by Meghan March
I move to the kitchen table and pull out a chair, and Gabriel and Amy do the same. When we’re all seated, Gabriel starts.
“Scarlett’s safety is my number one priority.”
“Perfect. That’s a great start,” Amy says, brushing her coppery curls over her shoulder, and then she sits up straighter to give him her full, undivided attention.
“We have reason to believe that someone could possibly target her due to her relationship with me. And since I’m not going to let that happen, there will be a guy in that SUV who can handle himself and whatever might come up for as long as there are any security concerns.”
“Oh my God. This sounds bad. Really bad.” Amy’s gaze cuts to mine. “Should we call the police? They’d probably send someone to sit out there too.”
I shake my head. “No, that’s unnecessary. You know that the paps would find out, and then we’d have stories leaked and it would be a big mess. We’re keeping this quiet. You know how much privacy means to me.”
A crease forms in Amy’s brow. “But your safety . . .”
“Scarlett’s safe right where she is. I’m staying here with her, and no one’s ever going to make it through me to get to her. Understand, Amy?”
“Yeah. I think so.” Poor Amy looks like she’s about to faint or freak out, so I’m relieved when Gabriel smiles at her.
“It’ll all be fine. But I’m going to get out of your hair and head to my office,” he says, rising to his feet.
“You sure?” I ask, my apprehension climbing.
Gabriel leans down to press a kiss to my cheek. “I’m positive. Do your thing, ladybug. I’ll be back before you know it.”
“I love you,” I whisper.
“I love you too,” he says quietly, but I know there’s no way Amy missed it. “I’ll text you to let you know what I’ve got going down today. Let Hal know if you need anything.”
After I agree, he heads out the back door, leaving Amy staring after him.
“You’re in love with each other,” she whispers, and tears fill her eyes. “That was the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen. I’m happy for you, Scarlett.”
I take in my manager’s face, overcome with pure joy, and I’m grateful I have her in my life and on my team. “Thank you. He makes me really happy.”
“I’m glad.” Her expression loses a bit of its luster. “But this security thing scares me. Are you sure you’re safe? Is he safe? Does he have any security following him around?”
“I think Gabriel is more than capable of taking care of himself, but I understand what you’re saying. It’s all new to me too. The only thing I can hope for is that it’ll all be over soon.”
I straighten the place mat in front of me, pick up a crumb, and flick it away. “Now, what do we have on the agenda for this week?”
Thirteen
Legend
The contract is waiting in my email by the time I get to the club—just as I envisioned. Maybe there’s even more to that visualizing shit than I thought.
“We got the fucking fight,” I yell to Q, whose door is open one office over.
“Fuck yeah!” he yells back, and he’s in my doorway a few seconds later. “Thank fuck. I swear to Christ, I was about to have a goddamn coronary waiting for the thing to come through. How does it look?”
I scan the document, catching the highlights and the numbers. The first contract is for the venue, and what we agreed upon for the gate percentage is there in writing. That’s a damn good sign. I open the second one, the contract for me to fight Bodhi Black. Again, nothing looks out of order to me.
“It looks half-decent, but it’s not like I’m used to dealing with contracts for fights,” I remind my best friend.
“The lawyers are going to want to go through it with a fine-tooth comb to make sure we’re not getting screwed anyway,” Q says as he sits in one of the chairs across from my desk. “We’ll need to have them rush it and only push back about the most important things. We can’t drag this shit out by negotiating forever, or fuck, take the chance that they’ll find another venue who’ll just sign the damn thing as it is.”
If I could understand all this legal shit and knew what I was signing, I’d have my signature on the thing as fast as I could scrawl it out, but I know we can’t take any unnecessary chances. Even though the biggest payout for me will come from the betting, this is too important to fuck up.
“I hear you. I’m sending it your way, and you can explain to the lawyers that they can’t go crazy on this thing. Just make sure we’re not getting screwed. It’s not the time for them to shine by pointing out every damn detail that could go wrong.”
“Got it. I’ll deal with the lawyers. Good thing I’m already in a shit mood.” He strides out of my office, his footsteps slapping against the floor.
I check the time. Less than an hour before I need to meet my new trainer.
There’s no way I’ll be able to concentrate on anything in this office with the prospect of the fight so close I can practically taste it. Fuck it. Might as well head to the gym early.
I grab my bag and head for the door.
When I arrive at the address Bohannon texted me, which is around the corner from the gym I keep seeing him at, there is a sign that reads professional combat coaching.
I open the door and head inside, knowing that today has the potential to be brutal. I have less than thirty days to be ready to face Bodhi Black, and I’m going to need every single one of them to be in top shape.
When we fought three years ago, he was the hottest prospect in the city. He tore through one guy after another, leaving dozens of opponents permanently injured. Most retired from fighting immediately afterward, including me.
I didn’t lose, but I took a beating and sustained serious damage that took months to heal. I was lucky, though, because none of the injuries were major.
Unlike Bodhi’s knee.
