Welterweight (Hallow Brothers Book 1)

by Tricia Andersen

  “No, it’s not.”

  “You are a sick, demented bastard to kill a poor, defenseless animal to make a point.”

  “I killed but it’s not an animal. Just some lowlife from the club. No one will miss him but the stool he sat on.”

  Meg’s voice was a weak squeak. “Except his family. They’ll miss him. Fuck, Austin. You killed a guy.”

  “Yes, Meggy. I did. I’ll kill another if you go running. I’ll kill Caleb Hallow. Do you want me to?”

  “No, please.”

  Austin sauntered to her and brushed her hair from her face. “Then go put something slutty on and get in my bed.”

  Meg spit on Austin. “Fuck you.”

  Austin looked at the men surrounding him. “Take her back to the gym and lock her in the storage closet. Eventually she’ll come around. Or starve to death. And the last thing she’ll see is the dead, broken body of her lover.”

  His men chuckled as they gripped her arms and dragged her down the street. She stared at Austin as he stood stone cold in the street. Her gaze flicked from the blood-covered truck back to him. He killed a man. Caleb was next on his list unless she stayed with him.

  Damien was right. Austin had lost his mind. But then again, so had she. Seeing a werewolf could do that to a man. He was extremely dangerous. The only way to save herself and Caleb was to change tactics. She hoped it wasn’t too late.

  The dark and silence started to chip away at her. After seeing Caleb’s truck bathed in blood, she couldn’t sleep. She was finally relieved went she heard the faint grunts and shouting that accompanied training. The sounds of bodies slapping vinyl was almost music. She strained to listen to the men fight.

  Before the noise died away, the storage room door was wrenched open. One of Austin’s new guys stood there. In his hand he held one of her dresses, the one she referred to as her Marilyn Monroe dress. It was cream-colored satin and hung off the shoulders. Its hem came nearly all the way up her thigh when she wore it.

  “How did you get that?” Meg demanded as she pressed herself against the wall.

  The fighter laughed. “You left it at Austin’s, bitch. He wants to see you in it.”

  “Fuck you, asshole.”

  “Get up, bitch. Austin has plans for you.”

  “Go to hell.”

  The guy nodded to someone she couldn’t see. Two others appeared and stormed into the room. They dragged her to her feet and then hauled her across the gym to the locker room. They tossed her in the shower and turned on the water.

  “Get pretty. You and Austin have a call to make.” The fighter lifted his T-shirt to display the butt of a pistol pressed against his belly. “And don’t try to escape.”

  The men chuckled as they strode away. Meg huddled under the hot stream of water, losing control as she tried to swallow back a sob.

  Chapter Twelve

  Caleb felt like death warmed over. He’d never hurt this much in his life. But he was up out of bed and pacing. His heart churned in terror. Meg had been gone for too long. His brothers went to town to look for her. Instead, they found his truck with four flat tires, smeared in blood. Human blood. If that miserable bastard hurt her, he was going to destroy him slowly.

  He checked his phone again. Nothing. He stomped into the bathroom and tore his shirt from over his head. He turned around and looked over his shoulder at his reflection. The tattoo was still intact. Did it disappear when she was…? He didn’t want to think about it.

  He heard the sound of footsteps on the wood floor. He stepped out of the bathroom to find Micah and Abraham waiting for him.

  “The truck is at Sharky’s. He said he can fix it once he rinses the mess off,” Micah reported.

  “Whose fucking blood was it?” Caleb demanded.

  “I have no idea, Cay. No bodies were found lately.”

  Caleb huffed as he tossed his shirt on the chair and slumped into it. He cringed in pain.

  “Bro, I’m sure she’s fine,” Abraham encouraged.

  “I’ll feel better when she’s home.” Caleb ran a hand through his head.

  Their attention turned at a chirp in the other room. Caleb frowned.

  “What’s that?” Micah questioned.

  “My phone.” Caleb stood and hurried as fast as he could to the bedroom. He scooped his cell off the bedside table. He breathed a sigh of relief. “It’s Meg. A video chat. Maybe she can show us where she is.”

