Merciless King: A Hero Club Novel

by Ellie Jean

  “I’ve been tossing around in my head, do I ask to come, is it too forward, will it unfocus you, will I vomit or pass out, again unfocusing you, do I watch from home but shouldn’t I be there with the new champion of the world when he’s given his belt. Then I’d finally decided, only today though…” She clasps her fingers around my chin and cheeks, holding my face still, intensely staring at me. “I wanted to be at the fight for my man.”

  Kissing my lips gently, I take hers with command and show her how much this means to me. My arms pull her toward me, she has no escape. “Really?”

  “It’s lucky you asked me because I was stumped on how the heck I was going to get in to watch with tickets sold out. My pouting skills wouldn’t work with security, I’m sure.” Laughing, I grip her hips and kiss her again.

  “I have a special seat for you. Next to my mother, but also my father.” Maybe I didn’t think this through enough. She doesn’t miss a beat, her lips latch back onto mine and it’s slow, like she’s savoring what we have right here, right now.

  “Sounds perfect.” Her hands trail up the back of my neck and shoulder and we consume each other.

  Caro releases first and grabs a lungful of air. I watch her carefully. “I think it’s time you go.” A smirk tugs at her plump, pink lips.

  “Are you kicking me out, again?” I grab my chest. “I’m going to get a complex.”

  “Chuck Sansone, that’s something you will never get. You’re too sure of your sexy self.” She’s right.

  “I’m looking after my champ. Like a good woman should.” She stands up, putting her hands on her hips. “You need sleep and a good last day of training before the fight.”

  I stay seated, looking up at the woman who is acting more like my Blossom.

  “Don’t make me kick your butt.”

  Smirking, I know it drives her wild, but she’s right, I need to go. Discipline and focus… I’m not doing a great job. “As much as I’d love to see that, you’re right. I have to go.”

  Standing up, I stalk toward her and cage her against the wall and my chest. “You’ve made me a very happy man tonight. I can’t wait to repay you.” Kissing her forehead, I take another look at her eyes.

  “You winning will be enough. Actually, no, it won’t.” She blushes, and it makes me fucking flutter inside. Shit… how can a heavyweight boxer have butterflies swarming inside his stomach. Pussy. “I’ll be waiting afterward for the champion of the world to find me, then fuck me.”

  “Sounds like a deal.” Pulling away, I hold her chin tight and kiss her one last time. “Next time these lips are on you, be ready for a round with the new champ.”

  “I’ll be more than ready.”

  Caroline

  “It’s done.” I sigh heavily into the phone. “Tell your pals Chuck will throw the fight. Probably in the last few rounds depending on how it’s progressing.”

  “This will repay our debt, Caroline.” My father sounds tired.

  “I hope you’ve gotten out of this what you needed.” I hiccup and try not to openly cry on the phone to my father. “Because you have lost me.”

  “We had no choice, darling. Please don’t say that. I have your best interests at heart, always.”

  “Is that what you call it when you’re feet away from a man threatening to kidnap me and this time perhaps kill me?” Tears roll down my face and I swipe them away in anger.

  “He wouldn’t touch you. I knew you would do the right thing for us. For me.”

  He obviously doesn’t realize how Chuck means more to me than being blackmailed and killed. I will never cower.

  “I guess one of us had to.” Gulping down air, I continue. “I won’t be back to work. Throw out what you want and give my office to whomever you decide will fill my shoes because I formally quit.”

  “You can’t do that.”

  “Well, Father, I just did.” Although my chest is squeezing in despair, my shoulders feel lighter than they have in days. I’d gone through with the decision I should have made years ago. “I won’t work for you anymore. I can’t. Down the track when I’ve managed to think through the past weeks and who you really are, I may pick up the phone and talk to you. But Father, it’s going to take a long time before that happens.”

  I’m losing the one man who has always been there for me replacing him, I hope with a man who will take me forward into a future blessed with truth, love, warmth, and great sex. What more do I need?

