Adrian's heart raced as he stood backstage, and he bounced on the balls of his feet, grinning wide as he considered the upcoming fight.

The pulsating energy of the crowd filtered through the curtains surrounding him. The air was thick with anticipation, the cacophony of cheering fans mingling with the adrenaline coursing through his veins.

His body was a machine that he had trained tirelessly just for this, but for the first time in a long time, it wasn't the match that held his full focus as he warmed up for the fight ahead. Adrian strapped on his gloves, his lips curving into a grin as he considered the previous day's sparring with his little wife.

His cock might've been hard as a fucking rock for over a week straight, but goddamn, it felt good having Rhiannon there with him. Just knowing that she was in the audience, waiting to watch him take on his opponent, lit a fire in him he refused to put out. Regardless of what she thought, Adrian couldn't help but think of her as his. And his fucking woman was waiting to see him put on a show tonight.

For the past few days, he'd watched her avoid him in his home, the atmosphere between them thick with unsaid words and unresolved tension after what he'd said, and for a little while, he was honestly worried he might've scared her off. Adrian didn't know how to admit it, least of all to himself, but at some point in the past few months, he'd genuinely started to care for her. And while he longed for more from her, he also knew that he'd had the advantage. He'd been watching her for months, getting to know her routine and nuances, while she'd only just entered his world and all the complications that came with it.

Even so, Rhiannon being there represented not just support, but the chance for her to witness a piece of the life they had in common with each other. He knew she'd been training in multiple martial arts since she was young, though it was only something he'd really learned about after seeing her fight those five or so months ago.

But more than even that, he wanted her to see that his family—his brothers and their women—were different from hers, that they took the word family like an oath rather than amusing themselves by bullying one another. His brothers were here, as well as their wives, and Adrian hoped she would bond with them. The women had been getting antsy with their new security measures, and the rest of his brothers had been hoping this would be seen as a power move. They could kill two birds with one stone, introduce the marriage alliance in a subtle way that would show the criminal underworld that they were growing stronger and no one could harm their women, and also allow the women to get to know each other in a place he knew his wife was comfortable in. Adrian wanted her to learn more about their dynamic, and ultimately see the lengths they would go to protect one another. And perhaps, just perhaps, she would begin to understand that Adrian wasn't just manipulating her but instead offering her a place in a world of loyalty, trust, and connection.

"Ready to go, Man?" Kostya called, stepping into the locker room with him.

"Fuck yes," Adrian breathed, following him back out, and when he stepped into the underground fighting ring, the crowd went fucking wild.

A familiar cocky grin lit up his face. It was his name they were calling, but he didn't hear the one woman he wanted to amongst the crowd. Withholding a frown, his eyes quickly sought out Rhiannon's figure amid the chaos, where she sat alongside his brothers and sisters-in-law, their smiling faces bolstering his resolve. He winked at her, his grin widening when she rolled her eyes, but he could see a smile breaking through as Mira playfully nudged her with a chuckle. And just like that, he felt invincible, like she was his fucking good luck charm or something.

***

As the announcer called his name, the anticipation within him coiled tighter—an electric thrill that coursed through his muscles. He relished in the crowd's reception, lifting his fists in salute, taking in the exaggerated gestures of excitement and support from those around him. Every shout, every cheer fueled his energy, and he could feel Rhiannon's gaze piercing through the din of the audience, hot and unwavering. That flicker of tension between them was palpable, and he thrived under its intensity.

But as soon as he faced his opponent, a towering brute with a known reputation for brute force, the atmosphere shifted. Adrian's heart raced, and a hint of doubt crept into his mind. This was a tough guy—the kind that could take a hit and give one back without blinking. Adrian had fought tougher opponents before, but there was something unnerving about the man who stepped into the ring, the way he cracked his knuckles and bore an expression that promised pain.

"Go Adrian! Woohoo!" A shout drew his attention, and just before the match began, he caught sight of Rhiannon again. She was leaning forward, her delicate hands clasped together, a mixture of mischief and eagerness etched upon her face. "You got this!"

Seeing he was looking at her, she winked at him, and in that moment, a swell of pride surged through him. He reminded himself that he had to fight not only for himself but for her.

The bell rang, and the world around him narrowed to just the two opponents in the ring. Adrian took a deep breath, centering himself as he prepared to engage. The crowd erupted in a roar as they exchanged their first blows, the satisfaction of every punch reverberating through his limbs. He couldn't afford to falter; the stakes were too high.

