Underground Fighters Trilogy Boxed Set

by Aislinn Kearns

  He tried to shrug it off, to not be judgmental given what she was going through, but drugs were never something he’d been comfortable with.

  Someone sank onto the couch next to him and Wyatt glanced over to see Doc. He clutched a crystal glass with a white-knuckled grip, and Wyatt was afraid the glass would shatter in Doc’s hands.

  “You okay?” he asked casually as he looked up into Doc’s face. The older man’s eyes were wide and panicked, and he looked pretty far from okay.

  Doc didn’t seem to notice the question. He glanced away from Wyatt and back to the glass.

  “Maybe you should have a drink?” Wyatt suggested over the noise of the room.

  Doc shook his head and gingerly set his glass on the coffee table in front of them. “No, I never touch the stuff.”

  Doc’s gaze was slowly fading from the wild-eyed stare into something more normal now the glass was out of his hand.

  Wyatt frowned. “Then why carry it around?” he asked.

  Doc sighed. “People keep handing them to me. I don’t know whether it’s deliberate, to tempt me, or not. But either way, it works.”

  Given that the women handing out drinks didn’t seem to pay any attention to their customers, Wyatt could see it being an honest mistake. But McCready’s watchful gaze travelled over the room, lingering on Doc, so then again maybe not.

  “Why would they want to tempt you?” Wyatt asked, not taking his eyes from McCready.

  Doc shrugged. “I suppose I’m easier to keep in line that way. Easier to manipulate.”

  Wyatt nodded. That sounded like McCready’s style. “So how long have you been sober?” he asked.

  “The better part of ten years, with a few relapses here and there. But the craving never goes away.”

  “Right,” Wyatt replied, curious but not wanting to pry.

  “So why do you come to these parties?”

  Doc gave him a sardonic look. “Do you think I have a choice?”

  Wyatt thought of the way McCready had summoned him, leaving no room to say no, and shook his head.

  “McCready’s a hard man to deny.”

  “Yes. But I thought you’d be smarter than to get caught up in it all. I thought you’d be like DJ, and Alexei, and Chen, staying on the fringes of this world so you could still leave if you chose.”

  Wyatt’s stomach tightened. “I don’t understand.”

  “I just…” Doc started. He fisted his shaking hands and held them tightly in his lap. “Be careful you don’t get caught up in it all.”

  Wyatt’s brows tugged down as he studied Doc.

  “What do you mean?”

  Doc twisted his hands as he met Wyatt’s gaze. “I can tell McCready is considering you for his inner circle. And I can also tell you are trying to make that happen.”

  Wyatt drew in a breath to ask how Doc knew that, what he’d heard, but Doc continued before he could get the words out.

  “Don’t get caught up in it. You seem like an okay kid. I don’t want you ending up like so many others.”

  Wyatt’s gut sank at the words. “What do you mean?” he breathed out. Did Doc know what had happened to the people who had disappeared? To his brother?

  Doc cleared his throat. “I mean, no matter how safe you think you are, no matter how much you think McCready likes you, he can turn on you in a moment and you’d never see it coming. The things I’ve seen…”

  Wyatt gripped Doc’s elbow. “What did you see?”

  Doc swallowed and shook his head. “He’ll kill me if I say.”

  “Please,” Wyatt said. When Doc stayed silent, his eyes darting around as if looking for an escape, Wyatt threw caution to the wind. “I heard the name Dean bandied about. Do you know what happened to him?”

  Doc’s attention snapped back to him. “Where did you hear that name?” His voice was an urgent hiss.

  “It doesn’t matter. You know, don’t you?”

  Doc stood abruptly. “Don’t mention that name again. If you do—”

  He broke off, his eyes fixed on something behind Wyatt, where the front door was. His faced paled. Wyatt swivelled in his seat but couldn’t see anything, so he stood to see over the crowd.

  Weston plowed through the crowd, dragging a young, nervous-looking man behind him. The newcomer was too-thin, had long straggly hair, and a piercing in his left eyebrow. His clothes were torn, and Wyatt couldn’t tell if they were worn from use or designed that way. Perhaps a bit of both.

