. Just as epic as Jax and Zoey. It is unwavering and unfaltering. This is the kind of love that can’t be rejected, replaced or even broken.

  “I love you, Zane,” I say as I rest my cheek against his shoulder.

  “Move in with me,” he says.

  I almost laugh until I see his face. He’s not joking. “Zane, I don’t think you should just blurt that out without thought.”

  He gives me that sexy as sin smile that makes the world spin. “Haven’t you figured me out by now?” he tilts his head. “I know this isn’t the time or the place, but I don’t want what we’ve had the last couple of weeks to end once tonight is done. I want to go to bed and wake up with you every night and every day. I want to come home to find you there or wait for you to come home. I want my home to be our home.”

  I swallow hard because I absolutely have figured him out. He’s not just blurting something out in the heat of the moment. He’s not doing this out of fear things may end badly tonight. He’s asking me because he means it. He wants this.

  But what surprises me the most? I want to. I want to move forward with him. Another step toward our future that is being written in the sand and the sea.

  No, not the sea. The river. The one that runs right through the city that is as much a part of him as is his heart. The city that I haven’t thought once about leaving in the last few weeks.

  “Yes,” I tell him with a smile.

  A little shock flits across his perfect face. Then a smile so wide I’m not sure how it doesn’t split. “Yeah?”

  I nod as my smile stretches wider as well. “I didn’t want to go back to New York after this.”

  “Thank God,” he breathes with a laugh. “I thought I was going to have to break my promise to Zoey.”

  “What promise?” I tilt my head curiously.

  “The one where I wouldn’t leave her because if you didn’t want to be in River City, I was just going to have to move to New York.”

  My heart starts beating staccato. He was going to leave River City? For me? I couldn’t stop the tears that form in my eyes if I wanted to. And, for once in my life, I don’t want to. I want him to see how much it means to me because I know how big of a decision that would’ve been for him. “I don’t want you to leave Zoey. I want to be in River City. With you. Bastian already offered me a job weeks ago.”

  “He what? You’re serious?” I nod my response. “Fuck, Baby, if I’d known that, I would’ve asked you weeks ago. I didn’t think you’d leave New York, but the more I thought – and talked with Jax – the more I knew I’d do whatever I had to just to be with you.”

  “How would that have worked anyway?” I tease him. “Catch a plane twice a day?”

  “I was going to ask for a trade.”

  Fuck. Me.

  “You were what?”

  “I mean it Tori. I don’t want this long-distance thing anymore. I know with my job, we will be apart sometimes, but I want to be with you.”

  “You really do love me, don’t you?”

  A deep, rumbling chuckle vibrates his chest as we continue to move over the dance floor. Our conversation hasn’t interrupted our movements once. “You’re only now figuring that out?”

  I bring his lips to mine in a searing but loving kiss. Showing him how much I love him. The room around us seems to disappear. It feels like there is no one else but he and I.

  I get absolutely lost in the moment. So, lost that I forget where we are and why we’re here.

  Until a throat clearing beside us reminds me. “We’ve got to go, Zee,” he tells him then turns to me. “But we’re not far.”

  Zane’s grip tightens for a moment. Tension lines his face and sets his shoulders. Then it’s gone. “Just because you may not see us, doesn’t mean we can’t see you. Okay?”

  I nod. I’m not worried. Not like they think anyway. I’m more worried about this fight, but I know I have to clear my head. Focus so that I make it through this fight in one piece.

  I close my eyes and 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. “Your people 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 the other events?”

  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 the other events. 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.”

  “Tell me,” I demand but the knock on the door tells me he’s not going to get the chance. I flit my eyes to his for a moment then move toward the door.

  He grabs my wrist before I get too far. “It’s because of Lacy,” he tells me. “He was her ex, and he was pissed when we got together. And when she died, he blamed me for their breakup.”

  “Was it? Your fault I mean?”

  “No. They’d been apart for a few months before she and I even crossed paths again. She said he was too controlling and a few other things but, no, we did not get together while they were still together.”

