Page 33 of Knuckles & Knives

“In return, you get me. All of me in whatever way works between us.” I let heat creep into my voice. “I’m not promising it will be easy. I’m not promising it will be conventional, but I’m promising it will be real.”

The room falls silent again as they consider my proposal. I can practically see the wheels turning in their heads, calculating risks and benefits, possibilities and complications.

Silence stretches longer than I expected. For a second, doubt creeps in. Maybe I’ve pushed too far. Maybe I asked too much.

But then, finally, Axel breaks the silence. “I’m in.”

Three heads turn to stare at him in surprise.

“What?” He shrugs. “She’s right. Conventional doesn’t work for any of us. Besides, I’ve never been good at sharing, but I’ve also never wanted anyone enough to try.” His brown eyes find mine. “Consider this my learning experience.”

“Axel—” Dom starts.

“I’m in too.”

The words come from Marcus, quiet but absolute. He removes his glasses, cleaning them with methodical precision before replacing them. “I’ve spent five years wanting something I thought I could never have. I’m not walking away because the terms are… unconventional.”

That leaves Dom and Kieran, the two who have the most to lose and the most reasons to say no.

Dom runs a hand through his close-cropped hair, his expression torn between desire and disbelief. “This is fucking insane.”

“Is that a yes or a no?” I ask.

He looks at me for a long moment, those dark eyes searching my face for something I’m not sure he finds. Finally, he nods once, sharp and decisive. “It’s a yes, but I have conditions.”

“Such as?”

“Your safety comes first. Always. If this arrangement puts you in danger, it ends.” His voice carries the weight of absolute authority. “And if any of us can’t handle it, if jealousy or possessiveness threatens what we’re building, we address it immediately.”

“Agreed.” I turn to Kieran, the only holdout. “What about you?”

Kieran swirls his scotch, studying the amber liquid like it holds answers to questions he’s not ready to ask. When he finally looks up, his ice-blue eyes are unreadable. “My family will never accept this,” he says quietly. “Any of this. My relationship with you, your reclamation of your father’s empire, the alliance this creates between our organizations…”

“Is that a problem for you?”

His reckless, lopsided smile is dangerous. “My family has been a problem for me my entire life. I think it’s time I became a problem for them.” He drains his scotch in one smooth motion.“I’m in, Raven. Completely, unconditionally, and probably stupidly.”

Relief floods through me, followed immediately by anticipation and something that might be terror. I’ve just committed to something unprecedented, something that goes against every conventional relationship model, something that could either be the most beautiful thing I’ve ever experienced or the most spectacular disaster.

“So,” Axel says cheerfully, “now what? Group hug? Team building exercises? Because I have some very creative ideas about team building.”

“Now,” I say, before anyone can respond to that particular provocation, “we establish ground rules. We figure out how this works practically… and probably have a very large drink.”

“I’ll get the bottle,” Marcus offers, standing with fluid grace.

“Make it two bottles,” Dom mutters.

As Marcus moves to the bar and the others begin to relax into this new reality, I catch my reflection in the window overlooking the fight cages below. The woman looking back at me is someone I’m still learning to recognize. She’s confident and powerful, and, maybe most importantly, she’s not alone.

I’ve just done something that should terrify me. Instead, I feel like I’m finally, truly awake.

And I have no idea what happens next, but I’m eager to find out.

CHAPTER 12

The roar of the crowd hits me like a physical force as I step through the tunnel leading to the main cage. The Obsidian’s underground arena is packed tonight. Word has spread that Vincent Blackwood’s daughter is finally stepping into the ring under her own name, and everyone wants to see if I’m worthy of the legend or just another pretender trading on a dead man’s reputation.

Yes, Sally Upton has died already. It’s a risk, making so bold a move, but that’s been my MO lately.