  He tapped the screen and opened his mouth. It snapped shut when he saw Austin sitting beside Meg. She was dressed in a skin-tight cream-colored dress that rode up her leg higher than he liked if he wasn’t there with her. Her off-the-shoulder bodice showed the swell of her breasts. Her blonde hair was styled in big, bouncy curls. Her lips, the ones he craved to kiss, were painted a crimson red and her eyes were shadowed in powder blue. They were in an apartment, but not hers. By the trash lying everywhere, Caleb could only guess it was Austin’s.

  And Austin had an arm wrapped tight around her, pressing her against him. She squirmed for space away from him and then gasped loudly when he pulled her tight to him again.

  “What the fuck is going on, Meg?” Caleb ordered as he growled.

  “Tell him, Meg.” Austin grinned at her. “Tell him, baby.”

  Meg turned and glared at Austin. “I have nothing to say.”

  Caleb frowned. He was certain he saw something metallic between them. Austin returned her stare coldly. “Are you sure, baby? I’m sure you have something to say to the freak.”

  Meg sat silent for a moment. Then she let out a loud gasp. She tossed her head back. Her gaze stayed locked on Austin. “I’m sorry, Cay. I called to tell you that we’re over. It was fun. But since I’ve been with Austin, I’ve been shown many reasons I should be with him. Reasons I can’t ignore.”

  “What the fuck?” Caleb shook his phone in rage. “How the fuck can you want him and not me?”

  Meg didn’t say a word. She gasped again, her voice a high-pitched breath. Caleb didn’t miss her shoving Austin angrily. “Like I said, there are reasons. Cold, hard reasons. Sorry to lead you on. Have a nice life.”

  Rational thought fled Caleb’s mind as betrayal set in. There were clues something was wrong. He shoved them aside. “Do you love him?”

  Meg was silent. Austin hovered over her, but she never said a word.

  Caleb’s anger peaked. “Tell me what the fuck happened to my truck!”

  Meg gasped again. Austin leaned in to the screen. “Take a hint, fuckface. She’s mine. She always will be. I’ll see you in three weeks in the cage. And I’ll destroy you.”

  The call ended. With a roar, Caleb tried to redial. Nothing happened. It didn’t connect. He slammed his phone on his bed and stormed from the room.

  “Caleb, you need to rest and heal,” Micah called after him.

  He ignored Micah as he strode across the camp, not stopping until he reached the family building. He threw open the doors to the gym and then searched for the gloves he’d left there before the full moon. He strapped them on each hand and approached a punching bag. He threw a punch. His body reverberated in pain. He sucked in a breath and threw another. He cringed in response.

  He kept throwing combinations despite the agony. He couldn’t stop to think. Dwelling on her would be too much. I knew it was too good to be true. I am such a dumbass.

  He stopped to take a breath, to force the pain away. As he wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand, he caught something in his peripheral vision. He turned to find his entire family standing there watching him. Momma was wringing her hands together like every time she was anxious.

  “Caleb, you need to stop,” Micah demanded.

  “I need to destroy this son of a bitch,” he replied. “I’ll show her who the real man is.”

  “Not if you’re too broken to fight.”

  Caleb ran his hands through his hair. “Explain it to me. I thought once you mate, you mate for life. Why has my mate left me?”

  “I do
n’t know. It doesn’t make sense. She didn’t act normal on that video. I’ll do the research. I’ll figure it out. Just don’t kill yourself in the process. Let us help. You’re not an island like you’ve forced yourself and others to believe your entire life. We’re your family.”

  Caleb sighed heavily. “I’d rather be dead than be without her. I told Littlefoot this mating thing was a curse. I wish I was free of it. Now, please. Get out so I can train or help me get ready. Your choice.”

  His family stared at him, speechless. One by one, all of his brothers except Josiah turned for the door.

  Caleb shook his head and snorted. “Should have known you’d all turn your back on me.”

  Joshua spun back to him with a scowl. “I can’t speak for the others, but I’m not training with you in jeans, you asshole. Have the courtesy to let us change.”

