by L. P. Dover
He turned on the shower water and looked back at me with a smirk. “Well, my mother kind of told everyone in my family about you, and the babies. They want to meet the woman who tamed the beast.”
“Judging by the last few days, I wouldn’t go saying your tame,” I laughed. “But it would be nice to meet your family. Hopefully soon, I can take you to meet mine.”
He gestured for me to get in the shower, and then followed behind. “Do you think they’ll like me?”
Turning around, I leaned up on my tiptoes and folded my arms around his neck. “My mother will love you. My father on the other hand, is old fashioned. Once he finds out I’m pregnant, he’ll demand a wedding. Don’t worry, though. He’ll soften up as soon as he finds out how wonderful you are.”
He stared down at me. “Is that what you want? To get married before we have the babies?”
Was it? We hadn’t been together long and I knew we had so many things to learn about one another. “I want us to do what’s right, Ryley. Getting married just because we’re pregnant is the one thing I wanted to avoid. As much as the thought thrills me to no end, I want to make sure we’re ready. Right now, we have other things to focus on.”
Grinning mischievously, he pressed his cock against my stomach. Leave it to him to turn something serious into humor. “It thrills you, huh? How about I show you what thrills me?”
Turning around, I splayed my hands against the shower wall and arched my back, spreading my legs. “Be my guest.”
Fight Night
THE GATHERING WITH his family was amazing. It made me miss my own. Ryley’s grandfather was the best of all with his smoky gray hair and beard. I could sense how they all wanted Ryley back. I never would’ve imagined that he of all people, was a family guy. He amazed me and I was positive there was a lot about him I didn’t know. I couldn’t wait to spend the rest of my life figuring him out.
Instead of driving eight hours to Las Vegas, we opted to fly. As soon as we got on the plane, I passed out and didn’t wake up until Ryley tapped me on the nose.
“It’s time, angel. Come on.”
Rubbing my eyes, I yawned and unbuckled my belt. “Are we renting a car?”
He shook his head and smiled. “No, I actually have someone meeting us here.”
After helping me up, he reached overhead and grabbed our bags, which thankfully had fit up there. I jammed as much as I could in my carry-on so we wouldn’t have to check our bags. The last thing I wanted was for it to get lost.
As soon as we got off the plane, we started toward the exit. I didn’t even have to ask who was picking us up because I saw him straight ahead . . . Tyler Rushing. “What up, fucker?” Ryley called.
Tyler guffawed and they bumped fists. “Nothing much, man. Just coming by to pick up your sorry ass.” He looked over at me and smiled. “It’s good to see you again, Ashleigh. I hope you’re not mad at me.”
He looked the same as he did the last time I saw him, closely shaved blond hair and gray eyes. Crossing my arms, I pursed my lips before breaking into a grin. “I should be, but I’m not. If you didn’t tell Ryley, I doubt we’d be together right now. So, in other words, thank you.”
He winked. “You’re welcome. Kacey’s out in the car waiting on us. We’ll drop you off at the hotel so you can both get ready for tonight.” As far as I was aware, no one knew about the incident with Camden, except Gabriella and Colin. Ryley could barely keep his anger in check when the subject would come up, so I tried to keep from talking about it. His control hung on the edge, but he did good keeping calm.
“We appreciate it,” Ryley insisted, throwing his arm across my shoulders. “My baby’s momma probably needs to relax just a bit before the festivities begin.”
“Oh, dear Lord, don’t call me that,” I laughed, smacking his arm. “I can’t stand it.”
When we got outside, Tyler led us to his shiny, black truck where Kacey stood waiting on us. Her golden blonde hair was pulled back off her shoulders, and she was dressed in a pink tank top and shorts. She waved when she saw us and I waved back. I didn’t know if she’d like me or not, being that I was Gabriella’s best friend.
“Hello Ashleigh, I’m Kacey,” she said, extending her hand. “Congratulations on the baby.”
Before I could reply, Ryley chuckled and hugged her. “I think you mean babies. We’re having twins.”
