Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 76710 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76710 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Just before we break through to the front, I see a flash of a guy in blue shorts slamming to the hard ground. There’s no ring. No pad on the floor. This guy’s not even wearing gloves.
“So that’s the big secret? Jess hangs out at some wannabe fight club?”
“No,” I say, unsure if she can even hear me. “He’s the one they’re betting on.” Letting go of Sullivan’s hand, I barrel my way through until I’m front and center.
“Allie!” Halston shouts, but I don’t listen.
My stomach drops as I take in the sight of Jess dripping with sweat, in nothing but jeans and boots, fists blocking his face as he and another guy circle each other like sharks in a tank. Jesse’s hair falls over his forehead as he gives his opponent a taunting wink, motioning for him to come closer.
The crowd grows rowdy, jostling me, and I chance a look behind me to find Halston and Sullivan even farther away.
“Allie!” Sullivan’s voice thunders, his big body shoulder-checking people as he tries to clear a safe path for Halston. I whip back around just in time to see Jesse’s head snap toward the sound of my name. His eyes lock onto mine as shock morphs into anger.
Blue Shorts takes the opportunity to strike while Jesse’s distracted, landing a punch to the jaw. Jesse jerks to the side with the force of the hit and I flinch as if I took the blow myself.
“Jesse!” My voice is a guttural, desperate thing as I watch in horror as he hits the ground, his head bouncing off the concrete. My hands fly to my mouth, and I’m momentarily frozen to my spot. Blue Shorts lifts his arms, strutting around the invisible perimeter, gloating as the crowd roars.
Snapping out of it, I rush forward, but Jesse holds a palm up, stopping me in my tracks. Sullivan’s suddenly at my back, his arm hooking around my waist before pulling me away.
Jesse stands, dragging his forearm across his bloody mouth. He looks absolutely fucking feral.
“Get her out of here,” he demands, pointing a finger at me. Sullivan’s suddenly at my back, his arm hooking around my waist, holding me in place. I grind my jaw, my irritation with his command warring with my concern for him. Sully walks us backwards, the crowd swallowing us whole. Halston grabs onto my hand once we get within arm’s reach, following us out.
I can’t see Jess anymore from back here. I stand on my tiptoes, trying to spot him through gaps in the crowd, but all I can see are random flashes of flesh and the blue of his opponent’s shorts.
Suddenly, the noise rises to a deafening level. The mob of people parts down the middle as Jesse prowls toward us, and I see Blue Shorts laid out on the ground behind him, unmoving. He doesn’t stop until he’s standing in front of me, his hand wrapping around my wrist as he pulls me away. I try snatching my wrist from his grasp, but he tightens his grip, tugging me toward a back door, Halston and Sullivan hot on our heels.
He releases his hold on me, shoving the door to the back parking lot open. We’re only a couple of hours from home, but the air feels thick and warm here. Jesse turns to face me, running a bloodied hand through his hair.
“What the fuck are you doing here?”
“Getting answers.”
He huffs out a laugh, throwing his arms open wide. “Well, you got ’em.”
“Hardly.” I still don’t know why. It doesn’t make any sense that he’d keep this from me. So he fights for money. Big deal. It’s better than where my mind went.
I hear the heavy door behind me opening again, and I whip my head around to see a group of smiling people spill out into the parking lot. A guy in a wife beater and black jeans ambles toward us, slapping a stack of cash into Jesse’s open palm.
“You had me worried there for a second,” he says, before turning to me. “Who’s this pretty little thing?” His eyes rake over my body. I cross my arms over my chest, sending him the dirtiest look I can muster.
Jesse’s eyes meet mine, void of any emotion. “No one important.”
Okay, ouch.
I try to keep the hurt from showing on my face. Halston hooks an arm around my shoulders, and I feel Sullivan move in closer behind me, probably anticipating a fight.
“Mhm,” the guy says, sounding unconvinced. Jess clenches his jaw, averting his eyes. I get the impression that this guy has some kind of power over him. He doesn’t bite his tongue for anyone.
“Let’s go,” Jess says, moving past him, and we follow suit.
“Hey, Jess!” he calls out after us. Jesse turns to look over his shoulder, frowning, and I follow his gaze to find the man in the wife beater smirking at him. “I’ll be in touch.”