Second Read online

  “But are you fine seeing her every day?”

  I stared at him.

  “That was the question.” He saw my reaction at her wedding, how I couldn’t suck it up and plaster on a fake smile. I couldn’t keep a straight face and be strong despite my pain.

  “Yeah…I’m fine with it.”

  He didn’t seem to buy my answer, but he let it go. “Liam has his first fight this weekend. She’ll probably be there.”

  I thought I would only see Annabella every couple months, not be confronted with her presence on a regular basis. “What does that have to do with me?”

  “Because we’re going.”

  “Why?”

  “Because he’s our client.”

  “You said he was your client,” I snapped. “And what does that matter? We don’t get involved with our other clients.”

  “We’re getting a big piece of the pie. And Liam is preparing to return to death fighting. We’ll be heavily involved in that.”

  All the anger drained from my face when I heard what he said.

  “I know the only reason you don’t want to go is because of her,” Hades said. “Because you’d be jumping at this opportunity in any other scenario.”

  I didn’t hear what he said. “He said that?”

  Hades cocked an eyebrow.

  “About death fighting?”

  He nodded.

  “When?”

  “A few weeks ago. Why?”

  “Annabella told me he would give it up if she took him back. Now he’s trying to do it behind her back?” Would he really do something like that? The second she was his wife, he would throw her wishes out the window?

  “Maybe she changed her mind about it.”

  “No.” She never would.

  He watched me for a long time. “Damien, whatever the case may be, you need to stay out of it.”

  “Meaning?”

  “Even if he is keeping this a secret from her, it’s not your place to tell her.”

  I would watch his fights, knowing full well he risked his life every night, and say nothing to her?

  “It will violate his trust and jeopardize our partnerships. And it’ll be a dead giveaway that you were the one fucking his wife. Why else would you tell her?”

  Valid point. But I was still disturbed by what I’d learned.

  Hades continued to study me. “She’s the one who decided to marry him. This is their marriage, their business. Whatever happens is not your concern, so you better leave it alone. You understand me?”

  Annabella and I were nothing and had always been nothing. She’d made her choice to marry him, and I stepped aside and let it happen. It was time to move on, not to concern myself with her happiness. “Fine.”

  After we walked through the casino and took the elevator to the basement, we met with Bosco.

  “It’s been a long time.” He grinned as he shook hands with Hades. “Who do you have your money on?”

  “Liam.” He dropped his hand. “He’s my client.”

  “Loyalty. Nice.” He turned to me and shook my hand. “Nice to see you, Damien. I got some new girls out front.”

  “I noticed.”

  He winked. “Nothing gets past you, huh?” He clapped me on the shoulder. “Enjoy yourselves tonight. I’ve been trying to get Liam back into death fighting. See if you can talk him into it.” He walked off with his friend to find a seat in the underground arena.

  Hades and I went to the back where the fighters waited for their call. Liam was behind the first door on the left, in his black sweatpants and t-shirt. His muscles were flexed and full like he’d hit the weights just moments ago, but he was visibly calm.

  Annabella wasn’t. She was in a blue cocktail dress, her curled hair pinned to the back of her head. She was covered in diamonds, like a prized jewel Liam wanted to show off. Her eyes were wet with impending tears, and it was obvious she had just been arguing with him, probably trying to dissuade him from doing this.

  “Baby, I’ll be fine.” He was sitting beside her on the couch, and he rose to his feet to greet us. “My boys.” He shook hands with Hades, and his previous beef with me seemed to be forgotten because he shook my hand too. He probably had more important things to focus on other than our bitter exchange. “Could you keep an eye on my woman while I’m in the ring?” He kept his voice low in the hope she wouldn’t hear.

  Impulsive rage overtook me. I would never let another man protect my wife besides Hades. I’d do it my goddamn self.

  Hades answered for me. “Of course.”

  After we exchanged a few words, Liam left to get ready for his fight.

  Hades glanced at me before he silently excused himself.

  Annabella didn’t look at me, her gaze averted as she struggled with what was about to happen to her husband. The woman was selfless with her heart, caring and loving to people who didn’t deserve it—like me. She crossed her arms over her chest and kept her eyes on the floor.

  All I wanted to do was comfort her, hold her, cradle her face into my shoulder as I wrapped my arms around her.

  But that wasn’t my job.

  Liam should be here, giving up everything because that was what she wanted.

  I slid my hands into my pockets and stepped closer to her.

  She quietly sniffled. “Is there something I can help you with, Damien?” Despite her distress, her voice was strong.

  I didn’t tell her Liam had asked me to babysit her. If he knew the things I’d done to her, he wouldn’t let me anywhere near her…especially when she was vulnerable like this. “He’ll be fine, Annabella.”

  She finally lifted her gaze to look me in the eye. “You don’t know that.”

  “He’s a big guy who knows what he’s doing.”

  “And so is the other guy…”

  Her quiet words got under my skin, and I found myself on the couch beside her.

  She stilled when I came close to her, affected by my proximity. She shifted away slightly as if my presence bothered her.

