Page 13 of Devil's Game

“What do you mean?” My brow furrowed, and I glanced between them, clearly missing something.

“Spade doesn’t fight like most fighters at the club do,” Kellan explained, his hand stilling on my back. “He lets his opponent beat him bloody before he finally starts to fight back.”

“I love to see them feel like they’re unstoppable, like they’re moments from their win, and how just a few blows from me can quickly wipe the triumph off their faces.” Spade grinned, a lethal gleam glinting in his violet eyes.

“Yeah, and no, there’s barely anyone left who will fight with you.” Merrick huffed in exasperation.

“It’s not my fault their egos are bruised by the end of the fight.” Spade shrugged, and I narrowed my gaze on him, knowing there was something else to it.

“Or have you thought that, maybe, it’s because they don’t want to risk hospitalization the next time around?” Merrick’s sarcastic reply drew my gaze back to Spade, and I studied him, needing to know the reason he continued to fight like that. The others might think it was just his sadistic streak fueling his motives, but judging by the way Spade looked out the window now, refusing to meet my gaze, I knew there was something more to it.

Instead of forcing him to divulge his secrets, I decided to offer up one of my own. “I went to a few fights in New York.” I knew their attention was focused on me as I looked out the window myself, unable to meet any of their gazes just yet. “I usually tried not to go, knowing it would bring up memories of you, but there were times he insisted, made me accompany him as his arm candy.”

Though I could feel the rage rippling off my men, they hung on my every word, not wanting to interrupt me. I wasn’t sure if they were scared of their own responses if they did or worriedI would shut down if they spoke now. But I was done letting Tommaso hang over us like this. I wouldn’t let him control my life anymore, and that included my memories. I couldn’t deny those six years happened any longer. They were a part of me, and they made me into the person I was now.

“It wasn’t the same as here, of course. There were so many people pulling the strings there, you could tell that it was all for show, that the bosses and dealers owned the fighters, and they’d fall when they were told. It was a place solely for those in the underbelly of the city to go and discuss business, but sometimes, they let the crowds in, usually as a way to line their pocketbooks with their bets.”

I frowned as I recalled the next part. I might delight in the violence, but there was a difference when it was against those who are innocent. “One of those nights, as I left for the bathroom, I ran into my kickboxing instructor in the hall. I hadn’t thought Tommaso saw it, but the next day, he showed up outside of my class, and his men beat my instructor with a tire iron.”

I’d already told Merrick and Kellan this story, but this was the first time I’d admitted it to Spade. “So, it kind of feels full circle to come back to a fight club now, especially this one. Because that was when I realized that I had to get out. Otherwise, I’d either end up a shell of myself or dead.”

My jaw clenched as I chanced a look at them. I wasn’t sure what I’d find, rage or pity, but I found neither in their eyes. Merrick’s dark hazel ones were filled with an icy determination, while Kellan’s were filled with concern and a resolute fire. But Spade’s were brimming with understanding, reminding me that he probably knew what I went through the most out of them all. He’d escaped his parents, escaped their control and abuse, just as I had with Tommaso.

My chest warmed at the mix of emotions, and I gave them an appreciative nod. They knew exactly what I needed—the freedom to pull on the tethers of these memories on my own. I was just grateful to have their ears whenever I needed.

I sucked in a breath as we turned the corner and pulled up to the warehouse. The outside hadn’t changed much, maintaining its abandoned outward appearance, but there were some upgrades. They’d placed permanent spotlights along the parking lot, along with a chain-link fence with barbed wire at the top. As we approached a gate, it rolled open. The guard in the small outpost had clearly been expecting us.

“Sophia is fine,” Kellan reminded me, rubbing his large palm over my back again in a soothing gesture. I couldn’t help but grin as some of my nervous energy ebbed at his comforting touch. I might enjoy violence and bloodshed, but that didn’t mean a girl didn’t like to be comforted by her men too. Give me some good cuddles, and maybe even play with my hair, and I’d be putty in their hands.

“Thanks.” I leaned over and placed a chaste kiss on his lips, loving the way he groaned, leaning forward like he itched to deepen it, but he was holding himself back.

“I can see his self-control crumbling right before my eyes.” Spade chuckled darkly, and I knew he meant the same of his own. Reluctantly, I pulled away and gave them a wistful sigh.

“Let’s get going.” Kellan gave me a tight smile and reached for the door, and my heart fluttered at the knowledge that all three of my men were just as crazy for me as I was for them.

The interior of the fight club had changed a lot over the last six years. While the ring had been against the back wall before, it was now off to the right, the wall that had separated the large former warehouse now removed to give the club over double the space it used to have. The seats surrounding the ring were permanently bolted into the ground and then subtly sloped up,with stairs ascending on either side. It looked like a legit venue now, where people from all over would flock to for a night of violence and debauchery. On the left side were a few bars and a DJ booth, reminiscent of a nightclub.

The entrance to the back rooms was still where I remembered it, and that’s where we were headed now. A red carpet ran from the back to the stage, and I idly wondered if it was meant to add more class or to hide the blood dripping off the fighters by the end of the match. “This place has changed.”

“Yeah, Sebastian’s done a lot of work in the last few years.” Kellan wrapped an arm around my waist while Spade and Merrick took the lead. “The club has gotten huge, and thankfully, because it’s on the outside of town, the Barones leave them alone, for the most part, especially since the Demon Riders are known to frequent it.”

I nodded in understanding. Now that the Barones knew the Demon Riders were a front for the Devil’s Demons, they’d try to claim whatever territory or businesses they could, unless we stopped them.

I took in every inch of the hallway, having imagined it so many times when the guys would fight here. Seeing the floors were a wooden laminate, with matching open storage on one side and a leather couch on the other, I was sure it was in a lot better shape now than it had been then. I couldn’t picture the old place having as nice of locker rooms as stood on either side of the hall now.

My mind wandered to what, exactly, we could get up to on that couch after one of their fights, but I quickly swallowed and refocused on the rooms lining the hall. There were a few offices, their doors closed and the interiors hidden by frosted glass. The soft glow of lights spilled out into the hallway from the farthest door, the barest hint of lowered voices audible now.

I picked up my pace and nearly ran into Spade’s and Merrick’s backs as they came to a halt.

I placed a hand on each of their backs, barely stopping myself before my head smacked off their hard muscles. Kellan’s arm wrapped around my waist at the same time, helping to keep me steady.

“Giana,” Sophia called, and I tried to glance around my men, to no avail.

“Can you move?” I sighed and slid my hands between them, attempting to pry their shoulders apart without success.

A growl reverberated from Merrick’s chest before he and Spade reluctantly parted. But, before I could take more than a step in front of them, Sophia came barreling toward me, her long red hair spilling out around her shoulders as she wrapped me up in a tight embrace.

I could feel the tension radiating off my guys, like they thought my best friend, who couldn’t be taller than five-foot-two, was about to attack me.

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