by Jayne Blue
The red fire trucks were arriving, three to begin with. The EMT’s quickly surrounded them and took Jan from his arms.
“Is there anyone else in the house?” One of the firefighters asked Aunt Susan and she shook her head no. She also stayed close to her friend as the EMTs put an oxygen mask on Jan. He could see she was also coming to. They’d all survived something that clearly was designed to kill them. Zane was in shock.
He was also in awe of Valerie, how she’d faced the fire, her fear, her recent past and marched into the flames for her family.
If he were able to get her back, he’d never fucking let her go again. She was braver than any fighter he’d ever faced.
They’d gotten everyone out. And by the looks of it, they’d done it just in time.
The west side of the house, the side Valerie’s apartment was on, began to disappear into orange flames.
Zane walked over to Valerie who now stood alone, with a fire department blanket around her. She was completely still. Her eyes were fixed on the black smoke billowing up as the fire department got the first water on the blaze.
Zane put his arms around her. She folded herself into him.
“You saved your aunt and her friend. You’re so fucking brave.” Zane said to her.
“You saved me.” He squeezed her hard and pressed his lips to the top of her head.
“I’m so sorry about…” She interrupted his apology.
“We had a fight after your fight. I’m sure it won’t be the last for either kind of fight. I forgive you.” She lifted her face up and kissed him.
Zane closed his eyes tight for a moment.
He’d come to tell her he loved her, to apologize, to beg forgiveness.
If he hadn’t… if he’d waited for her to call back? He didn’t want to even think what had nearly happened.
Valerie was in his arms, safe. Everything else might be burning down around them, but the only thing that mattered to Zane was Valerie. He’d never push her away again and would be by her side if she’d let him.
* * *
Valerie
* * *
Valerie read the final report. The Grand City Fire Department’s Arson Investigation Unit concluded without a doubt that the fire at her parents and the fire at the River Road Mansion were arson. The arsonist used the same method of accelerant both times.
The Grand City Police took over from there. Trent, her childhood friend, her neighbor, someone she thought she knew, had concocted a sick fantasy life with her at the center.
“His computer is filled with ramblings about how your parents, and then Zane Diggs, and your aunt were all against him. And that he had to save you from them.” The detective had told her what was in the file before it arrived.
The problem was that he was still out there.
Trent Kurshon had fled her aunt’s home thinking he’d left all of them for dead. No one had seen nor heard from him since. The police were watching his parents’ home, but he’d disappeared.
She knew he was out there, but she tried not to dwell on it. Valerie had a life to live. She did not want it to be ruled by fear. Fear after her parents’ death had almost paralyzed her. She was determined to fight it.
Plus, her uncle, her boyfriend, and every fighter in the 21C was now on the case of making sure no one messed with her. Trent would have a hell of a time getting within a mile of her.
She grew up as an only child, but now she was at the center of a huge family of huge brothers. Her uncle had also hired a security team.
In the days after the fire Uncle Meyer was with Aunt Susan at all times. He hovered over her, waited on her, and generally drove her nuts. But it was sweet and tender. Valerie could really see how Meyer Thompson’s life didn’t work without Aunt Susan. For her part, Aunt Susan doted on Jan.
The Meyer sons also flocked home as fast as Meyer’s private jets could carry them. There were five stunningly handsome billionaire heirs. They had the best combination of their beautiful mother and rugged father.
Valerie learned they were all considered the most eligible bachelors in the country, but not one had a wife. They all also doted on their mother. It was the sweetest thing Valerie had ever seen.
“I know you’re all worried about me, it’s very sweet, but maybe it’s a sign you should find wives and make me some adorable grandchildren. I could be dead tomorrow,” Aunt Susan needled her sons. They laughed her off but also waited on her. The sons of Meyer Thompson were also sweet to Valerie. They treated her like the kid sister they never had.
She’d brought a monster into their midst. Yet no one blamed her for it. Instead, they turned their wrath on whoever would dare hurt their mother, and her.
Uncle Meyer had quickly relocated the entire family to the top three floors of a high rise that he owned in Downtown Grand City.
“It’s not my favorite living situation, but it’s not forever,” Aunt Susan told Jan. They made plans to find their next renovation project. Jan was fully recovered from the fire even though the smoke inhalation had gotten her the worst. Trent had knocked them out the same way he’d knocked out Valerie. Chloroform.
Valerie’s thoughts darkened with terror at how close Trent had come to succeeding at killing them all. And how she was the one who brought a lunatic into their lives.
But Aunt Susan wouldn’t hear of her leaving or let her have any blame.
“The blame for this is on that monster. Not on you,” she’d told Valerie. Still, a pit of guilt stayed in her gut.
The Meyers Clan had circled the wagons and Valerie was in the circle. It was a good feeling. It also helped give her the confidence to get back to work with Uncle Meyer.