Destroying it wasn’t my plan, and I still have guilt riding me over what happened. But it wasn’t a dirty move. He wouldn’t tap out.
I knew if I let go of the heel hook before he tapped, there was a damn good chance he was going to win, and the money from that fight enabled me to have a real shot at leveling up. Urban Legend was a great underground club, but it served its purpose, and that wasn’t the crowd I wanted to be surrounded with for the rest of my life. I may not have been raised with much, but I do know that you become like those around you.
Staying in the shadows would have meant getting sucked into action that I didn’t want to touch. Which is why I made what most people would consider a terrible decision—killing the cash cow and putting every cent I had on the biggest bet of my life . . . going legit.
I’d been a criminal since I was eight, the first time I shoplifted. At sixteen, I was running with men twice my age, watching them get picked off one at a time by bullets or the cops.
That’s not the life I wanted for myself or for the people I loved.
Which brings me back to the here and now, and the doorknob I’m holding, preparing to step into a strange world that exists between the one I know and one that’s totally foreign. My fights have always come with more risk than a sanctioned fighter would possibly face, because death was never out of the question. But this one . . . I may not be walking away under my own power, but at least I won’t be going out in a body bag.
At least, not if I can take out Moses first.
It’ll happen. That’s the way it has to be.
In the meantime, I need to be ready for anything.
I jog up the stairs with my bag slung over my shoulder and open the sleek glass door at the top. Inside is the sweetest training setup I’ve ever seen. It must take up the entire floor of the building.
Two different cages are set up at opposite ends of the space. One quarter is all weight lifting and cardio equipment. The last section is dedicated to heavy bags, speed bags, mats for grappling, and everything else you could possibly need to train.
A man with salt-and-pepp
er hair walks away from the two guys currently sparring in one of the cages and meets me where I stand near the door.
“Gabriel Legend in the flesh. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” He holds out his hand to me. “I’m Jeb Goodwin.”
I shake his proffered hand. “Nice to meet you. Thanks for doing this.”
“For Bo, we’d do damn near anything, but when we heard the favor he wanted, we jumped in with both feet. I’ve been watching you for a long damn time. You’ve got skills, but with our program, you’re going to be a monster in the cage. Our gym will probably be at capacity after word gets out you trained here.”
It’s always surreal to hear when people have watched my fighting career through all those YouTube videos, but that’s the magic of the internet. It makes the world a hell of a lot smaller place.
“I appreciate it more than you know. Bodhi Black is training with my old coach. I’m definitely working from a disadvantage, because Johnson knows how I move and think.”
Jeb shakes his head. “That’s some real shady shit on the part of your former coach, but smart if you’re Black. Don’t worry, you’re gonna look like a completely different fighter when we’re done with you. Even your old coach won’t recognize the new and improved Legend.”
“That’s a big promise with less than four weeks to go until fight night.”
Jeb grins. “Just wait. You’ll see. I’m damn good at what I do. Don’t start thinking this is for pansies because I train movie stars. They’re just the only ones who can afford me on the regular. I know my worth.”
I don’t even want to think about how much this costs, but I know one thing—I’m not going to waste a goddamned minute of the time I have here.
“Then let’s get to it. I’m ready to warm up.”
“Perfect. Let me introduce you to your new sparring partners. You’re gonna be best fucking friends by the time that fight rolls around.”
Fourteen
Scarlett
I’ve plowed through a ton of work in the few hours Gabriel has been gone when my phone chimes from a text. At the same time, it buzzes with a notification from the security app connected to the camera and intercom at the front door. Given everything that’s going on right now, I don’t ignore either of them.
The text is from Hal.
* * *
Hal: Guy with brown hair at the front door. Older man with him. Sending a photo for ID. I’ll take care of them if you want them gone. You won’t even have to open the door.
* * *
The picture comes through a few seconds later. Chadwick and my father.
I drop my head into my hands and release a long sigh. Chadwick is the last person I want to deal with today, and I have absolutely no idea why he’s here with my father. I was sure that after I saw my dad at the gala, I wouldn’t be hearing from him again for a long, long time.
Apparently, I was wrong.
What could they possibly want?
I tap out a reply to Hal.
* * *
Scarlett: That’s my ex-boyfriend and my father. I’ll deal with them.
Hal: You sure? Because I’m happy to take care of this, Ms. Priest.
Scarlett: Thank you, but I’ve got it.
Hal: Okay. I’m notifying Legend. He’ll want to know.
* * *
I hope like hell that Hal’s text won’t disturb Gabriel, but I’m glad he’s keeping him in the loop. It makes me feel safer. Regardless, my goal is to get them out of here as fast as humanly possible.
I pick up my phone and tap the app that allows me to see who is at the door and talk to the person. “Hi, Chadwick. Dad. Is there something you two need?”
Down at the front door, Chadwick glares at the unit where he knows the camera is located, blocking my view of everything but my father’s shoulder behind him.
“This is bullshit,” Chadwick shouts. “I don’t know what the fuck you told the cops, but this is complete and total bullshit.”
