Page 158 of The Unravelings

Unfortunately, Brutus dominates the poor guy without batting an eye. Raining down blow after blow and bashes him to a pulp without trying. Maybe Oliver should have come to fight Brutus to spare the kid in there with him. Because from where I stand, it looks like he’s almost dead, and no one is stepping in to stop him.

The heavy presence of someone standing beside me draws my attention. At first, I think it’s Mack coming back to talk to me again, but it’s someone I’ve never seen before. A man.

“Enjoying the fights, Cupcake?” he asks with a grin, exaggerating his look at me with heated eyes. Great. I sometimes forget what it feels like to be a woman after being in Oliver’s skin for so long. I haven’t had to worry about leering men. “Need a drink? A ride?” he hums with glazed-over eyes. “Because I can offer both. Right here. Right now,” he slurs out, unsteadily swaying.

Instinctively, I take a step away from him and shake my head. “Not interested, thanks.” I try really hard to ignore him when he steps closer to me, letting his rancid breath roll over my ear, sending shivers down my spine. Not the good kind, either. The kind that says I need to get away from this potential danger as quickly as possible.

Fuck.

I take another step away from him, but he continues to follow me wherever I go. I look around with narrowed eyes and find Simon standing at the bar, happily chatting with Daniel, who must have snuck in. Whatever. I can handle this man if I need to. I don’t want to have to punch him in the face to get him off my ass.

“I-I’ve n-n-ever seen you here before,” he slurs, taking a step closer to me yet again.

My hands ball into fists at my sides, and I take a calming breath. What part of no does this guy not understand?

God, do I wish I could shove my fist into his face with the way he leers at me like I’m naked. Ugh. Something has to change if I want him to leave me alone.

“Nope. First time,” I say. “You can stop following me, too. I’m not interested in you.” I give him a pointed look. There. I said it. I was straightforward with my no. Again.

“Wa-want a good time?” he hiccups, taking a step closer again.

“For fuck’s sake,” I groan, turning to face him and raising my chin. “No. No, thank you. How many ways can I tell you no, dude?”

“Well, I…” he slurs again, stumbling back when a large, familiar hand lands on his shoulder and yanks him in the opposite direction.

My heart pitter-patters at the sight of JJ standing over the man, his chest heaving, saying words I can’t hear over the roar of the crowd. I swallow hard when the man is dragged away by two security guards, kicking and screaming about his right to be here. Well, until they toss him out the front door and he’s nowhere to be seen.

“Are you okay?” JJ says, leaning into me with a furious expression.

“That was unnecessary,” I huff, side-eyeing JJ, not letting him know how thankful I am. “I could have handled that.” I could have punched the guy, at least. Maybe then he would have gotten the hint. But again, I don’t really want to draw that much attention to myself. I’m already getting heated looks from around the Coliseum. Well, not now.

“Unnecessary,” he wheezes, shaking his head. His brown eyes take me in from head to toe with a heated expression. “That…” He groans, waving a hand at my body.

I smirk. “You gonna come in your pants again?” I quip confidently, keeping eye contact with him as his pupils expand.

“Yes,” he rasps out, moving closer to me until I feel the heat of his body against mine. “When you said you were going to come to the damn fights, I didn’t think you’d be so…”

“Hot?” I question, raising a brow.

“More than hot. Every goddamn person in this place has been eyeing you like a piece of meat. Mack included,” he says through gritted teeth.

“Including you?” I smirk, taking in his heated stare.

“No. Because you’re not a piece of meat, Spitfire,” he groans. “You’re already mine.”

My cheeks heat, and I turn my head. “Well, for tonight, you have to pretend I’m not.”

“So you admit it?” JJ asks cockily, whispering in my ear. “Have you looked over what I sent you? Do you believe me? Us?” There’s a hopeful tilt to his voice as he stares me over, begging me to believe him.

I nibble my bottom lip. “No. I still have a friend looking it over. He said it could take a while.” I lick my lips. “I want to believe you, Jasper. I want to know the truth.” All the truths. All the lies. I want it all. And if it means waiting for confirmation from Carter, then so be it.

“I know,” he murmurs, putting a hand on my waist discreetly and gently squeezing.

“JJ?” I question, turning to look at him.

“Yeah?” he says softly, erasing the world around us with one look from him.

But I know what I’m about to say will shatter the private bubble we’ve temporarily built.