“Oh, hell,” Tyler joked. “Why didn’t you tell me?” He opened the back door to his truck and Ryley slid our bags inside, his jaw firm.
“I would have, but things have been a little fucked up the past week. All I can say is that I’m ready to get tonight over with.”
“Have you talked to your brother?” Tyler asked.
Ryley helped me into the truck and glanced quickly up at me. “No, I haven’t spoken to him in a while. From what I hear, no one has heard from him.”
“Hmm . . . that’s strange. I wonder what the fuck he’s doing?”
Ryley hopped into the back with me and leaned down toward my ear. “That’s what I’d like to know.”
TIME SEEMED TO fly by. When we got to the hotel, I only had enough time to take a quick shower and get dressed before it was time to go. It just so happened I had a royal blue tank top with Team Ryley on it, thanks to Gabriella. She sent a text saying she was going to meet us at the arena, since we were going to be riding over there with Tyler and Kacey. Hopefully, it wouldn’t be too weird sitting with them all. I couldn’t abandon Gabriella just because Tyler and Kacey were my escorts.
Ryley was quiet the entire time on the way to the arena. Tyler understood and didn’t bother him. He needed time to get his mind focused. No doubt about it, he was ready. My only concern was of him letting his anger and vengeance cloud his judgment. By the time we got to the arena, the whole place buzzed with excitement. I wanted to be excited, but I couldn’t shake the feeling of unease creeping up my spine.
Danny met us by the door as soon as we entered the arena, while Tyler and Kacey left to get their seats. “It’s a madhouse here tonight,” he exclaimed. “All everyone’s talking about is the fight against your brother.” He led us down the hallway until we got to Ryley’s room. He too wore a royal blue shirt with Ryley’s name. What would be amazing is if the whole crowd had shirts like that to show their support.
“It’s going to be a bloody one,” Ryley growled. “But it’ll be a good show.” I sat in the corner and pulled out my phone so I could surf the internet while he got ready. He didn’t know I was listening when he spoke next. “I’m going to have Ashleigh walk out with us. I don’t want her walking anywhere alone.”
Danny returned the quiet gesture. “Do you think someone will try to do something to her?”
Surely, Camden wouldn’t be stupid enough to do that.
“I don’t know,” Ryley whispered, “but I’m not taking any chances. Tyler will be there to sit with her once she takes her seat.”
“Knock, knock,” Gabriella chimed, opening the door. “Can I come in?”
“Um . . . it looks like you’re already in,” I said, turning off my phone. Sure enough, she was wearing one of her Ryley shirts with her dark hair pulled high into a ponytail.
She opened the door wide and strolled in. “You about ready to go get our seats?” she asked.
“Actually,” Ryley began, tightening up his gloves, “she’s going out there with me. I don’t want anyone messing with her.”
She scoffed. “And you think someone’s going to mess with her while she’s with me? I do know how to kick some major ass, Ryley. No worries though, I’ll just walk out there with you too. You’ll have your whole crew there, including your mini me’s,” she said pointing at my stomach.
With the mood Ryley had been in, I expected him to blast on her, but he actually smirked. “And how can I say no to that?”
Gabriella scrunched her nose and shrugged. “You can’t. But anyway, it’s almost time. That’s why I came to get Ash.” She came to my side and bumped me in the shoulder, not
icing my tension. “It’ll be okay,” she whispered in my ear. “Ryley’s going to handle this the way he needs to. Camden deserves to get his ass kicked.”
“All right, let’s get our champion in place,” Danny advised.
After Ryley put on his blue robe, we walked out of the room and made our way to the arena. My heart sped out of control because I knew at any moment we were going to see Camden, most likely with a sneer on his face. Thankfully, when we got to the entryway, Camden was nowhere to be seen.
“Do you know who’s being called out first?” I asked, whispering to Gabriella.
Her eyes darted around, most likely searching for Camden. “I think they’re calling Ryley first. I’m hoping they do it soon, before Cam shows up back here. We don’t need Ryley jumping ahead of himself and getting disqualified.”
