Caged Love: MMA Contemporary Suspense (Book Two)

by Thunderbolt, Liberty

  “I was 20 years old and a different person. We decided to start seeing each other. I thought maybe we would end up together for real, but as the months passed it was like he had a growing resentment toward me. I think it was because of all that had happened with his dad.”

  “So what happened to end it?”

  “I just got tired of him being an ass and finally told him I was done. He never fully accepted it.”

  The gray clouds finally opened and fat drops of rain found their way through the branches. Brooke wiped the water off her forehead and pushed her hair back. “Now you know about me, why getting involved with someone is so hard for me.”

  Bretten nodded. “I understand, but you know I’ll never be like that, right?”

  “I want to believe you.”

  He reached up and placed his hand on her soft cheek. “I promise,” and leaned in to kiss her. Their lips met as the rain steadily built.

  Their hair was wet and water dripped off them when they finally parted. Brooke offered a thin smile then grabbed his hand and pulled him down the path. “Let’s get inside before we get even more soaked.”

  As they ran toward their house, Brooke knew that her heart had beaten her head and she’d given herself to Bretten, and it scared the hell out of her.

  If she knew about the deal her agent had made with a very dangerous man in Las Vegas she would have had a much different reason to be scared. A storm was gathering that was much more dangerous than the storm they were in.

  Chapter 28

  Detective Westingham took a long drink of coffee and set it down on a stack of uneven papers on his desk. It rested precariously, threatening to topple over and stain an array of folders. He yawned in spite of the coffee, and glanced at the wall clock. It was ten at night.

  Just before lunch he’d picked up the club’s surveillance video on every night that Nick Maris had not worked over the previous two months leading up to his murder. He was thankful that the club still had it.

  After the epiphany in the desert he’d swung by the club to ask if Maris ever came in on his nights off. Apparently he had done so maybe three or four times.

  With the videos in hand, Westingham returned to his office and kicked on the computer. It was a painstaking process, and after just ten minutes of watching the silent video he decided he needed some background noise. He popped in the series premiere of Magnum P.I. on the TV.

  Now he was on the third episode of season three, the one where Magnum is supposed to pick up a crate of books but finds a Japanese girl instead. He knew the episode well since he’d seen it probably a dozen times. Magnum had just been trying to help Higgins with the yard, but Higgins didn’t want it. Magnum talked of helping out and karma, and…

  Detective Westingham shot up and craned his long neck toward the computer. There on the screen was Nick Maris walking through the club. Two well-dressed muscular men were bobbing their heads to the beat as they crossed paths with Nick. The blonde one bumped into his shoulder. Nick spun around and glared at him before pointing a finger in his face and saying something.

  The man leaned toward Nick, not a bit afraid, and said something back. Nick raised his arms as if to shrug it off and pushed past the men. Detective Westingham watched the exchange a handful of times. The whole time the blonde’s friend, a bald guy, glared a hole through Nick.

  It was difficult to get a really good look at the two men, but Westingham stared at the screen from only a foot away as he tried to make out their faces.

  He combed the surveillance from the rest of the night. Twice he saw them and one of the times they were eyeing Nick as he talked to a girl. After that, there was nothing.

  It was a little after one in the morning when Nick Maris left the club. Westingham had a thought, and went through videos until he found surveillance of the parking lot out back. Nick walked across it and climbed into his Toyota Celica.

  As he backed up and pulled away Westingham scanned the parking lot. There was a flash from a shadowy corner. He reversed the video and watched that area. There were two figures in the upper right corner. It was almost impossible to tell, but Westingham was pretty sure he could make out the bald-headed guy just before he raised his phone and snapped a photo of Maris’ car.

  Westingham slapped his hands together. “Yes, this is it Higgins. This is exactly what I needed. We’re going to track down these two bastards.”

  He never ever could have guessed where he’d finally catch up with them.

