Page 16

RAVEN

“Like I was saying, you were very fortunate, my lovely fiancée. Your substitute did well. However, he was not the fighter we had agreed on originally, and as such, the agreement will go back to the original terms. Once you and I are wed, your family’s property title will go to your sisters,” Kaito said with a sneer as his eyes left AJ and rested back on me.

This is unbelievable. How can he back out of every agreement he makes?!

“Wait a minute. What do you mean? You aren’t giving me the deed tonight? My fighter won!” I asked as I reached out and grabbed his arm in desperation. “Kaito, this is wrong. You made the agreement. You can’t keep?—”

He yanked his arm from my grip and raised his hand. “I can do whatever I want, you stupid whore!”

I flinched, bracing for the impact of the back of his hand. But it never came.

I opened my eyes, and my breath caught in my throat.

AJ had grabbed Kaito’s hand and stopped him from swinging, and now, two handguns were pointed at his face from the two bodyguards on either side of Kaito’s shoulders.

The entire room had gone dead silent, no one moving a muscle at the scene unfolding before them.

No, this can’t be happening. I have to stop this from going any further. I can’t let AJ get hurt, or worse, because of me. I can’t lose another man I love to Kaito’s terror.

I stepped in front of AJ, facing Kaito.

“Kaito, please. I’m sorry. It was wrong of me to speak to you in such a way.

But don’t let the rash actions of the man who fought on my behalf cause your men to create a scene in your most popular fighting den.

You don’t want to give the police any reason to come looking into your business.

Please, I will do anything if you let him walk away right now.

He doesn’t know this place or its rules and who you are.

Don’t let the blood of a foreigner be on your hands.

” I kept my gaze soft, and I gently placed my hands on his body—one on his chest and the other on his arm that was still raised.

“Release him. This is my fiancé. He was within his rights to discipline me after the way I behaved tonight,” I said as I glanced back over my shoulder at AJ.

My eyes pleaded with him, and at first, I thought AJ wouldn’t let him go, but then he loosened his grip and pulled his hand away, taking a step backward.

The men didn’t lower their guns, and I felt myself panic.

“Kaito? Please, I’ll do anything,” I whispered, and as much as it turned my stomach, I gently slid my hand up to his cheek and drew his eyes down toward me.

“Get him out of my ring before I change my mind about putting two bullets in his skull,” Kaito snapped, and the men lowered their guns.

I let out a sigh of relief as the surrounding crowd went about their business again. That was, until I felt Kaito’s hand slide around my waist and his other hand wrap in my hair, dragging my body firmly against him. His hot breath was against my ear as he laughed, low and menacing.

“You’re such a handful. But don’t worry; I’ll break you of all these bad habits you have.

Once you’re my wife, you will behave and not bring shame to me ever again.

Is that understood? The only thing you need to concern yourself with after today will be our wedding preparations and, once we are married, to produce my children to carry on my family name,” Kaito muttered into my ear.

“If you don’t agree to it right now, I will have that man followed when he leaves here tonight, and I will make good on my promise to end his miserable existence. Choose your words wisely, darling.”

My entire body wanted to revolt and shove Kaito off of me.

The thought of having sex with him was completely repulsive.

But the only thing that kept me from doing that at this very moment was AJ.

He stood behind me, not having a clue exactly how dangerous Kaito could be—or maybe he just didn’t care. So, I did the only thing I could do.

“Thank you, Kaito. Of course, I will do all of my duties that you desire,” I said, and I really hoped he believed my lies.

He let go of me and straightened his clothing. “Then get him out of my sight. Now .”

I nodded and turned to AJ, but then it hit me. I couldn’t really trust Kaito to not have him jumped right away, but if I could at least get him to his car, he should be safe. I just needed a reason to leave with him as well. I quickly thought of a plan and faced Kaito once more.

“Kaito, if I might ask one more thing of you tonight?” I whispered, trying to make my body language as submissive as I could.

“What is it?” he snapped at me.

“May I go to my home tonight, to explain the outcome of the … agreement to my sisters? I can return to your estate tomorrow afternoon.” I said a silent prayer as I waited for his reply.

