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“I don’t lose my fights, asshole. Because if I do, I die. That’s a lot more than you can say.” He dropped his gaze and spat on Liam’s bare feet.
Liam was rigid, his frenzied eyes showing his heated thoughts. He processed his next move, considering all the possibilities. But pragmatism set in, and he walked around his opponent and took the high road.
I knew this asshole was trying to bait Liam into a death match, and I was relieved Liam didn’t cave. Hades and I walked with him.
“Wow,” the fighter said after us. “Look at that pussy run.”
I kept walking, but I quickly realized I was on my own. I turned around.
Liam faced off with him, giving in to the heckles. “If you don’t want to die in this crowd, I suggest you shut your mouth.”
The fighter grinned, a few teeth missing. “You’ll fight me here but not in the ring because you’re a pussy.” He spat again. “The only reason you’re the reigning champion is because you’re scared shitless to get back in that ring. Hold on to that belt all you want—but it don’t mean shit.”
I grabbed Liam by the arm and tried to tug him away.
He spun out of my grasp so fast.
“You want me dead? Then let’s go.” He slammed his closed fists together, his knuckles clanking.
I stared at Liam and saw all his pragmatism disappear.
Liam stared back at him for several seconds, taking his time before he answered. “Fine. No mercy.”
The other fighter grinned wider when he got what he wanted. “I’ll put us at the top of the schedule.” He walked away with his cronies.
What the fuck just happened?
Liam headed to his dressing room.
Hades said nothing because he got what he wanted.
“We can’t let this happen.” I walked beside Hades while Liam pushed everyone out of the way in front of us.
Hades gave me a cold look. “This isn’t our lives, Damien. We’re spectators.”
“But he was manipulated—”
“He was manipulated because he wanted to be.” He looked forward again. “I have to make arrangements now. I only have ten minutes.” He looked at his watch. “Stay with Liam.” He turned to the left and pushed through the crowd.
Jesus Fucking Christ.
I went into the dressing room.
Liam took another drink then poured a bottle of water over his head to cool off.
“What the fuck are you doing?” He and Annabella just talked about this weeks ago. He forgot all of that just because someone talked some shit. “Your wife said no, and you permanently retired.”
“She’s not here.” He grabbed a towel and wiped the water from his wet hair and face. “She doesn’t need to know.”
“And if you die—”
“I won’t.” He looked at himself in the mirror, still forming beads of sweat on his forehead despite the quick shower he’d just taken.
“Liam, you’re high on adrenaline right now, but your body is exhausted because you just completed a match. This is the worst possible time to do this. You’re aren’t fully rested.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“You aren’t invincible, asshole.”
He turned to me, his eyes narrowed. “You think I’m gonna let that fucker talk to me like that?”
“Who gives a shit what he says? He’s baiting you because he knows it’ll work. And you have a life outside of this ring—and she’s sitting at home right now.” I slammed my fist down on the desk. “Call this off. Now.”
“No.” He pushed my arm off his desk.
I couldn’t let this happen. “Liam—”
“I said no.” He gave me a hard expression, like he might hit me if I kept pushing him. “This is exactly what you want, so why do you care?”
I inhaled a deep breath and silenced my words. I was tempted to tell him the truth just to distract him from this fight. When he knew I’d fucked his wife and still wanted to fuck his wife, he would come after me instead. The death fight would be forgotten. But I didn’t say a word.
He turned away. “Give me a few minutes.” He opened the drawer to his desk, pulling out two syringes filled with pain meds. He was about to inject himself, so he’d be able to ignore the aches in his bones and fight to his full capability.
I stormed out of the room and stood in the hallway, both of my hands gripping my skull because I didn’t know what the fuck to do. Reason wouldn’t change Liam’s mind, and Hades wouldn’t help me fix this. There was only person who could stop this.
Annabella.
I knew I should stay out of it, that Liam would probably win and this wouldn’t be a problem at all.
But what if he didn’t?
And Annabella lost him?
I wanted her to be a divorcée—but not a widow. If she lost him, she would be devastated. Regardless of the status of their current relationship, they’d been together a long time, had a happy marriage at one point. If he died…it would kill her.
