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“Really?” Koda said. “It wasn’t part of some big scam?”
“Doesn’t seem like it. Erznet is just a pathetic loser.”
It must just be the reality of Serena’s position. She attracts the attention of creeps like that. Though it doesn’t make me feel much better.
I could shut it down if there was some scam targeting her, sure. But creeps would likely keep falling in love with her and come after her. She was a public figure at this point, so there would always be another Erznet.
Of course, I wouldn’t let any of them lay a hand on her. But there’d have to be some permanent changes to her lifestyle to keep her safe. At least for now, I could rest easy knowing the immediate threat was under control.
I left my team to deal with Erznet as I went back to the apartment. It was time to let Serena in on the good news.
Serena was right where I left her when I got back to the apartment. Wrapped up in a blanket sound asleep. But this was news that couldn’t wait.
“Serena,” I said as I knelt down beside her in the bed. “It’s done.”
“What?” she asked, stirring awake.
“Erznet has been dealt with. You won’t have to worry about him ever again.”
“Oh, Jalik,” she said as a huge smile extended across her face. “Thank you so much.”
“You’re free to live your life without fear of that guy ever again.”
“Thank you.” She leaned towards me and planted a kiss on my cheek.
“So, now that danger is gone, you don’t have to stay here with me as your babysitter anymore.”
“I—What?” Serena’s face was quizzical. She didn’t understand that we were now free. We were able to rise to our full potentials.
“Look,” I continued. “You came to stay here so I could keep you safe, and you’re safe. There’s no reason to keep living together now that the circumstances have changed and you don’t need immediate protection anymore.”
This wasn’t a break-up or anything. Mostly because we were never officially together.
This was just a circumstantial arrangement. And the circumstances had changed. I liked Serena, but I was not going to ask her to move in with me. No matter how hot she was.
Besides, I had the championship to focus on. Serena was a fun distraction but still was exactly that. A distraction. Once I finished my final fight, we could revisit the future of our relationship.
“I’m sure you don’t want to be here much longer than you have to. I mean, you want to get back to your life, right?” I suggested.
“Right… Right… I can go back to The Under now… I guess.”
“Oh, no, no, no. You won’t be going back there. Erznet was dealt with, but the next creep could be right around the corner. I’ll get you an apartment above the casino like this one. Don’t worry about that.”
“Oh… thank you.” I couldn’t quite read her tone of voice. But I was sure she was excited to have this business all over with and a new fancy apartment all to herself.
“Don’t worry about it,” I said, moving back towards the door. “I’ll get someone working on getting your new place ready. You can stay here until then, of course. Right now, I have to go get some sparring sessions in before tonight’s fight.”
“Okay,” Serena said, sitting up in bed. “Goodbye…”
I hurried out, already running behind as it was.
But I got all the warm-up that I needed that day. By the time I got into the ring, I was ready to absolutely destroy my opponent.
As I entered the ring, I looked out at the cheering audience, all chanting my name. But my eyes immediately went to the one empty seat in the whole place. All the adoring fans, and I could only notice the person not there.
The VIP seat I had reserved every night for Serena was empty.
SERENA
