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EMMA
FIVE DAYS LATER
All the guys had gotten their tattoos, and when Uncle Camden asked Brooks where his was, he used the FBI as his excuse. Now Brooks was gone to his super secretive FBI training while Kase and Hunter were back in Vegas, going on with life as if nothing had happened. Things had been quiet … eerily quiet, the calm before the storm. Nobody knew when Nikolai was going to call on them to fight. So far, none of the guys had heard from him. Granted, not hearing from Nikolai was a good thing, but I had a feeling a lot was going on behind the scenes we didn’t know about.
That was why Carter and I had spent the last five days at the gym so he could train. In two days, he was supposed to fight. I dreaded to think about what would happen, especially since weapons were allowed in the death matches. Nikolai’s words to Carter had haunted me all week. It took some coercing, but Carter confessed everything that was said to him including Nikolai telling Carter to enjoy his last week with me. I didn’t know what kind of mind games Nikolai planned to throw at me, but none of it would work. Even if he offered me twenty million dollars, I would never sell my soul and give up Carter for him.
How could anyone love someone like Nikolai? He was a killer and a master manipulator, corrupt and vile. I didn’t care what he had in mind for me, but I would fight to the end before giving him anything he wanted.
I’d kept my concerns about Nikolai to myself because I knew voicing them to Carter would only make it worse. Carter knew he had to win at all costs, and his worry for me had been eating him alive. So, all I could do was show him my support and how much I loved him.
However, one thing was tearing away at me which concerned me more than anything. Nikolai didn’t want any of the other guys at Carter’s fight on Friday. He made it clear they were not invited. It made me think that something was going to happen, something Nikolai didn’t want interference on.
For the last week, I’ve spent every waking moment with Carter. His parents were still gone which was a plus, but we’d garnered the attention of both my uncle Camden and Paxton at the gym now that all the guys had their massive dragon tattoos on their backs. Even my dad had been seen giving us curious stares, but he hadn’t said anything to me.
While Carter was sparring with the guys, I sat at the reception desk. It was almost closing time, so I sent Natalie home early. She was a senior in high school and worked the afternoon shift every day. Her goal was to graduate and get a college degree in physical therapy so she could come back and work for Fightanium. We had a lot clients who could use that kind of treatment. Fightanium was expanding in ways I never thought possible, and we still had plenty of empty rooms in the back, waiting to have something done with them. I was proud of my dad and the others for building their dream together.
I just hoped it wouldn’t go crumbling down after Nikolai got through with us all.
“What’s on your mind, sweetheart?”
Gasping, I grabbed my chest and looked up at my father; he’d caught me off guard. “Dad, I didn’t see you walk up.”
He leaned over the desk, concern in his eyes. “You’re a little jumpy today. Everything okay?”
I waved him off. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just thinking.”
My father lifted his brows and smiled. “About what?”
It was uncanny how much Ethan and Reagan took after him. I wanted what he and my mother had together, and I knew I found it in Carter.
“About what?” I repeated. “Let’s see …” I couldn’t tell him about Nikolai, but there was something I had been thinking a lot about. Nobody knew, not even Carter. However, I did tell Carter I would stay in California for a while, but he didn’t know that I’d talked to Ava just the other day to discuss our apartment. At first, my time in California was only temporary, but now, it was going to be permanent. My life was about to get crazier, and what better way than to tell my father first.
“Well,” my father coaxed, motioning for me to continue.
Grinning, I looked up at him. “I’m leaving New York. Ava and I only have three months left on our lease, so I’m going to pay my half, and she’s going to find herself a smaller apartment.”
His crystal blue eyes widened. “And where will you be moving to?”
“Here,” I answered happily. “All of you are going to be stuck with me.”
I’d never seen my dad so excited. He ran around the desk and hoisted me out of the chair, twirling me around like I was a child. A laugh burst from my lips, and it felt good.
My dad set me down and steadied me until the world stopped spinning. “Your mom’s going to be so excited.”
“I know.”
Looking over his shoulder, I noticed Carter, Ethan, and Reagan staring curiously at us as they leaned over the ropes. My dad put his arm around my shoulders, his face beaming. “Guess who’s moving back to California permanently?”
Carter’s mouth gaped and Reagan squealed so loud that Ethan had to cover his ears. She jumped out of the ring and ran to me, snatching me away from our father. “It’s about damn time! I knew you would eventually.”
Ethan joined us and hugged me. “Where you gonna live? You can always stay with Braden and me until you find a place.”
Carter snorted from behind us. “Not happening, Jameson. I love my cousin, but I don’t want Emma stuck under the same roof as him.”
My dad kissed the side of my head. “All right, I’m going to head out so you can celebrate with everyone. Come by the house later so we can tell your mother.”
I kissed his cheek. “I will.”
