Page 11

SEVEN

REIGN

Time stops when I turn around and see her face.

Elizabeth. My Elizabeth, standing in front of me, wearing a red dress that hugs every curve I remember mapping with my hands. The shock in her eyes tells me she's just as stunned to see me as I am to see her.

"Reign, this is Gio Vega, and his fiancée, Audrey," Ben says. He's completely oblivious to the fact that my world just shifted on its axis. "Gio is my sponsor and the founder of Vega Promotions."

Every protective instinct I possess roars to life as the pieces click into place. This is what she was running from in San Diego. This is the "family obligation" that made her look like she was heading to her execution.

Vega extends his hand toward me. "Nice to meet you, Reign." His Italian accent is unmistakable. "I didn't know Ben had a brother."

"Most people don't," I reply.

I force myself to take his hand and fight the primal urge to crush his fingers in mine. The contact is brief, professional, but every muscle in my body stays coiled for violence.

"Audrey's dad is Arthur Worthington," Ben continues. "The founder of Worthington Sports. He built this arena."

"Miss Worthington." I extend my hand, keeping my voice steady despite the rage building in my chest. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

Her fingers tremble slightly when they touch mine, and I have to resist the urge to pull her against me, to claim her in front of everyone watching. The contact sends electricity shooting up my arm, the same instant recognition that hit me in San Diego.

"Your dad was one hell of a boxer," Marcus chimes in, moving closer to our group. "Arthur Worthington was a legend in the ring before he became a business mogul. Three-time heavyweight champion, right?"

Audrey's smile seems forced as she nods. "He was. Thank you."

"Built quite a legacy," Marcus continues. "From fighter to promoter to major venues."

Gio's chest puffs with obvious pride as he slides his arm around Audrey's waist, pulling her closer. The possessive gesture makes my jaw clench.

"Arthur was a visionary. The merger between our companies will honor that legacy while taking it to the next level."

"Should be good for everyone," Ben says, his focus already shifting. "Especially after tonight's fight."

I watch Audrey's face carefully as the conversation continues.

Her smile never wavers, but something flickers in her eyes.

Resignation, maybe, or trapped desperation.

Her body language tells a different story than her words.

She stands perfectly straight, the picture of a supportive fiancée, but her free hand clenches at her side.

"We're expecting big things from tonight," Gio says, his satisfaction obvious. "Ben's performance will set the tone for everything that comes next."

Ben nods, but I can see his mind is elsewhere now. Pre-fight nerves starting to kick in, the mental preparation that every fighter goes through.

"And what do you do, Reign? Besides coaching strategy?" Gio asks, his attention shifting back to me.

"Security consulting," I reply, keeping my answer brief. The less information I give this bastard, the better.

"Interesting." His dark eyes assess me with new interest. "Private or corporate?"

"Both."

Audrey's gaze darts between us, tension radiating from her small frame. She knows I'm being deliberately vague, just as I know she's fighting to maintain her composure.

"Well," Gio says after a moment, apparently deciding I'm not worth further investigation, "we should let Ben focus on his preparation. There are some people upstairs I want Audrey to meet before the fight starts."

The way he says it makes my hands curl into fists.

"Of course," Audrey agrees smoothly. "It was wonderful meeting you both."

Her eyes meet mine for just a second, and I see everything she can't say. The fear, the longing, the desperate wish that things were different.

"Good luck tonight, Ben," Gio says, extending his hand to my brother. "Show them what Vega Promotions fighters are made of."

"Count on it, boss," Ben replies, shaking his hand firmly.

"Enjoy the fight, gentlemen," Gio says, already guiding Audrey toward the door with his hand firmly planted on her lower back.

I watch them go, memorizing the way her dress moves with each step, the graceful line of her neck, the way she holds herself with perfect posture even when she's clearly trapped.

Ben turns back to me once they're gone, his expression shifting to something more serious. "Thanks for coming tonight, Reign. It means everything to have you here."

"Wouldn't miss it," I say, clasping his shoulder. "You ready for this?"

"As ready as I'll ever be." He grins, but I can see the focus sharpening in his eyes. "Reyes is tough, but I've been preparing for this fight my whole life."

