by Shannyn Leah
“This is awesome.” Hawk jumped to his feet. “I’ll do it. I loved doing it when we were young and I’ll enjoy it even more now.”
Ava pulled him back to his chair. “You’ll end up arrested and charged with breaking onto private property. Mr. Barkley does not fool around.”
“As long as, if I get caught, Wanda’s ready to flirt my way out with bribes of homemade jam, I be fine.” Hawk stood back up.
“Sit down,” Dax barked. “You’re the only one stupid enough to try and Stone’s just trying to get you out of going back to Oakston with him.”
Stone sent Dax a warning look. His best friend may have disclosed his underground matches to his wife, but as much as Stone liked Marnie, she hadn’t been around long enough to share such secrets. Stone didn’t share this part of his life with anyone.
“You all passing?” Stone asked. “No one brave enough? Let’s see a show of glasses.”
All the glasses moved forward and Hawk filled them up.
“Your turn,” Hawk said to Bowie, pushing the game along to ask Marnie whatever perverted question he was pondering.
“You don’t have to play,” Stone told her.
“I don’t mind. Truth. How many of you have successfully broken into the beach huts on the beach after hours?”
Stone chuckled. “I’m sitting this one out as a major fail.”
“They really have those huts locked up,” Bowie laughed.
“To keep the teenagers from fornicating inside and making the biggest mistake of their entire life.” Once again Dax turned this around to Stone and Bowie. Stone was about at his limit. He hadn’t brought her here to feel unwelcome and awkward. He’d wanted to show her what a great group of friends he had—mostly his best friend and the life he’d created when no one thought he could—but that very man was really starting to piss him off.
“Man, you’re walking a fine line,” Stone warned.
“Me? What the hell have you been doing all week? Playing house with a socialite who will drop you on a dime for the next high around the corner.”
“Dax,” Ava hissed, but he ignored her.
“I don’t want someone in my house that has the ability to do to people what she’s done to you!”
Stone stood, taking Bowie’s hand and pulling her to her feet. “Fine, but remember who the hypocrite is that set the ultimatum.” He pointed at Dax and his friend also rose to his feet.
“She’s dragged you back down the rabbit hole. Don’t come running back to me when she leaves you there bloody, almost dead, and alone. Screw it, don’t take Hawk with you because you deserve whatever is coming.”
Anger shot through Stone. He was two steps around the campfire to shut Dax up when Hawk went flying by and tackled Dax to the ground.
Gasps erupted around them as Dax and Hawk rolled on the ground. Stone could’ve jumped in and taken both of them out, but he sort of liked having Hawk on his side. Why or how or even when Hawk had discovered his own brain was beyond Stone, but he had to admit he enjoyed it.
“Dax!” Ava shouted, circling the foolish grown ass men. Sure, that had almost been Stone, but after tomorrow he’d see enough fighting to last him a lifetime.
“Hawk!” When Marnie stepped in to break up the men, Stone did too, yanking Hawk off Dax and pushing Dax back.
“Enough!” he yelled.
Everyone stood back, staring at one another, and just when Stone thought they were good, Dax attacked him.
“WHAT THE HELL IS SHE doing here?” Dax shook his head, clinking the ice cubes in the Ziploc bag he had pressed against the side of his eye. Even after their wrestling match in the backyard, Dax was still being a stubborn ass.
“You know why she’s here.”
“What the hell are you doing, man?”
“I’m winning back my girl. Of all people you should understand that.”
Dax threw his hands in the air. “Son of a bitch. I knew this would happen. I damn well knew if you went back she’d hook her claws back into you.”
“Dax, I love you like a brother, but you’re going to have to trust that I know what I’m doing.”
“I don’t. I don’t trust you. I don’t trust her,” he growled the last word out as he pointed out the kitchen window where Hawk, Ava, and Bowie lined the porch staring in. Marnie had called it a night and Stone didn’t blame her—they were a mess of friends right now and no one needed to see their boss have a mental breakdown or get the shit kicked out of him.
