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“But he treats you like shit, if he cared about you, he wouldn't let guys like Nico talk to you the way he did. He's got no fucking balls, he doesn't deserve you for a daughter.”

Anger began to bubble below my skin, I wanted to take her away, save her from the hell her father bound her in. She had to see him for who he was, just from what she had said, she knew he was a dick too.

And yet she stayed, standing by his side, a marionette under his hands.

“Look, I have my reasons for being here... It's a promise I gave to him, to...” Her voice trailed off as she spoke, falling away into a thought. “It's a promise that's no different than yours.”

“No, no way. This isn't the same, he isn't here for you and that's—”

“Don't go casting judgment,” she snapped, her demeanor changing as she grew hot and tempered. I knew I had hit a sore spot, it ran deep, deeper than she might want to admit.

“You don't know shit about what he's been through or what I've been through!” Sitting up straight, she glared at me over her shoulder, eyes slit tight. “I know he's not perfect, I know things aren't how they should be. Buthe is my father,and this is the hand I was dealt.” Turning to face me straight on, her hair whipped over her shoulders, falling weightlessly onto her chest. “What about you, huh, Mr. high and mighty? Why don't you explain the reason you shouldn't fight?”

“It doesn't matter.” Squeezing my jaw, I bit the inside of my cheek.

“It doesn't?How ironic, but you stepped into the ring tonight, didn't seem to me like it was that hard of a decision. But I'm sure my dad had nothing to do with that, right?” The piercing accusation stabbed, twisting it's thin blade in my gut.

“I told you, I only went to see you. That wasn't a lie, I didn't know the'Macro'was going to call me out. I'm not supposed to fight anymore, I only did it because I was forced to.”

I should have spilled my guts, told her the truth. But it was hard to put those words in motion. I didn't want to push her away, I wanted to keep her close, right beside me.

I watched her shoulders slump forward, eyes saying everything she couldn't. “You need to go, my dad's going to be home soon.” Her head hung low, fingers rolling the empty wrapper in her palm.

“Cadence, I want to tell you about me, all about me, I do. But I can't force it.” Reaching my hand up, I gently floated my fingers over her shoulder.

“He sees you as one of his fighters now, you know that, right? If my dad finds out...”

“I'mnot one of his fighters.He doesn't have to know, this can be just for us. Everyone deserves something just for themselves.” Brushing my lips across her skin, she was still warm from our steamy encounter. A sleek smile rose across her cheeks, her face softening.

I wasn't going to lose this woman because of the asshole who tried to chain her to him and him alone.

I had staked my claim on her, even if she didn't know it yet.

There was no way in hell he was going to keep me from getting what was mine.