Takedown (Fight Factory Book 1)

by Lea Hart

  TAKEDOWN

  FIGHT FACTORY SERIES

  BOOK ONE

  LEA HART

  Copyright © 2017 by Lea Hart

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Lea Hart

  Visit my website at www.leahartauthor.com

  DEDICATION

  For My Daughters, My Heartbeat

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  I would like to thank Julie Cup at Formatting Fairies for all of her special Magic.

  I would like to the Jennifer Stimson for her editorial wisdom.

  I would also like to thank Janell Parque for her sharp eye.

  CHAPTER ONE

  Saturday, January 7th

  Matt quietly mumbled, “Boom shakalaka, boom shakalaka,” to himself as he enjoyed the view before him. The woman in front of him had the sexiest walk he’d ever seen. Watching her hips sway with each step was poetry in motion and he wondered who she was here to see.

  As he moved down the hall in the underbelly of the T-Mobile Arena, he heard the sound of the crowd thunder against the ceiling. Fight Night in Vegas was just getting started as the contenders on the undercard were introduced. The low thump of music reverberated against the walls as twenty-thousand mixed martial arts fans let loose. The battles for glory were about to begin and he knew from experience that many of them were going to be vicious.

  As he followed his dream girl, he noticed the fluorescent lights flickering overhead, as well as the faint smell of sweat and testosterone. The last time he’d been there, he was too jacked up for his own fight to take in the details. The place wasn’t as glamorous as he recalled. Shaking his head, he realized his only real memory of the night was when they handed him the gold belt.

  The crowd erupted again and he figured one of the fighters had just won…or lost. Sometimes it took less than three minutes to achieve your dream…or have it crushed. Having been on both sides of that story, he was damn glad that he’d achieved the former on his last visit. He was the fucking MMA middleweight champion…again.

  The second defense of his title hadn’t been any easier than the first, but his ability to enjoy it—was. This time, he knew how to navigate the cash, the accolades, and the women. This time, he wasn’t going to waste the opportunities that presented themselves. At thirty-two, he was still in his prime, but that wouldn’t last forever, and he was going to grab ahold of every good thing that came his way.

  Talk about good things coming his way, the woman with the deadly curves was about to enter the gauntlet. When they turned the corner, they would be in the area that was reserved for fighters and their entourages. Between the trainers, coaches, and fighters’ friends, the area tended to get rowdy, and he hoped like hell that she knew what she was in for.

  Letting his eyes wander over her long legs and curvy ass, he wondered which fighter was lucky enough to call this girl his own.

  Dream girl had serious junk in the trunk and he silently mumbled his appreciation to the gods. He was an ass man through and through and she was about the finest example of what he loved. Her dark blonde hair was piled on top of her head, so he had no idea how long it was. Would it be enough for him to fist in his hands? Probably not a question that was ever going to be answered because the odds of her being down here to visit a friend were crappy…even for Vegas.

  As they turned the corner, the noise level went up by a hundred percent as voices ricocheted off the concrete walls. With five guys on the undercard, the place was packed with the usual mix of family, coaches, and women who were barely dressed.

  Dream girl shaking her ass ahead of him wore jeans, a pink jacket that was covered in fringe, and shoes that gave her at least four more inches of height. Watching the fringe shake and shimmy reminded him of the showgirls that littered the town, and he wondered if perhaps that’s what she did. Lord knew he’d go see any show she was in.

  Who was this woman with? As he followed her through the crowd, he noticed she didn’t slow down or acknowledge any of the men’s attention. Guys hooted and hollered as she passed and she ignored every damn one of them.

  With one eye on her, he navigated the throng of people and acknowledged friends and fighters from teams that he’d been on in the past. He also accepted congratulations and had his ass pinched by more than a few women. Why they thought that would work was something he’d never understood. A man liked to hunt, and when women offered themselves up so freely, it took that away.

  Not that he hadn’t enjoyed easy conquests in the past. He had, but they’d left him unsatisfied when it was all said and done. Fast food, fast sex, and fast women no longer appealed to him the way they had in his twenties. Must be because he indulged in just about every pleasure he was offered. He’d been to the buffet and had his fill.

  Maturity. How in the hell had that happened? The nights of hedonistic pleasure were no longer a regular thing for him, and he didn’t miss them a bit. His good friend Bruce kept telling him that it was about time he grew up and, unfortunately, he was beginning to agree.

  As he made his way toward his friend’s room, the halls got quieter and the only sound was the clackity-clack of the woman’s heels. Was this Bruce’s girlfriend? Sure seemed like it because Bruce’s room was where they were headed.

  Apparently, all Bruce’s talk about being focused and not having a woman in his life was total bullshit. Seemed the guy managed to have a beautiful woman, a successful gym, and a winning team. Clearly, his friend was winning in the cage and in life.

  The woman stopped next to Bruce’s door and pulled out her phone. As he got closer, he realized she was as gorgeous from the front as she was from the back. Fuck me. Are those freckles? He loved freckles.