“Scarlett.” My name sounds like a curse on my father’s lips as he steps around Chadwick and comes into full view of the lens. “This is unacceptable. Whatever you told the police, you need to retract it.”
They can only be talking about one thing—the information I gave the detective last week about the online stalker. The police must have finally questioned Chadwick. However, I’m not retracting anything. It’s illegal to give authorities false information, and I did no such thing. They’re only looking into possible leads, and where there’s smoke, there’s usually fire.
I pinch the bridge of my nose and shake my head. My father didn’t even ask me if what I said was the truth. He doesn’t care that I’m being harassed and potentially stalked. He just wants me to make it go away.
“Good to see you too, Dad. So glad you could stop by in the middle of the day. I know you’re incredibly busy, so I’ll keep this short. I told the police what happened, and they’re handling the investigation as they see fit.”
My father’s face pinches with annoyance. “I am not having this discussion with you while we’re standing on your damn doorstep. Let us in, Scarlett.”
The camera angle is wide enough that I can see Hal walking up the sidewalk behind them.
“If Ms. Priest wants you to go, gentlemen, then go. Now.”
Both my father and Chadwick turn around to face him.
“I don’t know who you are, but if you’re another one of my daughter’s men, then I suggest you leave immediately. This is a family matter, and you are not involved,” my father says to Hal, who stands in the middle of the sidewalk with his arms crossed over his barrel-shaped chest.
“If by men, you mean one of Ms. Priest’s security guards, then that’s correct. I’m one of her men. And unfortunately for you, you’re on private property, sir. If she wants you gone, you’re gone.” From the tone of Hal’s voice, it’s clear that he means business if they resist. “I’m more than happy to remove you myself, or we can call the police. I’m sure they’ll be interested to hear of your visit.”
Shit. A scuffle right in front of Curated is the last thing I want to happen. Plenty of paps cruise by the building on the regular, hoping to get a shot of me or my celebrity clients coming or going. If they catch a fight going down, that publicity is not going to be ideal.
“I’m coming down,” I say into my phone before rising from the kitchen table.
A few minutes later, I unlock the dead bolts on the front door and stand face-to-face with my father and Chadwick.
Chadwick lunges toward me. “What the hell did you tell them? That I was harassing you? Because that’s bullshit, and you know it.”
“Calm yourself, Chadwick,” my father says, in a tone I’ve always considered patronizing as hell, before meeting my gaze. “Scarlett, if you’re upset about how your relationship ended, then you should’ve stayed in counseling. Telling the police you think Chadwick is bothering you is not how we handle things in this family.”
I blink at both of them for at least thirty seconds because I’m utterly stunned. “Excuse me? You think I’m upset about how our relationship ended, and that’s why I went to the police? Did you just come from a five-martini lunch?”
“I’m not drunk,” Chadwick snaps with his lip curled. “And I do not appreciate being treated like a criminal. The police can save that for your trashy new fuck boy. I’m sure he’s used to it.”
It never hit me until this very moment that Chadwick looks a bit like an irritated opossum when he’s angry.
From behind them both, Hal speaks up again. “Mr. Legend is on his way. You should clear out, gentlemen.”
Based on his emphasis on gentlemen, it’s clear Hal thinks they’re nothing of the sort. I feel the same way about them confronting me like this without any concern for the threat I reported to the police.
Chadwick whips around to glare daggers at Hal. “Fuck him, and fuck you.”
My father comes closer to me, and I step back out of instinct.
His eyes narrow. “Wh
at in the world is going on with you? Is this his influence? You’re looking at me like I’m a stranger and not your father.”
I choke on the audacity of his words and let out a cough-laugh. “Are you serious right now? You . . . you may be my sperm donor, but you’ve never been a real father. God, why didn’t I see it before? You don’t give a damn about me if it doesn’t directly impact your life or your bank account. If you were really a father, you would’ve been at the hospital when I was having surgery—”
“I was busy,” he says with a sharp tilt of his head. “And it was just your appendix. Stop trying to make a big deal out of something so inconsequential.”
I blink at him again. “Do you even hear yourself right now? What is wrong with you? You haven’t even asked me what I reported to the police, or why I feel like I’m unsafe enough that I had to report anything to the police. Have you ever cared about me, Dad? Or does that only happen when it’s convenient for you or to your benefit?”
“Are we going to play twenty questions then, Scarlett?” Chadwick says, interrupting. “Or maybe you should just tell us and stop acting like a spoiled brat with a secret. Did someone hurt your poor feelings?”
His mocking tone makes me want to slam the door in their faces and never open it again. Acting like a child? Oh, I could show them immature.
“Go fuck yourself, Chadwick. If you’re the troll who has been harassing me and stalking me, then I hope they catch you red-handed so it’s easier for me to press charges. Because I won’t let you try to crush me with your threats.”
From Chadwick’s wide-eyed expression, it’s clear I’ve shocked him. “That’s why the police questioned me? Because someone’s threatening you, and you think it’s me?”
I lift my chin another inch. “I dumped you, and you didn’t take it well. That’s what the police call motive.”