“You and Ava played a dance around your feelings for years. Your dad saw it. I saw it. I watched you spend your evenings at the bar with Hawk picking up random women that hurt your chances with Ava, and I said nothing. I stood back and let you live your life. You were miserable and hid what you really wanted. The last ten years, that’s been me. There’s more to what happened, Dax and maybe one day I will tell you, but not until you trust me first.”
Dax brought the ice pack in front of him to re-wrap the towel around it. When he pressed it back against his head, he said, “I trust you.”
“Good, because I need you to get a hold of that private investigator and pay him what he needs to make sure he’s in Oakston tomorrow night, on call.”
Dax’s shoulder’s stiffened and he straightened. “What’s going on.”
“Bowie told me Walker’s fight is in a strip club he owns. On his turf, his rules, and with his men, giving him the upper hand. I don’t trust him. Bowie will have Duke and I know Dad and Hawk can defend themselves, but I get the feeling there’s more. Walker wouldn’t fight unless there was more at stake.”
“What are you thinking? Same thing as the alleyway?”
“I don’t know, but if I need backup, Quinn Barker has access to people. Get him on our side because I want to walk away from this alive. I want to start my life with Bowie.”
Dax’s lips thinned and Stone half expected another Bowie lecture, but instead, he grasped Stone’s shoulder. “I’m on it.”
WHEN THEY ARRIVED BACK at Stone’s house, Bowie had gone from feeling like a normal person with a normal life back to the burden of a businesswoman with a business her father had introduced her to. She wished she didn’t blame him—he was dead—but sometimes she wondered what her life would’ve turned out like if he hadn’t been so deep in underground fighting. If he hadn’t dragged Reed and her into it.
But she would’ve never met Stone. That was the only plus she could come up with and the man guiding her down the hallway now to his bedroom was worth every heartache.
“Bowie, we need to talk.”
That was the beginning of a sentence nobody wanted to continue. She let go of Stone’s hand and pulled her smoky smelling sweater off. “I’m going. End of discussion,” she said and started to unbutton her shirt when Stone caught her wrists and pulled her to sit on the edge of the bed besides him.
“I wasn’t going to try and stop you.”
She sent him an I don’t believe you look, but he only chuckled and touched his finger under her chin.
“Doll, we both know you don’t listen to reason.”
“I listen to reason, but sometimes your reason and my reason don’t mesh.”
He softly kissed her lips. “I don’t want to fight with you. I want you to be safe. Duke comes tomorrow and you promise me that if anything goes awry, you will leave.”
Her hands grasped his forearms between them. “I won’t leave you.”
“You have to leave me. If it goes south, if Walker has some plan, Bowie, doll, they won’t just kill you. We both know that.” They’d torture her. “Promise me you’ll leave and be safe.”
She closed her eyes and nodded. “I promise.” She looked up at him. “Don’t leave me again.”
“I love you, Bowie.” He brushed his lips over her cheek. “I will fight my damn hardest to come back.” That was all she could ask for, all he could do.
Chapter Thirty
WALKER’S JOINT WAS the dive Dax had expected. Underage girls dancing on the stage and g
ave lap dances to old men who should be at home with their wives.
He hadn’t expected anything better from Walker. Hell, even the name of his bar was distasteful—Hump a Bitch.
Bringing Bowie in here made his stomach curdle, but he couldn’t worry about being unable to convince her to stay home. She was her own strong, independent woman and he respected her for it. Duke, on the other hand, was another story. Stone had sat down with him and gone through a game plan to keep them all safe. He didn’t care if Duke killed every last person in the joint, as long as Bowie, Hawk, and his old man walked away safe.
Bowie’s hand trembled inside his as they were led down a sketchy hallway lined with doors, some shut while others were left open and more underage and/or drugged women performed sexual acts on their clients. Even Hawk look disgusted in their surroundings, but they all kept their opinions to themselves.
He hoped to hell there was a ring beyond the doors they approached. He hoped they weren’t being set up.