And then there was Zane.
He was doing everything he could to gain strength and rehab his left shoulder.
“They’ve got me doing everything with no pain meds, taking it slow, but they say it will be worth it.”
Zane opened up to her in a way that he hadn’t before. He told her about his worst days.
“I was straight up addicted to pain meds. And it sounds like it might not be too bad? Except I was stealing, lying, and fighting, all for that. It rules me.”
“Rules?” She worried that he’d used the present tense.
“Yes. I have to always remember it. I have to guard against it. I have to respect it.”
“I’m not afraid.”
“Like I said, you’re a fire-walking badass. I promise not to hide the tough stuff again.”
“I can take it.”
“Yep.” Slowly, Zane told her about his life, his rock bottom, his time in rehab, and about his sponsor Betsy. None of it was off limits. Her love for him deepened as he shared the worst and the best.
The best was coming in hot.
Zane Diggs had another fight. This one was to be on Pay Per View and in Las Vegas. It was a big purse. Despite Uncle Meyer’s anger that Zane had kept his injured shoulder from the 21C, it hadn’t impacted the fans of the sport.
Zane may not have knocked out his opponent, but he knocked out the fans with his win.
They couldn’t get enough of his good looks and winning ways.
He was on the cover of several fight magazines. People Magazine ran a picture of him in the ring, looking handsome but tough as hell. They captioned it “Move over Craddock Flynn, Zane Diggs’ devastating smile and punishing punches are making waves with fight fans.”
Zane’s dreams were coming true.
But no matter how much hype surrounded his rising MMA career Zane showed up at her office every day, with lunch in hand.
Sometimes they even ate it.
This particular day, one month after the fire, their lunch date would have to be postponed.
Zane showed up to her office, in a suit, looking gorgeous. He still took her breath away. He walked in and looked her up and down.
“We’re not going anywhere. I’ve decided.”
“What?” He walked up and wrapped his arms around her.
“In thi
s dress, no. I absolutely am not sharing how gorgeous you look with anyone else.” She’d dressed up in a red sheath, black heels, and had curled her hair for the day’s event.
Zane’s mouth on hers had her wishing they didn’t have to go anywhere. His hands slid up and down her back and then to the hem of her dress. He inched it up as their kiss heated up.
“Zane, we do have to go to get there on time.”
“Yeah, yeah, promise me I get to take this off you tonight.”
“I might be working late.”
“You’re always working late. Just promise me I will peel this off of you later. I’m going to be thinking about that, nothing else, at this thing today.”
“Fine, it’s a deal.” She stepped back and put a hand out towards his chest. Zane pretended to charge her, and she squealed. But they made it out of the office without ripping each other’s clothes off. This was an accomplishment after the kisses he’d just lavished on her.
Zane held his hand in hers. They walked a couple of blocks to the event. Camera crews were already there, as well as the Mayor of Grand City, Brick Cooper, and of course her Uncle Meyer.
The important people invited to the event stood behind a red ribbon in front of the Uptown Apartments project that Valerie had helped finish on time and under budget.
She tensed a bit. This was a perfect recipe for anxiety; a lot of people were there, and she felt the pressure to be sure the event went perfectly. She’d arranged for the food, the press, the tours that would happen after the speeches.
Zane squeezed her hand.
“You got this. But if you want out. I’m here. We’ll bust a move.”
“No, you’re right. I got this.” Valerie hadn’t had an anxiety attack since Zane’s fight. But she knew that it could and probably would happen again. But not today, no. Not here. She was going to handle this. She’d worked hard to make it happen.
They listened to the speeches. Mayor Cooper talked about how important Meyer Thompson’s investment in the neighborhoods was, and how he was helping lead the charge of revitalization.
The Mayor turned the microphone over to her uncle. He said a few words about the units and his future investments in Grand City.
“And I also want to be sure to publicly acknowledge my niece, Valerie Colson. Her attention to detail on this project and several others we’ve got going turned chaos into order. She has been my right-hand woman. I am so grateful. Valerie.” The crowd offered applause. The cameras took her picture. She felt Zane recede behind her a little to give her the spotlight. She didn’t want the spotlight, she didn’t need it.
She needed family, she needed Zane’s love, she needed a fulfilling career.
And she had all those things.
She pulled him back up next to her. He kissed her on the cheek.
Uncle Meyer rolled his eyes. But he’d also given his blessing. Aunt Susan reminded him time and time again that fighters made pretty good husbands if they had the right women.
They smiled again for the cameras and then Zane kissed her hand this time.
“See you tonight. And I’m holding you to that promise about that dress.” He let her hand go and she hoped the blush wasn’t totally obvious.
Valerie cleared her throat and addressed the guests of the event.
“Uncle Meyer, Mayor Cooper, let me give you the grand tour.”