No, we don’t. Which is what I was afraid would happen if they don’t hurry the fuck up and call Ryley’s name. Gabriella and I hung back just a bit to give Ryley some room, but when he turned around and pulled me into his arms, I gasped.
“Promise me that whatever you see tonight it won’t scare you away from me. This fight will be different from any other you’ve ever seen.” His song started to play, but he grabbed my face, his eyes wild. “Promise me,” he ordered.
Swallowing hard, I nodded my head. “I promise.”
He kissed me long and hard and rested his forehead to mine, before Danny came to his side.
“It’s time to go, son.”
About that time, the announcer’s voice boomed over the speakers. “Ladies and gentlemen, it is with great pleasure to introduce tonight’s Middleweight fighters. We all know them as the Twins of Terror. Brothers, competing for the Middleweight Championship title. Let’s first hear it for Ryley . . . The Rampage . . . Jaaammmeeesssooonnn!”
Ryley breathed me in and then turned on his heel, lifting the hood of his robe. It was almost like everything moved in slow motion after that. The curtain opened, the music blared, and we walked out. The crowd screamed and shouted, but I couldn’t hear any of it. All I could hear was the pounding of my heart as I walked behind him to the ring. The announcer with his slicked back gray hair and suit, smiled wide as Ryley approached, knowing this was going to be the fight of the night.
Please let this be over quick.
THE CROWD CHEERED and shouted, but I didn’t care about the fame or the title tonight. In fact, the title was worthless to me right now. I only wanted to make sure Camden suffered. If I won the title in doing that, so be it. Ashleigh and Gabriella took their seats while I bounced on my feet, waiting for them to call my jackass brother out.
“Don’t lose focus, Ryley,” Danny instructed, taking my robe. “Do not let your anger get the best of you. This is an important fight in your career and I don’t want to see you blow it over something stupid.”
“I’m not,” I snapped, glaring at the curtain. “I’m ready to get this shit started.”
“And now,” the announcer called, “let’s get this party started. Are you ready for it? Let’s hear it for Camden . . . The Bone Crusher . . . Jaaammmeeesssooonnn!”
His song blared over the speakers, but all I focused on was my anger. My brother had fucked with me one too many times. There came a point in time where it was enough. He couldn’t use excuses anymore. He was seriously one fucked up human being. No one made him that way . . . he became that way on his own.
All right, Camden hurry the fuck up. I’m ready for this to end. The seconds felt like hours as I waited on him. It was like everything moved in slow motion and I was on hyper speed. Another minute rolled by and still, nothing. Where the hell was he?
The announcer looked to the judges for a signal, but all they did was shrug their shoulders. They didn’t seem to know what was going on either. I grew more impatient with each passing second. “What’s the problem?” I asked the announcer.
He shrugged and turned the microphone away. “I don’t know yet. We have someone going to check on your brother. If he doesn’t show up in five, he forfeits and you win the title.”
What? I didn’t want to win the title like that.
Danny’s eyes went wide and he beckoned me closer. “I don’t know what’s going on, but I don’t like it,” he mumbled low. “It’s not like your brother to miss a fight. He lives for this shit.”
Gabriella got up and rushed over. “Where is he?”
“We don’t know,” I growled. “If he doesn’t show up, I don’t know what the fuck I’m going to do. I’ve been waiting to kick his ass for over a week.”
She searched around and held up her finger. “I’ll be right back. I’m going to see what I can find out.” Ashleigh’s eyes went wide when Gabriella went back to her, most likely telling her what was going on. I was going to go in-fucking-sane if Camden didn’t show up. I had to have this fight, I needed this fight—there was no way around it. I couldn’t let go of what he did.
The crowd chanted his name over and over, hoping to get him out there. The minutes ticked by and once the final five were up, it was over. I watched the judges talk it over and call the announcer down to them to discuss the issue. What were they going to decide? My fate was in their hands.
The announcer came back into the ring and brought the microphone to his lips. “Ladies and gentlemen, it appears Camden Jameson has decided to forfeit the fight this evening.” The crowd grumbled and some of them booed. They paid for a fight and they weren’t getting it. I couldn’t blame them. My douchebag brother just fucked everything up . . . again.
