Page 7 of The Fight For Survival
"I'm going to kill Cade for telling you!" she sputters, pushing my chest, only seeming slightly embarrassed.
When Cade told me that Mia performed a strip tease for him to convince him to let her come to one of my fights, I didn't believe him. Sweet Mia using her body as bribery? Not a side of her I have seen.
But what I would give to witness that.
I will the image of her doing the same thing for me out of my head as I feel my dick come to life.
The quieting of the crowd grabs my attention, taking my mind off my growing problem. I look over Mia's head to see Cade in a heated altercation with another guy. Zoe's face is pale as Jake wraps her in his arms. I nod over Mia's shoulder, "I think you'll have to get in line. That guy over there with him looks like he's about to kill him." She turns around as I look back over Cade's way and furrow my brow as the other dude stares at Mia with intense familiarity.
Mia's sharp, pained inhale brings my attention back to her as she whimpers, "Oh my god… Kane." My stomach free falls. Kane? The guy that broke Mia's heart? I feel a fierce rush of jealousy as I take in the man.
This is the only other man that Mia gave a piece of herself to, and I ball my fists in suppressed anger that he got a chance at what I never will, and he threw the opportunity away, leaving her instead. I watch the blood drain from Mia's face as she clutches a hand to her chest as though struggling to breathe normally.
She wavers on her feet, and I watch in panic as her legs buckle from beneath her. "Shit!" I rush at the last second to catch her before her head hits the floor.
"Cade!" his head snaps to me, eyes widening in horror when he sees Mia on the floor in my arms and clearly struggling to breathe.
Ignoring his standoff with Kane, he sprints over to us. "What the fuck happened?" Cade demands, kneeling at Mia's side, touching her face delicately. "She saw Kane and collapsed," I glare at Kane, taking in his haunted eyes and weary appearance. He looks like he's just seen a ghost as he stares at Mia with scared eyes, running a hand through his dark hair, making the purposely tousled just-out-of-bed look seem disheveled.
"Mia, come back to me, baby. Just breathe," Cade begs, taking her out of my arms and sitting on the floor, pulling her across his lap. The loss of her warm body against mine sends a pang to my chest. Wishing it was me comforting her. The need to claim her back is so intense I have to move away, so I don't give in to the urge. I hate seeing her like this.
"That's it, good girl," Cade soothed as Mia starts to show some sign of life. Her breathing returning to a normal rhythm.
Kane edges closer to Mia. "Stay away from her, Kane, or so help me, god, I am going to knock you the fuck out." I spit angrily. At the sound of Kane's name, Mia's head snaps up. Her eyes narrow as she takes him in. I sigh in relief as Mia unsteadily gets up from Cade's lap. She's okay. My relief is short-lived as she marches over to Kane and starts wailing on him. Kicking and punching him in uncoordinated, sloppy punches, which is not doing a great deal of damage, but it's the determination on her face that sends a small twitch to my lips, then I immediately feel like shit when I hear her wrecking cries.
"I hate you!" she yells in broken sobs. Kane stands there unmoving, letting her pour her grief into each strike. His face is a mask of suppressed emotions, but he hasto be feelingsomething.
Cade starts towards them but pauses when someone pulls Kane away. "Kane, what the fuck is going on?" The man scans us all, a baffled look on his face. He must recognize me, though, because he curses, "Kane, you know better than to start on your opponent outside of the ring. Do you want to get disqualified?" he sighs like he's looking for patience. The man has evidently read the situation wrong, but no one corrects him.
"Stay out of this, Damon," he warns quietly, voice sullen, never taking his eyes off Mia. She's made her way over to Cade and is crying into his shoulder. I see Kane's mask slip, and pain shows in his eyes, causing a small part of me to feel bad for him. Then I remember the story of how he left them without any goodbye, and it makes me go right back to hating him again.
"I can't be here," Mia whispers, abruptly pulling away from Cade and running toward the exit.
"Mia!" Cade shouts in distress, moving to go after her.
"I've got her. You need to sort this out," Zoe waves her hand between him and Kane, before following Mia out.
"I'll go with them," Jake takes off after them. Leaving me standing there debating what to do.
"Get your things. We're leaving," Cade commands Kane, causing him to cross his arms over his chest in defiance. "Fuck no. I came here for a fight. I don't walk away from a fight," he scoffs as if even the thought is ludicrous.
"Good thing you are about to get a fucking fight then, isn't it?" Cade hisses, taking a threatening step towards Kane. My turn to jump in. "We can sort something out. I'll talk to the club manager," I tell Kane, trying to appease him. Not because I care about his feelings, it's all for Cade and Mia. "This seems more important right now," I look between the two of them. Cade gives me a grateful smile.
Putting a hand on his shoulder, I give it a reassuring squeeze, causing Kane to let out a low growl making my eyebrows rise in surprise. I'm not into guys, but I linger my hand on Cade's shoulder a little longer just to piss him off.
If the man has the nerve to come back here, upsetting the people I care about, I'm going to try to get a rise out of him while I have the chance. I send a smirk Kane's way, a wink, and then saunter off, leaving them to it.
Pushing through the large crowds of people milling about, waiting for the next fight, I catch up to Jake. Pulling him over to one side with my hand on his wrist. "Let me take Mia home," I plead. He raises his eyebrows, questions in his stare I wouldn't be able to answer. All I know is that I have to make sure Mia is okay. Every fiber of my being is screaming at me to comfort her.
"What are you doing, Braylon?" I tug on my beard, a habit when I am feeling frustrated. "It's not what you think, J. I just need to make sure she's okay. Please," I beg. Not my proudest moment, but I'll do whatever I need to as long as it gets me toher. Shaking his head, "You're playing with fire, man. Cade's your friend." Guilt niggles at me.
"Can we do this another time? Mia needs to get home," Zoe shouts over to us. Shit, I hope she didn't hear any of that. "I'm taking you home, Zo. Braylon is going with Mia," he calls over his shoulder, keeping his accusing stare on me.
"Hey, guys, do you mind if I join?" Damon strolls over to us, hands in the pockets of his dark jeans. A resigned look on his face, "I've had my car and my apartment taken from me, just so that Kane and that other dude can talk. Can you believe that?" he looks back and forth between Jake and me.
Jake smiles in delight. "I'm sure Braylon and Mia would be happy to take you to her house for a bit. Isn't that right, Bray?" He taunts. Prick. Gritting my teeth, I storm out of the building to find Mia waiting at my car, arms wrapped around her body.
I decide to send Cade a text to update him. I feel like I'm doing something I shouldn't. If I inform Cade that I'm with Mia, that proves my innocence. Right?