Page 102 of With Us

“That’s okay.” She stood as I dropped some bills on the table. “I’ve been wanting to watch one of the new movies anyway.”

I drove us back to my place, Dahlia talking a mile a minute as we went. After walking her in and kissing her goodbye, she cutely ran upstairs to change for her and Gus’ movie night. I grabbed some things from my office safe and hung around until Ben got there a couple minutes later.

“I’ll be back,” I said to him, fighting the urge to slam the door behind me.

The farther I drove into the city, the more pissed I became that I was, yet again, being dragged away from her. When I reached the abandoned building, I parked in the shadows. After pulling on my shoulder holster, I put my suitcoat back on and buttoned it. I jogged up to the door and gave in to my urge, yanking it open.

Security went alert, their hands going to their holstered guns, but they relaxed when they saw it was me.

Well, as relaxed as anyone was around me.

I followed the maze of halls, leading to the only open stairwell. Jogging down the steps, the temperature and the noise level grew the closer I got to the basement.

Bursting through the door again, the sounds and smells of a fight surrounded me. Each thud of skin against skin was met with rabid applause and screams for more. The smell of sweat and coppery blood mixed with the dank dustiness of the usually vacant building.

“Boss!” Sammy shouted over the jeering crowd.

“What’s going on?” I scanned the room. “Where’s Luca?”

“Now wedohave a problem with Astaire. Mr. Ricci is dealing with it.”

“Cazzo.” Shoving my way through the crowd, I nodded my head at security as I entered a long hallway. I pushed open the makeshift locker room to see Luc, Niall, and Astaire in a deep and heated conversation.

Astaire looked up and saw me, having the good sense to look embarrassed. “Man, I told them it wasn’t a big deal. Just a stupid thought.”

I had no fucking clue what he was talking about, but I wasn’t about to tell him that. “Still a thought you had. Which means it’s something I need to know about. Now I want to hear it from you. Where’s your head at?”

“This man, he came in here telling me I could make more at these other fights. He said I could go more often. Every day, if I wanted. Then he flashes me bank, says my signing bonus would be even more. My ma works her ass off taking care of my little brother and sister. I help, but it isn’t enough.”

I fought to keep my temper. At only nineteen, Astaire was just a kid, and new to the circuit. He had a gift, his fancy footwork giving him an edge and a nickname.

“You know why you only fight once a month?” I asked. “It’s because your body needs time to heal. You fight every day, you’ll get ripped apart within a couple months and that’ll be it. Then how’re you supposed to help your mom?”

He mumbled something, looking down.

“You need more money, you talk to Sammy about it. If he thinks you’re earning it, he’ll make it happen. But don’t believe bullshit lies some jerkoff is spouting.”

“That’s why I said, it was just a thought. I get offers like that all the time, but this guy’s that famous one. His face is all over those lawn signs about the election.”

“Larson?” Luc asked.

Astaire nodded, holding his finger up. “Yeah, that guy.”

I met Luc’s gaze, my patience with Senator Ethan Larson coming to an end.

Between his title and his filthy rich upbringing, Larson thought he could buy and sell the world. I’d become an obsession of his since I wouldn’t let him buy into my businesses, legal or otherwise.

It was past time for him to move on to a new hobby.

“Where’s Frankie?” I asked Astaire, referring to his manager. The man who was supposed to cut off anyone trying to encroach.

Astaire shrugged. “No clue.”

“Alright, kid, you’re up soon so we’ll let you get ready.” I opened the door, Niall and Luc following me out. Taking a few steps, we passed another door. When I heard a small noise, I took a big step back and threw it open.

Frankie was up against a built-in rack, some blonde girl on her knees in front of him.

“Fucking fuck!” I yelled, wishing I had some bleach to throw in my eyes. Looking up, I shook my head. “There a reason you’re not in there with your fighter, Frankie?”

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