  “Ask him to stop.”

  “It’s his career…his passion. That would be like him asking me to quit my job.”

  “Your job at the hotel isn’t dangerous. It’s not the same thing. And it shouldn’t matter. If it bothers you this much…” He should have walked away from all of it if he wanted to be with her, to sacrifice everything if he wanted to be her husband. And if he couldn’t…he should bow out. That was why I left, and it was the right thing to do. I wish Hades were still my partner in our drug business, but I respected his giving it up for his family. “It’s not like he needs the money.”

  She shook her head. “He won’t. I’ve asked.”

  The sound of the cheering crowd was audible at the announcement of the next fight.

  She closed her eyes as if she knew exactly what that meant.

  There were a few inches between us, so we weren’t touching, but it was the closest I’d been to her since that conversation in her office months ago. I could feel the heat, the electricity, that tingly sensation on the back of my neck. But I wasn’t sure if she felt it too. “You want to stay in here until it’s over?”

  “Yes…but I know I should be out there. I should support him.”

  “Did you go to his matches before?”

  She nodded. “I never liked it, though. But I know it means a lot to him—to see my face in the crowd.” She smoothed out her skirt before she rose to her feet, looking amazing in that short dress. The color was perfect on her, the straps crossing over her back and giving the look more elegance. With all those diamonds and her perfect features, she was the prize Liam wanted everyone to know belonged to him.

  Couldn’t blame him. “I’ll take you.”

  She moved to the door. “I don’t need your help, Damien.” She opened it and stepped outside.

  I walked with her anyway, knowing she would change her mind once she saw the turnout for the fight. It was all vicious men cursing about the bout, pushing one another out of the way to
get a better view. There were a few women present, but not many.

  One guy didn’t notice her because of how small she was and bumped right into her.

  “Watch where the fuck you’re going.” I shoved him in the arm and pushed him back.

  She tensed when she realized she was overwhelmed, prey in a room of predators.

  I placed my arm around her waist, touching her for the first time in…forever.

  And it was there…that same magnificent desire.

  I ignored it and guided her through the crowd to a safe place.

  She would ordinarily push my hand away or tell me not to touch her, but the fights had clearly changed since the last time she was here, and she was overwhelmed. It was practically a mosh pit.

  I got her to one of the stages where Hades was talking with Bosco. Liam and his opponent threw punches and attacked each other in the ring, prepared to fight until someone passed out.

  I got her a seat and sat beside her.

  Liam had just done a number on his opponent, slamming his fist into his face, his ribs, and then his stomach. Blood spilled from his mouth, either the product of broken teeth or a bleeding stomach.

  Annabella crossed her legs and cringed, not impressed by her husband’s strength and agility. Fighting wasn’t a turn-on for her the way it was for most women. She craved peace, simplicity. When she wanted a man, money and power weren’t important to her. It was the soul that mattered.

  Instead of watching the fight, I watched her.

  Watched her cringe over and over as her husband beat this stranger to a pulp. “There’s only about a minute left.”

  “Is there a timer?” she asked.

  “No. But I can tell the guy won’t last much longer.”

  She watched for another thirty seconds, and when Liam got the last hit, she turned back to me. “You called it.”

  “I’ve been to a lot of these.” Half the men cheered, and the other half shouted with frustration. Some men made a lot of money that night, and some lost a lot. But all the chaos didn’t distract me from the woman beside me, the angel in this hell. I felt the same way I did when I had too much to drink, like I couldn’t do anything but stare at the fire…and she was the flame.

  “Do you bet?”

  “Always.”

  “And did you bet on Liam?”

  “I wouldn’t bet against my client.”

  “Even though you don’t like him.”

  I liked him less with every passing moment. “Personally. Not professionally.”

  Now she stared at me the same way I stared at her, as if she couldn’t stop.

  Did she have any idea how beautiful she looked tonight? That if I walked away, every man would be on her? That they wouldn’t care about that enormous diamond ring on her left hand?

  She finally looked at Liam as he stepped out of the ring. He had blood dripping down his nose, but he looked otherwise unharmed. He moved through the crowd and headed to her like he knew where she was.

  He may be a strong fighter, but he wasn’t very observant. The man right beside her was thinking about the night we’d shared a pizza on the couch then made love all night. Flashbacks of her small tits, her sweaty body, her succulent lips came rushing back…beautiful.

  He wiped his face with a towel. “Told you I would be fine, baby.”

  “You’re covered in blood.”

  He gave a slight smile. “I like to bleed a little bit.” He leaned in and kissed her.

  I looked away.

  “I’m gonna shower and get ready in my room. Then we’ll go.”

  “Alright.” She watched him walk away without following him.

  He didn’t question me beside her. “You want me to take you back?” She could have left with him now if she wanted to be with him, but it seemed like she preferred to stay behind.

  “I’d rather see him after he’s cleaned up. I don’t like seeing him like that.”

  That had been the last fight of the night, so the men started to file out and head back to the casino. Hades returned to us. “He fought well. Congratulations.” He said the words to Annabella even though she was anything but proud.