  Clearing his throat, he waited for her to look up. When she did, a small smile crossed her lips…and then nothing. No recognition, no fluttering eyelashes, no attempt to flirt in any way. Which made sense if she was taken.

  Before he could say anything, Bruce’s door flew open and she put her phone away and walked in. Bruce’s trainer and coach both gave her hugs as she passed. Definitely part of the inner circle.

  He followed her in and bit the inside of his lip to keep from groaning as she walked away from him and…into his good friend’s arms. Watching the two embrace made his chest tighten as jealousy streamed through his body. No doubt about it. They were together.

  Bruce caught his eye and released the woman. Slinging his arm over her shoulder, he grinned. “Thanks for coming down, Matt.”

  The roar of the crowd thumped against the ceiling as he crossed his arms over his chest and tried to smile. Five minutes ago, he’d wanted nothing but the best for his friend. Right now, he wasn’t so sure. “Big night, man.”

  “Absolutely.”

  Matt watched the blonde bombshell smile in his direction and wondered what the hell that was about. Bruce didn’t seem like the type of guy who would tolerate his woman smiling at another man. Granted, her smile was friendly. Nothing sexual or inviting, but still, a smile like that made men think things. Sweaty, naked things.

  Bruce let the woman go and then shook Matt’s hand. “Hey, have you met my sister, Bree?”

  A hot flash pulsed through Matt’s body when he heard the word sister. God did exist after all. �
��No, I haven’t had the pleasure.”

  Bruce put his hand on top of Bree’s head and grinned. “Not only is she my sister, she’s also my agent and attorney. Don’t let her sweet appearance fool you, though. She’s a shark. I pity the poor people who have to deal with her.” When she pinched him, he laughed. “Quit, Bree. Be nice and meet my buddy, Matt. He’s the middleweight champion.”

  Watching her step away from her brother shot a bullet of happiness through him. When her honeyed southern drawl draped over him, he grinned like an idiot. She was too fucking perfect.

  “It’s nice to meet you, Matt. I don’t want you to listen to my brother because he’s been hit in the head too many times. His mental acuity isn’t what it used to be.” Putting out her hand, she winked. “I’m nothing but sweet.”

  He bet she was. Taking her hand, he gave her his best smile. “It’s nice to meet you, Bree. Sweet or salty, I like them both.” The laugh she let out made his chest tighten further and he wondered how long it was going to take for him to talk her into something. He wasn’t sure what that something was, but he wanted a chance at it. When her gaze scraped over him slowly, he wondered if she liked what she saw. He sure as hell hoped so because the something he wanted definitely involved kissing.

  “Now, are you the one who has the sex tapes all over YouTube?” she asked curiously.

  A loud groan could be heard from Bruce as he pulled his sister back. “That’s Jack. What in the hell is wrong with you? That’s not something you ask in the first three minutes of being introduced.”

  Twisting away from her brother, she crossed her arms. “Don’t tell me what to do. I’m asking because if he is the sex tape guy, then I want to find out who he used for PR. In my line of business, it’s important to keep your sources updated. I find myself cleaning up messes more often than practicing any actual law.”

  “And why’s that?” Matt asked.

  “Well…the little company I have with some friends represents about four dozen athletes. A lot of them don’t always make the best choices. In fact, they often choose the worst one that’s available, so it’s important to keep my cleanup crew contacts updated.”

  Before he could ask her more questions, Bruce’s trainer popped his head in. It was probably time to head upstairs and let him get ready for his fight.

  “Come get your hands wrapped,” George barked.

  “Right,” Bruce responded. “Matt, can you walk Bree upstairs?”

  “Absolutely,” he replied. Best damn news of the evening. He would be happy to escort her wherever she needed to go.

  “I’m perfectly fine by myself. You don’t have to walk me anywhere. I made it here in one piece and I figure I can make it back out the same way.”

  “Bree, just go with him so I don’t worry.”

  “Fine.” Spinning around, she let out a well-practiced sigh. “I’ll cooperate this one time since it’s your big night.” She gave her brother a hug and then tapped his head. “Keep your coconut safe.”

  “Will do. Now, behave and get out of here so I can get ready. I have a championship belt to defend.”

  Matt put out his hand to Bree and grinned. “Let’s go up and find some seats.” When she slipped her hand into his and winked, he noticed a sparkle of mischief in her eyes. Which told him her sweet smile was covering the best kind of bad, the kind that made a man want to hold on.

  Before they walked out, Matt called out, “Good luck,” to Bruce. He knew defending your title was often as difficult as winning it in the first place, and his friend had a hell of a battle in front of him. Glancing down at Bree, Matt figured he did as well.

  ***

  Bree walked down the hall and slipped her hand away from the fighter’s. He was as handsome as any man had the right to be. That was for darn sure. His surfer good looks were about impossible to ignore and she guessed few women had accomplished it. Glancing up, she noticed his pretty blue eyes and long lashes and figured he had a dozen women ready, willing, and able to…do whatever he wanted. If she had to guess, she’d bet they were sweet and uncomplicated, too.