  Chapter 29

  Brooke giggled as she pulled Bretten into her room. “Oh my GOD! I am soaking wet,” she said.

  “Me, too.” Bretten ran his hand through his wet hair and water sprayed all over the place.

  She plucked a small towel off her desk and tossed it to him before grabbing a towel of her own.

  As they dried off they looked at each other differently. The concern had evaporated, at least for the moment, and they were giddy that they were now together. They’d been two wandering souls, but now they could be one, together, surging into a promising future.

  Brooke toweled her wet hair. “Why don’t you put in one of the movies?”

  Bretten had a hard time taking his eyes off of her, but he managed to turn and slide the DVD into the ancient player. “You need to get Netflix, you know,” he said playfully.

  “You need to shut your smart ass mouth,” she said and popped him with the wet towel.

  Her feistiness surprised him, and he liked it. “You need to shut it up for me,” he replied.

  “Don’t test me. I’ve seen how crappy your ground game is.”

  “You haven’t seen my ground game yet,” he said slyly.

  Her eyes got big with surprise as she realized that he wasn’t talking about jiu jitsu. She was unsure what was coming over her, but after telling him her whole story a weight had been thrown off her shoulders. She was light and happy, and as she eyed Bretten as his wet shirt clung to his muscular chest, she was something else, turned on.

  “Maybe I’ll have to see that ground game…Marita isn’t going to be back until tomorrow.”

  The movie began to play in the background. Neither of them cared. They tumbled into each other’s arms and their lips met, softly at first, and then passionately. Bretten ran his hands up to Brooke’s face. He held her cheeks and leaned back, staring longingly into her eyes. “You’re so beautiful.”

  Her hand slid up his wet back to his neck. She gripped tightly. “So are you.”

  They kissed harder now. She pulled his shirt upward. He twisted and turned until it was off. She took in his glistening body and then kissed his neck.

  He guided her to the bed and lowered her onto it. She too shimmied out of her shirt, revealing a thin black bra over a wonderfully sculpted body.

  Now it was Bretten’s turn to take in her body as she reached behind and unsnapped the bra, revealing her sexy pale breasts with perfect pink nipples.

  “Do you like?” she asked.

  “More than you could imagine. I’ve wanted this for so long.” As their hands explored each other their clothes fell to the wayside. Bretten ran his hand up Brooke’s taut stomach until he found her breasts. He took a deep breath, relishing in the pleasure, and brushed his finger over her hard nipple. She twisted, wanting more. His mouth was on her, his tongue flicking her nipple. His hand on her stomach, and then between her legs.

  She moaned in ecstasy and then reached for him. He was already hard and she smiled as she squeezed. They touched each other desperately as their desire continued to rise.

  Her legs fell open, and he climbed between them. He let his tongue slide from her nipple down her stomach until he kissed her there. Her fingers found his hair and entangled in it as she moved her hips back and forth to match Bretten’s tongue strokes. She moaned loudly. “I want you inside of me.”

  Bretten traced his tongue back up her stomach over her breasts, to her neck until he kissed her deeply on the mouth. She guided him towards her and they met. He cautious
ly slipped inside of her and his breath caught in his throat.

  Their hips met as they built into a slow rhythm. They were perfect for each other and neither could think of another place they could ever want to be. They sped up and Bretten found Brooke’s hands. He pushed them up on the pillow by her head and their fingers intertwined.

  She shifted her hips and they further connected as every bit of him was inside her. It was too much for either one of them to handle. He pushed his hips hard and Brooke rose to meet him. “Is it okay?” he asked.

  “Yes, please,” she panted.

  His chest and shoulders tensed and he squeezed her hands as he released. She pulled away from his hands and reached up, digging her nails into his shoulders as her body shuddered with passion. They collapsed in each other’s arms, exhausted.

  For a long moment they lay in the dim light of the TV and held each other as their heart beats began to slow.

  “I think I’m really in love with you,” Bretten finally said.