  But nothing about the man explained why Doc looked so shocked to see him. No, not shocked. Worried.

  No one else noticed the young man with Weston. The party continued on around them as Weston made his way over to McCready. If it hadn’t been for Doc’s reaction, Wyatt wouldn’t have paid any attention, either. But now he found himself riveted, waiting for whatever would come.

  “Who is he?” Wyatt murmured to Doc.

  “I don’t know,” Doc replied. He finally tore his gaze from the young man and looked back at Wyatt. “And neither should you.”

  “But—”

  “I came over here to warn you, that’s all. There’s nothing else I can do for you. Or for that young man, whatever he might have done. So, let it go. Walk away.”

  Doc’s eyes were pleading. The older man was trying to protect him in the only way he knew how, but Wyatt couldn’t take his advice. Even if he wanted to.

  “If you tell me what happened to Dean, then I’ll walk away.”

  Doc shook his head. “Sorry, kid.”

  He turned to go, but Wyatt grabbed his arm to spin him back around. “Why are you protecting him? McCready? If you’re warning me away, you obviously don’t agree with what he does. So why protect him? Just tell me.”

  “I can’t.”

  “What are you so afraid of?”

  Doc let out a harsh laugh. “Afraid? I suppose I am. But not of McCready. He was the only one to give me a chance after I lost my medical license. I owe him everything. It may not be the way I envisioned practicing medicine, but it’s still something. It was always my passion and my calling, and now I can continue with it despite what happened.”

  Wyatt recoiled. He’d expected better from Doc. He’d never imagine a man who hated his position here as much as anyone, who went out of his way to warn Wyatt not to get involved, would be here out of loyalty. It took him a few seconds to process. And when he did, he acknowledged it made an odd kind of sense.

  People were complicated, and nothing was black and white. Doc could have intense gratitude for McCready while still hating the things he’d done. Wyatt couldn’t ever see himself making the same choice. But, then, he’d never been as low as Doc clearly had.

  But Doc’s words made Wyatt realise he couldn’t trust the man. Not if his priority was staying loyal to McCready. Even if Doc did care for him, that would only stretch so far.

  “What did happen?” Wyatt asked suddenly curious what could sink a man so low he’d give everything to McCready. “People guess and speculate, but I’d like to hear it from you.”

  Doc scoffed. “Are you kidding? You’re a smart kid, you can put it together.” His voice was laced with bitterness.

  “I assume it had to do with your drinking?”

  Doc nodded.

  “You killed a patient because you were drunk?” he guessed.

  Doc nodded again. “A little girl,” he whispered.

  The words were like a punch to the gut. “Shit.”

  “Yes. And while I’ll never forgive myself for that, at least I can continue to make amends.”

  “By working for McCready?” Wyatt asked, disbelieving.

  Doc nodded. “I’m helping you all. Saving you.”

  Wyatt laughed. “You’re not here to help people. You’re here to punish yourself.”

  Doc stared at Wyatt in shock.

  Wyatt continued. “The people here are criminals. Violent, drug-addicted, manipulative, you name it. Some aren’t bad, like Kat and Chen, but they’re still broken, and have done bad
things. Why else would they be here?”

  Doc raised an eyebrow. “Don’t forget, you’re one of these criminals. You might find it easy to judge, but most people are here as a last resort, and wouldn’t be here if they had any other options. You shouldn’t cast stones.”

  Wyatt stared at him in shock. He bit back angry words, wanting to tell him it wasn’t true, that he wasn’t like the other people here. But what could he say? He was here, fighting in illegal fights, hurting other men for the amusement of rich folks. He wasn’t doing it for money, sure, but he doubted many of the guys he’d met were—and women like Kat certainly weren’t. They were doing it to survive, which was perhaps even more noble than his own mission.

  He’d been so judgemental since he came into this world, thinking he was better than Kat, and Doc, and all the others here. But the truth is that he wasn’t. And he needed to accept that.

  “You’re right,” he said.

  Doc gave him a long look, then nodded. He looked like he was about to say something else, but then he sighed and disappeared into the crowd.