Two bulky men with obvious guns holstered to them awaited at the doors. They stopped and two more men walked over from hidden areas on each side. After each of them had been frisked for guns, they were given access.
He breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of two opponents already fighting in the ring, and a mix of the rich bastards he despised sitting among sketchy characters he’d bet were Walker’s regulars cheering them on. He even recognized the referee making it as legit as an underground fight could get.
Stone leaned into Bowie’s ear. “We’re good doll. Did you see the referee?”
She nodded. “And the chief of police.”
The corrupt bastard eased Stone’s prior worry. He might be into underground fighting, but offing an ex-fighter and his family wasn’t likely up his alley.
“Follow me.” Their guide slapped Stone’s arm and he took a deep breath to keep from drilling him to the ground.
Stone kissed Bowie. “Do not leave Duke.”
“I won’t.”
“Promise me, Bowie.”
She smiled at him, a tiny, sweet smile. “I promise. Kick Walker’s ass.”
“I promise.” He kissed her again, harder, longer and slipped in a stroke of tongue before nodding for his father and Hawk to follow him.
Their room consisted of sheets hung on rope or stapled on the wall, giving them little privacy.
“You have five minutes and you’re up.” The creepy douche held up five fingers before pointing to Stone. “Five minutes. If you’re not ready, I’ll drag you out of here.”
He’d like to see him try.
“Smug prick, eh?” Slate said. “I could take him. Hell, I bet Hawk could take him.”
“I could take him alright, then I’d burn this goddam place to the ground,” Hawk hissed, walking to the open edge of the sheet and looking around it. “What the hell kind of joint is this?”
“Walker’s kind of joint.”
Hawk made a face, and stayed on the edge of curtain as if guarding their area.
Stone started stripping down. He hadn’t worn anything fancy, denim and a sweater over a T-shirt. If they’d all walked in wearing suits and tuxes they’d have drawn attention to themselves.
“There has to be a back door,” Stone whispered. And by back door, he didn’t mean the literal back door. “The chief of police wouldn’t have walked through the front door, or the back door. They have to be connected to another business, or they have an underground tunnel. A quick escape.”
“Nothing we can figure out right now,” Hawk said. “How about you pummel Walker like we came to do and then let’s get the hell out of here.”
“If there was a raid, they’d have a way out. Watch for it. If things go wrong, watch where the chief of police goes.”
Slate gripped his bicep. “We’re not leaving you, son.”
“If it comes down to dying, you both leave.”
“He’s coming back,” Hawk nodded down the hall at the same a thudding sounded, as if the jackass was hitting the wall on his way down. “You ready, princess, or do I get the pleasure of dragging you out.”
Stripped to his fighting shorts, hands wrapped and mouthpiece ready, Stone straightened at least a foot and a half taller than the twerp threatening him. “Do you want to drag me down?” Stone wasn’t opposed to a quick backstage—so to speak—fight and this man was getting on his nerves.
“Boss man says no one lays a finger on you.”
Stone would bet he just made that up. Stone held his hand out. “Lead the way, princess.”
STONE STEPPED THROUGH the ropes and into the ring. Walker did the same. Older, bigger, wiser. He’d aged like Stone, maintained a fit body like Stone, but he’d never stopped fighting—a con for Stone who’d stepped away for ten years.
“Son?” Stone circled back to the corner of the ring where his dad climbed to stand up on the edge on the opposite side of the rope. Slate waited until his son was close enough to grab both sides of his face. “You’ve got this. Keep moving. Pay attention. You’re smarter than this shit.”
Stone nodded.
“You nervous?” his dad whispered.
“I’ve never been so goddam nervous in my life.” His body rumbled with nerves.
His father leaned his forehead against his. “Stop envisioning that day in the alleyway. That was his day. Today is your day.”
Stone nodded against him, although forgetting was easier said than done.
“You got this, boy. You got this.” He patted his shoulders, gave them a squeeze and then parted.