"Then go show them what you're made of."

"I will." Ben moves toward his gear bag, already transitioning into fight mode. "We'll talk after, yeah? There's a lot I want to catch up on."

"Count on it."

Marcus and I head toward the door, leaving Ben to his final preparations.

The hallway outside the locker room buzzes with pre-fight energy.

Cornermen running last-minute errands, officials checking credentials, the controlled chaos that happens before every major fight.

The air is thick with anticipation, the kind of electric energy that builds when hundreds of people gather to watch two men test themselves against each other.

"We need to find somewhere to sit," Marcus says quietly. "Before you do something that fucks up Ben's career."

I follow him toward our seats in the VIP section, my mind reeling from what just happened. The woman I've been tearing apart Wyoming to find is engaged to my brother's sponsor. The woman who gave me a fake name and disappeared without a trace is about to marry a man who makes my skin crawl.

Our seats are perfectly positioned—close enough to the ring to see every detail of the fight, but far enough from Vega's private box that I won't have to watch his hands on Audrey throughout the evening.

The arena continues to fill as fight time approaches, the crowd's energy building with each passing minute.

"What the fuck was that?" Marcus asks once we're seated and out of earshot.

"That's her," I growl.

"Who?"

"The woman from San Diego."

Marcus's eyes widen in disbelief. "She's Elizabeth?"

"Yeah. And apparently she's engaged to that motherfucker."

"Jesus Christ," Marcus mutters, running a hand through his hair. "What are the odds?"

I don't answer because I'm watching Audrey in Vega's private box across the arena.

Even from this distance, I can see the rigid control in her posture, the careful way she maintains space between them despite the intimate setting.

She sits with perfect posture, hands folded in her lap, looking like she's attending a business meeting rather than a fight.

"What do you know about Vega?" I ask.

Marcus follows my gaze, his expression calculating. "Thirty-six. Used to be a small-time gangbanger that ran with the Torrino crew out of Chicago."

I nod, not surprised. Marcus has always been better at gathering intelligence on potential threats. While I focus on the tactical side of our business, he keeps his ear to the ground about who's who in the criminal world. It's served us well over the years.

"Started fighting MMA while he was still running with them," Marcus continues. "Had some talent, won a few fights. Then he got popped for racketeering and did three years in federal."

"That explains the prison ink," I mutter, remembering the subtle tattoos I glimpsed on Vega's hands during our handshake.

"Got out about eight years ago. Still connected to the Torrinos, but he keeps it quiet. Uses the fight promotion business as a front now." Marcus takes a sip of his beer. "Smart move, actually. Legitimate income stream with built-in money laundering opportunities."

The pieces start falling into place. Vega isn't some reformed criminal who went straight—he's still dirty, just better at hiding it. Which makes Audrey's situation infinitely worse than I thought.

"How'd he get his hooks into the Worthingtons?"

"Arthur Worthington was looking to expand into MMA promotion before he died.

Had some financial troubles, needed an injection of capital.

" Marcus's tone remains conversational, but I can hear the underlying concern.

"Vega had the money and the expertise. Perfect partnership, except Worthington probably didn't know where the money really came from. "

I watch Audrey in the private box, seeing her situation with new clarity. She's not just engaged to a businessman with a questionable past—she's tied to an active criminal who's using her family's legacy to legitimize his operations.

"The daughter's part of the deal," I say, the words tasting bitter.

"Has to be. Marrying into the Worthington family gives Vega complete respectability. No one questions a mob guy's business practices when he's married to Wyoming royalty."

The information should make me angry, but instead, I feel something colder settling in my chest. This isn't just about a bad engagement anymore. Audrey isn't choosing between two men—she's trapped in a web that goes much deeper than personal preference.

"Something's still off," I say, watching Audrey's rigid posture beside Vega. "The woman I met in San Diego wasn't just unhappy about an arranged marriage. She was running from something specific."

Marcus considers this. "Maybe she found out what Vega really is."

"Yeah. There's definitely more to this story."

The lights dim suddenly, and the arena's sound system crackles to life. The crowd noise shifts from casual conversation to focused anticipation as the ring announcer's voice booms through the speakers.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to tonight's main event!"