  Wyatt glanced back at Weston and McCready, only to see they were finishing up their conversation with the young man. McCready jerked his head, apparently an order Weston understood, because he grabbed the young man and hauled him back the way they’d come a few minutes before. McCready watched them go.

  Wyatt was curious, but not enough so to follow. Whatever the two men were doing, it wasn’t important enough for Wyatt to risk McCready’s wrath.

  He needed to stay at this party until the bitter end.

  Kat crept down the corridor to Spider’s room, the syringe clutched tightly in her right hand. It had been the only way she could think of to drop Spider and keep him there for the night, giving Ruthie another day of grace.

  She cracked open the door to his bedroom.

  Spider was facing away from her, gripping Ruthie hard on her upper arms. Ruthie squirmed, turning her head away as Spider bent to kiss her.

  “Stay still,” he growled, displeased. He pushed Ruthie, and she stumbled back into the bed. Spider stalked towards her, his big body lumbering. Ruthie stared up at him, fear written across her face.

  Spider went for his belt and Kat shuddered. She didn’t want to see this. But it would be better for her to wait until Spider was more distracted. She didn’t want to risk being seen, or Spider would tell McCready what she did. Luckily there were no cameras in Spider’s room. No need for them, because Spider was loyal to McCready without having to be blackmailed.

  “I’m going to enjoy training you,” Spider said, rubbing himself through his jeans.

  He fell on top of Ruthie, pawing at her. The young woman struggled weakly against his bulk.

  Kat swallowed bile and opened the door wide enough for her to fit through. She clutched the syringe tighter and crept forward. Ruthie’s eyes widened when she saw Kat over Spider’s shoulder, but Kat put her finger to her lips to silence the younger woman.

  “That’s it,” Spider crooned as Ruthie stopped struggling, her eyes focused on Kat.

  Kat froze as Spider stilled. She was nearly at the bed, but still a few steps away. Why did these damn rooms have to be so huge?

  It must have clicked for Ruthie that she needed to provide a distraction and she started struggling again, more violently this time. Kat gave her a grateful smile as Spider grunted in annoyance. Right before Kat reached him, he drew back his beefy hand to smack Ruthie into submission.

  But Kat didn’t let him unleash it. She stepped behind him and aimed the syringe at a vein in his neck. The needle pierced his skin right on his tattoo, disguising the mark.

  Spider stiffened. Kat depressed the syringe, letting the liquid flow straight into his bloodstream. She was grateful for her nurse’s training, to get the dosage right, and hit a vein instead of an artery. She didn’t want to accidentally kill him. Not yet, anyway.

  Spider slumped over Ruthie with a groan. Kat helped Ruthie get out from underneath his heavy bulk, and then the two hurried out of the room while Spider moaned on the bed.

  Kat shut the door behind them. The second they were alone, Ruthie threw her arms around Kat, who stumbled slightly.

  “Thank you thank you thank you,” Ruthie said, squeezing Kat tight.

  Kat sighed and hugged her back. “You’re welcome.”

  She wanted to tell Ruthie she couldn’t promise to do the same again next time, she couldn’t keep defying Spider and McCready, but the words wouldn’t come. Instead, she basked in the feeling of having done the right thing, of being on the right side. She let it settle into her, to cleanse her of the horror that had overcome her earlier when Spider had voiced words so similar to her own.

  Her actions tonight weren’t enough to erase what she’d done—or more importantly what she hadn’t done up until that point—but it was a start.

  “We have to go,” she told Ruthie. “Before someone finds us here.”

  Ruthie nodded, but held on a moment longer. “Thank you,” she whispered again.

  Kat blinked away tears at the words, so moved by Ruthie’s gratitude. She didn’t feel worthy of it, knowing she’d only done the basic minimum of what was right. But the sentiment warmed her nonetheless.

  “Let’s go.” She nudged Ruthie, who reluctantly stepped away. Kat led her down the stairs and back to the party room, slipping in the back as if nothing had happened. The party had started to disperse while they’d been gone, the crowd having thinned out. Ruthie followed Kat as she manoeuvred through the room, and Kat turned back.

