Page 4 of Ruthless Lord

“I’m friends with the people who own this place. I can put in a good word for you. Make sure they know you helped me.”

His eyebrows raise. “If that’s true, then why was he chasing you?”

That’s a great question. Frustration swells in my chest. “He didn’t believe me either.”

“I appreciate your concern—” He turns his back on me. My mouth hangs open as I look at the sheer number of muscles. I didn’t even know a back couldhavethat much definition. “But I’m really good. Just be more careful.”

He starts to walk away.

I watch him go, completely stunned. That’s everything? He chokes a guy unconscious for me and just wanders off? Myadrenaline is still coursing through my veins, and I can’t stop staring at that massive, physically perfect specimen of a human male. He’s an absolute Adonis, like a sculptor got high on meth and decided Greek gods weren’t hot enough and improved just about everything imaginable. In all my years hanging around the fighting pits, I’ve never once wanted to approach one of the talent before.

I’ve also never been nearly stabbed to death by one of the pit bosses either.

“Wait a second!” I don’t know if it’s the fear or the excitement that makes me do it, but Stefano slows as I catch up with him. “I feel like I owe you something.”

He tilts his head and gives me a curious frown. “Why’s that?”

“You saved me. I just… I don’t want you to walk away without…”Without what? Fucking you senseless?A wild tingle spreads into my core at the thought. But no, that’s sheer insanity. Even for me. “Without buying you a drink at least.”

He considers me like he doesn’t actually think I’m serious. And honestly, I don’t know if I am either.

This man isn’t my type. He’s a fighter, for one. Not to say that’sbeneathme, but my parents and my grandfather would literally murder me if they found out I was consorting with the talent. They’d scream bloody murder if I let one of our ring warriors taint their perfect bloodline. But more than that, he’s got that murder-is-fun-actually kind of attitude, the sort of arrogance that comes from being big and dangerous, and that sort of swagger drives me crazy. Like he’s better than other people just because he’s physically imposing?

But he did save my life.

And he is so hot it makes my mouth water.

“If you’re serious…” He says, speaking slowly. “We should probably go somewhere else.”

My eyebrows raise. I glance over my shoulder. Big Boss is beginning to stir.

“That’s probably a good idea. Meet me out front?”

He leans forward, voice softening. “You sure you haven’t made enough mistakes for one night?”

A shiver runs down my spine. His voice is low and melodic. Gorgeous, just like him. “I guess not.”

“I’ll grab my stuff and meet you out there.”

He walks off again. I don’t hang around. Big Boss is coming to, and I don’t want to be alone with that fucker a second time.

I hurry back down the hall and into the crowd just as the fight is coming to an end. A bloodied and battered bald man holds his naked, bruised fists in the air. He’s missing a tooth, the gap freshly bleeding. But at least he seems happy.

This is a terrible idea. It’s one thing to hang around the fights like this when I should be at home doing proper-rich-girl things like riding horses or shopping online.

But it’s another to spend intimate alone time with a man like Stefano.

I wait out front. Each second that ticks past is another second I could use to come back to my senses. He won’t be too upset if he comes out here and I’m not around, right?

But I don’t move. I just keep thinking about his big arms wrapped around Big Boss’s neck and that calm smile.

Beautiful and absolutely horrifying.

The warehouse seems dark and abandoned from the outside. Cars are parked in the lot nearby, and security lurks in the shadows. Nobody bothers me. I wait awkwardly, starting to wonder if Big Boss is going to find me alone out here and gut me despite everything, and I’m so on edge that I yelp when Stefano appears at my side.

“I know a place nearby,” he murmurs, looking at me sideways. “You good with that?”

“Better than hanging around here.”