  “I think I feel the same way,” Brooke replied.

  Right then and there Bretten determined that he would never let anything happen to this woman. He’d die for her. He knew it was true.

  The End of Part Two

  In Book Three, Bretten has his big fight in Dallas. Tristan suffers a huge loss, and Bretten is pushed into the spotlight after an incredible and unexpected event.

  All hellBbreaks loose afterward as the feud with Tristan ignites and they come to blows.

  Detective Westingham thinks that the case of Nick Maris’ death is about to break, but struggles to put it together even though the persistent Dana Murphy, who he has become quite smitten with, has vowed to help.

  We learn just how dangerous Mr. Smith is, and Bear’s arrangement with him may put him in serious jeopardy as his career as an agent is blossoming.

  Book Three Information

  Book Three is scheduled for release on December 29, 2015. You can find the first chapter on the next page.

  The boxed set (all four books for $4.99) is scheduled for release on January 12, 2016

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  We really appreciate all of our readers and would love to hear from you.

  The Beginning of Caged Love (Book Three)

  Five Months before UCC 132

  Bretten worked in the clinch with Rodrigo. After a series of moves he had double under hooks. “Good, now work to the body lock.” Whit calmly instructed. “Don’t let him get to over under.”

  Bretten continued, and in a matter of seconds he had his hands around Rodrigo’s body, the dominant position for which he was searching to throw his opponent. He shifted his weight, twisted and extended his hips. Just before his buddy was launched to the makeshift folding mat in the dressing room he let up on the throw.

  “Damn bro, I thought you were going to Darnell-Plex me.” Rodrigo joked.

  “Nice,” Whit said. “In the clinch that’s exactly what I want you to work for.”

  “You got it coach.”

  The locker room was draped in tense anticipation. The waiting was painful. Bretten arrived at the arena a couple hours earlier and spent the time going through the long process of both physical and mental preparation.

  Whit glanced at the screen. “Work on the focus mitts a little bit and stay warm. You’re going out in about twenty minutes or so.”

  Brooke held up her gloved hands and Bretten went to work on combinations. Rodrigo sipped water and shifted his weight back and forth as he looked on. Bear slipped in beside Rodrigo. “He’s looking good right? He’s moving fast?”

  Rodrigo was getting annoyed with Bear. The man was too nervous, especially for someone who had been around the fight game his entire life. Of course Rodrigo couldn’t have known that after Bear’s arrangement with Mr. Smith he had a great deal riding on Bretten. “Yeah I think he’s looking good,” Rodrigo said. “He’s fresh and Whit and Doc have developed an outstanding game plan.”

  On cue, Whit started going over the game plan while Bretten punched and kicked. “Remember, controlled aggression is the key tonight. Push the pace. Stay on him, but keep your head at all times. He’s crafty and well-rounded so if you rush anything, get overzealous, he can catch you. Stay busy. Use your strength. Use your athleticism. Dictate the fight, but remain controlled. I want you to hammer him in the stand up, out strike him, clinch and smother him.”

  Brooke added. “You’ve got to fight like you’re experienced. Be smart in the cage.”

  Bretten nodded, shook out his arms and paused for a drink of water. She could see in his eyes that he was ready, but feared he was too ready, on the edge, a place where animalistic instinct and human reason intermingled to form a dangerous fighter. Trouble arose when a fighter toppled over the edge and reason gave way to instinct. She grabbed his chin and brought her mouth to his. The kiss was quick and hard. She came away from it with a salty hint of sweat on her lips. “You understand? Remember Doc’s story, the villagers defeated the lion because they used their intelligence. In this fight you have to be both the lion and the villagers, ferocious and smart all the time.”

  “I understand. I’ll be both,” he said.

  Just then the crowd roared. Both turned to the screen to see one man on the canvas with the other pumping his fist and climbing onto the cage. “Okay, you’ll go in seven or eight minutes, stay relaxed,” Whit said. “You know what to do and how to do it.”