As the fight unfolded, Adrian grew aware of the adrenaline coursing through his veins, propelling him to keep moving, to keep his opponent guessing.

He darted around the ring, dodging a wild punch aimed at his head and quickly countering with a jab to the guy's ribs. The man grunted in pain, a nasty grin splitting his mouth, and Adrian could see the fire in the opponent's eyes—this one wasn't going to go down easily.

Between throws and grapples, he looked for Rhiannon's face in the audience, soaking in her encouragement. Her voice rang above the rest, his own personal cheerleader, and he nearly stumbled at the mental image of her in a short little high school uniform, cheering him on.

Blood rushed to his cock, all their teasing resulting in a hard-on that throbbed as he taunted his opponent.

In an attempt to distract himself and focus on the fight and not her, Adrian started teasing him with sharp remarks that had the crowd exploding in laughter.

"Come on, big guy! You can do better than that!" he barked, feeling the confidence radiate from him, satisfaction flooding his veins when the man across from him let out an animalistic snarl.

"I'm going to fucking kill you, Russian," he hissed, and the brute landed a few blows against him with increasing frequency.

"Maybe next time, Baby." Adrian winked, barking out a laugh as he jumped over a kick that would've swiped anyone with less experience on their ass. His opponent's strength was coupled with surprising speed, though, and Adrian started to realize this as the fight progressed.

Breath turning sharp, Adrian dodged multiple attacks, but a swing to his gut had his body lagging, and he started to take more hits than he'd anticipated, each one sending shockwaves through his body, pulling him further away from his game.

His breath labored with every controlled motion while the crowd became a blur, their cheers blending into an indistinguishable roar. But beneath the chaos, he could still hear Rhiannon's voice rising above, rooting for him with a fervor that made his pulse quicken.

"Come on, Adrian! You got this!" she shouted, the intensity in her voice fueling his determination. He felt the weight of her support, and as if her cheer had injected him with newfound energy, he pushed forward, rallying against the throbbing pain in his side.

The fight became a real contest of strength and spirit, and in the heat of it all, he taunted his opponent again. "You're going to have to do better than that if you want to take me down!"

The man snarled, a new fire igniting within him that made Adrian's heart thump with adrenaline. "Stop fucking pussy-footing around," the man snapped, swinging a meaty fist toward Adrian's jaw.

Relief flickered through Adrian when he dodged it; that would've definitely knocked him out. But as they clashed, the reality of the fight sank in deeper. Adrian found himself on the defensive, struggling to regain control. He felt the weight of the match pressing down on him, yet he could still sense Rhiannon's gaze. And with each escalation of their battle, he sought out her eyes, grounding himself in the intensity of her focus.

At one crucial moment, as Adrian sought to break away from a tightening hold, he heard it again—Rhiannon's voice, clear, powerful, and unwavering: "You got this, Baby! Knock him out!"

The sound of her bloodthirsty encouragement—and that fucking nickname she'd been teasing him with all week—made his need for her grow.

He was so fucking done with the teasing and taunting. Done with the fight that was taking so long—and after spotting his wife flashing him a hungry, coy smile, Adrian felt a surge of energy that helped him end the match. Launching himself at his opponent and dodging another powerful swing that would have knocked him out cold, Adrian quickly countered, weaving in and out of strikes, pushing himself harder. The moments felt electric—the friction between them evident, but he didn't want to delay the ending anymore.

With each exchange, the fight turned more primal, their connection morphing into a battle of wills. Soon enough, Adrian seized the opportunity, using a feint to create an opening. He ducked low and spun, coming up with a strong left hook that landed squarely on his opponent's jaw. There was a satisfying crunch, and the weight behind his punch reverberated through Adrian's muscles.

As the guy staggered backward, Adrian felt a rush of excitement surge through him like an unrelenting tide. Cock throbbing painfully from the adrenaline, he fought to gain ground, hearing her voice cheering him along, clear and vibrant amidst the chaos. "Yes! That's it! Fuck him up for me!"

Yes, his thoughts echoed ferally and Adrian roared with determination, diving into the fight, their movements blurring into a series of punches and counters, each one landing more powerfully than the last. Yet there was something about the way Rhiannon urged him on—the way she championed him—that kept him focused. It was as if he could level the playing field with her fiery spirit backing him up.

