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Mandy sighed deeply. “I don’t want to get back with Blaze. Truth is, I never wanted to be with Blaze in the first place.” She unscrewed the cap of the nail polish and paused. “Blaze is the one who hit me, not Mamba.”
“But everybody said—”
“I know what everybody said, but it’s not the truth.” Mandy shook her head as she concentrated on applying the polish. “That’s the problem with everyone around here. One word from Ajax, and you all believe him. It’s almost creepy how you all fall in line.”
Mitzi squared her shoulders. “Fall in line? What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means you never question him. Just like now. I’m telling you it was Blaze, but because Ajax said differently, you believe him.” Mandy jerked her head up and glared at Mitzi. “I think I should know who hit me and who didn’t.”
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have questioned you.” Mitzi mashed her lips together. “And if that’s true, then you shouldn’t be anywhere near Blaze.”
“Exactly. That’s what I’ve been trying to tell my pig-headed brother.”
“Does he know it was Blaze who laid hands on you?”
“Of course he does, but he likes his sister and his second-in-command getting together. Plus, he claims it will never happen again.”
“And you don’t believe him?”
“No, I don’t. Blaze has a violent nature. He’s never been able to control his temper. Even when we were kids, Blaze would pop off at the littlest thing.”
“What will you do this weekend?”
“No way I’m missing out. I haven’t been anywhere in weeks.” Except sitting in her room, brooding and dreaming about what would’ve happened if she and Mamba had a chance to explore the current of feelings between them. From the first night at the Rook, she felt something for Mamba. His tough exterior and how he carried himself were in direct contrast with his gentle touch and low, sultry voice. Playing the role of aggressor instilled courage and confidence, which left Mandy with a heady sense of power—a strength she hadn’t realized she possessed and one Mamba seemed to enjoy.
“Fight nights are always fun.” Mitzi waggled her eyebrows. “Even when the guys aren’t in the cage fighting, they still get amped up, and then afterward . . .”
Mandy smirked at her friend. “You’re too much.”
“It’s true, and you know it.” Mitzi leaned in. “Plus, I heard Lisa and your brother had another big fight, so maybe I can—”
“Lisa and Ajax live to fight. I swear, they enjoy it, so don’t go thinking it’s anything permanent.”
“You never know, and like I said, if she doesn’t go, maybe I can just show him what he’s been missing.”
Mandy huffed out a laugh. Mitzi had been following her brother around like a puppy dog since they were little, but Ajax never noticed. She doubted he ever would because Ajax liked a challenge, and Mitzi was way too obvious.
Mandy applied the last coat to Mitzi’s nails. “I plan on enjoying a night out and staying as far away from Blaze as possible.”
“Good luck with that.” Mitzi’s knowing smile irked Mandy like she didn’t have a say in how or who she dated. Ajax might be her big brother and the provider for their family, but his days of making decisions for her were over, whether he liked to admit it or not.
CHAPTEREIGHT
The electricity that bounced around the fight room on a Saturday night charged Mamba from the inside out. The heat, the sweat, and the excitement of what was to come all collided like the fighters in the cage.
Mamba’s fight was the main event. The one everybody came to see, where thousands of dollars would exchange hands with a huge profit for the Savages and a tiny percentage for Mamba.
When he’d been riding high with the Serpents, he’d taken an equal cut, earning the amount he deserved for a winning night, but those days were over—at least for now. Anger bubbled up in Mamba’s chest for the way it all panned out. Of course, he wasn’t blameless, but he couldn’t help wishing that just once he’d get a break.
Instead of feeling sorry for himself, he’d used that anger, as always, in the cage. He figured he had enough stored-up fury to last an entire night of fighting. The room where they corralled the fighters was empty since it was the last bout of the night. His random thoughts bounced off the metal lockers, then the guilt threatened to suffocate him. Never fuckin’ good.
He remembered the first time he’d met Cobra and Python at an underground fight in Vegas. He was at the top of his game, but as usual, he’d been blowing his money on booze, drugs, and pussy. Not particularly in that order. Python had been a regular, and he brought Cobra to ask him about hooking up with the Serpents as their enforcer. Mamba’s usual wiseass mouth spouted bullshit, and Cobra left without a second glance. The next night, Mamba had gotten hauled in for a drunk-and-disorderly, and somehow Python convinced the Serpents to bail him out.
Mamba had promised to clean up his act, prospected with the Serpents, doing every shit job they threw his way, and earned his patch six months later. Proudest day of his life because for once, he’d set out to do something and accomplished it.
The Serpents became his life and his family. He took care of the jobs no one else wanted and earned his place with the club—until now.
One reckless night in the cage had put another man in a wheelchair for life and sent Mamba to prison. Then by some fucked up twist of fate, an angel much too young and innocent for him had appeared when he was most vulnerable: six months out of the joint, fresh off parole, and looking for female comfort. He’d never expected to fall so hard for Mandy, but shit if it didn’t happen.