  Caleb cocked a grin. It was forced, but it was there. “Sure. Go get ready. Not that it’ll help.”

  “Fuck you.”

  The brothers filed out, chuckling at the banter. Josiah wrapped a protective arm around Momma. “I’ll grab a round or two with you after I look for some answers.” He turned to the woman in his embrace. “Let me get you a cup of tea to settle your nerves.”

  Caleb watched them go before he slumped to the matted floor. For the first time ever, he felt like his family had his back. For the first time ever, it felt like they supported him, accepted him.

  It was too bad that losing Meg blotted all that out. A tear slipped down his cheek. He buried his face in his gloved hands as he cried.

  »»•««

  Meg’s eyes burned as Austin ended the call. She exhaled slowly as he took the nose of the pistol out of her ribs. As many times as he’d jammed it into her, she was sure she was bruised.

  He gave her an evil grin as he held the bottom of the cell phone. He flicked his wrist, bringing it down on the edge of the coffee table. She gasped as it shattered, littering the floor with glass, plastic, and wires.

  “Don’t want you to get any idea of calling him and telling him the truth,” Austin sneered.

  “You’re a monster,” she murmured.

  “Seems like you’re an expert in them lately. At least that little call will throw Hallow off his game.”

  Meg paused and thought for a moment. They had come up with a solution for the night of the fight. But what if she could manipulate Austin to make it easier? She dabbed at her eyes and then turned toward him, laying her hands on his thigh. “Wouldn’t count on it, lover boy. Caleb is already prepared. He has a ritual on fight day morning that all but guarantees a win for him. How do you think he won his last few?”

  Austin frowned at her as he captured one of her hands around his thigh. “What the fuck does he do?”

  She shrugged. “I have no idea. I was going to witness it the first time during this fight camp. But you decided to kidnap me. I’m no help anymore.”

  “You have to know something.”

  “I know that whatever it is, it takes all morning. He nearly sacrificed it when he asked Leroy to have your fight first.”

  Austin stared at her for a long moment. “If I tell Leroy to move the event up, say to two o’clock, it would screw up this ritual.”

  “Well, yeah. Think of his drive time. He isn’t going to stay in town.”

  He grinned at her. “I knew you’d be in my corner, baby. I knew you wouldn’t choose him over me. I’ll give Leroy a call. That is, as soon as I’m done with you.”

  Meg squeaked as Austin grabbed her arm and hauled her on his lap. She didn’t get a moment to protest before his mouth crushed hers. She gagged, but it didn’t seem to faze him. He laid a hand on her knee and slowly slid it up her leg. She pulled away and gagged again.

  “What the fuck is wrong with you?” he demanded.

  She couldn’t answer. She heaved again and again, emptying the meager contents of her stomach all over him. He jumped to his feet, dumping her on the floor. The sharp remnants of her cell phone pierced her hands. “What the fuck? Did Hallow give you rabies or something?

  Austin’s cronies hauled her to her feet. “Take her back to the gym?” one questioned.

  Austin smirked at her. “I want her here where I can keep an eye on her. I don’t need some moron opening that door and letting her out. Lock her in my en suite bathroom. The accommodations are nicer. Plus if she has a change of heart or I get in a mood, she’s right there for me to have.”

  Meg caught a quick nod from each man before they hauled her toward the bedroom. The toes of her shoes scraped the floor as she went dead weight in their arms. Shoving her inside, they slammed the door shut behind her and locked it. She stopped her stumble inches before her head hit the sink.

  She dropped to the floor and leaned against the tub. She’d have to clean herself up soon. The vomit ruined her favorite dress. She let a sob escape her throat. She was going to take a moment to cry. She had just lost the man she loved.

  But hopefully, she bought him some time.

  As the room grew dark, she curled up in the bathtub to try to sleep. The loud laughter and shouting made it difficult. At least her little closet at the gym was quiet. When things finally did die down, she just about dozed off. She was startled back awake by the banshee screams and moans of a woman. By the dialogue that accompanied the noises, she could easily guess the woman was fucking Austin. Fantastic.