  William makes attempts at talking, but I don’t want to hear him. I’ve heard enough.

  “Goodbye, Father.”

  Hanging up the call, I sit on the floor and cuddle myself.

  What have I done?

  Guilt swamps me, my chin trembles and I curl myself tighter. I take a deep, pained breath and close my eyes. Unsure of the last time I lied to my dad, it could have been when I was fourteen and snuck out of the house to go to a movie with my then boyfriend Charlie, my head is ready to explode. I hated lying then as much as I dislike it now. But there are no options.

  Father I’d known for twenty-seven years, Chuck only a few weeks. But he’s infiltrated me thoroughly and entirely. Talking to anyone about a man isn’t something I do, yet with Chuck, I want to scream to the world about how I’ve found a magnificent guy whose priority is to make me feel special. Thinking tirelessly about one male twenty-four seven is unheard of. Having weeks off work because of a man hasn’t ever happened. Going to sleep next to a beating heart in time with your own is magical and a new experience. And the sex, hell. Deep, hard, passionate rippling days after is unforgettable. ‘My smirk’ still ensures my heart skips beats.

  He becomes a part of me.

  This is Chuck’s time. I would be dead within if I asked him to choose between his dream and me. We wouldn’t survive knowing he chose the fight over me or he gave up the fight because of me.

  I chose us over myself.

  That’s what you do when you care or dare I say, love someone.

  There are no other options.

  I can do this.

  I have to do this.

  I’ve made my mind up and I’ll be going through with it until the end. Sacrificing everything, including my life, but I pray it won’t come to this, knowing Chuck will achieve his dream, makes my decision to not tell him worth it. If the Ferraro family believes he will lose in the last rounds, this may allow me enough time to run without anyone noticing. I don’t want to unfocus Chuck and in the same breath, I don’t want to hang around for the Ferraros to notice Chuck win.

  I hope he wins.

  Although, in the back of my mind, if he loses then they will believe he lost on his terms and no-one will be the wiser what I’ve done. Shaking my head, I know Chuck will win but my backup plan isn’t great and considering Dex spoke to me earlier in the morning about the best he could do was organize security around me so if they proceed to kidnap me, his team will do all they can to prevent it, I better think of my exit strategy for tonight.

  A bag with clothes and money.

  Christ, am I really doing this?

  I exhale with dramatics and realize this is how it has to be. For now, anyway. Wallowing in self-pity isn’t going to get me anywhere. I have to be strong and clear in my thoughts if I’m going to come out of this the other side. When I was kidnapped before, I had no knowledge, at least I can mentally and physically prepare this time for the worst.

  Dragging my overnight bag out of the closet, I fill it with warm clothes, some sensible shoes, and underwear. I have a stash of cash in my wardrobe which I find in my safe and place it in the middle of the clothes. It will do me for a week, but I will get some more out at the ATM when I leave for the fight.

  A knock at the door sends me scrambling.

  When did I become this popular?

  I shove the bag into the closet and take in some deep breaths, trying to steady myself. Walking to the door, I consider using a window to escape. It could be the Ferraros coming to take me as collateral already. Why didn’t I inves
t in one of those peepholes?

  Opening the door slightly, I peer through the crack. I’m stupid because really, if it’s someone to attack me they would have kicked it in so fast, sending me on my ass without a second thought.

  A young man with blonde hair and a nice smile looks back at me with his hands full. My chest quietens a bit.

  “Miss. Are you Caroline?”

  “Yes.” Opening the door wider, I look left and right and assess if there’re others with him. He’s alone.

  “I have a delivery for you.”

  He offers me the brown paper bag and a black box with a glittery gold bow tied around it. Something smells delicious.

  “Thank you. Hang on, I’ll grab you a tip.”

  “It’s all been taken care of, Miss.”

  This couldn’t be more perfect. “Oh, well can I get you to deliver something for me?” I have the gold toy belt in a bag plus other goodies. Handing him it with some instructions and money, I wish I could see the look on Chuck’s face when he sees it. Understanding my instructions, the boy turns and strides away.

