Page 87 of Stolen Matrimony

“Why am I not surprised you would be into something like this?”

She rolled her eyes and fought back a grin. Cashlynn was wound up when we first got here. Her mind was still locked on Neil and it didn’t help that she’d run into Majesty at the club. It was a gamble bringing her here in order to distract her, but it seemed to do the job.

“Nazai!” My name being called caused me to pause. I looked up and saw Easton, the guy who ran The Grave, approaching. His eyes flickered to the bag in my hand and his mouth ticked. “Long time no see. I see River is still winning you money. I was glad when I received a call from him to put him on the roster.”

I snorted. “That’s because he makes you a shit ton of money too.”

Easton grinned. “That he does. I wish he would consider coming more often, he knows how to bring out the crowd.” His eyes shifted. “And who’s this beauty?”

“Yeah she is a beauty, isn’t she? This ismy wife, Cashlynn.”

“I remember hearing about you getting married. Shame I couldn’t attend the wedding.” His head tilted to the side and he sized her up as he licked his lips. My stomach churned and my eyes narrowed. I slowly dragged my tongue across my top teeth and stood straight.

“Careful, Easton, don’t let your eyes get you in trouble. She ismineafter all.”

Easton didn’t look fazed. “I mean no disrespect of course, Nazai. Just paying the lovely lady a compliment.”

“Thank you.” Cashlynn spoke up. “Nothing wrong with compliments.” She cut her eyes toward me.

I twisted my body and gazed down at her heatedly. “You’re right. They can look, but only I can touch right, Wildfire?”

Her cheeks flushed. “Not answering that.” She averted my gaze and shifted on her feet.

I flashed a crooked grin then faced Easton again. His eyes bounced between us. “Mhm, I won’t keep you two longer. I need to go find out my earnings after all. Cashlynn, it was nice to meet you. Nazai, please come back soon, you and River.” He stepped around us and continued down the hall.

“Charming,” Cashlynn muttered.

We continued down the hall and met with River who was walking toward us with his duffle bag thrown over his shoulder.

“Give me a second,” I told Cashlynn, stepping away from her and meeting River halfway. I studied my friend for a second. There was still a storm in his eyes, his muscles were tense.

“There’s the champ.” I smirked, causing him to chuckle.

“I see you did good tonight.” He nodded toward the bag.

“Always, brother. My wallet always appreciates your talent.”

He chuckled again. “Yeah, like you need more money.”

I shrugged. “Never can have too much.” I studied him again. “How you feeling?”

“That was light work. I don’t know how that guy won so many fights in the first place, I barely broke a sweat.”

“I’m not talking about that. I mean, do you feel better?”

River’s eyes shifted behind me, becoming distant. “As good as I’ll be. Me beating the shit out of someone isn’t gonna bring my parents back but it helps me release the anger that them being gone caused.”

I nodded. This time of the year was always rough for River because of the anniversary of his parents dying. He was only fifteen when they were murdered but he never got over it. When he moved in with us, he got into a lot of fights because he didn’t know how to properly grieve them. My parents never held it against him though. When we were seventeen, he fought his first fight at The Grave.

“You know I got you, man. If you want to talk or whatever. You’re my brother.” River had come a long way. He might work for me as security, but I never saw him as an employee or less than because he wasn’t blood. I saw him just as I saw my actual brothers. The two of us had been through a lot of shit together.

This time River looked at me with one corner of his mouth tilted. “Don’t go getting sappy on me.”

I chortled. “Fuck you.”

He joined in then looked behind me again and paused. His eyes narrowed. “Nazai,” he said suddenly.

“What?”