  “We have to stay apart so it’s not so suspicious,” she said to the younger girl. Ruthie looked disappointed for a second, but then lit up.

  “It’s like we’re partners in crime!” she said.

  In that instant, Kat was reminded of how young Ruthie was, and she swallowed. She’d definitely done the right thing.

  “Something like that. But remember, you still have to pretend. McCready can’t know. Pretend you’re a spy, or an actress playing a part. You can do that, right?”

  Ruthie hesitated a second, but then nodded determinedly. Kat smiled sadly. That’s what she had been doing all these years, playing a part to protect herself. And it had made her the hard, awful person she’d never wanted to become. She didn’t want the same thing to happen to Ruthie. But at the same time, what else could she do? It was the only way to survive.

  Ruthie hurried off, grabbing a tray as she did so. She threw herself into the role with more enthusiasm than Kat had seen from her yet.

  Kat barely had a second to worry before a loud whistle sounded through the room, grabbing everyone’s attention.

  McCready stepped forward. “Now I have everyone’s attention…an announcement. And a surprise for a friend of mine.”

  Fear clutched at Kat’s chest as McCready’s gaze turned to Wyatt.

  Kat had a terrible feeling she knew what would come next.

  Chapter 10

  Silence followed McCready’s pronouncement. All eyes turned to Wyatt, where he was still lounging on the couch, but now on high alert. McCready’s gaze, in particular, was intense as it fixed on him.

  A chill ran down Wyatt’s spine. McCready looked so pleased with himself that Wyatt knew he wouldn’t like whatever came next. But this is what he’d come for. Whatever test or challenge McCready threw at him, he’d meet it. And he would find out what happened to his brother.

  As the silence stretched, the crowd began shuffling impatiently. A few people even moved towards the door, clearly nervous about what the vibe in the room might mean. Wyatt didn’t blame them, even wished he could follow them. McCready ignored their exit, too focused on Wyatt.

  “As you might know,” McCready continued, speaking to the room at large but still staring at Wyatt. “I rarely take new people into my inner circle. The privileges that come with the role are vast, and not everyone deserves them.”

  McCready paused and looked around at his guests. Wyatt took the opportunity to find some familiar
faces in the crowd. Doc was to the left, looking worried. Weston had returned, and was standing behind McCready with a darkly satisfied smile. Spider was nowhere to be seen.

  And Kat. She was on the opposite side of the room to Doc. Her gaze was one of the few not on McCready, it was locked on him. Wyatt struggled to make out her expression in the dim light, but he could see she was tense. Worried, even.

  Her anxiety ratcheted up his own. His palms grew damp with sweat and he surreptitiously wiped them on his jeans.

  McCready returned his gaze to Wyatt, who itched to stand. His seated position made him feel like he was ceding power to McCready, and this was not a time for that.

  “I believe Wyatt here will be a good fit for our little team.” He raised his champagne glass in Wyatt’s direction. Wyatt took the opportunity to stand, pasting a smile on his face as he moved toward McCready.

  McCready took the hand Wyatt held out to shake and Wyatt hoped the other man didn’t notice his damp palms.

  “Thank you,” he said, and tried to relax. This is what he’d wanted, he reminded himself yet again as the urge to flee dogged at him. The sooner he got into McCready’s inner circle, the quicker he’d find out what happened to Dean and he could disappear.

  But McCready wasn’t done, and that’s what Wyatt had been most afraid of.

  “I expect you all to treat Wyatt with the respect you treat my other fighters. Anything he wants is his.”

  Wyatt glanced around the room at all the faces showing a mix of boredom, disappointment, and anticipation. What were they all thinking? This didn’t concern most of the people here, yet clearly McCready had wanted an audience for something. Was it for this announcement, or was there something more? McCready had mentioned a surprise, but Wyatt hoped this announcement would be it.

  The tension in the room tightened further, and Wyatt knew there was more to come.

  McCready clapped a hand on Wyatt’s shoulder. “This will only be a trial period, of course. I need to know for sure whether he’d be a good fit. But that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t be treated like a king.”