Interesting. “Really? What makes you think that?”
“I don’t have any proof, but a couple of days before the fight I spotted a new gold watch on his wrist. At first, I just chalked it up to him getting an advance based on the odds released before the fight. Now, after all that’s happened, I don’t know.”
He shrugged again and his eyes took on a far-off look that said he wasn’t finished. “I know what went down, Kat. I wouldn’t have agreed to it, but I know how these things work sometimes.”
I nodded, acknowledging his words. “I know, Em, but I didn’t want to put you in that position.”
“And the others?” I knew what he was asking. I could feel Terry’s gaze on us from across the gym, so I shook my head.
“Just Rob. If you see him or if he reaches out, tell him he needs to talk to Jasper, will you?”
“Sure will. Believe me.”
I laughed at the hint of vengeance in his tone. “I do. But now we need to talk to a few fighters.” Emmett groaned and I laughed. “Since I’m already here, it’ll be easier to get them all scheduled for press and photo ops at once. We don’t want the public forgetting about our fight card.”
He nodded reluctantly and thirty minutes later, we had interviews, signings, and youth outreach scheduled for our champs. “It’s all on the books,” Emmett told them all, “but put them in your personal schedules, because I’ll only remind you the day before. Back to work.”
The fighters dispersed and I turned back to Emmett with a smile. “As soon as your face isn’t green and yellow, we’ll get you back out there too.”
He nodded and let out a loud laugh. “Never thought I’d be so damn happy to be all busted up and ugly.”
“Hey, I’ll bet you get tons of women if you did some press like this,” I motioned to his face with a laugh. “In fact, if that’s what you want—”
“I’m good, Kat. Thanks.”
“Suit yourself,” I told him with a shrug. “And thanks, Em.”
“My pleasure, Kat.” His smile changed a little, and I felt my stomach tighten in anticipation. “So, you and Terry, huh?”
I froze, wondering if Terry had said something, a thought that pushed a bitter laugh from deep in my gut. Of course, he didn’t say anything, he’s too worried about Jasper finding out.
“Nope. Not at all.”
“Not even a little bit?” He smiled and held up his thumb and forefinger a few centimeters apart.
“If you must know, it’s just sex. For now.” When Emmett’s shoulders fell in disappointment, I felt an even greater fondness for him.
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Me too, but it is what it is. I’ll see you around, Em.”
I couldn’t think of the confusion that was me and Terry, not now. Not with him so close and my feelings so raw. I kept my head held high and signaled Terry we were leaving. We marched through House of Ashby until we were outside and the feeling of being watched intensified.
“What’s the hurry?” Terry’s long legs caught up to me quickly. “Can’t stand the stench of gym sweat?”
I glared at him and shook my head. “No, I feel like someone is watching me.”
Terry smiled. “You’re a beautiful woman. People are always watching you. Don’t tell me this is the first time you’ve noticed?”
The honesty mixed with amusement in his voice made my heart skip a beat, because that was how far gone I was over this man. Even backhanded compliments made me feel good, and I blushed like a schoolgirl.
I shook my head, refusing to respond to his unintended compliment. Terry was trying to be a peacekeeper, to keep me from getting upset about our lack of a future without decimating my confidence. I appreciated it and loved him even more for it, but I couldn’t let it matter.
“Emmett thinks Ravager came into some cash right before the fight.” I texted Cal and Jasper the information to see if anything came of it.
“You think someone else paid him to win the fight?”
“Possibly.”
That narrowed the list considerably if that was the case. There were only a few people who knew enough to know the damage his win would do to the Ashby family.
“It’s getting late. Feel like having dinner with me in Mayhem, Kitty Kat?”
I should have told him to shove his invitation up his gorgeous ass. I should have just said no, but the smile that spread across my face at his question was unstoppable, as was the rapid beat of my heart. I was too gone, too in love to say no. I’d grab any chance I had to spend time with him.
“I’d love to.”
It was probably the closest I’d ever get to saying those words to him.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Terry
“Any progress on Madison’s sister?” Jasper and I shared a back booth at Midnight Mass, catching up since I’d been spending most of my time with another Ashby. Kat. Dinner in Mayhem had been more romantic than I’d intended, but the Japanese steakhouse had offered up a private terrace for a starlight meal and a little too much Japanese whisky.
“Well?”
I blinked away the memories of that whisky and the tangled hotel sheets, the thick brown hair draped across my chest. The slow, sensual goodbye later that morning.
“Nothing good. She’s alive but not willing to give us any details or provide her sister with any peace. Kat and I are both pretty sure the old dude called Miller is actually Mueller.”
“Fuck. It was too much to hope that it was all some big fucking coincidence, I suppose.”
Lines of strain showed around his eyes and mouth, the uncharacteristic way he raked his hands through his hair. “You think he’ll come after Madison?”
I nodded and took another pull of my beer.
“If I were him, I wouldn’t let it go. She might not be able to name him, but she’s seen
