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The guard avoided eye contact, but handed me a water bottle and moved the tray of meats and cheeses closer. He went back to staring out the window, but I kept my focus on him as I tried not to devour every little morsel on that tray. Taking slow sips at first, I placed a bite of cheese in my mouth next, and the flavor exploded. I held in my moan, not wanting to disturb Darren, on the off chance he would take it away. Choosing a piece of ham next, I happily ate a few bites as the car drove.
I wasn’t sure where we were going, but I knew it was essential to Darren’s image.
Sipping more of the water, I found myself getting full after a few more bites. I stopped, not wanting to get sick, but it was hard to pull myself away from the snacks. I only hoped it would be there when we returned home so I could get some more.
The door opened, and Darren stepped out. I couldn’t see anything, the night sky dark. “It’s okay.” The man across from me whispered, and I looked up, catching those green eyes fixed on me. I nodded, not sure it was okay, but I was too overwhelmed with everything that had happened in the last twenty minutes to say anything.
Sliding over, I stuck a foot out of the car and found myself standing in front of Upswing. Excitement and glee filled me with the possibility of running into my family. Darren pulled me to him, a dark chuckle leaving his lips. “Don’t get any ideas. Remember what’s at stake, pet.”
Fear swirled up, taking hold of my throat, and I nodded. He might not let me get a message to my family, but the mere fact we were here spurred me on, and I straightened my spine, ready to face whatever he had in store for me.
We walked into the arena, a side door being held open for me. When I saw it was a guard I’d seen around Climax, hope brightened more. He’d know me! As we approached, I tried to get his attention, but he only focused on Darren.
“Elijah, updates?”
When he began to speak to Darren, reporting in, I knew he wasn’t the rescue I’d been thinking. “They’re in VIP. Berserker has been replaced on the ticket opposing Crash. Your area is secure and far enough away that they’ll never know you were here. Do you need anything else, sir?”
“Not tonight, Elijah. Thank you.”
The guard nodded, not once looking at me. All hope deflated as Darren pulled me to wherever we were sitting. But I knew it wouldn’t matter. He was further ahead than I’d anticipated. I was beginning to wonder who’d been duping who at the end—me or him. Darren was more brilliant than I’d ever given him credit for.
Taking our seats, our area was mostly empty. The few people around us weren’t anyone I knew, and I could only guess they were on the Delgado payroll.
“Stay here. And don’t think I missed how you tried to get his attention. Lucky for you, he’s on our side. Try it again, and I’ll take something bigger than a finger.”
He squeezed my arm before stalking off, and I fell into the chair, the fight leaving me. Doubt, fear, despair all swirled in my head, making me want to fall down the hole and lay there in a puddle of tears.
I’d done this to myself. I screwed up. I trusted the wrong person. I was a fuckup.
“Don’t let him get to you, Ojos de ángel. I’ve seen your fight. Hold on to that.” His deep voice penetrated the fog, and I realized the guard with the green eyes had spoken. When I looked up, he was scanning the crowd, his arms crossed, nothing out of the ordinary.
You’d never guess he’d just saved me.
Whoever this mysterious man was, he’d become the lifeline I needed.
Sitting up straight, I scanned the area, hoping I could catch a glimpse of my family, letting me know they were okay. I remember the traitor saying VIP, so I scanned the upper areas. I found it immediately, and I could vaguely make out the people I loved.
Combining that knowledge with my guardian angel guard, the future I wanted to hold dear, and the people who cared about me, I tied them all to me, planting them deeply. I wouldn’t let Darren win, nor would I let the lies and fears of a broken woman conquer me.
I might’ve failed Siren camp, but I could be my own hero.
Three
STOCKE
My eyes kept fallingon her no matter how many times I berated myself for looking at the boss’ girl. Each time she was in my vicinity, I knew exactly where she was, what she was wearing, and every facial expression she made.
And it wasn’t for my job. No, I clearly had a death wish.
The first time I’d seen her was around the apartment, and then on camera, but I’d never interacted with her. Camila had captivated me with her beauty, but there was something else that drew me back to her like a moth to the flame.
She was dangerous, though, and it made me reckless.
If Darren ever discovered what I’d done for her, my life would be forfeited. But the day I’d seen her on the office tapes, I couldn’t let him know she was looking into things. A primal urge had surged up, and I’d hit delete before I even knew what I was doing.
Unfortunately, the next time, I hadn’t been on duty, and she’d been caught.
“Let no one else in this area. Do you understand?” Darren yelled as he walked by, headed back toward Cami. He shoved his phone in his pocket, not even waiting for a reply. He didn’t need to. He was the boss, after all. Darren expected everyone to bow to him, and the consequences were severe if they didn’t.