“Fine.”

His response filled me with relief.

“Thank you.” For once, I meant the words I said to him. There was a first time for everything, I supposed.

I walked away from him and over to AJ. I placed a light touch on his arm and kept my voice low as I said, “We’re leaving. Stay close to me, please.”

He nodded, and I walked us to the back entrance.

As soon as we were out of sight of the bouncers and cameras, I picked up my pace.

The faster we were away from this place, the better.

AJ had no issues keeping up with me, and I was out of breath by the time we made it back to the elevator in the parking garage to go to the level his car was on.

I finally felt at ease when we pulled out and he began driving toward his place. But I continued checking the mirrors to make sure no one was following us as he drove.

“Wanna tell me what he said to you back there?” AJ asked, breaking the silence.

“Nothing to be concerned with,” I said as I checked the mirror again.

Still, no one suspicious-looking was driving behind us. We had to be safe at this point.

“Bullshit. I can tell when you’re on edge. It took all my willpower not to rip you away from him. Trust me, I can handle whatever he had to say, baby girl.” AJ glanced at me and winked.

“Can we wait until we are back in your room? I need a little longer to calm down before I go into the details of everything that led up to this night,” I said as I ran my fingers through my hair, brushing it behind my ear as I watched the scenery begin to change.

“Sure thing,” AJ said as he turned on the music on his phone.

Some American rap music began to play, and it was a welcome sound to keep the mood relaxed. I even found myself smiling as I caught a few of the lyrics here and there.

A few minutes later, AJ’s hand slid onto my leg and gave it a squeeze. I glanced over at him, but he kept his eyes on the road, his thumb lazily stroking back and forth.

He was so reassuring in so many little ways.

I placed my hand on top of his and hummed along with the song. It was fairly easy to pick up, as the beat had a repetitive sound. Soon after, we drove up outside of the warehouse and parked. He turned to look at me and smiled.

“Ready to go up and relax, baby girl? Are you gonna leave later tonight?” he asked as he gripped my thigh.

I shook my head. “No. Tonight, this is exactly where I want to be.”

We got out of the car. He unlocked the shop door, and we went inside. I followed him up the stairs to his room. He grabbed a towel before walking back to the doorway.

“You good if I shower?” he asked.

“Yeah, I’ll be fine. Thank you for checking,” I said as I waved him onward.

He smirked and went down the hall. I could hear the shower turn on as I made my way into his small kitchen and began to find things to make me a nice cup of tea.

Tonight was crazy. If he hadn’t been at the bar, and not come with me … this would have been a much different story. Fate is a funny thing. And I’m certainly grateful that it brought him to me.

I’d made my tea, and I was sitting comfortably at his table. While he had been gone, I’d built up my courage to tell him the whole truth. I couldn’t deny the feelings I had been building toward him since the night we’d met, especially after tonight.

He strode into the room, closing his door behind him. The sight of him standing in only a towel, body still glistening lightly from the steam, did things to my body. I took my time to look over every muscle, admiring the tattoos that covered his arms.

“Nice shower?” I asked as I rubbed my fingers over the warm sides of my mug.

“Would’ve been better if I’d had some company,” he said as he grabbed some joggers.

As the towel fell from his body, I glanced away, but snuck a peek out of the corner of my eye.

Oh my God, even his ass is toned.

I’d apparently forgotten some details of his physique from the last time we had been together. But I wasn’t mad about it because it felt like I was seeing parts of him for the first time again, and it definitely made my heart beat faster.

Stop looking him over like you are a teenager alone with your first boyfriend. Remember, you were going to give him some real answers. He’s earned that—at the very least—after everything he has done for you. So, keep yourself together for a little while longer.

“Please join me?” I asked as I gestured to the seat next to me.

He finished adjusting his joggers and sat down.

I poured him a cup of tea from the kettle and slid the cup over to him. He took a drink as I shifted to face him more.

“I want to thank you. Tonight, you really came through, and I owe you so much more than you think I do,” I said, getting the conversation going.

“Don’t mention it. It was a nice reminder that I still got it, even if I hadn’t fought for damn near half a year at this point,” he said.