  Rodrigo turned away from the television. “I’m confident. You can do this, you’ve improved a ton since Korea...and that was a hell of a fight.”

  “Thanks, any other words of wisdom, you know, from Bruce?”

  “Let’s see...‘this is real knowledge my friend, understand the root. And always remember a good martial artist is not tense but ready.’”

  Bretten nodded and the two hit knuckles.

  The crowd was as big as the one in Korea, but more docile, subdued in comparison. The lights flashed and spun over the fans as Bretten stopped just outside of the cage in front of his cutman. He slipped off his Nikes and yanked his t-shirt over his head. It caught on his gloves for a second and then broke free. He handed it to Rodrigo and then hugged him and Whit and Brooke.

  Her lips brushed his cheek. “You can do this,” she said.

  Bear marched with them until he arrived at his cageside seat, where he broke off and nervously stood with his hands on his hips. Brooke joined Bear after the hug and Rodrigo and Whit made their way to just outside the cage.

  His cutman stepped up and slathered him with gobs of Vaseline. Around his eyes, his nose, and cheeks. The odorless petroleum created an odd quality to his skin and the bit that found the inside of his nostrils tickled. The referee then gave his face and head a once over and nodded his approval. Bretten returned the nod and turned to the cage steps.

  The crowd noise picked up as Bretten entered the cage. He jogged a circle along the fence and then half slid half galloped another lap. He stopped in front of Whit and Rodrigo and his coach went into the last-minute instructions.

  A new song blasted into the arena and Adrian Davis followed the same path as his opponent. He received his Vaseline and Bretten found Brooke and blew her a kiss. She smiled and sent one of her own. Her green eyes then grew hard as she nodded in a gesture that could only mean one thing, kick this guy’s ass.

  Moments later, Davis too was in the cage. Both fighters now stood on the edge. The announcer performed his duties, the referee his. And the buzzing crowd settled like they always do just before the bell, as if the transition from anticipation to action steals their breath.

  The referee yelled, and the fight was on. Both men met in the center of the cage and touched gloves. Bretten ste
pped back, offered a moment of false relaxation and then let loose a beautifully timed thrashing low kick that seemingly cut Davis’ lower left leg in half. He wobbled, retreated and tried to regain his balance but Bretten delivered a straight left that caught the champion’s chin. Not enough force to drop him, but enough to make his eyes grow wide as if he was startled from sleep. Adrian Davis realized he was in for a real fight.

  Davis circled away and Bretten pursued. He heard Whit say, “Cut him off, control.”

  He did just that. Shuffled quickly to his right and cut off the other man. Davis, unable to retreat unleashed a flurry. A jab, a right hand, a cross, none of them did any damage and Bretten returned the favor. Two of his punches slammed into Davis, loosening his neck. His chin in the air Bretten zeroed in with an overhead right attempting to end the fight, but Davis slipped underneath the blow and tied up.

  The men fought for position. They both delivered knees and Davis caught Bretten with a sharp elbow to the side of his head. It offered nothing, no damage. The clinch in the locker room with Rodrigo flashed in Bretten’s head. He heard Whit’s words and worked to gain leverage. He was faster, stronger than Davis and sensed an instinctual urge to try to finish the man quickly.

  Bretten found the double under hooks, but the smart veteran countered by snaking an arm between, dissipating the advantage. Both loosened their clinch and furiously struck at each other. Again Bretten got the best of it and Davis slipped away in an effort to regroup.

  Bretten heard Rodrigo this time. “He’s hurt. Push the pace!”

  One step, two steps, Bretten leapt from the canvas. The flying knee planted itself into the middle of Davis’ chest. He tumbled backward, like a man shot. A look of complete surprise assaulted his face. He covered up and Bretten jumped on top to finish the fight, but after two blows the bell sounded. Round one mercifully came to an end for Davis.