“With a unanimous decision, the judges have awarded Ryley Jameson the Middleweight Champion title. I think we can all say he deserves it.” He lifted my arm in the air and the crowd went wild, jumping to their feet. I wanted to smile, to run around the ring in celebration, but there wasn’t anything to celebrate. There was no victory.
And just like clockwork, Sarah Wilder stormed up into the ring with her camera crew, talking excitedly into the camera. “Good evening, I’m here live with Ryley Jameson, where he was set to fight for the Middleweight title against his own twin brother, Camden Jameson. Under unanimous decision, Ryley was awarded the championship due to an unusual forfeit by his brother.” She turned to me. “Ryley, what on earth would possess your brother to give up the title so easily?”
Even though I was raging inside, I knew I couldn’t show it. Danny accentuated his smile and mouthed the words ‘breathe’ when I glanced over at him. “Actually, I have no clue what’s going on with my brother right now,” I said, looking straight into the camera.
“Do you think he was afraid of fighting you? Afraid he would lose?” Her eyes gleamed with delight. She wanted a story, but I sure as hell wasn’t going to give her one.
“As much as I’d like to think that’s true, no, I don’t think that’s it at all. I’m sure he has a reason for not showing up. But I would like to thank the judges for giving me this honor, and more importantly, to thank the fans here tonight. I know they wanted to see a fight. Trust me, I wanted to give ‘em one.” Nodding to the camera, I smiled quickly and rushed out of the ring.
Ashleigh bolted up to me and put her arm around my waist. Her touch was all that kept me grounded this past week. Without it, I probably would’ve done something stupid. “Oh my God, this is insane. I told you something was going to happen. I don’t like it, Ryley.”
“Neither do I,” I admitted. “Come on, let’s see if we can find out what’s going on.”
I nodded to Tyler for him and Kacey to follow us to the back. The whole way there everyone congratulated me on the title, patting me on the back, and shouting their delight. If only I could enjoy it. Danny made it to the room first and held it open while we all filed in. Gabriella was already in there, her head down, body stiff.
“Gabby, what are you doing?”
When she turned around, her hand shook as she passed me what she had in her hand. “I saw this when I came in here. As much as I wanted to rip it apart, I think you need to see it. We both know
what it means.”
Opening the letter, there wasn’t much to it . . . but I knew what it meant.
Brother,
This ends tonight. No titles, no rules. Just you and me. Someone will be by to get you.
~C
“Ryley, what does it say?” Ashleigh demanded, coming to my side. I handed her the letter and walked away. She wasn’t going to like it.
“What’s going on, bro?” Tyler asked.
Tyler knew about the whole underground fighting fiasco because one of his friends from the Labyrinth was a part of it. Now he was rotting in jail. “Do you remember what Wade was involved in last year?”
Tyler tensed. “Please tell me Camden’s not involved in that shit? Fighters were murdered, Ryley. What does he want you to do?”
“I’ll give you one guess.”
“YOU CAN’T DO this,” I blurted out. Everyone turned to me as I stalked up to Ryley and grabbed his arm, turning him to face me. “It’s one thing to fight where there are rules and judges, but it’s quite another to fight where there’s none. You could get seriously hurt . . . or killed.”
Tears streamed down my cheeks and I looked down at the letter again. I didn’t want everyone to see me break down, but the thought of him leaving to fight in some underground battle where anything goes, was just too damn much to handle.
Ryley glanced over his shoulder at everyone, but they averted their heads, giving us some semblance of privacy. “Angel, I have to go,” he murmured regretfully. “Please tell me you understand.”
“No, I don’t understand. You don’t have to go,” I begged, holding onto him. It wasn’t like I could physically stop him, but I could at least try. “Let your vengeance go and stay here with me. It’s not worth it, Ryley. I don’t want to give you a guilt trip and tell you stay for the sake of our family, but I’m begging you. Please . . . stay.”
