Page 202 of Between Secrets and Obsession
“I love you, too.” She throws me a wink before climbing out. “Thanks for lunch, Hulk. It was delicious.” Before shutting the door, she adds, “The food wasn’t bad either.”
Shaking my head, I laugh. “Anytime, baby. See you in a few hours.” I watch Maddie until she’s completely out of sight. It almost feels like we’re back to that point in time when she was a virgin, and I was denying her at every corner, but now I’m fully denying myself too.
When I walk inside the house, Tyler is laid out on the couch watching TV. He sits up and grins as if he knows how much pain I’m in. I plop down on the opposite end and see he’s watching some movie with mobsters, and I nearly groan. The ones I’ve met do act like these idiots.
“How are you feeling about this morning?” he finally asks, sitting up.
“Good, actually. My body is sore, but I think it’s been in a perpetual state of that for the past week. It was different fighting someone I didn’t know. There was a point where I was uber focused and had so much adrenaline rushing through me that I was worried I’d lose control on him.”
“That’s great. Just think about where you’ll be in two weeks. I think you have a good chance, Liam. If you didn’t, I’d tell you so we could find an alternative.”
Too bad there isn’t an alternative. Not when JJ’s put my girlfriend as his personal target if I don’t cooperate.
“Did you ever find out anything about who I was fighting?” I ask.
“I’ve heard a few things but haven’t gotten a name yet to research him. The guy is known for breaking necks, and has gone undefeated the last three fights he’s been in. Killed two guys and one was put in the hospital. Lived but barely. He fightsdirty, but apparently his goal is to get you on the ground. As long as you can stay standing and try to knock him out, you’ll be okay.”
I stare at Tyler. Blinking, I clear my throat, wondering how he can talk so casually about this. “He’s killed two people?”
He nods, and I wipe my sweaty palms on my jeans. The reality of all of this suddenly hits me hard. Whoever this guy is has tons of experience, and I’m coming in as a rookie. What the fuck am I gonna do?
“Listen.” Tyler speaks up when I’m unable to say anything. “I’ve heard you’re the same size as this guy. You have the same strength, and you’re levelheaded other than the anger you harbor. You’ll be more than ready, and you know what to avoid, giving you the upper hand. They know nothing about you, or the way you fight, or anything. This is a good thing.”
Unless that means he’ll be prepared for anything…
“You’re right,” I tell him, yawning, though I’m not sure I believe my own words. “Think I’m gonna take a nap till Maddie gets home.”
“Good idea because tomorrow morning is gonna be intense,” he says with a chuckle. “Even more than today.”
“Of course it is,” I deadpan, shaking my head.
Once I’m in Maddie’s bed, I seem to instantly fall asleep. Hours later, I’m being woken to the sound of Maddie laughing in the living room. I get up and walk in to hear her giving Tyler shit.
“Speaking of the devil,” she teases. “Sleep well?”
I stretch and suck in a deep breath. “Yep, but I would've slept better with you beside me.”
Tyler stands, goes to the kitchen, then returns with a beer before settling down on the couch.
“I’m gonna make some tea. Want some?” she asks me, dropping her backpack on the ground.
“Nah,” I tell her and take a seat in the recliner. “But I’ll take some water, please.”
“What time do you fly out again?” Tyler asks.
“Sunday at ten a.m. Dice wants me to meet him as soon as I land. So that’s gonna be fun,” I say dryly. “Hey, when I’m gone, you’re gonna stay here and keep an eye on Maddie, right? I don’t trust JJ not to pull some shit before the fight.”
As if she was summoned, she returns with my bottle of water. “I didn’t need a bodyguard before, and I won’t need one again.”
“But you have to admit, Mads, I’m damn good at it.” Tyler smirks.
Maddie narrows her eyes. “Honestly, I barely noticed you were there.”
“Damn! You got burned,” I tease.
Tyler scoffs. “I would’ve killed for you, Maddie. Just know that.”
I don’t doubt him for a second, especially after everything he’s risked. Tyler would do anything for us.
