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Malik pretended to scowl, cupping a hand over his chest. “You wound me, acting like I’m a good little boy. It’s like you don’t know me at all, Theresa Garcia.”
“A good boy is definitely not how I’d describe you,” Kunz drawled.
Malik flashed him a grin, relaxing in his seat and stretching his feet forward. “Thanks, buddy. You do know me.”
I caught the look that passed between the guys, and also the way Theresa tightened up.
I was starting to wonder if I should’ve asked more questions before hopping into the car.
Malik noticed me studying everyone, and his eyes turned knowing. “You’re a smart one, huh?” He leaned his head back against the seat.
I moved mine too, mirroring his position, and said softly, “Just not dumb. That’s all.”
His eyes flickered. “Well, then we’re really going to have a fun night.”
The fight was a little over an hour’s drive away, and we were forty minutes in when Kunz asked, “You know anything about fighting, Ramsay?”
We’d stopped at a gas station, and Theresa was still inside, getting snacks.
I shrugged. “Not really, no.”
“The Maroney triplets, huh?”
Malik had been focused on his phone, but he lifted his head, putting it away.
“Yeah.”
“They’re tight with Scout Raiden. You know Raiden?”
My vagina knew Raiden, but I just shrugged. “I know him a little. He’s friends with my cousins.”
“He’s a big name in the fighting world around here.”
“That’s what I’ve heard.”
I watched Kunz in the rearview mirror, and he watched me back, both ignoring how Malik’s gaze skirted between us. For some reason, this conversation was important, as if it mattered how Theresa’s whoever-he-was-to-her would categorize me in the aftermath. Someone to . . . what? Walk over? Respect? Pay attention to?
Kunz set the tone. He would set the tone moving forward. I wasn’t sure what that meant, but I felt it in my bones.
“I lost a lot of money on him in his last fight.”
I narrowed my eyes. “You bet against him?”
He didn’t reply, but Malik sucked in some air, leaning back as if he could flatten himself against his seat.
“Hey!” Theresa jerked open the door and almost bounced inside. “I got a whole stash. Ramsay, what snacks do you like? I forgot to ask.” She divvied them up, tossing bags of Cheetos, chips, peanuts, jerky, and candy at each of the guys before pausing and looking my way. She frowned. “Wha–what’s going on?”
“Nothing,” Kunz said tightly, starting the engine. “Shut your door. Let’s go.”
Theresa scrambled, shooting him a dark look. She fastened her seatbelt as he peeled out of the gas station’s parking lot and continued to glare at his profile. He ignored her, his jaw tightening.
Malik coughed, clearing the air. “Hey, uh, did you get those gummy bears?”
“Yeah.” She handed them back, but she was distracted. “Here you go. Ramsay, you want any of this? I got extra because I wasn’t sure what you’d like.”
I’d had some pasta for dinner. That was six hours ago so my stomach was growling again, but I wasn’t exactly hungry. I gave her a tight smile. “I’m good. Thank you.”
There was suspicion in her gaze as she took me in before nodding.
“Oh, score. I didn’t know they still made Boston Baked Beans. These are the best.” Malik thrust his fist in the air, a bag clenched inside. “Yeah, man. Good call, Theresa, on stopping for snacks.”
She gave him a smile. “No problem.” She sent Kunz another look before she began to tease Malik about some girl who might be at the fight tonight.
That took up the rest of the drive.
I was glad.
The fight was held in a warehouse-type building, similar to Scout’s. This one was out in the middle of nowhere. We’d been on back roads, winding up and down since we left the gas station. There was dense forest around us, but then we pulled onto a gravel road, behind about twenty other cars, and the drive got a lot slower. As we went up a steep hill, parking attendants directed us to a space in the grass, and after parking, I saw a bunch of other steel buildings set up. In the main one, the large doors were pulled open, showcasing the ring. Some chairs had been set up right by the ring, but after that, people were standing everywhere.
Malik and Kunz headed off in front of us, and Theresa caught my arm, slowing me down. “Did he say something to you at the gas station?”
I watched Kunz. He and Malik looked back our way. “No. Why?”
“It was weird when I came back with snacks. Why was it weird?”
“He asked about my cousins and brought up Scout.”
She pulled me to a stop, her fingers pressing into my arm. “What did he say about him?”
“About Scout?”
“Yeah.”
“That he lost some money on his last fight.”
Her eyes narrowed. “What else?”
“That was it. I asked him if he bet against Scout, and then you got into the car.”