  “Yes, he did,” she said in agreement.

  Hades turned to me. “He’s been out of the ring for a while. That was a strong return.”

  That meant more money for us because we took a cut of his profits to launder. Liam couldn’t take so much cash and spend it all. “Yeah.”

  Hades was in a black t-shirt and jeans, his wedding ring the only piece of jewelry he wore. “I’m gonna head home. Want a ride, or are you going to hit up the casino?”

  If I went home, I would just be alone. I’d rather be surrounded by booze, money, and women than be by myself—even though Annabella had given me more comfort during this fight than I’d had in months. “I’m gonna stick around.”

  Annabella addressed him. “I’m glad Andrew is alright. Sofia told me about that peanut allergy.”

  “Thank you,” Hades said. “He’s a strong boy, so he recovered quickly.”

  “Still…no peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for life.” She shook her head. “That’s a rough fate.”

  He chuckled. “If he’s anything like his father, he won’t eat them anyway.” He turned around and walked away.

  Annabella turned to me. “I’m glad you guys are friends again.”

  “Me too.”

  “You’re so much alike.”

  I shook my head. “No, we aren’t. He’s the smart, pragmatic one. I’m the irrational and emotional one.”

  She stared at me with a slightly incredulous look. “By emotional, you mean passionate. And by irrational, you mean spontaneous. You’re one of the smartest men I’ve ever met. Don’t ever think otherwise, Damien.”

  All I could do was stare at her because I didn’t know what else to say. I was used to being showered with insults by the people who knew me best, but Annabella had nothing but good things to say about me, had always accepted me for who I was. If the circumstances were different, I would lean in and kiss her.

  But the circumstances weren’t different. She was married. And even if she weren’t, she couldn’t be mine anyway. “I’ll walk you to his room.” I left the chair and stood off to the side, taking my gaze off her so I could shut down all those feelings, bottle all those desires.

  She rose to her feet, an hourglass figure in that cocktail dress. “Most of the crowd is gone…I can make it on my own.” She spun away without giving me a chance to say goodbye. She seemed to want to get away from me as quickly as I wanted to get away from her.

  Instead of walking away myself, I turned my gaze and watched her.

  Watched her walk all the way across the room and disappear into the hallway.

  And only then did I walk away.

  3

  Annabella

  I grabbed an ice pack from the freezer and walked to where Liam sat at the bar, his empty plate in front of him where his dinner had been moments ago. I placed the ice pack on his temple next to his eye, where the swelling was the most prominent.

  He didn’t protest. “Baby, I’m fine.”

  I continued to apply it to the bruised area, the discoloration making me sick.

  “And let’s not forget how the other guy looked.”

  I never checked. “Liam.” I moved the ice pack a few more places before I lowered the bag.

  He sighed because he recognized my tone.

  “We’re together now. Isn’t that what you wanted?”

  “Of course.” He grabbed the bag out of my hand and tossed it on the counter. “More than anything.”

  “Then why don’t you enjoy it? Let’s travel. Let’s start a family. Let’s not spend our time with you in the ring.”

  “Baby—”

  “It’s not like you need the money.” Damien’s argument came back to me, the only man who seemed to understand how I felt, who knew watching my husband risk his body and life was terrifying.

  “I’m thirty, Anna. I ca
n’t do this much longer…”

  “Then retire now.”

  “I’m not the kind of man to sit around the house and do nothing all day.”

  “You won’t be doing nothing. You’ll be with me…and your family.” Why wasn’t that enough?

  He turned away and sighed. “It’s just a few more years, alright?”

  “But you could get really hurt—”

  “I won’t.”

  “Then why wouldn’t you stop now? It’ll happen after you get seriously injured anyway. That’s the only way you’ll consider yourself to be too old.”

  “Nothing I can’t handle.”

  I grew frustrated and stepped away.

  “Baby.”

  I crossed my arms over my chest and kept my back to him.

  “Baby.” He got out of the chair and came up behind me, his arms moving around my waist. “I want to earn more money before I can’t anymore.”

  “We have plenty of money.”

  “Not to maintain this lifestyle.”

  I turned around. “Then we’ll downgrade. I don’t need a mansion or a nice car.”

  His eyes softened slightly, as if he appreciated the fact that I cared more about his health than his bank account. “It’s just a few more years. Please give that to me.”

  I dropped my gaze.

  “Baby. Look at me.”

  I refused.

  He placed his fingers under my chin and lifted my gaze. “I have my wife back. And I have my fighting. My life is perfect right now, and it’s the first time I’ve been happy since you walked out. Let me have that a little longer. Please.”

  “Why is it so important to you?” My weak voice came out as a whisper.

  “I can’t explain it.” He shook his head. “It makes me feel alive.”

  “And I don’t?”

  “Yes…but in a different way.”

  I couldn’t sleep.

  I sat up in bed, with Liam dead asleep beside me, snoring lightly because he was exhausted after his fight. My back was against the propped pillows, and I looked out the frosted windows, seeing the devastating effects of this freezing winter. It was ice-cold.