  My foot kicks the door shut and I place the goods on the table. My nose tells me there’s some hot, freshly fried deliciousness in the bag. Tearing it open, there’s a huge serving of my favorite dish.

  Taking a small bite of one, I can’t resist. I work on the gold bow. Pulling the top of the box apart, a layer of black tissue paper is on top with a small piece of gold paper laying on it.

  Holding it between my fingers, I grin from ear to ear. It’s from Chuck.

  Dear Blossom,

  I chose this for you for our special night.

  I hope you like it.

  I look forward to tearing it off you later.

  Love, Your Champ xx

  Laughing at his words, he’s so fucking full of himself. I guess he needs to keep himself pumped but taking a small amount of time to think of me, my eyes well up. I mean something to him. My heart relaxed from the unknown behind the door, ramps back up.

  Goosebumps take over my body. I know I’ll love whatever it is because my man chose it. A bright glimmer hits my eyes first, and my fingers work at unwrapping the tissue paper. Gold sparkles beam from the dark box. Wiping my fingers on my jeans, I get rid of any grease and pull out a cocktail dress covered in gold sequins. The bodycon dress has a deep V neckline, spaghetti straps and what looks to be ruching at the side. It looks stunning. Holding it against my body, I want to dress in it now, but there are still some preparations I need to do.

  Laying at the bottom is something else. It looks like lace. Running my fingers over the delicate material, my fingers take out a black lace G-string and a strapless lace bra to match. The lace is finely detailed and they look magical. I blush, thinking about Chuck studying me in them but knowing he picked them out makes them all the more exceptional and I cannot wait to parade around for him to ogle me. I pray he gets to see them on, then off me. Perhaps not in the near future, but I will make it a priority for it to happen sometime. No matter what happens tonight, I won’t give up on us.

  Taking another fried cheese finger of pure goodness, I rush to find my phone. I shouldn’t call him, but I do. It rings and rings.

  “Damn.” There’s no answer, but there’s an option to voice record.

  “Hey there handsome. Thank you for the very thoughtful gift. I can’t wait for you to unwrap me. I’ll be the one sparkling on the side, yelling and cheering your name. You won’t need luck, your sheer determination will see you win. See you on the other side, Champ.” Blowing him a kiss, I hang up and relish in the remainder of my fried sticks, looking at the items he purchased… for me. My nerve endings tingle and I close my eyes savoring the taste but also the thought he has put into this. Touching and kissing him now would be perfect, but I will have to wait. It’s uncertain for how long, but I have to have faith, good will trump evil.

  Standing, carefully holding my presents, I look at the clock.

  “Shoot, I only have a few hours before I have to leave.” I better get a move on with packing my bag and going through the plan in my head.

  I’ve got a lot to work out and then find the strength and resolve to carry through with it.

  Chuck

  “You’ve given the two tickets to Mom and left one other with one of your guys at the door who will give it to Caroline?” Calmness surges through me. Andre and Cristo are running around, organizing whatever needs organizing.

  “Your mother has two tickets and Sal assured me he has someone trustworthy with the other. She will get the ticket. And she will be seated ringside.”

  I smile thinking about Caro, nodding my head.

  No one has seen me with a woman like I am with Caroline. I was the laughingstock for most of the morning. Cristo picked up the dress and lingerie I ordered online late last night and Andre delivered them to a wrapping and delivery service to be taken to her. Laughing at my awkwardness when I asked them for help, I floundered, wondering how to make it all work. My insides working against me, nausea rising when debating what dress to get her and if the lingerie was too much. Nerves took over more than they are right now preparing to be punched numerous times by an opponent who will be out to take me down, fast.

  Walking into my team’s private locker, my eyes bounce around the room.

  “Holy crap.” Gold and black line the entirety of it. My eyes land on that fucking toy gold belt I couldn’t stop laughing at in Caro’s apartment.

  Howling with laughter, all of us look at the absurd belt, hanging off the rafters, with Champ now handwritten on it. “What the fuck?” Cristo stands, still gaping at the ridiculous thing as Andre doubles over laughing.

