make me cream?” I whisper like a slut. “Listening to you talk about how strong you are, how bad you are, how your hands are meant for pleasure, not pain?”
His eyes harden.
“’Cause guess what, you’re not the first boy to promise a prize at the end of the night who delivered a punch instead.”
His brows snap at the center and he grabs my upper arm, but before he can open his mouth, voices float from the other side of the parking lot.
I jerk from his hold and start forward, but he yanks me back.
They drop down to hide between the cars and I frown.
“This is private property,” Captain tells me as Maddoc yanks me down beside them.
I gape at them. “There’s literally like three dozen people not fifty feet away, yelling and screaming, and duh ... illegally fighting.” I widen my eyes like a brat. “It’s no fucking secret there are people walking all around here.”
The voice grows closer and Maddoc’s head snaps toward the sound, his forehead wrinkling.
He recognizes the voices.
He meets Captain’s stare before sliding it to Royce, who curses and props his head against the car door beside us, and it hits me.
They don’t want to be seen out here. But why?
Maddoc glances around, but I can tell he already knows – there’s no other way out of here.
Cap glares at me.
“What?”
“This is your fault.”
My mouth drops open. “My fault?” I hiss. “You fuckers pretend to play nice, insert yourself in everything I do, tracked my ass down, and this is my fucking fault? Like the joint being in Maddoc’s hand was ‘my fault’ or your followers thinking I’m with you because I noosed a girl for five seconds? You guys need to wake up and realize how weak you really are and fix it before someone who wants what you have comes in ready to take it. Can’t even own up to your own bullshit ‘cause it’s just so much easier to lay blame on everyone else, huh?”
“Enough.” Maddoc’s voice booms in a hush.
I shift my glare to his. “It’s enough when I say it’s enough!”
The voices trail closer and all three of the boys’ features tighten.
This, being here and being seen by these men, whoever the hell they are, is a problem for them.
Cap slips on his brass knuckles, Royce pops his and big man tips his chin.
Fuck.
I look down at my outfit – track pants, ripped up tennies, and a baggy sweater.
I squeeze my eyes shut.
This isn’t my problem.
But I mean, if I’m seen, oh fucking well. I was on the cards tonight, meaning if I were questioned by security or who the fuck ever questions people at an underground fighting ring, I’d have reason to be here.
But what happens if they’re seen?
Ugh, not your problem, Rae...
I bob my knee a minute before I shift to stand but bend so my height isn’t over the car beside us. “Fuck it.”
I start pulling off my battered shoes and socks and stuff them in my bag.
“The fuck...” Royce trails off.
My sweater is yanked off next and the boys’ necks pull back.
I shove my shoes in my bag, pulling out a pair of dollar store flip-flops, not ideal for this, but better than the muddy sneakers.
My hand finds my waistband next and I start to slide my bottoms down.
“What’s she doing?” comes from Cap, followed up with a, “Fuck if I know,” from Royce.
“Stop fucking looking,” growls Maddoc and then his hands hit my upper thighs, forcing my bottoms to stay where they are, halfway off my ass.
“I’m wearing Spanx under. Let go.”
“What are you doing?”
“Distracting.”
His eyes flare. “I don’t fucking think so.”
“I’m not asking,” I force through clenched teeth and his fingertips dig into my skin, making my blood boil for two very different reasons. I downplay my reasoning. “I don’t know about you, but I gotta get back.”
Obnoxious laughter hits our ears and Maddoc glances over, giving me enough leeway to shift away from him.
I slide behind Captain, who boldly doesn’t move when Maddoc tries to reach for me.
Their glares hit each other.
“Can’t get caught, brother. Not here.”
“You expect me to let her—” He cuts himself off before finishing his sentence.
Left in nothing but flip-flops, Spanx and my sports bra, I tap Cap’s shoulder. “Give me your wife beater.”
He doesn’t hesitate to slip it off, leaving him shirtless.
Not a bad view at all – strong, solid back.
Maddoc growls as I pull it over my head, the black cotton hitting just at my thighs.