  “It doesn’t matter,” I shake my head. “This would be the situation regardless of whether it was aimed at you or not.” I know it’s true. They didn’t seek me out because of Zane. They sought me out because of my fighting past. I think the rest was just icing on the cake for him. The opportunity to put the screws to people of his past.

  “I don’t think so,” Zane tells me, and I almost jerk back in response.

  “What do you mean?”

  “They’ve been trying to take down Rory and Bastian for months. We just got to them first. I think they knew you were with me and decided to take advantage of it. Your fighting background was their opening.”

  I’m not sure he’s right but there is really no way to know for sure.

  “I’ve got to get out there.” I move to get past him again, but he still won’t let me go. His face is etched with so many emotions moving so rapidly, it almost makes me dizzy to look at him. His eyes are on me, but they’re not focused. I reach up putting a hand to his cheek. “I’m going to be fine, Zee,” I try to reassure because I know that’s what this flutter of emotions is about.

  He shakes his head as if he’s shaking whatever is going on up there free then smiles at me. “I know you’ll be okay because I’m not going to let anything happen to you. I’m just not sure how to do this.”

  “Do what?”

  “Stand back knowing this fight isn’t fair. That you’re not even close to one hundred percent healthy. Stand there and watch someone have an unfair advantage over you.”

  “You don’t know that it’s unfair, Zee. The other person could be in the same position I am.”

  He shakes his head with a scowl lining his face. “They’re not. The person is completely prepared for this. It’s how they increase the odds against you. If you win then they make a shit ton of money from all the bets that were against you.”

  “And if I lose?”

  “Then they get their money from you other ways,” he growls.

  I kiss his lips to wipe the scowl away. “But that’s why you’re here.”

  He gives me a nod placing one last mind-blowing kiss to my lips before releasing me.

  I make my way down the corridor focusing on my breathing and my strategy for the fight. I need to stay on defense. Keep this girl the fuck away from my ribs – and my head. I did have a concussion the last fight, but I didn’t want any of the guys to know. I was worried Bastian and Rory really would tie me up somewhere. I mean they are mafia bosses.

  When I make it to the ring, the crowd begins to chant. Many for me but just as many for the other girl. She’s well known in the fighting circuit, both sanctioned and underground. An undefeated record that has her winning most matches before the first round ends.

  My record is undefeated as well and always b
y submission or KO but up until a few weeks ago, I haven’t had a match since I was twenty-one. That’s two years where I stayed in shape, but I did not train. There wasn’t supposed to be a next fight to train for.

  The ring announcer does his thing announcing the rules – which in this particular unsanctioned, underground fight means there really aren’t any – then instructs us to touch gloves. I extend one hand, but she doesn’t reciprocate the gesture.

  “You’re dead,” she yells at me.

  I've always hated fighters that trash talk. I don’t play into the mind games that some fighters do. I’ve always let my skills speak for me. I hope that’s enough tonight.

  When the bell rings, the girl comes out aggressively – a lot like I normally would. Not at all what I was expecting based on the bit of information we were able to dig up on her but she is probably well aware of my injuries. I'm sure she wants to end this thing quickly.

  I keep my hands up and my injured ribs protected. She swings, I block. Her swings are powerful and accurate. Even protecting myself, I feel the impact jarring. She swings a few more times before giving me an opening when she drops her shoulder. She is unprepared when I come at her with a right instead of a left, staggering backward in surprise.

  I manage a few more quick blows until she lands a kick right to my ribs. Sharp, brutal pain radiates through my chest. My lungs feel like they’ve just collapsed. How I remain standing, I have no idea. She comes at me again with another spinning kick that I somehow manage to dodge but the impact is still jarring. She knows my weakness and she’s coming for it.

  I spend the next sixty seconds working to avoid any more injury and it is completely exhausting my energy. The effort it’s taking just to maintain my breathing makes this a struggle greater than before.

  Finally, the fucking bell rings telling me that the round is over. I have ten more minutes of this shit. I keep repeating in my head that I can do this despite my body screaming in agony.

  I make my way to my corner where Rossi is already standing there fuming. “Why the fuck didn’t you warn me you were hurt?” he hisses like he wasn't informed. Like he didn't inform the other girl.