I keep my fighting face on though, it’s not a good way to introduce yourself to me by looking at my woman.
“Well?” I ask Jake, who’s waited in silence while we all got introduced.
“It’s fixed for tonight… Marconi, as luck would have it, fell for our plan of having a huge Russian to fight you.”
I grunt with irony. “Who is it?” I ask.
“You just met them,” Jake says, and I can feel the sly grin on his face through the phone.
I cock my brow, “Both of them?” I ask hoarsely, cricking my neck. Priming my body for a painful experience.
For them.
“They’re going in with the money too, you see Dillon… and this is where it gets technical,” he says lowering his voice.
“The Russians are going to bet all that cash with Marconi…”
“Bet on themselves?” I ask, not really surprised.
“Yeah, but here’s the kicker. Marconi is going to bet on you tonight. After what you pulled last night, he’s not trusting you to do as you’re told ever again. This is your last fight… if you know what I mean.”
I do. It stands to reason. Marconi will use me for one last match, bleed his punters once more and then have two Russian to play with.
“But…?” I ask calmly, knowing there’s got to be a silver lining.
“But, it won’t matter who bets on what, Dillon. I need you to trust me on that. Just go there and have your fight, go down to the Russians and-”
“Wait! What?” I ask, sounding alarmed, and both the Russians turn to me, smiling crooked smiles, showing their teeth as they both block the sun starting to stream onto the wide porch.
“…Just do it, Dillon. You’ll see. And when the smoke clears, you’ll have all your money and more. But you’ll have to leave town after tonight. For good.”
I nod slowly. I kind of figured that, regardless of the outcome.
My own plan was to bet against myself but I hadn’t counted on the men I planned to use for help to be my opponents.
My head hurts already, but I remind myself, I feel the twitch in my heart reminding me what all this is about.
Who all this is really for.
And she’s worth every minute, every bruise and every drop of blood.
My Roxy.
Forever.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Roxy
I only go inside for Dillon’s sake. If it was anybody else telling me, I’d tell them to go to hell. But Dillon has a plan and I have to go along with it for now, even if it means biting my tongue a little.
Those Russian guys are huge, but nothing like Dillon. They’re not handsome and they seem to come to heel once Dillon gives one of his growls to warn them off, even though the guy hardly looked at me.
I wonder if this is going to be a huge problem in our life. Dillon growling at people for glancing at me or staring into space just where I happen to be…
Yep. I think it probably will be. But it’s why I love him so much, he won’t let anyone so much as look at me. His queen and he’s my king.
He’s not out there for long and despite me wanting to listen at the door, I go back to the kitchen and hear Dillon come back inside not long after. Alone.
He seems to know wherever I am in the house and comes straight to me, and I cling to him like never before, suddenly feeling the gravity of what’s happening.
Our night and day together have been so quick, it felt like nothing could touch us, but I knew deep down I’d have to face up to things eventually.
“Who are they?” I ask him, needing to know much more than he’s told me so far now.
“Russians,” he says flatly, holding my hips as he leans back to look me in the eyes.
“There’s something bigger than us going down tonight, Roxy. Bigger than you owing Marconi and much bigger than me throwing a rigged fight.”
I hear myself swallowing hard.
“Tell me you’re not going to fight…” I hear myself say, knowing it could never be true.
“I have to. I will, and you’re staying right here,” he says. But I’m shaking my head in the negative.
“No! Dillon. I’m going with you. I have to come with y-” I start to protest as I hear my moans and whimpers silenced by his deep kiss, pressing me hard into his body.
“I figured as much,” he growls in a low tone, a slight smile playing on his lips as he presses a thick envelope into my hand.
“This is what you owe Marconi, and more. It’s your ticket into the fight, too.” He says furrowing his brow and I can tell he’d rather I wasn’t there, but couldn’t live with himself either if I wasn’t in plain sight.
“My ticket?” I ask, feeling extra blond.
“You’ll tell the guy at the door it’s double or nothing, they’ll let you in. Marconi will have to be consulted, but he’ll fall for it. He’s greedy and won’t be able to miss the opportunity of having even more over you and your dad.”
“But, what if-?” I start to ask, trying to give voice to the thousand questions I have but his lips are on mine again, silencing my mouth and my mind while stoking the fire in my heart and reigniting the passion for his body again.
“Just do as I say, Roxy… Go there like you did last night. Give this to Marconi, his men most likely and then just wait nearest any unlocked doorway that you can.
“What’s gonna happen?” I ask, my anxiety starting to get the better of me.
“I really can’t say, Roxy… Even the Russians are tight lipped about some of the details, but either way, I’m promised all our money back plus more.”
I feel my eyes rolling, wondering if we’re not just changing brand of thugs to
