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She closed her eyes as if she knew exactly what that meant.
There were a few inches between us, so we weren’t touching, but it was the closest I’d been to her since that conversation in her office months ago. I could feel the heat, the electricity, that tingly sensation on the back of my neck. But I wasn’t sure if she felt it too. “You want to stay in here until it’s over?”
“Yes…but I know I should be out there. I should support him.”
“Did you go to his matches before?”
She nodded. “I never liked it, though. But I know it means a lot to him—to see my face in the crowd.” She smoothed out her skirt before she rose to her feet, looking amazing in that short dress. The color was perfect on her, the straps crossing over her back and giving the look more elegance. With all those diamonds and her perfect features, she was the prize Liam wanted everyone to know belonged to him.
Couldn’t blame him. “I’ll take you.”
She moved to the door. “I don’t need your help, Damien.” She opened it and stepped outside.
I walked with her anyway, knowing she would change her mind once she saw the turnout for the fight. It was all vicious men cursing about the bout, pushing one another out of the way to get a better view. There were a few women present, but not many.
One guy didn’t notice her because of how small she was and bumped right into her.
“Watch where the fuck you’re going.” I shoved him in the arm and pushed him back.
She tensed when she realized she was overwhelmed, prey in a room of predators.
I placed my arm around her waist, touching her for the first time in…forever.
And it was there…that same magnificent desire.
I ignored it and guided her through the crowd to a safe place.
She would ordinarily push my hand away or tell me not to touch her, but the fights had clearly changed since the last time she was here, and she was overwhelmed. It was practically a mosh pit.
I got her to one of the stages where Hades was talking with Bosco. Liam and his opponent threw punches and attacked each other in the ring, prepared to fight until someone passed out.
I got her a seat and sat beside her.
Liam had just done a number on his opponent, slamming his fist into his face, his ribs, and then his stomach. Blood spilled from his mouth, either the product of broken teeth or a bleeding stomach.
Annabella crossed her legs and cringed, not impressed by her husband’s strength and agility. Fighting wasn’t a turn-on for her the way it was for most women. She craved peace, simplicity. When she wanted a man, money and power weren’t important to her. It was the soul that mattered.
Instead of watching the fight, I watched her.
Watched her cringe over and over as her husband beat this stranger to a pulp. “There’s only about a minute left.”
“Is there a timer?” she asked.
“No. But I can tell the guy won’t last much longer.”
She watched for another thirty seconds, and when Liam got the last hit, she turned back to me. “You called it.”
“I’ve been to a lot of these.” Half the men cheered, and the other half shouted with frustration. Some men made a lot of money that night, and some lost a lot. But all the chaos didn’t distract me from the woman beside me, the angel in this hell. I felt the same way I did when I had too much to drink, like I couldn’t do anything but stare at the fire…and she was the flame.
“Do you bet?”
“Always.”
“And did you bet on Liam?”
“I wouldn’t bet against my client.”
“Even though you don’t like him.”
I liked him less with every passing moment. “Personally. Not professionally.”
Now she stared at me the same way I stared at her, as if she couldn’t stop.
Did she have any idea how beautiful she looked tonight? That if I walked away, every man would be on her? That they wouldn’t care about that enormous diamond ring on her left hand?
She finally looked at Liam as he stepped out of the ring. He had blood dripping down his nose, but he looked otherwise unharmed. He moved through the crowd and headed to her like he knew where she was.
He may be a strong fighter, but he wasn’t very observant. The man right beside her was thinking about the night we’d shared a pizza on the couch then made love all night. Flashbacks of her small tits, her sweaty body, her succulent lips came rushing back…beautiful.
He wiped his face with a towel. “Told you I would be fine, baby.”
“You’re covered in blood.”
He gave a slight smile. “I like to bleed a little bit.” He leaned in and kissed her.
I looked away.
