Page 34

Chapter

Thirty-Four

ARI

T he crowd around me roared. Spectators shouted at the fighters in the ring. Others shook the metal bars keeping the cage closed. Drinks spilled; money was flung all over as people made last-minute bets.

I drew a deep breath.

God, I missed the underground.

The Circuit was one thing, but this?

This felt like home.

Jace Perk—or as he dubbed himself, “Jester”—juked away from Meteor’s jab. His returned punch barely scrapped Meteor’s side. Meteor kicked his leg, and Jace fell to the mat. Before he could get up, Meteor pounced. He slammed blow after blow against Jace’s head, blood splattering against the white mat.

When Jace tapped out, the people around me screamed and jeered.

I chuckled.

Heathens Hollow hadn’t changed one bit.

It was surreal to be standing here with nothing on the line but a few extra dollars. The previous time we set foot here, I was the one bloody and bruised in the ring. Bones and River had faced off to become the champion. Now they were champions together.

Number one in the West Coast Circuit.

And ready to tackle St. Luka’s in Vegas.

River leaned into me, his voice velvety smooth, even over the shouting announcer. “Thank fuck we aren’t fighting them next week. Meteor would put my ass in a coma. Not exactly the way I want to go out.”

“I think he just did that to Jace.” I grimaced. Meteor held his arms up high while the medic pulled Jace’s unconscious body from the ring.

“You should thank me.” Lotto slipped his arm around my waist, his chuckle low enough to send a shiver down my spine. “A little bit of threatening goes a long way.”

“So, you admit it was a threat, Lotto?” Frankie laughed and threw an arm around River’s shoulder. “What would that mustached bastard think if he heard you now?”

“The less we hear from him, the better,” I said.

I’d been fielding endless calls during these past five weeks. Endorsements, new sponsors, the board apologizing for their “oversight” with Terrence, St. Luka’s thanking us for getting them a spot at Vegas. The head priest at the parish even called and told me, “God is smiling down upon you for this blessing.”

God had about ten more minutes of blessing before we stepped into the underground club, and he needed to look the other way.

Bones stayed quiet as he stared at the ring. He’d been quiet since we’d stepped into Heathens Hollow. Occasionally, he rubbed his knuckles and his jaw. But he didn’t take his eyes off the one place he used to rule the world.

I sighed and set a hand on his shoulder. He turned to me with questions in his eyes.

“You okay, Bones?”

“You’ve asked me that four times already, Ari.” He snorted.

“And you haven’t answered one of them. Fifth times the charm?”

Bones glanced around the four of us. Then he blew out a heavy breath from the corner of his mouth.

“Yeah… yeah, I’m All right. Just thinking about Dad. He would have been so proud.”

“Your dad too, Ari.” Frankie nodded at me. “He knows Smiley’s is in good hands.”

“ Very good hands,” I agreed. “Both personally and professionally.”

River winked. “And we’ll prove that soon enough.”

My body warmed. The club beneath our feet was calling our name, but there were still two fights left to go. And I wasn’t going to miss the chance to see Misty Perk get her ass beat. Again.

“At least with the money I just won, we can book the penthouse suite at the Bellagio.” Lotto shook his head. “Jace is still as shitty as ever.”

“And he beat Teo,” Frankie reminded us. “So, we can’t take any chances. This last week?—”

“Okay, warden, put your whip down.” River nudged him with an elbow. “Let’s have at least one night of fun.”

“Have all the fun you want,” someone behind me drawled.

Hairs stood up on my arms. I turned to face Troy Godwin. He sported the same impeccable suit and smirk from our previous meeting with Sport ‘n Beauty. On purpose, I was sure. He slicked his hair back and gestured at his two bodyguard goons to back off.

“You’re my special guests, after all.”

“Thanks for the invite,” Lotto said stiffly. “Just wish we knew why.”

“As a thank you, of course. It looks like I’m going to have some new headliners soon enough. Wouldn’t have happened without your input.”

“Helps when two big names get booked for illegal substances,” Frankie said.

Terrence Hudson and Scotty Green were front page news for about five minutes until they faded into the background like any other breaking news story, awaiting trial from behind bars.

“I wonder how Terrence got linked up with Scotty?” Troy asked. His smirk suggested he likely had something to do with it. How, I didn’t know, but he had pulled enough strings in my life for me to know what he was capable of.

“Either way,” Troy continued, “enjoy the night. Put on a good show in Vegas. I would hate for anything to happen to you while there.”

Frankie frowned. “What are you talking about?”

“They call it Sin City for a reason. Lots of things happen while there.”

River raised a brow. “Your point?”

“I hope you continue to be lucrative, my little cash cows.” Troy’s slick smile didn’t meet his eyes. “If not, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. No matter what it is.”

His icy threat turned my stomach. I didn’t need a reminder of his power. He flaunted that over us daily. Between the original contract to the strings he pulled with the Circuit, I didn’t trust one word out of that man’s mouth.

We needed a clean win in Vegas to get us away from Troy Godwin for good.

“We’ll keep that in mind,” I said politely.

Troy chortled. Clearly, he didn’t believe me but he ignored it anyway. “The club’s open for you again. Same booth and all. Try not to make such a mess this time, won’t you? See you sooner than you think.”

Troy departed without waiting for our answer. Frankie spat after him; River flipped him the bird. Bones rolled his eyes, while Lotto shook his head. My cheeks flared at the implication, but I rolled it off my shoulders. Troy wasn’t our problem anymore.

St. Luka’s was.

We had a week until the big show.

And I wasn’t going to let my dad down, especially not when we were so close to glory.

“That guy gives me the creeps every time,” River complained, “but I won’t pass up a free VIP booth or booze.”

“We should check it’s not poisoned.” Frankie snorted.

Bones laughed. “Either that or some hidden contract beneath the champagne.”

“Neither would surprise me. His generosity comes with strings.” Lotto tightened his arm around me and pulled me back flush against his chest. His warm breath danced over my ear. “But I’m sure you’re going to surprise all of us soon enough, aren’t you, angel?”

I pressed my ass back against his cock. “Not if you surprise me first.”

My eyes flashed to the guys standing before me. Their broad shoulders, their tight muscles peeking out from their shirts, their hungry smirks when they drank me in. Being atop the Circuit was great, but being with the four of them was even better.

And there was a booth a few floors beneath me where we could celebrate that love.

“I know you already won big, Lotto, but why don’t we make another bet?” I offered.

“What kind?”

My lips slid into a grin. “On who will be the first to come.”

“An easy bet,” Frankie smirked. “What do we get when we win?”

“We?”

Bones, River, and Frankie took a step toward me. Lotto tightened his arm almost painfully. Pure control and desire reflected in their dark eyes. But not one single part of me was scared. The four of them owned me, mind, body, and soul.

There wasn’t a single thing I would change.

“We’re going to fill up every single one of your holes, angel,” Lotto whispered. My breath hitched with his promise.

“As owner of Smiley’s, you should be celebrated the most.” The shadowed smirk on River’s face made my body thrum.

“We’ll show you how much we love you,” Bones added.

“And how you belong to us.” Frankie grinned. “I hope you’re ready.”

Even over the screaming crowd and chaos around me, my voice was loud and clear.

“Lead the way.”