  She was already awake the next morning when Austin shoved the door open. Two of his goons were standing behind him. He dropped a change of clothes on the bathroom floor. “Get dressed. I don’t trust you. I’m taking you to the gym with me.”

  “Then close the door,” she countered. “Give me privacy.”

  “Fuck that. I’ve seen it before. You used to strip tease for me, remember?”

  “Yeah, well they haven’t.”

  “I said get dressed.”

  Meg scooped up the clothes with a growl. She turned her back to the men and shimmied out of the dress. With her back to them, she could try to pretend they weren’t there. The obscene comments made it difficult to keep up the illusion. A hand cupped her ass at least once. Another dipped between her legs to caress her through her panties. When she started gagging again they stopped. She quickly pulled up her shorts as her stomach twisted.

  Once she tugged her T-shirt down, she felt the barrel of the gun buried in her ribs. “Be a good girl and cooperate,” Austin warned. “Remember, you’re not the only one I’ll kill.”

  Meg nodded once to acknowledge him. She obediently walked out beside him to the car with his fighters following them. The pistol never left her side, but Austin went out of his way to conceal it by wearing a jacket far too heavy for the summer heat. Once they were at the gym, he led her to a corner to watch.

  The same ritual repeated itself every day for the next two weeks. Everyone in the gym believed they were an item again. Meg arrived with Austin. She left with Austin. What they didn’t know is he locked her in his bathroom as soon as they got back to his apartment. He tried at least once a night to drag her to his bed and rape her. She felt strangely satisfied when she threw up on him every time. Even though it made her weak, it stopped him every time.

  When they were at the gym, there was always someone nearby to make sure she didn’t make a run for it. The one time she tried, she was tackled hard. It was painful enough to never try again.

  Meg watched Austin fight. It was easy to see who would win. When Austin sparred, it was for show, to prove he was the man. Every punch, every takedown was done to illicit a response. And from his own personal horde of zombies, he got one.

  But weeks ago when she watched Caleb, she’d noticed how fluid he was. To him, fighting was like breathing. It was a natural reaction. There was no doubt in her mind that her mate would win.

  She was torn from her thoughts by a loud cry of pain. Austin doubled over as he fell to his knees. He wrapped his arms around himself. Mike, who he had just been sparring with, kneeled next to him.

  “
You okay, bro?” Mike asked as he laid a hand on Austin’s shoulder.

  “No, you asshole,” Austin gasped. “You went too hard. What the fuck are you trying to prove?”

  Carl, the guy who trained them, strode over to them. “Graves, go get it checked out. You can’t take your fight next week lightly.”

  “Yeah. Fine.” He staggered to his feet. He glanced at her and then muttered to a couple of other fighters. Then he turned to Mike. “You can take me.”

  “Sure thing, bro.” Mike jumped to his feet and helped Austin out of the building.

  The fighters that Austin spoke to sauntered over to Meg. “We’re taking you back to Austin’s.”

  “Aww. Austin doesn’t want me to go with him? Is he afraid all my bruises will land him in the slammer?”

  “Get up. Let’s go.”

  Meg rose to her feet. Each of the men grabbed an arm and led her to the car. Austin and Mike were long gone. They escorted her back to the apartment and locked her in the bathroom. She slumped into the tub and closed her eyes. Maybe with the quiet she could nap.

  She was woken out of a dead sleep by a loud bang. She trembled. How long had she been asleep? She screamed as another bang rang out.

  “That’s going to leave a mess,” a voice Meg couldn’t recognize commented.

  “The son of a bitch broke my rib,” Austin responded.

  “How the fuck are you going to explain gun shots to your neighbors?”

  “Take a look genius. This is the one time of day they’re all gone. I have no idea where the fuck they go but they’re gone. And this old building is so insulated it’s practically soundproof. The only person who could have heard it was Meg.”

  “You’re gonna have to drop out of this fight.”

  “Fuck no. Caleb Hallow is mine. I’m gonna kill that freak or die trying. Just let the boys know to avoid my lower right rib. I can’t fucking believe that son of a bitch broke it.”

  “Got it.”

  “And call up Sunny. I need some consoling.”