With confidence and only a small bit of butterflies, Valerie led the guests and press on a tour of the building.
With every step, Valerie got stronger than the tragedy that Trent caused.
With every step, she got closer to her own dreams.
* * *
Three Months Later
* * *
Zane
* * *
“Jesus, that was fucking devastating!” Knox yelled into Zane’s ear. The crowd noise was overwhelming.
“Yeah? It felt good!” Zane Diggs had just knocked out Hudson Dupree, the top contender for Welter Weight champion. It was a bloodbath, but in the third round Zane saw his shot, and he took it.
His left hook was a weapon he’d honed thanks to the 21C. He loaded it up with all the power he could muster. It landed exactly where he aimed it. And it lit the place up.
Dupree fell to the mat like a sack of wet cement. He came to a few seconds later. The fight was over.
Zane Diggs was one fight away from his first championship belt on the national stage. It felt incredible. Plus, Sam Bosque had already secured a couple of big money endorsement deals.
He was in the right place and the time was now.
They raised his arm. Zane remembered the pain that very motion caused after the fight that convinced Meyer to sign him. The pain was a memory, nothing more.
Zane walked out of the cage and straight to the first row of spectators. There, with the spotlight still on him, sweat still pouring from his forehead, he got down on one knee in front of the most gorgeous fucking woman in the arena, in the world.
Valerie covered her face with one hand. Zane had the other.
He’d made a small fortune already. He wasn’t her uncle, but he was doing well. He could support her. Though she also didn’t need him to. That didn’t matter though. He wanted to be able to give Valerie the world.
He offered her the biggest rock he could find in three states.
The roaring crowd settled down to a hush when they saw what was happening on the Jumbo screen. That Zane was proposing to the girl of his dreams.
“Valerie Colson, I love you, more than life, more than any title, more than anything. I’m so hooked on you I can’t imagine my life without you. Will you marry me?”
Her blushing was still the most adorable thing he’d ever seen.
Valerie nodded her head and quietly said yes. He slipped the giant diamond on her finger. Her eyes opened wide at the sight of it.
“She said yes!” The announcer blared the news. The crowd erupted in a roar again. The arena shook with the sound of cheering fans. They loved a happy ending. Or in this case, a happy beginning.
Zane stood up and picked up Valerie in a hug.
“My place. Eight o’clock.” She kissed him on the lips. For a second it was like they were alone.
But they weren’t. Zane had to hit the showers, do post-game press, and rehash the fight with his team. All the while he imagined Valerie waiting for him.
They had booked a pretty swanky suite of rooms at the MGM Grand for this fight. When he finally got back to them Aunt Susan and Uncle Meyer were there waiting.
“Well, I don’t normally like fancy champagne, but here it is.” Meyer poured a glass for all of them.
“Congratulations on the fight today. That’s the kind of hook I like to see. The fans fucking loved it too!” Meyer said. There were dollar signs in his eyes too. The event had made big money for the 21C. They toasted to all of it.
“Thank you.”
“Congratulations on the engagement, that’s the kind of hooked I like to see.” Aunt Susan said, and they toasted again.
Meyer shook his hand. Aunt Susan hugged them both tightly.
“We’re so happy for you both,” she said and then she started pushing her husband to the door.
“Weddings on me, don’t even try to argue.” Meyer Thompson told Valerie as she shook her head no.
“No, you don’t have to do that. We can pay our own way.”
“You’re the only girl in the family. Let us do this, it’s our only chance to pay for a wedding!” Valerie’s aunt said, and Zane knew she would get her way.
“Thank you, both, for so much, I can’t even begin…” Valerie was tearing up.
“Shh.” Aunt Susan said as they exited the hotel suite for their own celebrations.
Zane was finally alone with Valerie.
“Come here.” She melted into his arms.
“Pretty spectacular finish to that fight today Diggs,” Valerie said between kisses. Zane was unzipping the back of her dress. His hands found her soft skin.
&nbs
p; It fell to the floor, leaving her in her fancy bra and panties. She decided to help the man out.Yeah, the hook is back.” He peeled down the straps to her bra. She was barely covered as they stood in the center of the suite. Fuckin A, she took his breath away every time.
“That’s not the finish I’m talking about.” She waved the ring he’d gotten for her in front of her eyes.
“You like the ring?”
“Love it.”
“Show me how much?” He teased her.
She stepped back. Zane feasted his eyes on her beautiful skin.
Valerie shimmied out of her barely their panties. “Holy shit.”
Zane enfolded her in his arms and felt her silky skin. She sighed.
“You’re amazing Valerie. A-fucking-mazing.”
“You’re a-fucking-mazing too, Zane Diggs.”
This was the kind of hooked that Zane didn’t have to fight.
* * *
The End
* * *
For More MMA Romance check out Uncaged – MMA Sports Romance by Jayne Blue
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