Willa hooks her arm into mine. Before we can get to the door, it’s opening for us, once again revealing a man in all black. Must be a uniform or something. He nods to Willa and me, not saying a word.
“Hey, Peter.” Willa doesn’t shy from talking to him.
“Mrs. King,” he greets back as we pass.
“I just really like hearing them say Mrs. King,” Willa whispers next to my ear.
I notice when we pass the men who are clearly security, they are all focused on us.
“It’s okay. They are only watching over us. They're under orders.”
“Are you all worried something is going to happen?” I probably should be too, but all I can focus on is seeing Rich.
“You can never be too safe. I mean, this isn’t legal, after all.”
Right. I think I often forget about laws. My father served as judge, jury and the executioner. His laws were the only ones that mattered in my world.
Willa checks her phone. "Oh, Vasily said Rich is up next. We should hurry." I have no choice but to walk faster with her, as our arms are still looped together. It's probably a good thing because I would have slowed down when I heard the chatter of the number of people and saw the crowd. Being around so many people at once is unfamiliar to me. Once again, I feel overwhelmed.
"There are a lot of people here," I say.
"Yeah, my brother is super popular."
Her point is only proven when a man steps into the center of the ring and announces the next fight. The crowd goes wild when they say Rich's name. I glance around at all the people trying to take this in.
Then my eyes land right on her. It's the same girl I saw in that ridiculous video. She has her arms wrapped around a man. A man I know all too well.
The man that should be my husband…and he’s staring right back at me.
ChapterFourteen
RICH
“Hey, you’re up.” Anton, King’s right-hand man, tells me, but I ignore him. My attention is focused on my phone. As it has been for the last few minutes.
Why the hell is this shit not working? I can't access the security cameras at home. I had it pulled up, and it was working before I left home and have checked it a few times since I got to the warehouse, and now it’s not working.
Anxiety creeps in that someone has come for Fallon. I push it aside, knowing there is no way in hell that my uncle West would allow anyone to get near the estate. He has the highest level of security on that place.
“Where is King?”
“I’ll find him for you.” Anton motions for me to go, but I don’t move. “After the fight.”
“No, now.” West hasn’t responded to my texts.
"The sooner you get this over with, the sooner you can leave." Normally I get pumped for a fight. I’m not feeling it tonight. My head isn’t in it. I never should have left the house to begin with.
What if the girls say something that upsets Fallon? I know she won’t tell them. They could put on a scary movie and freak her out. I run my hand down my face because I know my thoughts are insane, but I can’t stop them.
"I could leave right now." I'm already itching to do that.
"Fucking hell," Anton mutters, pulling out his phone. I shouldn't be a dick to Anton. He’s a good one and even helps me train. "King said he'll meet you at the curtain." The curtain is where you come in from when you're announced.
"Fine," I agree, pulling off my shirt and tossing it away before I head that way. I still can't shake the thought that something is off.
Why is no one fucking responding to my messages? The girls could be hanging out and not paying attention to their phones. But King is seeing his messages because he responded to Anton.
My anger and irritation start to grow. I often welcome it. It is my natural state most of the time. Until recently. All that anger I hold inside of me, the rage I have toward my father is not simmering so close to the surface anymore. Fallon has become my sole focus.