Stone’s body buzzed on high alert like volts of electricity pulsed through him. Every sense captured something around him. He smelled the old blood and sweat left by the fight before and the bleach when they’d attempted to clean up before this fight. He heard the hum of distant music and loud voices of onlookers. He could feel the clammy sweat in his palms as he flexed his fingers clashing against the cool basement air. But when it came to his sight, he didn’t look around the room, didn’t care whether the club had added private encased booth tables at the back, or if they’d replaced light fixtures above the tables. He knew Duke wouldn’t let any harm come to Bowie and it left his mind free to focus on his opponent. He’d been waiting long time to be here. Had dreamed about it.
Walker’s narrowed stare might intimidate other opponents, but for Stone, it only edged his plan for revenge.
They met in the center of the ring, the referee standing beside them with his arm extended outwards preparing to commence the fight.
“This isn’t about fighting you, Patino,” Walker sneered. “I could care less. Everyone is betting on you to win. I have my men betting millions on me. This is my cash out deal.”
What the hell was he going on about?
“Let’s just have a fair fight.”
Walker’s devious smile sent chills down Stone’s back as Walker said, “As fair as one can be down here.”
It was a threat. Of what, Stone wasn’t sure but anticipated the moment Walker revealed it. He played dirty. Only time would expose his plan.
The bell sounded.
Round two began and Walker stayed back. His devious smirk alerted Stone that now was the moment to uncover his scheme or strategy. And no sooner had the thought passed through his head did three theater-size screens light three walls in the room. The blank screen flickered just as quickly to Reed sitting in a chair. At first glance, Stone felt his anger rise, thinking these two had ganged up on him once again. He wouldn’t put it past the spoiled ass. But with further scrutiny, he could see Reed struggle to free his arms from the back of the chair. Blood oozed from his nose, over his lip, and down his chin.
“What the hell is this?” Stone barked.
Walker stepped to the center of the ring and held his arms out wide. “Every punch you give me, my guy in there, Jud, will inflict one just as painful to Reed.”
Stone stalked across the ring, slamming his body into Walker’s without lifting a fist. They wobbled, but steadied and Wa
lker only grinned. “You take me to the ground and your girlfriend’s brother goes down too. Hard isn’t it?” The sinister look in his eyes darkened. “Deciding if the man who paid the man who kicked the shit out of you is worth losing the girl.”
“I will track you down when this is over.”
His left lip lifted. “You won’t be walking out of here alive. We both know it.”
Stone stepped back. “Let’s fight.”
“Just so you understand I’m not bluffing.” Walker made a signal and this Jud bastard punched Reed in the face so hard his chair flew backwards.
Stone bit back the urge to thump Walker with the same force, but the blood streaming from Reed’s nose as Jud up-righted him prevented Stone from acting.
“Let’s fight,” he repeated.
Chapter Thirty-One
WHAT HAD SHE done?
She’d unknowingly set Stone up. For a split second she’d considered her brother’s involvement, but the punch to his face quickly eliminated the possibility. Reed’s lack of involvement didn’t take away the fear bubbling up in her chest. One of the two men in her life wasn’t walking away from this fight alive. And knowing the choice was Stone’s, she already knew which one.
She stood, but Duke’s long fingers wrapped around her wrist and pulled her to the bench beside him. “You’ll only make it worse.”
She looked at him. “He’ll give his life for Reed.”
“I know.”
“He’ll die.”
He didn’t let go of her wrist as the fighting began—a one-sided fight. Stone dodged his punches and kicks, but when his only defense was to block, he let Walker make contact.
“And what do you propose to do?” Duke asked. She didn’t have to look at him to know he’d be planning an escape plan. If Walker could coordinate a scheme to kill her brother or Stone, they all knew there could be more coming—something including her.
“I have money.”
She tugged her arm, but Duke’s grip only tightened. He brought her face to his, and in a raspy whisper he said, “This isn’t about money. It’s a sick revenge he’s plotted and we both know he hasn’t forgiven you for the time you bruised his ego. Stone can take care of himself, but we need to go. Now.”