  Two words that were never used to describe her.

  As they waded through the crowd in the hall, she felt his hand grip her waist as he tried to steer her away from the worst of it. And what a big, warm hand it was. Sweet mother of hotness. If his hand was big, he probably had another big part. Releasing a slow breath, she realized how inappropriate it was to be speculating on a man’s gift five minutes after meeting him. The tingle of excitement she felt hadn’t happened in forever and she wondered what this man had that was making her feel alive.

  It had been over a year since her fiancé had called off the wedding, and she hadn’t felt anything for anyone in all that time. Maybe the deep freeze was finally beginning to thaw and it was time to join the living again. The man walking next to her sure made her feel like it was possible.

  Actually, it seemed a lot more than possible. It was damn probable because she was picturing him naked and sweaty. She barely remembered his name and she was visualizing their slicked bodies sliding together. Was his name Matt or Mark? Might be best to find out if he was going to be the star of her fantasies.

  Glancing up, she realized that would be the safest place for him. The chances of her having a fling with a fighter and no one finding out, especially her brother, were lousy. Having a one-and-done with an MMA fighter would only come back to bite her in the ass. Professionally and personally.

  Sighing quietly, she let the sexy picture in her mind slip away. The world of UFC fighters was small, and the last thing she wanted was to be the center of gossip. Which was exactly what would happen if she allowed herself to have a fling with a champion.

  Maybe that cute bull rider she’d met a couple of months ago would be a better option. As far as she knew, news didn’t travel at the speed of sound in that group, so she might have a chance at a little discreet fun. Which clearly was way past due for her.

  As they cleared the crowd, she stepped away. “Thanks for walking me out, but you don’t have to babysit me. I only agreed so my brother wouldn’t worry.”

  “I don’t feel like I’m babysitting. I’m escorting a beautiful woman to a fight.”

  He stepped closer and put his hand on her hip as a rowdy group of men approached. Maneuvering himself in front of her, he made sure to be between her and the passing crowd. Which put him close enough that she could inhale his scent. Soap, the faint smell of the ocean, and…deliciousness. Glancing up, she admired his corded neck. Yep, definitely time to get out there and get herself some company.

  Male company.

  Naked male company.

  The fact that she was salivating at the thought of running her tongue along his tanned skin told her that she was on the edge of something embarrassing. Something that might not be easily explained away. Matt or Mark or whatever the hell his name was, probably was a temptation that was going to be real hard to resist.

  Not that she couldn’t.

  Once the hall was empty, he stepped away and took her hand. “Let’s go get some seats.”

  “I’m meeting Tony, so don’t worry about me.” When a sour look crossed his face, she wondered what was bothering him. Tony was the heavyweight champion and an all-around nice guy. He also happened to be one of her clients as well as a close friend. As far as she knew, everyone liked him. Except…it seemed, the man in front of her.

  “I’m not handing you over to him,” Matt replied as he tightened his hold. Leading her toward the elevators that would take them to the event level, he shook his head. “Your brother entrusted me with your well-being, so I’m going to stick close until I return you safely.”

  As they stood in front of the elevator, she figured she was stuck with him. His sense of chivalry was going to make him like the gum that got stuck on the bottom of your shoe. Hard to get off.

  Now there was a concept she was familiar with, getting off or the difficulty thereof. Yes, she had used her lawyer language when thinking abou
t her needs, which suggested she was worse off than she’d originally thought.

  “So, what do you do…exactly?” he asked as they waited.

  “I’m an attorney and work at a small company that I started with a bunch of friends from school. I interned with IMG when I was doing my undergrad and got interested in the sports management business. After I graduated law school, I started representing my brother. The rest is history.”

  Taking a step closer, he smiled. “I should come see what you have to offer. I’m about ready to start working with someone new.”

  There were a lot of things that she could probably offer him, but what was running through her mind probably wasn’t what he’d been talking about, despite his tight hold of her hand. Be professional, she instructed herself sternly. Throwing him a small smile, she opened her purse, took out a card, and handed it to him. “Give us a call whenever you’re ready. We’re small but effective.” She slipped her hand out of his and then felt his move to her hip. Boy, he wasn’t giving up. Which, truth be told, was kind of…amazing.

  When her ex-fiancé ended things, it had crushed her confidence in more ways than she was willing to admit, and having this big, sexy man show interest was a nice salve on those old wounds. “I’m meeting Tony at the suite of a sponsor he and Bruce just signed with, so don’t feel like you have to hang out with me.”

  After the doors to the elevator slid open, he led her on and punched the button for the Suite Level. “Which sponsor is that?”

  “Adidas.”

  “I’ll come with you. I’m signed with them as well. I did a commercial for them a month after my title fight. We can shake some hands, then come back down to the floor to watch the fight.”

  “No, thank you. I don’t like to be that close to the action when my brother is fighting.”