Theirs to Keep - Maya Banks Page 0,86

need for reassurance. Dallas kissed her temple. “Yeah, he’s going to win. No doubt.”

Dakota walked out of the dressing room and made a beeline for Elle. His expression brooding and intense. A look she’d fast come to associate with Dakota when he was in fight mode.

“He wants to see you.”

Elle frowned. “Do you think that’s a good idea? I’ve tried to stay out of his way all day. I don’t want to mess up his concentration now.”

Dakota smiled. The two had reached a truce while she’d still been laid up in a hotel room recovering from her attack. He’d been appalled and horrified that his actions had led to such a horrific event.

He’d been utterly sincere in his apology—and just as sincere about his love and loyalty for Merrick. In the end, she couldn’t hold that loyalty against him. She knew she’d do anything to protect Merrick, so she couldn’t fault Dakota for trying to do the same. Even if he’d gone about it all wrong.

“I think he needs to see you, babe. You’ll center him. He needs to be grounded right now. He needs to see what he’s fighting for. You’ll remind him of that.”

Elle’s heart melted. “Okay. I’ll come.”

She followed behind Dakota into the locker room, where Merrick’s shoulders and arms were being massaged and rubbed down. He had on a satin jacket with the hood up, and he looked…formidable. Not at all like the loving, gentle giant she knew him to be.

But then he looked up and found her gaze, and he softened all over, losing the brooding intensity that could easily scare a grown man.

“Elle,” he whispered.

The room cleared in about three seconds, and then they were alone. Just her, Merrick and Cade, who stood to the side. But he came in closer as Elle approached Merrick.

Cade sat on the bench next to Elle where she’d taken a seat directly across from Merrick. Their knees touched, and Merrick reached for her hands, clumsy with the gloves on.

He extended his fist to Cade so they bumped knuckles, and they held them there while Cade reached for Elle’s free hand.

“This is it,” Cade said simply. “Don’t leave anything in the ring, Merrick. Go hard. No regrets.”

“No regrets,” Merrick echoed.

“You can do this,” Elle said softly. “I believe in you, Merrick. I love you.”

He put his gloved hands clumsily to her face and pulled her into a deep kiss. “I love you too. This. All of this. Is for you. For us.”

Dakota burst into the room followed closely by Cathy.

“It’s time, Merrick. I’m going to have Cathy take Elle to her seat, and she’s going to stay with her for the fight. Front row. She’ll be close. Cade and Dallas are going to stay in the corner with me.”

Merrick nodded and then leaned forward again to claim Elle’s mouth in a lusty, possessive kiss that left her breathless.

“Win,” she whispered. “Do it for you, Merrick. Nobody else.”

Elle and Catherine were escorted ringside by two security guards. Catherine latched onto her hand and pulled her up close while the two guards moved only a short distance away, flanking the women.

“I’ve never been so oh-my-God nervous in my life!” Catherine yelled in Elle’s ear. “This is it, Elle. This is what he’s worked for over so many years.”

“He’s going to win,” Elle said with calm she didn’t feel.

All she could think was what if he didn’t win? Every plan, every action over the last month had been made with the assumption that Merrick would win the title.

The three had picked out a home in Denver. Dakota and Catherine had begun negotiations on a training facility. Their house in Grand Junction had been put up for sale, and Cade had sold his business.

Even Charlie was making the move to Denver and would be a part of Merrick’s training team.

The only dim spot in the last weeks was the fallout from Elle’s attack, and she’d worried endlessly that it would prove to be a huge distraction for Merrick and split his concentration at a time it had to be completely focused.

Her attacker had survived, but fortunately for Elle, he confessed everything. He pled guilty to assault, and he testified against the man Cade and Merrick had captured stealing the car. Other than statements provided by all three of them, nothing further was to be done, and they’d been able to push the incident from their minds.

The flurry of activity surrounding the move and Cade selling their home and business had helped to distract