Page 35 of Ignite
“So?” I asked, raising aneyebrow.
“Saturday,” he replied. “Fourth fight of thenight.”
I grunted, not able to formulate a response. Four days left to prepare for a bloodbath. It wasn’t great odds, but I couldn’t cry foul. This mess was mostly my fault, and now I just had to deal withit.
My thoughts went back to Ali. Thank fuck she wouldn’t be there to see it. I would have to talk to Faye and ask if she would help keep her away. Last thing I needed—or her for that matter—was for her to show up out of the blue and be confronted with the true nature of TheUnderground.
“Thanks,” I muttered, my mindelsewhere.
“Is your head in this?” Rebel asked. “Because if itisn’t…”
Glaring at him, I nodded sharply. “It will be when itcounts.”
“I’ll be here for you, mate.” He stood, glancing at me one more time. “You let me know if youneed—”
“Thanks,” I interrupted, not wanting to hear what his offer of helpentailed.
He nodded and left me alone to think about my fate, which was looking pretty grim. If I couldn’t hold my own,then…
Faye was right. She’d always been right. I was an idiot. Rubbing my eyes, I rose to my feet and went out into the warehouse. I couldn’t go into that fight knowing Ali was pissed at me. I had to fixit.
Heading straight for the bar, I spied Faye slinging her bag over her shoulder. She was going home by the looks of it, and I’d just caughther.
“Hey, Faye,” I calledout.
She glanced up and immediately curled her lip, her eyes narrowing in warning. I’d done something to piss her off, but I had absolutely no bloody idea what it was. My head was so screwed up lately it could be anything. Not that it mattered since I would usually be oblivious,anyway.
“Leave me alone,” she said, turningaway.
Sidestepping, I cut her off. “What the fuck is wrong withyou?”
“I had a fight with Ali,” she replied, glaring atme.
My heart twisted. “About?”
“You, you asshole. Now leave mealone.”
“No,” I said in a deep and growling voice. “Wait.”
“What’s the point, Liam?” She sighed heavily. “You were sending mixed messages to her for weeks. I warned you, and now I’ve lost a friend. A pretty cool one, if you ask me. She wanted to hang around with me because she liked me for me, you know? I wasn’t a stepping stone to her. Cock always fucks itup.”
“What are you talkingabout?”
“Don’t play dumb with me,” she snapped. “You slept with her, Liam! You can’t tell me you didn’t know she was into you. I wouldn’t believe it. Then you turned around and kept things going with me. You’re a pig! You’ve gone too far thistime.”
“I was clear with her and you,” I said. “I never would’ve touched her if she didn’t say yes. You know that.” It was an excuse and a lame one atthat.
“Yeah, she agreed, and now she’s suffering because of it. And you…” She shook her head, looking angrier than I’d ever seen her. Honestly, I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen her pissed at anyone before. It wasterrifying.
“Me?” I asked, raising myeyebrows.
“You either need to fix it with her or leave her alone. For good. You can’t have it bothways.”
“Faye…”
“And I’m done with you,” she spat. “Get a grip, Liam. Otherwise, you’re going to end up alone and in agutter.”
I grimaced, her words slicing into my gut. She didn’t know how literal thatwas.