  “It’s from Caro.” Christ, she makes me smile.

  Laughing and wiping my eyes, I shake my head.

  A stuck up businesswoman to most but to me a quirky, bashful little hellion.

  My woman…

  Fucking brilliant.

  “Can you guys believe we are here?” Looking around at my team, in the decorated change room it’s surreal. We’ve waited a long time for this. Chuckles escape our mouths looking at the ridiculousness of the room.

  “Damn right. You belong here, Chuck, and everyone tonight will know it. There will be no more doubts you’re world champion.” Cristo slaps me on the back.

  “Something we’ve all known for a long time, now everyone will know.” Andre folds his arms, looking around, piercing Sal and Nizo with a stare. They have yet to crack a smile over the toy belt. You can’t make everyone happy.

  “We had our orders.” Sal of course lives by his boss’s orders and nothing will change. “Let’s start warming up so you can show off to the crowd and we can then get our asses home.”

  “Good idea.” With only two hours left, it was time to get my head in the game. With one last glance at the belt, my heart swells and I move into the other room.

  Cristo shadow boxes with me while Andre sorts out my bandages and clothing.

  Slowly moving, heating my body up, sweat forms and I start getting my mental thoughts in gear. It’s time to focus.

  “Chuck.” Tomme Basilio walks in, looking every bit the Capo of our family. “One second?”

  Narrowing my eyes, I leave Cristo and walk into the shower area with him. Placing a hand on my shoulder, pride warms his eyes. “Do your best out there tonight.”

  “I will.”

  “I’ve got everything else handled so you don’t have to be worried about anything but taking Roy Wilders down. Are we clear?”

  Shit. I put the other nightmare out of my mind, directing all my thoughts on the fight or Caro. “Thanks.” I nod my appreciation. “One thing, can you make sure Caroline is under your protection tonight. Remember though, she has nightmares about our family.”

  “Already got it organized. She’s special to you, so she’s part of us, under our safeguard.” Tomme stares at me. “We will make her feel comfortable.”

  “Good.”

  Giving me a chin lift and a few taps on
the back, he goes to leave. “Do what you do best and do yourself proud. Your mother and I already are.”

  Accepting his words, I follow him out and find Sal and Nizo chatting to Dexter. They acknowledge each other with a slight nod and Tomme keeps on walking. Hell, it’s like Times Square in here.

  “Dex, hope you’ve got your money on me.” I spring on my toes, trying to keep my muscles warm.

  “Of course. You better not let me down.”

  “I don’t intend to.” Jabbing a few swings in the air, Sal and Nizo look stiff whispering to one another. “Did you convince Bianca to come?”

  “No. She’s unwell, so we thought it best she stay home. Probably caught the bug from the darn babysitter.” He strolls toward the door. “She sends her good wishes though.”

  “As you can easily see, her color suggestions caught on in a big way.” Both our eyes scan the room again and we both smile.

  “I see. She’ll be happy it caught on.”

  “Well, I thank you and her for your support. I hope it’s profitable for you.”

  “As do I. Hit hard and don’t quit.” He casts a quick gaze at Nizo and then goes to leave.

  I follow him out the door. There’s a handful of men stationed at the entrance. “These yours?” This is unusual.

  “One of them. I’d say the rest are for you.” Dex spears me with his eyes and his face is serious. “You need them, this is your new world, Chuck. Don’t be quick to dismiss them.” He must have read my mind because there’s no fucking way I need all of this. Large men in suits, earpieces in and carrying for sure.

  “I may take your advice.” The pile of small things I keep throwing to the back of my mind, unsure of what it all means, is growing and my unease with it all is escalating. As soon as this fight’s over, I will be moving hell to find out what the fuck is going on with everyone. I could be imagining things, but Dexter with Sal and Nizo, Caroline’s edginess, and Tomme ordering all of this security is overkill, surely? Although in this new world, maybe that’s how it is.