But then, another hit connected against him, slightly stunning him, and he felt a jolt of pain. Fuck. He couldn't afford to falter now. They danced around one another, and the heat of the moment caused adrenaline to spike through him, the sweat sticking his hair to his forehead.

Finally, they reached a pivotal point in the match. As Rhiannon shouted for him again, that intensity in her voice was everything he needed. In that instant of unadulterated connection, he unleashed one final blow—an undercut that knocked his opponent off balance, sending him crashing to the ground.

The crowd erupted in uproarious applause, and Adrian's heart was pounding in his chest as he stood victorious. He turned toward Rhiannon, spotting her ecstatic expression in the audience.

She was jumping up and down, clapping her hands, pride radiating from her in waves. Red-hot desire roared through him at seeing her. Tonight. He'd fucking make sure of it, but tonight she was going to be his, and he couldn't fucking wait to wrap her in his arms, to feel her body press against him.

Adrian exited the ring, adrenaline still surging through him as he thought about their earlier conversations and the thrill of their past encounters. He wanted nothing more than to rush back to her, but he could be patient. Either way, he knew she wasn't leaving their bed tomorrow until he heard her screaming his fucking name.

***

"Well done, you fucking champ!" Lev crowed as Adrian walked backstage and started undressing. "That's one for the books, little brother."

"Don't you fucking know it," Ivan agreed, slapping his brother on the shoulder. "Best performance you've given all year. You should see the money rolling in from the bets on that fight."

"They were good," Mikhail grumbled, but as they started to discuss business, Adrian's answers became monosyllable and quiet. All he could think about was Rhiannon and keeping his dick down enough that his brothers wouldn't distract him further with teasing when all he wanted was to get back to her and feel how hot he'd made her.

After their session yesterday, he knew she'd be wet and wanting. Had realized it when she was pulled into a conversation during the fight, her thighs squeezing so tight he could see it from where he was standing.

But all of that disappeared when Mikhail spoke again, replacing his thoughts of fucking with murder, "Rhiannon's father mentioned setting up a ‘family' dinner—said it needs to happen ASAP." Fucking Irishman. God, why couldn't they just let it all go now that they married?

A flicker of annoyance coursed through Adrian. Their father-in-law had bypassed both him and Rhiannon, opting to go through Mikhail as if that made more sense. He controlled the strings from a distance, and Adrian didn't take kindly to that.

"I'll agree to it," he said, steeling his resolve. "But it's a power play, and it's one I intend to counter."

"Do what you think is best," Mikhail replied, and with another clap on his shoulder, his eldest brother left.

This was going to be a game, he decided. If her father thought he could pull strings, Adrian would show him just how wrong he was. He'd play the role, grin through the decorum, and let Rhiannon observe her father's ideologies while reinforcing his own sense of family and loyalty.

After a brief discussion, the rest of the brothers left to return to the table their women were all supposed to be sitting at. Rhiannon wasn't there. Warning signals blared in his head as Adrian questioned Mira, and she grinned teasingly. "Don't worry, lover boy. She just went to the restroom."

By the look on her face, he might've affected her more than he thought, Adrian surmised, and with a sudden spark of inspiration, Adrian bid them all goodnight, mischief lighting up in his chest as he made his way toward the restroom.

Maybe she was waiting for him. His cock throbbed harder at the thought, and he strode down the darkened hallway, moments away from palming it.

If Rhiannon would allow it, he'd fuck her against the bathroom door before they got home. The location didn't matter for him to get her to scream.

But something at the end of the hallway had those thoughts hissing away as a darker part of him surged to the forefront of his mind, and Adrian's excitement quickly shifted to pure fucking wrath as he noticed Rhiannon just outside. She was standing there, looking absolutely stunning—with her hair cascading down her back in soft waves and her body exuding confidence in that snug outfit—but some fucking prick was walking behind her, and they were moving slowly, way too fucking slowly. More details flickered through his mind as his countenance grew cold, deadly. The bruise appearing on her cheekbone, how her whole body seemed locked and stiff, and the glimmer of tears in her eyes.

Another moment later, the hallway light flickered across the gleaming metal of a gun, and Adrian's gut twisted into a knot of fury and protectiveness. He might not have known who was threatening his wife, but the man had just signed his fucking death warrant.

All those feelings built up over the past few days boiled over as he stormed forward, a snarl on his face, Adrian pulled out his gun and shot him.