“You’re not even listening to me.”
“I am, D. But I have to do this.”
“You can’t do it alone. We need time.”
“There is none. They’re fighting her tonight—in about two hours. I’m in. I’ll call you as soon as I get her out.”
“And then what?”
“And then I’m going to need a safe place to hide for a while. With room service.”
Chapter Four
“Benji, come on in,” Mark told him. “How’s our fighter?”
“Which one?” Benji asked, knowing that question could be enough to get him slammed—again.
Mark’s fist tightened on the desk in front of him but all he did was smile. “You knew this was the only way. Think of this as a side project. We kill two birds with one stone and you and I get to split the million riding on your fight.”
Benji was planning on keeping his mouth shut, but Mark needed him, so he went for it. “We promised we weren’t going to do that again. It was too much trouble the last time. I didn’t sign on to this job to force people to fight—there are more than enough willing to do so.”
Mark eyed him and then pulled out his gun, made a show of taking the safety off. “You’re questioning me now? After you fucked up and let them get to you?”
“Ah, come on, that wasn’t my fault. How was I supposed to know there was an undercover cop in the crowd that night?”
“It’s all arranged for the marshal to take the fall. She’s going to look like she was in on it. Marco and Sal already disappeared. After the fight, they won’t find you. We’re all set to go about our business as usual.”
“I still don’t think we should have her fight.”
“I don’t pay you to think.”
* * *
The SWAT team descended minutes after Reid left, broke down Jack’s door while he sat calmly at the table, facing them. His hands were in full view and he blinked at them for a second before they all started screaming that he needed to surrender.
Apparently to them, that meant belly down on the floor. He did so and they yanked his arms behind his back, cuffed his wrists so tightly together his fingers went numb. It wasn’t the first time he’d been in this position, but he’d always thought that after the last time, it wouldn’t happen again. He was on the right side of the law now.
Apparently, no one here believed that. “What are the charges?” he asked casually, his cheek against the hardwood floor. He really needed to dust under the stove more often.
“Shut up” was the answer he was given. Not a very satisfying one either. He was just thankful he’d gotten Reid out of here in time before everything hit the fan.
“Where’s the guy who was here with you?” one of the officers demanded of Jack as he heard the rest of the team tearing through his apartment.
“I’ve been alone.”
“Bullshit. We had heat sensors trained on the building. We watched you two through the walls.”
“Maybe you saw my shadow?”
That earned him a slam across his cheek. “You’re already fucked, Jack. Might as well come clean.”
But Jack wasn’t saying a word. Would call for a lawyer as soon as he thought someone would listen. And finally, after wrecking every square inch of his place, they dragged him up roughly and shoved him into the back of the truck.
At least they’d covered his head with one of their jackets so the press couldn’t get his picture. They kept it on him for the ride and he just kept telling himself that he’d been through worse.
Because he had. Would the people who had access to that information, to that part of his life, be doing the investigation?
He supposed he’d find out soon enough.
* * *
Two hours later, after eating some of the best homemade Tex-Mex he’d ever had, Reid headed back to the abandoned building. It looked like a different street now, with cars lining it—nice cars too—and a line of people, not all of whom looked like fighters.
Big bouncer types strolled along the line, pulling out people who had cards. Reid was taken to the front, where Benny took his card, hole-punched it twice and handed it back to him. Pointed at a red door and turned back to the other people beginning to shuffle in.
Once Reid was inside the red door, the card was collected and he was led to a locker that contained what he’d need for the fight, including an A-shirt and shorts that bore the name of the league.
According to the schedule taped on the locker door, he fought at three, right after Grier. She wasn’t listed under her real name but he’d find out if Keegan’s intel was right soon enough. The first fight was scheduled to start in ten minutes, according to the announcement.
He looked around as he changed, trying to get his bearings. He wanted to search around, but once inside the locker room, which appeared to be equipped with a one-way entrance that locked behind him, he could only go to the training room, the showers or the main room that held a couple of old couches and a closed-circuit TV. He could see the ring, the crowds. Most importantly, the exits.
After he’d scoped those out quickly, he turned his focus back on the locker room, which now contained two other men. Saw the giant fucking Marine named Hal he’d be be fighting. Hal had a giant Marine Corps tattoo on his biceps and actually looked at him with something akin to glee in his eyes when he pointed to Reid and mouthed, “You Reid?”
Reid nodded and Hal snorted. “We’re gonna have us some fun tonight, ain’t we, boy?”
“Did you star in Deliverance or is that shit part of your act?” Reid asked.
“You want to get
