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Expression darkening, he nodded toward the stairs. “Let’s go inside.”
The silence was deafening as he followed me up to the second floor. I unlocked my door and stepped inside, keeping my back to Braden. The door slammed and I gasped, the heat of his anger scorching me when I faced him.
“Tell me everything, Reagan,” he growled. “Why do you have a swollen eye, and why does Seth know where you’ve been tonight?”
I had a feeling he already knew the answers by the accusatory tone of his voice. I couldn’t blame him for being mad. I’d be just as furious if the situation were reversed.
“I’m pretty sure you have an idea,” I rasped.
Braden crossed his arms across his broad chest, focusing on my swollen cheek. “Seth told me some interesting things tonight.”
“I know,” I replied, remembering Seth telling me how he spoke to Braden earlier. “The explosion was a hit on you.”
He held up a hand. “I don’t give a damn about Nikolai right now. That cocksucker’s going to get what he deserves eventually. What I want to know,” he said, eyes searching mine, “is what happened toyou.” His whole body vibrated with anger, but he gently cupped my cheek, his thumb brushing over my skin.
Swallowing hard, I looked right into his emerald gaze. “I fought Daria Eller tonight.”
Braden’s eyes shot open. “What? How the hell …?” I looked away and he huffed. “Finn’s part of the mafia, isn’t he?”
“Yes,” I answered, the guilt weighing heavily on my chest. “Finn Sellinger. I should’ve told you.”
He grasped my chin, turning me to face him. The fury in his gaze made me tremble under his touch. “What does he have on you?” he demanded. “Why did you have to fight?”
“I didn’t have to,” I admitted.
Shocked, he stepped back. “I don’t get it.”
I rubbed a hand over my cheek. “If you calm down, I’ll tell you everything.”
Braden clenched and unclenched his fists. “I don’t think there’s anything you can say right now that’ll calm me down.”
“Fine,” I said, my voice tired. After everything that had happened tonight, I was exhausted. I sat down on the couch and peered up at him, hating how he looked at me with such betrayal. I didn’t want to deceive him. “Annika was the one who was supposed to fight,” I began. “That’s why I’ve been training her. When the Porcellos switched fighters, she freaked out. She’s not good enough to take on Daria Eller. I didn’t want to see her get hurt.”
Braden huffed. “Who gives a shit about Annika? Why the fuck would you want to help any of those people?”
“I didn’t want to at first,” I confessed, “but Annika gave a good speech. I felt like I needed to help her.”
The anger around him was palpable. “So, what now? Are you fighting for the Sellingers?”
“No,” I shouted, shooting to my feet. “After tonight, I said I was done. I don’t want to be a part of any of it.”
Braden studied me with doubt on his face. “You sure about that? The car you drove up in is worth over a million dollars. Is it Finn’s?”
I shook my head. “It’s mine. It was payment for what I did tonight.”
His anger exploded. “Fucking shit, Reagan! Do you realize how deep their hooks are in you now? They own you.”
“No, they don’t,” I fired back. “I was given a choice: drive the car here or go home with Finn.” Braden froze. The volatile energy in the room escalated to the point I couldn’t breathe.
“Why did you keep all of this from me?”
Scoffing, I threw my arms in the air. “Why do you think? I didn’t want you involved. If I told you I was working with the mafia, you and my sister would’ve put me under house arrest.”
Braden glared at me. “You’re damn right we would have. I think I still should. I don’t want you anywhere near that douchebag without me.” That was going to be a problem. Even though I told Braden I was done, that only referred to the fighting. I’d promised Finn I would be by Annika’s side for her match in a few days. Braden stepped forward. “You are done with the Sellingers now, right?” I averted my gaze and he growled. “Why can’t you look at me?”
Groaning, I could feel my stomach drop. “Because there’s one more thing I promised to do, and it’s going to piss you off,” I said, turning away from him.
“And what’s that?”
